Illustrative embodiments of torque-limited impact tools are disclosed. An impact tool may include a shaft adapted to rotate about an axis, a hammer having a hammer jaw with an obtuse impact surface, and an anvil having an anvil jaw with an acute impact surface. The shaft may include a first helical groove, and the hammer may include a second helical groove. The impact tool may further include a ball received in the first and second helical grooves, wherein the ball rotationally couples the hammer to the shaft and permits axial travel of the hammer relative to the shaft. The obtuse impact surface of the hammer jaw may be adapted to impact the acute impact surface of the anvil jaw when the shaft rotates in a first direction.

An impact wrench is one illustrative embodiment of an impact tool, which may be used to install and remove threaded fasteners. An impact wrench generally includes a motor coupled to an impact mechanism that converts the torque of the motor into a series of powerful rotary blows directed from a hammer to an output shaft called an anvil.


The invention relates to an arrangement for measuring and assessing properties of a system (28) which transfers an electrical, mechanical or acoustical signal or converts an excitation signal x into another signal y. An error system (30) models the transfer behavior of the system, estimates a desired output signal y′, and generates an error signal e which reveals the excess distortion and disturbances of the output signal y at any time instant t, and can reveal peak values of transient distortion having low power which might otherwise be masked by noise and regular distortion. The error signal is supplied to an assessment system (44), where convenient distortion measures are calculated and the distortion is displayed versus properties of the signal (e.g., instantaneous frequency and amplitude). The assessment system may also generate a control output (42) to modify signal x to ensure an optimal excitation of the system.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to an arrangement and a method for measuring and assessing properties of a system which transfers an electrical, mechanical or acoustical signal, or converts such a signal into another signal. The system is characterized to have at least one signal input and at least one signal output. Examples of such systems include an electro-acoustical transducer (loudspeaker, actuator, head phones), a converter between the analog and digital domain, storage media for audio data (CD, mini-disc), and wired and wireless communication systems (fiber optics, high frequency transmission).
2. Description of Related Art
A signal which is converted, transferred or stored in a system can be subject to distortion caused by properties of the system (e.g. inherent nonlinearities) and their interaction with the transferred signal. Additional stochastic disturbances may be caused by noise, ambient sound, or loose connections, which are not directly related to the transferred signal. Traditional techniques developed for assessing the signal distortion typically require providing a special excitation signal (single tone, multi-tone complex), measuring the output signal of the system, and transforming the time signal into the frequency domain to search for additional components in the output spectrum which are not part of the excitation signal. This technique makes it possible to identify harmonic and intermodulation components at multiples of the excitation frequencies, and at any combinations of the difference and sum frequencies. Distortion measures standardized by national and international organizations assess the amplitude of the distortion components, whereas the phase of the distortion component is neglected. The second-order and third-order distortion, total harmonic distortion and other simple measures are sufficient in most cases. For example, these measures are commonly used to assess the effects of regular loudspeaker nonlinearities (motor and suspension nonlinearity, nonlinear radiation) which are directly related to their principle of operation.
A conventional signal distortion measurement system of this type is shown schematically in FIG. 1, which provides a traditional measurement of signal distortion generated by a system under test 1 by using a spectral analysis (FFT). This technique may be applied if the stimulus contains a limited number of tones and each distortion component may be separated from the fundamental tones and identified as a harmonic or intermodulation component. Typically, this method uses a signal generator 2 which generates a single tone, a sensor or measurement input 4, an analog/digital converter (ADC) 6, a FFT analyzer 8 and a block 10 for calculating the relative distortion dt in percent.
However, there other types of signal loudspeaker distortion which are quite audible, but which can not be reliably detected by traditional measures. These kinds of distortion are mainly caused by anomalies and defects caused by problems in design or manufacturing. For example, loudspeakers may have defects such as a loose glue joint producing a buzzing sound, a voice coil rubbing on the pole tips, or any obstacle hitting the moving assembly and generating a small click. This class of signal distortion is called "triggered distortion" because it is deterministic; i.e., it depends on the input signal and is initiated under special conditions of the state variables (e.g. voice coil displacement). This triggered distortion may produce significant peak values for a short time in rare instances. However, the power in the mean is much smaller than that found with regular distortion caused by motor and suspension which has a steady-state characteristic. Performing a spectral analysis (FFT transform) is not a reliable way to detect triggered distortion because the energy of the triggered distortion is distributed over a large number of higher-order harmonics (>40), and the signal to noise ratio of each component is very low.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,260 discloses an invention which addresses this problem by measuring the envelope of the time signal using a filter bank; this approach is illustrated in FIG. 2. A signal generator 12 generates the stimulus for the system under test 14. A sensor or measurement input 16 provides its output to a filter bank 18, which contains multiple branches connected in parallel. Each branch comprises a band-pass filter 20, a rectifier 22 and a low-pass filter 24 connected in series. The pass bands of the band-pass filters and the time constants of the low-pass filters correspond with properties of the human auditory system. The band-pass filters have sufficient damping outside their pass-bands to separate the fundamental components from the harmonics. The amplitude and phase response of band-pass filters 20 and the time constants of the low-pass filters 24 changes the waveform of the analyzed signal and limits so as to detect signal distortion which is short in duration but high in amplitude. This method provides a pattern of the distortion which is relevant to human hearing, but is not comparable with other measurements and is hardly interpretable from an objective point of view.
The techniques known in the prior art fail if the triggered distortion or the symptoms of a malfunction or defect have less power than the measurement noise or the regular distortion caused by normal nonlinearities inherent in the system without any defects.

Signal distortion measurement and assessment system and method


An apparatus is disclosed for connecting first and second elongated spaced apart spinal rods to one another which includes a first connector having structure to engage a first spinal rod at a location along the length thereof and an elongated beam having an axis extending in a direction transverse to the first spinal rod, a second connector having structure to engage a second spinal rod at a location adjacent the first connector and including a reception portion projecting in a direction transverse to the second spinal rod and defining a channel for receiving the elongated beam of the first connector, and a locking member dimensioned and configured to engage the channel along the axis of the beam and secure the position of the beam with respect thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject disclosure relates to implantable spinal stabilization systems for surgical treatment of spinal disorders, and more particularly, to an apparatus for connecting cylindrical spinal rods of a spinal stabilization system to one another across the spinous process.
2. Background of the Related Art
The spinal column is a complex system of bones and connective tissue which protects critical elements of the nervous system. Despite these complexities, the spine is a highly flexible structure, capable of a high degree of curvature and twist through a wide range of motion. Trauma or developmental irregularities can result in spinal pathologies which limit this range of motion.
For many years, orthopedic surgeons have attempted to correct spinal irregularities and restore stability to traumatized areas of the spine through immobilization. Over the past ten years, spinal implant systems have been developed to achieve immobilization. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,412 and 5,181,917. Such systems often include spinal instrumentation having connective structures such as elongated rods which are placed on opposite sides of the portion of the spinal column intended to be immobilized. Screws and hooks are commonly utilized to facilitate segmental attachment of such connective structures to the posterior surfaces of the spinal laminae, through the pedicles, and into the vertebral bodies. These components provide the necessary stability both in tension and compression to achieve immobilization.
It has been found that when a pair of spinal rods are fastened in parallel on either side of the spinous process, the assembly can be significantly strengthened by using at least one additional rod to horizontally bridge the pair of spinal rods. An example of a cross brace assembly of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,049. Devices such as these commonly consist of a threaded rod for providing the desired lateral support. The threaded rod is fastened to each of the spinal rods by clamps located on each end thereof. However, this configuration is bulky and can cause irritation of the patient's back muscles and other tissue which might rub against the device. A cross brace assembly that fits closer to the spine, preferably in the same general plane as the cylindrical spinal rods, would reduce the complications associated with bulkier devices.
Most existing transverse connectors consist of rods, plates, and bars linked to the longitudinal rods by coupling mechanisms with set screws, nuts, or a combination of each. These connectors require several components and instruments to build the constructs. Each additional component or instrument required to assemble the connectors adds to the complexity of the surgical procedure. Examples of connectors constructed from multiple components are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,312,405, 5,334,203 and 5,498,263.
It would be beneficial to provide an improved device to transversely connect spinal rods of a spinal stabilization system to one another which utilizes a minimum number of components parts and which reduces the posterior horizontal profile and overall bulkiness of the system.


The present invention relates to a wireless car digital AV system to be applied in a car, and the wireless car digital AV system comprises an AV Host and at least one or multiple display devices. The AV Host includes a storage device and a wireless network interface, and the storage has at least one digital AV file. The display device includes a wireless network interface and a display panel. The display device is connected to the AV Host by the wireless network interface, such that the display device can receive and play the digital AV file transmitted from the AV Host through the wireless network interface. Furthermore, the present invention also discloses a method for an automobile AV Host to wirelessly transmit a video file to a display device.

Referring to FIG. 4 for the schematic view of a conventional automobile AV system, the conventional automobile AV system such as a DVD or DTV (digital television) usually includes a main system 50 and one or more display panel 60, and the display panels 60 are usually connected to the main system 50 by a cable 65 to receive analog AV signals such as NTSC or PAL transmitted from the main system 50.
However, the aforementioned conventional automobile AV system has the following shortcomings: 1. the program shown on each display panel 60 is the same among all panels 60, since the main system 50 can only play back one AV stream at one time. 2. Cable 65 between main system 50 and display panels 60 requires more wiring efforts. 3. The cable connection restricts the portability of display panels 60.

Wireless car digital audio/video system and its method


Process of producing a polypropylene containing fiber and the resulting fiber and non-woven articles. The process involves the extruding of polypropylene containing material having a broad molecular weight distribution to form a hot extrudate having a surface, and quenching the hot extrudate in an oxidative atmosphere so as to effect oxidative chain scission degradation of the surface to obtain a fiber having a higher average melt flow rate as compared to an average melt flow rate of an inner, non-degraded portion thereof, and containing at least 7 percent of molecules having a molecular weight greater than 5.times.10.sup.5.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to synthetic fibers used in the manufacture of non-woven fabrics. In particular, the present invention relates to polypropylene fibers, intended for such use, processes of producing polypropylene fibers, compositions for producing polypropylene fibers, non-woven fabrics produced with polypropylene fibers, and articles containing polypropylene fibers. More specifically, the fibers of the present invention are producible using polymer admixtures so as to enable control of desired properties of the fibers.
2. Background Information
The production of polypropylene fibers and filaments usually involves the use of a mix of a single polymer with nominal amounts of stabilizers and/or antioxidants and pigments. The mix is melt extruded into fibers and fibrous products using conventional commercial processes. Non-woven fabrics are typically made by making a web of the fibers, and then thermally bonding the fibers together where they meet. More specifically, staple fibers are converted into non-woven fabrics using, for example, a carding machine, and the carded fabric is thermally bonded. The thermal bonding can be achieved using various heating techniques, including heating with heated rollers and heating through the use of ultrasonic welding.
Conventional thermally bonded non-woven fabrics exhibit good loft and softness properties, but less than optimal cross-directional strength, and less than optimal cross-directional strength in combination with high elongation. The strength of the thermally bonded non-woven fabrics depends upon the orientation of the fibers and the inherent strength of the bond points.
Over the years, improvements have been made in fibers which provide stronger bond strengths. However, further improvements are needed to provide even higher fabric strengths to permit use of these fabrics in today's high speed converting processes for hygienic products, such as diapers and other types of incontinence products. In particular, there is a need for a thermally bondable fiber and a resulting non-woven fabric that possess high cross-directional strength and high elongation.
Further, there is a need to produce thermally bondable fibers that can be produced under varying conditions of draw, by utilizing different draw ratios and temperatures, while achieving superior cross-directional strength, elongation and toughness properties in combination with fabric uniformity and loftiness. In particular, there is a need to obtain fibers that can produce carded, calendared fabrics with cross-directional properties on the order of 650-700 g/in, with an elongation of 140-180%, and a toughness of 480-700 g/in for a 20 g/yd.sup.2 fabric bonded at 250 ft/min.
A number of patent applications, as referred to above, have been filed by the present inventor and by the present assignee which are directed to improvements in polymer degradation, spin and quench steps, and extrusion compositions that enable the production of fibers having an improved ability to thermally bond accompanied by the ability to produce non-woven fabric having increased strength, elongation, toughness and integrity.
In particular, the above-referred to Kozulla Application No. 07/474,897, filed Feb. 5, 1990, now abandoned, application Ser. No. 07/887,416, filed May 20, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,378, application Ser. No. 07/683,635, filed Apr. 11, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,735, application Ser. No. 07/836,438, filed Feb. 18, 1992, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 07/939,857, filed Sep. 2, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,994, are directed to processes for preparing polypropylene containing fibers by extruding polypropylene containing material having a molecular weight distribution of at least about 5.5 to form hot extrudate having a surface, with quenching of the hot extrudate in an oxygen containing atmosphere being controlled so as to effect oxidative chain scission degradation of the surface. For example, the quenching of the hot extrudate in an oxygen containing atmosphere can be controlled so as 4o maintain the temperature of the hot extrudate above about 250.degree. C. for a period of time to obtain oxidative chain scission degradation of the surface.
As disclosed in these applications, by controlling the quenching to obtain oxidative chain scission degradation of the surface, the resulting fiber essentially contains a plurality of zones, defined by different characteristics including differences in melt flow rate, molecular weight, melting point, birefringence, orientation and crystallinity. In particular, as disclosed in these applications, the fiber produced by the delayed quench process includes an inner zone identified by a substantial lack of oxidative polymeric degradation, and an outer zone of a high concentration of oxidative chain scission degraded polymeric material, whereby there is an inside-to-outside increase in the amount of oxidative chain scission polymeric degradation. In other words, the quenching of the hot extrudate in an oxygen containing atmosphere can be controlled so as to obtain fibers having a decreasing weight average molecular weight towards the surface of the fiber, and an increasing melt flow rate towards the surface of the fiber. Moreover, the inner, core zone has a melting point and orientation that is higher than the outer surface zone.
Further, the above referred to Gupta et al. application Ser. Nos. 08/003,696, 07/943,190 and 07/818,772 are directed to processes for spinning polypropylene fibers, and the resulting fibers and products made from such fibers. The processes of the Gupta et al. applications include melt spinning a polypropylene composition having a broad molecular weight distribution through a spinnerette to form molten fibers, and quenching the molten fibers to obtain thermally bondable polypropylene fibers.

Process for producing fibers for high strength non-woven materials


A pedal unit for a motor vehicle may include a multiplicity of cylinder elements which are guided one inside the other in a telescopic fashion along a movement axis, a pedal face for a user, one or more spring elements, and a sensor unit. The pedal face may be coupled to one of the cylinder elements. Each of the spring elements is configured to interact with two cylinder elements assigned thereto, as a result of which, when the pedal face is activated an opposing force can be generated at the pedal face, the opposing force depending progressively on movement travel of the pedal face. The sensor unit may be configured to generate an output signal that is dependent on activation of the pedal face.

In modern vehicle construction, electrification and the development of electrical vehicles or electrical vehicle systems are becoming increasingly important. Brake systems also have an increasing number of electrical components (e.g. electrical brake boosters, control units, sensors etc.). In order to achieve a relatively high degree of polarity and flexibility, it is desirable to decouple the brake pedal mechanically from the brake booster and to use an electric brake pedal. However, this brake pedal should reproduce as well as possible the force/travel characteristic of a brake pedal in a conventional brake system. Under certain circumstances it may also be advantageous to generate a new force/travel characteristic which is not implemented in conventional brake systems. Furthermore it is advantageous, or even prescribed under certain circumstances that independent output signals are made available for a braking request, wherein, in particular, sensor data items which are acquired independently can be used.
Furthermore, in future the development of vehicles which have an autonomous driving mode will become increasingly important. As long as the autonomous driving mode is active, the vehicle is steered autonomously, which also includes the braking processors. In this case, it may be desirable to retract control components, such as the brake pedal, for example, in order to provide more space in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In many cases, the vehicle will, however, also have a normal driving mode in which it is controlled by the driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,737 presents an electronic pedal simulator for a vehicle brake system, having an input element which is optionally moved by a vehicle driver, a device for determining a ratio between a position of the input element and a force with which the vehicle driver moves the input element, and a programmable spring device for optionally supporting and counteracting, in accordance with a predetermined ratio of position and force, a movement of the input element which is brought about by the vehicle driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,079,570 discloses a brake system of the brake-by-wire type for a motor vehicle, having a brake pressure generator which can be activated by means of a brake pedal of a pedal unit and outside the brake-by-wire operating mode can be connected to wheel brakes of the vehicle, a pressure source which can be activated by means of an electronic control unit and which can be connected to the wheel brakes of the vehicle in the brake-by-wire operating mode, means for sensing a driver's deceleration request and a pedal travel simulator which interacts with the brake pedal. The latter is formed by at least one simulator element and in the brake-by-wire operating mode it can be used to simulate a restoring force acting on the brake pedal, independently of the activation of the pressure source, wherein a force-travel characteristic of the pedal travel simulator is provided in a controllable fashion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,671 discloses a brake value encoder for a brake system which is arranged in a vehicle and is composed of at least one module. The brake value encoder serves to generate a brake pressure and is activated by the driver. A device for generating the brake pressure is provided which has an input for a first physical variable which is derived from the activation by the driver. The output of a sensor device for sensing the activation by the driver is connected to an input of a control device for the vehicle. The pressure-generating device has a further input for a second physical variable which is derived from an output of the vehicle control device.
In view of these and other references that represent the state of the art, the provision of a pedal unit which can be used in a flexible fashion for an electrically controllable vehicle system certainly offers room for improvements.


A method and apparatus for providing media-independent security for a document may be programmed to create a document file having two or more components. In one embodiment, a document may include a background object, an image object (e.g. text, graphic, both, or the like), and a watermark object. When output, the image object is directly interpretable by a user. Meanwhile, in the background object, watermark object, or both, a high-resolution pattern may be stored to be output with all copies of the document. Encoded in some binary symbol in the pattern is security data. Resolution is high enough that the binary symbols are undetectable by a human eye. A processor may be programmed to recognize (e.g. read) the pattern, decode the pattern into binary data, and decode the binary data to characters directly interpretable by a user. Information relating to creation and control of a document, signature, or the like, may all be encoded independent from the principal image (e.g. text, graphic), to be virtually undetectable by human eyes, yet non-removeable by copying methods, including photocopying, scanning, electronic storage, and the like.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to document processing application software and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for creating secure documents traceable to their origin, regardless of copying, and regardless of changes in media between copies. For example, a document may be copied onto a computer diskette, it may be printed to a printer, it may then be photocopied, it may then be scanned into a scanner to be restored in the memory of another computer.
2. The Background Art
Document security has been a difficult task from the inception of the written word. In a typical office, document security is often based on physical custody. Where a possibility exists for a document to be duplicated, certain means exist to render a duplicated copy unreadable.
For example, a document may be produced on a paper that contains a security mark such as the word "confidential" as a large, colored watermark. On a conventional copy machine, such as a photocopy machine, such a watermark turned black when copied. A black copy of a watermark, when a document was duplicated, was used to render the duplicate unreadable. Thus, this security method permitted only a single instance of a document, the original.
However, modern copier technology now allows copying of colors. Moreover with the advent of color copiers having the capacity for multiple shadings, conventional watermarks become inadequate.
A paperless office may present a different set of security issues. For example, an electronic document may be a "scanned" image of a paper document. Such a duplicate may be distributed to one or more individuals by a single keystroke. That is, with networks and internetworks connecting various computers, distribution may be massive with minimal individual effort. Moreover, any recipient of an electronic document may forward duplicates to an untold number of other individuals, some of whom may not be authorized to receive the document. Moreover, once a document has been duplicated, and distributed, electronic duplication may render more difficult the determination of a "leak" through which unauthorized documents were distributed.
To combat electronic security problems, many organizations, such as the United States Department of Defense (DOD), for example, prohibit transmittal of certain sensitive information by electronic mail. Other organizations attempt to control access to originals. Nevertheless, such an approach is rendered useless once an original document has been electronically sent to other individuals. Security as to all recipients of a document may be effectively impossible by conventional methods.
Other problems exist in electronic or paperless offices. For example, a recipient of a document may often "cut and paste" information received electronically. That is, most word processors and image processors, including drawing packages, drafting packages, and the like, permit editing of any or all portions of an electronic document.
To alter original documents, or fabricate new documents, is a simple matter of selecting certain editing tools and copying selected portions of the document received. Thus, editing may be virtually uncontrollable.
An internal office memo having an originator's initials written on it, for authentication purposes, may be dangerous. For example, a recipient may scan a document into a computer using an image scanning device. The individual may then use a word processor or drawing application to "cut and paste" the image of the entire signature to be used at will. An individual may even fit or generate a piecewise function to re-create the signature at will.
Numerous efforts attempt to control the use and abuse of electronic signatures. Nevertheless, such efforts typically require a separate security file to be associated with an original document. If the security file is separated from the original, uncontrolled use of the signature may again be possible. Moreover, such separation may be extremely simple. One may print an original document with the electronic signature on it, scan the printed document back into a word processor or drawing processor, then "cut and paste" the signature to create a separate signature file. Transforming an original document from a paperless form to a hard copy or paper form effectively separates the original security files from the document itself. The original document may be rendered anew without any security file when scanned back into the computer hosting the word processor or drawing processor application.
Similarly, once a document has been misappropriated, improperly distributed, or the like, one of the improper copies may be located. Nevertheless, the source of the unauthorized copy is still not known. A pattern of unauthorized distribution may be difficult to locate or remedy.
What is needed is a document security system that is independent of the medium of transfer. That is, a document may be transferred on a wire, on an electromagnetic diskette, on a laser-encoded compact disk, on paper, on RAM, or the like. What is needed is a system in which transfer of a document by any medium, is incapable of removing security information from a resultant file.

Media-independent document security method and apparatus


A sensor system includes a rotor antenna, a radio frequency (RF) sensor, a stator antenna, and one or more processors. The rotor antenna and the RF sensor are configured to be disposed on a shaft of a rotor assembly and are conductively connected to each other. The RF sensor generates measurement signals. The stator antenna is mounted to a stator member of the rotor assembly and positioned radially outward from the rotor antenna. The stator antenna is wirelessly connected to the rotor antenna across an air gap. The one or more processors are communicatively connected to the stator antenna and are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the measurement signals that are received by the stator antenna from the rotor antenna over time as the shaft rotates and to determine rotational speed of the shaft based on recurrent variations in the one or more electrical characteristics.

Power-generating machines, such as internal combustion engines, motors, and generators, may include rotary assemblies featuring rotating shafts. It may be useful to monitor and measure certain properties of a rotating shaft within a power-generating machine to evaluate performance and/or health of the power-generating machine. For example, monitoring properties such as torque, temperature, rotating speed, and strain of the shaft may enable early detection of sub-optimal machine performance and/or components needing maintenance.
Monitoring multiple properties of the rotating shaft of a rotary assembly, such as torque and rotational speed, typically requires multiple discrete sensors that would have to be installed on or proximate to the shaft. For example, a torque sensor could be installed to measure torque, and a speed sensor could be installed to measure rotational speed. Utilizing multiple sensors to monitor a shaft in a power-generating machine may have several disadvantages. First, installing multiple sensors to monitor a shaft may be costly in terms of parts and installation. Second, due to limited space in the power-generating machine, it may be difficult to mount all of the sensors in position for monitoring the same shaft, especially with sensors that have active power components, such as batteries and/or energy harvesting devices, for powering the sensors. It may be prohibitively costly to attempt to retrofit a power-generating machine to provide additional clearance for incorporating multiple sensors. Third, the sensors may be exposed to harsh conditions in the power-generating machine, such as hot temperatures, high pressure, oil, corrosive materials, and the like during operation. The harsh conditions may negatively impact the accuracy of sensor measurements and/or the operational longevity of some of the sensors, such as the sensors that have active power components. A need remains for a sensor system that can be incorporated with a rotor assembly of a power-generating machine to accurately determine multiple properties of a rotating shaft and withstand harsh conditions.


A computer implemented method and apparatus for enabling targeted messages based on usage of a document accessed within an Internet browser, wherein the document is not a webpage. The method comprises accessing a document within a browser on a device using an application associated with the document; and recording, by the application, usage behavior data during usage of the document accessed within the browser.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to document usage tracking and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for enabling targeted messages based on usage of a document accessed within an Internet browser.
Description of the Related Art
An Internet cookie is a text file created by a website server when a user accesses a page on a website. The Internet cookie is stored on a user's computer, and is sent from the user's computer to the website server each time the user's browser requests a page from the website server. Internet cookies provide websites and online advertisers with information about a website user, such as user behavior while interacting with a webpage within a browser. Online advertisers use the cookies to show targeted messages of products or services that may be of interest to the user based on the user's prior interactions with the webpage.
Although information may be gathered about a user's interactions with a webpage, when a document is viewed within a browser, user behavior based on interaction with the viewed document cannot be tracked. For example, conventional Internet cookies tracking webpage user interactions are incapable of tracking user behavior within a Portable Document Format (PDF) document associated with, for example, ADOBE® READER®, while the PDF document is accessed within a browser. Being unable to track such user interaction represents a lost marketing opportunity for online advertisers.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for enabling targeted messages based on usage of a document accessed within an Internet browser.

Method and apparatus for enabling targeted messages based on usage of a document accessed within an internet browser


A high pressure fluid blast gun (10) has a valve assembly (12) and a handle assembly (14) removably connected to each other. Valve assembly (12) has a valve body (16) including a valve chamber (18) having a cartridge therein including a valve sleeve (30), and a slidable valve member (42). A plug (44) retains the cartridge in valve chamber (18). The handle assembly (14) has a mounting plate (70) and a handle grip portion (75) extending therefrom. A guard (76) extends from the handle grip portion (75) to mounting plate (70) for enclosing the trigger (78). A pair of dump passages (62) in valve body (16) communicate with dump port (66) in face (28) of valve body (12). A dump passage (94) in opposed face (71) of handle assembly (14) is in communication with dump port (66) and extends to atmosphere for relief of the high pressure water when trigger (78) is manually released thereby to provide a low pressure flow of water from high pressure supply conduit (24). The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a main gun body (11A) having a cylindrical opening (17A) receiving a cylindrical valve body (16A).

Heretofore, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,740 dated Jul. 29, 1986, high pressure water blast guns have been provided with a dump conduit for discharging water at low pressure from a dump conduit or nozzle when the high pressure water stream to the high pressure discharge nozzle is interrupted during use upon release of the manual trigger. The dump nozzle or conduit in the '740 patent extends from the valve body in a generally parallel relation to the superjacent high pressure discharge conduit or pipe. The handle is removably connected to the valve body beneath the dump passage and conduit. Thus, a separate dump conduit is connected to the valve body for relief of the high pressure when the valve member communicating with the high pressure supply conduit is opened to provide direct communication between the high pressure water supply conduit and the dump conduit for relieving the high pressure to the discharge nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,348 dated Jun. 13, 1995 shows a high pressure water shut-in gun in which fluid flow is stopped completely upon manual release of the trigger or actuator for the valve mechanism. The '348 patent does not have a dump or high pressure relief outlet for relieving the high pressure water upon release of a manual trigger.

High pressure fluid apparatus for blast cleaning


The present invention is directed to the measurement of soluble T cell growth factor receptors, soluble T cell differentiation antigens, or related soluble molecules or fragments thereof, and the use of such measurements in the diagnosis, staging, and therapy of diseases and disorders. Specific embodiments involve the diagnosis and monitoring of therapy using absolute values of such soluble molecules. Further embodiments involve detecting a change in the levels of such soluble molecules, in the diagnosis and therapy of diseases and disorders. In specific embodiments, measurements of interleukin-2 receptor levels can be made to detect lung cancer, or to stage squamous cell lung carcinoma. In other embodiments, detection of increases in both soluble IL2R and creatinine in the body fluid of a transplant patient can be used to differentially diagnose renal allograft rejection from infection. The invention is also directed to methods for measurement of soluble CD4 antigens, which measurements can be used, in a specific embodiment, to diagnose a state of immune activation, to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, to monitor therapeutic efficacy (e.g. of AIDS treatments), or to stage adult T cell leukemia in a patient. In another aspect, the invention relates to the detection, staging, and monitoring of therapy of diseases and disorders by measuring a plurality of soluble T cell markers.

2.1. T Cell Growth Factors and Receptors
T cells secrete a variety of polypeptides affecting immunoregulation of hematopoietic cells and are themselves subject to regulation by hormone peptides interacting with specific receptors on their cell surface. Interleukin 2 (IL-2), originally termed T cell growth factor, is synthesized and secreted by antigen- or lectin-activated T lymphocytes in the presence of macrophage-derived interleukin-1 and must interact with specific high-affinity membrane receptors to exert its biological effects (Smith, K. A., 1980, Immunol. Rev., 51:337-357; Leonard, W. J., et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:6957-6961). The interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R, Tac antigen) is not present on the surface of resting T or B lymphocytes. Upon activation by specific antigens or mitogens, T cell proliferation is mediated by an autocrine mechanism whereby activated cells secrete IL-2 and also express cell surface receptors for IL-2 (IL2R) (Leonard, W. J., et al., 1982, Nature, 300:267; Meuer, S. C., et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:1509). In addition to T cells, B cells (Mingari, M. C., et al., 1984, Nature 312:641-3; Pike, B. L., et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:7917-21; Saiki, O., et al., 1988, J. Immunol. 140:853-8), NK cells (Ortaldo, J. R., et al., 1984, J. Immunol. 133:779-83; Kehrl, J. H., et al., 1988, J. Clin.. Invest, 81:200-5) and possibly monocytes (Herrmann, F., et al., 1985,,J. Immunol. 162:1111-6; Holter, W., et al., 1986,,J. Immunol. 136:2171-75) express a membrane-bound IL2R.
Current evidence suggests that both chains of the IL-2 heterodimer receptor expressed on the surface of activated T cells, are encoded by a single gene on human chromosome 10 (Leonard, W. J., et al., 1984, Nature 311:626:31). The high affinity IL2R that functions to signal T cell cycle progression is composed of two distinct polypeptide chains, each of which contains an IL-2 binding site (Teshigawara, K., et al., 1987, J. Exp. Med. 165:223). The larger IL-2 binding protein (75 kD molecular weight) is designated as the beta chain, whereas the smaller protein (55 kD molecular weight) is termed the alpha chain (Smith, K. A., 1988, Adv. Immunol. 42:165-78). The alpha chain was the first IL-2 binding protein to become recognized as an "activation antigen" on the surface of activated T cells (hence the name anti-Tac for "T activated") (Uchiyama, T., et al., 1981, J. Immunol. 126:1393-7).
Interaction of IL-2 with its cell surface receptor results in a continuous T cell proliferation (Greene, W. C. and Leonard, W. J., 1986, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 4:69-95; Smith, K. A., 1984, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 2:319-333). Measurement of IL2R provides information on the state of immune activation of the lymphoid population. This has been accomplished by measuring IL2R on cell surfaces using flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy. Using monoclonal antibodies which define the IL-2 receptor, altered IL-2 receptor expression has been reported in a number of immune abnormalities (Greene and Leonard, supra; Depper, J. M., et al., 1984, J. Immunol. 133:1691-1695). Membrane IL2R has been found on certain B- or T-cell malignancies including Burkitt's lymphoma (Waldmann, T. A., et al., 1984, J. Exp. Med. 160:1450-1466), hairy cell leukemia (Waldmann et al., supra; Korsmeyer, S. J., et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:4522-4526), and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-I-associated adult T cell leukemia (Depper, J. M., et al., 1984, J. Immunol. 133:1691-1695). The function of cellular IL2R in lymphoid malignancies has not been fully elucidated. Several cases of common, pre-B or T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been induced to express IL2R after in vitro activation (Touw, I., et al., 1985, Blood 66:556-561; Touw, I., et al., 1986, Blood 68:1088-1094; Matsuoka, M., et al., 1986, Leuk. Res. 10:597-603) and, in some cases, interleukin 2 stimulated subsequent colony formation of neoplastic progenitor cells in vitro (Touw, 1985, supra; Touw, 1986, supra).
Leukemia cells from some patients with T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia were shown to have the receptors and a good proliferative response to exogenous interleukin 2 (Uchiyama, T., et al., 1985, J. Clin. Invest. 76:446-453; Tsudo, M., 1986, Blood 67:316-321). However, HTLV-1 associated adult T cell leukemia constitutively expressed high levels of cell surface IL2R but had no or very poor proliferative responses to interleukin 2 (Uchiyama, 1985, supra; Arya, S. K., et al., 1984, Science, 223:1086-1087). Ebert et al. (1985, Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 37:283-297) have reported that T cells from patients with AIDS virus lack the ability to express IL2R on their surface even when the cell is activated.
Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, Kurnick reported high numbers of IL2R and HLA-DR positive cells in lung tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (Kurnick, J. T., et al., 1986, Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 38:367-380).
2.2. T Cell Surface Molecules
Clusters of differentiation (CD) have been established which define human leukocyte differentiation antigens (Bernard and Boumsell, 1984, Hum. Immunol. 11:1-10), by the comparison of reactivities of monoclonal antibodies directed against the differentiation antigens. The T cell surface antigens, their classification into epitope-defined subgroups, and their distributions on T cells have been studied by use of monoclonal antibodies directed against human T cells (Clark et al., 1983, Immunogenetics 18:599-615; Hansen et al., 1984, in Leucocyte Typing, Bernard, A., et al., eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 195-212). Some of the T cell clusters of differentiation and other T cell surface molecules are listed in Table I.
TABLE I __________________________________________________________________________ T CELL SURFACE MARKERS T Cell Molecular Detection Surface Weight Monoclonal Marker (kd) Expression Antibody Reference __________________________________________________________________________ T Cell 90 All T Cells T40/25 Brenner, M. B., Antigen et al., 1984, J. Receptor Exp. Med. 160: 541-551 CD8 30/43 Suppressor/ OKT8 Reinherz, E. L., et cytotoxic Leu 2 al., 1979, PNAS USA (subset of T 76:4061-4065; cells) Ledbetter, J. A., et al., 1981 Monoclonal Anti- bodies and T Cell Hybridoma Elsevier/ North Holland, N.Y., pp. 16-22. T6 49 Thymocytes & OKT6 Reinherz, 1979, Langerhans NAI/34 supra. Cells Leukemia Cells CD4 62 Helper/Inducer OK4 Kung, P. C., et al., Cells (subset Leu 3a 1979, Science 206: of T cells) 347-349 CD3 19 Pan T Cell OKT3 Kung, id. TAC 50 IL-2 Receptor Anti- Uchiyawa, T., et (Activated T TAC al., 1981, J. Cells) Immunol. 126(4):1393-1397 T9 94 Transferrin OKT9 Reinherz, E. L., Receptor et al., 1980, PNAS (Activated T USA 77:1588-1592 Cells) CD2 50 All T Cells OKT11 Verbi, W., et al., Leu 5 1982, Eur. J. Immunol. 12:81-86 VLA-1 130/165/210 Late Activated VLA-1 Helmer, M. E., et T Cells al., 1984, J. Immunol. 132:3011-3018 __________________________________________________________________________
These T cell surface markers serve as markers of the cell lineage, the identity of the functional T cell subset to which the T cell belongs, and the activation state of the T cell. Several of the cell surface molecules have been studied in great detail and have been found to be important in initiating and regulating immune functions, and are critical to communication processes between immune cells. T cell antigen receptor, a surface molecule which comprises a disulfide-linker dimer of approximately 90 kilodaltons (kd), recognizes specific antigens and is responsible for initiating a complex series of biochemical events which constitute the T cell activation process (Meuer, S. C., et al., 1984, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 2:23-50; Acuto, O., et al., 1983, Cell 34:717-726). The CD3 structure is a three-chain complex associated with the T cell receptor (Kannellopoulos, J. M., et al., 1983, EMBO J. 2:1807; Borst, J., et al., 1983, Eur. J. Immunol, 13:576; Van Den Elsen, P, et al., 1984, Nature 312:413; Meuer, S. C., et al., 1983, J. Exp. Med. 157:705). Lymphokine receptors, e.g. interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor and interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor, are essential for the activation and proliferation of T cells (Smith, K. A., 1984, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 2:319-333; Dower, S. K., et al., 1985, J. Exp. Med. 162:501-515). CD8 is a T cell specific surface glycoprotein expressed on the surface of approximately 30% of T lymphocytes associated with suppression and cytotoxic functions and the ability to recognize antigen in the context of class I MHC antigens (Swain, S. L., 1983, Immunol. Rev. 74:129-42) CD4 (OKT4 antigen) is a 55 kd glycoprotein expressed on the surface of approximately 60% of all T lymphocytes and is associated with helper function (Reinherz et al., 1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76:4061-4065) and the ability to recognize antigens in the context of type II MHC antigens (Swain, supra; Meuer, S. C., et al., 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:4395-99). CD4 has also been identified as the receptor for the HTLV-III virus associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (McDougal, J. S., et al., 1986, Science 231:382-385). These various cell surface markers have enormous clinical application potentials for the identification of lymphocyte populations and their functional status (Krensky, A. M. and Clayberger, C., 1985, Transplant. 39(4):339-348; Kung, P. C., et al., 1984, Monoclonal Antibodies in Clinical Investigations, Clinical Biochemistry-Contemporary Theories and Techniques, vol. 3, Academic press, pp. 89-115; Kung, P. C., et al., 1983, Int. J. Dermatol. 22(2):67-73).
Existing clinical methods of T cell typing involve the use of monoclonal antibodies which define T cell surface markers to detect the presence of specific cell surface markers on the T cell surface. Measuring the total numbers of T cells by surface markers has been useful for the characterization and classification of lymphoid malignancies (Greaves, M., et al., 1981, Int. J. Immunopharmac. 3(3):283-300). Changes in the relative percentage of T helper and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells were found to be associated with immune events in renal transplantation due to viral infection (Colvin, R. B, et al., 1981, Proc. 8th Int. Congr. Nephrol., Athens, pp. 990-996), autoimmune E. M., et al., 1981, Int. J. Immunopharmac. (3):313-319), and AIDS (Gupta, S., 1986, Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 38:93-100; Ebert, E. C., et al., 1985, Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 37:283-297).
The expression of T cell surface markers has also been used for the assessment of the immune status of patients. It has been established that by measuring the relative number of distinct, functional T cell subsets, and/or the relative number of activated T cells in peripheral blood or tissues, an assessment of the immunological condition of a patient is possible. The activation antigens (e.g. IL-2 receptor) appear to be involved in T cell growth and differentiation processes.
Antibodies to CD4 have been widely described (Kung, P. C., et al., 1979, Science 206:347-349) and are commercially available. A series of such antibodies reacting with non-competing epitopes on the CD4 molecule have been described. Such a set has been termed OKT4, OKT4A, OKT4B, OKT4C, OKT4D, OKT4E, and OKT4F (Rao, P. E., et al., 1983, Cell. Immunol. 80:310).
Antibodies directed against the CD4 or CD8 antigens have been shown to block cell function. Antibodies against CD4 block most helper T functions, mixed lymphocyte reactions and induction of T helper activity (Biddison, W. E., et al., 1984, J. Exp. Med. 159:783). Antibodies against CD8 block the cytotoxic activity of CD8 positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Swain, S L., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:7101-7105). Antibodies against CD4 have also been described that are capable of activating CD4-positive T cells. CD4 is internalized upon treatment of the cells with phorbol esters and resulting phosphorylation (Hoxie, J. A., et al., 1986, J. Immunol. 137:1194-1201).
The cloning of the gene encoding CD4 reveals that it, like CD8, is a member of the immunoglobulin supergene family, containing both amino acid (32%) and structural (.beta. sheets held together by disulfide bridges) homology at the V (variable)-like domain of CD4 to the V region of immunoglobulin (Maddon, P. J., et al., 1985, Cell 42:93-104). This V-like region of the molecule is followed by a stretch of 263 amino acids with no known homology to other molecules, followed by a transmembrane domain and highly charged cytoplasmic tail, containing serines which are phosphorylated upon activation (Littman, D. R., et al., 1984, Nature 325:453-55)
Homology between CD4 and CD8 is quite low. CD8 exists on the cell surface as dimeric or multimeric structures composed of a 33 kD monomer (Snow, P. M., et al., 1983, J. Biol. Chem. 258:14675-14681).

Therapeutic and diagnostic methods using soluble T cell surface molecules


A display panel and a method of fabricating the same, and a display device are provided, the display panel includes a display substrate a package substrate opposite to each other, the display substrate includes a first base substrate; and a first electrode, an electroluminescent layer and a second electrode disposed on the first base substrate in sequence; the package substrate includes a second base substrate; and a conductive layer on the second base substrate, the conductive layer and the second electrode facing towards each other; the display panel further includes a conductive adhesive between the second electrode and the conductive layer, the conductive adhesive is configured to bond the display substrate with the package substrate, and electrically connect the second electrode with the conductive layer.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel is a display device different from a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD), and has the advantages of active light emission, good temperature characteristics, low power consumption, fast response, flexibility, and low cost, being ultra-thin, and so on. Therefore, it has become one of the important development directions of the new generation of display devices, and has received more and more attention.

Display panel and method of fabricating the same, display device


A system and method to calculate a mode of procurement of at least one asset is provided. The system comprises a tracking element operable to generate a signal representative of a location of the at least one asset, and a controller in communication with the at least one tracking element. The controller includes a processor operable to execute program instructions representative of the acts of measuring a utilization of the at least one asset having a unique identifier over at least one time interval, calculating a projected need of the at least one asset over a predetermined future time interval dependent on the utilization of the at least one asset, calculating a mode of procurement of the projected need of the at least one asset dependent on the projected need of the at least one asset, and displaying the mode of procurement to the user.

This invention generally relates to a system for and method of managing procurement of assets, and more particularly, to a system and method to predict or forecast needs to purchase or rent assets, and to optimize the capital and operational expenses of an enterprise.
Larger industrial, healthcare or commercial facilities can be spread out over a large campus and include multiple floors each having multiple rooms. Each of the facilities can employ various assets used in manufacturing or providing services. For example, a healthcare facility or hospital employs numerous assets that can be spread out over a large campus and/or moved from room to room. Examples of assets include intravenous pumps, wheel chairs, digital thermometers, local patient monitors, patient bed, ventilators, etc. A similar scenario can be said for an industrial facility that includes various portable pumps, hoists, winches, etc.

System and method to calculate procurement of assets


Described are reversibly N-acylated phosphotidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives which are useful as caged aminophospholipids. Also described are pharmaceutical preparations containing pH-sensitive liposomes formed with the caged aminophospholipids, and related methods.

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods involving aminophospholipids, and more particularly to pH-dependent caged aminophospholipids, liposomes formed with the caged aminophospholipids, and pharmaceutical preparations containing such liposomes.
As further background, all biological membranes display an asymmetric transmembrane orientation of the four major classes of phospholipids. Generally, the amine-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are enriched in the cytofacial monolayer, while the choline-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and spingomyelin (SM) are found on the opposite face of the membrane (Bretscher, 1973; Verkleij et al., 1973; Rothman & Lenard, 1977). This asymmetry is maintained by slow passive transmembrane flip-flop (Kornberg & McConnell, 1971; Van Meer & Op den Kamp, 1982; Homan & Pownall, 1988; Middlekoop et al., 1986), binding of acidic lipids to inner monolayer proteins (Haest et al., 1978; Franck et al., 1985) and by the selective, ATP-dependent, inward transport of aminophospholipids (Devaux, 1991; Schroit & Zwaal, 1991).
The aminophospholipid transporter, or "flippase," requires Mg2+-ATP and is inhibited by vanadate, calcium, and sulfhydryl reagents (Seigneuret & Devaux, 1984; Daleke & Huestis, 1985; Connor & Schroit, 1987; Bitbol et al., 1987). The enzyme displays an absolute specificity for lipid headgroup structure. The flippase transports amine-containing phospholipids exclusively and has an affinity for PS approximately ten-fold greater than for PE (Zachowski et al., 1986). Alkylating the amine function, esterifying the carboxyl group, or increasing the distance between the phosphate and carboxyl/amine groups results in reduced flippase activity (Morrot et al., 1989; E. Nemergut, M. Zimmerman and D. Daleke, unpublished observations). Transport is dependent on the configuration of the glycerol backbone. Removing the sn-2 fatty acyl group (Daleke & Huestis, 1985), inverting the stereochemistry in the sn-2 position (Martini & Pagano, 1987), or replacing the diacylglycerol moiety with ceramide (Morrot et al., 1989) reduces considerably the transport of aminophospholipids. In contrast, transport activity is relatively insensitive to acyl chain length (Daleke & Huestis, 1985), although hydrophilic fluorescent fatty acyl substituents result in reduced transport rates (Colleau et al., 1991). The relative insensitivity of the flippase to acyl chain length and composition has allowed the design of PS substrates labeled with a variety of acyl chain reporter groups. In addition to short (Daleke & Huestis, 1985) and long (Tilley et al., 1986) chain radiolabeled fatty acids, spin label (Seigneuret & Devaux, 1984) and fluorescent (Connor & Schroit, 1987) fatty acids have been used to measure flippase activity. The strategy behind the design of these labeled lipids is that they are relatively hydrophilic and will rapidly and spontaneously exchange from donor vesicles to cell membranes. The transmembrane distribution is subsequently assessed by extracting outer monolayer lipid into albumin or exogenous acceptor vesicles. The amount of spin, fluorescent, or radiolabeled lipid remaining in the cell is considered the amount of lipid transported to the inner monolayer.
The measurement of transport kinetics required that the rate of lipid incorporation be faster than the rate of transport. These measurements have been confounded by concurrent incorporation and transport of lipid probes. One solution is prior inhibition of the flippase by using a reversible inhibitor such as vanadate, a sulfhydryl reagent, or low temperatures. This obviates the need for rapid lipid incorporation, however these methods are complicated by relatively slow reversal of inhibition (sulfhydryl reagents) or slow lipid incorporation (low temperatures).
In another facet, the use of liposomes as drug delivery systems has been explored for some time. A primary problem in liposomal delivery has been the inability to effectively release liposomal contents into the cell cytoplasm: most liposomes are taken up by cells into endosomes, low pH membrane compartments within the cell. To overcome these problems, the applicant has designed and synthesized reversibly N-modified or "caged" aminophospholipids. These lipids are N-acylated with structural analogs of maleic anhydride, which can be released by exposure to low pH solutions. The lipids can be incorporated into the liposomes to create pH-sensitive liposomes which can be used to effectively deliver active agents such as pharmaceuticals to cellular cytoplasm; and can also be used in labeling cells and the study of enzymatic activity such as flippase activity.

Aminophospholipid compositions and uses thereof


A group control method apparatus for elevators including a plurality of cars for serving floors divided into a plurality of sectors. The apparatus has a determination coincidental ride prevention section for assigning a hall call to one of the plurality of cars in such a manner that passengers from different ones of the sectors will not ride on the same car.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a group control apparatus for elevators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Elevator systems are generally a kind of public transportation in which it is usual for an elevator car to convey various kinds of passengers at one time.
Frequency, buildings are shared by a plurality of tenants. Two of the tenants may have a particular relationship with each other, for instance, may be rival companies. Thus, it has become desirable that a person affiliated with one of such two tenants avoid riding on the same elevator car with someone affiliated with the other tenant. Although a group control apparatus for elevators that gives consideration to these circumstances has not yet come into use, some elevators in hotels provide a function which almost meet the above requirements.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-17874 discloses an elevator operating system in which a call button is provided in each room of the hotel. When the call button of one of the rooms is operated, and a hall call is subsequently registered, any other hall calls (if there are any) through other call buttons are prevented from being registered. Furthermore, even when there are a plurality of rooms on the same floor as the particular room, information on the arrival of an elevator car is given only to the particular room, so that the caller can avoid coming across others in the elevator hall.
However, the conventional system cannot be applied in exactly the same way for the purpose of preventing members of two rival companies, such as above, from riding coincidentally because such application cannot be realized for the following reasons
(1) The circumstances of a large building are different from those of a hotel in that the registration of other hall call(s) ought not be prevented even when the prevention of an unwanted coincidental ride is desired. Therefore, it is necessary that the other hall call(s) be registered so that different elevator car(s) serve the other caller(s); and
(2) A tenant of a building may occupy a plurality of floors of the building. Therefore, it is necessary that the cars be able to serve between the floors occupied by the same tenant while being unaffected by the prevention of coincidental inter-tenant rides.

Group control method and apparatus for elevators for assignment of coincident calls


A composition and method for increasing the hydrolytic stability of a stabilizer composition comprising a first phosphite, a second phosphite, an optional phosphonite and an acid scavenger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stabilizers for use in polymeric compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to blends of phosphite or phosphonite compounds that have improved hydrolytic stability for use in the stabilization of polymeric compositions.
2. Description of Related Art
The need for stabilization of polymeric compositions is known, and the use of compounds such as hydroxylamines, amine oxides, lactones, hindered phenolics, and phosphites is also generally known.
The purpose of stabilizers is to prevent deterioration of polymers during processing at high temperatures and also to permit the manufacture of products with increased intrinsic quality because of the enhancement of their resistance to thermal and light degradation during use. In addition, because of these enhanced properties, their versatility is increased, and wider use is thereby made possible.
It is well known that phosphites are essential components in the stabilization of polymers. There is a synergistic effect between phenols and phosphites during melt processing. Phosphites decompose hydroperoxides while phenols trap peroxy radicals. To maximize this synergy, the phosphites should exhibit acceptable hydrolytic stability and have good storage stability in particular in hot and high humidity environments in order to minimize formation of undesired species that can result in feeding issues, black specks, and the like, thereby resulting in poor performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,086 discloses a class of hydrolytically stable bis(aralkylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphites that are said to be suitable as antioxidant additives in polyolefins, particularly, in polypropylene. The diphosphites are of low volatility, have a high thermal decomposition temperature, and resist yellowing when blended into a polyolefin base. A preferred diphosphite is bis(2,4-dicumylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,550 discloses compositions comprising (a) 25 to 99% of organic phosphite or phosphonite, based on the total weight of the composition, (b) an effective stabilizing amount of organic amine, and (c) an effective stabilizing amount of acid-binding metal salt, wherein the composition comprises no organic polymers or alkali metal phosphates as further components, as well as a process for stabilizing organic phosphites or phosphonites against hydrolysis by addition of organic amine and acid-binding metal salt. The compositions are said to be stable to hydrolysis and have good storage stability even at high atmospheric humidity. The compositions and process products can be used as stabilizers for organic material against the harmful action of heat, oxygen and/or light.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,351 discloses a polyolefin composition having high resistance to degradation, the composition being formed by combining components comprising at least one polyolefin component produced from a transition metal halide catalyst, bis(2,4-dicumylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite, triisopropanolamine, a hydrotalcite component, and at least one phenol component.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,157,511 discloses that the whiteness and stability after processing of a polyolefin have been found to be improved upon the addition of a combination of at least one high activity phosphite and at least one hydrolytically stable phosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,252 discloses a solid phosphite composite, having at least a portion in amorphous form, which includes at least one, preferably two or more phosphite antioxidants or alternatively at least one phosphite and at least one other polymer additive. The phosphites, at least one of which can initially be a liquid, are generally uniformly distributed since they are melt blended. A desired class of phosphites is the bis(arylalkylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphites, at least a portion of which is in amorphous form.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,703 discloses a process for the stabilization of thermoplastic polyolefins during melt processing operations. The stabilizer package of this invention is phenol free and must contain at least one aryl monophosphite and at least one diphosphite. The process of this invention is said to be suitable for the manufacture of polyethylene film.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0009967 discloses a process for the preparation of a neo diol phosphite stabilizer by a direct/solvent-less method, wherein a neoalkyl chlorophosphite is reacted directly with a mono- or di-substituted hydroxylated aromatic compound, for neo diol phosphite product having little or no odor. Also provided are polymeric compositions comprising a stabilizing amount of a neo diol phosphite having low to no odor.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0105992 discloses a stabilized composition comprising:
(A) a polymeric resin, and
(B) a stabilizing amount of a phosphite of the structure
wherein
R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl moieties and substituted cycloalkyl moieties of the structure
wherein
R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbyl, provided that at least one of R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 is not hydrogen and that no more than one of R1, R2, and R3 is alkyl,
R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbyl, and
Ar is an aromatic moiety.
The disclosures of the foregoing are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Blended phosphite or phosphonite compositions having improved hydrolytic stability


A packaging material suitable for forming a heat sealable, easy-opening and reclosable package is comprised of a heat sealable base member material having a first heat sealable surface and, secured to the heat sealable surface, an elongate, heat sealable, multilayer, flexible, peelable and reclosable, preferably coextruded, strip comprised of an interior tacky adhesive layer, first and second sealant layers each comprised of heat sealable polymer, and a rupturable layer, preferably comprised of an ionomer, proximate the tacky adhesive layer. One of the strip sealant layers is secured to the first heat sealable surface of the base member. The strip enables the base member to be heat sealed along and by means of the strip to form a package whose heat seal has sufficient initial seal strength to remain closed during handling and yet can be manually readily opened and reclosed.

Packaging materials, packages and processes which employ a layer of tacky or pressure sensitive adhesive to effect opening and reclosure features are known, but they are problematical or disadvantageous for various reasons. U.S. Patents which disclose such materials and packages are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,454,210, 5,089,320 and 5,382,472.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,210 discloses packages made from a base web having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer all over it and which is covered by a bondable, rupturable film, which in turn is bonded to a base film to form the package. The package is opened by rupturing the rupturable film and pulling it from the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. This leaves a surface of pressure sensitive adhesive exposed and against which the web can be pressed to reseal the package.
A main disadvantage of the packaging materials and packages disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,210 is that the entire web of the entire package carries the layer of the pressure sensitive adhesive. Since pressure sensitive adhesives are only needed where opening is to be effected, and since they are expensive materials, this approach is wasteful and excessively expensive. Also, pressure sensitive adhesives tend to give off products, e.g. to food, and can be sensed by the consumer upon and after opening. The use of such adhesives on the entire packaging material magnifies the odor problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,320 discloses a similar flexible packaging material which is heat sealable to itself. The packaging material has a layer of tacky adhesive sandwiched between a skin layer of a heat sealable polymer and a substrate. The tacky adhesive is distributed throughout the material. The patent also discloses that since the tacky adhesive is required only in the area where the package is to be opened, the adhesive may be coated onto the substrate in register only where it is required. The skin layer may be similarly applied in register over the adhesive alone, such as by printing the adhesive layer and the skin layer onto the substrate sequentially using a central impression press. The skin layer may be applied to the other surface of areas of the substrate as well, including the entire surface of the packaging material. The patent also discloses that the tacky adhesive may also be applied to the substrate by transferring it from a carrying medium and the skin may be transferred with the adhesive by this technique. The technique is known for transferring a thin layer of vapor deposited metal from one substrate to another. The carrying medium preferably is paper, coated on one or both sides with a silicone release agent. The paper carrier may be recycled or may be an endless belt for a continuous process.
The approach disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,320 of distributing the tacky adhesive throughout the packaging material is disadvantageous for the reasons stated previously. Coating the tacky adhesive onto the substrate only where it is needed is disadvantageous because it requires extra and specially designed equipment for coating and aligning the tacky adhesive and the heat sealable skin layer. Also, registering the skin layer with the tacky adhesive and applying the coatings sequentially is complex and involves extra steps. Alignment and off-registration problems can occur. Applying the tacky adhesive with or without a skin layer from a carrier requires a carrier system and involves disposing of and wasting the paper carrier, or recycling it, special silicone coatings and equipment, and carrier conveying equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,472 discloses a resealable packaging material made by side-by-side simultaneous coextrusion of several thermoplastic resins through a die to form a film having two or more bands of material which extend in the machine direction. The first band contains conventional packaging polymers and no pressure sensitive adhesive, and, the second band includes a surface layer of heat sealable polymer, a core layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and a layer of thermoplastic resin adjacent the layer. In the disclosed side-by-side coextruded film, the bands are alongside one another and the second band is the same thickness as the first band. The surfaces of the second band are shown as being co-planar with the surfaces of the first band. Each band extends from one surface of the side-by-side coextruded film to the other surface of the film. The film is folded upon itself and heat sealed to form a package by sealing jaws acting on the heat sealable polymer in the second band. When the heat seal is pulled apart, the heat seal layer ruptures through to the pressure sensitive adhesive and delaminates from it. The rupturing and delamination occur within the surface boundaries of the side-by-side coextruded film.
The approach disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,472 is disadvantageous in several respects. It is limited in that the coextruded film can only be made by side-by-side coextrusion. Side-by-side coextrusion in turn is limited in that the side-by-side die is designed to run only certain resins. Even if it is designed to run a variety of resins, each die is configured to place the second band in a fixed location. To change the location of the second band, a new die is needed. To make adjustments within a given die to suit a resin or various resins is problematical and can result in surface non-uniformity of thickness of the first and second bands. Even a small difference in thickness of the second band will result in a raised area or hollow area along one side of the surface of a roll of the side-by-side coextruded film. To minimize this surface non-uniformity on a roll, roll size for shipments to customers will be kept relatively small. This will cause more frequent roll changes than desired.
Another approach which employs a tacky adhesive to provide an opening feature for a flexible package is that wherein an elongated cut is made through a packaging film.
The cut is widened and a reclose tape wider than the cut and made of a substrate layer and a tacky adhesive layer is fed by a carrier system and applied with the tacky adhesive side down to the film to cover the open cut. The film is folded over on itself and pressed together without heat to adhere the tacky adhesive through the open cut to the opposite wall of the film. To open the package, the tape's tacky adhesive is pulled away from the opposite wall of the package.
This approach is disadvantageous because it requires that the tape's tacky adhesive layer be treated or covered with a removable release layer, or carried on a silicone coated paper carrier layer. These treatment systems and removable cover or carrier systems add steps, equipment and expense to produce the tape and package. Also, the oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) used as the substrate layer, are relatively expensive materials, cutting the film can effect the integrity and barrier properties of the film, and the seal obtained merely by pressing the adhesive against the film is not hermetic and has not been tamper evident.
It is an object of this invention to provide packaging materials, packages and methods which overcome the above and other problems and disadvantages existing in the art.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an elongate multilayer flexible heat sealable, peelable and reclosable strip which is comprised of a tacky adhesive layer and which is suitable for being applied to a packaging film and heat sealed to it to form a package whose heat seal is manually readily openable and reclosable.
Another object is to provide packaging materials comprised of packaging films having the strip secured thereto, packages made from these packaging materials and methods for forming the same.
The elongate strip of this invention solves the above and other problems in the art. The strip which includes a layer of the sometimes odiferous tacky adhesive is thin, narrow and applied only where the opening and reclose feature is needed. Therefore, adhesive cost and objectionable odor problems are minimized. Since the strip includes one or more layers already covering the tacky adhesive layer, complicated steps involved in registering, aligning and applying a cover layer over or with the tacky adhesive layer, such as required in a coating process do not exist. Special treatment and removable cover or carrier systems are not required. Also, special and inherently limited side-by-side coextrusion dies and processes are not needed. Existing conventional equipment and processes can be employed for forming wide multilayer webs comprising the layer materials of the strip of this invention. The surface of a roll of strip cut from the web and wound on the roll will be uniform, and roll size in terms of linear feet of a strip will be at least the same, or greater than that of a roll of the packaging film to which the strip will be applied. The strip provides great flexibility of use. One or more strips can be applied at any desired location(s) on a packaging film and a strip can be adapted to be applied to many different packaging films and combinations of films having different surface layers, characteristics and requirements. Accordingly, the strips can be employed on a wide variety of films available from different suppliers. Packagers are not limited to using only side-by-side coextruded webs available from only limited suppliers. The strips and the packaging materials bearing the strips form packages whose heat seals are hermetic and can include tamper evident features.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be evident and further appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings.

Packaging material for forming an easy-opening reclosable packaging material and package


The many embodiments of the present invention comprise a device to simulate first order and higher-order tire non-uniformity forces. Some embodiments may comprise a wheel adapter adapted to attach to a vehicle wheel, rotate in a first rotational direction, and to couple to a gearbox; a weight retaining member adapted to be coupled to the gearbox, wherein the gearbox is adapted to rotate the weight retaining member in a second rotational direction or at a second rotational speed in the first and second rotational directions; and a rotation restriction member adapted to attach to the gearbox and to restrict the gearbox from rotating. Other devices and methods are also claimed and described.

Today, most tire manufacturers utilize computer-controlled equipment and processes to manufacture vehicle tires. The use of such equipment and processes would, seemingly, lead to the production of vehicle tires which are virtually identical or uniform. Each vehicle tire, however, may be slightly different and have slightly different properties due to variations in the specific rubber, cording, and other materials used to produce the tire.
The non-uniformity of properties, or irregularities, in vehicle tires generates certain forces (sometimes referred to herein as "tire non-uniformity forces") on a vehicle when the tires are mounted on a vehicle and the vehicle is driven under different conditions. These non-uniformity forces excite vehicle vibration. The perception of a vehicle's driver to such vibrations are affected by two major factors: the magnitudes of the non-uniformity forces and vehicle sensitivities to such non-uniformity forces. However, other factors may also effect the perception of a vehicle's driver to such forces. The tire non-uniformity forces are typically repeated with each revolution of a tire and are often periodic corresponding to primary tire rotation frequency (referred to herein as "first order") or other higher order frequencies such as two, three, or fourth order frequencies (referred to herein as "high order"). Each vehicle may have many resonant frequencies in its chassis, frame, suspension system, steering linkage, and other components and subsystems which might be easily excited by the tire non-uniformity forces at certain vehicle speeds. These resonant behaviors of the system/subsystem may also affect the sensitivity of a vehicle.
For vehicle manufacturers, it is desirable to minimize a vehicle's sensitivity and, thus, the driver's perception to the vibration caused by such tire non-uniformity forces. Typically, vehicle manufacturers have to measure a vehicle's sensitivity by first testing the vehicle with different sets of tires having different levels of tire non-uniformity forces (including, without limitation, first and higher order force levels). Then tires are selected for the vehicle which generate acceptable non-uniformity forces and which provide acceptable vibration levels as measured by accelerometers and/or other sensors mounted at the vehicle's steering wheel and seat track. Unfortunately, the selection of tires which have such attributes is a very time-consuming and costly process since a large number of tires (possibly, hundreds of tires) may have to be sorted using high-speed uniformity testing machines in order to find an acceptable set of tires. The selection process is further exacerbated when it is necessary to find tires that produce high vertical non-uniformity forces and low horizontal non-uniformity forces or that produce certain ratios of such forces.
Therefore, there exists in the industry, a need for devices and methods for simulating tire non-uniformity forces during vehicle vibration sensitivity testing and for testing vehicle sensitivities to tire non-uniformity forces, and that addresses these and other problems or difficulties which exist now or in the future.

Devices and methods for simulating tire non-uniformity forces for vehicle vibration sensitivity measurements and tuning


The present invention relates to a method of treating a patient with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor wherein resistance to the treatment with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor is suppressed by administering the serine/threonine kinase inhibitor on an intermittent dosing schedule.

The involvement of kinases in proliferative diseases is well known. For example, kinases associated with tumorigenesis include the receptor tyrosine kinases and the serine/threonine kinase, Raf kinase. These kinases play critical roles in signal transduction pathways that influence and regulate many cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival.
The development of therapies for the treatment of proliferative diseases remains a formidable challenge. A continuing need exists for improved therapeutic methods, particularly in view of the many variations amongst cancer cells with respect to their underlying mechanisms of growth and survival, their response to therapeutic agents, and their ability to mutate and become refractory or resistant to such agents.
Raf kinase is part of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway comprising the Ras-Raf-MEK1-ERK signaling molecules. Raf has three distinct isoforms A-Raf, B-Raf, and C-Raf as distinguished by their ability to interact with its upstream modulator Ras. An activating mutation of one of the Ras genes can be seen in about 20% of all tumors and the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is activated in about 30% of all tumors (Bos et al., Cancer Res. 49:4682-4689, 1989; Hoshino et al., Oncogene 18:813-822, 1999). Activating mutation in the kinase domain of B-Raf occurs in about 66% of melanomas, 12% of colon carcinoma and 14% of liver cancer (Davies et al., Nature 417:949-954, 2002; Yuen et al., Cancer Research 62:6451-6455, 2002; Brose et al., Cancer Research 62:6997-7000, 2002).
Small molecule RAF inhibitors, such as vemurafenib, have demonstrated proof-of-concept that BRAFV600E is a key driver of proliferation and survival in melanoma, as evidenced by tumor regression and prolonged survival in patients in late stage clinical trials. Unfortunately, the tumor response can be short-lived when resistance to a RAF inhibitor rapidly develops.

Method of treating a proliferative disease


Percutaneous devices and methods for releasably engaging a guidewire against an inner surface of a tubular member are disclosed. A percutaneous device can include a tube member, a push member, and a fixation mechanism such as a fixation balloon. The tube member can define a lumen sized and shaped to receive one or more interventional medical devices therethrough and can have an outer diameter smaller than a lumen of a guide catheter. The push member can be attached at least to a proximal end portion of the tube member for slidably positioning a distal end portion of the tube member within and beyond a distal end of the guide catheter. The push member can include a lumen in fluid communication with an interior of the fixation balloon for delivering inflation fluid to, or removing fluid from, the balloon. The fixation balloon can be positioned on a portion of the push member and can be configured to engage a guidewire against the inner surface of the guide catheter or the tube member when inflated.

Minimally invasive medicine and the practice of gaining access into a blood vessel or other hollow bodily structure to facilitate the subsequent introduction and placement of catheters or other interventional medical devices has been evolving since creation of the Seldinger technique in the early 1950s.
An important advance during this evolution was gaining the ability to exchange catheters or other interventional medical devices over a single indwelling guidewire without displacing the guidewire proximally, which surrenders access to a desired diseased site, or distally, which risks perforation or other guidewire-induced patient injury. This "over-the-wire" (OTW) or "long wire" exchange technique requires a long guidewire length so that the guidewire can be handled and stabilized from outside a patient's body at all times during a procedure. The portion of the guidewire extending out of the patient must be at least slightly longer than the full-length lumen of the catheter (or other interventional medical device) to be employed. In this way, a proximal end of the guidewire can protrude from a proximal end of the catheter and can be held by an operating physician or his/her assistant to maintain the guidewire's indwelling positioning.
To exchange one catheter for another using the OTW technique, the physician and assistant must make a series of well-coordinated, one-to-one movements between the guidewire and each catheter. The assistant pushes the guidewire the same amount as the physician pulls back on a first catheter until the first catheter is completely outside of the patient and the physician gains control over the guidewire at its entry site into the patient. The assistant then pulls the first catheter off the guidewire and backloads a second catheter over the guidewire and into the patient to perform a second operation, requiring this same push-pull technique in reverse. Once the second catheter is fully loaded onto the guidewire, the guidewire's proximal end can protrude from the catheter's proximal end and can be held by the assistant, typically standing well apart from the physician. These exchange maneuvers must be guided fluoroscopically to monitor distal guidewire position, thereby increasing the dose of radiation to which the patient, physician and assistant are exposed during the procedure. Moreover, these exchange maneuvers are prone to error resulting in loss of indwelling guidewire position.
A technique that allows for a much shorter guidewire length to be used and more physician control over the guidewire was developed to simplify catheter exchanges. Known as the "rapid exchange," "monorail," or "short wire" technique, it is used in conjunction with rapid exchange, monorail or short wire catheters, which include a shortened guidewire passageway extending along only a portion of a catheter's length. The rapid exchange technique differs from the OTW technique in that a guidewire is fed into the shortened passageway and exits at a point between the catheter's distal and proximal ends via a port or channel formed in the side of the catheter. The physician can perform a short wire catheter exchange by handling a guidewire portion length slightly longer than a length of the shortened passageway (instead of a guidewire length slightly longer than an entire catheter, as is the case when using the OTW technique). This facilitates the physician maintaining control of the guidewire at all times and reduces the need for coordinating x-ray guided push-pull exchange movements with an assistant.


A method of producing lithium of high purity from lithium aluminum alloys using an engineered scavenger compound, comprising:. I) preparing an engineered scavenger compound by: a) mixing and heating compounds of TiO2 and Li2CO3 at a temperature sufficient to dry the compounds and convert Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 to Li.sub.2 O; and b) mixing and heating the compounds at a temperature sufficient to produce a scavenger Li.sub.2 O.3TiO.sub.2 compound; PA1 II) loading the scavenger into one of two electrode baskets in a three electrode cell reactor and placing an Al-Li alloy in a second electrode basket of the three electrode cell reactor; PA1 III) heating the cell to a temperature sufficient to enable a mixture of KCl-LiCl contained in a crucible in the cell to reach its melting point and become a molten bath; PA1 IV) immersing the baskets in the bath until an electrical connection is made between the baskets to charge the scavenger compound with Li until there is an initial current and voltage followed by a fall off ending current and voltage; and PA1 V) making a connection between the basket electrode containing engineered scavenger compound and a steel rod electrode disposed between the basket electrodes and applying a current to cause Li to leave the scavenger compound and become electrodeposited on the steel rod electrode.

In fields where high stiffness-to-weight ratio materials are needed, aluminum-lithium alloys have achieved wide acceptance; however, in this field, producers of aluminum alloys are reluctant to recycle these alloys due to the fact that any introduction of Li into conventional Al alloy melts causes deleterious effects such as room temperature embrittlement or casting porosity.
Nevertheless, contemporary technology affords two principle approaches to removing Li. One approach utilizes the procedure of flux additions during melting of the scrap material followed by subsequent Li recovery from the slag. The next approach utilizes the procedure of vacuum distillation of the Li from bulk scrap during melting. Both of the procedures employed by current technology for Li removal require either additional processing steps or expensive vacuum distillation equipment.
Therefore, there is a need for a procedure that removes and recovers Li from Al-Li or Li-Al alloys that is inherently safer, more economical and characterized by fewer processing steps. Such a procedure would permit the Li-free aluminum fraction to be recycled in a conventional way and thereby provide a more direct technological process for recovery of Li metal values.

Recovery of Li from alloys of Al- Li and Li- Al using engineered scavenger compounds

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