Centrifugal compressors, methods of forming centrifugal compressors, and methods of designing diffuser vanes in centrifugal compressors are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method of designing diffuser vanes includes providing an initial two-dimensional diffuser vane layout including initial diffuser vane peripheries radially spaced about an axis. The initial diffuser vane peripheries are rotated using a computer processor to produce rotated diffuser vane peripheries having offset trailing ends relative to the initial diffuser vane peripheries. The rotated diffuser vane peripheries are circumferentially shifted about the axis to produce shifted diffuser vane peripheries. Leading ends of the shifted diffuser vane peripheries are offset from the leading ends of the initial diffuser vane peripheries. Diffuser vane surfaces are generated that connect the shifted diffuser vane peripheries to the corresponding initial diffuser vane peripheries to form diffuser vanes in a twisted configuration.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. Airflow entering the compressor is compressed and directed to the combustor where it is mixed with fuel and ignited, producing hot combustion gases used to drive the turbine. Turbine engine performance and specific fuel consumption (SFC) are directly impacted by efficiency of compressors that are employed therein. Centrifugal compressors are commonly employed as the compressors to draw in and compress air, and the centrifugal compressors are the focus of various design improvements to increase the efficiency thereof. Improvements in centrifugal efficiency can be realized through various modifications such as optimization of impeller and diffuser design, particularly focusing upon vane configurations in both the impeller and the diffuser.
The diffuser vanes generally extend between a shroud and a hub in the centrifugal compressor, with the diffuser vanes, hub, and shroud defining flow channels for air provided by the impeller. The vanes are radially spaced about an outer circumference of the impeller and are generally designed to maximize aerodynamic flow and compression of the air. Angle and shape of diffuser vanes for maximum efficiency has been widely investigated, with certain modifications to diffuser vane configuration implemented to exploit a finding that a radial component of air discharge velocity varies across a discharge end of the impeller. In particular, it has been found that velocity of air is higher adjacent to a back wall of the impeller, i.e., adjacent to the hub, than at areas axially forward of the back wall, i.e., adjacent to the shroud. A twisted vane configuration has been proposed to align the diffuser vanes in a manner that more closely matches the flow profile of air that is provided by the impeller. The twisted vane configuration results in the diffuser vanes having a different angle at the shroud and at the hub. Despite advancements in diffuser vane design and configuration, there remains an opportunity to further refine diffuser vane designs and techniques for designing the diffuser vanes to maximize efficiency of the centrifugal compressors.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide centrifugal compressors having twisted diffuser vanes, methods of forming the centrifugal compressors, and methods of designing diffuser vanes in centrifugal compressors that exhibit maximized efficiency. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods of designing and making diffuser vanes in a centrifugal compressor


A magnetic recording medium comprising a non magnetic support having thereon a magnetic layer comprising binder resins, ferromagnetic particles and an organic phosporus compound.

Magnetic recording media are widely used as audio tapes, video tapes and floppy disks. A magnetic recording medium is basically comprised of a non-magnetic support having thereon a magnetic layer containing a binder and ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.
It is necessary for a magnetic recording medium to have high levels of various characteristics such as electromagnetic conversion characteristics, running durability and running efficiencies. With the recent development of 8 mm video tape recorders, it is particularly necessary for a video tape to produce a high video output, have excellent capabilities for reproducing original images, and in particular have excellent electromagnetic conversion characteristics.
There have been various approaches for improving the electromagnetic characteristics of a magnetic recording medium of these, the approach of improving the characteristics of ferromagnetic particles as a magnetic recording substance is direct and effective. Accordingly, innovators continually attempt to achieve high density recording by ever more finely granulating ferromagnetic particles.
Another approach is to use iron oxide modified with different metals such as cobalt instead of using iron oxide per se as the material for forming the ferromagnetic particle. Recently, ferromagnetic metals such as iron, nickel or cobalt and alloys containing the above metals have been used, for this purpose.
A magnetic recording medium having essentially good electromagnetic conversion characteristics can now be obtained by using the thus improved ferromagnetic particles. However, it is difficult to produce a magnetic recording medium which achieves improved electromagnetic conversion characteristics by virtue of improving the ferromagnetic particles. This is because the dispersibility of the ferromagnetic particles decrease as the particles become more finely granulated, and dispersibilities of .gamma.-iron oxide, cobalt-coated .gamma.-iron oxide and ferromagnetic metal particles in this order tend to become reduced, which is the characteristics of ferro-magnetic particles.
To overcome this difficulty in preparing a magnetic coating composition, the steps of mixing, kneading and dispersing have been carried out for a long period of time in an attempt to improve the dispersibility of the ferromagnetic particles. However, in many cases the beneficial characteristics of the ferromagnetic particles are deteriorated by the shearing force which occurs upon mixing, kneading and dispersing. Furthermore, the long period of time necessary for producing such a magnetic recording medium is a problem in view of operation efficiencies.
In this connection, methods of effectively dispersing ferromagnetic particles without substantially modifying the conventional method for preparing a magnetic recording medium have been investigated and suggested. One method comprises using ferromagnetic particles which have been surface treated with a surface processing agent such as a silane coupling agent. Another method comprises pre-treating ferromagnetic particles with a component (dispersing agent) such as a fatty acid which improves the dispersibility of the ferromagnetic particles as disclosed in JP-B-54-7074 and GB-A-1450241 (The term "JP-B" as used herein means an examined Japanese patent publication). Still another method comprises adding the above-described fatty acid during preparation of the magnetic coating composition.
However, it was confirmed by the present inventors that even the above methods could not sufficiently improve the dispersibility of ferromagnetic particles.
That is, when ferromagnetic particles are surface-treated with the above-described silane coupling agent, the state of dispersibility thereof in a magnetic coating composition is generally stable, but in some cases, the compatibility toward the resin components actually deteriorates. Accordingly, this method cannot sufficiently improve the state of dispersibility of the ferromagnetic particles in a magnetic layer. Further, the fatty acids generally added as a lubricating agent in a magnetic layer have a dispersing effect upon ferromagnetic particles. Such a dispersing effect cannot fully be obtained unless one uses a larger amount of the fatty acids which function as dispersing agents than the amount of the fatty acids which function lubricating agents in a magnetic layer. However, when a large amount of fatty acids is used, another problem arises: the binder becomes plasticized.
Furthermore, as the dispersibility of ferromagnetic particles is improved by the above method, the surface smoothness of the magnetic layer is hightened. Therefore, the friction coefficient on the surface of the magnetic layer increases, thereby deteriorating the running properties and running durability.
JP-A-63-42025 discloses a magnetic recording medium using benzoic acid and the salt thereof as a dispersing agent, which medium can avoid the problem of the binder becoming plastisized when the above-described fatty acids are used (The term "JP-A" as used herein means a published unexamined Japanese patent application). This magnetic recording medium has good dispersibility and prevents the binder from plasticizing, but cannot have a satisfactory running property and running durability.

Magnetic recording medium comprising ferromagnetic particles, binder resins and phenyl phosphonic acid


Methods for determining the resonant frequency for interrogation of a resonant device include steps for generating and transmitting RF interrogation pulses of various bandwidths to energize one or more SAW resonator elements. Initial RF interrogation pulses have a relatively wide bandwidth, such that the general location of a resonant device's resonant frequency can be expediently determined. Then, interrogation pulses having smaller bandwidth pulses can be transmitted near the determined general location of resonance to further narrow the location of resonance. In some emodiments, one or more initial interrogation pulses are transmitted in the center of or at an expected value within a range of operation of a resonant device. If the resonant frequency is not located at this initial location, then the range of operation is divided into halves (or other number of generally equal frequency range segments) and one or more interrogation pulses are transmitted at the center of each of the new search frequency range segments. This process of partitioning the search frequency range continues until the resonant frequency is located.

The incorporation of electronic devices with tire structures yields many practical advantages. Tire electronics may include sensors and other components for relaying tire identification parameters and also for obtaining information regarding various physical parameters of a tire, such as temperature, pressure, number of tire revolutions, vehicle speed, etc. Such performance information may become useful in tire monitoring and warning systems, and may even potentially be employed with feedback systems to regulate proper tire pressure levels.
One particular type of sensor, or condition-responsive device, that has been utilized to determine various parameters related to a tire or wheel assembly is an acoustic wave device, such as a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. Such SAW devices typically include at least one resonator element consisting of interdigital electrodes deposited on a piezoelectric substrate. When an electrical input signal is applied to a SAW device, selected electrodes cause the SAW to act as a transducer, thus converting the input signal to a mechanical wave on the substrate. Other electrodes then reverse the transducer process and generate an electrical output signal. A change in the output signal from a SAW device, such as a change in frequency, phase and/or amplitude of the output signal, corresponds to changing characteristics in the propagation path of the SAW device.
In some SAW device embodiments, monitored resonant frequency and any changes thereto provide sufficient information to determine parameters such as temperature, pressure, and strain to which a SAW device is subjected. SAW devices capable of such operation may include three separate resonator elements. Specific examples of such a SAW device correspond to those developed by Transense Technologies, PLC, specific aspects of which are disclosed in published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2002/0117005(Vile et al.) and 2004/0020299(Freakes et al.), both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
SAW devices in the tire industry have typically been implemented as passive devices, and are interrogated by remote transceiver devices that include circuitry for both transmitting a signal to a SAW device as well as for receiving a signal therefrom. The remote transceiver device, or interrogator, transmits energizing signals of varied frequencies from a remote location to the SAW device. The SAW device stores some of this transmitted energy during excitation and may then transmit a corresponding output signal. A comparison of the interrogator's transmitted and received signals indicates when the SAW device is excited at its resonant frequency. Examples of SAW interrogation technology can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,493 (Lonsdale et al.) and in UK Patent Application GB 2,381,074 (Kalinin et al.), both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Because the resonant frequency of each resonator element in a SAW varies with given input parameters, SAW interrogators must typically transmit multiple RF interrogation signals in accordance with some predetermined algorithm before the precise resonant frequency(ies) of the SAW resonator element(s) is/are determined. While various interrogation systems and corresponding search algorithms have been developed, no one design has emerged that offers technology for effecting SAW interrogation with reduced search time and accuracy levels as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.

System and method for reducing search time and increasing search accuracy during interrogation of resonant devices


Stamping and forming machine having reciprocable rams which move towards and away from each other between open and closed positions having adjustable eccentrics for adjusting the strokes of the rams. The rams are reciprocated by oscillating levers which are coupled to a power shaft by eccentric assemblies. Each eccentric assembly has a fixed eccentric on the power shaft and an adjustable eccentric which is rotatable, for adjustment purposes, with respect to the fixed eccentric thereby to change the stroke of the associated ram assembly.

The above-identified U.S. Patents describe a stamping and forming machine having first and second ram assemblies which are reciprocable towards and away from each other along horizontal paths of reciprocation. Strip material is fed along a strip feed path which extends between the ram assemblies and the ram assemblies have tooling on their ends for performing stamping and forming operations on the strip. The ram assemblies are reciprocated by oscillating levers to which they are coupled. The levers, in turn, are coupled to a central power shaft by eccentric assemblies.
The eccentric assemblies and the levers of the above-identified U.S. Patents are such that the ram assemblies have a fixed stroke. Most stamping presses have fixed, rather than adjustable, strokes and a fixed stroke machine is satisfactory for many stamping and forming operations. However, it would be desirable to provide a system for adjusting the strokes of the ram assemblies of the machines described in the above-identified patents. Assuming that the motor which rotates the power shaft of the machine has a fixed torque, an adjustable stroke system would permit the force exerted on the strip material to be varied by changing the stroke. The present invention is directed to improvements in stamping and forming machines which permit adjustment of the strokes of the machine for different stamping and forming operations.

Stamping and forming machine having adjustable stroke rams


A transgenic plant transformed by a Vesicle Trafficking Stress-Related Polypeptide (VTSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in the plant's increased growth and/or increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated VTSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding VTSRPs and vectors and host cells containing the latter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides that are associated with abiotic stress responses and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In particular, this invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides that confer upon the plant increased growth and/or increased drought, cold, and/or salt tolerance.
2. Background Art
Abiotic environmental stresses, such as drought stress, salinity stress, heat stress, and cold stress, are major limiting factors of plant growth and productivity. Crop losses and crop yield losses of major crops such as soybean, rice, maize (corn), cotton, and wheat caused by these stresses represent a significant economic and political factor and contribute to food shortages in many underdeveloped countries.
Plants are typically exposed during their life cycle to conditions of reduced environmental water content. Most plants have evolved strategies to protect themselves against these conditions of desiccation. However, if the severity and duration of the drought conditions are too great, the effects on development, growth, and yield of most crop plants are profound. Continuous exposure to drought conditions causes major alterations in the plant metabolism that ultimately lead to cell death and consequently yield losses.
Developing stress-tolerant plants is a strategy that has the potential to solve or mediate at least some of these problems. However, traditional plant breeding strategies to develop new lines of plants that exhibit resistance (tolerance) to these types of stresses are relatively slow and require specific resistant lines for crossing with the desired line. Limited germplasm resources for stress tolerance and incompatibility in crosses between distantly related plant species represent significant problems encountered in conventional breeding. Additionally, the cellular processes leading to drought, cold, and salt tolerance in model drought- and/or salt-tolerant plants are complex in nature and involve multiple mechanisms of cellular adaptation and numerous metabolic pathways. This multi-component nature of stress tolerance has not only made breeding for tolerance largely unsuccessful, but has also limited the ability to genetically engineer stress tolerant plants using biotechnological methods.
Therefore, what is needed is the identification of the genes and proteins involved in these multi-component processes leading to increased growth and/or increased stress tolerance. Elucidating the function of genes expressed in stress tolerant plants will not only advance our understanding of plant adaptation and tolerance to environmental stresses, but also may provide important information for designing new strategies for crop improvement.
There are at least four different signal-transduction pathways leading to stress tolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. These pathways are under the control of distinct transcription factors, protein kinases, protein phosphatases and other signal-transduction pathway components (Shinozaki et al., 2000, Curr. Op. Pl. Biol. 3:217-23). These proteins are prime targets for engineering stress tolerance since they could function as master switches; alterations in a single gene would lead to activation of an entire signal-transduction chain leading to stress tolerance.
Sensing of osmotic stress in bacteria as well as in plants is performed by a two-component system comprising a sensing protein and an effecting protein (Wurgler-Murphy S M and Saito S., 1997, Trends in Biochem. Sci. 22:172-6; Shinozaki et al., 2000, Curr. Op. Pl. Biol. 3: 217-23). Mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways are tightly involved in these processes. Another major component of these signal-transduction chains are GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins). Generally speaking, there are at least three classes of G-proteins: a) heterotrimeric (alpha, beta and gamma subunits), b) monomeric (small) proteins, and c) Dyanins. GTP-binding proteins are named as such because each must bind GTP in order to be active. The functions of GTP-binding proteins are varied as they range from directly transmitting an external signal (where the GTP binding protein is associated with a membrane-bound receptor), to participating in vesicle traffic, to importing proteins into sub-cellular compartments.
Monomeric/small G-proteins are involved in many different cellular processes and have been implicated in vesicle traffic/transport systems, cell cycle regulation, and protein import into organelles. To date, more than 200 small G-proteins have been discovered. These proteins may be classified into five superfamilies based on the structural and functional similarities: Ras, Rho/Rac/Cda42, Rab, Sar1/Arf, and Ran. Generally, members of only the Sar1 and Rab families of small G proteins, are involved in vesicle trafficking in yeast (S. cerevisiae) and mammalian cells (Takai et al., 2001, Phys. Rev. 81:153-208). In plants, Rab G proteins have been proven to function in a manner similar to their yeast and mammalian counterparts. Rab G proteins regulate endocytic trafficking pathways and biosynthetic trafficking pathways. Members of the Sar1/Arf family of G proteins also can help recruit coat proteins to transport vesicles (Vemoud et al., 2003, Plant. Physiol. 131:1191-1208).
The SNARE proteins are members of the Rab family of G proteins. The SNARE (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor, or SNAP receptor) proteins are cytoplasmically oriented membrane proteins that play a central role in vesicle trafficking and are conserved among yeast and mammals. Protein transit between organelles is mediated by transport vesicles that bear integral membrane proteins (v-SNAREs), which selectively interact with similar proteins on the target membrane (t-SNAREs), resulting in a docked vesicle.
During adaptation to stress, the plant has to recycle its own components, for example, by transporting proteins from one membrane compartment to another, depositing unused proteins in vacuoles, and processing newly synthesized proteins from the ER to the Golgi. Vesicle trafficking has been shown to be actively involved in this biological recycling process under unfavorable environmental conditions. For example, Snsyr1, one of the ABA-related SNARE proteins, plays a role in the stomata movement and root growth (Geelen, D. et al. 2002, Plant Cell 14: 387-406).
Several groups have identified small G-proteins, homologous to the Rab family of small G-proteins, as being induced upon desiccation treatments in plants (Bolte et al., 2000, Plant Mol. Biol. 42:923-36; O'Mahony and Oliver, 1999, Plant Mol. Biol. 39:809-21). These researchers speculate that the small G-proteins could be involved in preservation of membrane integrity or re-structuring upon relief of stress. However, they have not produced transgenic plants with increased stress tolerance by overexpression of these small G-proteins. In addition, Arabidopsis AtRab7, another member of the Rab family of small G proteins, has been shown to be induced after infection of the plant by necrogenic pathogens, and overexpression of AtRab7 has been shown to enhance resistance of transgenic plant to salt and osmotic stress (Mazel et al., 2004 Plant Physiol. 134:118-128).
Although some genes that are involved in stress responses and water use efficiency in plants have been characterized, the characterization and cloning of plant genes that confer stress tolerance and water use efficiency remains largely incomplete and fragmented. For example, certain studies have indicated that drought and salt stress in some plants may be due to additive gene effects, in contrast to other research that indicates specific genes are transcriptionally activated in vegetative tissue of plants under osmotic stress conditions. Although it is generally assumed that stress-induced proteins have a role in tolerance, direct evidence is still lacking, and the functions of many stress-responsive genes are unknown.
There is a fundamental physiochemically-constrained trade-off, in all terrestrial photosynthetic organisms, between CO2 absorption and water loss (Taiz and Zeiger 1991 Plant Physiology, Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co, p 94). CO2 needs to be in aqueous solution for the action of CO2 fixation enzymes such as Rubisco (Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase) and PEPC (Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase). As a wet cell surface is required for CO2 diffusion, evaporation will inevitably occur when the humidity is below 100% (Taiz and Zeiger 1991 Plant Physiology, Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co p 257). Plants have numerous physiological mechanisms to reduce water loss (e.g. waxy cuticles, stomatal closure, leaf hairs, sunken stomatal pits). As these barriers do not discriminate between water and CO2 flux, these water conservation measures will also act to increase resistance to CO2 uptake (Kramer 1983 Water Relations of Plants, Academic Press p 305). Photosynthetic CO2 uptake is absolutely required for plant growth and biomass accumulation in photoautotrophic plants. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is a parameter frequently used to estimate the trade off between water consumption and CO2 uptake/growth (Kramer 1983 Water Relations of Plants, Academic Press p 405). WUE has been defined and measured in multiple ways. One approach is to calculate the ratio of whole plant dry weight, to the weight of water consumed by the plant throughout its life (Chu et al., 1992, Oncologia, 89:580). Another variation is to use a shorter time interval when biomass accumulation and water use are measured (Mian et al., 1998, Crop Sci. 38:390). Often measurements from restricted parts of the plant are used, for example, measuring only aerial growth and water use (Nienhuis et al., 1994, Amer. J. Bot. 81:943). WUE has also been defined as the ratio of CO2 uptake to water vapor loss from a leaf or portion of a leaf, often measured over a very short time period (seconds/minutes) (Kramer 1983, Water Relations of Plants, Academic Press p. 406). The ratio of 13C/12C fixed in plant tissue, and measured with an isotope ratio mass-spectrometer, has also been used to estimate WUE in plants using C3 photosynthesis (Martin et al., 1999, Crop Sci. 1775).
An increase in WUE is informative about the relatively improved efficiency of growth and water consumption, but on it's own it doesn't describe which of these two processes (or both) have changed. In selecting traits for improving crops, an increase in WUE due to a decrease in water use, without a change in growth would have particular merit in an irrigated agricultural system where the water input costs were high. An increase in WUE driven mainly by an increase in growth without a corresponding jump in water use would have applicability to all agricultural systems. In many agricultural systems where water supply is not limiting, an increase in growth, even if it came at the expense of an increased water use (i.e. no change in WUE), could also increase yield. Therefore new methods to increase both WUE and biomass accumulation are required to improve agricultural productivity. As WUE integrates many physiological processes relating to primary metabolism and water use, it is typically a highly polygenic trait with a large genotype by environment interaction (Richards et al., 2002, Crop Sci. 42:111). For these and other reasons few attempts to select for WUE changes in traditional breeding programs have been successful.
There is a need, therefore, to identify genes expressed in stress tolerant plants and plants that are efficient in water use that have the capacity to confer stress tolerance and water use efficiency to its host plant and to other plant species. Newly generated stress tolerant plants will have many advantages, such as an increased range in which the crop plants can be cultivated, by for example, decreasing the water requirements of a plant species. Other desirable advantages include increased resistance to lodging, the bending of shoots or stems in response to wind, rain, pests, or disease.

Vesicle trafficking stress-related polypeptides and methods of use in plants


The method and system of the invention allow etching even relatively thick layers on the rear side of a semiconductor substrate where the front side is resist-free. An etching solution is sprayed in fine droplets onto the rear side of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate may thereby be heated to a temperature .ltoreq.100.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for etching a rear side of a semiconductor substrate having a resist-free front side, and an etching system suitable therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has become known from German patent publication DE-A19502777.9 (U.S. application Ser. No. 08/764,703) a method and a device, in which the layers on the rear side of the semiconductor substrate which are to be removed can be etched with a microwave-excited or RF-excited chemical down-stream method with the use of compounds that contain fluorine. A disadvantage with this method is that thick thermal oxide layers cannot be removed because of the insufficient etching rates.

Method for etching a semiconductor substrate and etching system


A spatial diversity receiver and method for determining a multichannel combined symbol timing marker that identifies an energy concentration for a combination of channel delay spreads in order to reduce the complexity of equalization. The receiver includes two or more receiver chains having spatially diverse antennas; a multichannel combined timer; and a multichannel combined equalizer for receiving wireless signals through two or more signal channels. The multichannel combined timer combines energies corresponding to the channel impulse response coefficients for all the channels for determining a series of multichannel combined metrics having associated index cursors, and then determines the multichannel combined symbol timing marker from the index cursor for the largest of the metrics. The symbol timing marker synchronizes the received symbols issued to the equalizer jointly to the energy concentration for the delay spreads combined for all the channels.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to symbol timing recovery and more particularly to an apparatus and method for recovering a common symbol timing marker for multiple channel signals received with multiple antennas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a signal is transmitted over a channel with multiple propagation paths with different delays (multipath channels), the received signal is a linearly dispersed (smeared) version of the transmitted signal. Equalization and spatial diversity are used in existing systems for reducing the distorting effects of multipath. Spatial diversity requires multiple antennas for receiving a signal through multiple signal channels. Equalization uses an equalizer to recover the original transmitted signal from its dispersed version at the receiver, in the presence of additive noise.
The equalizer requires an estimate of the impulse response of the channel through which the transmission took place. In packet-based systems that require fast startup, the channel estimate is typically obtained by processing a known training sequence, such as a preamble, midamble or a synch word. The channel impulse response estimate is obtained as a series of samples or "coefficients" that represent the multipath delay spread profile of the channel during a particular packet.
Several equalizer structures exist in the art. A maximum likelihood sequence estimate (MLSE) equalizer provides optimum symbol detection. Unfortunately, the number of trellis states in an MLSE equalizer increases exponentially with the number of impulse response coefficients. Unless the packet time is accurately known and the delay spread is narrow, the complexity of the MLSE equalizer can be prohibitive.
Two other equalizer types commonly used today are the decision feedback equalization (DFE) equalizer and delayed decision feedback sequence estimation (DDFSE) equalizer. The DFE equalizer uses a feedforward filter and the DDFSE equalizer uses a Viterbi sequence estimator. However, the DFE and DDFSE equalizers are also prohibitively complex unless time is accurately known and delay spread is small because the number of taps in the feedforward filter and the number of states in the Viterbi sequence estimator increase with the number of coefficients of the channel impulse response.
Ariyavisitakul in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,086 entitled "Intelligent Timing Recovery for a Broadband Adaptive Equalizer" incorporated herein by reference presents a technique for reducing the complexity of DFE or DDFSE equalizers. Unfortunately, the symbol timing recovery systems presented by Ariyavisitakul are operable only for a single signal channel. Anvari et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,909 shows a multichannel system having equalization. However, the system shown by Anvari et al. and all others so far as is known, would be expected to suffer from poor performance if any one of the multiple channels had a low signal-to-noise. There remains a need for a symbol timing recovery system for reducing equalizer complexity in a multichannel system.

Joint timing recovery for multiple signal channels


The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to articles, systems, and methods for roofing a structure including, for example, layered shingles comprising a plurality of layers. A layered shingle may comprise, in some embodiments, an upper layer and a backing layer comprising a low density aggregate, wherein the backing layer is fixed to the substrate-facing surface of the upper layer.

Shingles are commonly used components in roofing systems and other building or structural designs. Many benefits derive from shingles with lighter weights, but shingles with reduced weight often lose aesthetical desirability from having reduced profile thicknesses. One concern in developing shingles is balancing the weight reduction of the shingle with the desirability of a substantial profile thickness. Some attempted solutions use low density fillers in the asphalt coating, foaming of the asphalt, low density glass, and other options. However, these are attended by undesirable processing and/or performance properties.

BUILDING MATERIALS INVESTMENT CORPORATION


A wrapping method for producing soft packets presenting an inner packet and an outer wrapping,. whereby each inner packet is fed into a respective seat on a wrapping conveyor at a transfer station and together with a sheet of gummed wrapping material which is folded in a U about the inner packet; the sheet of wrapping material being subjected to a number of folding operations to form a tubular wrapping about the inner packet and to axially close the tubular wrapping by folding one end of it; and the folding operations being performed as the seat travels a minimum number of steps from the transfer station.

The present invention relates to a wrapping method for producing packets.
The present invention is particularly advantageous for producing so-called "soft" packets of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
In the manufacture and conditioning of tobacco items in general, and cigarettes in particular, so-called "soft" packets are produced comprising an inner wrapping--normally made of foil and enclosing a group of cigarettes arranged side by side in a number of rows--and an outer wrapping--normally formed from a sheet of wrapping material folded to form a cup-shaped body enclosing part of the inner wrapping, the rest of which projects outwards from the open end of the outer wrapping.
Soft packets are produced on packing machines comprising a wrapping wheel with a number of peripheral seats, each of which is fed with a respective group of cigarettes in a respective inner wrapping, and with a sheet of wrapping material with given surface portions gummed beforehand. To form the outer wrapping, the wrapping wheel normally folds the sheet of wrapping material on to the inner wrapping by feeding the seats in steps through a succession of folding stations which are normally substantially equally spaced between a loading station, at which the groups of cigarettes are loaded on to the wrapping wheel, and an unloading station at which the finished packets are unloaded.
The above wrapping wheel design of known packing machines poses problems in the event, for any reason, the wheel is arrested during production. Since the sheets of wrapping material are gummed before being fed on to the wheel, and, on account of the substantially equal spacing of the folding stations, substantially all the seats on the wheel between the loading and unloading stations house unfinished packets, stoppage of the packing machine, even for only a few seconds, automatically results in rejection of a relatively large number of packets, due to the gum on the sheets of wrapping material drying and so preventing the packets from being completed.


One example method includes receiving input concerning a boot order sequence, where the input includes VM metadata, entering a training phase which includes generating a boot sequence rule based on the input, using the boot sequence rule to generate a proposed boot sequence, performing the proposed boot sequence, and gathering information concerning performance of the proposed boot sequence. The gathered information can be used as a basis to generate a modified boot sequence.

Enterprises generate significant amounts of important data that is typically preserved in some type of data protection environment. Such data protection environments help to ensure that the data is recoverable in the event that a disaster occurs that compromises, or prevents access to, the data. Typical data protection environments employ a variety of hardware and software in order to provide data security, access, and availability.
Thus, disaster recovery planning and implementation are critical processes for organizations, required to guarantee business continuity. However, for large systems, disaster recovery operations are complex and can be error prone. One of the challenges when performing disaster recovery in virtualized environments is to configure the particular order the virtual machines (VMs) should be booted during recovery of the production environment. The boot order can be important because, for example, a particular VM may have a dependent relation with other VM. Thus, the independent VM should be booted before the dependent VM.
However the process of configuring the boot order is both complex and error prone, and is complicating the initial setup of the above disaster recovery tools. For example, an administrator has to manually configure the order of the virtual machine boot sequence. This can take a significant amount of time, and may hold back the initial setup of disaster recovery tools, thereby increasing the risk for the organization.
As another example, the boot order configuration is often based on trial and error. In particular, since configuration is manual and can involve a significant number of VMs, the boot order configuration process is inherently error prone. For example, the administrator may configure the system incorrectly and, as a result, a failure is experienced during an attempted disaster recovery. Such a failure may occur for various reasons. To illustrate with an example, a DR operation may fail due to a race condition in which dependent VM were booted with the same priority as the VM upon which they are dependent. The race condition could likely be avoided by a properly configured boot sequence.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adaptive system for smart boot sequence formation of VMs for disaster recovery


Dominant-negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into mammalian cells new cell lines with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation or introduction of mutations by chemical mutagens. These methods are useful for generating novel and highly active antimicrobial molecules as well as superior antimicrobial agents from pre-existing chemicals. These methods are also useful for generating cell lines expressing novel antimicrobials that are useful for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

For as long as man has shared the planet with microorganisms there have been widespread outbreaks of infectious disease and subsequent widespread mortality associated with it. Although microorganisms and man frequently share a symbiotic relationship, microorganisms can, under some conditions, lead to sickness and death. The discovery, wide use and dissemination of antibiotics to treat microbial infection in both human and animal populations over the last one hundred or so years has done much to control, and in some instances, eradicate some microbes and associated infectious disease. However, microbes have a strong propensity to evolve and alter their genetic makeup when confronted with toxic substances that place them under life and death selective pressures. Therefore, emerging infectious diseases currently pose an important public health problem in both developed as well as developing countries. Not only have microbes evolved to evade and defeat current antibiotic therapeutics, but also there are novel and previously unrecognized and/or characterized bacterial fungal, viral, and parasitic diseases that have emerged within the past two decades. Sass, Curr. Opin. in Drug Discov. & Develop. 2000, 3(5):646–654.
Since the accidental discovery of a penicillin-producing mold by Fleming there has been steady progress in synthesizing, isolating and characterizing new and more effective beta-lactam antibiotics. In addition to the great success of the beta-lactam family of antibiotics, the newer fluoroquinolones have a broad-spectrum of bactericidal activity as well as excellent oral bio-availability, tissue penetration and favorable safety and tolerability profiles. King et al., Am. Fam. Physician, 2000, 61, 2741–2748. A newly devised four-generation classification of the quinolone drugs accounts for the expanded antimicrobial spectrum of the more recently introduced fluoroquinolones and their clinical indications. The so-called first generation drugs, which include nalidixic acid, are capable of achieving minimal serum levels. The second-generation quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, have an increased gram-negative and systemic activity. The third-generation drugs comprise pharmaceuticals such as levofloxacin and are have significant and expanded action against gram-positive bacteria and atypical pathogens. Finally, the fourth-generation quinolone drugs, which, to date, only includes trovofloxacin, are highly active against anaerobes in addition to the activity described for the third-generation drugs. Furthermore, the quinolone class of anti-microbial drugs can be divided based on their pharmacokinetic properties and bioavailability.
Mammalian epithelial surfaces are remarkable for their ability to provide critical physiologic functions in the face of frequent microbial challenges. The fact that these mucosal surfaces remain infection-free in the normal host suggests that highly effective mechanisms of host defense have evolved to protect these environmentally exposed tissues. Throughout the animal and plant kingdoms, endogenous genetically encoded antimicrobial peptides have been shown to be key elements in the response to epithelial compromise and microbial invasion. Zasloff, Curr. Opin. Immunol., 1992, 4, 3–7; and Bevins, Ciba Found. Symp., 1994, 186, 250–69. In mammals, a variety of such peptides have been identified, including the well-characterized defensins and cathelicidins and others (andropin, magainin, tracheal antimicrobial peptide, and PR-39; see Bevins, Ciba Found. Symp., 1994, 186, 250–69 and references therein). A major source of these host defense molecules is circulating phagocytic leukocytes. However, more recently, it has been shown that resident epithelial cells of the skin and respiratory, alimentary, and genitourinary tracts also synthesize and release antimicrobial peptides. Both in vitro and in vivo data support the hypothesis that these molecules are important contributors to intrinsic mucosal immunity. Alterations in their level of expression or biologic activity can predispose the organism to microbial infection. Huttner et al., Pediatr. Res., 1999, 45, 785–94.
Across the evolutionary scale species from insects to mammals to plants defend themselves against invading pathogenic microorganisms by utilizing cationic antimicrobial peptides that rapidly kill microbes without exerting toxicity to the host. Physicochemical peptide-lipid interactions provide attractive mechanisms for innate immunity as discussed below. Many of these peptides form cationic amphipathic secondary structures, typically alpha-helices and beta-sheets, which can selectively interact with anionic bacterial membranes via electrostatic interactions. Rapid, peptide-induced membrane permeabilization and subsequent cellular lysis is the result. Matsuzaki, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1999, 1462, 1–10.
The primary structures of a large number of these host-defense peptides have been determined. While there is no primary structure homology, the peptides are characterized by a preponderance of cationic and hydrophobic amino acids. The secondary structures of many of the host-defense peptides have been determined by a variety of techniques. Sitaram et al., Biochim, Biophys. Acta, 1999, 1462, 29–54. The acyclic peptides tend to adopt helical conformation, especially in media of low dielectric constant, whereas peptides with more than one disulfide bridge adopt beta-structures.
As described above, one reason for the rise in microbial drug resistance to the first line antimicrobial therapies in standard use today is the inappropriate and over-use of prescription antibiotics. Although bacteria are the most common organisms to develop drug-resistance, there are numerous examples of demonstrated resistance in fungi, viruses, and parasites. The development of a resistant phenotype is a complex phenomenon that involves an interaction of the microorganism, the environment, and the patient, separately as well as in combination. Sitaram et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1999, 1462, 29–54. The microorganism in question may develop resistance while under antibiotic selection or it may be a characteristic of the microbe prior to exposure to a given agent. There are a number of mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics that have been described, including genes that encode antibiotic resistance enzymes that are harbored on extrachromosomal plasmids as well as DNA elements (e.g. transposable elements) that can reside either extra-chromosomally or within the host genome.
Due to the ability of microorganisms to acquire the ability to develop resistance to antibiotics there is a need to continually develop novel antibiotics. Traditional methods to develop novel antibiotics have included medicinal chemistry approaches to modify existing antibiotics (Kang et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2000, 10, 95–99) as well as isolation of antibiotics from new organisms (Alderson et al., Res. Microbiol., 1993, 144, 665–72). Each of these methods, however, has limitations. The traditional medicinal chemistry approach entails modification of an existing molecule to impart a more effective activity. The chemist makes a "best guess" as to which parts of the molecule to alter, must then devise a synthetic strategy, synthesize the molecule, and then have it tested. This approach is laborious, requires large numbers of medicinal chemists and frequently results in a molecule that is lower in activity than the original antibiotic. The second approach, isolation of novel antimicrobial agents, requires screening large numbers of diverse organisms for novel antimicrobial activity. Then, the activity must be isolated from the microorganism. This is not a small task, and frequently takes many years of hard work to isolate the active molecule. Even after the molecule is identified, it may not be possible for medicinal chemists to effectively devise a synthetic strategy due to the complexity of the molecule. Furthermore, the synthetic strategy must allow for a cost-effective synthesis. Therefore, a method that would allow for creation of more effective antibiotics from existing molecules or allow rapid isolation of novel antimicrobial agents is needed to combat the ever-growing list of antibiotic resistant organisms. The present invention described herein is directed to the use of random genetic mutation of a cell to produce novel antibiotics by blocking the endogenous mismatch repair activity of a host cell. The cell can be a mammalian cell that produces an antimicrobial agent naturally, or a cell that is placed under selective pressure to obtain a novel antimicrobial molecule that attacks a specific microbe. Moreover, the invention describes methods for obtaining enhanced antimicrobial activity of a cell line that produces an antimicrobial activity due to recombinant expression or as part of the innate capacity of the cell to harbor such activity.
In addition, the generation of genetically altered host cells that are capable of secreting an antimicrobial activity, which can be protein or non-protein based, will be valuable reagents for manufacturing the entity for clinical studies. An embodiment of the invention described herein is directed to the creation of genetically altered host cells with novel and/or increased antimicrobial production that are generated by a method that interferes with the highly ubiquitous and phylogenetically conserved process of mismatch repair.
The present invention facilitates the generation of novel antimicrobial agents and the production of cell lines that express elevated levels of antimicrobial activity. Advantages of the present invention are further described in the examples and figures described herein.

Methods for isolating novel antimicrobial agents from hypermutable mammalian cells


Fluid level in a container is determined using a single pressure transducer connected to a portable body. The body contains a computer having a memory in which fluid level-to-fluid volume conversion data are stored for different shapes of containers so that fluid volume can be readily obtained for the shape of the respective container once fluid level is determined. These features allow a single monitoring apparatus to be used for monitoring different types of containers. The apparatus preferably includes a radio so that multiple apparatus can communicate in a system with a central remote operator interface device. Fluid level is determined by dividing a pressure reading from the bottom of the fluid by a fluid density determined from two prior pressure reading taken across a known distance (density equals the difference between the two readings divided by the distance).

This invention relates generally to apparatus, methods and systems for monitoring fluid in containers. The present invention relates more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a radio-linked fluid monitoring system incorporating apparatus and method that use a single pressure sensor in a respective container to determine fluid level from which fluid volume can be automatically determined for different shapes of container.
To maintain an adequate fluid supply for a process which draws fluid held in a storage container, the amount of fluid in the container typically must be monitored. In the oil and gas industry, for example, a well sometimes needs to be fractured to enhance its productivity. Fracturing fluid to accomplish this is typically stored in one or more storage containers at the well site. The fluid is pumped out of the containers and into the well as needed. The operator in charge of the pumping needs to be aware of the various conditions of the pumping and fracturing process, one of which conditions is the amount of fluid remaining in the one or more containers.
One way to remain apprised of the amount of fluid is for the operator to visually or otherwise locally inspect each fluid container. This is not a desirable technique because of the potential safety hazard of being on or around the containers to inspect them and because of the time it would take to inspect the containers.
To alleviate the foregoing shortcoming, there are automated devices for measuring fluid levels in containers. These can use various techniques, but the one relevant to our invention described below uses fluid pressure for determining the amount of fluid in the container. The pressure responsive techniques we are aware of use two pressure sensors to determine fluid level. One type uses one differential pressure transducer to determine density and one gauge pressure transducer to sense pressure at the bottom of the body of fluid. Another type uses two gauge pressure transducers; outputs from the two pressure transducers spaced a known distance apart are used to compute density, and the output from one of the pressure transducers provides the total fluid pressure which is divided by the determined density to give a quotient specifying the level of the fluid in the container. The transducers of these systems we are aware of are fixed to the containers (e.g., attached to the side wall of the container below the surface of the contained fluid) so that they cannot be readily moved (e.g., container must be drained before transducers can be detached). Such systems can provide for remote communications of data via wire or radio frequency transmission.
Although the foregoing automated devices and systems can provide advantages over types requiring local inspections by an operator, there is still the need for an improved automated apparatus. There is the need for a fluid monitoring apparatus which uses only a single pressure sensor, thereby obviating the cost of the second sensor used in the aforementioned devices. There is the need for a fluid monitoring apparatus which is easy to use with different types of containers. For example, the apparatus preferably should be portable and adaptable for use with different shapes of containers. That is, the apparatus should be able not only to calculate the height of the fluid in a container, but also to convert that height into the correct volume, which can be different from one shape of container to another for the same calculated height. There is also the need for a fluid monitoring method and system which meet these same needs and which permit remote communication and control.

Apparatus, method and system for monitoring fluid


A portable stand for supporting one or more signs. The stand has a base, and a post extending vertically upward from the base. A pair of frames, having a cutout side, and a front window, attach securely to the post for holding the signs therein. The signs each insert into the frames along the cutout side of the frame, and are viewed through the front window of the frame. The base includes two sides, each having a recess that extends inwardly from the sides. A pair of wheels are secured within the recess for easily moving the stand. The base and the post each have a hollow inside cavity for temporarily holding water or sand therein for providing additional support and stability to the stand.

The invention relates to stands, and more particularly, to a portable stand for supporting a single or double-sided sign thereon.
Suburban neighborhoods are deluged with a variety of handmade signs on cardboard placards and posters, and are commonly secured to mailboxes and utility poles. Homemade signs are not always the most effective and practical way to advertise, and many communities have begun to restrict and even ban the use of homemade signs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,740 to Brault discloses a moveable stand for supporting a sign. Having a base with wheels that are capable of being filled with water to provide weight. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,875,578 and 5,878,518 both to Grewe disclose additional portable wheel signs suited to be filled with water.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A polariscope that measures stress in glass and that is adapted to be hand-carried includes a lightweight, C-shaped housing with a sequential arrangement of a battery-powered LED light source, a first polarizer, a full wave plate at one distal end, and a second polarizer at a second distal end. The housing includes a hand-grip that houses a battery, where the battery is selectively connected to the LED light source with a switch carried on the hand-grip. The sequential arrangement of light source, first polarizer and full wave plate at the first distal end is less than two inches thick. The polariscope weighs less than two pounds and does not require an external power source.

This invention is related to polariscopes, and more particularly to polariscopes that are portable.
A polariscope shows and qualitatively measures stress in glass and other photoelastic materials. When isotropic, photoelastic materials, such as glass and some plastics, are stressed, they become anisotropic. The anisotropy within the material makes the stressed areas birefringent. With a polariscope, one can determine the degree of anisotropy by observing the degree of birefringence, and determine a relative direction of tensile and compressive stress vectors. These can then be related qualitatively to the amount of stress within the material. A polariscope generally includes a light source, a first polarizer, a full wave plate and a second polarizer. The article to be tested is placed between the full wave plate and the second polarizer.
The above-cited application proposes an LED light source for a polarimeter instead of the commonly-used incandescent lamp. Although the incandescent lamp produces a smooth spectrum of white light, nearly 85% of the energy input to the lamp is converted to heat. This excessive heat causes damages to the polarizing film of the first polarizer that is adjacent to the lamp in the polarimeter. Over a relatively short time period, the damage to the film diminishes the ability of the polarimeter to accurately measure stress.
The LED light source in the above-cited application can also replace the compact fluorescent lamps that have been used in polarimeters to diminish the damage to the polarizing film from heat. However, the use of fluorescent lamps greatly increases the chance for chromatic aberrations. A failed lamp must be replaced with a reasonably exact duplicate otherwise the difference in the emission spectrum will shift the calibration of the polarimeter. In the case of fluorescent lamps, it is easy to make a mistake since the emission spectrum of a fluorescent lamp is a function of the phosphors used in its manufacture, e.g., there are several "colors" of white for commercial fluorescent lamps. Likely, the operator will be unaware of the color shift of the lamp and therefore not be able to compensate for it.
The manufacture of glass articles includes the controlled cooling of the glass to avoid generating stresses in the glass. A temperature difference within the glass as it cools through the glass transition range can cause stress in the glass. The intensity of the stress is directly related to the contraction properties of the glass and the intensity of the temperature difference. A polariscope can be used in a glass article manufacturing line to determine where alterations in the cooling process are needed to equalize the temperatures in the glass. Specifically, the hot glass article is removed from the line, typically while the line is in motion, and the glass is placed in the field of view of a polariscope. At some point in time, the glass article will exhibit birefringence (stress) indicating that the article is passing through the glass transition range. The time when the stress first appears must be measured accurately so the relative position of the manufacturing line can be determined. This operation can be dangerous for the operator and tends to be less accurate than desired.
Heretofore, the use of an incandescent or fluorescent lamp polariscope on a glass article manufacturing line without removing the glass article from the line has not been practical because of the size and weight of the polariscope. A typical "portable" polariscope is 8″ in diameter, 14″ high, weighs 11 pounds, is connected to a cumbersome electrical cable, and has a light source that is about 10″ deep. In use, the light source should be behind the glass article so that a reading at the second polarizer can be made. However, the clearance behind the glass article on a typical manufacturing line is usually only 2–4″ (the minimum required for the motion of mechanical devices and the location of burners), far too narrow for the 10-inch depth of the light source of the available polariscopes.
It would be an advantage to have a polariscope that is usable on a glass article manufacturing line without removing the glass article and that overcomes the above-noted difficulties.


A non-invasive system and method for inducing vibrations in a selected element of the human body and detecting the nature of responses for determining mechanical characteristics of the element are provided. The method comprises the steps of: inducing multiple-frequency vibrations, including below 20 KHz, in a selected element of the body by use of a driver; determining parameters of the vibration exerted on the body by the driver; sensing variations of a dimension of the element of the body over time, including in response to the driver; correlating the variations with frequency components of operation of the driver below 20 KHz to determine corresponding frequency components of the variations; resolving the frequency components into components of vibration mode shape; and determining the mechanical characteristics of the element on the basis of the parameters of vibration exerted by the driver and of the components of vibration mode shape.

This invention relates to non-invasive, small-perturbation measurements of macroscopic mechanical properties of organs and blood vessels to evaluate tissue pathology and body function.
Pathological changes in tissues are often correlated with changes in the mechanical properties of density, elasticity and damping. While microscopic mechanical changes have sometimes been correlated with ultrasound wavelengths and frequencies, many important mechanical changes are manifested most clearly on a large scale at low frequencies down to zero. For these, manual palpation remains almost the sole diagnostic tool. A great deal of effort has been expended in the area of blood pressure measurement, but not by analyzing small-perturbation mechanical properties of the pressurized vessel.
Arterial blood pressure measurement methods are commonly either invasive (catheterization or cannulation) or else disruptive mechanical perturbations, typically causing temporary occlusion of blood flow, e.g. by a sphygmomanometer cuff. Pulmonary arterial pressure is so inaccessible that it is seldom measured. The trauma of entering any artery is an obvious disadvantage. Most occlusive methods are only capable of sampling the systolic and diastolic extremes of the blood pressure waveform. Occlusive methods cannot be used for extended monitoring because of the interruption of circulation.
Recent less occlusive pressure monitoring methods include those described by Aaslid and Brubkak, Circulation, Vol. 4, No. 4 (ultrasound doppler monitors brachial artery flow while a servoed cuff maintains fixed, reduced flow) and Yamakoshi et al, "Indirect Measurement of Instantaneous Arterial Blood Pressure in the Human Finger by the Vascular Unloading Technique", IEEE Trans. on Biomedical Eng., Vol. BME-27, No. 3, March 1980 (a similar system optically monitors capillary blood volume in the finger while a servoed cuff maintains a constant optical reading).
Non-invasive blood pressure monitoring approaches suggested in prior art are described by Jeff Raines, Diagnosis and Analysis of Arteriosclerosis in the Lower Limbs, Ph.D. Thesis, M.I.T., Sept. 1972 (using a low-pressure cuff surrounding a limb to monitor the changing cross-section as enclosed arteries pulsate in diameter) and by D. K. Shelton and R. M. Olson, "A Nondestructive Technique To Measure Pulmonary Artery Diameter And Its Pulsatile Variations", J. Appl. Physiol., Vol. 33, No. 4, Oct. 1972 (using an ultrasound transducer in the esophagus to track canine pulmonary artery diameter). The latter investigators reported approximate short-term pressure/diameter correlation, while Itzchak et al, "Relationship of Pressure and Flow to Arterial Diameter", Investigative Radiology, May-June, 1982, using ultrasound to track canine arterial diameter, found no useful longterm pressure/diameter correlation.
In other areas of the human body, Kahn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,111, describes a mechanically and acoustically tuned pneumatic system, useful at a single frequency, for measuring the impedance of the air passages and tissues of human lungs to obtain a two-component trace (representing resistive and reactive impedance) as a function of time.

Non-invasive determination of mechanical characteristics in the body


A stand-up type personal watercraft is disclosed. The stand-up type personal watercraft typically includes a body including a hull and a deck covering the hull from above and being provided with a foot deck on an upper surface of a rear portion thereof to allow a rider to ride thereon, a handle pole configured to extend rearward in a longitudinal direction of the body, the handle pole having a steering handle attached to a rear end portion thereof, the handle pole being configured to be mounted to the deck such that a front end portion of the handle pole is attached to a front portion of the deck and the handle pole is vertically pivotable around the front end portion thereof, and a display device mounted to the handle pole and configured to display information regarding the watercraft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stand-up type personal watercraft, and more particularly to a stand-up type personal watercraft equipped with a display device mounted to a handle pole and configured to display information regarding an operation of the watercraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, stand-up type personal watercraft have a body including a hull and a deck covering the hull from above which are joined to each other at peripheries thereof. An engine is mounted in an inner space of the body. A water jet pump is mounted at a rear portion of the body. The engine is configured to drive the water jet pump, which ejects water rearward, and as the resulting reaction, the watercraft gains a propulsion force. The body has a foot deck on an upper surface of the rear portion thereof to allow a rider to ride thereon in a standing or kneeling position. A handle pole is pivotally mounted at a front end portion thereof to a front portion of the body. The handle pole extends rearward from a location where the front end portion of the handle pole is attached to the body, and a steering handle is attached to a rear end portion of the handle pole. The rider grips the steering handle to steer the watercraft in the standing or kneeling position on the foot deck. Such a personal watercraft is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2504376.
The above mentioned stand-up type personal watercraft is not equipped with meters or gauges configured to indicate, for example, an amount of remaining fuel or oil to be presented to the rider. So, the rider has difficulty in obtaining this information during travel. When the watercraft is traveling over a long distance, the rider must often get out the watercraft and open an engine hood to check the amount of remaining fuel or oil.
In recent years, in order to properly control engine operation, personal watercraft are typically provided with a plurality of sensors to detect oil temperature, water temperature, rotation speeds of shafts, etc. These sensors are electrically coupled to an ECU (electric control unit) built in the body. The ECU is configured to receive detection signals from these sensors and to control the engine based on status information regarding an operating state of the watercraft. The ECU is programmed to control the operation of the engine properly to change the operating state of the watercraft if any of the sensors detects an abnormal state.
However, since the conventional stand-up personal watercraft is not equipped with the meters and gauges configured to indicate the status information of the watercraft which are detected by the sensors, the rider is not informed of this information during travel of the watercraft. As a result, the rider cannot specify a cause of some abnormality occurring in a running engine during travel.


A cable management device comprises first and second arms and a base together defining an enclosure for one or more cables. The device includes an attachment and spacer device and a stabilizing clip to releasably attach the device to a support element and to space the enclosures of adjacent devices from one another.

The present invention relates to a cable management device and a modular cable management system incorporating a plurality of the cable management devices.
Numerous different forms of cable management device exist. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,427,952 and 5,921,402 disclose cable retaining brackets which can be mounted on a surface or track. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,985,530, 9,188,248 and 5,893,539 disclose systems with an elongate spine carrying a number of cable retaining rings. US2015/0086373 discloses a cable management system with a bracket defining a number of receptacles or compartments for keeping multiple cables of groups of cables separate. Nevertheless, a need remains for a simple, stable cable management device which can accommodate numerous cables, which can easy be built up into a modular cable management system.

Keymed (Medical & Industrial Equipment) Ltd. of Keymed House


A magnetic resonance apparatus has a scanner having a basic field magnet, a stationary gradient coil unit, an antenna system for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals, and a second gradient coil unit that can be introduced into an examination chamber of the scanner. The second gradient coil unit is arranged on a displaceable mounting attached outside of the examination chamber. The mounting is fashioned as a C-arm that can be moved along one axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a magnetic resonance apparatus of the type having a scanner with a basic field magnet, a stationary gradient coil unit, an antenna system for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals and a second gradient coil unit that can be introduced into an examination chamber of the scanner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For specific magnetic resonance examinations, insert gradient coils (which are also designated as local gradient coils) are introduced into the existing gradient coil of an MRI scanner that is used for whole-body examinations. In comparison to whole-body gradient coils, these insert gradient coils are advantageous with regard to inductance, slew rate, the maximum possible gradient field strength and the stimulation of the patient within smaller external diameters. Insert gradient coils are used when only a specific body part, for example the head of a patient, is to be subjected to a magnetic resonance examination.
Such a second gradient coil unit, the insert gradient coil, is normally manually inserted into scanner. An insert gradient coil, however, can weigh up to 250 kg, such that the handling thereof and the mounting and removal thereof can be cumbersome and complicated.
A magnetic resonance apparatus with a movable gradient coil unit is disclosed in DE 101 41 405 A1. The gradient coil unit is designed as an additional gradient coil that can be introduced into the tube-shaped examination chamber of the first gradient coil unit. For this purpose, in the region of the examination chamber a support device with rails is provided in order to move the second gradient coil unit into the examination chamber as needed and to remove it again after the conclusion of the examination. It is disadvantageous that the guides and rails for the support device are permanently located in the examination chamber even when the second gradient coil unit is not used.
An insertion device for gradient coils is known from DE 102 29 489 A1. The local gradient coil is mounted on a boom that is fastened on a movable carrier unit arranged outside of the magnetic resonance apparatus and can be displaced relative to the carrier unit. This movable carrier unit has a not-insignificant space requirement, such that the accessibility to this side of the magnetic resonance apparatus is limited.

Magnetic resonance apparatus with displaceable C-arm mount for an additional gradient coil unit


A food manufacturing process for semi-viscous and viscous food products utilizes an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide integrated into the processing procedure for reducing microbial activity. The decomposition of the peroxide is regulated by a protein derived enzyme and is monitored to eliminate the presence of peroxide in the finished food product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to food technology and especially to the application of an oxidatively active chemical agent for reducing bacterial population.
In particular, the food manufacturing process of this invention utilizes peroxide of hydrogen as a bactericide to improve the preservability of foodstuffs.
2. Background Art
The commercial food processing industry generally relies upon additives, such as preservatives, e.g. sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate, for preventing spoilage, retarding rancidity and prolonging shelf-life.
A problem with these and similar additives is that a residue usually remains in the food product. The residue may not exceed government proscribed levels, typically 1/10th of one (0.1%) percent, nevertheless, these additives may impose a health problem to some individuals and may also adversely affect the flavor or taste of the food product for example, by changing the pH balance.
Although chemical processing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, have received approval from the FDA, as being generally recognized as safe (GRAS), the use of these agents have been rather limited. For example, specified applications for food treatment include use as an antimicrobial agent in milk and starch, as an oxidizing and reducing agent in the preparation of dried eggs and wine, as a bleaching agent for preparing instant tea, cheese whey, herring, tripe and beef feet, and in the reduction or removal of sulfur dioxide from corn syrup and wine vinegar.
A specific application of hydrogen peroxide for the treatment of meat is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 349,852. In accordance with the process disclosed, hydrogen peroxide is introduced under pressure to meat contained within hermetically sealed containers. These processing conditions, however, are impractical for use with current methods of food processing and packaging.
Another process, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,661, for the destruction of bacteria in milk, relies upon heat for decomposing the hydrogen peroxide. The use of a thermal catalyst may provide an undue limitation upon the applications of the process especially to foods wherein heat would be detrimental to the edible material.
A further application of hydrogen peroxide food treatment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,134, wherein dehydrated onion pieces are sprayed with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and then dried. This procedure is apparently suited for selected food products and does not appear to present a widely acceptable and cost efficient method such as contemplated in the instant processing system.
Another problem with the above-described bactericidal procedures is that they are not adapted for integration with automatic batch-feed or continuous-feed manufacturing and production techniques employed in the food industry. The previously described procedures are further restricted to specific food products that do not include semi-viscous or highly viscous flowable food products.

Food manufacturing process utilizing hydrogen peroxide for microbial control


Various methods are provided for facilitating the determination of a user attention level using facial orientation detection. One example method may include receiving an image of a user after an expiration of an inactivity timer on the user terminal. The current attention level of the user is determined based on the received image. The computing device lock condition is then set based on the determined current attention level of the user. Similar and related example apparatuses and example computer program products are also provided.

Generally mobile devices have battery life limitations. In order to address the battery life limitation most mobile devices include an inactivity timer that locks a display of the mobile device and/or causes the mobile device to enter a sleep mode after a period of inactivity.
However, with the expanded usage of and the expanded number of available applications available on the mobile device, the definition of inactivity has changed. For example, in the past, inactivity was easier to detect as it was any time that a user was not physically interacting with the buttons of the mobile device, the user was actively using the phone and/or the phone was executing a process. Conversely, in present times a mobile device may be configured to display a feature length movie, a book on tape, driving directions and/or the like. In these situations a user may not physically interact with the device for long periods of time. Even though the user is not physically interacting with the device, the user may still be paying attention to the device and thus does not want the device to lock. Conversely even though a movie is currently playing, the user may no longer be paying attention and the device may be draining its battery. Currently mobile devices cannot determine are only configured to automatically enter a sleep mode by using the inactivity timer.

Method and apparatuses for determining a user attention level using facial orientation detection


A connection arrangement for a fuel line. The fuel line has a pressure nipple having a forward a sealing surface and a rear pressure receiving surface. A cap screw element projects into the passage with a tube portion which when tightened exerts on a pressure transmission arrangement a force which is directed axially towards the nozzle holder and which is transmitted to the pressure receiving surface of the pressure nipple to press its sealing surface against a counterpart sealing surface on the nozzle holder. A sealing arrangement which seals off a first free space between the outside wall of the fuel line and the inside wall of the pressure transmission arrangement and a second free space between the outside wall of the pressure transmission arrangement and the inside wall of the passage relative to the exterior is positioned completely in the interior of the passage.

In such a connection arrangement which can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,748 the sealing surface of a pressure nipple which is provided at the end of the fuel line, that is introduced into the passage in the cylinder head, is pressed by means of a pressure transmission arrangement against a counterpart sealing surface on the nozzle holder, transmitting to the pressure nipple the force which is produced when a cap screw element is screwed into a female screwthread in the region of the inlet opening of the passage and tightened therein. That pressure transmission arrangement comprises two parts coaxially surrounding the fuel line, namely a pressure ring bearing directly against a pressure receiving surface on the pressure nipple and a pressing tube which in the assembled condition bridges over the distance between the pressure ring and the cap screw element.
As the possibility cannot be excluded that engine oil and/or fuel under very high pressure penetrates into the free spaces which, for reasons of allowing assembly, must be present between the external peripheral surface of the fuel line and the pressure transmission arrangement on the one hand, and the pressure transmission arrangement and the inside wall of the passage on the other hand, it is necessary to seal off the passage towards the outside of the cylinder head to prevent uncontrolled escape of those fluids and/or the penetration of moisture into the free spaces.
For that purpose the known cap screw element has a prolonged shaft which in the fully screwed-in and tightened condition projects outwardly from the inlet opening of the passage and there carries a male screwthread, on which is fitted a nut which by being rotated can be moved in the axial direction towards or away from a flat contact surface surrounding the inlet opening of the passage on the outside of the cylinder head. Arranged on the shaft of the cap screw element between the contact surface and the flat side of the nut, that is towards it, is an annular sealing disk which is pressed against the contact surface when the nut is tightened with the cap screw element being fully screwed in. As the inside diameter of the sealing disk must be markedly larger than the outside diameter of the shaft of the cap screw element so that, when the nut is tightened, the sealing disk can move over the male screwthread on the shaft towards the contact surface on the cylinder head, a further annular sealing element is required, which is arranged between the nut and the male screwthread on the shaft.
That known sealing arrangement suffers from a series of disadvantages. It requires preliminary assembly of the cap screw element, on to which firstly the nut must be screwed together with the interposed annular sealing element and then the sealing disk has to be pushed on before the unit formed in that way can be positioned on the fuel line. If then the fuel line is introduced into the passage in the cylinder head until the pressure nipple bears against the counterpart sealing surface of the nozzle holder and the cap screw element is tightened, in addition the nut carried on the shaft of the cap screw element has to be tightened to achieve a sealed closure for the inlet opening of the passage. In that situation the sealing element between the nut and the male screwthread on the shaft causes difficulty both in terms of initially screwing on the nut on to the shaft and also the definitive tightening thereof.

Connection arrangement for a tubular fuel line


An indicator disposed on an openably closable door disposed on a part of an exterior panel includes a light source disposed on a housing positioned in an interior of the door and a diffusion lens disposed on the door and opposed to the light source, wherein the light source is mounted on a support part disposed on the housing so that an optical axis of the light source is coincident with that of the diffusion lens. The door includes a recessed portion including a retainer, and the diffusion lens is supported in the recessed portion with the retainer pressing an external surface of the diffusion lens entirely so that the light from the light source is prevented from leaking from the surface of the door.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an indicator and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically relates to a mechanism to indicate where a paper jam occurs in the apparatus, and apparatus incorporating the indicator.
2. Related Art
In an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, a toner image is transferred to a sheet of recording media to obtain a printed document or a copy. The recording sheet is conveyed from a sheet feed device disposed inside the image forming apparatus to a transfer position, and to a fixing device after the transfer, after which the printed sheet is discharged.
The recording sheet is conveyed along a conveyance path, and therefore is subject to occasional defective conveyance such as a paper jam. Defective conveyance of the recording sheet is recognized by a sensor disposed in the conveyance path or by measuring the time required for the conveyance. If defective conveyance occurs, a message to that effect is displayed, prompting an operator to remove the jammed sheet from the apparatus.
When fixing a paper jam, it is useful to know the exact location of the jam. JP-H11-119609-A discloses a structure that indicates where the jammed recording sheet is located and how to take it out, and includes a liquid crystal display on a part of the control panel disposed on the exterior of the apparatus and another display on a part of the housing which is exposed when an openably closable door is opened.
In the structure disclosed above, the door is opened and the display is observed to find the defective conveyance. Without observing the display, there is no finding the paper jam quickly. Accordingly, because the jam cannot be located promptly, a long time can be taken to handle the problem. For example, if multiple covers are provided for covering different parts of the recording sheet conveyance path, it may not be clear which of the exterior panels should be opened.
To solve such a problem, it is conceivable that a display is provided on the exterior panel indicating which of the covers is to be opened. However, such an arrangement requires the addition of a power source to the display. Such modification in turn necessitates, for example, improving the mechanical rigidity of the exterior panel when disposing a drawer connector between the panel and the apparatus frame, thereby enlarging and complicating the panel structure, both of which are undesirable.

Indicator and image forming apparatus incorporating same


Relevant data is extracted from engineering or system documents. The data is represented by a given hierarchical system structure in a predetermined system characteristic structure. The hierarchical system structure is loaded onto an MES-component to enable it to become operational. References to the original engineering or system documents are loaded onto the MES-components to enable navigation of the documents inside the MES-component.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a data processing device for commissioning MES components, particularly maintenance management components.
2. Description of the Related Art
"Software für die Automatisierung—Transparenz über die Abläufe schaffen" (which can be translated as "Software for automation—providing transparency through the sequences"), an article by Dirk Kozian in Electronik für die Automatisierung 11, Nov. 17, 1999 discloses the practice of using "manufacturing execution systems" (MES) for automating production and manufacturing sequences. These systems integrate the automation level (Controls) with the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems on the enterprise command level. Manufacturing execution systems are systems which provide information for optimizing production sequences, for example. First, the manufacturing execution systems need to add installation-specific, current fine planning data to the ERP system's coarse planning data and forward these fine planning data to the subordinate automation level as appropriate, and secondly they have the task of adopting production-related information from the automation level, editing this information and reporting it further to the enterprise command level. MES systems thus perform the task of vertical integration between the enterprise command level and the automation level. Typical individual tasks of MES systems are enterprise asset management, maintenance management, information management, scheduling, dispatching and trace & track. These tasks are each performed by MES components. In order for an MES component to be able to operate, it requires information about other components or possibly also about the overall structure of the installation. Today, this information is generally input manually into the MES components by the system integrator or the commissioner. The information about the installation structure is usually contained in engineering documents (e.g. P&ID, Pipe & Instrument Diagram or measurement point lists).
JP 0144453 discloses the practice of generating a list of equipment information for installations from the graphical information in P&ID diagrams.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,647 discloses a system and a method for integrating a business environment, i.e. a business management environment, an automation environment and a laboratory environment.
DE 199 48 028 A1 describes a method and a system for optimizing the sending of requests in workflow management systems.

Method and data processing device for commissioning manufacturing execution system (MES) components


The system comprises in combination: a) at least one station (1-13) for detecting the irradiation conditions; b) at least one connection means (19, 21) from said detection station to a user terminal (23); c) at least one detection device (25) for detecting the characteristics of the epidermis of the person who is to be exposed to the ultraviolet radiation; d) correlation means in said user terminal for correlating the irradiation conditions to the characteristics of the epidermis of the person and to the protection factor of any skin-protecting preparations used by the person or to the radiation exposure time, said correlation means indicating the exposure time or the protection factor as a function of the remaining correlated parameters.

It is known that exposure to solar radiation may have beneficial effects only if suitably controlled so as to prevent erythema, premature ageing or degeneration of a tumorous nature due to over-exposure.
In order to reduce the negative consequences of incorrect or excessive exposure to solar radiation, use is made of protective creams of varying levels which are chosen in a more or less approximate manner depending on the quality of the skin, its degree of tanning and the weather conditions, as well as the exposure time. These precautions are not sufficient in that frequently the evaluation as to the resistance of the epidermis of the person is incorrect, and also because the conditions of solar irradiation may vary greatly depending on the general atmospheric conditions. In general, a correct evaluation of the various parameters which contribute to determining the appropriate protection to be adopted is not possible owing to the part played by subjective factors.
Atmospheric pollution phenomena also make it even more dangerous to submit to ultraviolet radiation for excessively long periods, since no barrier effect against the most harmful ultraviolet radiation is provided by the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. As is well known, this phenomenon is not noticed by the person who is exposed to the solar radiation except where this has already caused erythema or other more serious damage also affecting other organs and in particular the eyes.

System for monitoring ultraviolet radiation with associated checking of the characteristics of the skin for the administration of protective creams


A seat assembly includes a seat tube in which a seat post is movably received therein which has a clamping member with a seat disposed thereto. The seat post has two plain portions defined diametrically opposite in an outer periphery thereof and the seat tube has two wedge-shaped recesses defined diametrically opposite in an inner periphery thereof so as to receive two wedge-shaped blocks therein. The seat post extends through a nut member which is threadedly mounted to the seat tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seat assembly and, more particularly, to a seat assembly having a seat post which is not rotated in a seat tube of a bicycle.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A seat assembly for a bicycle includes a seat post received in a seat tube of the bicycle and a clamping member disposed to an upper end of the seat post so that a seat is attached to the clamping member. Generally, the seat post is fixedly clamped by the seat tube so that the seat post is theoretically not rotatable within the seat tube. Unfortunately, in practice, the seat post is rotated within the seat tube when an impact is laterally applied to the seat. This is a troublesome problem especially most of the bicycle riders do not have tools with them.
The present invention intends to provide an improved seat assembly for a bicycle to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned problem.