Each of a pair of magnetic core halves includes a substrate and a thin magnetic metal film formed on the substrate. The substrate is notched with a winding groove. The pair of the magnetic core halves are integrally bonded to each other so that a gap filling film is formed between the facing surfaces of the thin magnetic metal films. The zero depth position of the magnetic gap which is determined by the length of the facing thin magnetic metal films is offset to a magnetic recording medium sliding surface of the magnetic head from the notching start position of the winding groove on the side of the magnetic gap. Hence, the shape of the thin magnetic metal film exposed on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface is maintained constant from the initial position to the depth zero position.

The present invention relates to a magnetic head which is used for recording and/or reproducing data on and/or from a magnetic recording medium having a high coercive force such as so-called metal tape.
For example, in the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as VCR (video cassette recorder), efforts have been made to record informational signals having a short wave length to provide a high resolution picture. In associated with this, magnetic recording media having a high coercive force such as so-called metal tape using ferromagnetic metal powders such as magnetic powders or vacuum deposited tape in which a ferromagnetic metal material is directly deposited on a base film have been used.
On the other hand, research and development in the field of magnetic head has been made to cope with the advance in the magnetic recording medium. A magnetic head in which a thin magnetic metal film having a high saturation magnetic flux density is adjacent to a magnetic gap which is preferable for the high coercive force magnetic recording medium has been developed. Such a magnetic head comprises a pair of magnetic core halves each including a substrate which is generally made of an oxide magnetic material or non-magnetic material. Thin magnetic metal films are formed on the facing surfaces of the substrates. The magnetic core halves are integrally bonded to each other with fused glass so that a gap film is disposed in a magnetic gap formed between the thin magnetic metal films. Although the thin magnetic metal film adjacent to the magnetic gap is generally a single layer, a laminated film including a multiple of thin magnetic metal films having non-magnetic films interposed therebetween to provide a high output and a broader band has also been proposed.
In the magnetic head having a thin magnetic metal film adjacent to the magnetic gap, it is preferable to continuously extend the thin magnetic metal film from a magnetic recording medium sliding surface of the head to the rear side thereof along a winding groove which is notched in the substrate. If such a continuous thin magnetic metal film is formed, a closed magnetic path is formed by only the thin magnetic metal film. Accordingly, enhancement of the reproduced output can be achieved. In such type magnetic head, the length of the facing portions of the thin magnetic metal films which sandwich a gap film therebetween in a depth direction is defined as the depth of the magnetic gap.
The width of the thin magnetic metal film exposed on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface in a film thickness direction will be gradually widened from a position passing the notching start position of the winding groove provided in the substrate in the side of the magnetic gap due to wearing of the magnetic recording medium sliding surface by the sliding contact with a magnetic recording medium. In other words, the area of the thin magnetic metal film on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface will be increased. After the area of the thin magnetic metal film exposed on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface has been increased, mainly the thin magnetic metal film is worn instead of the substrate on the recording medium sliding surface. Wearing of the thin magnetic metal film is more remarkable than that of the substrate. Therefore, the contour of the magnetic recording medium sliding surface changes with the lapse of use period of time, so that contact of the medium sliding surface of the magnetic head with the magnetic recording medium can not be assured.
In particular, in the magnetic head having a laminated thin magnetic metal film, non-magnetic films interposed between the thin magnetic metal films formed on the winding groove will be exposed on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface in parallel with the magnetic gap after the notching start position of the winding groove whether or not the thin magnetic metal film exposed on the magnetic recording medium sliding surface at the initial phase before use is parallel with the magnetic gap. Since the non-magnetic films are in parallel with the magnetic gap, they function as so-called pseudo magnetic gap which may cause noise in a reproduced signal.

Magnetic head having a notched magnetic core portion with a zero depth position offset


Methods of producing chlorine dioxide including providing an acid, a chlorate salt and an organic water treatment additive that can form a reducing agent in situ, mixing the acid, the chlorate salt and the organic water treatment additive, and reacting the mixture.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is an oxidizing agent used to sterilize drinking water and as a bactericide in general water treatment. Major uses of chlorine dioxide today include disinfection, control of taste and odor, control of iron and manganese, and control of hydrogen sulfide and phenolic compounds. The metabolism of microorganisms and consequently their ability to survive and propagate are influenced by the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the medium in which they live. Chlorine dioxide is a neutral compound of chlorine in the +IV oxidation state. It disinfects by oxidation; however, it does not chlorinate. It is a relatively small, volatile, and highly energetic molecule, and a free radical even while in dilute aqueous solutions. At high concentrations, it reacts violently with reducing agents. However, it is stable in dilute solution in a closed container in the absence of light. Chlorine dioxide functions as a highly selective oxidant due to its unique, one-electron transfer mechanism where it is reduced to chlorite. The pKa for the chlorite ion, chlorous acid equilibrium, is extremely low at pH 1.8. The oxidation reduction of some key reactions are:ClO2(aq)+e−=ClO2— Eo=0.954V
Other important half reactions are:ClO2—+2H2O+4e−=Cl—+4OH— Eo=0.76VClO3—+H2O+2e−=ClO2—+2OH— Eo=0.33VClO3—+2H++e−=ClO2+H2O Eo=1.152V
One of the known methods for producing chlorine dioxide uses a mixture of sodium chlorate, an acid and hydrogen peroxide with the hydrogen peroxide functioning as a reducing agent in the reaction. The use of hydrogen peroxide in the chlorine dioxide generation process, however, releases oxygen gas as a by-product of the reaction. The generation and release of oxygen gas presents an engineering problem for the design, construction and operation of chlorine dioxide generators utilizing this chemistry. In particular, the generator must be configured for safely accommodating the generation and release of oxygen without resulting in excessive pressures or accumulations increases the risk of equipment failures and/or explosions.
Hydrogen peroxide use in chlorine dioxide generation chemistries has been detailed in a number of patents and other publications including, for example: Yin, G., "Mechanism of the ClO2 Generation from the H2O2—HClO3 Reaction," Can. J. Chem. Eng., 78(2000) 827-33; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,167; 5,366,714; 5,380,517; 5,565,182; 5,895,638; 6,576,213; 6,790,427 and 7,070,710 and European Patent No. 1198411, the contents of which are incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.
Another known method for producing chlorine dioxide uses a mixture of sodium chlorate, an acid and methanol with the methanol functioning as a reducing agent in the reaction. However, this method can be costly and inefficient in terms of chloride dioxide production and involves the handling of methanol which is flammable. Disclosures relating to methanol use in chlorine dioxide generation chemistries have been detailed in a number of patents and other publications including, for example, Fredette, M. C., "Bleaching Chemicals: Chlorine Dioxide," Pulp Bleaching—Principles and Practice, Chap. 2, TAPPI Press (1996); Ni, Y., et al., "Mechanism of the Methanol-Based ClO2 Generation Process," J. Pulp Paper Sci. 23, J346-52 (1997); Ni, Y., et al., "Mechanism of the Methanol-Based ClO2 Generation Process," 1996 International Pulp Bleaching Conference; Brown, C. J., et al., "Ion-exchange technologies for the minimum effluent kraft mill," CPPA Technical Section Symposium on System Closure II, Montreal, Jan. 26-30, 1998, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,081,520; 4,473,540; 5,116,595; 5,674,466 and 5,770,171, the contents of which are incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.
These and other issues are addressed by the present disclosure. It is an object of this disclosure to provide novel systems and methods for chlorine dioxide production using an unexpectedly beneficial reducing agent in the form of a phosphine. Advantages of the present disclosure over existing methods for chlorine dioxide production include not producing oxygen as a byproduct, no flammable components are required, and efficient chlorine dioxide production is achieved.

Reducing agents for producing chlorine dioxide


A hydraulic brake system for a vehicle having a traction control system, in which at least one self-aspirating pump, pressure fluid can be aspirated through an intake line and a charging valve and can be fed into a brake line leading to at least one wheel brake. A pressure limiting valve that diverts pressure fluid from the brake line to the intake line is also provided. To speed up the braking intervention, the pump is briefly turned on and the charging valve is opened when the vehicle is started, to carry away any gas bubbles that might be located between the charging valve and the pump. This averts the possibility that the compression of gas bubbles that might be present at the onset of traction control could cause the pump to pump less pressure fluid. The method can be employed in hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles with traction control systems.

The invention is based on a process for speeding up the braking intervention in the traction control mode of a hydraulic brake system for motor vehicles, and a hydraulic brake system for motor vehicles with a traction control system, set forth hereinafter.
Hydraulic brake systems with traction control systems of this kind have already been proposed (German Patent Application P 41 07 978.7; German Utility Model Application G 91 02 352.1), in which the traction control systems have at least one self-aspirating pump for aspirating pressure fluid through an intake line and a charging valve, which is disposed in the intake line and is normally closed, and/or through a negative pressure protection valve assigned to at least one wheel brake and a shutoff valve for furnishing pressures for carrying out the traction control. Since the pressure fluid has high viscosity at low temperatures, braking interventions in the traction control mode can be attained at low temperatures by means of the pumps in the starting phase only disadvantageously slowly. It was therefore proposed that the pressure fluid to be delivered to the pump in these hydraulic brake systems be heated, to reduce the viscosity of the pressure fluid, when the ambient temperatures were below -5.degree. C., for instance. In accordance with one proposal, this is done by repeatedly pumping the pressure fluid through a pressure limiting valve that is operative in the traction control mode, and in accordance with the other proposal by electrically heating the intake line, which leads from a supply tank to the pump. Unavoidable cooling of the traction control system, or a sharp drop in the ambient temperature, causes the pressure confined in these hollow spaces to contract more markedly than the hollow spaces themselves. The result is negative pressures in the pressure fluid, so that the pressure fluid may perhaps shed gas bubbles. Particularly if such gas bubbles coalesce into larger bubbles over the course of several hours, they impede pumping processes, making braking interventions in the traction control mode disadvantageously slow.

Method for speeding up the braking intervention in the traction control mode, and hydraulic brake system for performing the method


A system for continuous beverage cooling is provided with a chink evaporator heat exchanger having chink elements for receiving beverage from a beverage supplying unit, and for transferring of the beverage to a bottling or dispensing unit. Chink evaporator elements in the chink evaporator heat exchanger contain boiling refrigerant to produce refrigerant foam. In a liquid separator-regenerative heat exchanger the refrigerant foam is eliminating on refrigerant vapor and refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant vapor is used to cool the refrigerant liquid passing from condenser throw liquid separator into the chink evaporator elements. The outer surfaces of the chink elements are arranged in direct thermal contact with the chink evaporator elements to cool the beverage passing through the chink elements.

Three methods are currently used for cooling beverages. The first one is a "cold plate" method in which crystal ice is utilized. The "plate" is placed at the bottom of a compartment, separate from the beverage, which contains ice. The beverage runs through tubing in the ice-cooled cold plate on its way to the dispensing valve.
The second method is the "dry" method where the refrigeration evaporation coils surround the beverage tubing leading to the dispenser head.
The third method is called an "ice bath" or "ice bank" utilizes a water bath to cool the beverage tubing. The water, in turn, is cooled by the mechanical refrigeration. Ice is formed on the refrigeration coils during periods when little or no dispensing of a beverage is taking place. This ice is "banked" against peak periods when it releases its cooling energy by dissolving in water bath as it is needed to cool beverages being dispenses.
The "cold plate" cooling is the least expensive initially. However, the cost of ice, due to very low heat transfer efficiency, makes a cooling unit implementing such a method more expensive in the long run than a model with a mechanical refrigeration unit.
While the equipment cost is relatively low in the "dry" method, the unacceptably low heat transfer coefficient between refrigerant and beverage makes the dispenser that implements this method too large.
A conventional beverage cooling and supply system includes a water supply line extending in a cooling coil through an ice-water bath to a dispensing unit. A refrigeration unit causes the ice to be formed on the outside surfaces of coils. A pump forces the cooled water to circulate from the ice-water bath to the dispensing unit and back. So, different kinds of beverages are cooled by cooling means in an ice-water container.
This method is very inefficient because of the low value of heat transfer coefficient (not more than 400 W/(m.sup.2.K)) from a boiled refrigerant to a beverage. This coefficient varies in time and along cooling surface because a direct expansion (DX) refrigerant feed method is used in a refrigerant system. As the refrigerant passes through the evaporator, liquid continues to evaporate to perform cooling until only saturated vapor remains. About 75% to 85% of the heat transfer surface has been used at this point. The last 15% to 25% of the heat transfer surface is dedicated to thermal expansion valve (TXV) function and compressor protection by generating 4.4.degree. C. to 5.6.degree. C. superheat (temperature drop) in the outlet vapor. That's why in comparison to other feed techniques the DX method requires the largest heat transfer surface (by 15.div.25%), constant attention to TXV operation and great care in suction piping design to ensure compressor protection and to provide adequate oil return.
Further, film coefficients between refrigerant copper coil and water, and water and beverage stainless steel tubing are small. For example, film coefficient by water side is about 100.div.500 W/(m.sup.2.K). It is explained by the fact that water velocity along tubes is small (.apprxeq.0.2 m/s). Thus, a heat transfer between tubes and a coolant (water) by the convection process is low.
Moreover, there is large energy consumption by water ice forming on the outside surface of the coil evaporator because an every new frozen ice layer creates additional heat impedance for the next ice layer. It makes it necessary to decrease the refrigerant evaporating temperature from (-4.div.-6).degree.C. to (-12.div.-16).degree.C. At the same time every 1.degree. C. reduction of the evaporating temperature corresponds to 4% cold capacity decreasing. It means that the 10.degree. C. dropping of evaporating temperature leads to 40% decreasing of compressor cold capacity and comfortably to the 20.div.30% increasing of energy consumption by the compressor.
A further serious disadvantage of the above system is caused by long time required to prepare the cooling refrigeration unit of the dispenser. It is explained by the ineffective cooling method of a coolant (water) in a water bath volume of the dispenser. For example, for a 16 gallon water bath tank capacity, compressor power equal to 0.56 kW, and initial coolant (water) temperature 30.degree. C., the minimum duration to produce 55,6 lbs (25 kg) ice is 3.6 hours. By this ice mass, it is possible to cool the beverage peak flow 10.6 GPH (40 LPH) from 30.degree. C. to 4.degree. C. during only 1.6 hours. The summary time of the cycle is 5.2 hours. Thus, it is assumed to use the ice bank type dispenser with beverage peak flow at twenty-four hours during only a very short period equal to 1.6.times.(24:5.2).apprxeq.7.4 hour. It should be noted here that it is very important to keep the beverage final temperature in the range (+4.div.+6).degree.C. due to the following requirements:
decelerate the microorganisms growth, PA1 keep the taste of the beverage, PA1 decrease sharply a foam quantity in the time of dishes filling. PA1 N=energy, absorbed by a cooled beverage during 24 hours at peak beverage flow, known initial and final beverage temperatures, kW.h; PA1 c=mass thermal capacity of beverage, kJ/(kg..degree.C.), (f.e., for apple juice c=3.8 kJ/(kg..degree.C.)); PA1 t.sub.m -t.sub.f =temperature difference of initial and final beverage temperatures, .degree.C.; PA1 .rho.=beverage density, kg/L, (f.e., for apple juice .rho.=1.06 kg/L); PA1 f=peak beverage flow, L/H; PA1 .DELTA..tau.=work mode during 24 hours when dispenser works at peak flow, H; PA1 P--electric energy, consumed by dispenser during 24 hours, kW.H; PA1 m=ice mass produced during one cycle, kg; PA1 z=quantity of ice forming cycles during twenty-four hours; PA1 r=latent heat, 80 kcal/kg=0.093 (kW.H)/kg.
Besides, by any types of known dispensers, it is impossible to reach a temperature closed by a beverage crystallization temperature .apprxeq.(2.div.0).degree.C. without troubles or freezing of soda (mixture of drinking water and compressed vapours of dioxide of carbon).
In general, the efficiency of cooling by any type of dispenser, including ice bank type dispenser, is characterized by the following coefficient of performance (COP) EQU COP=N/P=[0.28.times.10.sup.-3 .times.f.times..rho..times.c.times.(t.sub.m -t.sub.f).times..DELTA..tau./(m.times.z.times.r)
where
According to the above mentioned data of the ice bank type dispenser action, and using the suggested formula, one can easy calculate the coefficient of performance COP.apprxeq.0.56. It appears that the ice bank type dispenser works very unsatisfactorily and expends energy more than twice as much compared to what it returns for cooling effect.


A secure electronic settlement by an easy operation is enabled even with any terminal device and any network in any country. Balance information of a user, predetermined voice information that can identify a user, an arbitrary keyword, and a voiceprint are stored in advance in a database of a server in association with a telephone number of the user, and when a remitter user carries out remittance to a recipient user, the server sends out voice guidance including predetermined voice information registered in the database corresponding to the telephone number of a recipient terminal sent from the recipient terminal requesting the remittance or a telephone number of the recipient terminal inputted by the remitter carrying out the remittance to the recipient using a voice response function to a remitter terminal, thereby enabling intuitive confirmation of a recipient by a remitter.

Although, as a method of carrying out monetary settlement, such as a payment of an expense associated with a product purchase, there are conventionally a method of using regular bills and coins as they are and a method of using various magnetic cards, such as a credit card, a debit card, and a prepaid card, or a non-contact portable device, such as a non-contact IC card and a portable telephone with a non-contact IC, the former has problems of an increase in transaction costs associated with the necessity of change, an increase in a risk of being stolen, no applicability directly over a network, and the like, and the latter has problems of applicability only with magnetic cards and particular portable telephones, applicability only at a location provided with a dedicated reader for a non-contact portable device, no applicability to giving and receiving money between individuals, and the like.
In contrast, there have been conventionally techniques of achieving monetary settlement using a calling or communication function of a portable telephone or a fixed line telephone as follows.
(1) In Conventional Technique 1 (Non-Patent Literature 1), a depositor logs in by making a call from a touchtone telephone to a center of a bank and inputting an identification number (ID) and a personal identification number (PIN), and further inputting a number of a random number table on the backside of an ATM card to enable a desired transaction after that.
(2) In Conventional Technique 2 (Non-Patent Literature 2), an account is specified by inputting a telephone number of a portable telephone of a recipient from an application dedicated to transfer of a portable telephone to enable transfer to the account.
(3) In Conventional Technique 3 (Patent Literature 1), although a transfer processing device is arbitrary, in the event that a transferee is unprecedented, it is enabled to alert by making a call to a portable telephone of the transferor from a server.
(4) In Conventional Technique 4 (Patent Literature 2), by presenting a transfer history of telephone banking as guidance, it is enabled to transfer securely and conveniently to a transferee in the past.
(5) In Conventional Technique 5 (Patent Literature 3), it is enabled to transfer without going to a financial institution by making a call from a telephone connected to a terminal provided with an ID card reader to a host of a bank for connection, by inserting an ATM card of an account to withdraw a cash therefrom into an ID card reader to send the information, and also by inputting transferee information from a telephone or inserting an ATM card of a transferee account into an ID card reader to send it.
(6) In Conventional Technique 6 (Patent Literature 4), by registering information to identify a transferee and a transferee ID to a transferee file from a transfer terminal in advance to send the transferee ID from a touchtone telephone, it is enabled to transfer while specifying information to identify a transferee.
(7) In Conventional Technique 7 (Patent Literature 5), by sending a telephone number (caller ID) of a portable telephone as an ID from a terminal to a server and by sending the caller ID by calling from the portable telephone to the server, and if the ID matches with the caller ID, the server allows the terminal to log in and can provide a service.

Electronic settlement method, system, server and program thereof

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


Systems and methods for sensing human muscle action and gestures in order to control machines or robotic devices are disclosed. One exemplary system employs a tight fitting sleeve worn on a user arm and including a plurality of electromyography (EMG) sensors and at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU). Power, signal processing, and communications electronics may be built into the sleeve and control data may be transmitted wirelessly to the controlled machine or robotic device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to human-machine interfaces. Particularly, this invention relates to human-machine interfaces to control robotic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fundamental to the existence of robotic devices is the requirement for interfaces to facilitate human control of those devices. Robotic devices may include fixed robotic appendages for manipulating objects in space or a factory or mobile robotic units such as unmanned military robots and platforms or cargo manipulators. Some advanced control interfaces have already been developed.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,656, issued May 1, 2012 discloses a "Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller" including a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.
The need for an efficient and reliable means of control is particularly critical in military applications. The current means of unmanned controlling military platforms are not soldier-centric or responsive to the needs of the field personnel. Soldier command of supporting robots and unmanned platforms requires intuitive interfaces to communicate fast, high degree-of-freedom (DOF) information. Command of support robots by the warfighter requires intuitive interfaces to quickly communicate high degree-of-freedom (DOF) information while leaving the hands unencumbered. The need for stealth rules out voice commands and visual gesture interpretation techniques in silent operations at night and/or in low visibility conditions. Any considered robotic military platform should enhance and not inhibit mission performance due to inefficient means of control.
However, the need for efficient systems for controlling machines is not limited to military applications. Any human interface which a user can operate intuitively will enhance overall performance. In addition, intuitive human interfaces can also reduce accidents as the user is able to respond to situations more quickly to dangerous situations when using intuitive interfaces.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for improved apparatuses and methods for human-machine interfaces in military as well as commercial applications. There is particularly a need for such apparatuses and methods to operate from intuitive action on the part of the user. There is also a need for such systems and methods to function silently and without any visual sensing. Further, there is a need for such interfaces to require only minimal effort by the user (e.g. similar to coordinating with a fellow soldier in a military setting), and ideally such interfaces should employ similar gestures and signals. Further, there is a need for such apparatuses and methods to be simple, efficient, and affordable. These and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention as detailed hereafter.


An abrasive composite, a method for making the abrasive composite, and a polishing apparatus using the abrasive composite are disclosed. The abrasive composite includes a matrix and a plurality of nano-particles distributed therein. The nano-particles are made of at least nano carbon sphere particles and fullerene particles. A ratio by weight of the nano carbon sphere particles to the fullerene particles is advantageously in the range from about 1:2 to about 1:1. The fullerenes are preferably C60 fullerenes. The abrasive composite further includes an amount of diamond particles admixed in the matrix, for improving hardness of the abrasive composite so as to accelerate polishing rate. The abrasive composite is preferably in a form of pellets. The pellets have an average grain size in the range from about 10 nanometers to about 200 nanometers.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to polishing techniques and, particularly, to an abrasive composite for use in a polishing process/apparatus and a method for making the abrasive composite.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Nowadays, a chemical mechanical polishing (hereinafter, CMP) has been widely used for polishing various elements such as semiconductor wafers, optical elements, and ceramic articles.
During a CMP process, outer portions of a workpiece are initially removed therefrom, due to a physical reaction, such as abrasion, and a chemical reaction, such as oxidation and/or chelation. As such, the surface of the workpiece is polished (i.e., smoothed). Typically, an abrasive composite is incorporated on and/or in a polishing faceplate capable of contacting the surface of the workpiece in order to achieve the removal of material and thereby smooth of the surface.
A conventional abrasive composite includes a binder (i.e., a matrix) and a number of abrasive particles distributed therein. The abrasive particles typically include ceramic particles having an average grain size in the range from 0.1 to 0.4 microns. At least 50 percent by weight of the ceramic particles are comprised of a material selected from alumina, ceria, silica, or a combination thereof. Nevertheless, the ceramic particles tend to have a lower wear resistance. In addition, the ceramic particles generally have irregular, roughened outer surfaces. Due to the irregular, roughened surfaces, the surface to be treated of the workpiece may potentially be scratched, thereby causing defects on the workpiece.
What is needed, therefore, is an abrasive composite that has excellent mechanical properties, has a high wear resistance, and is capable of minimizing the risk of scratching a surface of a workpiece.
What is also needed, therefore, is a polishing apparatus using that abrasive composite.
What is also needed, therefore, is a method for making that abrasive composite.

Abrasive composite, method for making the same, and polishing apparatus using the same


A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) guiding a web material in a machine direction through a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machine with a portion of the web material being wrapped around a tube; (b) joining first and second portions of a closure tape to first and second fin portions of the web material that do not form part of the portion of the web material that is wrapped around the tube, the closure tape being rupturable and not reclosable; (c) cross sealing the web material at a location downstream from the tube; and (d) dropping product through the tube and onto the most recently formed cross seal.

The present invention relates to easily openable closure tapes for bags, and more particularly to perforated strips useful as closure tapes for bags.
Bulk consumer items (e.g., potting soil, seed, and animal feed as well as food products for service applications) are often packaged in large bags (e.g., pouches or satchels) for sale to the public. The weight of these bulk items often necessitates that the material for the bag be durable and tear-resistant. Typically, bulk item bags are made of a tear-resistant plastic, a tear-resistant paper-based material, or some combination of the two. However, opening such bulk item bags without the use of cutting instruments is often difficult due to the tear resistance of the bag material.
A solution to the foregoing problem was posed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0215165 entitled "Easy-Open Strip and Bags Incorporating the Same". That application discloses an easy-open closure tape for a bag, which includes a base web, a frangible layer, and a tear bead. The base web has a pair of longitudinal edges with a pair of perforated tear lines running generally parallel to the longitudinal edges and substantially equidistant from the longitudinal edges. The frangible layer is attached to one side of the base web and is positioned over the perforated tear lines to obstruct the perforations on one side. The tear bead is attached to the frangible layer on the side opposite from the base web and is positioned generally centrally between the respective locations of the perforated tear lines. Preferably, the base web is formed from a material such as a thermoplastic polymer, a paper-based material, other multi-layer webs used in the packaging industry or a combination thereof. The frangible layer serves to seal the perforations, thereby keeping out small particles and insects and preventing small particles within the packages from leaking out. The frangible layer also aids in keeping moisture in or out.
There is a need for efficient and inexpensive methods of manufacturing packages having easily opened closure strips. There is also a need for alternative designs for easily opened closure strips.

Method of manufacturing packages incorporating easy-open strips


In one aspect, a method and apparatus for intervening in an offshore pipeline while diverting fluid flow to a storage site is provided, so that production through the offshore pipeline may continue while conducting a pipeline intervention operation. An offshore vessel may be used to divert and store fluid flow while intervening in the pipeline. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for drilling a subsea wellbore with an offshore vessel is provided. The method and apparatus involve drilling the wellbore and casing the wellbore with continuous casing lowered from the offshore vessel.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and method for intervening in offshore pipelines. Embodiments also relate to an apparatus and method for drilling and casing an offshore wellbore.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrocarbon production occurs either directly from the earth or from the earth below a body of water. Production directly from the earth is typically termed a "land production operation," while production from the earth below a body of water is ordinarily typically termed an "offshore production operation" or a "subsea" production operation." To obtain hydrocarbons in either a land production operation or an offshore production operation, casing is inserted into a drilled-out wellbore within the earth formation. Casing isolates the wellbore from the formation, preventing unwanted fluids such as water from flowing from the formation into the wellbore. The casing is perforated at an area of interest within the formation which contains the desired hydrocarbons, and the hydrocarbons flow from the area of interest to the surface of the earth formation to result in the production of the hydrocarbons. Typically, hydrocarbons flow to the surface of the formation through production tubing inserted into the cased wellbore.
Casing is inserted into the formation to form a cased wellbore by a well completion operation. In conventional well completion operations, the wellbore is formed to access hydrocarbon-bearing formations by the use of drilling. Drilling is accomplished by utilizing a cutting structure that is mounted on the end of a drill support member, commonly known as a drill string. To drill within the wellbore to a predetermined depth, the drill string is often rotated by a top drive or rotary table on a surface platform or rig, or by a downhole motor mounted towards the lower end of the drill string. After drilling to a predetermined depth, the drill string and its cutting structure are removed from the wellbore and a section of casing is lowered into the wellbore. An annular area is thus formed between the string of casing and the formation. The casing string is temporarily hung from the surface of the well. A cementing operation is then conducted in order to fill the annular area with cement. Using apparatus known in the art, the casing string is cemented into the wellbore by circulating cement into the annular area defined between the outer wall of the casing and the borehole. The combination of cement and casing strengthens the wellbore and facilitates the isolation of certain areas of the formation behind the casing for the production of hydrocarbons.
It is common to employ more than one string of casing in a wellbore. In this respect, the well is drilled to a first designated depth with a cutting structure on a drill string. The drill string is removed. A first string of casing or conductor pipe is then run into the wellbore and set in the drilled out portion of the wellbore, and cement is circulated into the annulus behind the casing string. Next, the well is drilled to a second designated depth, and a second string of casing, or liner, is run into the drilled out portion of the wellbore. The second string is set at a depth such that the upper portion of the second string of casing overlaps the lower portion of the first string of casing. The second liner string is then fixed, or "hung" off of the existing casing by the use of slips which utilize slip members and cones to wedgingly fix the new string of liner in the wellbore. The second casing string is then cemented. This process is typically repeated with additional casing strings until the well has been drilled to total depth. In this manner, wells are typically formed with two or more strings of casing of an ever-decreasing diameter.
As an alternative to the conventional method, drilling with casing is a method often used to place casing strings of decreasing diameter within the wellbore. This method involves attaching a cutting structure in the form of a drill bit to the same string of casing which will line the wellbore. Rather than running a cutting structure on a drill string, the cutting structure or drill shoe is run in at the end of the casing that will remain in the wellbore and be cemented therein. Drilling with casing is often the preferred method of well completion because only one run-in of the working string into the wellbore is necessary to form and line the wellbore per section of casing placed within the wellbore.
Drilling with casing is especially useful in drilling and lining a subsea wellbore in a deepwater well completion operation. When forming a subsea wellbore, the initial length of wellbore that has been drilled is subject to potential collapse due to soft formations present at the ocean floor. Additionally, sections of wellbore that intersect areas of high pressure can cause damage to the wellbore during the time lapse between the formation of the wellbore and the lining of the wellbore. Drilling with casing minimizes the time between the drilling of the wellbore and the lining of the wellbore, thus alleviating the above problems.
After production of the hydrocarbons at the surface of the earth formation, the hydrocarbons must be stored at a location and subsequently processed to remove undesired contaminants in the hydrocarbons and to produce the desired product. In land production operations, one option for storage and processing involves storing the hydrocarbons at a tank beside the wellbore, removing the hydrocarbons at time intervals from the storage unit with a mobile storage unit, physically transporting the hydrocarbons with the mobile storage unit to a processing unit, removing the hydrocarbons from the mobile storage unit and into the processing unit, and then processing the hydrocarbons at the processing unit.
Another option for storing and processing the hydrocarbons in land production operations includes using a pipeline connected to the production tubing. The hydrocarbons flow from the formation through the perforations, into the production tubing, through the pipeline, and into a storage and processing unit at a remote location. The storage and processing unit typically receives multiple pipelines from multiple land production operations at various wellbores to allow storage and processing of hydrocarbons from multiple locations at one facility without the need for physically transporting the hydrocarbons to the processing unit.
The above options for storage and processing of hydrocarbons produced during land production operations are feasible because of the unlimited space available for storage units and processing units on the land. Offshore production operations, however, require alternative storage and processing methods because of the limited space allotted to hydrocarbon production at the surface of a body of water. Thus, methods for storing large quantities of hydrocarbons at a remote location are currently practiced.
Offshore wells are often drilled and completed by use of a drilling rig. The drilling rig includes legs which rest on the floor of the body of water and support a rig floor. A hole is located in the rig floor of the drilling rig through which supplies for completing and drilling the wellbore, such as a drill string and casing strings, may be inserted and lowered into the body of water. The wellbore is typically drilled out by use of the drill string, then strings of casing are placed within the drilled-out wellbore to form a cased wellbore. Perforations are created in the casing and the formation as described above. A riser, which is piping which spans the distance of the water from the ocean floor to the surface of the water, is ultimately inserted at the top of the cased wellbore. Because drilling rigs are relatively expensive to maintain above the wellbore after the completion operation, the drilling rig is removed from its location above the completed wellbore and employed to drill a subsequent wellbore at a different location. At this point, production of the hydrocarbons and subsequent storage of the hydrocarbons becomes an issue.
One method for producing and storing hydrocarbons in offshore operations involves first building a production platform on the ocean floor. Like the drilling rig, the production platform includes a platform supported on legs which extend to the ocean floor. Production tubing is lowered from a hole which exists in the production platform into the riser and the cased wellbore to the area of interest which contains the perforations, then the hydrocarbons flow through the production tubing to a storage unit located on the production platform. The production platform is usually not large enough to accommodate the large volume of hydrocarbons which flow through the production tubing to the production platform; therefore, the production platform must only store hydrocarbons until a tanker arrives to transport the hydrocarbons from the storage unit to a larger storage and processing unit at another location. This method is expensive because each production platform above each wellbore which must be constructed and maintained represents a relatively large expense.
Alternatively, a subsea well intervention vessel having processing equipment coupled to storage tanks and having well intervention equipment may be utilized to produce hydrocarbons through coiled tubing drilling or to store or process hydrocarbon mixtures produced from underbalanced drilling, as described in U.S. Publication Number 2003/0000740 published on Jan. 2, 2003, filed by Haynes et al. and entitled "Subsea Well Intervention Vessel", which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The intervention equipment is theoretically capable of reentering existing production wells without changing the wellbore from its production mode.
As a more economic alternative to installing a production platform above each wellbore, a second method of producing and storing hydrocarbons in an offshore operation is more often practiced. Rather than building and maintaining a production platform for each wellbore, the median step in the production and storage operation which includes the production platform is eliminated by satelliting. Satelliting involves installing pipelines at each wellbore and routing all of the pipelines to a common storage and processing location, typically termed a "satellite unit," through the pipelines. The pipelines remain underwater from the wellbore until reaching the storage and processing unit.
Special problems are currently encountered when satelliting. The hydrocarbons must often travel long distances through the underwater pipelines to reach the satellite unit. The water through which the hydrocarbons must pass is very low in temperature, especially at the ocean floor where the pipelines are commonly placed. Because of the cold temperatures within the water, flowing the liquid hydrocarbons underwater for long distances is often challenging. One problem which may result from the cold temperature of the water involves the viscosity of the hydrocarbons. Viscosity of liquid hydrocarbons increases as the hydrocarbons decrease in temperature. The higher the viscosity of the hydrocarbon liquid, the lower the flow rate of the hydrocarbon liquid becomes. Therefore, the colder the water surrounding the pipelines becomes, the more difficult or impossible flowing the hydrocarbons from the wellbore to the storage unit becomes. Decreasing viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbons flowing in the pipeline may ultimately cause blockage within the pipeline, reducing or halting hydrocarbon production.
A second problem which may result from the cold temperature of the water involves the changing temperatures of the hydrocarbons during their production. Within the wellbore, temperatures are high, causing the hydrocarbons to possess a high temperature. The hydrocarbons within the wellbore may contain both the liquid and gas phases. As described above, the environment within the water when the hydrocarbons travel through the pipelines consists of low temperatures. Then, when the hydrocarbons are flowed from the pipeline up to the satellite unit, the temperature of the environment of the hydrocarbons becomes increasingly higher as the temperature increases with decreasing depth within the water. These temperature variations when using pipeline to transport produced hydrocarbons to the satellite unit often result in precipitation of the hydrocarbons on the inside of the pipeline. Eventually, the precipitation build-up may result in partial or total blockage of the flow path through the pipeline, decreasing or stopping hydrocarbon production. Reduced hydrocarbon production decreases the profitability of the wellbore.
Other problems which require pipeline intervention to reduce blockage include paraffin deposits which often build up in the pipelines due to the presence and flow of oil, as well as gas hydration when gas is present in the hydrocarbon stream. Some form of pipeline intervention must occur to reduce blockage within the pipeline caused by cold and variable temperatures. Pipeline intervention may also be necessary to repair holes or tears in the pipeline caused by corrosion of the pipeline or holes, tears, or bends due to physical assault of the pipeline.
Currently, an intervention operation requires a remotely operated vehicle to raise the pipeline off the ocean floor, cut out the damaged section of pipe, install pipe connections on the cut ends of the pipeline, and then install and connect a new section of pipeline. Other intervention operations require stoppage of the flow of hydrocarbons through the pipeline to introduce treatment fluid into the pipeline to remove blockage within the pipeline. For the intervention process, to prevent hydrocarbons from escaping from the pipeline to the water, hydrocarbon flow must be halted during the intervention operation.
Pipeline intervention operations are costly. Because interventions require physical invasion of the interior of the pipeline, hydrocarbon flow must be halted to conduct an intervention. Stopping the flow of the hydrocarbons reduces the profitability of the well, as the equipment and labor required to produce the hydrocarbons is still funded while no hydrocarbon production is occurring to offset these costs. It is therefore desirable to allow hydrocarbon production during pipeline intervention operations in offshore wells.
Light intervention vessels are available which make it possible to conduct operations such as well servicing, e.g. well logging and general maintenance. Such vessels, however, cannot be considered appropriate platforms for interventions requiring drilling or hydrocarbon production as they are not sufficiently stable for such operations and are too small to handle the volumes of material that result from drilling. As such, the vessels must be supplemented with support vessels to receive produced hydrocarbons. Furthermore, light intervention vessels require large capital investments as compared with the returns that can be generated, particularly as they are highly vulnerable to bad weather such that intervention costs are relatively high and utilization time is relatively low. Even more cost is required to employ an additional support vessel. Because of the above disadvantages, no attempts have been made to use continuous casing to drill and line a wellbore from floating units or to allow hydrocarbon production during intervention operations in offshore wells.
Furthermore, while drilling with sections of casing minimizes the time between the drilling of the wellbore and the lining of the wellbore, it remains desirable to further minimize the time between the drilling and lining of the wellbore to decrease production costs and further prevent collapse of the formation during the time lapse. It is also desirable to provide an alternative to the costly drilling platform or the option of two vessels (one having the drilling equipment and one having storage equipment) by allowing drilling with casing completion operations as well as production operations to be conducted concurrently from the same structure.


A sheet transporting apparatus includes: a heating roller and a pressure roller that heats and presses a toner image to fix the toner image onto the sheet; a pressure roller detection unit that detects a contact posture of the rollers; a sheet meander correction mechanism that corrects a meander of the sheet by varying a difference in pressures between the rollers at both ends of the rollers; and a microprocessor that computes and stores the amount of the meander and the amount of correction, wherein the toner is fixed on the sheet when the contact posture is within a fixable range, and wherein when the pressure roller detection unit detects that the contact posture is out of the fixable range during transport of the sheet, the contact posture is controlled to return to a predetermined fixable posture, and the microprocessor corrects an error in the amount of correction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printing apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copier.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-2003-160262 discloses a laser beam printer including a sheet transport mechanism that has a sheet meander correction mechanism that corrects a meander of a print sheet.
In a case where a backlash arises as a result of abrasion, or the like, of a drive section gear of the sheet meander correction mechanism, even when an amount of drive of a motor computed by a microprocessor is output to a motor drive circuit in order to correct the meander, a pressure roller sometimes fails to move correctly by an amount corresponding to the backlash of the gear. Because of this failure, positional data pertaining to the pressure roller managed by the microprocessor do not coincide with the real position of the pressure roller. When transport of the sheets is continued in this state, a single correction made on the meander corresponds to the amount of backlash of the drive section gear. Hence, no problems arise in corrections on the meander of a sheet or a transport of a sheet. However, when the corrections are performed repeatedly, an error between the positional data pertaining to the pressure roller managed by the microprocessor and the real position of the pressure roller by the backlash is accumulated. Eventually, the position of the pressure roller moves to a location where a fixing failure occurs, and there arises a case where the pressure roller detection unit detects an error. Even in the case of the motor of the drive section of the sheet meander correction mechanism temporarily looses synchronization, the positional data pertaining to the pressure roller managed by the microprocessor do not coincide with the actual position of the pressure roller, and there arises a case where an error is erroneously detected.

Sheet transporting apparatus and printing apparatus


The present invention relates to a rapid and simple method for mass production of taxol from the cell culture of Taxus genus plant with a high purity and recovery. The method for mass production of taxol from Taxus genus plant of the present invention, comprises the steps of: (i) organic solvent extraction of biomass from Taxus genus plant to obtain a crude extract; (ii) synthetic adsorbent treatment of the crude extract and filtration to give filtrate; (iii) addition of hexane to the filtrate to precipitate crude taxol; (iv) fractional precipitation of the crude taxol in a mixture of alcohol and water and vacuum drying the precipitate to obtain taxol powder; and, (v) high performance liquid chromatography of the taxol powder. According to the method of the present invention, taxol of over 99% purity can be simply obtained from Taxus genus plant with a high recovery of over 90%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for mass production of taxol from Taxus genus plant, more specifically, to a rapid and simple method for mass production of taxol with a high purity and recovery, which comprises the steps of solvent extraction of biomass from Taxus genus plant employing methanol, dichloromethane and hexane, adsorbent treatment, precipitation in hexane, fractional precipitation and high performance liquid chromatography.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Taxanes are diterpene compounds containing the taxane skeleton. For example, taxol is famous as the first identified compound with a taxane ring which is effective for the treatment of leukemia and cancer. Recently, it has been reported that taxol Xs capable of curing approximately 30%, 50% and 20% of ovarian, breast and lung cancer patients, respectively. Also, taxane compounds include baccatin III, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, 10-deacetyltaxol, cephalomannine and deacetylcephalomannine, which are employed in the semi-synthesis of taxol.
Taxane compounds are represented as general formula (I) and (II) as followings: ##STR1## wherein, if R.sub.1 =AC, the compound is baccatin III; and, if R.sub.1 =OH, the compound is 10-deacetylbaccatin III. ##STR2## wherein, if R.sub.2 =AC, R.sub.3 =C.sub.6 H.sub.5, the compound is taxol; if R.sub.2 =OH, R.sub.3 =C.sub.6 H.sub.5, the compound is 10-deacetyltaxol;
if R.sub.2 =AC, R.sub.3 =CH.sub.3 CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.3), the compound is cephalomannine; and, PA2 if R.sub.2 =OH, R.sub.3 =CH.sub.3 CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.3), the compound is 10-deacetylcephalomannine.
On the other hand, total synthesis, semi-synthesis and extraction methods have been employed to prepare taxol.
The total synthesis method, however, has not been practically applied in the art, since it requires very expensive chemical reagents and the yield is not so high, which can be expected from the complicated chemical structure of taxol.
The semi-synthesis method employing precursors such as 10-deacetylbaccatin III, has revealed some drawbacks since it essentially entails complicated and multiple steps of isolating and purifying taxol precursors from Taxus genus plant and transforming the taxol precursors to taxol, which, in turn, has been an obstacle to the universal use of the method.
Accordingly, extraction methods by which taxol can be isolated from Taxus genus plants in a direct manner, have prevailed in the art, since they have the advantage of economy, and a variety of approaches have been described in the art:
WO 94/12268 discloses a method of isolating taxol by employing a semi-permeable membrane and reverse osmosis apparatus. However, said method has revealed a serious problem that it essentially requires the expensive semi-permeable membrane and reverse osmosis apparatus accompanied by complicated techniques for operating them.
EP 553,780 A teaches a method of isolating taxol and precursor thereofs which comprises the steps of vacuum drying a methanol extract of Taxus genus plant, solvent extraction employing cyclohexane and methylenechloride to give crude taxol followed by silica gel column HPLC.
WO 92/18492 describes a method of purifying taxol which comprises the steps of methanol extraction of Taxus genus plant, partitional fractionation employing methylenechloride or ethylacetate to obtain crude taxol and normal-phase liquid chromatography.
WO 92/07842 illustrates a method isolating taxol which comprises the steps of a series of solvent extractions employing ethanol, chloroform and methanol to give crude taxol followed by reverse-phase HPLC.
WO 94/13827 suggests a method of purifying taxol which comprises the steps of organic solvent extraction using ethanol, methanol and acetone, adsorbent treatment of activated carbon or charcoal to give crude taxol followed by normal-phase liquid chromatography.
JP 6-157329 A offers a method of obtaining crude taxol of low-purity which comprises a series of solvent extractions employing ethylacetate, ether, acetonitrile and acetone.
However, all of the prior art purification methods, which primarily aim to obtain crude taxol of low-purity by employing solvent extraction and chromatography works, essentially provide taxol-related compounds such as terpenoids, lipids, chlorophyll and phenols, accompanying the taxol of interest. Accordingly, high-purity of taxol has not been obtained even in the case of employing so many chromatographic columns, leading to a heavy load of impurities on the columns used in the purification steps.
Moreover, since the purity of taxol thus obtained is not high, solubility in organic solvent is naturally so low that recovery and yield in the course of chromatography can not be controlled and extra steps for crystallization are essentially required to obtain high-purity crystallized taxol. Accordingly, the prior art purification methods have not been practically employed in the art and there has been a continuous need in the art to develop a method for isolating high-purity taxol in a more simple and economical manner.

Method for purifying taxol from taxus biomass


An intercostal spacer device for placement between two adjacent ribs, includes a spacer member and at least two pair of arms that extend from a first end of the spacer member and at least one pair of arms that extend from a second end of the spacer member. The intercostal spacer device is sized and configured to allow for placement into the intercostal space to produce a force for correcting a spinal deformity.

The present invention relates generally to orthopaedic implants used for the correction of spinal deformities, and more specifically, but not exclusively, concerns apparatuses placed within the intercostal space of two ribs to allow for deformity correction or healing of the spinal column.
To secure and treat spinal deformities, including scoliosis, it is a generally accepted practice to place implants adjacent to or into the vertebrae to produce loads for correcting an abnormal curvature of the spine and to maintain appropriate vertebral support for the healing of the implanted bone fusion material.
Typical spinal implant systems are implanted through a posterior approach to the spinal column and utilize a rod as the support and stabilizing element connected to a series of two or more bone fasteners that have been inserted into two or more vertebrae. The connections between these components are then secured, thereby fixing a supporting construct to multiple levels in the spinal column.

Intercostal spacer device and method for use in correcting a spinal deformity


A calculation data display device includes a display which displays input calculation data in colors. When specified calculation data is input, the calculation data display device displays the calculation data input after the specified calculation data in a color different from a regular color. The calculation data displayed in the different color is operated as calculation data belonging to the specified calculation data. First, when the specified calculation data is input in the calculation data inputting process, the calculation data input after the specified calculation data is displayed in a color different from the regular one until the user inputs releasing data. When the input calculation data is operated, the data displayed in the color different from the regular one is operated as the data belonging to the specified data input immediately before the data displayed in the different color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to calculation data display devices and methods for displaying input calculation data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, computers and even electronic calculators which are small-sized and generally widely used, have become capable of performing various complicated operations including general calculations of arithmetic operations, function calculations, calculations using square roots, calculations of any selected ones of angle units (degrees, radians or grades) or any one of base numbers which include binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal numbers, or calculations using programmed calculation expressions.
In such a case, the calculation expressions contain numerals, symbols and/or operators corresponding to the respective calculations. In the conventional computer, the calculation expressions sequentially keyed-in and displayed are all displayed in the same color.
Thus, it can not be recognized at a glance where the current keyed-in data is positioned, what the current keyed-in data belongs to, or what unit the keyed-in data has. In order to avoid this undesirable situation, for example, the unit or kind of data is expressed or displayed with a symbol in a specified area on the display screen.

Calculation data display devices and methods


A method and equipment for reducing or avoiding multiple dispersions in fluid flows each having two or more non-mixable fluid components with different specific gravities and viscosities, in particular fluid flows of oil, gas and water from different oil/gas production wells (B1-B8) in formations beneath the surface of the earth or sea. The fluid flow from each well (B1-B8), depending on whether it is oil-continuous (o/w) or water-continuous (w/o), is fed to a transport pipeline (T) so that the oil-continuous fluid flows (o/w) are supplied to the transport line (T) first and the water-continuous fluid flows (w/o) second, or the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are fed to two separate transport lines (T1, T2). In a preferred embodiment, the two separate transport lines (T1, T2) may be connected to a common transport line (T); the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are mixed before further transport and any subsequent separation in a separator. In another preferred embodiment, each of the fluid flows in the respective transport lines (T1, T2) may be fed to a common separator (H) or its own independent separator.

The present invention concerns a method and equipment for reducing or eliminating multiple dispersions in fluid flows each consisting of two or more fluid components with different specific gravities and viscosities, in particular fluid flows of oil and water from different oil/gas production wells in formations beneath the surface of the earth or sea.
All production wells will have different contents of water in oil, so-called water-cut, which develop differently over time. If several oil-continuous and/or water-continuous wells are mixed together, multiple dispersions will be created, i.e. dispersions in which drops are dispersed inside other drops, creating several drop layers outside each other. If several oil-continuous and water-continuous wells are mixed together, very complex dispersions may be created with many drop layers that will be very difficult, if not impossible, to separate.

Method and equipment for the reduction of multiple dispersions


Authenticating a remote process operating in an address space different than that of a local process includes the steps of creating, by the local process, a tamper resistant module containing a temporary secret, sending the tamper resistant module and a challenge from the local process to the remote process, executing the tamper resistant module by the remote process and recovering the secret when the integrity of the remote process is verified by the tamper resistant module, encoding the challenge using the secret to produce a response, sending the response to the local process, and decoding the response by the local process. Optionally, the tamper resistant module includes a request for information from the second process and the response includes the answer to the request for information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to remote security protocols in computer systems and more specifically to a challenge-response protocol for ensuring the authenticity of a process operating in a different address space.
2. Description of Related Art
Current methods of performing challenge-response protocols in a cryptographic system require the parties or processes performing the protocol to share a high-value persistent secret or both parties must process appropriate pieces of two asymmetric key pairs. In both of these scenarios, prior communication of the secrets between the parties or knowledge of the public component of the other party's key pair is required. Most versions of such challenge-response protocols are vulnerable to "man-in-the-middle" attacks, which are particularly problematic if the two parties are communicating over a network. Hence, general challenge-response protocols prove only that a verified channel between two endpoints sharing a secret has been set up, but one of the endpoints could be insecure. It would be better if one party could authenticate the other party to ensure that the other party has not be tampered with or "hacked", as opposed to just validating that the other party shares the secret. This can be done when the parties share the same address space by checking the contents of memory of the other party, computing its digital signature, and verifying its integrity. However, this cannot be accomplished across different process address spaces unless the memory is shared. Various challenge-response protocols and their deficiencies are described in "Applied Cryptography", by Bruce Schneier, second edition, 1996. What is needed is a protocol that overcomes the above problems and deficiencies of the prior art by securely communicating a required secret as part of an authentication process such that the secret can be a nonce of no persistent worth and wherein the secret need not be previously communicated.

Method for strongly authenticating another process in a different address space


A novel specimen holder for insertion in electron microscopes, wherein the novel specimen holder is designed to minimize electrical noise so that signal integrity can be maintained during in situ electron microscopy.

The specimen holder is a component of an electron microscope providing the physical support for specimens under observation. Specimen holders traditionally used for TEMs and STEMs, as well as some modern SEMs, consist of a rod that is comprised of three key regions: the end (300), the barrel (200) and the specimen tip (100) (see, e.g., FIG. 1). In addition to supporting the specimen, the specimen holder provides an interface between the inside of the instrument (i.e., a vacuum environment) and the outside world.
To use the specimen holder, one or more samples are first placed on a specimen support device. The specimen support device is then mechanically fixed in place at the specimen tip, and the specimen holder is inserted into the electron microscope through a load-lock. During insertion, the specimen holder is pushed into the electron microscope until it stops, which results in the specimen tip of the specimen holder being located in the column of the microscope. At this point, the barrel of the specimen holder bridges the space between the inside of the microscope and the outside of the load lock, and the end of the specimen holder is outside the microscope. To maintain an ultra-high vacuum environment inside the electron microscope, flexible o-rings are typically found along the barrel of the specimen holder, and these o-rings seal against the microscope when the specimen holder is inserted. The exact shape and size of the specimen holder varies with the type and manufacturer of the electron microscope, but each holder contains these three key regions.
The specimen holder can also be used to provide stimulus to the specimen, and this stimulus can include temperature (heating or cooling), electrical (e.g., applying a voltage or current), mechanical (e.g., applying stress or strain), chemical (e.g., containing a sample in a specific chemical environment), gas (e.g. containing a sample in a specific gaseous environment) or several at once. For example, an electrical power supply can generate a current or voltage waveform, while a syringe pump can be used hold and force liquids. This equipment is outside of the microscope, and various connectors are used to bring this stimulus to the holder, down the length of the holder, and to the samples. For example, microfluidic tubing can be used to supply liquids from the syringe pump to the sample, while electrical wires can be used to supply voltage/current. The specimen holder can also be used to deliver electrical signals measured from a sensor near the sample or the sample itself (e.g., electrical currents and/or voltages).
It is an object of the present invention to introduce an electron microscopy holder especially designed for in situ electrical stimuli and/or measurements, wherein said holder is improved to minimize electrical noise so that signal integrity can be maintained.

Sample holder for electron microscopy for low-current, low-noise analysis


A high efficiency single-inductor dual-control loop power converter (SIDL) is proposed for converting unregulated DC input into regulated DC output to a power load. The SIDL includes:    an energy storage loop having: a power inductor, a power capacitor and a power diode.

Owing to its compact size, low weight and generally high efficiency, switching power supplies have enjoyed ever increasing market adoption in the consumer electronics industry. This is specially so in portable applications where compact size, low weight and battery life are all on top of the list of considerations.
As a first illustration of prior art switching power supply, FIG. 1 illustrates a non-synchronous, single-loop regulated switching converter 1. The single-loop regulated switching converter 1 operates to convert an unregulated DC input 3 into a regulated DC output voltage 5 supplying a power load 4 with power ground 2. A controlled power output transistor 9 drives the power load 4 through a series, parallel network of power inductor 6, power capacitor 7 and passive power diode 8 with the input side 6a of the power inductor 6 connected to the power output transistor 9 and the output side 6b connected to the power load 4. In this single-loop system, the control signal, being the gate voltage of the power output transistor 9, is derived from a feedback control branch having an error amplifier 10 and a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller 11 that turns on or off the power output transistor 9 depending upon the regulated DC output voltage 5 being lower or higher than a "reference" voltage. As the power inductor 6 stores electrical energy with its coil current, the passive power diode 8 free-wheels the inductor current whenever the power output transistor 9 is turned off.
FIG. 2A together with FIG. 2B illustrate a second prior art single-loop synchronous regulated switching converter 20 and some of its related operating signal waveforms. Except for the replacement of the power diode 8 in the single-loop regulated switching converter 1 with a power shunt transistor 21 and its driving inverter 22, the single-loop synchronous regulated switching converter 20 is essentially the same as the single-loop regulated switching converter 1. As the inverter 22 is driven by the output of the PWM controller 11, the single-loop synchronous regulated switching converter 20 operates on synchronously driving the power output transistor 9 and the power shunt transistor 21, in a complementary off/on manner, with the feedback control branch having the error amplifier 10 and the pulse width modulation (PWM) controller 11. This can be seen by comparing the two gate signal waveforms Vgs_Q1 20a and Vgs_Q2 20b of power output transistor 9 and power shunt transistor 21 respectively. To prevent a dangerous condition of shoot-through wherein both transistors 9 and 21 are conducting, a dead time t1 is provided wherein both transistors 9 and 21 are OFF (Ids_Q1 20c=Ids_Q2 20d=0) and a load current Io returns through a built-in parasitic diode (part of power shunt transistor 21, not shown) with forward voltage Vf. The corresponding energy loss is Vf*Io*t1. Additionally, there are energy losses during time intervals t2 and t3 wherein the power output transistor 9 is being switched OFF and the power shunt transistor 21 being switched ON respectively. Thus, the following total energy loss is incurred per switching cycle of the transistors 9 and 21:ELC=Energy loss per switching cycle=0.5*Vf*Io*(t2+t3)+Vf*Io*t1  (1)A highly important measure of performance of a power converter is its overall power efficiency defined as:overall power efficiency=output power/input power  (2)Clearly, the above ELC acts to undesirably lower the overall power efficiency of the single-loop synchronous regulated switching converter 20. As will be shown later, the loss of overall power efficiency becomes rapidly pronounced at lighter load current Io. Hence, a primary object of the present invention is to improve the overall power efficiency.

High efficiency single-inductor dual-control loop power converter

Abstract: A PWM switching power regulating loop for converting the unregulated DC input into the regulated DC output.    a power-efficiency maximizing loop in parallel connection with the power diode.

Abstract: The power-efficiency maximizing loop includes: a power shunt transistor in parallel connection with the power diode and a real-time control loop adjusting, in response to a freewheeling current through the power diode, conductance of the power shunt transistor in a manner that a higher freewheeling current results in a higher conductance of the power shunt transistor.


A method for a data search includes: executing a first process of obtaining a query template used for generating a query, the query template including an output definition statement and a search condition statement, the output definition statement indicating one or more data items as search targets, and the search condition statement indicating a relationship between an identifier to be designated by a search request and the one or more data items, the relationship including a parameter to be replaced by the designated identifier when the query is generated using the query template; executing a second process when the search request includes identifiers, the second process including generating a query based on first query templates each of which is the query template obtained by the first process based on each of the identifiers; and executing a third process that includes obtaining a search result searched based on the generated query.

There is a technology called as dynamic publishing, as a technology for dynamically generating a Web page to be browsed by users. The dynamic publishing may be called as various names, such as dynamic semantic packaging, dynamic delivery systems, and data-driven content services. In the dynamic publishing, rather than storing a final display screen as a static file, by preparing a template and applying specific data designated to the template, it is possible to dynamically generate display screens such as maps embedded with graphs and pins, and lists embedded with data. For this purpose, a mechanism that extracts associated data from a database according to a user's request and visualizes the extracted data, is constructed.
At least a part of a program of realizing the dynamic publishing may be executed on a client on which a Web page is displayed. For example, the client downloads a program file (script file or the like) from a Web server. The program file includes a search module for searching for data corresponding to a user's input from a data file, a visualization module for generating visualized content by processing searched data, or the like. The client calls a program module according to the user's input, processes by searching demanded data, and dynamically generates visualization content by using the data. The generated visualization content is rendered and displayed as a Web page.
A publishing system that provides multimedia functionality to wireless terminals is proposed. The proposed publishing system, a server dynamically generates application data based on scene description data and transmits the generated application data to the wireless terminal. The application data includes content data, layout data, and control logic data. The wireless terminal responds to an event and controls the display by using the received application data.
In addition, an integrated navigation system that dynamically generates navigation links based on a hierarchical structure of web sites, is proposed. In addition, a web application server is proposed to reduce the processing cost of memory copy. The proposed web application server detects an instruction to embed data of another file when executing a script program. When the command is detected, the Web application server records identification information of another file without reading the data of another file at a stage thereof. The Web application server transmits another file, to the client, indicated by the identification information together with the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file generated by the script program.
In addition, a virtual database system which provides a client with the function of a virtual database in which a plurality of databases are virtually integrated, is proposed. The proposed virtual database system stores a schema of the virtual database recognized by the client, the schemas of the plurality of databases, and mapping rules for converting both. The virtual database system converts a virtual query received from the client into a query for the plurality of databases based on the mapping rule, and transmits the converted query to the plurality of databases.
Examples of the related art include International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2003/052626, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-107429, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-289153, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-241042.

Data search method, data search apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program for data search


A tool assembly (10), for example a hydraulic or pneumatic hammer assembly, comprises a housing (11) defining a chamber (16), a reciprocating work tool (20) arranged in the chamber for cyclical movement in a work stroke and a return stroke, and a tool retention member (80) arranged to restrain the work tool at the end of the work stroke. The tool assembly (10) includes a shock absorber arranged to absorb impact from the work tool at the end of a stroke. The shock absorber comprises an annular resilient flange (102, 154), which may be cantilevered from the tool retention member (80) to absorb impact at the end of the work stroke or may be provided on a bushing (150) arranged to absorb impact at the end of the return stroke. The shock absorbing flange reduces the transmission of shocks into the tool assembly, thereby providing increased life for tool assembly components.

Hydraulic hammers are used on work sites to break up large hard objects before such objects can be moved away. Hydraulic hammers may be mounted to back hoes or excavators, or may be hand-held. Typically, the hammer assembly is powered by either a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure source. During a work or power stroke, high fluid pressure is applied to a first shoulder of a piston, thereby driving the piston in a forward direction. The piston then strikes a work tool, commonly referred to as a tool bit, which is driven in the forward direction thereby causing a work tip of the work tool to strike the rock, concrete, asphalt or other hard object to be broken up. During a return stroke, fluid pressure is applied to a second shoulder of the piston in order to return the piston to its original position.
The work tool is retained within a sleeve, commonly referred to as a front head. Conventionally a tool retention pin is used to retain the tool within the front head. The pin extends across one side of the front head and engages with a transverse machined groove in the tool. The height of the groove is greater than the diameter of the pin, thereby allowing reciprocal forward and backward movement of the hammer over a limited range of movement. In use, when the work tip does not fully engage with the hard object on which the tool is being used, or during an idle stroke, the front head must resist the work stroke of the tool. This results in a large impact load, which causes high instantaneous stresses in the components which transfer the impact load back to the hammer body.
At least some of the disclosed embodiments may overcome one or more of the abovementioned drawbacks.

Shock absorber for a reciprocating tool assembly


A multiwell filter plate of a multiwell test apparatus is provided to effect addition or removal of liquid from a feeding tray positioned below the multiwell filter tray. Access holes extending through a plate of the multiwell filter plate are provided so that a syringe can be extended through the access holes.

This invention relates to a multiwell filter plate for retaining a liquid and which is utilized with a multiwell test apparatus suitable for promoting fluid interactions such as by growing cells in a nutrient medium within the wells. More particularly, this invention relates to such a multiwell filter plate of a multiwell test apparatus which permits adding or removing liquid from the feeding tray of a multiwell test apparatus without disturbing a material such as cells within the wells.
At the present time, multiwell test apparatus for testing samples include a multiwell filter plate having a multiplicity of wells, a feeding tray, a multiwell receiver plate and a lid. The wells of the multiwell filter plate are formed of a tubular member with an open end to which is attached a membrane such as a microporous membrane. The tubular members can be inserted into the feeding tray containing a nutrient rich liquid medium so that cells in the wells can be attached to the membrane and grown thereon. The cells are fed as nutrients pass from the nutrient medium through the membrane and to the cells at a rate controlled by the concentration gradient of nutrients from the nutrient medium to the cells. The nutrient medium in the feeding tray is periodically replenished to maintain cell growth. It is desirable to effect replenishment of the nutrient medium quickly and in a manner which avoids damage to the membranes and the cells.
After the desired level of cell growth on the membranes of the wells has been attained, the multiwell filer plate can be utilized in conventional assay methods. These assay methods generally are effected by positioning the membranes and cells on the multiwell filter plate into the wells of the multiwell receiver plate, such as a 96 well plate positioned below the multiwell filter plate or it just has to have the same number of wells in register with the cell/filter plate. The wells of the multiwell filter plate contain a liquid composition to be assayed. The composition to be assayed diffuses into the cells and then through the membrane into the bottom receiver plate, The resultant liquid product within the wells of the multiwell filter plate or in the wells of the multiwell receiver plate then is assayed to determine the capability of the composition being assayed to permeate the cell barrier.
An important component in the drug discovery and development process is the determination of the oral absorption and bioavailability of new compounds. In order to perform this evaluation in a cost effective, high throughput and sensitive assay, it is ideal to use an in vitro device with a multitude of wells, containing cells, a small amount of assay material and automation. Classically, the determination of in vitro oral absorption characteristics is performed using a defined epithelium cell line and measuring the apparent transport rate of the drug across a monolayer of the cells. More recently it is possible to rank/order the passive transport rate of potential drug candidates using an artificial membrane barrier. The values generated from these in vitro experiments are valuable methods for screening the most likely successful drug candidates long before the oral absorption rate are validated by in vivo measurements. A typical experiment for determining the drug absorption characteristics of a known or unknown chemical compound is performed as follows. The multiwell device is seeded with epithelium cells on top of the filter in a defined nutrients medium. The same medium is also added to the single well feeding tray, located below and in fluid contact with the device containing the cells. The cells are allowed to proliferate and differentiate over a number of days. The nutrient medium is periodically replaced with fresh medium to replenish exhausted nutrients and remove waste and dead cells. At the end of a growing time, the cells and multiwell device are gently washed with an isotonic buffer to remove protein and residual nutrient medium. At this time, the multiwell filter plate is transferred to the multiwell receiver plate and the chemicals to be assayed are introduced to either the compartment above the cell layer or below the cells and filter support in the multiwell receiver tray. The opposing chamber is filled with drug free buffer and the multiwell device is incubated for some period of time, typically at 37 degrees Centigrade with shaking. If multiple time points are desired, samples are taken from either compartment and buffer then is added to make up for the liquid removed. Typically, if samples are taken from the lower compartment, the filter plate must first be removed, thus risking contamination of the material in the wells. The amount of drug/chemical that is transported across the cell barrier can be determined by a variety of analytical methods, but typically is determined using LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a multiwell filter plate of a multiwell test apparatus which facilitates replenishing a nutrient medium in a feeding tray quickly and in a manner which preserves the integrity of the membranes and cells on the membrane. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a multiwell filter plate which can be utilized in conjunction with a multiwell receiver plate subsequent for use in conjunction with the feeding tray.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Access holes for a multiwell filter plate for multiwell test apparatus


The present disclosure relates to a bumper back beam to be disposed inside a bumper cover, for reducing impact from outside the bumper cover. The bumper back beam includes a body including a synthetic resin, and a fiber composite reinforcing material including a hollow section. The fiber composite reinforcing material is fastened inside the body. The bumper back beam has high reliability, by having excellent ability to absorb impact energy because cracks almost do not occur during collision since it not only provides satisfactory strength and stiffness but also has high elongation with synthetic resin and fiber composite reinforcing materials generating synergies, and especially by having excellent impact resistance since fiber composite reinforcing materials take the shape of a hollow section.

A bumper installed at front and back of a vehicle is an impact absorbing device protecting the vehicle and passengers in some degrees by primarily absorbing impact when the vehicle collides. These bumpers comprise a bumper back beam fastened on a body frame of a vehicle through a bumper stay, an impact absorbing foam fastened on the front side of the bumper back beam, and a bumper cover fastened on a bumper with the impact absorbing foam in between.
There are a variety of bumper back beams, such as a type illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a prior disassembled bumper back beam.
As illustrated, a prior back beam comprises a main body (11) fastened inside a bumper cover (not illustrated), and a stay (12) to connect the main body to a frame of a vehicle.
The main body (11) is formed by a fiber composite reinforcing material, and cross sectional shape of line A-A assumes a form of an open shape.
For example, it is what has a "U" similar shaped cross section. The reason for forming main bodies with fiber composite reinforcing materials as described above is to reduce the weight of vehicles.
Prior back beams formed with fiber composite reinforcing materials are generally made by combining glass fiber with synthetic resin and physical characteristics such as strength, stiffness, and fracture elongation depends on the glass fiber. That is, strength and stiffness of a back beam using fiber composite reinforcing materials greatly increases compared to back beam made of only synthetic resin, but elongation sharply decreases. Due to the described reason, when impact load applied to a fiber composite reinforcing material back beam is not high, absorbing impact energy of back beams are effective due to influence from high strength and stiffness, but there are disadvantages that efficiency of impact energy absorption may sharply decrease because it easily cracks because elongation is rather poor at high impact loads.

Bumper back beam with a fiber composite reinforcing material