A portable USB storage device includes a case, a USB port, and a control device. The case contains therein a data storage. The USB port can be inputted into the case in a sliding motion. The control device selectively controls a location of the USB port to keep the USB port.

Recently, various portable storage mediums have been introduced as a result of a constant change in a network environment and a demand for a more convenient data storage and improved mobility. Further, new storage mediums lead to the development of high capacity portable storage devices using a flash memory.
Such portable storage devices that have been purchased by certain experts are now used as essential peripheral devices of a personal computer (PC), e.g., a bundled product provided with a purchase of a PC, or those of a personal digital assistant (PDA), e.g., accessories of a PDA.
Accordingly, a market size of the portable storage devices will be gradually expanded. The portable storage devices have been used mainly by professionals, e.g., graphic designers who often transmit high capacity data. However, as data capacity of a multimedia file such as game software and MP3 files becomes large, purchases by non-professionals are on the rise.
Especially, since Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. announced their plans not to support a floppy disc drive (FDD), a portable storage device is expected to replace the FDD. Further, the portable storage device is suitable for an auxiliary storage device of a PDA having a small storage capacity. Therefore, an increasing demand for the portable storage device of PDA manufacturers is also predicted.
Major features of the portable storage device are its remarkable portability, mobility, compactness, and lightness. Moreover, the portable storage device can be simply connected without a separate adapter and does not require a separate power supply due to enough power provided from a USB port.
Meanwhile, the portable storage device having the above-described advantages has been developed based on an USB. technology. The USB is a peripheral bus protocol developed by Compaq Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., and the like for the initial purpose of providing a simple method for integrating a computer and a telephone.
Such protocol has been developed into a USB 1.0 standard for facilitating a convenient integration of maximum 127 peripheral devices in a PC. And also, a USB 1.1 standard complements problems of the USB 1.0 standard. Such USB technology is able to support new devices capable of transmitting voice data and compressed video data in real-time, synchronizing mixed modes, varying PC components, and improving PC performance.
In the meantime, the USB, which is basically a serial bus, implements a notion of master/slave and provides a direct connection or a connection through a hub between a host and each peripheral device.
Currently, various products employing a USB interface are introduced, wherein the USB interface allows a connection between a PC and most of peripheral devices, e.g., a printer, a scanner, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a gamepad, a video camera, a still image camera, a modem, an ISDN adaptor, and an ethernet adaptor.
Further, connectors, e.g., USB to IDE, USB to PS/2, USB to printer port, USB to serial port, and the like, can be used for connecting conventionally used devices with a USB port.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional portable storage device having a USB port at one side thereof.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conventional portable storage device has a structure of an inner main body being completely covered by a case 1. The inner main body includes therein memories (ROM and RAM), a clock signal generator, an interrupt controller (not shown), and the like, thereby enabling data to be downloaded from peripheral devices through a USB port 3 and data stored in the memories to be uploaded to a PC, PDA and the like.
Meanwhile, the portable storage device is provided with a sheath 2 for protecting the USB port 3 functioning as a main input/output unit of memories from external damages and a user from the USB port 3 made of sharp materials. Since, however, the sheath 2 is separable from the case 1, it is inconvenient to carry. Further, in case the sheath 2 is lost, it is hardly possible to protect the USB port 3. In addition, with a possibility of causing physical injuries to the user, the portable storage device is not convenient to use and carry with the sheath 2 off.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided including providing a substrate having a first region and a second region, the substrate defining trenches in the first and second regions; forming active fins on the first and second regions, the active fins protruding from the trenches in the first and second regions; forming spacers on sidewalls of the active fins in the first and second regions; recessing floors of the trenches under the spacers to provide extensions of the active fins; implanting impurities of a first type in the extensions of the active fins in the first region; and implanting impurities of a second, type, different from the first type, in the extensions of the active fins in the second region.

Recently, semiconductor devices installed in a mobile apparatus are required to be small, and therefore, highly integrated in order to satisfy the demand. Although a finFET that secures a sufficient channel length has been suggested according to the requirements of high-integration, these devices may experience punch-through between a source area and a drain area. Accordingly, methods of forming a high-concentration impurity area used as punch-through stopping area under an active fin have been suggested.

Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices having punch-through stopping regions


A disposable fiber diverter probe is provided that eliminates many of the typical problems associated with conventional fiber diverter probes that are designed to be used multiple times and must be sterilized between each use. The present invention utilizes thermoplastic materials in many of the components that traditional designs require to be made of metal in order to perform the required functions of a fiber diverter probe. The improved design of the present invention enables less complex, low cost parts to be used in a fiber diverter probe, wherein the probe still provides expanded capabilities over conventional, more expensive fiber diverter probes, such as more accessible and user-friendly controls for the surgeon. Moreover, the reduced cost of the fiber diverter probe provided by the present invention enables a medical facility or a private physician to make disposable fiber diverter probes economically feasible, thus eliminating the risk of exposing patients to a contaminated probe.

Use of laser probes, or optical fiber delivery systems, is continuing to increase due to expanded surgical capabilities made available by improved laser probes. Modern laser probes are used in increasingly complex surgical procedures as a result of technological advancements in designs of laser probes.
Originally, a laser probe consisted basically of an optical fiber enclosed within a rigid tube that enabled a surgeon to deliver laser energy to an exact location of body tissue within a patient's body in order to precisely cut, cauterize, and/or coagulate a very small area of the body tissue. Later generations of laser probes included irrigating and aspirating capabilities that enabled surgeons to cut, cauterize, and also clean specific areas of body tissue using the same instrument, thus decreasing both trauma to a patient and complexity of a surgical operation. Modern laser probes further expand available surgical options by including a directional tip on a probe that enables a surgeon to access areas of a patient's body that may not ordinarily be accessible with a rigid linear probe.
As with most mechanical devices, however, the risk of mechanical breakdown or failure increases as the intricacy and precision of a device increases, and mechanically complex fiber diverter probes are not immune from this general rule of thumb. Even more troublesome, the intricate parts of a complex fiber diverter probe can be difficult to reach, thus making cleaning and repairing such parts also difficult.
The assignee of this application, Laserscope, presently provides a state of the art laser probe having directional, or fiber diverter, capabilities at the distal tip of the probe, in addition to simultaneous irrigating and aspirating capabilities. This complex, state of the art instrument enables surgeons not only to perform complete surgical operations on specific areas of body tissue using one instrument, but further enables surgeons to access difficult areas not readily accessible by linear, non-fiber diverter probes. Due to the complexity of such a fiber diverter probe, the device is relatively expensive to manufacture and is constructed of precisionly designed components.
Since modern fiber diverter probes are very expensive to manufacture, purchasers generally prefer that these medical instruments have an extended lifetime expectancy. Accordingly, modern fiber diverter probes are constructed of durable, heavy metal components with the intent of providing a complex medical instrument having an extended functional lifetime expectancy. For sanitary reasons, conventional probes must be able to withstand the high temperatures necessary for heat sterilization which is required between each use of the probe in order to avoid exposing patients to a contaminated medical instrument.
In actual use, however, the intricate components of these complex fiber diverter probes have been found to be very difficult to sterilize after each use. The tiny working components of the instrument can be somewhat inaccessible in sterilization procedures. Furthermore, sterilization, which usually is accomplished by exposing the instrument to high temperatures, tends to weaken, stiffen, or otherwise damage the more delicate or precision components of the fiber diverter probe.
Additional problems, that were not previously anticipated, have become apparent from the use of conventional, long-term use fiber diverter probes. For instance, the metal components of the probe create a substantial weight that can be very tiring for a surgeon who may be required to manually hold the instrument in a desired position for an extended period of time during long operations. Furthermore, conventional controls for diverting the fiber tip, such as a rotating knob, have been reported by surgeons to be difficult to use during operating procedures. Even the positioning of valves on the instrument, which regulate the flow of air or liquid during cleansing procedures, are uncomfortable for surgeons to operate.
Accordingly, it would be desireable to provide a fiber diverter probe at a relatively inexpensive price, thereby eliminating the necessity for sterilizing the instrument and making a disposable fiber diverter probe practical. In the same manner, it would also be desirable to provide a fiber diverter probe of reduced weight and user friendly controls in order to facilitate the use of fiber diverter probes by surgeons. In reducing the overall cost and weight of the instrument, it would therefore be desireable to decrease the number of separate components in the instrument. Decreasing the number of components in design of the fiber diverter probe would also provide the added advantage of reducing the risk of mechanical failures.

Disposable surgical probe having fiber diverter


A method and device for the gasification of solid fuels such as bituminous coal, lignite coal, and petroleum coke in the flue stream, with an oxidizing medium containing free oxygen by partial oxidation at pressures between atmospheric pressure and 80 bar, and at temperatures between 1200 and 1900° C., consisting of the process steps of pneumatic metering for pulverized fuel, gasification in a flue stream reactor with cooled reaction chamber contour, partial quenching, cooling, crude gas scrubbing, and partial condensation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gasification method consisting of the process steps of fuel infeed, gasification reaction, partial quenching, waste heat recovery, gas scrubbing, and partial condensation, to produce gases containing CO and H2 by partial oxidation of pulverized fuels containing ash with a gasification medium containing free oxygen, at high temperatures and elevated pressure.
To achieve long operating times, the pressurized jacket of the gasification reactor has to be protected reliably against the action of crude gas and against the high gasification temperatures of 1200-1900° C. This is done by confining the reaction or gasification chamber with a cooled tubular shield that is hung in the pressurized jacket. The annular gap between tubular shield and pressurized jacket is flushed.
The fuel is fed to the head of the reactor through burners, using a pneumatic system following the flow transport principle. One or more fuels or varieties of coal can be gasified at the same time. The crude gas leaves the gasification chamber together with the liquefied slag at the bottom of the reactor and is then partially cooled to 700° C. to 1100° C. by injecting water, and is freed of entrained fine after recovering the waste heat. The scrubbed crude gas is then fed to further treatment steps.
2. The Prior Art
The autothermic entrained flow gasification of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels has been known in the technology of gas production for years. The ratio of fuel to gasification medium containing oxygen is chosen so that higher carbon compounds are completely cracked for reasons of synthesis gas quality into synthesis gas components such as CO and H2, and the inorganic components are discharged as molten slag; see J. Carl, P. Fritz, NOELL-KONVERSIONSVERFAHREN, EF-Verlag für Energie- und Umwelttechnik GmbH, 1996, p. 33 and p. 73.
According to various systems used in industry, gasification gas and molten slag can be discharged separately or together from the reaction chamber of the gasification device, as shown in DE 197 131 A1. Either systems with refractory linings or cooled systems are used for the internal confinement of the reaction chamber structure of the gasification system; see German Patent No. DE 4446 803 A1.
European Patent No. EP 0677 567 B1 and PCT International Publication NO. WO 96/17904 show a method in which the gasification chamber is confined by a refractory lining. This has the drawback that the refractory masonry is loosened by the liquid slag formed during gasification, which leads to rapid wear and high repair costs. This wear process increases with increasing ash content. Thus such gasification systems have a limited service life before replacing the lining. Also, the gasification temperature and the ash content of the fuel are limited. Feeding in the fuel as a coal-water slurry causes considerable losses of efficiency; see C. Higman and M. van der Burgt, "Gasification", Verlag ELSEVIER, USA, 2003. A quenching or cooling system is also described, with which the hot gasification gas and the liquid slag are carried off together through a conduit that begins at the bottom of the reaction chamber, and are fed into a water bath. This joint discharge of gasification gas and slag can lead to plugging of the conduit and thus to limitation of availability.
German Patent No. DE 3534015 A1 shows a method in which the gasification media, powdered coal and oxidizing medium containing oxygen, are introduced into the reaction chamber through multiple burners in such a way that the flames are mutually deflected. The gasification gas loaded with powdered dust flows upward and the slag flows downward into a slag-cooling system. As a rule, there is a device above the gasification chamber for indirect cooling utilizing the waste heat. However, because of entrained liquid slag particles there is the danger of deposition and coating of heat exchanger surfaces, which hinders heat transfer and may lead to plugging of the pipe system and/or erosion. The danger of plugging is counteracted by taking away the hot crude gas with a circulated cooling gas.
Ch. Higmann, and M. van der Burgt in "Gasification", page 124, Verlag Elsevier 2003, describe a method in which the hot gasification gas leaves the gasifier together the liquid slag and directly enters a waste heat boiler positioned perpendicularly below it, in which the crude gas and the slag are cooled with utilization of the waste heat to produce steam. The slag is collected in a water bath, while the cooled crude gas leaves the waste heat boiler from the side. A series of drawbacks detract from the advantage of waste heat recovery by this system; in particular, the formation of deposits on the heat exchanger tubes, which lead to hindrance of heat transfer and to corrosion and erosion, and thus to lack of availability.
Chinese Patent No. CN 200 4200 200 7.1 describes a "Solid Pulverized Fuel Gasifier", in which the powdered coal is fed in pneumatically and gasification gas and liquefied slag are introduced into a water bath through a central pipe for further cooling. This central discharge in the central pipe mentioned is susceptible to plugging that interferes with the overall operation, and reduces the availability of the entire system.

Gasification method and device for producing synthesis gases by partial oxidation of fuels containing ash at elevated pressure with partial quenching of the crude gas and waste heat recovery


A patch is placed at one end of a repaired long crack in a windshield to prevent the repaired long crack from being overstressed and separating under load, which may be caused by flexing or differential thermal expansion. The patch spans the crack laterally and is placed adjacent an end of the crack, generally very near the edge of the windshield. The patch is bonded to the glass to reinforce the crack by carrying loads tending to separate the crack. The patch material is preferably at least as rigid as the glass and is bonded to the glass by a strong adhesive such as an epoxy resin.

The present invention relates to a reinforcement that reduces the stresses in long cracks in automobile windshields in particular, which have been repaired with a filling of repair material, such as a resin, to suppress failures of the repair material in the crack.
Various windshield repair devices have been advanced, and some are provided for filling long cracks in windshields. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,116 illustrates a repair device and process for long cracks, by filling the crack with a resin, and in this instance, the disclosure provides a bead of resin bridging the crack near the edge of the windshield. The patent discloses that a higher viscosity resin should be used for the bridge at the edge of the windshield. Merely having a resin "bridge" on the glass does not provide for a sufficient reduction in stress on the resin in the crack to reduce failures from temperature differentials and flexing of the frame that supports the windshield, including the automobile frame.
Repair methods utilizing patches have been advanced for other uses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,491 shows a cryogenic heat exchanger having a fissure in the heat exchanger body, that is repaired by filling with an adhesive or sealant and laying a metal patch over the crack, and in a position to span the fissure or crack.
Repair resins for cracks in windshields are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,836 to Werner et al. The resin used can be ultraviolet light cure resin. Such resin is preferred in many instances. The injection of resin into a long crack for repair is done in accordance with the previously taught repair procedures.
These previously taught procedures are widely used for repairing cracks in glass, and in particular windshields, and they do use a reasonably strong and optically acceptable resin. The resin is introduced in the crack and cured to bond the glass back together at the break. After the repair, the windshield is subjected to stress resulting from such causes as flexing of the automobile frame and temperature variations. A common result is that the crack repair fails, almost always initially at the edge of the windshield, and then the failure usually propagates along the repaired crack, ruining the repair. Repair resin bonds are usually not as strong as the original undamaged windshield.
The present invention provides a reinforcement that will suppress such failures and increase the effectiveness of existing repair procedures.

Crack patch for repair of windshield long cracks


Disclosed herein are organic molecules to which are covalently bonded a sialyl-Lex determinant and a sulfated determinant, at least one of these determinants being positioned at a non-naturally occurring site on the molecule. Also disclosed are particular P-selectin ligands and P-selectin ligand-antibody fusions. These molecules, ligands, and fusion proteins find use in methods of reducing or protecting against inflammation and extravasation-dependent adverse reactions, such as organ damage and clotting (for example, associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome or ischemic myocardial injury).

This invention relates to P-selectin ligand molecules, DNAs, and uses thereof.
P-selectin is an integral membrane C-type lectin found within the Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells and the alpha granules of platelets (McEver et al., J. Clin. Invest., 84:92-99, 1989; Bonfanti et al., Blood, 73:1109-1112, 1989; Hsu-Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 259:9121-9126, 1984; Stenberg et al., J. Cell Biol., 101:880-886, 1985). Its translocation to the plasma membrane can be induced by thrombin, histamine and other mediators released by mast cell activation, complement C5b-9 complex or C5a fragment, peroxides, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Hsu-Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 259:9121-9126, 1984; Stenberg et al., J. Cell Biol., 101:880-886, 1985; Hattori et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:9053-9060, 1989; Kubes and Kanwar, J. Immunol., 152:3570-2577, 1994; Thorlacius et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Communications, 203:1043-1049, 1994; Foreman et al., J. Clin. Invest., 94:1147-1155, 1994; Patel et al., J. Cell Biol., 112:749-759, 1991; Lehr et al., Laboratory Invest., 71:380-386, 1994; Gebuhrer et al., Biochem. J., 306:293-298, 1995). Once displayed on the cell surface, P-selectin supports the attachment of myelomonocytes to platelets or endothelial cells (Larsen et al., Cell, 59:305-312, 1989; Hamburger and McEver, Blood, 75:550-554 1990; Geng et al., Nature, 343:757-760, 1990; Gamble et al., Science, 249:414-417, 1990). In the latter setting, its appearance heralds an underlying tissue insult and supports the initial step in leukocyte extravasation, the rolling of neutrophils along the postcapillary venule wall (Lawrence and Springer, Cell, 65:859-873, 1991). Mice which are homozygously deficient for the P-selectin structural gene exhibit decreased leukocyte rolling and show delayed recruitment of granulocytes to sites of experimentally induced inflammation (Mayadas et al., Cell, 74:541-554, 1993). Generally, the mediators which induce P-selectin expression are involved in signaling trauma or wounding. One of the first recognized responses to tissue trauma is mast cell activation, which is accompanied by release of histamine, serotonin, and other diffusible mediators. Other common events include thrombus formation at sites of vascular rupture and complement alternative pathway engagement by foreign bodies. P-selectin expression is induced by signals generated in each of these contexts. Although induction of P-selectin mediated neutrophil rolling has been thought to be an inevitable consequence of surgical intervention, cromolyn, an agent which blocks mast cell degranulation, has been shown to prevent such rolling, thereby providing an elegant demonstration of the role of the mast cell as the link between trauma and extravasation (Kubes and Kanwar, J. Immunol., 152:3570-3577, 1994).

Nucleic acids encoding artificial P-selectin ligands


A method renders a model of an object by first acquiring, in an acquisition space, a reflectance field of the object. The reflectance field includes a set of reflectance images of the object and a point model of the object. The model is deformed in an object space to generate a deformed model. For each point of the deformed model in the object space, the set of the reflectance images is queried in the acquisition space to obtain reflectance coefficients for each point. Each point of the deformed model is then shaded according to the corresponding reflectance coefficients to generate an image of the object reflecting the deforming.

Visualization and animation of realistic 3D computer graphics models are important for many applications, such as computer games, movies, advertisement, and virtual environments. Generally, the following methods are used to reproduce a visual appearance of real objects: model-based rendering, image-based rendering, and hybrid rendering that uses both models and images.
In model-based methods, the reflectance properties of 3D objects are typically acquired by 3D photography. For explicit appearance models, a parametric bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is fit to the acquired image data. Parametric BRDFs can be rendered efficiently on graphics hardware. The underlying model can be animated and deformed using well-developed techniques, such vertex blending. However, parametric BRDFs cannot acquire many effects of real-world materials, such as translucency, inter-reflections, self-shadowing, and subsurface scattering.
On the other hand, image-based rendering is well suited to acquire and represent objects having a complex appearance. However, image-based rendering is restricted to viewpoints of the acquired images. The lack of a 3D model makes deformations and animations very difficult, if not impossible.
Consequently, hybrid methods have become very popular. Hybrid methods parameterize acquired images onto a 3D model. The 3D model is then used for new viewpoints and animation. This representation is commonly known as a surface light field.
However, surface light fields can only provide novel renderings with a fixed lighting that corresponds to the acquired images. That is a severe limitation when it is desired to render the object in a new environment or under dynamically changing lighting.
A better hybrid representation uses a surface reflectance field. The surface reflectance field expresses an appearance of an object for many possible lighting configurations. Objects with arbitrary reflectance properties can be rendered from any arbitrary viewpoint under new lighting.
However, up to now the deformation and animation of objects with reflectance fields has not been possible.
In general, animating an image-based or hybrid appearance representation requires a process to evaluate the image-based data to simulate varying object deformations.
It is a problem to preserve the visual appearance of the deformed object surface. In other words, the perceptual impression of material properties of the object under mutable lighting conditions needs to be preserved as the object is deformed.
Therefore, there is a need to animate an object with a surface reflectance field with arbitrary deformations.
The prior art for three-dimensional rendering generally describes methods that acquire object shape and appearance from images. Some 3D rendering methods fit a parametric BRDF model to the acquired appearance data. However, parametric BRDFs cannot represent many of the reflectance properties of real objects.
In contrast, image-based appearance representations make no assumptions about the reflection property of materials. A lumigraph combines a 3D model, e.g., a visual hull of the object, with an image-based representation. Images of the object are represented as a dense light-field, and the model is used to improve light-field interpolation, i.e., to minimize ghosting.
To reduce the amount of image data required, view-dependent texture mapping can be used. Texture mapping uses a simple model and sparse texture data. That method is effective despite an approximate 3D model. However, that method has some limitations for highly specular surfaces due to a relatively small number of textures.
Surface light fields are a more general and efficient representation because surface light fields parameterize the image data onto the model surface. Surface light fields can either be associated with an accurate, high-density model, or with coarse triangular meshes for objects with low geometric complexity.
Some methods compress the light field data such that the models can be rendered in real-time using graphics hardware. To improve the appearance of complex object silhouettes, surface light fields can be combined with view-dependent opacity data into opacity light fields.
Unstructured lumigraph rendering is an effective method for rendering both surface and opacity light fields. Although surface light fields are capable of reproducing important global effects such as inter-reflections and self-shadowing, those methods only show the object under fixed lighting.
To overcome that limitation, surface reflectance fields have been used. The surface reflectance field of an object represents radiant light reflected from a surface under many possible incident lighting conditions. In practice, the surface reflectance field is sampled sparsely, and the sparse samples are interpolated while rendering. To further reduce the amount of data, most prior art reflectance fields are acquired for a single view. For approximately planar model geometry and diffuse surfaces, the data can be compressed further by fitting a parametric function to the surface reflectance field.
Surface reflectance fields can be generated from data acquired by 3D photography, W. Matusik, H. Pfister, A. Ngan, P. Beardsley, R. Ziegler, and L. McMillan, "Image-based 3D photography using opacity hulls," ACM Transaction on Graphics, 21(3): pp. 427–437, July 2002. That system acquires surface reflectance fields for over four hundred views using multiple cameras, turntables, and a rotating array of lights. The approximate geometry is a visual hull of the objects, U.S. patent application, 20020159628, Matusik et al., filed Oct. 31, 2002, "Image-based 3D digitizer."
Although it is an important aspect for many practical applications, the animation of image-based data has received very little attention. Wood et al. describe arbitrary deformations on a surface light field and produce plausible renderings of the deformed model, D. Wood, D. Azuma, K. Aldinger, B. Curless, T. Duchamp, D. Salesin, and W. Stuetzle, "Surface light fields for 3d photography," Computer Graphics, SIGGRAPH 2000 Proceedings, pages 287–296, July 2000. However, that method does not deal properly with the diffuse component of the surface color. That method only works for purely reflective isotropic BRDFs.
Feature-based light field morphing 'blends' two light fields into one based on the concept of ray-correspondencies, Z. Zhang, L. Wang, B. Guo, and H.-Y. Shum, "Feature-based light field morphing," Computer Graphics, SIGGRAPH 2002 Proceedings, pages 457–464, July 2002. That method requires substantial user input to specify corresponding feature polygons between the two light fields. That method is not applicable to the general animation setting, and the method only works with static lighting.
Furukawa et al. describe a scanning system to acquire models of objects and spatially varying BRDFs, also called bi-directional texture functions (BTFs), R. Furukawa, H. Kawasaki, K. Ikeuchi, and M. Sakauchi, "Appearance based object modeling using texture database: Acquisition, compression and rendering," Proceedings of the 13th Eurographics Workshop on Rendering, June 2002. That method uses tensor product expansion to compress the BTF data. That method relies on an exact model to support the BTF representation. Thus, the shape of the object has to be acquired with a range scanning device, which is expensive, time consuming, and complex. Moreover, that method does not explicitly address appearance preservation under non-uniform deformations.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a rendering method that can deform and animate models of objects using surface reflectance fields so that objects can be placed in virtual environments with arbitrary lighting, including dynamically changing lighting.

Rendering deformable and animated surface reflectance fields

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A system (10') for generating a missile guidance gain factor adapted for use with guided missiles. The inventive system includes a guidance control system (52) for obtaining current guidance parameters(55, 57) including ideal navigation gain, closing rate, line of sight rate, missile maneuverability, and missile velocity parameters. Software (56) running on a guidance control processor (54) computes a current guidance gain factor reflective of the current maneuverability of the missile from the guidance parameters (55, 57). In the illustrative embodiment, the system 10' further includes a nonlinear notch circuit (56) that generates an acceleration command (59) from the guidance parameters (55, 57) that varies in response to varying missile maneuverability parameters (57). The guidance control system (10') includes a conventional guidance law computation circuit (54, 55) and electromagnetic sensing equipment (52). An autopilot circuit (58) included in the system (10') provides the missile maneuverability parameters (57). In a specific embodiment, the nonlinear notch circuit (56) is implemented via software running on a guidance processor (54) which performs the following computation for generating the acceleration command (59): A.sub.new =G.sub.nl .times.A, where A.sub.new is the acceleration command (59), A is a pre-existing acceleration command (53), and G.sub.nl is the missile guidance gain factor of the present invention. The guidance gain factor is a function of the ratio of the measured line of sight rate with respect to the ideal line of sight rate maximum, and is tailored to existing missile characteristics and performance requirements.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to missiles. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for controlling the acceleration of a missile during flight.
2. Description of the Related Art
Missile systems are used in a variety of applications ranging from explosives delivery to satellite launching. Such applications require high performance missiles with accurate aiming and steering capability.
A typical missile system includes a guidance control processor that controls missile maneuvers. The control processor is often designed to generate steering and acceleration signals in response to target information received via infrared seekers and other electromagnetic sensing devices. The control signals that affect the acceleration of a missile are termed `acceleration commands`.
In a typical missile system, acceleration commands are computed from missile target closing rate, ideal navigation gain, and an estimate of the line of sight rate. The closing rate is often approximated by the velocity of the missile. The line of sight rate and the navigation gain are often computed from target range and range rate information obtained from existing missile sensors.
Many existing missile systems require an operator to select parameters relative to the geometry of engagement. For example a fighter pilot may have to aim for the nose or the tail of a targeted aircraft. The resulting selected parameters affect the navigation gain of the missile system. Parameters selected in this way may quickly become unreliable as the engagement geometry changes during missile flight. This is particularly problematic for short range air-to-air combat applications.
In such systems, navigation gain often varies widely, depending on the missile engagement geometry, and is prone to human error. This often results in inconsistent and erroneous navigation gains. An erroneous navigation gain will result in undesirable oscillations about the missile's trajectory. These oscillations result in wasted kinematic energy, reduced aiming capability, and reduced missile speed. This reduces missile lethality and increases the ability of an adversary to shoot down the missile.
To overcome some of these problems, nonlinear guidance systems were developed. Such systems attempt to introduce nonlinearities in the navigation gain to compensate for changes in missile engagement geometry and operating environment during missile flight. Such nonlinear navigation gains are typically a function of the estimated or measured line of sight. The nonlinearities are based on pre-selected line of sight values. These systems, however, are limited in their ability to select appropriate line of sight values. The nonlinearities are often determined experimentally. Nonlinearities picked in this way often suffer from inconsistencies as missile systems and engagement geometries are varied. Additional time and expense is required to determine the appropriate parameters for different types of missile systems and engagement geometries. In addition, these non-linear parameters are typically based on missile velocity and do not account for other factors such as missile maneuverability.
As missile systems technology advances, more data becomes available pertaining to the current status and maneuverability of missiles. Guidance control systems must take advantage of this data in new and innovative ways to keep pace with other missile sub-systems.
Hence a need exists in the art for a cost effective system for improving missile acceleration commands. There is a further need for an acceleration command generation system that dynamically takes into account missile capability in response to changes in missile operating environment. The system should allow high terminal maneuvers with small miss distances, should be adaptable to existing missile systems, and should reduce missile performance problems associated with the inconsistent selection of parameters used to compute the navigation gain.

Nonlinear guidance gain factor for guided missiles


A tissue handling system includes a biopsy device and a tissue storage container separate from the biopsy device. The biopsy device has a cutting cannula, a housing, and a tissue collecting device. The tissue collecting device is detachably received in the housing. The tissue collecting device is configured to receive at least one tissue sample. The tissue storage container is configured to detachably receive the tissue collecting device after the tissue collecting device is disengaged from the housing of the biopsy device to deliver the at least one tissue sample from the tissue collecting device to the tissue storage container.

In modern medicine it is often desirable and frequently necessary to harvest tissue samples from a target tissue region or tissue site inside a human or animal body for the purpose of diagnosing a suspected malignancy. Currently available biopsy devices offer several ways of accessing suspect tissue and of harvesting tissue samples that may be used for diagnostic purposes, and some also comprise temporary storage solutions that may be used to hold tissue samples during a biopsy procedure. Such a biopsy device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,822. The disclosed biopsy device is capable of harvesting multiple tissue samples in a single device insertion and features a cassette with multiple tissue chambers, permitting the temporary storage of multiple tissue samples.
However, none of the currently available biopsy devices and systems address all the functions and provide all the interfaces between functions that are involved in harvesting a tissue sample and getting the tissue sample to the pathologist in uncontaminated or undisturbed condition. Another important aspect of the present invention is to provide biopsy devices and systems that minimize operator exposure to bio-hazards, bio-contaminants as well as formalin and other known and probable human carcinogens. The current lack of commercially available biopsy devices and systems with one or both of these capabilities is problematic for several reasons.
New and improved diagnostic techniques—such as cytogenetic, immunological and biochemical analyses require that the tissue samples be handled with extreme care. Since tissue architecture is an important parameter in the histologic analysis of samples it is important that handling of acquired tissue samples is minimized.
Human tissues are potentially infectious, and an operator increases his exposure to such infection by physically handling tissue samples. Given this, limiting operator exposure to tissue samples is a sensible precaution. Currently available systems, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,822, provide means for temporarily storing one or more tissue samples during a biopsy procedure, but no means are provided for transferring such tissue samples to more permanent storage containers where preservation and fixation of the tissue samples is possible. In use, these systems therefore require that the operator or an assistant manually transfer samples from the temporary storage means included in the biopsy device to more permanent storage means if said samples are to be fixated prior to being sent to a pathologist or similarly skilled individual for analysis.
Another problem that has received little attention in the design of presently available biopsy systems is the use of formalin or similar preserving agents to fixate tissue samples subsequent to their extraction from the patient. Formalin is classified by the WHO and IARC as a known carcinogen and at least some countries have imposed limits on the permissible exposure. These limits include upper limits on the amount of airborne formalin and such upper limits have forced some hospitals to implement ventilation and suction systems to protect doctors and assistants from excessive exposure to formalin. Such implementation programs—when possible—are costly and potentially disruptive to established biopsy procedure routines.
Therefore, a biopsy device and system according to the present invention that comprise all necessary components and functionalities for safely and efficiently harvesting one or more tissue samples in a single device insertion are highly advantageous. Furthermore, such biopsy device and system may advantageously comprise means for temporarily storing harvested tissue samples in individual compartments during the biopsy procedure while permitting the operator/doctor to inspect each tissue sample for adequacy, as well as means for more permanently storing and fixating the samples once the harvesting is over. Ideally, transfer of the tissue samples between the temporary storage means included in the biopsy device and the permanent storage means should be possible without requiring that the operator removes the samples from their individual compartments thereby minimizing the exposure of the operator to bio-hazards and bio-contamination. In addition, such a comprehensive biopsy device and system would also provide means for aggregating formalin or a similar preserving and fixating agent while maintaining at all times a closed environment, to eliminate operator exposure to such substances.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tissue handling system with reduced operator exposure


In discharging a smoothing capacitor connected to DC sides of first and second switching circuits, a DC-DC converter is first turned on to charge a battery for an auxiliary, thereby discharging the smoothing capacitor. Therefore, an electric charge of the smoothing capacitor can be effectively utilized to the maximum. When the voltage of the smoothing capacitor detected by a voltage detector is reduced to a predetermined value or less, and as a result the DC-DC converter is brought into an inoperable state, electric charge of the smoothing capacitor is consumed by at least one of a motor/generator and an LC filter connected to AC sides of the first and second switching circuits by driving at least one of the first and second switching circuits. Therefore, the smoothing capacitor can be completely discharged without need for a special discharging circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discharging system for discharging a smoothing capacitor connected in parallel to a switching circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese patent Application Laid-open No. 10-248263 discloses an electric automobile provided with a motor/generator as a traveling drive source. In this electric automobile, when charging a smoothing capacitor connected to an inverter for converting a DC current from a main battery into an AC current to drive the motor/generator, the voltage of the smoothing capacitor is reduced by a DC-DC converter and effectively utilized for charging of a battery for an auxiliary.
There is another conventional electric automobile in which an electric charge of a smoothing capacitor of an inverter is consumed by a discharging circuit provided with a discharging resistor, thereby discharging the smoothing capacitor.
The DC-DC converter does not function, when the voltage on its input side is reduced to a value equal to or lower than a lowest operable voltage. Therefore, there is a problem that the discharging of the smoothing capacitor is possible before the voltage of the smoothing capacitor reaches the lowest operable voltage, but the smoothing capacitor cannot be discharged until the voltage reaches zero.
Also, in this system in which the discharging of the smoothing capacitor is conducted using a special discharging circuit, the number of parts is disadvantageously increased by the discharging circuit to cause an increase in the cost.

Discharging system for smoothing capacitor


A video camera with a tape deck mechanism in which the rotary head drum and tape loading device is inserted completely into a dead space in the tape cassette, the lid of the cassette is then closed and the recording/playback operation performed. The tape deck mechanism is reduced in size by having multiple chassis that slide into and fold over each other with the tape cassette contained therein. The tape deck mechanism operates in conjunction with a special tape cassette to increase the available dead space by moving the cassette tape reels apart when the head drum chassis slides into another chassis holding the cassette. The lid of the cassette is opened with a mechanism that does require pressure against the cassette to overcome the lid-closing spring of the cassette. The tape deck mechanism can be arranged with the known video camera electronics and optics in various configurations to provide a compact video camera.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing device and, more particularly, to a compact device for recording and reproducing signals using a tape cassette in which the recording and reproducing heads are inserted into the tape cassette.
2. Description of the Background
Heretofore, efforts have been made to reduce the size of magnetic recording and reproducing devices, particularly video tape recorders (VTRs), for better portability. To obtain such a reduction in size, it has been customary to reduce the size of the deck mechanism that includes the tape transport system.
Various approaches have been followed in attempting to reduce the size of the deck mechanism and such prior attempts include a reduction in the size of the tape cassettes being used, a reduction in the diameter of the rotary head drum, and a more effective utilization of the dead space present in existing tape cassettes.
The proposal to reduce the size of the tape cassettes requires an adapter or a mechanism for moving the reel supports to cause the distance therebetween to match the smaller, different cassette size, so that compatibility between different cassette sizes is ensured.
According to the attempt to utilize the dead space in existing tape cassettes, a rotary head drum and a tape loading mechanism are partially inserted into the dead space in a tape cassette that has been loaded in the magnetic recording and reproducing device.
The use of tape cassettes of reduced size results in a complex operating procedure and a complex operating mechanism, because an adapter must be used or a reel support moving mechanism must incorporated.
The effort to reduce the diameter of the rotary head drum is subject to design limitations, because when a standard-size tape cassette is used there is a certain limitation imposed on the transport of the tape by the diameter of the rotary head drum around which the tape is wound.
The utilization of the dead space in existing tape cassettes to receive a portion of the rotary head drum and tape loading mechanism is an effective way to reduce the size of the deck mechanism, however, the extent to which the rotary head drum and the tape loading mechanism can be inserted into a tape cassette is limited by the dead space available. In addition, in such proposed mechanisms, the tape cassette is loaded onto one chassis, and the rotary head drum and the tape loading mechanism are supported on another chassis, the two chassis being movable with respect to each other. These two chassis have respective mating surfaces that bear the chassis, but the mating surfaces require overlapping portions that result in a device of greater than desired width.
More specifically, if the overlapping portions of the mating surfaces are too small then when the chassis are moved relative to each other, the chassis would tend to swing and become unstable and would not move back smoothly, thus preventing the rotary head drum and the tape loading mechanism from being reliably inserted into the tape cassette. In view of this drawback, the overlapping portions of the mating surfaces of the chassis have to be relatively large and, hence, the surface areas of the chassis must also be large. Increasing the surface areas of the chassis, however, results in an increase in the size of other components, presenting an obstacle to the efforts to reduce the size of the magnetic recording and reproducing device.
Furthermore, a conventional VTR tape cassette is loaded in the unit while the lid is held in the raised position against the resiliency of the lid closing spring, and the tape is withdrawn from the opening of the tape cassette, or recording and reproducing heads are inserted into the opening of the tape cassette, so that signals can be recorded on or reproduced from the tape. During the time the tape is being withdrawn from the cassette housing or the recording and reproducing heads are being inserted in the cassette housing, the tape cassette has to be held in a stable manner in the loaded position. Because the tape cassette is required to be retained in position under retentive forces strong enough to overcome the moment resulting from the resiliency of the lid-closing spring, the cassette loading unit needs a retentive biasing means for guiding the tape cassette into the loaded position and retaining the tape cassette reliably in the loaded position. As a consequence, the deck mechanism which constitutes the cassette loading unit is complex in structure and large in size.

Compact magnetic recording and reproducing device having movable reels and reel spindles


A system, method and computer-readable media are introduced that relate to data coding and decoding. A computing device encodes received data such as video data into a base layer of compressed video and an enhancement layer of compressed video. The computing device controls drift introduced into the base layer of the compressed video. The computing device, such as a scalable video coder, allows drift bay predicting the base layer from the enhancement layer information. The amount of drift is managed to improve overall compression efficiency.

Despite the predominance of arguments in the prior art for designing video compression systems that eliminate drift, the present invention is based on the observation that if one can effectively manage error propagation in both a one-layer encoder and a two-layer encoder that does not allow the introduction of base-layer drift, it is possible to design an encoder that does allow the introduction of drift into the base-layer.
It is an object of the invention to provide means to introduce drift incrementally.
It is an object of the invention to provide a way for the encoder to measure the drift being potentially introduced.
It is an object of the invention to provide encoding options that can allow drift, while simultaneously keeping the amount of drift under control.
It is an object of the invention to provide means to drastically reduce or eliminate drift without the need for a full I-frame.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system-level optimization, designed to maximize expected quality across all expected receivers.
The present invention is directed to structures for scalability that use previous enhancement-layer information in a video stream to predict the current base-layer, while simultaneously managing the resulting possibility of drift. These structures allow better compression efficiency, while introducing only limited impairments in the quality of the reconstruction.
These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Scalable video encoder/decoder with drift control


The invention provides high affinity antibodies suitable for forming immunotoxins that inhibit the growth of cells expressing human glycoprotein NMB, including glioblastoma multiform cells, anaplastic astrocytoma cells, anaplastic oligodendroglioma cells, oligodendroglioma cells, and melanoma cells.

Targeting of cell surface proteins on cancer cells is a modern approach for cancer therapy. Targeted cytotoxins are 5-10 times more potent on cancer cells than chemotherapy and provide specificity without producing undesirable side effects (Frankel, A. E. et al., Cancer Res. 56, 926-932 (1996); Rand, R. W. et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 6, 2157-2165 (2000)). To generate a targeted agent, identification of unique cancer cell-associated receptors or antigens is important.
Recent advances in the development of comprehensive molecular analysis tools for genome and gene expression provide a basis to discover novel target molecules with tumor-specific distribution (Velculescu et al., Science, 270:484-7 (1995)). In previous efforts to identify novel glioma-associated antigens, several genes were found by the serial analysis of gene expression method that are preferentially expressed in gliomas (Loging et al., Genome Res, 10:1393-402 (2000)). Among these candidate glioma-marker genes, glycoprotein nmb (GPNMB) showed a greater than 10-fold induction of mRNA expression over normal brain samples in 5/12 of HGL cases (Loging et al., supra).
Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B ("GPNMB") is a type I transmembrane protein which was isolated from a subtractive cDNA library based on differential expression between human melanoma cell lines with low and high metastatic potential in nude mice. gpnmb mRNA was also expressed at high levels in low-metastatic melanoma cell lines and xenografts (Wetennan et al., Int J Cancer, 60:73-81 (1995)). Human GPNMB exists both in its native form ("GPNMBwt") and a splice variant form in which there is a 12-amino acid in-frame insertion in the extracellular domain ("GPNMBsv")
Immunotoxins have been made that recognize a wide variety of cell-surface targets on cancer cells. Typically these are tumor-associated antigens—i.e., antigens that are overexpressed on cancer cells relative to normal cells. It would be desirable to have immunotoxins useful for inhibiting the growth of cells expressing GPNMB.

Antibodies and immunotoxins that target human glycoprotein NMB

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services


A gas turbine engine comprises a combustor. The combustor comprises an annular combustor chamber formed between an inner liner and an outer liner spaced apart from the inner liner. An annular fuel manifold has fuel nozzles distributed circumferentially on the fuel manifold, the fuel manifold and fuel nozzles positioned entirely inside the combustion chamber.

An internal manifold mounting arrangement may have several radial pins that locate the manifold inside the gas generator case. Heat shielding may be required to prevent fuel coking inside the manifold. Depending on the nature of the manifold design, it may be hard to achieve complete heat-shielding of the enclosure. A further risk is that, if a manifold is not fully enclosed, fuel leakage may occur in case of manifold sealing failure. Also, relative thermal growth of manifold and combustor leads to axial displacement between the fuel nozzle tip and combustor primary zone which may affect combustion characteristics. Room for improvement exists.


A new distinct variety of grapevine named ‘ARRATWENTYFIVE’ abundantly forms attractive medium firm and meaty seedless berries with a yellow/green skin coloration; in medium-to-large clusters which display a sweet Muscat flavor. The fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during October in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit firmness renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

A breeding program was initiated during the late 90's near Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2006, during this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety was the GAT3 which is a medium-sized creamy white very productive grape variety with a juicy and meaty texture (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was GVZ6 which is a large, red and crunchy seedless grape variety with good fertility (non-patented in the United States).
Table 1 Comparison of 'ARRATWENTYFIVE' with its parents:
GAT3GVZ6Thomson SeedlessARRATWENTYFIVE(Mother)(Father)(Comparison Variety)Berry size0.86″0.7″0.94″0.7″Berry shapeCylindricalOvoidGloboseOblongBunches per vine36-42323630FertilityHighHighGoodLow
The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:GAT3×GVZ6
An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryo which possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting from the above pollination were embryo rescued.
In 2007 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California.
It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possesses the following combination of the characteristics:                (a) Forms attractive medium firm & meaty seedless berries with a yellow\green skin coloration; in medium-to-large clusters which display a sweet Muscat flavor,        (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of October in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A., and        (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage, handling, and shipping.
The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visible disease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought, heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of the new variety has been found to display excellent handling and shipping qualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.
The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergo asexual propagation beginning in 2009 near Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by grafting on mature Thompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexual propagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years through 2010, and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.

Agriculture Research and Development Limited Liability Company


A method for reducing synchronization offset errors in a TDOA location finding wireless system, comprising: receiving transmissions from at least one sync unit at multiple location transceivers, wherein the multiple location transceivers are synchronized from the sync unit; determining actual times-of-arrival of the received transmissions in response to receiving transmissions; performing a wireless distance measurement between the transceivers and the at least one sync unit, the wireless distance measurement performed by the transceivers in response to the received transmissions from the at least one sync unit; computing an actual propagation time between the sync unit to the transceivers; computing differences between the actual propagation time and theoretical propagation time determined in conformity with the predetermined locations; estimating synchronization offset error of the transceivers in conformity with the computed differences; and correcting the synchronization offset error.

A multitude of wireless communications systems are in common use today. Mobile telephones, pagers and wireless-connected computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and laptop computers provide portable communications at virtually any locality. Wireless local area networks (WLANs) and wireless personal area networks (WPANs) according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) specifications 802.11 (WLAN) (including 802.11a, 802.11b/g, 802.11n, etc.), 802.15.1 (WPAN) and 802.15.4 (WPAN-LR) also provide wireless interconnection of computing devices and personal communications devices, as well as other devices such as home automation devices.
Within the above-listed networks and wireless networks in general, it is desirable to know the location of devices for operation of location-based services, mapping of network facilities, and security. The above-incorporated parent applications describe a method and system for synchronizing location finding measurements in a wireless local area network and a system for location finding within a wireless network. In both applications, the method and system use the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) of a transmitted signal received at multiple receivers within a wireless network in order to determine the position of the transmitting device via triangulation.
In the TDOA location finding system described above, synchronization of devices is essential so that accurate TDOA measurements are made between the network devices. Synchronization in the above-referenced parent application is achieved by continuously estimating the drift and difference between clocks of each of the location-finding units in a server or central processor.
Hard-wired synchronization schemes may distribute a clock from a central source, but distribution of a clock is a costly alternative to synchronization. Hard-wired schemes that pass synchronization error information over a wired network connection as well as wireless synchronization schemes are preferable, but rely on stability and accuracy of the local clock in each location receiver.
Synchronization of clocks by TOA measurement of wireless messages transmitted by units at known locations is valuable but can cause synchronization errors due to offsets. Those offsets are commonly caused by multipath and/or indirect path signals which lead to TOA measurement errors. When those offsets are constant over time they are hard to detect since they are interpreted by the system as initial offsets of the clocks. In some systems, it is possible to cancel this offset by an initial calibration but those offsets tend to change over time.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for continuously and accurately measuring and reducing synchronization offset errors within a TDOA-based location finding system that also introduces little or no synchronization overhead.

Method and system for synchronization offset reduction in a TDOA location system


A trunk line identification system includes a line switch part connected to each of a plurality of channels of a transmission line, channel processing parts for processing signals received from and transmitted to the transmission line via the line switch part, where the channel processing parts are provided with respect to each of the channels and include first and second parts, and a switching system for switching signals. When relaying a signal received by a first channel processing part from the transmission line via the line switch part to the transmission line via the switching system and a second channel processing part, the first part of the second channel processing part transmits an identification signal to the first channel processing part via the switching system, and the second part of the first channel processing part judges whether or not a line being used is a trunk line based on whether or not the identification signal is detected.

The present invention generally relates to trunk line identification systems, and more particularly to a trunk line identification system which is applied to a communication from a first station to a second station via a third station.
FIG. 1 generally shows an example of a conventional communication system. A station "A" is coupled to a station "B" via a transmission line 3, and the station "B" is coupled to a station "C" via a transmission line 4 Each of the stations "A" "B" and "C" have a switching system 1 and a transmitting apparatus 2. For example, each transmitting apparatus 2 compresses a pulse code modulation (PCM) signal of 64 kbps into 32 kbps by an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) coding scheme and transmits the compressed signal on the transmission line 3 or 4.
Among the signals transmitted from the station "A" to the station "B" there are signals which are to be dropped to a subscriber 5 within the station "B" and signals which are to be transmitted to the station "C" via the station "B".
According to the conventional communication system, the transmitting apparatus 2 multiplexes signals amounting to a plurality of channels (for example, 24 channels in the case of PCM 24 system) and simply transmits the multiplexed signal on the line. Hence, there is no function of judging whether the signal received from the station "A" via the transmission line 3 is to be dropped at the station "B" or relayed to the station "C" via the transmission line 4. For this reason, the transmitting apparatus 2 of the station "B" must once decode the compressed signal back into the original PCM signal, and the switching system 1 of the station "B" judges whether the PCM signal is to be dropped at the station "B" or relayed to the station "C" via the transmission line 4. If the PCM signal is to be dropped at the station "B", the PCM signal is dropped to the subscriber 5. But if the PCM signal is to be relayed to the station "C" the PCM signal is first returned to the transmitting apparatus 2 of the station "B" so as to be compressed again, and the compressed signal is then transmitted to the station "C" via the transmission line 4. As a result, the signal from the station "A" is relayed by the station "B" and transmitted to the station "C".
As described above, the switching system 1 of the relay station "B" must also receive the signal which is unrelated to the station "B" that is the signal which is simply to be relayed to the station "C". Hence, the number of lines to the transmission line must be reserved by taking into account such traffic of signals.
In the case of high-speed digital lines and integrated services digital networks (ISDNs), the transmission is generally made at 32 kbps or 16 kbps per voice grade line using the voice compression technique. In these cases, a voice compression circuit is provided in the transmitting apparatus 2 in a connection channel to the switching system 1, so that the voice compression is carried out prior to transmission to the transmission line. However, the signal which is simply to be relayed by the relay station "B" is also passed through such a voice compression circuit when connecting to the switching system 1 of the relay station "B" although the signal which is to be relayed by the relay station "B" originally does not need to be subjected to the voice compression. On the other hand, in the case where the voice signal has a relatively low bit rate which is less than 16 kbps, the voice signal is subjected to a predetermined voice signal processing other than the voice compression.
In other words, because the switching system 1 processes each voice grade line at 64 kbps, the necessary switching cannot be made if the signals are in the form of the compressed voice signals. Accordingly, even if the compressed voice signals are simply to be relayed at the relay station "B" the compressed voice signals must first be expanded back to the voice signals in order to perform the necessary switching. As a result, there are problems in that an unnecessary voice signal processing circuit must be provided, a signal delay is increased by the provision of the voice signal processing circuit, and the system design becomes complex.


A continuous steel casting method includes producing a strand. The producing of the strand includes pouring molten steel into a mold of a continuous casting machine and withdrawing a solidified shell from the mold, the solidified shell being a solidified portion of the molten steel. The method includes applying a static magnetic field to at least a portion of a region of the strand, the strand being in the continuous casting machine, the region being a region where a solid fraction fs at a thickness-wise middle position of the strand is in a given range, the static magnetic field having a magnetic field strength of greater than or equal to 0.15 T and being in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the strand is withdrawn, the static magnetic field being applied at an application time ratio of greater than or equal to 10%.

In continuous casting of steel, in the process in which the molten steel poured into a mold solidifies, solute elements, such as carbon (C), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and manganese (Mn), are driven away from the solidified shell-side toward the unsolidified layer-side. The solidified shell is the solid phase, and the unsolidified layer is the liquid phase. Such solute elements are concentrated in the unsolidified layer, which results in so-called segregation. The degree of the segregation is greatest at or near a thickness-wise middle position of the strand. The thickness-wise middle position corresponds to the final solidification portion.
Furthermore, in the process of solidification, molten steel shrinks in volume on the order of several percent. This shrinkage in volume results in formation of negative-pressure voids in the solid-liquid coexisting zone of a solidification-final-stage portion of the strand, which is a zone that contains a large number of equiaxed crystals. As a result, the solute-element-concentrated portion of the molten steel (hereinafter also referred to as "enriched molten steel") passes through narrow passages of the solid-liquid coexisting zone and is sucked into the negative-pressure voids, which results in the occurrence of centerline segregation in a thickness-wise middle portion of the strand. On the other hand, in the case where the solute-element-concentrated portion of the molten steel is not sucked, voids referred to as "porosities" are formed in the thickness-wise middle portion of the strand.
Centerline segregation and porosities have an adverse effect on the quality of steel products. Accordingly, to reduce the adverse effect, various technologies have been proposed and are being implemented.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following technology. The degree of superheat of molten steel in a tundish is adjusted to be lower than or equal to 50° C., and the molten steel is then poured into a continuous casting mold. An electromagnetic force is exerted on the unsolidified layer of the strand to cause agitation so that the solidified structure of the thickness-wise middle portion of the strand can be a fine equiaxed crystal structure. In addition, at a point in time when the solid fraction at a thickness-wise middle position of the strand is 0.1 to 0.8, the strand, which includes the unsolidified layer, is subjected to soft reduction in a range of 5 mm to 50 mm to compensate for the solidification shrinkage. In this manner, the flow of enriched molten steel in the final stage of solidification is inhibited.
Patent Literature 2 discloses the following technology. Molten steel having a degree of superheat adjusted to be 20 to 40° C. is poured into a continuous casting mold. In addition, at a lower portion of the mold, a static magnetic field is applied to control the flow of the molten steel so that the solidified structure can be a columnar-crystallized structure, and the solidification interface can, therefore, be uniform. Further, in the final stage of solidification, the strand is subjected to soft reduction. In this manner, centerline segregation in the strand is mitigated.
Patent Literature 3 discloses the following. The degree of superheat of molten steel is set to be 50 to 80° C. so that the solidified structure of the strand can be a columnar crystal structure, and, in a region where the solid ratio is 30 to 75% in a transverse cross section of the strand, a static magnetic field is applied to the strand. In this manner, centerline segregation in the strand is mitigated.


A pharmaceutical composition containing the therapeutically active ingredients of azelastine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of azelastine and memantine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of memantine is disclosed. A method of using the pharmaceutical composition for treating patients suffering from mental, behavioral, cognitive disorders is also disclosed.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gradually worsens over time. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage AD, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. If untreated, AD ultimately leads to death. Although the speed of progression can vary, the typical life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years.
A central mechanism in learning and memory is long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP is mediated by the neurotransmitter glutamate via the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptors can be found diffusely throughout the brain. However, they densely populate the dendrites of pyramidal cells in the hippocampus and cortex (areas known to be involved in cognition, learning, and memory). In addition to the relationship between LTP and learning, elevated glutamate levels are associated with excitotoxicity. Chronic low-dose administration of NMDA receptor agonists has been shown to induce apoptosis, while high doses induce necrosis. The activation of glutamate receptors has also been found to induce the release of glutamate. Thus, a large build-up of glutamate can occur and induce a massive accumulation of Ca2+, leading to apoptosis. It was also noted that amyloid-beta (AB) plaques increase a neuron's vulnerability to excitotoxicity. AB plaques, a pathological feature of AD, were found to induce depolarization of astrocytes, extracellular accumulation of glutamate, and intracellular deposition of Ca2+. Therefore, the glutamate-induced excitotoxicity pathway made an excellent target for the therapy of AD.
Under physiologic conditions, the glutamate released by neurons is metabolized or taken up by neighboring cells. When these pathways are disrupted, the accumulated glutamate overexcites the NMDA receptor and induces pathology characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases. NMDA receptors act as a calcium [II] ion (Ca2+) channel that activates when bound by glycine, glutamate, and/or NMDA. However, the channel functions only when the cell membrane is depolarized due to the blockade of the channel by the magnesium [II] ion (Mg2+). This prevents the influx of Ca2+ when the neuron is at rest. Under pathological conditions, such as a chronically depolarized membrane, Mg2+ leaves the channel and neuronal metabolism is inhibited, leading to cell death. When this happens, the Ca2+ influx is unrestricted for a longer period of time than normal. This influx of Ca2+ contributes to an alteration of cell function, leading to cell death either through free radicals or through overload of the mitochondria, resulting in free radical formation, caspase activation, and the release of apoptosis-inducing factors. Antagonists to the NMDA vary in affinity and in site of action, resulting in different alterations to the channel. Regardless of the mechanism of action, antagonists decrease the permeability of the channel and prevent an influx of Ca2+. Thus, NMDA receptor antagonists are looked to as possible neuroprotective agents and potential therapies for neurodegenerative disease.
Most NMDA antagonists are competitive antagonists and are not well tolerated by patients due to side effects, which can include hallucinations and schizophrenia-type symptoms. The side effects likely result from the competitive antagonists blocking physiological functions of the NMDA receptor. Its role in cognition, memory, and learning make it necessary that any drug using the NMDA receptor as a target of action must preserve physiologic function to be therapeutically useful. Memantine acts on activated NMDA receptors by binding to a site located in the channel of the receptor.
Memantine is a fast-binding antagonist which binds to the channel in a pseudo-first order manner. However, it also dissociates from the receptor quickly and in a concentration independent manner. This allows the dose to affect the binding of memantine without affecting its removal from the site of action and allowing for increased potency with minimal side effects. In comparison with other antagonists, memantine has a much faster course of action and thus has less effect on physiologic mechanisms. For this reason, memantine offers a lot of promise in the therapy of neurodegenerative disease because it will preserve physiological function. In addition, the uncompetitive nature of memantine's mechanism of action makes its antagonistic activity more potent in areas with massive activation of NMDA receptors. Memantine's mechanism of action is also voltage-dependent, which leads to the removal of the memantine blockage by depolarization of the membrane. All of these characteristics make memantine a strong candidate for treating pathology induced by excitotoxicity. In several studies, memantine was found to prevent neuronal death induced via excitotoxic mechanisms.
However, memantine will not cure AD or prevent the loss of these abilities at some time in the future. So, AD has no current cure, and our effort is to find better ways to reverse the disease, delay and prevent it from developing.
On the other hand, the genetic, cellular, and molecular changes associated with AD support the evidence that activated immune and inflammatory processes is a part of the disease. Also, a strong benefit of long-term use of NSAIDs was shown in epidemiological studies. So, it is generally accepted that AD is partially an inflammatory disease and that inhibiting inflammation is an option of treating AD.
Inflammation clearly occurs in pathologically vulnerable regions of the AD brain, and it does so with the full complexity of local peripheral inflammatory responses. In the periphery, degenerating tissue and the deposition of highly insoluble abnormal materials are classical stimulants of inflammation. Likewise, in the AD brain damaged neurons and neurites and highly insoluble amyloid β peptide deposits and neurofibrillary tangles provide obvious stimuli for inflammation. Because these stimuli are discrete, micro-localized, and present from early preclinical to terminal stages of AD, local upregulation of complement, cytokines, acute phase reactants, and other inflammatory mediators is also discrete, micro-localized, and chronic. Cumulated over many years, direct and bystander damage from AD inflammatory mechanisms is likely to significantly exacerbate the very pathogenic processes that gave rise to it. Thus, animal models and clinical studies so far strongly suggest that AD inflammation significantly contributes to AD pathogenesis. By better understanding AD inflammatory and immune-regulatory processes, it should be possible to develop anti-inflammatory approaches that may reverse or delay or prevent developing of this devastating disorder.
Azelastine is classified pharmacologically as a second generation antihistamine and is a relatively selective, non-sedating, competitive antagonist at H1 receptors. More uniquely, its inhibition of inflammatory mediators, in addition to antihistaminic and mast cell stabilizing effects, places it among the new generation of dual-acting anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition to azelastine's high affinity for H1 receptors, its ability to modify several other mediators of inflammation and allergy contributes to its mechanism of action. In vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials support the dual effects of direct inhibition and stabilization of inflammatory cells. In vitro data indicate that azelastine's affinity for H1 receptors is estimated to be several times greater than that of chlorpheniramine, a first-generation H1 antagonist. Azelastine has only weak affinity for H2 receptors. Release of histamine from mast cells is also inhibited possibly by reversible inhibition of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels. Inhibition of mast cell degranulation may also decrease the release of other inflammatory mediators, including leukotrienes and interleukin-1β, among others. Azelastine also directly antagonizes other mediators of inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, leukotrienes, endothelin-1, and platelet-activating factor.

Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating mental, behavioral, cognitive disorders


This disclosure details cooling systems for cooling electric components, such as electric machines, within electrified vehicles. Exemplary cooling systems may include a spray bar positioned relative to a rear face of a stator of the electric machine. In some embodiments, the spray bar may be positioned axially between the rear face of the stator and a torque converter housing. One or more nozzles of the spray bar are configured to direct a coolant between adjacent back irons of the stator, onto end windings of the stator, or both. Actively cooling the stator allows the electric machine to operate at higher torques and speeds, thereby increasing performance.

The desire to reduce automotive fuel consumption and emissions has been well documented. Therefore, electrified vehicles are being developed that reduce or completely eliminate reliance on internal combustion engines. In general, electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because they are selectively driven by one or more battery powered electric machines (e.g., electric motors). Conventional motor vehicles, by contrast, rely exclusively on the internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle. A high voltage traction battery pack typically powers the electric machines and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle.
Electric machines can generate a significant amount of heat when operating at low speed/high torque conditions. The functionality of electric machines may be limited if the generated heat is not actively managed.

Cooling systems for cooling electric machines within electrified vehicles


A process for organizing a series of discussion replies is disclosed, including monitoring a discussion thread for a series of single replies, each subsequent reply in the series responding to an immediately preceding reply. Once the system determines the existence of the series of single replies, the series of single replies is arranged into a single horizontally-aligned block, the block being vertically separated from other replies to the discussion comment that are not in the series of single replies. Thus, the horizontal-space used by the discussion thread is minimized and readability of the discussion thread improved.

A discussion thread is typically organized as a logical tree structure. Users share messages and various content, such as text, graphics, audio/video clips, and the like via, a centralized server. Each discussion thread includes an "initial post" and one or more "reply" posts. The posts may be presented in chronological order beneath the initial post. The term "post" is sometimes referred to by other names, such as "entry", "message", "comment", "reply", and the like, and may generally refer to any specific type of message within a discussion thread. Discussion threads are frequently included in on-line forums, newsgroups, and blogs.
Discussion threads are often voluminous, with multiple users posting short, spontaneous comments that may have little value. Each reply is typically indented from the comment to which it responds. A large string of replies, each replying to a prior reply, may become too large to view on a typical display. In some cases, repetitive back-and-forth horizontal scrolling may be required to read a string of replies, and a user may find it difficult to read the replies while maintaining the overall context of the initial post that instigated the replies. Some discussion systems have sought to limit the number of replies made to a discussion comment, to keep the overall discussion thread readable. For example, some commenting systems allow replies to replies of the initial post, but not to those replies.

System and method for concise display of discussion threads


The disclosure is of a power supply system in which the primary source of wer is a battery which is connected to a plurality of channels each of which feeds power to a bank of devices having similar electrical noise characteristics.

This invention relates to electromechanical systems which include motors, computers, sensors, communication systems and various other electronic circuits. Most of these devices are sensitive to noise and their operation may be adversely affected by noise. In general, components in electromechanical systems, particularly motors, generate noise which interferes with the operation of other sensitive electronic apparatus which may be in the system. The noise is fed to all circuits which receive their power from a common power supply and power bus and the noise is shared with all circuitry which is contaminated thereby.
In general, it is desirable that electromechanical systems operate with maximum efficiency, use minimum power while generating minimum heat and provide maximum regulation and noise filtering. No power supply system known, either commercial or military, solves the problem of noise satisfactorily in the most sensitive applications.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The extruding apparatus has the molding die to form the ceramic molding, the screw extruder containing the extrusion screw to knead and guide the ceramic material toward the molding die. The extrusion screw is comprised of the pressure screw part and the diffusion screw part. The diffusion screw part provided at the front end of the extrusion screw has a diameter greater than the screw diameter of the pressure screw part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for extruding a ceramic molding having a honeycomb structure, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a ceramic molding having a honeycomb structure comprised of a plurality of cells divided by partitions has been used as a catalyst carrier for treating the exhaust gas of an automobile.
To manufacture a ceramic molding with a honeycomb structure, an extrusion molding is generally performed by using a plunger or screw type of extruding apparatus.
Especially, the screw type extruding apparatus provided with an extrusion screw to knead and extrude a ceramic material into a molding die can successively produce ceramic moldings of honeycomb structure with high productivity.
However, the above conventional screw type extruding apparatus has the following problems. In the screw type extruding apparatus, the outer diameter of the ceramic molding which can be extruded is restricted in accordance with the diameter of the extrusion screw. It is difficult to extrude the ceramic molding of which the ratio of the outer diameter thereof to the screw diameter exceeds a predetermined value. In order to extrude a ceramic molding having such a large outer diameter, it is necessary to use a large extruding apparatus provided with an extrusion screw having a large diameter.
Especially, to extrude a ceramic molding having a honeycomb structure in which the cells are divided by thin partitions, it is preferable that the diameter of the ceramic molding be restricted to be approximately 0.7–0.8 times the screw diameter of the extrusion screw.
To extrude the ceramic molding mentioned above, the ceramic material must be uniformly distributed over the entire section of the ceramic molding. To this end, a resistance pipe whose diameter is reduced toward the molding die must be provided between an outlet side of the extrusion screw and the molding die. The resistance pipe can enhance the uniformity of the ceramic material due to a friction resistance generated between its inner peripheral wall and the ceramic material.
To maintain the pressure necessary for extrusion molding in the extrusion screw, the screw length must be increased in accordance with the screw diameter. That is, to manufacture a ceramic molding having a large diameter, a long extrusion screw having a large diameter is required. This is the reason that it is difficult to manufacture a ceramic molding having a large diameter using a small extruding apparatus.