A collimator 111 for an input light, a collimator 112 for an output light, a collimator 113 for a branched light, a collimator 114 for an inserted light and a wavelength selecting filter 115 are provided on a common substrate 130, and mirrors 121 to 124 for correcting an optical path or prisms XXXX to XXXX capable of producing the same advantages are provided on the optical paths between the collimators 111 to 114 and the wavelength selecting filter 115 respectively. By adjusting the mirrors or prisms, the shift of the optical axis between the collimators is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical module to be utilized in an optical branching and inserting apparatus for branching a signal light from a trunk line toward a relay station and inserting the signal light transmitted from the relay station to the trunk line in an optical communication field, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an optical communication using wavelength division multiplexing, an optical branching and inserting apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2000-183816 has been known as an apparatus to be used for branching a signal having a specific wavelength into a relay station and inserting the signal having a specific wavelength from the relay station.
As shown in FIG. 3, the optical branching and inserting apparatus has an optical branching device 3 for branching a wavelength multiplexing light input from a light transmission path 1 for input, and an optical coupling device 4 for coupling lights having respective wavelengths which are once branched and transmitting the lights to an output transmission path 2. The optical branching and inserting apparatus comprises a plurality of optical switches 5 corresponding to optical paths having respective wavelengths which serves to select to branch a light having each wavelength branched by the optical branching device 3 into a receiver 7 of a relay station 8 and to newly insert a signal transmitted by a transmitter 6 of the relay station 8 or to exactly transmit the light having each wavelength branched by the optical branching device 3 to the optical coupling device 4.
In such a branching and inserting apparatus, a filter module having the function of fixing a wavelength selecting filter or a lens onto an emitting optical path from an optical fiber and separating a single wavelength component from a multiple wavelength signal or the function of inserting the single wavelength component into the multiple wavelength signal is often used in the optical branching device 3 or the optical coupling device 4.
Such a filter module has a structure in which collimators including a lens and an optical fiber are provided opposite to each other with a wavelength selecting filter interposed therebetween as described in JP-T-10-511476 and JP-A-10-311905, for example.
In such a filter module, generally, a wavelength selecting filter, a lens and an optical fiber are inserted and fixed into a common cylindrical housing with an optical axis adjusted. Such a module is generally referred to as an Add/Drop Multiplexer (ADM).
Since the optical branching device 3 and the optical coupling device 4 in the optical branching and inserting apparatus of FIG. 3 are to carry out the same coupling or branching for a plurality of wavelengths, they have such a structure that a plurality of filter module units having different wavelength separating characteristics is used and the optical fibers on signal input/output ends thereof are sequentially connected by a method such as fusion. Such a module is generally referred to as "Mux/DeMux". A light to be input to the optical branching device 3 or the optical coupling device 4 sequentially passes through a plurality of filter modules to be branched to have each wavelength or a light having each wavelength is sequentially coupled (for example, see JP-A-11-337765). In general, the single modules connected sequentially are attached to a single case.
In the optical branching and inserting apparatus using the filter module, if the number of channels to be used for an optical communication is increased, it is necessary to correspondingly increase the number of single filter modules to be used. For this reason, the price of a raw material component is equal to or more than a multiple of the price of the single filter module. Moreover, there is provided the step of fusing the optical fiber on the input/output end of the filter module. Therefore, the step is complicated and a cost is increased, and furthermore, a connecting loss is caused by a transverse offset during fusing connection. Furthermore, the single filter module has such a structure as to be fixed into the housing. Consequently, there is a problem in that an unnecessary volume other than functional parts is required and the volumes of necessary components are also increased with an increase in the number of the channels.
In order to eliminate these drawbacks, the inventors tried to reduce the price, size and loss of an optical module in a minimum volume without using unnecessary components by a structure in which an exterior member to be the housing of the filter module is eliminated and the components are fixed onto a single substrate, and a light is spatially propagated between the components.
However, it was found that the shift of an optical axis is generated on a light emitted from each component so that optical coupling cannot be easily carried out and an expected performance cannot be obtained in the case in which the element components in the module are to be actually separated and provided on the substrate.
The factor for the shift of the optical axis can include the following:
the end faces of an optical fiber and a refractive index profile type lens are set to be oblique end faces in order to reduce a reflection loss;
the optical axis is shifted when a light is transmitted through the substrate of a dielectric multilayer film filter to be a wavelength selecting filter;
fabrication can be carried out with precision in the external shape of each component which is equal to or less than precision in a processing required for optically coupling single mode fibers; and
fabrication can be carried out with precision in a processing of a substrate to be provided with these components which is equal to or less than precision required for optically coupling the single mode fibers.
The contents will be specifically described. For the optical coupling of the optical fibers, particularly, the single mode fibers, precision in alignment on a submicron level is required because a core diameter is 10 μm or less. In passive optical components such as a fiber pigtail and a lens, a component tolerance and a manufacturing tolerance exceed the same precision. Actually, the fabrication cannot be carried out with the same precision. Even if the fabrication can be individually carried out, moreover, there is a problem in that an emitted light is shifted from the optical axis in a collimator fabricated by a manufacturing method which is a current mainstream.
FIG. 4 shows a collimator fabricated by the manufacturing method which is the current mainstream, that is, in combination of a fiber pigtail 11 and a refractive index profile lens 12. In order to reduce a reflection loss, an angle of approximately 8 degrees is formed on each of the end faces of the pigtail 11 and the lens 12. Consequently, a position shift δ and an angle shift θ are generated on an emitted light as compared with the position of an incident light. In particular, the amount of the shift of the optical axis caused by the angle shift θ is increased if a coupling distance L is increased as shown in FIG. 5. In a collimator pair provided in a V groove on the same straight line, accordingly, the optical coupling is almost zero when a space is several mm or more.
In the case in which the V groove for fixing the collimator onto a substrate is fabricated by grinding, moreover, it is desirable that two V grooves provided with the collimator pair should be formed in parallel with each other at a request of a work. For the above reason, the collimator pair for implementing effective optical coupling cannot be fabricated on the V groove.
Moreover, an interference filter such as a wavelength selecting filter is usually fabricated by forming a film on a glass substrate 15 having a finite thickness as shown in FIG. 6 and has a thickness of approximately 1 mm to avoid a breakdown against a generated film pressure. The parallel positional shift amount δ of a light incident at an angle of incidence θ on a medium 2 having a thickness h and a refractive index n2 from a medium 1 having a refractive index n1 (=a difference between an optical path to be passed when the medium 2 is not present and an actual optical path) can be expressed in the following equation.
                    δ        =                  h                                                              sin                                                                          θ            [                          1              -                                                cos                                                                                θ                                                                                (                                                                              n                            2                                                                                n                            1                                                                          )                                            2                                        -                                                                  sin                        2                                                                  θ                                                                                ]                                              Equation                                                  1
FIG. 7 shows a relationship between the shift amount δ (μm) of the optical axis and the angle of incidence θ (Degree) when a light passes through a substrate having various thicknesses (0.5 to 1.5 mm) as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the shift of the optical axis is generated depending on the thickness of the substrate and the angle of incidence. Even if the optical coupling of the collimator pair is previously carried out before the interference filter is inserted, therefore, the optical path is shifted by the simple insertion of the filter so that a loss can be greatly increased or the coupling cannot be carried out.
Even if all the shifts are estimated to carry out a design, furthermore, a processing error and an assembly error of a component and a substrate are generated on each component. In addition, these errors have a level which clearly departs from necessary precision for the optical coupling, which is insignificant.
As described above, there is a problem in that the shift of the optical axis is actually great and sufficient optical coupling cannot be obtained if each component is simply arranged in parallel in each V groove for component fixation which is formed on the same substrate as in a conventional trial.

Optical module formed on common substrate for branching an optical signal


An adhesive for connecting circuit members, which is interposed between a semiconductor chip having protruding connecting terminals and a board having wiring patterns formed thereon for electrically connecting the connecting terminals and the wiring patterns facing each other and bonding the semiconductor chip and the board by applying pressure/heat, containing a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a crosslinkable resin and a hardening agent for forming a crosslink structure of the crosslinkable resin; and composite oxide particles dispersed in the resin composition.

Generally, as a system for directly mounting semiconductor chips (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to "chips") on a circuit board in accordance with a face-down bonding system, a system in which solder bumps are formed on electrode portions of semiconductor chips, which are connected to a circuit board by soldering, and a method in which a conductive adhesive is applied to protruding electrodes provided to semiconductor chips for electrically connecting to circuit-board electrodes, are known.
These systems have problems. When a chip and a board are exposed to various environments, stress is produced in the connection interface ascribed to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the chip and the board to be connected, with the result that connection reliability decreases. Therefore, in order to reduce the stress in the connection interface, a system for filling the gap between the chip and the board generally with an underfill material such as an epoxy resin has been studied.
As a filling system with the underfill material, mention may be made of a system in which a chip and a board are connected and thereafter a low-viscosity liquid resin is injected and a system in which an underfill material is placed on a board and then a chip is mounted. In the meantime, as a method in which an underfill material is previously placed on a board and then a chip is mounted, a method of applying a liquid resin and a method of attaching a resin film are known.
However, in the case of applying a liquid resin, it is difficult to accurately control the application amount by a dispenser. In the context of a recent tendency toward thin-film chip, the resin, if excessively applied, runs off from a chip in a bonding process, moves up along the side surface of the chip and contaminates a bonding tool. Because of this, a tool washing step must be added, complicating a process at the time of a large-scale production.
Alternatively, in the case of bonding a resin film, it is easy to supply an optimum amount of resin by controlling the thickness of the resin; however, when the film is bonded to a board, a step of bonding the film called a provisional pressure-bonding step is required. In the provisional pressure-bonding step, a reel tape having slits at the intervals larger than the width of a target chip is used. The adhesive present on the base material of the reel tape is cut in half depending upon the size of the chip and bonded to the board by thermocompression bonding at such a temperature that an adhesive does not react.
Since the accuracy of supplying the film to a chip mounting position is low, generally a larger film than a chip size is bonded in the provisional pressure-bonding in order to keep yield. Accordingly, enough distance is required to an adjacent component, impeding high-density packaging. On the other hand, thin-width reel processing dealing with microchips, etc. is difficult. It is still necessary to bond a larger film than a chip size to deal with this case. An extra mounting area is required.
In the context, a method for supplying the same-size adhesive as a chip size is proposed. In this method, an adhesive is supplied in the stage of a wafer and then processed simultaneously with chips by dicing or the like to obtain chips attached with the adhesive (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2).                Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 2833111        Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-049482

Adhesive for connection of circuit member and semiconductor device using the same


An e-commerce exchange for gathering and managing a widely distributed inventory of blood, tissue and other samples for the biomedical research community and pharmaceutical industries worldwide. Samples belonging to registered sample providers are entered into a database at a central host site which is part of a distributed computer network. The samples are tagged by fields to cross reference the samples according to a number of specified criteria. Registered buyers search the database according to desired criteria. When the criteria of the search request matches the criteria specified for a particular sample, the central host site approves and supervises transfer of the particular sample from the supplier to the requesting buyer. Additionally, when the search request is not successful, there being no matching sample, the buyer may enter the requested sample criteria onto a wish list. A sample supplier having an unlisted sample meeting the criteria of an biological sample on the wish list may enter the sample into the database and the central host site will notify the buyer of sample availability and prompt transfer to the buyer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of on-line computing and, more particularly, to a computer-based system and method for managing a dynamic and widely distributed inventory of biological samples or other perishable items and materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, scientists and clinical researchers have spent valuable time and resources searching for the biological samples, such as blood, tissue, serum, plasma, bodily fluids, etc., that are essential to allow them to research, diagnose and help expedite cures for the world""s vast number of diseases and other medical conditions.
Research sample needs are currently only partially fulfilled and are conducted by telephone, facsimile and time consuming networking between sample providers such as doctors, hospitals, laboratories, collection agencies and research product brokers. Using current methods, it often takes weeks to obtain even basic research samples; the procurement of rare samples can take months and even years, if they can be obtained at all.
Accordingly, there is an unmet need and increasing demand in the biomedical/pharmaceutical industry for accessible research products and related data.
In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulty in obtaining the biological samples necessary for research and other medical developments through a web-integrated inventory management system.
Another object of the invention is a sophisticated, yet simple to operate, one stop e-commerce exchange.
A further object of the invention is a search engine capable of searching for and locating samples according to a multitude of parameters which could not previously be designated on sample inventories.
A still further object of the invention is an inventory management system allowing sample providers to post their inventory in seconds and obtain worldwide exposure.
Yet another object of the invention is an on-line inventory management system that gives biomedical companies the ability to manage their inventories from designated and secure shelf space accessible to them through any web-enabled computer.
Another object of the invention is an integrated system for searching, finding, purchasing and receiving biological samples in a convenient, cost-effective and timely manner.
In accordance with this and other objects, the present invention is directed to a system and method for use with a distributed computer network, such as the Internet, that enables researchers, and others, to search for and purchase samples of biological material according to specified criteria. Through the present invention, sample buyers and sellers are brought together to a degree not previously available, increasing the value of the samples, both in terms of purchase price and research contribution.
The web-integrated inventory management (WIM) system of the present invention comprises a central host site having a search engine for accessing at least one central host site database. Each sample provider wishing to subscribe to the WIM system provides the central host site with information describing an inventory of biological samples belonging to the sample provider. Each biological sample is tagged according to a plurality of fields. The fields identify the sample by specifying various criteria for or parameters of the sample. Tagging the samples by field essentially indexes the samples, cross-referencing them according to the specified parameters. The field information associated with each sample is then entered into the central host site database.
As the sample provider obtains additional samples, the sample provider can key in these later samples by hand, tagging the fields as desired. Alternatively, the sample provider can send the sample information to the central host site for tagging and entry of the sample into the central host site database.
By subscribing to the WIM system, sample providers may be relieved of the need to manage their own inventory and can instead choose to rely upon the monitoring and updating services provided by the WIM system. Each subscribing sample provider is afforded a designated password-protected xe2x80x9cshelf spacexe2x80x9d with which they can do as they wish, providing them with what is essentially a worldwide storefront window and at very low cost to them. Because the inventory management system is web integrated, sample providers can access their inventories from any location having Internet access.
Researchers and other sample buyers search the WIM system database by specifying desired criteria by field. The WIM search engine searches the central web site database for matches to the request according to the information provided in the tagged fields. If a sample matching the request is not available, the buyer can place the request on a listing of desired but currently unavailable samples, i.e., a wish list. Responsive to a posting on the wish list, the WIM host site automatically generates email messages to subscribing sample providers, informing the sample providers of the desired criteria and that a prospective buyer has posted a request to purchase a sample meeting these criteria.
If a sample provider has, or subsequently obtains, a sample matching the criteria of a wish list item, the sample may be added to that provider""s inventory as a new sample. The WIM host site automatically and routinely compares existing inventory sample data to items listed on the wish list. Upon detecting a match between the new sample and a specific wish list request item, the WIM host site generates an email notifying the buyer that a sample meeting his or her wish list criteria is available, and prompts purchase.
If a sample meeting all the specified criteria is available, the buying sequence may be initiated. This sequence is commenced by the buyer requesting availability of the sample. Responsive to this request, the WIM host site generates an email to the appropriate sample provider. The email includes a hyperlink to the host site. The sample provider confirms sample availability by clicking on the hyperlink and then checking which samples are available. The WIM host site then generates and sends an email to the buyer identifying the confirmed samples.
To purchase, the buyer selects a form of purchase, e.g., purchase order, wire, credit card, etc. Upon approval of the order by the central host site, a confirmation is sent to the buyer and to the sample provider, and the order is shipped.

Web-integrated inventory management system and method


The invention is directed to a rolling-lobe air spring having a flexible member made of elastomeric material. The flexible member defines the wall of the air spring and includes a reinforcement layer with two mutually-crossing cord-fabric layers. A rolling lobe is formed during the operating state of the air spring and changes with the reciprocating air spring action. An additional rubberized double-layer fabric having two mutually-crossing cord layers is arranged in the flexible member of the air spring in order to reduce the installation space needed for accommodating the air spring. This additional double-layer fabric extends directly from the clamped end region which lies opposite the rolling lobe and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the air spring or only partially over the non-rolling region of the flexible member. The thread angle of the additional cord-fabric layers is less than the thread angle of the reinforcement layer.

Rolling-lobe air springs have been widely used with success as motor-vehicle springs and especially for suspending the wheel axles of trucks and busses. The flexible member of the air spring is attached at one end to a roll-off piston which is usually made of metal or plastic. In the operating state, the piston moves within the flexible member which is pushed over the roll-off piston and defines a rolling lobe which rolls over the outer surface of the roll-off piston.
Technical problems often occur when mounting the rolling-lobe air spring in that the installation space available is very limited and, for example, individual components of the suspension assembly restrict installing the rolling-lobe air spring.


A double diffused region (65), (75), (85) is formed in an epitaxial layer (20). The double diffused region is formed by first implanting light implant specie such as boron through an opening in a photoresist layer prior to a hard bake process. Subsequent to a hard bake process heavy implant specie such as arsenic can be implanted into the epitaxial layer. During subsequent processing such as LOCOS formation the double diffused region is formed. A dielectric layer (120) is formed on the epitaxial layer (20) and gate structures (130), (135) are formed over the dielectric layer (120).

Lateral double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors are used in integrated circuits for high voltage applications. High voltage applications require that the LDMOS transistors have a low on resistance, a high off resistance, and a large electrical safe operating area. To increase the current handling capability of the LDMOS transistors on an integrated circuit a number of LDMOS transistors are often tied together. With the LDMOS transistors connected in parallel the current flow will be shared among the various LDMOS transistors. One scheme for forming multiple LDMOS transistors involves forming a multi-fingered structure. To ensure the proper distribution of current among the transistors in a multi-fingered structure it is important that the threshold voltages of the individual LDMOS transistor structures be closely matched. The threshold voltage of the LDMOS transistor is set by the multiple ion implantation processes used to form the transistor channel region. During this multiple ion implantation process a patterned photoresist masking layer is formed over the substrate and the dopant species implanted through patterned openings formed in the photoresist masking layer. In forming the multi-fingered LDMOS transistors required for high current applications a major limitation to obtaining closely matched threshold voltages is the variation in the resist angle of the various openings through which the dopants are implanted. The instant invention is a method for forming multi-fingered LDMOS transistors with closely matched threshold voltages.

Method to manufacture LDMOS transistors with improved threshold voltage control


A capacitive transducer a first part containing a first set of capacitor plates and a second part relatively movable in a plane to the first part. The second part contains a second set of capacitor plates. Both sets of capacitor plates are built on a substrate, wherein the capacitor plates form a plurality of capacitors. The second part is relatively movable in all six degrees of freedom. One set of the plurality of capacitors measures displacements in a plane and a second set of the plurality capacitors measures displacements perpendicular to the plane.

This invention relates to a multi-axis capacitive transducer and a manufacturing method for producing multi-axis capacitive sensors and actuators.
Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) comprise the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and electronics on a common silicon substrate through micro-fabrication processes. In the following context the term transducer is in a summarized manner used for capacitive sensors and for capacitive actuators.
The realisation of reliable force sensing during manipulation of micro-objects is an important objective of current research activities. At present, the most common technique used for force sensing in micromanipulation is that of strain gauges. Nowadays, micromanipulations are performed using either mobile micro-robots or a precise positioning device under control of an optical or scanning electron microscope. During the initial state of development, engineers have concentrated on the design of different micro-handling tools such as micro-grippers. Often sensor feedback is only given by the means of optical measurement, thus leading to a lack of information about the interaction forces between the end-effectors and the micro-components. In order to avoid breaking or damaging objects during the manipulation processes, force feedback is important for a proper functionality. To provide multi-axis force information is a requirement for complicated micromanipulation tasks.
Micro-machined accelerometers have been successful as commercial products. They are used for sophisticated control systems in airplanes and advanced automobiles. Many research has been done on a wide variety of sensing mechanisms, among them capacitive measurement. For new accelerometer technology to be attractive it must be low cost, reliable and perform well. Nowadays, no multi-axis accelerometers featuring 6 degrees of freedom measurement are commercially available.
Most multi-degrees of freedom sensors that have been developed in the last years are based on the piezo-electric effect. Only few works has been done on capacitive multi-degree of freedom sensors. The difference between state of the art capacitive multi-degrees of freedom sensors and the new sensor design presented here are discussed.
In <<A bulk micro fabricated multi-axis capacitive cellular force sensor using transverse comb drives>>, Sun Yu et al., Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, Vol. 12, 2002, pages 832-840, the design of a 2-DOF capacitive force sensor is presented. The disclosed sensor allows a measurement of forces only in the wafer plane Fx and Fy. Forces Fz perpendicular to the wafer plane and moments are not measurable.
A multi-axis micro accelerometer is presented in <<A 3-axis force balanced accelerometer using a single proof-mass>>, Mark A. Lemkin et al., Transducers 1997, International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Chicano, June 16-19, 1997, pages 1185-1188. Accelerations out of the wafer plane are measured by a change of overlapping area, which has a relatively small sensitivity. No capacitor plates in the xy-plane are used to measure displacements in z-direction.
The paper <<Detector for force/acceleration/magnetism with respect to components in multi-dimensional directions>>, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,196, discloses a sensor design which is not suitable for micro-fabrication. Electrodes are attached to the sidewalls of the fixed part and the movable body of the sensor, but they are not part of the mechanical structure.

Multi-axis capacitive transducer and manufacturing method for producing it


A furniture slide assembly includes a slide body with a top for supporting the furniture leg and also has a bottom surface with a substantially low coefficient of friction. A clamp assembly is affixed to and supported above the slide body assembly and includes a clamp body formed of a resilient material. The body has a first arm and an opposing second arm wherein the body, the first arm, and the second arm have an inner surface which defines a receiving aperture in the clamp body. The first arm and the second arm further define an opening therebetween. A clamp arm extends from a distal end of the first arm and is securable to the second arm.

The vast majority of people have their own unique space which they call home. Home may be a house which they own or rent, a condominium or an apartment. The interior of one's home contains many objects such as wall decorations and furniture to make the home comfortable and personalized to an individual's taste. In the course of living in the home over a period of time, most individuals also prefer some variety to keep the interior from becoming boring. While wall decorations such as pictures and knickknacks can readily be interchanged with other similar objects, the basic items of furniture did not have that flexibility. Furniture objects such as sofas, upholstered chairs, tables, and the like cannot be readily exchanged for other pieces of furniture due to cost and size limitations. However, the articles of furniture, as a result of being freestanding within a room, do lend themselves to be rearranged to present a degree of variety.
When rearranging or moving furniture, often more than one individual are required to accomplish the task because of the bulk and the weight of the articles of furniture. Consequently, some individuals may install casters on the legs to facilitate moving the furniture articles without needing to draft the services of another individual. However, casters are typically permanently affixed to the legs of the furniture and if resting on a hard surface will tend to move as a result of daily use requiring constant adjustment of the furniture placement. Alternatively, if the article of furniture rests upon a carpeted floor, the casters may not readily roll across the floor depending on the depth of the carpet pile. Therefore, casters have significant disadvantages and are not practical in a residential setting.
Another solution has been the temporary use of sliders solely for the purpose of moving the furniture over a short distance by placing the slider under each of the legs of the article of furniture and then removing the slider once the article of furniture has been repositioned. These sliders are typically comprised of a body having a depression in an upper surface and also having a bottom surface that has a relatively low coefficient of friction with the floor surface. With a slider placed under each leg the article of furniture can be pushed with minimal force to its desired placement at which time the sliders are then removed. However, if during movement of the article of furniture a corner of the furniture is raised or encounters a small obstacle, the furniture leg can become dislodged from the slider and impact the floor surface resulting in scratches to the floor, possible tearing of carpet, or damage to the furniture leg.
Therefore, a furniture slider is needed that can be temporarily secured to the leg of an article of furniture for the purpose of moving the article of furniture over a floor surface wherein the furniture slider will not become dislodged if the leg is raised or if the furniture slider encounters an obstacle on the floor.


An attachment for the top end of the ladder that maintains the top end of the ladder away from a vertical wall surface against which the ladder would ordinarily rest. The attachment has a general U-shape forming a pair of spaced apart legs each of which are laterally spaced from a side edge of the ladder. Each of these legs terminate in foot pads with these foot pads including an impaling device. Each impaling device is designed to penetrate a short distance the vertical wall surface when the weight of the human being approaches the upper end of the ladder. Each foot pad section includes retraction structure to retract the impaling device prior to usage. The legs are adjustable in spacing relative to the ladder. The attachment is pivotable between a forwardly extending position and a rearwardly extending position. Locking devices lock the attachment onto a rung of the ladder.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of this invention relates to an improvement to an attachment to the upper end of a ladder for stabilizing the ladder relative to a substantially vertical surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A ladder is commonly used to help people reach places they would not ordinarily reach. Ladders are often used to climb onto roofs of building and are used when washing windows or painting. In normal use, the bottom portion of the ladder rests on the ground or other similar horizontal surface and the upper end of the ladder typically leans against the vertical wall surface of a building or work surface. The ladder is oriented at an angle which makes it easy for a user to climb up and down the ladder and also aids in keeping the ladder from slipping.
The use of ladders in the United States is known to be a major cause of accidents each and every year. One problem with ladders is that there is lateral instability because the upper end of the ladder rests on the vertical surface with only the small width of the ladder defining the contact area with the vertical surface. When a person on the ladder and located at or near the upper ends extends laterally from the ladder when painting, cleaning or doing other type of work, the upper end of the ladder may be caused to slide along the vertical surface. This can cause the ladder and the person to fall to the horizontal supporting surface. Generally such falls cause injury to the person.
One of the problems with ladders is that their width is very narrow compared to their length which significantly increases the probability of lateral instability. Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to have a ladder that has a large lateral dimension in order to improve this lateral stability. However, significantly increasing the width of the ladder over its entire longitudinal length is not generally feasible since such increase in width will substantially increase not only the cost of manufacture but also decrease its portability by not facilitating being carried by a truck or other type of vehicle to the location of usage.
In order to increase the safety of operation of ladders, it has been common in the past to mount a ladder attachment to the upper end of the ladder. Typically such a ladder attachment is mounted on the uppermost rungs of the ladder and generally has a U-shaped configuration terminating in a pair of foot pad sections. The overall width between the foot pad sections is generally three to four times the width of the ladder. One foot pad section is laterally disposed a distance from one side edge of the ladder with the other foot pad section being disposed the same lateral distance from the opposite side of the ladder.
Generally these foot pad sections frictionally engage the wall surface and because of the increased lateral width, provide increased stability to the ladder minimizing the possibility of the ladder sliding on the vertical surface which can cause the person thereon to fall to the horizontal supporting surface. In the past these ladder attachments have been a significant improvement in the safety of ladders. However, these ladder attachments are not fail-safe and the upper end of the ladder can still slide on the vertical wall surface. Frequently this sliding is caused by the user himself who now feels the increased stability and therefore reaches even further laterally than one should until a sufficient imbalance is obtained and the ladder and the attachment both begin to slide.
Such ladder attachments in the past have not been designed to be adjustable. Adjustability is desired so the attachment will be usable in confined areas and also expandable to increased width in open areas. Also, adjustability is desired so the attachment will connect with different types of ladders. Also, it is desirable to lock the attachment to the ladder to prevent the attachment from falling free of the ladder during the time the ladder is moved. Such locking devices in the past have been quite complex requiring a lengthy installing procedure and have been expensive to manufacture, hence expensive to purchase by the user.


The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer in which histamine is administered in conjunction with other cancer therapies. The cancer therapy includes surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, the administration of an agent which enhances the humoral immune response of the patient or any combination thereof.

The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer in which histamine is administered in conjunction with other cancer therapies. The cancer therapy includes surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, the administration of an agent which enhances the humoral immune response of the patient or any combination thereof.
Despite tremendous advances over the past several years, current cancer therapies fail to cure many forms of cancer. The problems faced by investigators and clinicians are numerous. Some tumors are not resectable or do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy or combinations of these procedures. Furthermore, the severe morbidity often associated with these treatments has led many to look for entirely new approaches to tumor therapy that are more specifically lethal for cancer cells and less toxic for normal cells. Attempts to promote an immune response to the tumor by immunizing the cancer patient with killed cancer cells or antigens specific for cancer cells have been largely unsuccessful and the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as the xe2x80x9cmagic bulletxe2x80x9d to specifically destroy cancer cells without harming normal cells remains clinically limited. Methods that enhance the effectivity of known cancer therapies are desperately needed.
Surgery is touted by many to be the only potentially curative therapy for patients suffering from stomach, pancreatic, carcinoid and ovarian tumors. (Norton, Digestion 55(suppl 3):98-103 (1994)). Although surgery is often the indicated treatment for malignant disease, this form of cancer therapy has two major shortcomings. First, many tumors are not resectable because they are located in or have spread into vital structures. (Dvorak et al., Cancer Cells 3: 77-85 (1991)). While debulking of tumors in vital areas has been presented as an alternative, such procedures are felt by many to inadequately treat the disease and only improve the quality of life of the patient. (Norton, Digestion 55(suppl 3):98-103 (1994)). Second, by the time of diagnosis and removal of the primary tumor, many tumors have already metastasized. (Dvorak et al., Cancer Cells 3: 77-85 (1991)) and (Norton, Digestion 55(suppl 3):98-103 (1994)). Metastases, which tend to be multiple and wide spread, do not easily lend themselves to surgical excision and, consequently, many patients undergo major surgical procedures only to have rapid disease progression found soon after surgery. (Dvorak et al., Cancer Cells 3: 77-85 (1991)). While surgery remains a good first line of defense against cancer, oncologists are now also combining other treatment methods including radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to obtain better patient survival. (Hacker and van der Burg, Annals of Oncology 4 (suppl. 4): S17-S22 (1993)).
External beam radiation has replaced surgery for the long-term control of many tumors of the head and neck, cervix, bladder, prostate and skin, in which it often achieves a reasonable probability of tumor control with good cosmetic result. (Basic Clinical Radiobiology 2nd edition. Steel ed., Arnold Publishers, pp. 1-13 (1997)). External beam radiation is generally helpful for the treatment of localized tumors but this approach is also problematic because it causes considerable damage to surrounding cells and compromises the patient""s immune system. The use of radioactive xe2x80x9cseed implantsxe2x80x9d has provided more focus on tumor cells and less damage to surrounding tissue but a more specific means to deliver radiation to the tumor is needed. While radiation therapy is a good alternative to surgery, it is unable to treat a large percentage of cancers that are radiation-insensitive and, because of the high morbidity associated with high doses of external beam radiation, the use of radiation to treat metastastic disease is not desirable. (Dvorak et al., Cancer Cells 3: 77-85 (1991)).
Many forms of antibody therapy to treat cancer have also been reported. Early antibody therapy treatments relied almost entirely on complement fixation to kill tumor cells. (Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Eds. Abul K Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, and Jordan S. Pober, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia (1991)). Recently, greater success has been achieved using antibodies which block cancer cell growth factor receptors. (Wong, Genetic Engineering News pp.23 and 49 (July 1998) and Ashley et al., J of Neuro-Oncology 35:259-273 (1997)). The use of antibody conjugates which bind tumor cells with cytotoxic substances such as toxic molecules or radioisotopes has also seen promising results. (Larson et al., ACTA Oncologica 32:709-715 (1993); Quack and van Dongen, Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 251:1-5 (1994); Frankel et al., Cancer Biology 6:307-317 (1995); Mach et al., Curr Op in Immunol 3:685-693 (1191) and Recent Results in Cancer Research vol 141:Systemic Radiotherapy with Monoclonal Antibodies. edited by M. L. Sautter-Bihl and M Wannenmacher, Springer-Verlag publishers, (1996)). Another innovative antibody treatment for cancer uses antibody heteroconjugatesxe2x80x94dual purpose antibodies which direct bound cancer cells to phagocytic cells of the immune system. (Wong, Genetic Engineering News pp.23 and 49 (July 1998)). Preliminary clinical trials with mAb heteroconjugates have shown promise in the treatment of renal and prostate cancer. (Id.).
Although a variety of tumor cells can be lysed in vitro by antibody-dependent mechanisms such as complement activation or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, few therapies based on enhancing the humoral response of a subject have been clinically successful. (Sedlacek, Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 5(6):555-587 (1994)). In one study, patients suffering from melanoma were administered a vaccine containing a mixture of three allogenic melanoma cell lines and showed a 71% 10-year actuarial survival as opposed to the 40% 10-year actuarial survival demonstrated by melanomic patients who received a single cell line vaccine. (Slingluff and Seigler, Ann Plast Surg 28:104-107 (1992)). In another study, however, leukemic patients immunized with killed leukemia cells failed to demonstrate any significant improvement. (Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Eds. Abul K Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, and Jordan S. Pober, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia (1191)).
In an attempt to improve cancer vaccines, researchers have tried numerous strategies to make the cancer cell vaccines more antigenic. (Sedlacek, Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 5(6):555-587 (1994)). Studies on immunization with plasmid DNA encoding defined tumor antigens or with a complex comprising hydrophobized polysaccharides attached to an oncogenic receptor protein, for example, may show greater clinical success. (Tuting et al., J Mol Med 75:478-491 (1997) and Gu et al. Cancer Research 58:3385-3390 (1998)). At present investigators have had limited success with treating cancer by administering agents which enhance the humoral response of the patient and approaches to improve the effectivity of this form of treatment are needed.
Despite recent progress in cancer therapy, many problems persist. Tumors often metastasize, grow in sensitive areas and are not treatable by surgery or radiation. (Dvorak et al., Cancer Cells 3: 77-85 (1191)). Tumor cells also generally avoid immunosurveillance in the cancer patient and most current vaccines poorly trigger a cancer patient""s immune system to overcome this immunotolerant state. (Sedlacek; Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 5(6):555-587 (1994)). Further, the use of antibody therapies such as immunotoxins, immunoradionuclides, immunoheteroconjugates, and receptor specific antibodies has been limited by low-level expression of the targeted tumor associated antigen, low-affinity mAbs, inefficient radionuclides, non-specific toxicity of the antibody conjugate and poor tumor uptake of the therapeutic agent. (Ashley et al., J of Neuro-Oncology 35:259-273 (1997); Frankel et al., Cancer Biology 6:307-317 (1995); Mach et al., Curr Op in Immunol. 3:685-693 (1191) and Sedlacek, Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 5(6):555-587 (1994)). The need for an agent that enhances current methods of cancer therapy has long been manifest.
The present invention provides novel methods of treating cancer in which histamine is administered in conjunction with conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and agents which enhance the humoral immune response of the patient. In one embodiment, a method of augmenting a cancer therapy encompasses administering to a subject a pharmaceutically acceptable form of histamine over a period of time such that a blood histamine concentration sufficient to augment the cancer therapy is achieved and administering to the subject a cancer therapy such as surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and an agent which enhances the humoral response of the subject.
Preferably, a pharmaceutically acceptable form of histamine is used such as histamine, histamine dihydrochloride, histamine phosphate, histamine salts, esters, congeners, prodrugs, histamine receptor agonists and diphenyleneiodonium. The types of radiation therapy which can be used include external beam radiation, radionuclides, radioactive implants, radioactive antibodies, radioactive lipids, radioactive proteins, radioactive glycolipids and radioactive glycoproteins. The types of immunotherapy which can be used include the administration of a monoclonal antibody, a humanized monoclonal antibody, an Fab, an (Fabxe2x80x2)2, an Fv, an antibody conjugate, an Fab conjugate, an (Fabxe2x80x2)2 conjugate, an Fv conjugate and an antibody heteroconjugate. Several types of agents which enhance the humoral response of the subject can be used including viral antigens, cancer cell antigens, inactivated cancer cells, vaccines, and vitamers.
Histamine is administered in such a manner that a stable blood histamine concentration is maintained during the administration of the cancer therapy to the subject. Histamine can be administered to the subject indirectly by administering a substance which induces the release of endogenous histamine such as retinoic acid, a retinoid, IL-3 or an ingestible allergen. Histamine can be administered prior to administering the cancer therapy, after administering the cancer therapy, or during administration of the cancer therapy. Furthermore, histamine is administered in a dose from 0.1 to 10.0 milligrams per day.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of screening cancer treatments in which a non-human mammal, having been grafted with human tumor cells, is administered histamine and a cancer therapy, such as a radioactive substance, an antibody, an agent that enhances the humoral immune response of the non-human mammal, radiation, or surgery. After administering the cancer therapy, the tumorcidal response of the non-human mammal is then determined at various time points. According to this method, monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies conjugated to a compounds such as a toxin, a radioactive substance, a radionuclide, an antibody fragment or a second antibody, a vaccine (including killed cancer cells), a radioactive seed implant or external beam radiation can be used.
Histamine is a biogenic amine, i.e., an amino acid that possesses biological activity mediated by pharmacological receptors after decarboxylation. The role of histamine in immediate-type hypersensitivity is well-established. (Plaut, M. and Lichtenstein, L. M, 1982, Histamine and Immune Responses in Pharmacology of Histamine Receptors. Ganellin, C. R. and M. E. Parsons, eds. John Wright and Sons, Bristol, pp. 392-435). Histamine also mediates arteriole dilation which causes a rise in capillary and venule pressure. (Majno et al., J Cell Bio 42:647-672 (1969)). Furthermore, histamine induces contraction of endothelial cells resulting in the formation of intercellular gaps and extravasation of blood vessels. (Id.).
The present invention is based on the unexpected discovery that histamine produces a synergistic tumorcidal response when it is administered in conjunction with surgery, radiation, antibody therapy or agents which enhance the humoral response of a cancer patient.
By xe2x80x9chistaminexe2x80x9d is meant histamine, its dihydrochloride salt (histamine dihydrocholride), histamine phosphate, other histamine salts, esters, or prodrugs, and histamine receptor (H1, H2, H3) agonists. Seratonin, bradykinin, diphenyleneiodonium and 5HT agonists are also contemplated. Other analogs of histamine or histamine receptor agonists that are suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 5,728,378 and are known to those of skill in the art. The administration of compounds which induce the release of endogenous histamine from the patient""s own tissues are also included within the scope of the present invention; thus, the term xe2x80x9chistaminexe2x80x9d as used herein incorporates these compounds as well.
By xe2x80x9ccancer therapyxe2x80x9d is meant surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, antibody therapy and agents which enhance the humoral immune response of a patient suffering from cancer. xe2x80x9cCancer therapyxe2x80x9d may also include combinations of the treatments mentioned above. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several combinations of the above cancer therapy methods produce synergistic effects on malignancies. Optimization of such combination treatment protocols in conjunction with histamine treatment, as detailed below, would be routine.
By xe2x80x9csurgeryxe2x80x9d is meant surgical procedures to remove cancer cells from a patient including but not limited to tumor resection and/or debulking of a tumor. Established methods of surgical oncology vary according to the type of tumor and the patient""s particular situation. Examples of surgical techniques are found in Surgical Oncolog edited by Raphael E. Pollock; Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997.
By xe2x80x9cradiation therapyxe2x80x9d is meant the application of external beam radiation or the administration of radioactive substances to a cancer patient including but not limited to radionuclides, radioactive implants, radioactive antibodies or radioactive proteins. Many approaches to radiation therapy are known in the art and examples can be found in Basic Clinical Radiobiology (second edition), edited by G. Gordon Steel, Arnold publishers, 1997.
By xe2x80x9cantibody therapyxe2x80x9d is meant the administration of an antibody, an antibody conjugate or an antibody heteroconjugate to a cancer patient for the purpose of treating or preventing cancer. Many forms of antibody therapy are known in the art including, but not limited to, the administration of monoclonal or humanized monoclonal antibodies, the administration of toxin or radionuclide conjugated antibodies and the administration of monoclonal antibody heteroconjugates having one domain that binds to a cancer antigen and another domain that binds to the Fc region of IgG. Further, the term antibody therapy is meant to include the administration of (Fabxe2x80x2)2 or Fab fragments with or without conjugated toxins or radionuclides. Several examples of antibody therapy are found in Recent Results in Cancer Research vol 141:Systemic Radiotherapy with Monoclonal Antibodies, edited by M. L. Sautter-Bihl and M. Wannenmacher, Springer-Verlag publishers, 1996.
By xe2x80x9cagents which enhance the humoral immune responsexe2x80x9d is meant substances which are administered to a cancer patient for the purpose of enhancing their humoral immune response. Many methods of enhancing the humoral immune response of a patient suffering with cancer are known, including but not limited to, the administration of viral antigens, cancer cell antigens, inactivated cancer cells, vaccines and vitamers including ascorbic acid, tocopherol and betacarotene.
The administration of histamine can follow several treatment regimens and the following protocols are meant to exemplify some of the ways to use the present invention but they are not intended to limit the scope of the present discovery. The present invention includes the delivery of a beneficial amount of histamine to the cancer patient before, during or after the administration of an established form of cancer therapy such as surgery, radiation, antibody therapy or an agent which enhances the humoral immune response of the patient.
Beneficial levels of circulating blood histamine are obtained by administering histamine at a dosage of around 0.1 to 10.0 mg/day, preferably around 0.5 to 8.0 mg/day and more preferably around 1.0 to 5.0 mg/day. In a further embodiment, the histamine is administered over a period of 1-4 weeks. In a highly preferred embodiment, the histamine is administered for a period of 1-2 weeks. In one embodiment of the invention, a beneficial stable level of circulating blood histamine concentration (i.e a stable level of circulating blood histamine concentration of at least about 0.2 xcexcM) is maintained.
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the patient""s circulating blood histamine level can also be monitored during the course of treatment and boosted whenever the level drops below the beneficial level or approaches the lower limits of the beneficial level. For example, in this embodiment, histamine can be administered whenever the subject""s histamine levels drop below 0.2 xcexcM. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that histamine can be administered at periodic intervals at dosages sufficient to establish and maintain beneficial levels.
Routes and carrier compositions for administering histamine have been disclosed in U.S. Pat, Nos. 5,348,739 and 5,728,378, which are incorporated herein by reference. Controlled release vehicles are also well-known to those of skill in the pharmaceutical sciences. The technology and products in this art are variably referred to as controlled release, sustained release, prolonged action, depro, repository, delayed action, retarded release and time release; the words xe2x80x9ccontrolled releasexe2x80x9d as used herein is intended to incorporate each of the foregoing technologies. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/767,338 also discloses numerous controlled release vehicles as well as infusion devices for use in the administration of histamine.
Preferably, the histamine is injected, infused or released into the patient at a rate of from about 0.5 to 0.2 mg per minute. A rate of about 0.1 mg per minute is preferred. The histamine is preferably administered over a period of time ranging from about 1, 3 or 5 minutes to about 30 minutes, with an upper limit of about 20 minutes being preferred, such that the total daily adult dose of histamine ranges from between about 0.1 to about 10.0 mg, with about 1.0 to about 5.0 mg being preferred. Histamine administered over longer periods of time (i.e., longer than about 30 minutes) has been found to result in a decrease or lack of efficacy, while rapid administration over less than 1 to 3 minutes can cause more pronounced and serious sides effects, which include anaphalaxis, heart failure, broncospasm, pronounced flushing, discomfort, increased heart rate and respiratory rate, hypertension, and severe headache.
Administration of each dose of histamine can occur from once a day to up to about four times a day, with twice a day being preferred. Administration can be subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraoccular, oral, transmucosal, or transdermal, and can utilize direct hypodermic or other injection or infusion means, or can be mediated by a controlled release mechanism of the type disclosed above. Any controlled release vehicle or infusion device capable of administering a therapeutically effective amount of histamine over a period of time ranging from about 1 to about 30 minutes can be used.
In addition to histamine, histamine dihydrochloride, histamine phosphate, or other histamine salts, esters, congeners, prodrugs and histamine receptor agonists, the use of seratonin, 5HT agonists, and compounds which induce the release of histamine from the patient""s own tissues is also included within the scope of the present invention. Retinoic acid, other retinoids such as 9-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid, IL-3 and ingestable allergens are compounds which are known to induce the release of endogenous histamine. These compounds can be administered to the patient by oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or other approved routes. However, the administration of the compound which induces the release of histamine from the patient""s own tissue should result in a release of endogenous histamine in the range of from about 0.1 to 10.0 mg/day , preferably around 0.5 to 8.0 mg/day and more preferably around 1.0 to 5.0 mg/day.
Administration of each dose of a compound which induces histamine release can occur from once per day to up to about 4 times per day, with twice per day being preferred. Administration can be subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraoccular, oral, transmucosal, or transdermal, and can incorporate a controlled released mechanism of the type disclosed above. Any controlled release vehicle capable of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which induces histamine release over a period of time ranging from about 1 to about 30 minutes can be used.
Malignancies against which the treatment may be directed include, but are not limited to, primary and metastic malignant solid tumor disease, and hematological malignancies such as acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute and chronic lymphatic leukemia, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom""s macroglobulinemia, hairy cell leukemia, myelodisplastic syndrome, polycytaemia vera, and essential thrombocytosis.

Synergistic tumorcidal response induced by histamine


The present invention relates to a system for obtaining strain corresponding to an object's deformation by radially-tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The system acquires at least a ring-shaped crown region of Fourier domain (k-space) data for at least two sequential images of a radially-tagged object at different phases of deformation of the radially-tagged object. A first image represents a primary state of the radially-tagged object and a second image represents a secondary state of the radially-tagged object. Additionally, the images include radial tag lines. The first and second images are reconstructed as a reconstructed primary-state image and a reconstructed secondary-state image. The images are reconstructed as weighted by circumferential density of the radial tag lines, such that they are “tag line density-weighted” reconstructed images. Circumferential strain of the radially-tagged object is determined by comparing the two images.

(1) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for measuring strain and, more particularly, to a method for measuring circumferential strain from radially-tagged, short-axis magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of an object.
(2) Background
As the heart beats, the heart's wall contracts longitudinally and rotates laterally. During a heart contraction, the cardiac muscle along the short-axis (SA) of the heart thickens in response to the longitudinal and lateral contraction of the heart. Infracted myocardium reduces the effectiveness of the heart contraction and may be detected by calculating circumferential strain.
Circumferential strain is a quantitative value used to describe the regional and global amplitude of a myocardial contraction and is an important parameter in the quantitative evaluation of heart failure. Clinically, this quantitative evaluation may be used to describe the strength of a heart contraction.
Several methods currently exist for calculating the circumferential strain in the heart. Tagging the SA slices in the radial direction by appropriate modulation of the longitudinal magnetization produces information that can be used to calculate circumferential strain.
Although methods vary, in general, most calculations of this strain are accomplished by using a particle tracking method. Strain calculation therefore comprises particle tracking to obtain the displacement field of the beating heart, followed by spatial differentiation of the obtained displacement field, which is a very noise sensitive process. Therefore, calculation of strain usually requires a time consuming and inaccurate image processing.
One method of determining through plane strain is Strain ENCoding (SNEC) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). SNEC MRI calculates the through plane strain for an imaging plane. SNEC MRI is unable to encode the in-plane strains including circumferential strain.
Therefore, what is needed is a method for encoding the circumferential compression of the heart in a robust way, without taking spatial derivatives and with the ability to measure strain along several SA planes simultaneously and in real-time. There also exists a need for a method for measuring the regional circumferential strain in the SA planes with minimal calculations for tissue tracking. Finally, a need also exists for a method for calculating circumferential strain that may be combined with a different kind of different MRI pulse sequences.

Method for obtaining strain from radially-tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)


In one aspect, the invention provides a catalyst for converting diesel type liquid hydrocarbons to methane rich gas. The catalyst includes a nickel component, a cerium oxide component, and gadolinium oxide component. The catalysts provide high conversion, selectivity, and stability compare to the state of the art commercial catalysts. The catalyst compositions can improve the overall fuel cell efficiency for both mobile and stationary fuel cell applications.

The present invention relates to diesel pre-reforming catalysts for use with diesel to create a methane-rich syngas for fuel cells. Pre-reforming partially completes a steam reforming reaction at a much lower temperature than steam reforming and using a highly active catalyst. Pre-reforming processes convert heavy hydrocarbons into methane-rich syngas. Catalytic pre-reforming typically reforms feedstocks from natural gas up to naphthas. Diesel, however, is an attractive hydrocarbon fuel for fuel cells. Diesel has the advantages of high energy density, well-constructed infrastructure, and safety. While natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and the like are converted through pre-reforming relatively easily, diesel cannot be easily pre-reformed. Diesel is a liquid fuel that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, including saturates, olefins and aromatics. The wide boiling range of the components creates complexities relative to mixing, evaporation, methane generation, catalyst fouling and fuel input steps that are not at issue with lower weight hydrocarbons.
Solid oxide fuel cells ("SOFC") use methane and hydrogen, as well as carbon monoxide. SOFC systems are less complex than other fuel cells because they have fuel flexibility. SOFC are capable of internally reforming methane. The internal reforming of methane also suppresses temperature increases in a SOFC stack. Heat generated from SOFC is accumulated in the SOFC stack. Unless the heat is properly released, the temperature of upper cells increases. This can lead to the failures of SOFC, as well as failures of sealant and interconnect materials. Internal reforming of methane is one manner of addressing the heat issue because the reaction by which methane is reformed is endothermic.
Diesel pre-reforming has historically experienced problems with coke formation and low operating temperature activity reduction. Diesel reforming catalysts are readily deactivated by coke formation. These types of heavy hydrocarbons are more prone to coke formation than light hydrocarbons. Coke formation is the main deactivation mechanism of these catalysts. In addition, pre-reforming is preferably operated at lower temperature than other reforming methods in order to encourage methane production. Pre-reforming is generally operated under 500° C. because the presence of methane is favorable at these temperature ranges. However, catalytic activity is typically proportional to the operating temperature. Therefore, the lower the operating temperature, the lower the activity of the catalyst. It would be advantageous to develop a catalyst with high tolerance to coke formation and high activity under 500° C. as a diesel pre-reforming catalyst.
Commercial catalysts are available for naphtha pre-reforming processes. However, the these commercial catalysts are not very useful or effective when used in a diesel pre-reforming processes. Diesel is more prone to coke formation than naphtha. Therefore, catalytic activities are degraded rapidly in diesel pre-reforming conditions.
Catalyst development is required for diesel pre-reforming processes. In a pre-reforming process, diesel is reformed into syngas before being fed to SOFC systems. Pre-reforming is operated without an oxygen feed and at lower than 500° C. Therefore, pre-reforming has higher efficiency than other reforming methods. However, a highly active catalyst is required for diesel pre-reforming because of characteristic of diesel and low operation temperature. No commercial catalysts are currently available for diesel pre-reforming. Additionally, no commercial catalysts are available to process diesel type liquid hydrocarbons to methane rich gas that can provide high fuel conversion, selectivity, and stability.

Ni/CGO and Ni-Ru/CGO based pre-reforming catalysts formulation for methane rich gas production from diesel processing for fuel cell applications

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A compiler determines executability of loop fusion, for each of a plurality of loops existing in a code to be processed, based on performance information of a system where the code to be processed is executed and based on operands and number of data transfers executed inside each of the loops. Then, the compiler executes fusion of loop processing in accordance with a determination result of executability of the loop fusion.

A compiler generates an object code by reading and optimizing a source code described in a programming language. In the compiler, loop fusion is utilized as an optimization technique to improve data locality, reduce the cost required for repeating determination processing for loops, and speed up the execution performance. The loop fusion is executed by fusing the loops in the case where an initial value, a final value, and an incremental value of the adjacent loops are identical and dependency between the loops does not collapse when the loops are fused, thereby reducing the number of determination times for a multiple-loop processing structure existing inside a source program.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 09-114675
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 62-35944
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-104422
However, there may be a problem of causing data access latency or arithmetic processing latency after the loop fusion only with the above-described conditions of loop fusion, inducing ineffective loop fusion.
For instance, even when the loops are adjacent to each other and have the identical initial values, final values, incremental values, in the case of fusing the loops having number of data accesses more than operands, the data access latency occurs, thereby not improving the performance. In the same manner, in the case of fusing the loops having the operands more than the number of data accesses, the arithmetic processing latency occurs, thereby not improving the performance.

Computer-readable recording medium, compiling method, and information processing apparatus


A system and method in a radio telecommunications network for correlating speech quality over an air interface link with a plurality of radio quality parameters. The system includes a mobile switching center (MSC) for recording uplink radio quality information from the air interface link, a mobile test tool for recording downlink radio quality information from the air interface link, a parser for parsing the radio quality information into the plurality of radio quality parameters, and a memory for storing the parsed radio quality information. A digital audio tape (DAT) recorder or personal computer (PC) is electronically connected to a mobile station for recording a speech conversation from the air interface link simultaneously with the recording of the radio quality information. A DAT-link interface is utilized to interface the DAT recorder with a playback unit and with a synchronizer/controller which synchronizes the stored radio quality information and the stored speech conversation. The radio quality parameters are presented to the operator in graphical form on a visual display while the speech conversation is simultaneously presented to the operator in audio form. The operator enters a subjective evaluation of the speech quality of the speech conversation, and the evaluation is correlated with the radio quality parameters and displayed on the visual display.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cellular telecommunications network and, more particularly, to a system and method of evaluating the speech and radio quality of a telecommunications system.
2. Description of Related Art
Techniques exist in cellular telecommunications networks for gathering information relating to the radio quality of the air interface link between a base station and a mobile station. Various radio quality parameters such as Signal Strength (SS), Bit Error Rate (BER), Frame Erasure Rate (FER), Frequency Error (FRE), Time Alignment (TA), and mobile station Power Level (PL) have been utilized in attempts to identify parameters directly or indirectly impacting the speech quality on air interface links. However, systems for the analysis, organization, and presentation of this data to system operators have been lacking. Moreover, there has not been a system for directly correlating measured radio quality parameters with subjective evaluations of the speech quality of a particular air interface link.
Although there are no known prior art teachings of a solution to the aforementioned deficiency and shortcoming such as that disclosed herein, German Patent DE 4442613A1 to Peschel et al. discusses subject matter that bears some relation to matters discussed herein. Peschel discloses a mobile recording device which may be utilized to record signals over the air interface and generate values for the radio quality parameters. However, Peschel does not teach or suggest a system or method of analyzing, organizing, and presenting this data to system operators. Moreover, Peschel does not teach or suggest a system or method of directly correlating measured radio quality parameters with subjective evaluations of the speech quality of a particular air interface link.
Review of the foregoing reference reveals no disclosure or suggestion of a system or method such as that described and claimed herein.
In order to overcome the disadvantage of existing solutions, it would be advantageous to have a system and method of analyzing, organizing, and presenting to system operators, radio quality data from the air interface link. Such a system and method could also enable direct correlation of measured radio quality parameters with subjective evaluations of the speech quality of a particular air interface link. The present invention provides such a system and method.

Method and device for simultaneously recording and presenting radio quality parameters and associated speech


A method for configuring a cluster for a terminal device in a wireless network. The method is performed at a network node, such as a base station or a radio network controller. The terminal device can establish at least two concurrent connections to at least one network node in the cluster. The method comprises dynamically adjusting a configuration of the cluster and informing the terminal device of the adjusted configuration so that connectivity of the terminal device in the cluster is adapted to the adjusted configuration. Correspondingly, there is also provided an apparatus embodied at or as at least part of the network node.

This section introduces aspects that may facilitate better understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
Wireless 5G (fifth generation) systems will not only be "4G (fourth generation), but faster". One of novel features discussed in relation to 5G is Ultra-Reliable Communication (URC), an operation mode not present in today's wireless systems. URC refers to provision of a certain level of communication service almost 100% of the time. Example URC applications include reliable cloud connectivity, critical connections for industrial automation and reliable wireless coordination among vehicles. URC represents a new performance feature that needs to be targeted in designing future wireless systems. The URC in 5G is expected to place stringent requirements on connection reliability and latency. In an extreme case, the reliability greater than 99.999% might be required (see Mobile and wireless communications Enablers for the Twenty-twenty Information Society (METIS), Document Number: ICT-317669-METIS/D1.1). It is difficult to meet these requirements by means of single connectivity.
Moreover, the frequency range targeted in a non-backward compatible system in 5G, which may also be called NX (NeXt generation), covers 1 GHz up to 100 GHz. Due to addition of a high frequency spectrum to the cellular operation, high gain beamforming is a "must" to compensate negative effects due to unfavorable radio propagation properties. One issue with high gain beamforming is that a serving beam is optimal only for a small area, and expectedly a small fraction of time. When a user equipment (UE) moves, the serving beam may deteriorate very fast which makes UE mobility in NX a challenge.
In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 12, small cell enhancement has been studied. For higher layer enhancement, dual connectivity has been introduced to solve some problems, like power imbalance and mobility issues with densely deployment of small cells in heterogeneous networks. In 3GPP TR 36.842 V12.0.0, it is specified that a term "dual connectivity" is used to refer to an operation where a given UE consumes radio resources provided by at least two different network points connected with a non-ideal backhaul. Furthermore, each eNB involved in dual connectivity for a UE may assume different roles. Those roles do not necessarily depend on the eNB's power class and can vary among UEs. Dual connectivity consists in configuring a UE with one master eNB (MeNB) and at least one secondary eNB (SeNB). The UE can connect to one MeNB and one SeNB concurrently, while different frequencies are used between the MeNB and SeNB. The target of dual connectivity in LTE is to separate control plane from user plane and improve user throughput by aggregating transmissions from different nodes, but contributing less to system robustness or reliability and downlink/uplink decoupling.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for configuring a cluster


A knife blade clamp for a Carthage-Norman type of log chipper and having a substantially right triangular cross-sectional contour having an upper face, back face and hypotenuse surface, is provided with a series of slots on its back face. The slots communicate between an elongated depression on the back face and the hypotenune surface. By virtue of the series of slots, there is less accumulation of fine dust adjacent the back face which would thwart the removability of the associated knife for servicing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to knife assemblies for disk-type chippers, and more particularly concerns an improved knife clamp which reduces the propensity for sawdust buildup behind the knife clamp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous log chippers have been disclosed in the prior art and tire in widespread industrial use. Various knife holding arrangements have been employed for disposing a sharpened blade outwardly from a cutting disc. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,265 to Vanek, U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,016 to Nicholson et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,793 to Miller disclose knife holding devices for use in log chippers. One well known chipper is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,337 to Nettles et al. The chipper there described is of the well known Carthage-Norman design in which a vertically disposed disc rotates upon a horizontal drive shaft. The disc is covered by a removable housing, and a spout projects from the housing for receiving logs. The logs are fed end-on to a series of radially disposed knives carried by the disc. The knives are clamped in place at cutting stations around the front face of the disc. Chip slot passages extending through the disc are situated adjacent each cutting station. The wood chips cut from the logs move through the chip passages and are ejected from the rear face of the disc. The spout or feeder has a stationary bedknife that cooperates with the rotary knives so that the logs are cut into uniform chips suitable to be supplied, e.g., to a digester of a wood pulping process.
The blades of the knife assemblies are the parts of the chipper most subject to wear. Ideally the blades should be easy to replace and accurately adjust. In a typical use situation, the blades are changed about every 8 to 12 hours of service, sometimes more, depending on cutting conditions.
In the Carthage-Norman design, at each cutting station the knife assembly is comprised of a fixed knife holder securely fastened to the front face of the disc by means of threaded members such as studs or bolts. A knife, or knife assembly, is mounted at an angle of about thirty to forty-five degrees with respect to the associated chip slot. The cutting edge of the knife resides within the chip slot. The knife holder has a sloping abutment surface which contacts the front surface of the knife. A clamping member, seated within a recess in the front face of the disc, is urged toward the front face of the disc by means of threaded bolts whose heads are disposed on the rear face of the disc. A sloping front face on the clamping member is adapted to contact the rear surface of the knife, which contains the cutting edge. The knife is thereby sandwiched between the abutment surface of the knife holder and sloping front face of the clamping member.
A particular difficulty encountered in the use and maintenance of the Carthage-Norman chipper is the great frequency with which the knives must be removed for resharpening, and the difficulty in removing the blades.
The typical procedure for knife removal involves loosening the threaded bolts that forwardly urge the clamping member. Springs which interact between the clamping member and the disc are intended to pull the clamping member rearwardly, away from the knife. However, with continued use, the springs become ineffective in retracting the clamping member. When this happens, forceful hammering upon the ends of the blades, and prying manipulations are required to dislodge the blade. Eventually the clamping member must be completely removed for cleaning. This practice is time consuming and requires significant machine down-time. The beating and prying on knife blades has a deleterious effect upon the blades, often causing chips and bends which require greater grinding in the sharpening process, resulting in curtailed knife blade life. Furthermore, this process diminishes the life of the disc itself which is costly to replace, and creates a major loss of machine time.
There is also a safety concern in the process of hammering and prying knife blades loose. Often a hammer, pry bar or blade may slip or drop, causing serious injury to maintenance personnel. The difficulty of changing knife blades is perceived by those in the industry as a generally disagreeable task and therefore negatively affects employee moral and job satisfaction.
It has now been found that the ineffectiveness of the springs in retracting the clamping member is caused by the accumulation of dust behind the clamping member.
It is obvious that a knife which is easier to change could greatly improve machine and parts life expectancy, productivity, industrial safety, and worker satisfaction.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved knife clamp for a wood chipper substantially of the Carthage-Norman type.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a clamp of the aforesaid type which has a significantly lower propensity toward sawdust collection and buildup.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a clamp of the aforesaid type which is easily loosened to provide convenience in the removal and reinstallation of a knife blade.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a clamp of the aforesaid type which secures an associated knife blade, and is easily retrofitted to existing chippers.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a clamp of the aforesaid type which is durable and amenable to low cost manufacture.
These and other beneficial objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.


A bag clamping device for holding a bag to be filled, especially a bag with side folds, on a filling neck, the bag clamping device being formed by: a first pair of clamps, each comprising clamping members for holding opposed first bag wall segments on the filling neck, and a second pair of clamps each comprising pairs of clamping members, the pair of second clamping members comprising first surface parts which, in pairs, rest against one another in such a way that any bag wall parts positioned in front of the end faces are gripped and held in the bag edge region, as well as second surface parts which are arranged at an angle relative to the first surface parts which are adapted to the end faces and guiding plates of the swung-out expanding flaps for the purpose of holding the remaining free bag wall parts tightly around the filling neck.

The invention relates to a device for clamping bags around the exit end of the filling neck of a system for filling bags. A known system of this type is the 3200 Series Slidell-Matic System manufactured by Slidell (USA), which includes a bag clamping device. A system of this type is particularly suitable for handling bags with side folds, in which case the bags are pulled over the filling neck with the side folds already folded and are then taken over by a second pair of clamps so that during the subsequent filling operation, the side folds in the region of the bag opening do not open up. Consequently, there is no need for the side folds to be refolded and realigned after the filling operation to permit subsequent closing of the bag; in particular, there is no need for folding over the bag edge prior to the final sewing or gluing operation.
Such bag clamping devices are also advantageous for simple flat bags, especially bags with so-called "pinch-tops", in which the upper bag edge is also folded over for closing purposes. In this case, too, it is essential for the side fold of the bag to remain in its accurate position, i.e., the two bag walls have to be held one against the other in the region of the side edges.
With the above-mentioned device, the bags, after having been slipped on to the filling neck, are held by the first pairs of clamps on the surfaces of the expanding flaps and are fixed by the second pairs of clamps in the region of their side edges at some distance in front of the end faces. Subsequently, suction ports are introduced into the open bag opening in front of the end faces of the filling neck the purpose of such ports being to suck out any air and, in consequence, dust displaced during the filling process. For this purpose, the second pairs of clamps are moved close to the suction ports. Close contact with the planar surfaces of the suction ports and of the expanding flaps is ensured by the resulting vacuum. However, the said devices are also advantageous for simple flat bags, especially bags with so-called "pinch-tops", in the case of which the upper bag edge is also folded over for closing purposes. In this case, too, it is essential for the side fold of the bag to remain in its accurate position, i.e., the two bag walls have to be held one against the other in the region of the side edges.
With the above-mentioned device, the bags, after having been slipped on to the filling neck, are held by the first pairs of clamps on the surfaces of the expanding flaps and are fixed by the second pairs of clamps in the region of their side edges at some distance away from the end faces. Subsequently, suction ports are introduced into the bag opening in front of the end faces of the filling neck, the purpose of such ports being to suck out any air and, in consequence, dust displaced during the filling process. For this purpose, the second pairs of clamps are moved close to the suction ports. Close contact with the planar surfaces of the suction ports and of the expanding flaps is ensured by the vacuum created by the suction ports.


A welding apparatus using ultrasonic sensing is described and which includes a movable welder having a selectively adjustable welding head for forming a partially completed weld in a weld seam defined between adjoining metal substrates; an ultrasonic assembly borne by the moveable welder and which is operable to generate an ultrasonic signal which is directed toward the partially completed weld, and is further reflected from same; and a controller electrically coupled with the ultrasonic assembly and controllably coupled with the welding head, and wherein the controller receives information regarding the ultrasonic signal and in response to the information optimally positions the welding head relative to the weld seam.

Automated movable welders are familiar to those who are skilled in the art, and therefore, a detailed discussion of these devices is neither warranted nor necessary for an understanding of the present invention. Such automated movable welders are described in several U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,178,819; 6,125,705; and 4,712,722, the teachings of which are all incorporated by reference. Nevertheless, for an understanding of the present invention, it should be appreciated that automated movable welders are operable to be attached to a given object which is to be welded. The automated welder then typically moves repeatedly along a prescribed path of travel to achieve a given welding objective.
For an automated welder to create a quality weld, it is important that the welding head borne by the welder be correctly positioned relative to the joint or seam between the two pieces of metal which are being welded. It is also important that this correct positional relationship be maintained as the automatic welder travels along the seam during the welding process.
During mechanized or automated welding, the prescribed path of the automated movable welder is typically guided by a track so that the welding head will follow a definite path along the seam or joint to be welded. Maintenance of the correct positional relationship between the welding head and the seam typically relies upon the precise positioning of the pieces to be welded, the correct positioning of the track on which the welder travels, and on the precise operation of the automated welder. Unfortunately, problems such as the imprecise positioning of the pieces to be welded, or incorrect positioning of the track, or malfunction in the operation of the automated welder may individually or in combination cause the welding head to be unsatisfactorily positioned relative to the seam with the result that the quality of the weld is diminished. Such unsatisfactory positioning of the welding head is commonly referred to as "mis-tracking", and is highly undesirable.
Several devices to address the aforementioned problem, and which use optical and arc voltage sensing processes have been developed in an effort to provided more accurate tracking of the weld seam during on-going welding processes. In this regard, optical seam tracking methods typically use a laser to display a line or other pattern on the weld seam, ahead of the welding head. The resulting image, line, or pattern is then automatically interpreted by the welder to reveal the position of the weld seam. The automated welder then appropriately positions the welding head to more accurately track the weld seam.
Further, to the foregoing, arc voltage sensing systems are available and operate on the principal that the arc voltage will vary relative to the distance that the welding head is from the sidewall of the seam which is being welded. Therefore, by measuring the arc voltage during the welding process, the position of the welding head relative to the seam can be approximated, and the position of the welding head may then be appropriately adjusted to more accurately track the weld seam.
While these prior art devices and methods have operated with varying degrees of success, there have been shortcomings which have detracted from their usefulness. For example, in regards to the optical sensing processes, such as previously described, these systems must normally operate in the presence of a high level of ambient light which is emitted by the welding process, and which may fluctuate significantly over time. In this regard, when ambient light is reflected from the surrounding surfaces of the weld preparation it on occasion interferes with the interpretation of the image which is used by optical sensing process to reveal the correct position of the weld seam. Although these aforementioned problems associated with the ambient light may be alleviated, to some degree, through the use of highly specialized optical filters, such problems cannot be completely eliminated. Additionally, the welding process often produces smoke or fumes which may further distort or obscure relevant portions of the image. This of course, interferes with the interpretation of any resulting image.
Regarding the arc voltage sensing systems previously described, although such systems may be used to track weld seams formed by arc welding, such systems cannot be used to track weld seams formed by laser welding, electron beam welding, or other welding processes that do not use an arc. Additionally, the arc voltage sensing process does not work particularly well when the joint to be welded is nearly filled, and little sidewall remains to influence the arc voltage. Yet further, some arc welding processes, such as gas metal arc welding, inherently demonstrate significant fluctuations in arc voltage which may additionally interfere with accurate weld seam tracking.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide a method and apparatus which facilitates accurate tracking of weld seams during the welding process, while substantially avoiding these and other perceived shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Welding apparatus and methods for using ultrasonic sensing