One objective of the present invention is to optimize a sorting process (20) that, by novel means (240), reduces the number of comparisons required to sort delivered items (10, 230) whether said items are physical tokens, electronic data or other symbolic representations of whatever is sorted. Said novel means (240) include: initializing values (220), recording values (250), comparing items found closest to evolving centroids (310, 320), restricting evolving fields for comparison within limits (330), setting pointers indicating the sorted order of items (360), detecting delivered items and those remaining within limits (60, 260), noting value changes (30, 250), and appropriate recursions (270, 280, 350, 370). A second objective of the present invention is to provide computer software means for said process (20) whereby said novel means (240) can be operably coupled with an apparatus to find items (40) and place them in ordered queues (50) as items (70).

The present invention relates to a process of sorting items comprising physical tokens, electronic data, or other symbols representing such tokens.
In particular, the invention relates to a method and to software for sorting mail or similar items that are themselves to be ordered (e.g., envelopes, cards, other flats, inventory items, chemical samples, or machine parts), or for sorting items that symbolically represent any other possible referents to be sorted (i.e., some useful code or index, such as the postal zip code; employed for achieving a tangible result, e.g., sorted mail).
There is no known prior art pertaining to the present inventive process.
All previously known sorting procedures that involve comparing items a fixed number of times asymptotically approach an ideal of N lg N comparisons known as the information theoretic lower bound.
In contrast, the maximum number of comparisons the present invention requires is always less than the minimum number of comparisons necessary to complete a sorting process by any of such preceding means, regardless of input ordering or the number of items; hence, greater than one (1) bit of information is gleaned from successive comparisons made via the invention's operation, thus the rate of information growth accelerates with iteration.
As a consequence, the advantage afforded by the invention grows larger as the number of items to sort grows larger.
Interpolation is commonly used to determine values between established X-axis values when a function y=ƒ(x), having only discrete values, is approximated via polynomial expressions.
A related problem is that of taking function values at lattice points as "exact" within some confidence intervals of accuracy, in order to manage the "roughening" effect of differentiation.
When using a difference procedure to enable such approximations, a finite set of discrete points is treated as analogous to a plane.
The Laplace operator based on a square lattice incorporates five-point "molecules," wherein the boundary conditions for a specially selected position are the lattice lines and the boundary values are given at the boundary points of the lattice.
The invention makes use of similar "molecules" to locate the most central positions in spatial arrays of placed items; hence, the inventive process is understood as one that makes use of "topological interpolation."
In order to sort items, the present invention introduces a novel interpretation of plural axes defining a spatial array and a novel use for the elements of said spatial array.
Many methods and systems for sorting electronic data or other symbols using computer systems, comprising hardware and software, are known.
Sorting is used to collect similar items, to efficiently match lists of items and to facilitate the retrieval of information.
Sorting is at the heart of prioritizing queues, bringing order to haphazardly collected data, comparing quantities, optimizing routes, managing large databases, and other embodiments that are useful and pervasive in our complex society.
Knuth in The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 3: Sorting and Searching, 2nd Edition, 1998, estimated that in some computer installations as much as 50% of computer run time was consumed by sorting tasks.
Some examples of sorting processes in computerized applications are described in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,822 issued on May 16, 1961 to Armstrong et al describes a system for comparing and sorting character data and an apparatus for directing character data stored in two record blocks to appropriate high and low lines as determined by the relative magnitude of the character data, and the compare-sort units can then be used in cascade.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,413 issued on Apr. 10, 1962 to O'Conner et al describes electronic switching circuits and magnetic storage means used to sort randomly arranged information according to a desired sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,127 issued on Sep. 13, 1966 to Armstrong describes a digital sorting system and a network capable of comparing the identifying multi-bit binary signal of the record about to be fed into the system with the identifying numbers of the sequenced records already in the system, and the sorting network also rearranges the new record with respect to the previously sequenced records so that the new record may be sorted into its proper place in the sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,632 issued on Dec. 24, 1968 to Batcher describes basic merging components used in substantially equally divided subdivisions to effect a merge of two sequences of data each arranged in ascending order, and the resultant output is automatically integrated into a single arranged sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,024 issued on Aug. 15, 1972 to O'Conner describes a plurality of sorting switches used to perform a satisfactory partial sort when target positions change slowly, relative to the frequency of sorting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,171 issued on Apr. 24, 1984 to Neches describes a multiprocessor system that sorts data content messages having a common priority in order to distribute them to processors consistent with a total network delay time and routing is determined by local acceptance or rejection of the messages at the processors, based upon destination data in the messages.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,567 issued on Apr. 9, 1985 to Chang et al describes a method of sorting data on a disk file by transferring records to a sort buffer, on the basis of rank, according to qualifying criteria.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,483 issued on Dec. 9, 1986 to Nelson describes a sorting network that simultaneously uses multiple comparators to sort the keys of N records.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,373 issued on Sep. 15, 1987 to Lamb et al describes a computer-controlled sorter, loader and archiving system for slides that relies on accession numbers and sorting logic to direct slides to appropriate bins or compartments.
Some examples of reducing search spaces during data processing are described in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,765 issued on May 7, 2002 to Cleaveland et al describes software and methods of using a computer for specifying and verifying synchronous and asynchronous systems and that further uses a "new kind of partial-order reduction method."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,031 issued on Jan. 23, 2003 to Fries et al describes a method of aiding searches in a computer environment by selecting a search area based upon accessing a user profile and upon the search query.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,030 issued on Feb. 18, 2003 to Horowitz describes a method for operating a computer system to minimize the number of disk storage access operations required for creating the inverted database from a series of inverted databases; and the database is divided into several smaller databases, then postings lists created for each subdatabase are sorted and common and non-common terms are merged.
Many methods and machines for sorting articles are known.
Modern item sorting practice, especially sorting practice for items of mail, is based on the use of sorting machines.
Some examples of apparatus and methods for mail sorting are described in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,008 issued on Jan. 27, 1981 to Dobbs describes a microprocessor implemented method and system for use in a mail sorting machine that also compiles a list of zip codes from each envelope that moves through the machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,078 issued on Sep. 16, 1997 to Walach describes an apparatus and method for mail sorting, including:
1) generating a first sequence number for each subset of mail;
2) sorting the first subset into batches according to the first sequence number;
3) associating one of the first sequence numbers corresponding to the destination addresses of the mail items in the first subset into batches, according to the second and first sequence numbers, while disregarding N of the most significant digits of the first sequence number;
4) interleaving the batches from the first and the second subset; and
5) sorting according to the N most significant digits of the first sequence number, and the method is intended to allow porting of the mail to begin prior to all the mail being physically present at the sorter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,060 issued on Jun. 6, 2000 to Robinson describes a sorting station that translates scanned signals into internal addresses that correspond to bins and the bins correspond to postal routes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,964 issued on Jul. 10, 2001 to Robinson describes a sorting station that translates scanned signals into internal addresses that correspond to bins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,836 issued on Aug. 14, 2001 to Walach describes a sorting machine with multiple input bins associated with multiple output bins that allows the subsequent grouping of sorted articles for resorting; thus, the first and second portions of a sorting key may be disjoint.
All of the references cited herein rely on well-known methods for sorting and do not partake of the novel processes introduced by the invention.
Although the inventive process makes use of certain techniques similar to those well known in the art of sorting items, it also departs significantly from all known methods, software, and systems that precede it.
Since the inventive process is substantively unlike known conventional methods for sorting, it thereby yields distinct, useful and tangible advantages.
Other methods used for sorting items rely on comparisons of all items to all others, on arbitrarily reducing the field for comparisons, or on a logarithmically basal index assigned to each item.
Unlike these, the present invention reduces the fields for comparisons made based on simple differences among prioritized values assigned to the items compared.
This results in significant advantages on all measures of performance (i.e., the number of required comparisons, the number of required moves, and the time necessary to complete processing when the number of items to sort is not insignificantly small).
Although the invention includes features similar to methods belonging to the general category of an insertion sort, it is novel since the way items are placed defies the limits of the information theoretic lower bound.
Unlike an exchange sort, items sorted via the inventive process are never found to be out of order and so are not interchanged.
Continuous movement of items, as required by an exchange sort, is not necessary while items are being sorted.
Unlike a selection sort, items are not repeatedly searched for those next in order during item placement.
Unlike an enumeration sort, each item does not have to be compared with each of the other items, but instead only with a reduced subset of items already positioned.
Unlike a special-purpose sort defined for specific small groups of items, the inventive process readily generalizes to large numbers of items.
Whereas all previously known sorting procedures have relative strengths and weaknesses dependent on the intended application, the invention does not lose its advantage of minimizing comparisons due to the distribution of the items sorted, nor according to the mechanisms supporting its implementation.
Similar to address table sorting, where link addresses point to successive item locations, the invention creates link addresses that are ordered before rearranging items.
As with keysorting, a unique value is placed with the link addresses for greater speed.
Like with list sorting, an auxiliary link field is included in each record and, for the final result, records are linked in a list of links pointing to the records that follow them.
Unlike address calculation sorting, that merely estimates the general position of each item to accelerate its final placement, the invention fixes the final relative position for each item through a calculated (not random) convergent process.
The number of comparisons among data and the number of data movements necessary are thereby reliably reduced, and generally to a greater extent.
In order to reduce the time required for sorting, Batcher's parallel method performs all indicated comparisons and exchanges by using parallel operations.
Sorting is completed in ½[lg N]([lg N]+1) time-steps (e.g., 55 parallel steps for 1024 items to sort).
Whereas the present invention is not governed by the information theoretic lower bound with respect to each item compared, all other methods are so limited.
Without parallel means, to sort N items, the inventive process requires a maximum number of comparisons equal to the series sum for N terms of ([lg N]+1).
However, once parallel processes are applied to the inventive process, time-steps are saved as well.
The relative positioning of one of plural items can be underway while the search for the position of the next item is initiated.
Thereby, idle areas in the search space, with respect to one path of comparisons, are employed via parallel processing for another path of comparisons, not engaged by the first path; thus, parallel processing in distinct sections of the whole problem space can occur simultaneously.
In the event that plural sequentially ordered items are routed to adjacent regions of space, the final position of one item may be contingent on the final placement of the other.
Even under such conditions, the returned value of the first item placed need not propagate all the way to the root of the search tree.
By employing parallel processes, not precluding serial processing at some stages of operation, the inventive process requirements will approach [lg N]+1 or fewer steps to sort N items, a significant savings.
Radix sorting, also known as distribution sorting, eliminates the need to compare keys directly by representing the keys as b-bit integers.
Sorting proceeds linearly through the entire sorting key associated with each item, in the direction implied by the choice of the beginning digit depends on whether the least or most significant digit is the first chosen.
The keys are sorted one digit at a time and then permuted to their respective locations.
Nonetheless, the radix method of sorting requires many steps, wherein every item or associated key is moved multiple times (a function of the number of digits required for a key to accommodate the number of distinct sorting codes desired).
In general, moving items is more time-consuming than comparing items.
One embodiment of the present invention requires no movement of items, instead pointers are set by comparing N items to be sorted.
In this case, the inventive process establishes a sequential path by following links from one item to another in the sorted order.
None of the applications important for sorting:                collecting items with similar features into sets;        matching items in two or more files; and        searching for information by key values, depend on sorting anything beyond data.
Data is categorized by common features, prioritized for the purpose of facilitating the logical combination of data from different fields, and then retrieved according to variously ordered indices.
The invention can be used to advantage in the above data-oriented application areas.
In addition, the invention can be used to sort physical tokens, method or system instructions, storage addresses, or transmission and transportation paths.
This means that inventory tracking, the distribution of goods, traffic direction, routing for delivery vehicles, path allocation, computer-aided software engineering, search processes, communication network routing, and applications for pattern recognition processes that lead to tangible outcomes are among the applications that can all benefit from diverse embodiments of the invention.
Unlike other sorting methods that rely solely on virtual representations in order to reduce the number of moves required to complete a sorting, the invention can sort real items in real space and time, therefore the invention can be readily applied to sorting physical tokens with no loss of its relative performance efficiency.
Since anything can be sorted using the invention, customized orderings that have no established a priori sequences are possible.
Concurrent sortings of real-time changing priorities can thus be applied to critical path management.
All publications, including patent documents and texts, referred to in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication were individually incorporated by reference.

Reduced comparison coordinate-value sorting process


A masking structure having multiple layers is formed. The masking structure includes an amorphous carbon layer and a cap layer formed over the amorphous carbon layer. The amorphous carbon layer includes transparent amorphous carbon. The cap layer includes non-oxide materials. The masking structure may be used as a mask in an etching process during fabrication of semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor devices such as memory devices reside in many computers and electronic products to store data. A typical semiconductor device has many layers of different materials formed on a semiconductor wafer.
During manufacturing, the layers go through many processes. For example, a patterning process puts patterns on the layers. Some patterning processes use a mask to transfer patterns from the mask to the layers underneath the mask. The patterns on the mask itself are often created using a top layer above the mask.
During the patterning process, the material of the top layer may affect the properties of the layers underneath the top layer and the mask. Some conventional top layers are made of oxide material. In some cases, an oxide top layer affects the layers underneath the top layer and the mask. Thus, in some cases, the top layer made of oxide is not suitable.

Masking structure having multiple layers including an amorphous carbon layer


A stitcher (1) for connecting strips of rubber material (4, 5) into a substantially continuous strip according to this invention comprises a surface (3), a stitching head (6) placed over it having a stitch unit (7) for stitching the strips of rubber material together along a stitch line, which stitch line includes an angle α having a longitudinal direction (L) of the continuous strip, a drive mechanism for driving a relative movement of the stitching head with respect to the surface along a first (X) and a second (Y) direction, wherein the second direction is oriented transverse to the first direction, and a control device (11) for controlling the drive mechanism such that the stitch unit follows the stitch line. In one embodiment the stitching head is rotatably connected to the drive mechanism wherein the axis of rotation extends transverse to the surface. The stitching head furthermore comprises a wheel (15) that is placed at a distance from the axis of rotation, wherein the wheel with its tread abuts the surface.

The invention relates to a stitcher and a method for stitching strips of rubber material together into a substantially continuous strip.
For manufacturing for instance an unvulcanized tyre or air spring with components of rubber material, use is often made of one or more strips of rubber material that have to be stitched together. In that case the stitch is placed at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the strips so that the stitch will extend at least partially over the circumference of the unvulcanized tyre or air spring.
When manufacturing an unvulcanized tyre or air spring use is also made of one of more strips of a cord-reinforced rubber material. In that case the reinforcement cords need to be placed at an angle α to the longitudinal direction of the strip. As basic material for the manufacturing of the substantially continuous strip, use is made of a roll of rubber material, in which reinforcement cords have been embedded in the longitudinal direction. The cords embedded in the rubber material may for instance be of steel, rayon or a synthetic material, such as nylon, polyester or aramid, or the like. In a cutting system strips of cord-reinforced rubber material are cut one by one at an angle, the cutting angle α, from the roll of rubber material. As a result the strips in general have the shape of a parallelogram, having a substantially triangular leading tip en a substantially triangular trailing tip. The individual strips are transported one after the other by a supply device to a stitcher, after which the edges of two consecutive strips of cord-reinforce rubber material are stitched together, preferably by means of butt stitching or butt splicing, into a substantially continuous strip of cord-reinforced rubber material, wherein the reinforcement cords and the longitudinal direction of the continuous strip substantially include an angle α.
In case of butt stitching the strips of in general sticky unvulcanized rubber material are pressed against each other and for instance a stitching roller is moved over the stitch so that the strips will start to form one unity. The outer ends of the strips are placed butt against each other, substantially without overlap.
A device for manufacturing such a substantially continuous strip of rubber material in this way is for instance known from European patent publication 0 698 479 A1. In this document a stitcher is described having a stitching head with stitch unit placed over the stitch table, wherein the stitching head is movable along a straight guide or rail, defining a stitch line, wherein the stitch line and the longitudinal direction of the continuous strip include an angle α. The guide or rail is placed over the stitch table so as to be slightly rotatable, so that aligning the stitching head with respect to the edges of the strips to be stitched is possible.
A drawback of said known device is that the angle α to be set is limited, as a result of which the device is unsuitable for manufacturing different substantially continuous strips of for instance cord-reinforced rubber material having a wide range of angles α to be set between the reinforcement cords and the longitudinal direction of the continuous strip.
This problem could for instance be solved by increasing the angle of rotation over which the guide or rail can be rotated. However, for obtaining a larger angle of rotation, particularly for obtaining smaller angles α, the rail should be much longer than the continuous strips are wide. For accurate stitching with such a long rail, a firm and therefore heavy structure is required in order to counteract the possibility of the rail sagging.

Stitcher and method for stitching together strips of rubber material


Provided in the present invention are a 4-1BB antibody and a preparation method and the use thereof. In particular, provided in the present invention are a 4-1BB antibody, which has high affinity to 4-1BB protein, can effectively activate the signal downstream of the 4-1BB and significantly increase expression quantities of IFN-γ and IL-2 in human mixed lymphocytes or T lymphocytes, and can be used to treat cancers and autoimmune diseases.

4-1BB, also known as CD137, or TNFRF9, is a member of the TNF receptor family. 4-1BB is a type I transmembrane protein with a reading frame containing 255 amino acids (NCBI: NP_001552), consisting of an N-terminal signal peptide containing 17 amino acids, an extracellular domain of 169 amino acids, and a transmembrane domain of 27 amino acids and a C-terminal intracellular domain of 42 amino acid. The 4-1BB molecule is mainly expressed in activated T cells, NK cells, regulatory T cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, and endothelial cells of tumor vessels have also been reported to express 4-1BB.
During the activation of T cells, 4-1BB molecules can provide costimulatory signals. When the T cell receptor is exposed to the antigen, it will increase the expression of 4-1BB. The binding of 4-1BB to the ligand will cause the activation of the NFκB signaling pathway, resulting in the activation and proliferation of T cells, and 4-1BB can also inhibit the apoptosis of activated cells. It has been confirmed in animal models and in vitro experiments that anti-4-1BB activating monoclonal antibodies have anti-tumor activity. It can selectively cause the proliferation of CD8+ T cells, and up-regulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, and can enhance the killing effect of antigen-specific effector T cells, thereby promoting the removal of tumors. Anti-4-1BB activating monoclonal antibodies can also cause the expansion of NK cells and can increase the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells through it. The anti-4-1BB agonistic antibodies can also cause upregulated expression of adhesion molecules in the endothelial cells of blood vessels in tumor cells, and promote the infiltration of activated T lymphocytes into tumor tissues.
In addition, in animal models, anti-4-1BB activating antibodies can also alleviate autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis, lupus-like syndrome, and collagen-induced arthritis.
At present, the existing 4-1BB antibodies in the art still have many deficiencies in antigen binding activity and activation of downstream signals of 4-1BB molecules and the like. There is no widely used 4-1BB antibody drug product, and development of 4-1BB activating antibodies is an urgent need for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

4-1BB antibody and preparation method and use thereof


Methods of using certain α-aminoamide derivatives to treat lower urinary tract disorders. The therapeutic agents of the invention are able to reduce or even stop the lower urinary tract disorders substantially without side effects.

Lower urinary tract (LUT) disorders, that affect the quality of life of millions of people in the world every year, include but are not limited to overactive bladder (OAB), prostatitis and prostadynia, interstitial cystitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary incontinence.
OAB is the most common term currently used in clinical medicine to describe a complex of lower urinary tract symptoms with or without incontinence. The symptoms usually include urgency, frequency, nocturia, troublesome or incomplete emptying and occasionally pain. Causes of bladder overactivity include neurological illness or injury, bladder outlet obstruction, urethral weakness, detrusor hyperactivity and impaired contractility in elderly patients, emergence of new voiding reflexes and so-called idiopathic bladder overactivity. Neurogenic overactive bladder occurs as the results of neurological damage due to disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy or spinal cord lesions. By contrast, non-neurogenic OAB can result from non-neurological abnormalities including bladder stones, muscle disease, urinary tract infection or drug side effects. OAB may results from hypersensitivity of sensory neurons of the urinary bladder, arising from various factors including inflammatory conditions, hormonal imbalances, and prostate hypertrophy.
Prostatitis is a term to describe inflammatory conditions of the prostate gland. It is thought that most cases of prostatitis result from bacterial infection, but evidence of infection is not always found. An infected or inflammed prostate can cause painful urination with serious complications. There are four types of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, non-bacterial prostatitis and prostadynia, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, that is a condition associated with painful symptoms of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis without an inflammation of the prostate.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent and painful urination and pelvic discomfort. Unlike common cystitis (inflammation of the bladder caused by bacterial infection), no infectious agent has been found in IC.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate that is very common in men over 40 years. The prostate grows in two different ways. In one type of growth, cells multiply around the urethra, in the second cells growth into the urethra and the bladder outlet area. This second type of growth typically requires surgery. Common symptoms of BPH include: blood in the urine, feeling that bladder has not emptied completely after the urination, frequent urination, nocturia, urgent need to urinate, incontinence. In severe cases of BPH another symptom is the acute urinary retention.
The function of the LUT is to store and periodically release urine. This requires the orchestration of storage and micturition reflexes involving both the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system and motor pathways.
Urinary incontinence (UI) occurs when the lower urinary tract does not store urine properly and there is involuntary loss of urine. There are 3 types of UI: urge, stress and mixed. Urge UI is considered to be due to an overactive bladder, while stress UI is considered to be due to decreased urethral outlet resistance. Mixed UI contains both components. Symptoms are: urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia, accidental loss of urine. When conscious control of the parasympathetic micturition reflex is compromised, conditions of OAB and/or UI arise, creating serious health and social concerns.
Drugs that suppress the micturition reflex could be useful for treating OAB and UI. One of the target for suppressing the OAB consists in the primary afferent neurons and their peripheral terminals in the bladder. Therapeutic agents that suppress action potential initiation and/or propagation along primary afferent fibers, through modulation of ion channels, would be expected to increase the volume threshold for activation of the micturition reflex and thus reduce bladder overactivity and urgency.
Current treatments for OAB include antimuscarinic drugs, diet modification, programs in bladder training, electrical stimulation and surgery.
Currently, there are no established treatments for prostatitis and prostadynia. Antibiotics, COX-2 inhibitors and α-adrenergic blockers are often prescribed, but their efficacy has not been established.
Treatments for IC that include the administration of antihistamines, sodium pentosanpolysulfate, dimethylsulfoxide, steroids, tricyclic antidepressants and narcotic antagonists have generally been unsuccessful.
Non invasive treatments for BPH include androgen deprivation therapy and the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors and α-adrenergic blockers with minimal efficacy.
Because existing therapies and treatments for LUT disorders are associated with limitations as described above, new therapies and treatments are desirable.
However, despite the large number of available therapeutic agents, their use suffers of limited efficacy and side effects such as dry mouth, dry eyes, dry vagina, palpitations, cardiac rhythm alteration, drowsiness, mental confusion particularly in the elderly and constipation which have proven difficult for individuals to tolerate.
Since sensory afferent neurons, expressing sodium channels, are hypersensitized in bladder disfunctions, it seems reasonable to assume that blocking sodium channels activity may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of lower urinary tract disorders.
The present invention provides rapid and highly effective methods for treating a variety of lower urinary tract disorders by utilizing, in vivo, certain α-aminoamide compounds of the invention in a therapy as an alternative to existing treatments.
WO90/14334, WO94/22808, WO97/05102, WO97/0511 and WO99/35125, the text of which are herein incorporated by reference, disclose substituted benzylaminopropionamide compounds active on the central nervous system and useful as anti-epileptic, anti-Parkinson, neuroprotective, antidepressant and antispastic hypnotic agents (see also Pevarello P. et al. (1998), "Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of a new class of 2-[(arylalkyl)amino]alkanamide derivatives", J. Med. Chemistry, 41:579-590). WO99/35125 and WO99/35123 disclose substituted benzylaminopropanamide compounds active on the central nervous system and useful as analgesic agents (see also Veneroni O: et al. (2003) "Anti-allodynic effect of NW-1029, a novel Na+ channel blocker, in experimental animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain", Pain 102(1-2):17-25).

Alpha-aminoamide derivatives useful in the treatment of lower urinary tract disorders


An integrated circuit is provided with a bandgap voltage reference circuit having a bandgap reference voltage output. A bandgap failure detection circuit is coupled to the bandgap reference voltage output. The bandgap failure detection forms a model value of the reference voltage from a first time, compares a present value of the reference voltage at a second time to the model value; and asserts a bandgap fail signal to indicate when the present value is less than the model value by a threshold value. The integrated circuit is reset by the bandgap fail signal. The detection circuit may be operated from a failsafe voltage domain that also allows a critical circuit to complete a pending operation during a reset.

Electronic devices, in particular integrated electronic devices, provide complex functionality for all kinds of applications. There is a general need to ensure that the electronic device can operate properly in order to avoid malfunctions or failure. There are many different control and monitoring tasks that may be implemented for this purpose. One of the most important issues is to ensure that the power supply voltage level of a power supply for supplying the electronic device is within acceptable limits for proper operation of the electronic device. Monitoring circuits such as power on reset (POR) circuitry or other solutions may be employed. Comparators may be coupled to the power supply voltage level in order to determine whether or not the power supply voltage level remains within a target window.
The voltage difference between two p-n junctions (e.g. diodes) operated at different current densities may be used to generate a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current in a resistor. A bandgap reference voltage (Vbg) is a voltage reference based on the bandgap energy property, typically using two different sized bipolar junction transistors (BJT). A high precision bandgap voltage reference is a temperature independent voltage reference circuit widely used in integrated circuits, usually with an output voltage around 1.25V.
The bandgap is the energy difference between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band in insulators and semiconductors. There is virtually no bandgap in most metals, but a very large one in an insulator or dielectric. In a semiconductor, the bandgap is small. Technically, the bandgap is the energy it takes to move electrons from the valence band to the conduction band.
A BJT is a type of transistor that relies on the contact of two types of semiconductor for its operation. BJTs may be used as amplifiers, switches, or in oscillators, for example. Charge flow in a BJT is due to bidirectional diffusion of charge carriers across a junction between two regions of different charge concentrations. The regions of a BJT are typically called emitter, collector, and base
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Bandgap reference voltage failure detection


A method and system for wireless pairing procedure through a wired interface. The wireless pairing system of the present invention comprises at least two wireless devices and a central controller. First, the wireless devices are connected to the central controller through a wired interface for pairing. The central controller then requests relevant information such as device address, device type, and connection mode of each wireless device. The central controller determines all possible pairs of peer entities according to the relevant information of the wireless devices, and generates a dedicated link key for each pair for successful pairing. Finally, the central controller writes the link key and the relevant information of the corresponding peer entity into each wireless device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pairing procedure for wireless communication technique, and more specifically, to a method and system thereof for wireless pairing procedure through a wired interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication, such as blue teeth, between devices such as desktops, notebooks, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), mobile phones, printers, scanners, digital cameras, and various home electronic appliances is often achieved by short range radio technology. Each wireless device is assigned a unique standard address, in order to establish peer-to-peer, or-peer-to-many low-power wireless connections for a local network. Transmitted data is encrypted and encoded by security procedures before transmission. The security procedure comprises:
1. PIN (Personal Identification Number) code comparison;
2. link key pairing;
3. authentication;
4. encryption key generation (optional);
5. initiating encryption (optional).
FIG. 1 shows a conventional wireless pairing procedure for short range radio communication. One of two unpaired wireless devices first searches for another device wirelessly, and then establishes a wireless connection when one is located. Once the two wireless devices establish a wireless connection, a wireless pairing procedure is performed according to the following procedures. First, both the two wireless devices must enter an identical PIN code for identification, if identification is successful, a dedicated Link Key is generated for the two wireless devices. The dedicated link key is required in the subsequent security procedure for generating an Encryption Key. Link key is not only for encryption key generation, but also for authentication. Furthermore, encryption is not part of authentication, but they are all part of the security procedure.
The conventional short range radio communication requires both wireless devices to enter PIN code during a wireless pairing procedure in order to obtain a dedicated Link key for successful pairing. Certain wireless devices, however, are too small in size, or do not have an alphanumeric input interface (such as a wireless mouse or a wireless printer), thus either an added input interface required for supporting enter PIN code during a pairing procedure will cause additional cost, or the wireless devices cannot obtain a Link Key during the wireless pairing procedure and the Encryption Key cannot be generated. Otherwise, suffer lower security level using fixed PIN code.
Furthermore, errors and problems may occur during the wireless pairing procedure when several similar wireless devices using short range radio communication are located in the same region. For example, a nearby wireless keyboard may be mistakenly located by a wireless dongle and erroneously recognized as the desired device for pairing.


A posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) implant that comprises a body with substantially parallel posterior and anterior sidewalls, and a pair of superior and inferior faces. The implant is inserted via an insertion tool within a depression in the sidewalls of the implant. The insertion tool is secured to the side walls of the implant to prevent any bending or breaking of the implant or the inserter during implantation. Once inserted, the implant may be rotated approximately 90 degrees within the disc space. Because of the shape and size of the implant, the effective height of the implant within a patient's disc space is increased upon rotation.

A number of medical conditions can cause severe back pain including, without limitation, compression of spinal cord nerve roots, degenerative disc disease, tumors, and trauma. Intervertebral fusion is one surgical method of alleviating back pain. In an intervertebral fusion procedure, two adjacent vertebral bodies are fused together by removing the affected intervertebral disc and inserting posteriorly an implant that would allow for bone to grow between the two vertebral bodies to bridge the gap (oftentimes referred to as the disc space) created by the disc removal.
A number of different implant materials and implant designs have been used for intervertebral/interbody fusion and for vertebral body replacement with varying degrees of success. Current implant materials used include metals, radiolucent materials including plastics, elastic and polymeric materials, ceramic, and allografts. Current implant designs vary from threaded cylindrical implants to generally rectangular cages with teeth-like protrusions.
Additionally, for patients that require fusion surgery to treat such ailments as degenerative disc disease, deformity and instability, the PLIF cage has been shown to be somewhat effective. However, there remain a number of limitations associated with the use of the PLIF impaction design. For example, the force needed to hammer in such an implant can damage the patient's vertebral bodies. Additionally, most PLIF devices are inserted sideways with a manual tool that grips the exterior surface of the PLIF device, and then rotates the same within the disc space. However, because of the relatively weak sidewalls of existing PLIF devices, and the positioning of the manual tool on the exterior surface of the sidewalls of the PLIF device, the PLIF devices tend to either break or become deformed during the insertion procedure, or are incapable of exerting enough force on the adjacent vertebrae to achieve successful insertion of the PLIF device and/or the desired amount of distraction.
Therefore, there is a long felt need in the art for a rotatable PLIF implant that can be inserted into the disc space with less force and less trauma to the patient's vertebral bodies, and without bending, breaking or otherwise causing damage to the PLIF implant and/or the insertion tool. There is also a long felt need in the art for a rotatable PLIF implant that promotes bone growth and that is capable of including structurally encoded data that can be read after implantation via a plurality of non-invasive means. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved PLIF implant that is relatively easy to manufacture and use.

In vivo rotatable PLIF additively manufactured and reading system therefor


A composite tube with improved resistance to thermal fatigue and stress corrosion for use in soda recovery units comprising an inner tubing of a conventional carbon steel and an outer liner of a Cr--Ni--Mo--Fe-based alloy with austenitic structure which alloy contains, in weight-%, 0.01-0.04 C, 19.5-23.5 Cr, 38-46 Ni, 2.5-3.5 Mo, up to 0.5 Si, up to 0.3N, and the remainder being Fe, except normal impurities.

The present invention relates to the use of an austenitic Cr--Ni--Mo-containing construction material for the manufacture of a composite tube with good resistance to thermal fatigue and stress corrosion when being used as bottom tubes for soda recovery units.
It has been found that the usage of such external tube material in a jointly extruded composite tube is especially advantageous when the inner tube is made of conventional carbon steel. A composite tube in this context means a compound tube of two tubular layers with a metallurgical bond therebetween. Such compound tubes are manufactured by co-extrusion or joint extrusion. Bottom tubes refer to tubes in the bottom of the soda recovery unit wherein feed water is led into the wall tubes (see FIG. 1). These bottom tubes are those tubes or parts of tubes which are disposed below the melt openings of the said soda recovery unit.
In conventional soda recovery units, the bottom tubes comprises either composite tubes of SS2333 corresponds to UNSS30409, ASTM A-213, grade Tp304H) or SS2352 corresponds to UNS S30403, ASTM A-213, grade Tp304L) as the external tube material and carbon steel as the internal tube material, or naked carbon steel tubes covered with a refractory layer. There is a disadvantage with such products since in most cases they suffer from crack formation in the outer tube component of SS2333 or SS2352 material after certain periods of service. The reason for this crack formation is both thermal fatigue due to melt breakage through the material and stress corrosion. There is no established unity of opinion in the industry about which of these factors has the dominating negative influence.
The present invention is based on the discovery that new material combinations in such composite tube applications could satisfy those requirements for construction materials used in bottom tubes in soda recovery units. The requirements to be satisfied are good thermal fatigue resistance and good stress corrosion resistance (in both hydroxide- and chloride-induced environments).


In an optical pick-up used in common with DVD/CD and BD, when the thickness is intended to be reduced by mounting a total reflection mirror, a cavity for passing through a laser light is necessary and, since this decreases the degree of freedom for arranging tracking coils and magnets and secondary resonance caused by a magnetic thrust in the tracking direction tends to be generated, an improvement therefor is necessary. In a lens coil holder of the optical pick-up having an objective lens and tracking coil mounted thereon each of the coils is arranged such that the thrust relative to the vertical center of the suspension wires that support the lens coil holder is well balanced. For example, most of the portion of the tracking coils is situated at one height relative to the suspension wire and the tilt coil is situated at the other remaining height.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an optical pick-up used for an optical disc unit and it particularly relates to an optical pick-up with reduced secondary resonance.
(2) Description of the Related Art
For coping with a recent demand for the reduction of thickness in the field of optical disc units, the reduction in thickness has been progressed also in an optical pick-up for recording and generating information signals by the irradiation of a laser light to an optical disc. For reducing the thickness of the optical pick-up, it is important to decrease secondary resonance upon movement of a lens coil holder in which an objective lens and a driving coil are mounted. The secondary resonance is a large factor of making the recording and reproducing operation instable.
In view of the above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-281018 discloses an optical pick-up device in which a first coil is arranged to one side and a second coil is arranged to the other remaining side relative to four wires that support the lens holder.


A method for dynamically initializing a view for a streaming database system. The method includes accessing a stream of events. An initial view is materialized from the stream, wherein the initial view comprises a dynamically defined view of the stream of events from the streaming database system. The method also includes processing a plurality of recent view snapshots from the initial view. A view state derived from each of the recent view snapshots is generated. An updated view is subsequently maintained in accordance with the view state, wherein the updated view incorporates new events of the stream.

Business intelligence and data warehousing software enable information from disparate parts of an enterprise to be obtained with relative ease. Great decision-making benefits are generated by business intelligence (BI). BI software integrates querying, reporting, on-line analytic processing (OLAP), data mining, and data warehousing functionality.
Such decision-making benefits are provided by BI software because they enable a user to process information from as many databases as comprises a business (or other) organization's data storage resources. Further, BI software allows analysis of needed transactions and summaries, without having to know which databases, servers, and/or other information sources from which the information underpinning such transactions and summaries were derived.
By way of background with respect to the applications to business and other enterprises, an 'event' represents a business event, which is a business activity, transaction, or a change in the state of a business entity, for instance, in a large business. Implicitly, events comprise a time of occurrence and an identity. Examples of events include, but are not limited to, issuing a purchase order, taking a customer service call, replenishing supplies, issuing a forecast, and posting an expense item.
A 'context' represents data associated with an event. Typically, contexts are data that are descriptive of the events. A context can also comprise historic summary data, which can be available in a data warehouse or operational data store (ODS). Context data may also be obtained from other systems of record. Context data provides additional information that may be required for adding meaning to an event. Context data, in so far as it can be conventionally utilized, can be evaluated to ascertain whether or not a given event should trigger a heightened state of scrutiny and observation by analysts of the business environment in which a business or other enterprise is immersed.
Modern businesses face significant and increasing needs to obtain real time access to key business events. This need, for instance, can be expressed as a requirement from a business person that indicates that the certain business metrics need to be monitored in real-time or that when certain changes in these metrics caused by various business events imply adverse conditions or an opportunity, this is cause for an 'alert', e.g., notation of event occurrence, and heightened monitoring of associated data thereafter.
The event, for example could be an increase in call volume into a call center, inventory falling below a certain threshold level, a drop in a demand forecast, increase in the number of returns of a certain product, or that defect rates from a test system exceeded pre-specified limits, etc. At the occurrence of such an event, the business person may want a corresponding alert to attract and guide her/his attention.
Conventional reporting and analysis software (variously called Business Intelligence, Query and reporting tools, Data warehouses etc.) ("BI software") all provide reporting and analysis of business data. They do so by either executing queries directly against operational systems or by extracting and transforming in batches, operational data to an independent data store (sometimes called a data warehouse or data mart).
The above method by conventional reporting software results in the usage of a fixed (or static) data model from which data is analyzed. As a result of that, alert conditions cannot be detected without repeatedly running the reports on the data model, often resulting in poor performance of reports or an impact on the operational system itself, if reports are being run directly on it. In addition since the data is often extracted in batches, the resulting metrics are often from hours to days old and therefore unsuitable for real-time analytics.
Some conventional reporting products contain alerting technology, however the alerting is based on repeated processing of batch data and on a fixed data model that is inflexible to the needs of real-time analytics.
Other mechanisms, also called event management software provides for alert conditions to be detected and alerts sent, however, it similarly uses fixed data models and batch updates to the data model and suffers the associated drawbacks described above.
Without event processing capabilities, the ability to combine events with context, and powerful business rules processing capability, the ability of a business organization or a similar organization utilizing BI software to engage in real time data analysis is limited. Lacking ability to engage in real time data analysis, a business organization or a similar organization utilizing BI software has only a limited capability at best to react instantaneously to changes in its business and to the business environment in which it operates.

Method and system for dynamically initializing a view for a streaming data base system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus to detect irregular heart activity based upon a ventricular activity analysis, P wave activity, similarities in R wave to R wave intervals, and a state evaluation. The invention includes a beat classification module that receives ECG information as an input. The beat classification module determines whether the heart beat being analyzed falls within classifications that are suitable for use in analyzing whether an irregular condition exists. If the beat falls within a class suitable for analysis, the ECG information is fed to an interval calculator. The interval calculator determines the interval between successive R waves. The information from the interval calculator is provided to a probability engine and to a contextual analysis module. The probability engine is designed to detect atrial fibrillation based upon beat classification and RR interval values from the interval calculator. The probability engine outputs a state variable that indicates a probability of whether an irregular condition is present. The contextual analysis module matches predefined maps to a running map of the current ECG information. The contextual analysis module also determines the similarity between consecutive RR intervals and checks for sequences of matching classes. ECG information is also supplied to a P wave detection module to detect the presence of P waves. Information from the probability analysis engine, the contextual analysis module, and the P wave detection module is then provided to a state evaluation module. The state evaluation module uses the outputs of the three modules to determine whether an irregular condition exists.

The present invention relates to methods and devices used to detect irregularities in the beating of an animal heart, generally known as xe2x80x9carrhythmias.xe2x80x9d More particularly, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus to detect atrial fibrillation (xe2x80x9cAFxe2x80x9d).
As is well known in the medical field, the contraction of an animal heart is controlled by a series of electrical signals that originate in the sinus node of the right atrium. These signals can be recorded and the record can be used as a diagnostic and treatment tool. An electrocardiogram (xe2x80x9cECGxe2x80x9d) is a graphic display of the electrical signals that cause the heart to contract. A representative ECG waveform 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The ECG 10 includes a number of crests (generally referred to as xe2x80x9cwavesxe2x80x9d) and a number of troughs. A normal ECG, such as the ECG waveform 10, includes a P wave, which represents the electrical potential generated as atrial cells in the heart depolarize before contraction. Following the P wave is a crest and trough combination known as the QRS complex, which includes Q, R, and S waves. The QRS complex is caused by the electrical potential generated when the ventricular muscle cells depolarize before contraction. Following the QRS complex is a T wave. The T wave is caused by electrical potential generated as the ventricles of the heart recover from the state of the polarization. Following the T wave is a short period of relative inactivity. A new contraction begins with a second P wave, P2.
A variety of methods and devices have been developed to assist physicians in interpreting ECGs. One such tool is known as EKpro detection software, which is available from GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc., the assignee of the present application. EKpro software is designed for monitoring ECG signals in adults and paced patients. EKpro software has particular application in detecting atrial fibrillation. AF is identified by an irregular heart rhythm and is clinically defined as uncoordinated contractions of the atria. The ECG of a patient suffering from atrial fibrillation typically demonstrates irregular ventricular contractions and the absence of P waves. If allowed to continue, AF can cause decreases in exercise tolerance and left ventricular function. In more severe cases, AF can lead to a fatal medical condition.
The problems associated with AF can be reversed if sinus rhythm can be restored. The identification of AF allows a caregiver to administer a treatment to control symptoms and to prevent more serious complications. Most often, the treatment is specific to the nature of the atrial fibrillation suffered by the patient and, in particular, the heart rate of the patient, the symptoms suffered by the patient, and the duration of the AF events. Some current software systems attempt to detect AF based on ventricular activity. However, these types of systems can, in general, only suggest that an irregular rhythm may be caused by atrial fibrillation. One version of the EKpro product mentioned above is used in Holter monitoring, and determines the probability of an AF condition using a Hidden Markov Model (xe2x80x9cHMMxe2x80x9d) methodology. While the EKpro product is better than many others in predicting an AF condition, it still suffers from the problem of relying solely on ventricular data, and is dependent upon the data used to train it. In order to provide accurate predictions a complete data set covering all irregular heart rhythms, not just AF, is required. Since such data sets are often difficult to compile, a system solely dependent on a HMM methodology can be biased.
Another difficulty with present systems is that many are not, in general, able to specifically identify AF over other irregular rhythms. The inability to specifically identify the exact irregular rhythm suffered by the patient is problematic in hospital environments, where most patient monitoring is alarm-based. That is, whenever any irregular condition is detected, an alarm is set off. When an alarm sounds, a medical professional must respond. The medical professional can assess the situation and identify if the alarm is true or false. If there are too many false alarms, the medical professional may become desensitized, responding slowly or lackadaisically to alarms. This may cause a professional to respond inadequately when a severe or critical condition occurs.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an improved method and device to detect AF. In addition, since atrial fibrillation is typically not a life-threatening arrhythmia, an alternative solution to alarm-based monitoring system would be desirable so that medical professionals could respond in a manner that is proportionate to the significance of the irregular event, rather than treating all events equally.
The invention provides a method and apparatus that detects AF based upon a ventricular activity analysis, P wave activity, similarities in R wave to R wave intervals, and a state evaluation. In one embodiment, the invention includes a beat classification module that receives ECG information as an input. The beat classification module determines whether the heart beat being analyzed falls within classifications that are suitable for use in analyzing whether an AF condition exists. If the beat falls within a class suitable for analysis, the ECG information is fed to an interval calculator. The interval calculator determines the time interval between successive R waves (the xe2x80x9cRR intervalxe2x80x9d). The information from the interval calculator is provided to a probability engine and to a contextual analysis module. The probability engine is designed to detect atrial fibrillation based upon beat classification and RR interval values from the interval calculator. The probability engine outputs a state variable that indicates whether an AF condition is present. The contextual analysis module matches predefined maps to the running map of the current ECG information. The contextual analysis module also determines the similarity between consecutive RR intervals. In addition, the classifications determined by the beat classification module are used by the contextual analysis module to check for sequences of matching classes. This analysis imposes a refractory period before the triggering of an alarm, in those circumstances where an AF condition exists.
ECG information is also supplied to a P-wave detection module. The P-wave detection module receives beat classification information from the beat classification module. In one embodiment of the invention, each beat shape is represented by a template, with the dominant shape of the ECG information being analyzed represented in a xe2x80x9cfavoritexe2x80x9d template. When normal dominant beats are detected, they are used to incrementally update the favorite template. The favorite template is then used to determine whether P-waves are present in the dominant beat class. Information from the probability analysis engine, the contextual analysis module, and the P-wave detection module is then provided to a state evaluation module. The state evaluation module uses the outputs of the three noted modules to determine whether an atrial fibrillation condition exists. If the probability engine module outputs a state variable indicating an atrial fibrillation condition and the P-wave detection and contextual analysis modules output negative indicators, then an atrial fibrillation condition output is generated. However, before the state evaluation module outputs an alarm, the atrial fibrillation condition must exist for a specified amount of time. Likewise, a non-atrial fibrillation condition must exist for specified amount of time before an alarm is disabled.
The invention may also be embodied in a method. The method includes classifying ECG information, determining an interval between recurring events in the ECG information, determining the probability that an irregular condition exists based on classifying the ECG information and determining an interval between recurring events, and generating a state variable based on the determined probability. The state variable provides an indication of whether an irregular condition exists. In the invention, this indication is supplemented by generating a contextual output based on matching predefined maps to a current map of the ECG information, determining the presence of a P wave in the ECG information, and generating a detection output based on the presence of a P wave. The ultimate determination of whether the irregular condition exists is based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.

Atrial fibrillation detection method and apparatus


The image display apparatus includes a two-dimensional light modulation device for modulating light emitted from a laser light source, a display surface for displaying the modulated light, an optical pixel aperture enlarging member for distributing the luminance of the laser light while introducing the laser light to apertures of pixels of the modulation device; and a display pixel aperture enlarging portion for optically enlarging the modulated light by the apertures of the pixels of the modulation device corresponding to pixels of an image to be displayed. The luminance of a partial area of each pixel of the image displayed on the display surface is controlled to be below the threefold of an average value of the luminance in the area of the entire pixel by the optical pixel aperture enlarging member and the display pixel aperture enlarging portion, accomplishing speckle noise reduction and improved light utilization efficiency.

Projection displays for projecting an image on a screen are widely used as image display apparatuses such as television receivers and video projectors. A lamp light source is generally used in such a projection display, but the lamp light source has problems of a short life, a restricted color reproduction area and low light utilization efficiency.
In order to solve these problems, an attempt has been made to use a laser light source as a light source of an image display apparatus. The laser light source has a longer life and the light utilization efficiency thereof is more easily increased due to its strong directivity. Further, since the laser light source has monochromaticity, a color reproduction area is large and a vivid image can be displayed.
However, in a display using a laser light source (hereinafter, called a "laser display"), speckle noise produced due to high coherency of laser light becomes problematic. The speckle noise is noise of microscopic particles produced as a result of mutual interference of diffused lights when laser light is diffused on a screen and perceivable by an observer. The speckle noise is noise in which particles of the size determined by the F (F-number) of the observer's eyes and the wavelength of the laser light source are randomly arranged, disrupts the perception of an image on the screen by the observer and induces severe image deterioration.
Patent literature 1 proposes to increase the substantial aperture ratio of a two-dimensional light modulation device by using a laser light source and a microlens array and to reduce diffracted lights by increasing light utilization efficiency. However, it is not studied how to solve problems such as speckle noise in the case of using laser light.
Proposal has been made for an image display apparatus using a laser image to obtain high light utilization efficiency by utilizing characteristics of a laser light source with a small light source area and strong directivity, but no proposal has been made to achieve a balance between speckle noise removal and high light utilization efficiency by utilizing a small-size two-dimensional light modulation device.
Since the use of a laser light source as a point light source increases power density caused by beam focusing, it leads to the deterioration of light resistance of the laser light source by light focusing, which was not a problem in conventional light sources.
Patent Literature 1:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-268003

Image display apparatus that controls luminance of a partial area of each pixel to be below threefold of an average luminance value of the entire pixel


In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for controlling voice call continuity (VCC) functionality of a user equipment (UE) device with respect to a call in a network environment including a visited network and an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network. The UE device's VCC operational mode is provided to be selectably alterable responsive to user input. Upon detecting the VCC operational mode of the UE device, a message is generated by the UE device towards the network environment including a VCC application server node disposed in the IMS network, the message being generated pursuant to a call originated by the UE device while roaming in the visited network, wherein the message includes a VCC operational mode indicator indicative of the UE device's VCC operational mode.

Mobile voice-over-IP (VoIP) handover is the process of continuing a voice call as a user moves between IP-based networks (e.g., wireless LAN (WLAN) or Wi-MAX networks, etc.) and circuit-switched cellular networks. To effectuate such handover, current 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards specify that when a dual mode wireless UE device originates a call requiring inter-domain continuity, the call be routed to a call continuity control function (CCCF) element that is disposed in a new, IP-based network architecture referred to as the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). In a typical IMS implementation, accordingly, all mobile-originated calls, including those made from a visited network, are routed to the subscriber's home network comprising appropriate IMS infrastructure in order to effectuate suitable access and remote call control legs. While this routing process is generally appropriate if call continuity is desired, there may be situations where such routing can result in inefficient use of radio signaling resources of the network environment. For instance, if the home network determines that the visited network does not support the necessary mechanisms for effectuating inter-domain transfer, then routing the calls made from the visited network need not be routed to the home IMS infrastructure. Also, if the UE device itself is not capable of inter-domain VoIP handover, routing any calls originated by such a device via the home IMS infrastructure would be futile regardless of the capabilities of the visited network. In another scenario, a network operator may decide to disable the domain transfer capability where the UE device is currently registered, for example, due to network load, etc. On the other hand, a subscriber may likewise wish to disable the domain transfer capability, for example, to preserve battery resources.

System and method for controlling VCC functionality in a network environment including IMS


A portable device having rotatable input buttons and a method of operating the portable device are provided. The portable device includes a button rotation detecting unit, a User Interface (UI) generating unit and a mode setting unit. The button rotation detecting unit detects the rotation of the input buttons. The UI generating unit generates desired objects. The mode setting unit changes a current mode of the portable device to a mode of operating on the objects corresponding to the positions of the rotated input buttons when the rotation of the input buttons is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable device having rotatable input buttons and a method of operating the portable device, and more particularly, to a portable device having rotatable input buttons, in which the input buttons mounted on the portable device can be rotated through a predetermined angle to execute specific functions, and a method of operating the portable device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are gradually supporting various environments in many fields. For example, a three-dimensional (3D) environment-User Interface (UI) has recently started to be introduced into the gaming field. Furthermore, various GUI environments, such as an interface environment having a zoom in/out function, through which users cannot navigate using only an existing two-dimensional navigation-type 4-way (up, down, left and right) key, are coming into existence.
Further, many devices are gradually trending toward small size and multiple functions, so that input devices capable of supporting various and multiple functions are required.
Conventional 4-way keys support only a navigation scheme of mapping the (+) and (−) directions of x and y axes to four buttons, respectively, and enabling movements along x and y axes.
However, although different types of input devices are required as UIs have gradually diversified into various types (for example, a 3D UI and a zoom in/out UI), only a limited range of UI shapes has been designed, and has not changed. Therefore, the existing 4-way key capable of supporting only 4 directional movements continues to be used.
That is, there are many cases where a method of performing navigation in the z-axis direction is not actually supported in a 3D environment. Even in the case of the zoom in/out function, the 4-way key is repeatedly used (for example, up and down buttons are used for the zoom in/out function when 4 directional movements are not supported).
Furthermore, there are problems in that it is not possible to perform simultaneous navigation in three axial directions, and the same input element (for example, a button of the 4-way key) is variously used as different navigation buttons depending on the circumstances, thus causing difficulty when using the 4-way key.
Accordingly, in order to support navigation functions in various changing environments (for example, a z-axis navigation function or a zoom in/out function in a 3D environment) which cannot be dealt with using the existing 4-way key, a new type of input device is required.
Japanese Unexamined Patent No. 2002-0916809 (Switch Device and Portable Terminal) discloses a switch device and a portable terminal, in which a first switch capable of selecting functions along a cross path and a second switch rotating around the first switch are included, and the function of the first switch can be changed by rotating the handle of the second switch. However, the above-mentioned patent aims only to change the function of the first switch when the handle of the second switch is rotated, but does not disclose a technology for changing the arrangement of objects on a screen to correspond to the position of the switch.

Portable device having rotatable input buttons and method of operating the same


A threaded joint for a pipe is disclosed in which scalability, compression resistance, and galling resistance are enhanced. The threaded joint includes a pin nose outer peripheral surface that forms an outward convex curve in an axial cross-sectional view; the convex curve is such that a composite R curve, in which a plurality of outward convex arcs having different radiuses of curvature are connected in sequence to a generating line of a cylindrical portion next to a male member, is curved such that the radiuses of curvature increase with distance from the male member and tangents on connection points of the arcs are aligned with those of corresponding arcs connected thereto; and the inner peripheral surface of a box component facing the pin nose is a tapered surface that interferes with the pin nose outer peripheral surface when connected to a pin component.

Threaded joints are widely used in connecting pipes for use in oil and gas production, such as oil well pipes. For the connection of pipes for use in oil or gas prospecting and production, standard threaded joints based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard are conventionally used. However, since crude oil wells and natural gas wells have recently increased in depth, and horizontal wells and directional wells are now more common than vertical wells, excavation and production environments are increasingly under harsh condition. Furthermore, an increase in well development under hostile environments, such as in ocean and polar regions has led to diversified performance requirements for threaded joints, such as compression resistance, bending resistance, and external pressure resistance. This therefore increases the use of high-performance special threaded joints called premium joints.
The premium joint is generally a joint composed of a pin component and a box component joined together, each including a tapered thread, a seal (specifically, a metal-to-metal seal), and a shoulder (specifically, a torque shoulder). The tapered thread has a key role in firmly securing the tubular joint, the seal ensures sealability due to the box component and the pin component coming into metal-contact at this portion, and the shoulder serves as a bearing face that acts as an abutment during the make-up of the joint.
FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic explanatory diagrams of a premium joint for an oil well pipe, which are vertical cross-sectional views of a cylindrical threaded joint. The threaded joint includes a pin component 3 and a box component 1 corresponding thereto. The pin component 3 (pin 3) has a male member 7 at its outer surface and a no-threaded portion called a nose 8 (pin nose 8) at an end of the pin 3, which is provided next to the male member 7. The nose 8 has a seal 11 at the outer peripheral surface thereof and a torque shoulder 12 at the end face thereof. The opposing box component 1 has a female member 5, a seal 13, and a shoulder 14 at the inner surface, which are portions that can be screwed on or come into contact with the male member 7, the seal 11, and the shoulder 12 of the pin 3, respectively.
Examples of the related art of the foregoing premium joint are disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 to 6.


A metallic separator for a fuel cell has excellent corrosion resistance and contact resistance, even when a gold coating is applied directly without a surface treatment by a nickel coating. The metallic separator for a fuel cell, comprising stainless steel having a surface, can be obtained by coating at 2.3 to 94% of area rate on the surface without a surface treatment.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a metallic separator which is a component part of a solid polymer fuel cell and forms a gas passage for fuel cell, and relates to a production method for the same.
2. Related Art
In a solid polymer fuel cell, a laminated body, in which, on both sides of a planar MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), a separator is laminated, is regarded as one unit, and plural units are stacked and form a fuel cell stack. The MEA is formed as a three layer structure in which, between a pair of gas diffusion electrodes that constitute a cathode and an anode, an electrolyte membrane made of, for example, an ion exchange resin, is interposed. In the gas diffusion electrode, outside of an electrode catalyst layer in contact with an electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer is formed. Furthermore, the separator, laminated so as to come into contact with the gas diffusion electrode of the MEA, is provided with a gas passage that allows a gas to flow and a coolant passage between the separator and the gas diffusion electrode. According to such a fuel cell, for example when a hydrogen gas as a fuel is allowed to flow in the gas passage facing the gas diffusion electrode on the anode side, and an oxidizing gas such as oxygen or air is allowed to flow in the gas passage facing the gas diffusion electrode on the cathode side, there occurs an electrochemical reaction, resulting in the generation of electricity.
The separator must function so that, while electrons generated at the anode side according to a catalytic reaction of the hydrogen gas are supplied to an external circuit, electrons from the external circuit may be supplied to the cathode side. Accordingly, for the separator, a conductive material made of a graphite-based material or a metal-based material is used, and in particular the metal-based material is regarded as being advantageous in view of superiority in mechanical strength and in ability to be made lighter and more compact by being formed into a thin plate. As a metallic separator, one in which, for example, a thin plate of stainless steel or titanium alloy, which are each metallic materials having excellent corrosion resistance, is press-molded into a shape having concavities and convexities on the surface, can be cited. In these separators, various techniques are proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application, First Publication, No. 9-22708).
However, when the separator of stainless steel described in the patent document is used, a contact resistance between MEA and the separator is larger than that when a separator of the graphite-based material is used. Increasing the contact resistance induces decreasing performance in power generation. Therefore, gold is coated on the surface of the separator by means of, for example, a coating method, so as to decrease the contact resistance. In the gold coating, a surface treatment is generally performed by nickel coating so as to increase adhesion between stainless steel and the gold. However, when defects, for example, pinholes, are generated in the gold coating, nickel which is a component of the surface treatment is easily eluted. Therefore, there is a problem in the conventional separator that corrosion resistance is low even when the gold coating is performed. Moreover, there is another problem in that the elution of nickel induces decrease of the ion exchange capacity of electrolyte membrane or increase in the peeling of the gold coating, resulting in increased contact resistance.

Metallic separator for fuel cell and production method for the same


A trigger guard alarm system for a firearm which comprises a trigger locking device and a means for generating an alarm to indicate unauthorized removal of the trigger locking device. The alarm system is on the trigger lock and is activated by placing the lock around the trigger. The alarm is subsequently deactivated by entering a predetermined signal in the alarm generating means.

This invention relates to an apparatus for locking the triggers of firearms and, more particularly, to a trigger locking device that emits an alarm signal when unauthorized removal of the trigger locking device occurs.
Heretofore, various devices for locking the triggers of firearms have been developed See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,471; 3,956,842; and 4,499,681; Swedish Patent No. 138,331; and British Patent No. 1,290,300.
Each year numerous accidental shootings, especially of children, occur as a result of gun owners leaving their firearms unattended. Children playing with such guns cause a major number of accidental deaths in the United States.
Currently, the two methods used to prevent accidental shootings include locking unattended guns in a cabinet and placing trigger locks on unattended firearms. Many gun owners prefer trigger locks because they allow the owners to have quick access to their firearms while still providing an impediment to unauthorized use.
The two types of trigger locks most commonly available are key-lock systems and non-key-lock systems. The key-lock systems require a key to unlock the trigger. The non-key-lock systems, conversely, require an adult's level of strength and dexterity to access the trigger. The key-lock systems have the advantage of assuring limited access to the gun. However, they do have some drawbacks: first, they require a certain amount of time to open--time which could be costly in an emergency; second, the only people who can have access are those who have keys; and third, owners who misplace their keys cannot gain access to their firearms even in emergencies
Many firearm owners prefer the quick access afforded by the non-key lock systems. However, non-key lock systems have the drawback of still being accessible to older and stronger-than-average children. Furthermore, they do not impede access to unauthorized adults, such as burglars.
Therefore, the need exists for a trigger lock that provides both the quick access of non-key lock systems and the added security of key-lock systems.


A collecting exhaust pipe has a contour body and partition wall members. The contour body has a pair of contour members connected with each other. The partition wall members are joined to the contour body and sandwiched between the contour members. A plurality of swelling portions, which are swelled toward the other contour member side, are formed on at least one of the contour members so as to form tubular undulations that extend continuously along a plurality of the primary exhaust pipes, and are shaped so as to join on the downstream side of the contour body on at least one outer surface of the contour body. The partition wall members extend from the upstream portion to the downstream side of the contour body, and are joined to the contour body at the location spaced from the top portions of the swelling portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust device for a motorcycle including a plurality of primary exhaust pipes, which are connected respectively to each of cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine body mounted on a body frame, and a collecting exhaust pipe which is commonly connected to the downstream end portion of the primary exhaust pipes.
2. Description of Related Art
As a collecting exhaust pipe, which is commonly connected to the downstream end portion of a plurality of primary exhaust pipes, the collecting exhaust pipe known in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 62-731 is configured so as to join a main joint plate, which is configured such that two outer wall portions forming one-quarter, respectively, of the outer wall of the collecting exhaust pipe, are continuous and are integrally provided on both ends of a partition wall portion, with a pair of sub-joint plates constituting the rest of the outer wall of the collecting exhaust pipe.
Generally, it is desirable that the outer shape of a collecting exhaust pipe is formed so as to have a tubular shape apparently similar to a plurality of primary exhaust pipes, to extend continuously and respectively along each of the primary exhaust pipes, and to be formed with a tubular undulation in such a shape as to join on the downstream side in order to enhance its external appearance. However, in the collecting exhaust pipe disclosed in the above Japanese Utility Model, a partition wall portion has only to be disposed on the top portion of a swelling portion, which is swollen toward the inside of the collecting exhaust pipe out of the tubular undulation, and to be disposed in the center portion in the width direction of the collecting exhaust pipe, which thereby reduces the degree of freedom in disposition of the partition wall portions. Therefore, in the device set forth in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 62-731 it is difficult to respond to the case where it is required to set the location in which the exhaust gas meets in the collecting exhaust pipe closer to the upstream side according to the characteristics of the vehicle. It is also possible to cause the increase in the number of parts due to the methods taken by connecting a collecting exhaust pipes and the like.
In addition, in the collecting exhaust pipe disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model mentioned above, the joining line of the main joint plate with two sub-joint plates undesirably occurs in the center portion in the width direction of a collecting exhaust pipe. Thus, it is required that a collecting exhaust pipe of the motorcycle has not only the function to cause the exhaust gas to meet inside an exhaust device so that the exhaust device constitutes a part of the vehicle external appearance, but also the functional beauty achieving such a smooth external design that the external flow passage shape from a plurality of primary exhaust pipes to secondary exhaust pipes (in smaller number than that of the primary exhaust pipes) or to an exhaust muffler is collected at parallel and equal spaces and then evenly collected. Accordingly, it is required to achieve the structure that can prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned joint line.


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for providing a current and complete security compliance view of an enterprise system. The present invention provides the ability to gain a real-time security posture and security compliance view of an enterprise and to assess the risk impact of known threats and attacks to continued business operations at various levels is provided. Responsive to a change to an enterprise environment, a request, or an external threat, an administrator loads or updates at least one of a Critical Application Operations database, a Historical database, an Access Control database, a Connectivity database, and a Threat database. Based on a comparison of information in the databases against similar security data elements from company or external policies, the administrator may generate a Security Compliance view of the enterprise. A Security Posture view may also be generated by comparing the Security Compliance view against data in the Threat database.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to an improved data processing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for providing a current and complete security compliance view of an entire enterprise system for analysis of risks to business operations.
2. Description of Related Art
Businesses need a simplified way to ascertain their security posture across the enterprise. The security posture of an organization is usually seen as compliance to internal security policies, procedures, and measures. To assess and measure an organization's security compliance, data is collected from various measurement sources; the sources typically housed in different repositories and databases. This collected data is usually created, analyzed, viewed, and interpreted by various security teams and administrators for possible actions, workflows, or reports. Senior management is then informed of the organization's security posture based on the generated reports. However, much time, money, and energy is expended to generate and interpret this data. Additionally, this data collecting, analyzing, and reporting process is usually repeated over a daily, weekly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis. This repeatable process costs most organizations a great deal of time, money, and effort to perform. Furthermore, the information that flows to management is subject to interpretation, usually does not provide a true enterprise security posture, and rarely is timely.
FIG. 1A shows a known simple network housing information. In particular, FIG. 1A illustrates how access to various enterprise components is currently granted and security compliance is measured. Security practices are typically grouped into categories that measure compliance against physical, network, and logical controls. It should be noted that a key is required for each access step shown in FIG. 1A. In addition, as each access granted leaves a footprint, a historical log of the access activity is created and is part of the data used to perform security health checking. Current device configuration data is also used in security health checking and assessments.
As shown in FIG. 1A, physical access is first granted to an individual, wherein the access is granted per identity (step 102). Network access is then granted for devices, the access granted per hardware address (step 104). Next, network access granted for devices, the access granted per IP address and ports (step 106). Finally, logical access to the system's applications and operating systems is granted for individuals or machines, the access granted per userID and password (step 108).
Typically, the gathered measurement data for each security practices category in FIG. 1A is further divided into regional, sectional, or departmental domains, as shown in FIG. 1B. For example, a security practices category in enterprise 110 is divided into two or more regions, such as region A 112 and region B 114. A region may also be separated into multiple departments, such as department A 116 and department B 118. Each department may be further divided into separate domains, such as network infrastructure 120 and servers/applications 122. As a great deal of human effort is already needed to run scripts and tools, await the output, analyze the data, and then provide reports to management, further effort is expended to provide the piece meal enterprise-wide compliance posture as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
Presently, there is no consolidated real-time method to gain an enterprise-wide view of the security posture of an organization. Many organizations depend on security compliance checklists, self-assessment databases, audits, and multivendor security assessment tools. However, this data is usually in the form of snapshot or historical data that at-best shows the near current security compliance posture of a subset of vendor devices and of the various parts of the enterprise. Also, the data neither conveys enterprise security readiness, nor a synopsis of the impending impact of various threats and vulnerabilities to operations if exploited.
In addition, key security, business control, and executive personnel must depend on security information collected by humans and vendor tools to determine the compliance posture of their enterprise. As this collected security information in the form of varied documents, device output files, and assessment tool reports is reviewed and analyzed to convey a departmental, organizational, and enterprise-wire security posture, the historical data is subject to various human interpretations.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a mechanism that provides the ability for security, technical, executive, and business control personnel to gain a real-time security posture and security compliance view of the enterprise and to assess the risk impact of known threats and attacks to continued business operations at various levels.

Method of assuring enterprise security standards compliance


A system and a method for transmitting an electronic prescription on the basis of cloud computing. The cloud-based electronic prescription transmission method includes the steps of: requesting an electronic prescription from a hospital server, when a cloud server receives a request for the electronic prescription, by the cloud server; extracting patient information and prescription information stored in an EMR DB, by the hospital server; converting the prescription information according to a unique API, by an API builder unit; and authenticating the converted prescription information through an electronic signature of the clinic, encrypting the converted prescription information, and transmitting the electronic prescription to the cloud server, by the hospital server.

Since the responsibility for a problem caused by identification of a prescribed medicine recorded by a doctor or a problem caused by a prescription or preparation error is unclear when a user himself or herself visits a drugstore and submits a paper prescription and this is inconvenient and troublesome from the standpoint of a patient, electronic prescription services are proposed recently.
Meanwhile, conventional electronic prescription services are still inconvenient in various aspects since when an electronic prescription for patient's keeping is transmitted from a hospital to a user terminal, the user himself or herself visits a drugstore and receives the prescribed medicine by showing the user terminal or using a QR code. In addition, although it is required to adopt cloud technologies as a solution of closed systems and poor information security of hospital, the cases of applying the cloud technologies are insufficient.
Although there is Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1329003 (Method, patient's client device and relay device for delivery each electronic prescription services of patient and pharmacy) as an prior patent thereof, it merely discloses a technique of creating unique information and transmitting an electronic prescription to a cellular phone terminal of a patient.

System and method for transmitting electronic prescription on the basis of cloud computing