Systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling communications between a client and server are herein disclosed such that a connection between the client and server can be switched from a persistent to a nonpersistent connection. Persistent connections tend to drain battery power and cause other degradations, and thus switching to nonpersistent connections, at least temporarily, can preserve battery power and enable other advantages.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to client-server communications, and more specifically to switching between persistent and nonpersistent communications between client and server.
2. Background
The web originally used non-persistent methods of client-server communication in which a client would request web content, such as a webpage, and the server would return the content, and the connection between the client and server would close. The server was not able to initiate communication, although some implementations called for the client to periodically poll the server to see if the server had any unrequested data for the client. Early web servers were also known as 'stateless' since they did not store any knowledge regarding a client request or the content returned to the client in response to a request. In other words, once the web server served content, it no longer had any awareness of the client.
As webpages advanced they became more interactive and required lower latency. As a result, persistent communication protocols were developed that established a persistent two-way connection between client and server. These persistent connections were not torn down after the server transmitted data to the client, and also enabled the server to send data without a client request or polling. Instant messaging and VoIP are two examples of implementations where a client and server are both able to initiate data transmission over a persistently-open connection.
The WebSocket specification is one example of a persistent protocol and it defines an API that establishes "socket" connections between a web browser (the client) and a web server (the server). Sockets establish a persistent connection between client and server that stays open until either the client or server closes the connection. Sockets also enable either the client or server to initiate message transmission, thus removing the need for polling.
Despite the advantages of persistent connections, they still 'time-out' or terminate if a certain time period passes without any client or server communication. The WebSocket specification does not provide sufficient means to prevent timing out (also known as keep alive mechanisms). Software developers, therefore, often add their own keep-alive mechanisms to applications in order to keep a connection alive. For instance, many web applications periodically send keep-alive messages to the server in order to prevent the WebSocket from timing out.
Yet, these keep-alive mechanisms also interfere with power saving methods on many mobile devices. In particular, many mobile devices include power saving methods that transition the radio to low power states of operation (e.g., "Fast Dormancy") after a period of radio inactivity. Developer keep-alive messages can be sent so frequently that they prevent these radio transitions and thus sap battery power faster than device manufacturers intended.
There is thus a need in the art for a way to engage in persistent communication that does not retard Fast Dormancy and other mobile device power saving mechanisms.

Graceful degradation of websocket connections to nonpersistent HTTP-based communications


A portable assembly includes a multi-level housing having a vertically oriented back wall and an elongated rectilinear axle conjoined thereto. The housing further includes an elongated handle having a lower end portion monolithically formed with the back wall. A plurality of rotatable wheels operably communicate with the axle end portions and a plurality of coextensive shelves are conjoined to the back wall. The assembly further includes a mechanism for testing a variety of battery charging systems. The testing mechanism includes a plurality of power receptacles integrally connected to the back wall and spaced above a top one of the shelves. A battery-charger testing device is nested on one of the shelves for testing 48 volt club car power drive chargers. The battery-charger testing device is provided with a plurality of fuses for testing 36 volt and 48 volt circuits respectively.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to battery testing devices and, more particularly, to a a portable assembly for assisting a technician to test the operability of a battery charging system commonly employed in golf carts and the like.
2. Prior Art
Often an electrically driven vehicle will appear to be fully charged but the batteries may fail after a short period of use due to a defective battery in the series. This can lead to a difficult situation when a golf cart fails on the back side of the course where a tow vehicle then must be employed to remove the cart to the club house for repairs. Further, this creates loss of revenues for the golf course and annoyance for the golfer, resulting in fewer repeat visits by the golfer.
Fast charging of batteries are now becoming well known. Electric vehicles are now becoming more popular for a variety of reasons. Indeed, electric vehicles may become mandated to a greater or lesser extent due to the imposition of regulations requiring that at least a certain percentage of vehicles sold by any one manufacturer of vehicles—especially, passenger cars with seating from two to nine passengers, including the driver—and which are conventionally powered by internal combustion engines, must also include a specific number of vehicles that are so-called "zero emission" vehicles. That means that such vehicles have no emissions of noxious gasses, and the most common type of vehicle which would meet such stringent standards is an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles are powered by batteries, and present a number of problems or other difficulties to be overcome.
Not the least among those problems is the fact that in order for an electric vehicle to have any reasonable range—the distance that it can be driven—there has to be significant energy storage by way of batteries onboard the vehicle. As the vehicle is driven, it removes energy from the batteries, converting it to driving power delivered to the wheels of the vehicle, and thus there is only a finite distance or period of time over which the vehicle can be operated without requiring that the batteries be recharged.
Other related conditions also arise in respect of fleets of vehicles that are privately or corporately owned, but which may have differing purposes. For example, large manufacturing plants, distribution warehouses, and the like, may have a very considerable number of battery powered fork lift trucks, other traction or towing devices, and so on. Golf courses usually have a large number of golf carts to be rented by golfers playing a round of golf—indeed, some courses require that the players utilize a golf cart. Other such fleets may be localized, such as mail or courier package delivery carts that operate in a localized delivery route, day after day.
As the use of electric vehicles becomes more widespread, there will be a growing need for portable testing and charging systems. In the case of an electric vehicle, however, instead of gasoline being placed into the fuel tank of the car, electrical energy is transferred into the batteries of the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need remains for a portable assembly to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a portable battery testing and charging assembly for use with golf carts and other electric vehicles. Such a device would be convenient, easy to use and efficient. It would provide users with a means for quickly and easily jump starting their electric carts without the necessity of having another similar cart alongside to perform the "jump." As a result, a user would not have to fear being stranded at a remote location, making the use of such carts more attractive to consumers, and thereby expanding their use and the productivity and enjoyment of those who use them.


The present invention is directed to a chroma signal processing circuit for a single-chip color camera in which the level of a color aliasing signal generated when a signal having a vertical spatial frequency 1/2 Py becomes incident can be reduced considerably. In a single-chip color camera having a solid state imager capable of separately reading out image informations of all pixels and a color filter array having a color array pattern having a fundamental lattice in which two color filters are repeatedly formed in the horizontal and vertical directions and two color filters having the same spectral characteristic are provided within this unit lattice, the color filter array provided on the solid state imager, when primary color signals R, G and B are separated, then two kinds of primary color signals with respect to one primary color signal are generated for two color difference signals and an adding ratio of the two kinds of primary color signals is controlled in such a manner that the level of a sampling carrier generated in the vertical spatial frequency is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a chroma signal matric circuit for a color CCD camera and, more particularly, to a chroma signal matrix circuit using a solid state imager element which can separately read out image informations of all pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the single-chip color camera, a color filter array is provided on a single solid state imager in order to generate a color signal by the single solid state imager. Japanese Laid-Open Open Patent Publication No. 60-62789, for example, describes this kind of a single-chip color camera which employs a color filter array in which color filters are repeatedly arrayed at every two pixels in the scanning direction, a coefficient is set such that a difference between a signal corresponding to the first or second pixel and a signal corresponding to the first pixel and which is multiplied with the coefficient is reduced to zero at a white portion of an object and the above difference is added to or subtracted from the signal corresponding to each of the first and second pixels, thereby correcting a color aliasing signal (i.e., color aliasing signal caused by a line-sequential color filter) generated in a slanted line or boundary between colored portions.
In the single-chip color camera according to the prior art, however, although the color aliasing signal generated on the slanted line and the boundary between the colored portions can be corrected, the calculation processing between the pixels in the vertical direction must be carried out constantly when color difference signals are generated. As a result, assuming that Py represents the pitch between pixels in the vertical direction, when the cameraman takes a picture of an image having a component of a vertical spatial frequency 1/2 Py, then a large color aliasing signal occurs. No consideration has been made on the correction of this kind of the color aliasing signal.

Chroma signal matrix circuit for a color CCD camera


For coupling first and second metal pipes, a coupling structure is provided which comprises a first diametrically angled end portion of the first metal pipe and a second diametrically enlarged end portion of the second metal pipe. The second enlarged end portion is mated with the first enlarged end portion so that the first and second metal pipes are aligned. A collar member of metal is concentrically disposed within the mated first and second enlarged end portions. The collar member is formed, around an axially middle portion thereof, with an annular ridge which entirely and intimately contacts with inner surfaces of the mated first and second enlarged end portions. A fastening ring of metal is concentrically disposed about the mated first and second enlarged end portions. The fastening ring is so shaped as to have a concave inner surface which intimately and entirely contacts with rounded outer surfaces of the mated first and second enlarged end portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a coupling structure for coupling metal pipes, and more particularly to a coupling structure for coupling two metal pipes without using welding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of motor vehicles, various attempts have been made for reducing the weight and cost of the engine system and thus those of the vehicle. One of them is to reduce the thickness of metal pipes which constitute an exhaust passage incorporated in the exhaust system of the engine. Hitherto, in assembling the exhaust system, arc welding has been widely employed for coupling the pipes. However, as is known, with reduction in thickness of the pipes, such arc welding becomes very difficult because it tends to produce welding defects, such as openings formed in the welded portion. Thus, recently, other coupling techniques without depending on the welding have been eagerly desired for the pipe coupling in the exhaust system. One of them is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Application 5-64595, in which a collar unit, a fastening band unit and fastening bolts and nuts are used.
For clarifying the invention, the coupling technique of the publication will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view of a coupling structure through which two metal pipes are coupled, and FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, denoted by numerals 11 and 13, are first and second metal pipes which are to be connected in tandem. For the coupling, the pipes 11 and 13 have diametrically enlarged end portions 11a and 13a which are mated at their leading ends.
Within the mated end portions 11a and 13a of the pipes 11 and 13, there is concentrically disposed a collar unit 15. The collar unit 15 comprises an inner collar member 15a and an outer collar member 15b which are welded to each other at their axial end portions. At an axially middle portion of the outer collar member 15b is formed therearound an annular ridge 15b' which is in intimate contact with inner surfaces of the enlarged end portions 11a and 13a of the pipes 11 and 13, as shown.
Around the enlarge end portions 11a and 13a of the pipes 11 and 13, there is intimately disposed a fastening band unit 17 which, as is seen from FIG. 4, comprises upper and lower semicircular bands 17a and 17b which are fastened to each other through two pairs of bolts 19 and nuts 21. Each band 17a or 17b has a concave inner surface intimately contacting an outer surface of the enlarged end portion 11a or 13a of the pipe 11 or 13.
For holding the bolts 19 and nuts 21, each band 17a or 17b is formed at diametrically opposed ends with flanges (no numerals). As is understood from FIG. 3, when the bolts 19 are turned in a tightening direction, the two semicircular bands 17a and 17b are gradually pressed against the enlarged end portions 11a and 13a of the pipes 11 and 12. During this pressing, the enlarged end portions 11a and 13a are gradually pressed against the outer collar member 15b of the collar unit 15. Thus, finally, the two metal pipes 11 and 13 are tightly coupled having the enlarged end portions 11a and 13a thereof firmly sandwiched between the collar unit 15 and the fastening band unit 17. With this tight coupling, hermetic sealing is achieved between the two pipes 11 and 13.
However, due to inherent construction, the above-mentioned conventional coupling structure has the following drawbacks.
First, the coupling structure needs numerous parts for the assemblage, which brings about complicated construction, troublesome and time consuming assembling work and thus increased cost.
Second, as is shown in FIG. 4, even in the tightly coupling condition, the coupling structure has inevitably certain clearances W1 and W2 between the mutually facing flanges of the semicircular bands 17a and 17b. As is known, such clearances W1 and W2 produce areas near the flanges where only insufficient fastening force is produced by the fastening band unit 17. In this case, undesired gas leakage through such areas tends to occur.

Coupling structure for coupling two pipes


A magnetic head (1) for reading information comprises a magnetoresistive element (21) which is arranged between two flux guides (7, 9) present on a support and is partly located on thinner ends (25, 27) of the flux guides. The flux guides are composed of a basic layer (13, 15) and a main layer (17, 19) which partly covers the basic layer. Subsequently the magnetoresistive element is partly provided on the parts (25, 27) of the basic layer which have been left free by the main layer so that the magnetoresistive element is magnetically coupled to the flux guides via coupling parts (20, 22).

The invention relates to a magnetic head having a head face and comprising a support which has a support face, a magnetoresistive element spaced apart from the tape contact face, and a flux guide being adjacent to the head face and having one end portion which is thinner than another portion of the flux guide.
A magnetic head with a magnetoresistive element (MRE) which is located at some distance from the tape contact face and in which a flux guide is present between the head face and the MRE--the so-called "yoke-MRH"--is known per se and is used for reading information which is present in a magnetic information carrier. Magnetic flux from the information carrier is passed through the MRE via the flux guide, resulting in a change of the resistance of the MRE, which resistance change is converted into a read signal.
A general structure of a "yoke-MRH" is known from JP-A 62-241119 (herewith incorporated by reference). The MRE is present between a magnetic substrate and two flux guides which are present on this substrate. Due to the small distance between the MRE and the magnetic substrate in this structure, a part of the flux provided by the information carrier will perpendicularly cross the MRE during reading instead of being guided parallel to the element through the MRE, which may cause a distortion of the read signal. If this MRE is provided with strip-shaped electric conductors, a barber pole structure, a relief, particularly a wave-shaped relief will be produced in that part of the flux guide which is present on the MRE. This relief may also cause distortion of the read signal.
Another general structure of a "yoke-MRH" is known from JP-A 62-246115 (herewith incorporated by reference). In this structure the MRE, as viewed from the substrate, is partly located on the flux guides--instead of between the substrate and the flux guides--so that the above-mentioned causes of distortion of the read signal do not occur. In this structure the base on which the MRE is provided is first planarized before providing the MRE. This is achieved by filling up the space between the two flux guides. If this were not done, the MRE could show discontinuities, for example, in the form of cracks due to the large relief so that its operation is influenced detrimentally. However, planarization requires an extra process step, thus resulting in an increase of the manufacturing time and the manufacturing costs.
A magnetic head described in the opening paragraph is known from JP-A 62-46420 (herewith incorporated by reference). Since in this known magnetic head the MRE is provided between the flux guides, a planarization step is not required. However, a drawback of this structure is that the MRE has a large relief so that this structure also has the previously mentioned drawbacks of this large relief. A further drawback of this structure is that due to the large relief serious problems will be encountered if a barber pole structure is also to be provided on the MRE.

Magnetic head provided with a flux guide and a magnetoresistive element


The present invention is related to a nucleic acid construct comprising                an expression unit for the expression of E1B, wherein the expression unit comprises a promoter, a nucleotide sequence coding for E1B, and a 3′UTR, wherein the promoter is operatively linked to the nucleotide sequence coding for E1B, wherein the 3′UTR comprises 30 or less than 30 Exonic Enhancer Elements (ESEs), preferably 20 or less than 20 Exonic Enhancer Elements (ESEs), and wherein the 3′ UTR is a non-viral 3′ UTR.

The present invention is related to a nucleic acid construct comprising an expression unit for the expression of E1A and an expression unit for the expression of E1B, a vector comprising such nucleic acid construct, a cell comprising the nucleic acid construct and/or the vector, a method for the production of a permanent amniocytic cell line comprising the step of introducing the nucleic acid construct and/or the vector, a permanent amniocyic cell line, the use of the cell, a method for the production of a gene transfer vector or an adenovirus mutant, and a method for the production of a protein.
1. Adenovirus and Adenovirus Infectious Cycle
Adenoviruses are non-enveloped viruses belonging to the virus family Adenoviridae. They carry a linear double-stranded DNA genome with a size of about 36 kilobases (kb). The viral genome contains at both ends the inverted terminal repeat sequences (ITRs) as origin of replication and at the left end a packaging signal. Adenoviruses have been isolated from many vertebrate species including humans and chimpanzees. More than 50 human serotypes can be distinguished based on DNA sequence. During an infectious cycle the viral particle enters the cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis and the viral genome enters the nucleus as DNA-protein complex. The adenoviral infection cycle is divided into an early and a late phase, which are separated by the start of adenoviral replication (Shenk, in: Virology, Fields ed., Lippincott-Raven Publishing, Philadelphia, pp. 2111-2148, 1996). In the early phase, i.e. before replication, there is expression of the early viral functions E1, E2, E3 and E4. The late phase is characterized by transcription of late genes, which are responsible for the expression of viral structural proteins and for the production of new viral particles.
E1A is the first viral gene expressed after the viral genome enters the nucleus. The E1A gene codes for the 12S and 13S proteins, which are formed by alternative splicing of the E1A RNA. By binding to several cellular proteins including pRB, p107, p130, p300 (CBP), p400, TRAP and others (Berk, 2005), the E1A proteins activate cellular DNA synthesis, promote S-phase entry, activate and repress, respectively, a large number of cellular genes, thereby instructing the cell to allow a viral infectious cycle. In addition, E1A activates most other adenovirus genes including E1B, E2, E3, E4 and the major late transcription unit (MLTU). Expression of E1A on its own leads to apoptosis.
E1B is one of the early viral genes activated by E1A. The E1B gene codes for several proteins, including the well-known E1B 55 kD and E1B 19 kD proteins, which are generated by alternative splicing of the E1B RNA. The E1B 55 kD (also called E1B 55K) protein modulates the progression of the cell cycle by interacting with the p53 tumor suppressor, is involved in preventing the transport of cellular mRNA in the late phase of the infection, and prevents E1A-induced apoptosis of cells. The E1B 19 kD (also called E1B 19K) protein is likewise important for preventing E1A-induced apoptosis of cells.
Rodent cells can be easily transformed in cell culture by expression of the E1A and E1B proteins and in rodent cells co-expression of the E1A and E1B proteins is considered to be necessary and sufficient for the transformation event to occur. In addition to transcripts coding for the E1B 55K and 19K proteins, three further E1B transcripts, also generated by alternative splicing have been identified (E1B-156R, E1B-93R and E1B-84R), one of which (E1B-156R) has been shown to promote transformation (Sieber et al. 2007). In the context of the wildtype adenoviral genome, all E1B transcripts use a common downstream splice acceptor that overlaps with part of the 5′-untranslated transcript of the pIX gene (i.e. between the pIX promoter and the translational start of pIX). In hAd5 (NCBI Reference Sequence: AC_000008) this splice acceptor is located at nucleotide 3595 of the hAd5 genomic sequence.
The next genes to be expressed during an infectious cycle are the E2A and E2B genes coding for three proteins (preterminal protein, pTP; DNA Polymerase, Pol; and DNA-binding protein, DBP), all involved in replication of the viral genome.
E3 is mainly involved in counteracting host defenses against adenoviral infection and is dispensable for virus grows in cell culture.
E4, also expressed early in an infectious cycle, codes for various proteins. In addition to other functions E4 blocks, together with the E1B 55K protein, the accumulation of cellular mRNAs in the cytoplasm, and at the same time it facilitates the transport of viral RNAs from the cell nucleus into the cytoplasm.
The initiation of DNA replication is followed by expression of structural proteins, which are necessary for the formation of the viral capsid and for condensation of the viral DNA. Late during an infectious cycle the viral DNA is packaged into the viral capsid. The exact mechanism of the packaging of the viral genome into the viral capsid is currently unknown, but involves interaction of several virus-encoded proteins with the packaging signal located at the left terminus of the viral genome.
2. Adenovirus Vectors
Different vector types based on adenovirus have been developed (McConnell et al. 2004; Imperiale et al. 2004).
Adenoviral vectors usually have at least deletions of the E1A and E1B genes and are therefore replication-deficient in human cells. Production takes place in human complementing cell lines, which express the E1A and E1B proteins and in which the E1A and E1B genes are chromosomally integrated.
The ΔE1Ad vector (also called E1-deleted Ad vector or first-generation Ad vector) is the dominant vector type, which is widely used as laboratory tool, in pre-clinical R&D, in clinical studies and product development in the context of gene therapy or genetic vaccination. This vector type is made replication-defective in primary cells by removal of the E1 region (ΔE1) encoding the E1A and E1B proteins.
Many ΔE1Ad vectors also contain partial or complete deletion of the E3 region (ΔE1/ΔE3 Ad vectors), since E3, among other functions modulating virus-host interaction and interfering with the immune system, is dispensable for vector production in cell culture. So far, most ΔE1Ad vectors are based on human adenovirus type 5 (hAd5). However, vectors based on other human (e.g. hAd6, hAd26, hAd35 and others) and non-human adenovirus types (e.g. derived from Chimpanzee) have been developed (Bangari et al. Vacci 2006).
Second-generation vectors are based on ΔE1Ad vectors that carry additional mutations in other early regions of the viral genome, including the E2 genes and/or the E4 genes (Imperiale et al. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2004, 273, 335-57). They are produced in cell lines, in which, in addition to the E1A and E1B genes, also the respective adenoviral gene or genes that is/are mutated in the vector's genome are expressed. For example, Ad vectors with deletion of the DNA binding protein (DBP) that is one of the E2 genes are produced in cell lines, which express the DBP in addition to the E1A and E1B genes.
In high-capacity Ad (HC-Ad) vectors (also called helper-dependent Ad vectors) all viral coding sequences are replaced by the transgene(s) of interest. In most cases additional stuffer DNA are included in the vector to prevent rearrangements during production. Current production systems are based on the use of a replication-deficient (ΔE1) helper virus providing all non-structural and structural viral functions in trans together with a production cell line expressing either Cre or Flp recombinase (Parks et al., 1996; Umana et al., 2001).
Production and purification methods of Ad vectors in adherent or in suspension cell culture are well known to the expert and have been described (Silva et al., 2010).
3. Generation of Producer Cell Lines by Transformation of Human Cells with the E1A and E1B Genes
Traditionally, ΔE1Ad vectors have mainly been produced in 293 cells, which were generated by transfection of human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells with sheared DNA of human Adenovirus type 5 (Graham et al., 1977). In a total of eight transfection experiments, with an average of twenty HEK cultures used per experiment, only a single immortalized cell clone was obtained (Graham et al., 1977). HEK 293, the cell line established from this cell clone, contains chromosomally integrated nucleotides (nt.) 1 to 4344 of the Ad5 genome, including the E1A and E1B genes, left ITR and the adenoviral packaging signal (Louis et al., 1997).
Although rodent cells can easily be transformed with adenoviral E1 functions, primary human cells have been found to be notoriously difficult to transform with the E1A and E1B genes. Gallimore and coworkers attempted to transform primary HEK cells with E1 functions of Ad12 (Gallimore et al., 1986). These experiments were carried out unsuccessfully over a period of three years with more than 1 mg of the EcoRI cDNA fragment of Ad12, containing the E1A and E1B genes. Despite a large number of experiments carried out, only four Ad12-E1 HEK cell lines were isolated (Whittaker et al., 1984). Likewise, the same group failed to transform other primary human cells with E1 functions, including keratinocytes, skin fibroblasts, hepatocytes and urothelial cells (Gallimore et al., 1986). One cell type reproducibly transformed with adenoviral E1 functions are human embryonic retinal cells (HER cells) (Byrd et al., Nature 298, 69-71, 1982). Although the transformation efficiency of HER cells was lower than that of primary rat cells, it was more than 100 times higher than that of HEK cells. The investigations were initiated in order to produce complementing cell lines for the isolation of Ad12 E1 mutants.
Transfection of HERs with a construct containing an hAd5 fragment from nt 79 to 5789 resulted in a cell line, named 911, which supported the growth of ΔE1Ad vectors and at least matched production yield of 293 cells (Fallaux et al., 1996). However, due to extensive overlap with ΔE1Ad vectors both 911 and 293 cells are prone to the regular generation of replication competent adenovirus (RCA) as a result of homologous recombination events between the vector genome and the chromosomally integrated E1 region during production (Lochmüller et al., 1994; Hehir et al., 1996). Importantly, this is a frequent occurrence that can neither be controlled nor avoided in particular during serial passage of vectors and large-scale vector production. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines demand the presence of less than one RCA in 3×1010 vector particles for clinical applications (Biological Response Modifiers Advisory Committee, 2001).
To circumvent and/or prevent the risk of RCA emergence during Ad vector production, other E1-transcomplementing cell lines harbouring a minimized E1 DNA fragment lacking any homology with the DNA of commonly used Ad vectors have been developed. In particular, HER cells were transformed with a new E1A and E1B encoding construct, in which any identical sequences/sequence overlap with ΔE1Ad vectors were/was eliminated. By replacing the E1A promoter by the human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) promoter and the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of E1B by the mRNA processing elements of the hepatitis B virus surface (HbS) antigen (not containing an intron), the E1-transformed cell line PER.C6 was generated solely encompassing hAd5 sequences from nt. 459 to 3510 (Fallaux et al., 1998). Accordingly, matching ΔE1Ad vectors lacking this region can be efficiently propagated in these cells without the occurrence of RCA due to homologous recombination. However, in two publications about PER.C6 cells unusual vector recombinants have been observed, that result in vector specimen carrying and expressing E1 functions. In the first report (Murakami et al., 2002), in which the vector did have an overlap of 177 nt. with the integrated E1 region, helper-dependent E1-positive particles (HDEPs) were generated caused by one homologous and one heterologous recombination event, resulting in the concomitant deletion of parts of the adenoviral vector backbone. As a result the Ad vector preparation contained two different particle species: the original ΔE1 vector and the E1 region-containing recombinant. In a second report (Murakami et al., 2004) E1 region-positive recombinant particles were described although the parental vector sequence did not overlap with the integrated E1 region. Detailed analysis of several different independent E1-positive isolates showed a similar structure of recombinants, consisting of a palindromic structure of several copies of the E1 region flanked by the adenoviral left ITR including the packaging signal. According to the authors' interpretation, the recombinants most likely were generated following heterologous recombination between the ΔE1Ad vector and the chromosomal DNA close to the E1-region. The authors further speculate, that the generation of the E1-positive recombinants is facilitated by the observed head-to-head dimer structure of (some of) the 10 to 20 E1 region integrates that are present in PER.C6 cells.
Some non-hAd5 based ΔE1Ad vectors, an example being vectors based on hAd35, cannot be propagated in regular production systems such as 293 cells or PER.C6 cells, since both express E1A and E1B of hAd5, while hAd35-based vectors require for their production E1B functions of hAd35. Thus, for production of such vectors, the missing function needs to be provided in the production cell line. In case of hAd35-based vectors, for example, an E1B function of hAd35 has to be provided by the cell line (Vogels et al., 2003, Gao et al., 2003).
More recently, human amniocytes were identified as an alternative cell source for the generation of cell lines following transformation with E1 functions (Schieder et al., 2000) and E1/pIX genes (Schieder et al., 2008). The design of the E1A and E1B expressing plasmid construct in the cell line N52.E6 (Schiedner et al., 2000), was similar as in PER.C6 cells, in principle excluding the generation of RCA during vector production due to the absence of any sequence overlap between vector DNA and the integrated E1 region.
There have been additional attempts to generate production cell lines for ΔE1 vectors. Unlike the cell lines discussed above, they all were based on established cell lines such as HeLa and A549 cells although, due to the poorly documented generation of the original cell lines, their tumorigenic origin and their high tumorigenicity, they are not suitable for production of clinical grade material (reviewed in Silva et al., 2010).
4. Immortalization of Primary Cells in Cell Culture
Mammalian cells, when isolated from an animal or a human, taken into a cell culture dish and provided with proper nutrients, can be cultured by serial passaging only for a limited time. This phenomenon has been first described by Hayflick (Hayflick and Moorhead, 1961) and is called cellular senescence. Senescent cells in cell culture undergo changes in their morphology and become large and flattened; they stop dividing while remaining metabolically active. There are distinct changes in gene expression, protein processing and metabolism and, as useful marker, cells stain positive for senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) (Weinberg, R. A., The Biology of Cancer, 2007, Garland Science). The limitation in replicative potential of primary mammalian cells in cell culture and senescence is mainly associated both with cell-physiologic stress factors due to cell culture conditions (characterized by alteration in specific signaling pathways, such as frequent upregulation of p16/INK4a and others (Ben-Porath and Weinberg, 2005)) and with reduction of telomere length at the chromosomal ends due to the so-called endreplication problem that occurs during replication of cellular DNA (Weinberg, R. A., 2007 supra). Telomeres are structures located at the end of chromosomes, consisting of short hexanucleotide DNA repeats and being associated with a number of proteins, protecting the integrity of chromosomes and preventing, for example, fusion events between different chromosomes. Telomere length is maintained by the activity of several proteins including the essential telomerase holoenzyme that consists of the catalytic subunit hTERT and an RNA subunit (hTR). In primary cells, the activity of hTERT is too low to maintain telomere length constant, resulting in a gradual loss of telomeric repeats during replication of the cellular DNA. In humans, the number of replicative doublings a primary cell can maximally go through before entering senescence is ranging from about 50 to 60 population doublings (PD), slowly decreasing when cells are isolated from individuals with increasing age (Weinberg, R. A., 2007 supra). The number of PDs is also dependent on the specific cell type and the cell culture conditions. Some cells can be taken into cell culture only for a few PDs, other for a larger number, however not beyond far the limit mentioned above.
Cells, that can be maintained in cell culture indefinitely, when they are provided with appropriate nutrients, are said to be immortal and such cells can also be called a cell line or a permanent cell line. Primary normal human cells usually do not become immortalized spontaneously. However, immortalization can be achieved experimentally, for example by introducing cellular or viral oncogenes or by introducing mutations in tumour suppressor genes.
Crisis is a term that is mechanistically linked to the reduction of telomere length to a point that most cells will undergo cell death. This can be observed, for example, when tumour cells are taken into cell culture. After a certain number of replicative doublings, most of the cells will undergo cell death due to telomere length shortening. Only rarely individual cells will survive, generally selected for increased growth rate and survival by additional mutations. When primary human cells, for example human fibroblasts or epithelial cells are taken into cell culture, it is frequently observed that cells can be maintained by passaging for a small number of PDs until they acquire a senescent phenotype. This early type of senescence can be delayed, for example by the expression in these cells of the large T Antigen of SV40 (Weinberg, R. A., 2007 supra), resulting in the inactivation of the oncoproteins pRB and p53. However, after a certain number of PDs and depending on the length of the remaining telomeres the cells will enter crisis due to telomere collapse. Only cells, which manage to either activate telomerase or to engage an alternative way of telomere maintenance—called alternate lengthening of telomeres (ALT)—have a chance to survive. According to current understanding, crisis is the time, when structural abnormalities of the karyotype are preferentially established, due to fusion events between eroded (telomere depleted) chromosomal ends, followed by so-called breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles, resulting in karyotypic chaos (Weinberg, R. A., 2007 supra). These abnormalities, in combination with other mutations occurring during culture, furnish some cells with a selective growth advantage, enabling them to evade from crisis and become immortalized.
5. Use of Human Cells for the Production of Biologics
Human cells are of significant interest to the industry for the production of certain biologics such as viral vectors, proteins, viruses and vaccines for therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic human or veterinary use. Examples for viral vectors that can be used for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes are vectors that are based on different viruses including adenovirus, retrovirus, herpes simplex virus or parvovirus. Most of viral vectors used today are produced in human cell lines such as 293 cells. They can be used either for functional studies, for therapeutic purposes such as gene therapy or for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes such as genetic vaccination. Proteins that cannot be produced in simple organism such as bacteria or that are characterized by certain posttranslational modifications frequently require the use of mammalian cells for their production. Examples of biologics that can be produced in human cells are therapeutic or diagnostic antibodies or therapeutic glycoproteins including for example blood coagulation factors or fibrinolytic proteins. Many human vaccines are based on inactivated or attenuated human viruses that grow well on human cells. Also many subunit protein vaccines or complex vaccines such as virus-like-particles (VLPs) can be produced in human cells.
For production of biologics at an industrial scale, however, the use of permanent cell lines rather than of primary cells is a necessity. In general, primary cells can often not be expanded to a sufficient amount to allow production of proteins or viruses at a scale large enough for market supply. While permanent cell lines can be grown to a very large cell number, either as adherent cell culture or in suspension, it is well known, that genetic stability of cultured cells is difficult to maintain, for example due to telomere shortening during the process of immortalization or due to oxidative stress during cell culture resulting in mutations. However, genetic stability of cell lines is very important for the industrial production of well-characterized products of high quality (e.g. characterized by consistent glycosylation of glycoproteins), activity (e.g. characterized by consistent immunogenicity of vaccines) and uniformity (e.g. little variation of the product between different production runs).
Thus, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide means which allow the generation of a genetically stable cell line.
A further problem underlying the present invention is to provide a genetically stable cell line.
A still further problem underlying the present invention is to provide means which allow the practicing of a method for the improved generation of immortalized and genetically stable human cell lines which may, among others, be used in the production of therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic biologics for human or veterinary use.

Nucleic acid construct and use of the same


A carpet tape construction 10 designed for use on top of a layer of padding 100 and beneath the abutting edges of two segments of carpet 200 which form a seam 203 to prevent the peaking of the seam 203 in a finished carpet installation. The tape construction 10 includes a tape backing member 30 having a coating 50, hot melt adhesive provided on surface top 31 and a heat activated contact adhesive 60 on the bottom 32 surface of the backing member 30 so that the hot melt adhesives 50, an the heat activated contact adhesive 60 will penetrate and bond the carpet segments 200, 200 and the padding 100 to the backing member 30.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of carpet seam sealing systems in general, and in particular to a double sided hot melt adhesive carpet tape that prevents carpet seams from peaking.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,198,300; 5,384,001; 4,416,713; 5,376,419; and 5,693,171, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse carpet seam sealing tapes including at least one patent that employs an adhesive coating on both sides of the tape backing.
It should be noted that while U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,419 employs a hot melt adhesive on the top surface of the tape, it specifically calls for the use of a pressure sensitive adhesive on the bottom surface of the tape and this arrangement is specifically designed for a "glue down" carpet installation. The carpet is directly adhered to the floor as opposed to a layer of padding which rests upon the floor.
It should be noted that for the purpose of this invention, the term "pressure sensitive" is to be interpreted as a "releasable" or "non-permanent" adhesive such as is employed on duct tape, Scotch brand tape, Post-It notepaper or H.B. Fuller Co., adhesive #HM8340.
Furthermore, again for the purposes of this invention, a "heat activated contact adhesive" is to be understood to be a "permanent" adhesive such as is used to adhere Formica to a counter top, glue carpet to a pole or vinyl reducers to a floor such as XL Corporation's QUICK STICK™ or 3M Corporation's HIGH STRENGTH 96.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical double sided hot melt adhesive carpet tape that is specifically designed for use with carpet padding as opposed to conventional glue down carpet installations wherein the carpet is directly adhered to a rigid substrate such as a floor or the like. The hot melt adhesive will penetrate both the carpet backing above the tape backing layer and the heat activated contact adhesive will penetrate the porous padding surface below the tape backing to create a secure bond between the carpet padding and the carpet backing that will eliminate the peaking effect at the carpet seam.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved double sided hot melt adhesive carpet tape that is specifically designed to be used in conjunction with carpet padding to prevent carpet seam peaking, and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


A processing system may include a processing unit and nonvolatile storage responsive to the processing unit. The nonvolatile storage may include a candidate boot code module and an authentication code module. The processing unit may be configured to execute code from the authentication code module before executing code from the candidate boot code module. The authentication code module may have instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to read a processor identifier from the processing unit and determine whether the processor belongs to a predetermined set of processors associated with a specific vendor, based at least in part on the identifier, before executing any instructions from the candidate boot code module. The processing system may also test authenticity of the candidate boot code module before executing any instructions from the candidate boot code module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A processing system may include hardware resources, such as a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and nonvolatile storage such as read only memory (ROM) and one or more hard disk drives. The processing system may also include software resources, such as a basic input/output system (BIOS) and one or more operating systems (OSs). When the computer system is started or reset, it may load and run the BIOS, and then boot to the OS.

Methods and apparatus for batch bound authentication


Provided is a surround component generation device capable of generating surround components for multichannel reproduction based on two-channel audio signals with a small amount of arithmetic operation. The surround component generation device includes: multipliers for changing amplitudes of audio input signals; subtractors for subtracting outputs of the multipliers from the input signals; coefficient updaters for updating coefficients of the multipliers; subtractors for generating surround components based on the input signals and the output signals of the multipliers; output switches for switching and outputting the output signals of the subtractors; and output switching controllers for controlling the output switches. Each of the coefficient updaters updates the coefficient of the multiplier based on the output of the subtractor, and each of the output switching controllers switches the output switch based on the coefficient updated by the coefficient updater.

As a related-art surround component generation device, there has been known a stereo reproduction device having two signals of L and R signals as its signal source. The stereo reproduction device emits an L signal from a first speaker and an R signal from a second speaker in proportion to a degree of mismatch between the L and R signals, emits an (L+R) signal from a third speaker or an imaginary sound source speaker arranged between the first speaker and the second speaker in proportion to a degree of match between the L and R signals, and, to acquire the degree of mismatch and the degree of match, calculates a difference or correlation coefficient between the L and R signals or both thereof (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
Further, as another related-art surround component generation device, there has been known a device including: correlation coefficient arithmetic means for inputting left and right signals L and R of an acoustic component signal to calculate a correlation coefficient K based on the left and right signals L and R; delay means for outputting left and right signals L′ and R′, which have been delayed by a period of time required for arithmetic processing of the correlation coefficient arithmetic means; left and right component signal arithmetic calculation means for performing arithmetic processing of L′(1−K) and R′(1−K) based on the delayed left and right signals L′ and R′ and the correlation coefficient K to calculate left and right component signals L″=L′−KL′ and R″=R′−KR′; center component signal arithmetic means for performing arithmetic processing of K(0.5L′+0.5R′) based on the delayed left and right signals L′ and R′ and the correlation coefficient K to calculate a center component signal C″=K(0.5L′+0.5R′); left and right reproduction output means, which are arranged on the front side of a listener, for reproducing and outputting the left and right component signals L″ and R″, respectively; and center reproduction output means, which is arranged between the left and right speakers, for reproducing and outputting the center component signal C″ (see, for example, Patent Literature 2).
Further, as still another related-art surround component generation device, there has been known an audio device for generating surround signals for a plurality of channels based on two-channel audio signals as input signals. The audio device includes an adaptive correlation eliminating device including: a correlation eliminating filter for dividing the input signal of one of the channels by a multi-stage delay processing device, superimposing a predetermined coefficient on each of the divided multi-stage outputs by a coefficient processing device to generate multi-stage output components, and adding the multi-stage output components, thereby extracting signal components having a high correlation with the input signal of another of the channels from components of the input signal of the one of the channels; and a coefficient updating processing device for constantly varying characteristics of the correlation eliminating filter based on an error signal obtained with use of the output signal of the correlation eliminating filter and the input signal of the another of the channels, the input signal of the one of the channels, and a step size parameter for controlling an update rate for a filter coefficient. The audio device calculates a difference between the output of the correlation eliminating filter and the input signal of the another of the channels to output the difference as the surround signal (see, for example, Patent Literature 3).

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The present inventions is an abutment for use with a dental implant. The abutment comprises a prosthetic portion adapted to support a prosthesis thereon and an insert. The prosthetic portion has a subgingival end and a supragingival region for protruding beyond gingiva adjacent to the dental implant. The prosthetic portion has a passageway extending therethrough. The passageway includes an enlarged retention groove and non-round section. The insert extends into the passageway and engages the subgingival end of the prosthetic portion. The insert includes flexible retention fingers that, upon insertion into the passageway, initially contract before reaching the enlarged retention groove and then expand outwardly into the enlarged retention groove to hold the insert onto the prosthetic portion. The insert also has a non-round section for mating with the non-round section of the passageway.

The dental restoration of a partially or wholly edentulous patient with artificial dentition is typically done in two stages. In the first stage, an incision is made through the gingiva to expose the underlying bone. After a series of drill bits creates an osteotomy in the bone, a dental implant is placed in the jawbone for integration. The dental implant generally includes a threaded bore to receive a retaining screw holding mating components therein. During the first stage, the gum tissue overlying the implant is sutured and heals as the osseointegration process continues.
Once the osseointegration process is complete, the second stage is initiated. Here, the gum tissue is re-opened to expose the end of the dental implant. A healing component or healing abutment is fastened to the exposed end of the dental implant to allow the gum tissue to heal therearound. Preferably, the gum tissue heals such that the aperture that remains generally approximates the size and contour of the aperture that existed around the natural tooth that is being replaced. To accomplish this, the healing abutment attached to the exposed end of the dental implant preferably has the same general contour as the gingival portion of the natural tooth being replaced.
Once the clinician believes the implant is suitable for receiving a prosthesis, surgical techniques are used to place the dental prostheses by means of an abutment, which is often metallic. According to one prior art technique, the metallic abutment has an internally shouldered access bore through which a screw is inserted to hold the abutment on the implant.
In other techniques, a ceramic abutment is used. Since a ceramic support post is of greater hardness than a titanium implant, the ceramic may cause damage to the implant. In some embodiments, a metal core is used with a ceramic post to allow for a titanium-to-titanium interface between the abutment and the implant. Further, when examining the juncture between the support abutment and the titanium implant through conventional dental x-ray imaging, the interface between the metallic core and the implant is more readily viewable. Such embodiments of a ceramic abutment with a metallic core are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,343,930 and 6,168,435, which are commonly assigned and herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.


An armored gamma radiation detector for a solid mineral mining apparatus is provided comprising a scintillation element for detecting radiation emitted from a material to be mined. The radiation detector has a high strength armor assembly surrounding portions of the scintillation element, and a window in the armor assembly is provided adapted to allow gamma rays to reach the scintillation element.

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of rock during coal or ore mining operations.
A more effective way to control solid mineral mining equipment, or miners, has been greatly desired by the mining industry. Many concepts have already been tried, over a period of many years, to improve mining controls to increase the amount of coal, or other mineral, cut by the mining equipment and to decrease the amount of undesirable rock cut by the mining equipment. Many of these concepts involve "guidance" systems that direct or point the miner where to cut, based on predictions or assumptions related to the location of the mineral-rock interface. These predictions or assumptions are typically based on data or information obtained from the experience of the mining equipment from previous cuts.
One seemingly simplified approach employs repetitive cycles. A computer is instructed by the miner operator to perform specific cycles or the control system is programmed to memorize operator actions over a cycle and duplicate them. This approach does not work well because of the high variability of the rock and mineral formations and operational considerations. This approach is particularly ineffective when applied to continuous miners, because the miner rides on the floor that has been cut resulting in cutting errors (e.g., leaving an excessive layer of coal on the floor, or cutting excessively down into the rock on the floor) for one cut tending to be amplified for subsequent cuts.
In the case of long-wall mining there is some opportunity to utilize what has been learned on one pass along the mineral face to improve upon cutting strategy for the next pass along the face. One approach utilizes a memory system to log the profiles of the rock face at the floor and roof on one pass and then to use this knowledge to influence the cutting as the cutters pass along the same face, going in the opposite direction. This approach has been of only limited success because the rock face profile on one pass does not exactly reflect the needed rock face profile of the next pass and because there is much variability in the formations and mining operations. Consequently, such equipment and operation are limited in their efficiency in cutting to the rock-coal interface using guidance strategy.
Gamma detectors have, over the years, shown promise in detecting the location of the rock-wall interface for both continuous miners and long wall miners, but typically have not been effective because they have been installed so as to measure where the mining equipment has been rather than where the cutter is going. One reason that gamma detectors have often been used in a non-effective manner is that the detectors could not physically survive if subjected to the environment in locations where they would be most effective.
Numerous other approaches have already been conceived and tested over the years for directing or guiding mining equipment. Most of these concepts have not proven to be commercially successful due to technical deficiencies, implementation problems, and cost. Many types of sensors have been incorporated into control systems to monitor the shape, profile and characteristics of the formations through which the mining equipment is cutting and to make cutting decisions on where to point subsequent cuts based on this information. Thus, these approaches fail not only due to practical implementation problems but also because of a fundamental flaw with the concept. Knowledge about the shapes, profiles, or characteristics of the formation being passed through does not provide accurate information about the formation just ahead, for which the cutting decisions must be made.
In most of the examples above, the control systems employed have been complex and expensive. A typical approach is to -use a gravity-referenced or inertial-referenced control system, with various other sensors added. Some of these control concepts have been referred to as "horizon control systems." A horizon control system typically uses the gravity-referenced sensors or inertial-referenced sensors that keep track of the orientation of the continuous miner and the profile of the roof and floor.
In principle, the horizon control system approach is to control the mining equipment by use of guidance systems adapted to mining applications. However, as discussed above, guidance systems cannot generate accurate information about the formation to be cut because the historical information that they log in detail is not a valid indicator of what is ahead. Moreover, these guidance systems are complex and costly.
It is described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/811,781 that in underground coal mining, a properly designed and properly positioned, forward-looking armored gamma detector, in combination with a suitable control system, can be effective for reducing the amount of rock taken while extracting an increased amount of coal or other mineral. A mining control system that incorporates such forward-looking detectors is referred to as a "rock avoidance system." The use of rock avoidance systems can help cut the floor of the mine very smoothly and simplify the job of the operator. Rock avoidance systems allow continuous miner operators to be positioned further from the coal face, thus reducing health hazards.
However, even when used with forward-looking rock detectors as described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/811,781, these horizon control systems do not utilize the data generated by the rock detectors as fully as it could be used, because the systems are conceived and designed to guide or point, determining the direction to move, rather than being appropriately responsive to sources of external intelligence such as armored gamma detectors. In addition, inertial or gravity referenced systems are not typically designed to provide precision and timely measurements of cutter movements that will allow a rock detector to achieve maximum sensing accuracy.
Rock avoidance systems that rely upon complex guidance systems are costly and, complicated and have some inherent inefficiency resulting from their methodology. A need now exists to provide an accurate rock avoidance system that is simple, economical and easy to install and operate. There is also a need for such a rock avoidance system for use on long-wall mining equipment as well as continuous mining equipment.

Geosteering of solid mineral mining machines


A system and method for indicating the availability of a controller channel are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a controller operable to manage an array of data storage devices. The devices may include, for example, disk drives with both read and write functionality. Preferably, the controller will have at least one channel, which may have both an internal and an external connector. The system may also include an indicator operable to indicate when a data storage device is attached to an internal connector of a given channel. As such, employing teachings of the present disclosure may allow a user to accurately and expeditiously determine whether a given controller channel is available.

This invention relates in general to the field of computer systems, and more particularly to a system and method for indicating the availability of a RAID controller channel.
In recent years, data intensive applications have grown more common and have made storing vast amounts of data in an online format more important. For many of these applications, the medium storing the data needs to offer high degrees of security and reliability while remaining readily accessible to a number of different requesters.
While hard drives have proven to be the paragon of secure and readily accessible storage mediums, the storage demands created by many modern applications have become too great for a single hard drive to satisfy. To meet increased demands, many computing systems employ RAID technology. RAID (xe2x80x9cRedundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disksxe2x80x9d) technology unites the capacity of several devices into a segment of common storage and, as such, introduces increased data reliability with improved data throughput capabilities. In operation, a typical RAID array has data distributed in stripes across multiple devices. This striping enables a RAID system to access data from the multiple devices at the same time.
RAID technology appears across the entire computing spectrum from personal computers to mainframes. Despite having a multiple device configuration, a RAID array may be viewed as a very large virtual device. Providing the backbone for the RAID array is a RAID controller. The RAID controller not only relays the input/output (I/O) commands to specific devices in the array, but it often provides the physical link to each of the independent devices.
Some conventional RAID controllers provide this physical link with channels that have a small computer system interface (SCSI) connector. SCSI connectors provide a standard interface that allows many different kinds of SCSI devices to be connected to the RAID controller. Occasionally, a RAID controller has an individual channel with more than one SCSI connector. For example, a RAID controller may have an internal SCSI connector and an external SCSI connector for the same channel.
By providing both an internal and an external SCSI connector, conventional RAID systems offer some degree of set up flexibility. For example, in a server, an internal connector may be used to connect an onboard hard drive to an onboard RAID controller or an add-in RAID controller. Alternatively, an external connector may be used to connect an external device to an onboard controller or an add-in RAID controller. Unfortunately, this added flexibility creates a number of operational difficulties, due to some limitations of typical SCSI busses. Generally, only 16 devices are allowed in a wide SCSI bus, and these devices have a unique SCSI ID. Moreover, termination is usually allowed only at the end of the physical bus. To enforce these limitations, typical RAID controllers are located at the end of the SCSI bus. In other words, if the internal connector of a RAID channel is already connected to an onboard device, the external connector for that channel is usually considered unavailable and should not, in typical RAID systems, be connected to an additional device.
As such, before a user connects a device to an external connector of a RAID system, the user will often identify a connector to be used and determine if that connector""s channel is availablexe2x80x94the channel is not already connected to a device via an internal connector. Conventional processes for determining channel availability are often cumbersome and time consuming. For example, in a rack mounted server application, a user may need to power down the server, remove the server from the rack, remove a portion of the server""s housing, and visually determine if an internal SCSI connector is being used.
In accordance with teachings of the present invention, a system and method for indicating channel availability are disclosed that provide significant advantages over prior developed technologies. The disclosed embodiments allow a user to accurately and expeditiously determine whether a given RAID controller channel is available.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computing system may include a controller operable to manage an array of data storage devices. The devices may include, for example, disk drives with both read and write functionality. Preferably, the controller will have at least one channel, which may have both an internal and an external connector. In a preferred embodiment, the controller will be a RAID controller with multiple channels. The computing system may also include an indicator operable to indicate when a data storage device is attached to an internal connector of a given channel. The indicator may indicate attachment in any number of ways. For example, the indicator may indicate attachment with a light, a sound or some mechanical movement.
In one embodiment, the computing system may also include a test circuit. This test circuit may be conductively coupled to; the internal connector of a channel; the indicator for that channel; and a power source. The internal connector may be a SCSI connector such as a wide SCSI connector with sixty-eight pins. Preferably, the test circuit will be coupled to a specific pin of the connector. For example, the test circuit may be connected to the twentieth pin of a wide SCSI connector. In one embodiment, the specific pin may be one designated as a pin to ground by a connector protocol. A pin to ground is one that is grounded when a device is coupled to the connector and is open when no device is coupled to the connector.
In operation, the power source may cause a current to flow to the indicator only when the specific pin is grounded. As such, when a device is connected to the internal connector of a controller channel, current will flow to the indicator. If, for example, the indicator includes a light emitting diode (LED), the LED may only emit light when current flows to it or when the internal connector is connected to a device.
The disclosed embodiments will preferably allow for simplified identification of available controller channels and, as such, provide significant improvements over conventional systems. For example, the disclosed system and method may reduce or eliminate much of the labor intensive and time consuming aspects of conventional techniques for identifying available channels.
Additionally, the disclosed system and method may yield a more reliable determination of channel availability. Conventional techniques not only often require a user to visually inspect an internal connector to determine if a given channel is available, but they also require the user to know which internal connector to visually inspect. In many RAID systems, for example, there may be multiple channels. Each of these channels may have connector pairs including one external connector and one internal connector. A user seeking to connect a device to a channel at that channel""s external connector may attempt to determine if the channel is available by visually inspecting the internal connector associated with the channel. Unfortunately, the user may not know which internal connector to inspect and, as a result, may visually inspect the wrong internal connector.
Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings.

System for indicating channel availability by having a light emitting diode operative to signal of connection of a data storage device to an internal connector


A detachable table tennis apparatus includes a playing table detachably mounted on a table, and a plurality of positioning devices mounted on the playing table to position the playing table on the table. Thus, the playing table is mounted on tables of different sizes to facilitate a user playing the table tennis. In addition, the fixing block is driven by the two movable plates to press or release the rim of the table so as to lock or unlock the playing table, so that the playing table is mounted on and detached from the table easily and rapidly. Further, the playing table is foldable when not in use to reduce the volume of the table tennis apparatus, thereby facilitating storage and transportation of the table tennis apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a table tennis apparatus, and more particularly to a detachable table tennis apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional table for the table tennis comprises two playing surfaces juxtaposed to each other. Each of two playing surfaces has a bottom provided with a plurality of legs. However, the conventional table has a larger fixed volume, so that the table cannot be folded when not in use, thereby causing inconvenience to a user in storage, package and transportation of the table.


In a substrate vertical transistor cells are formed and are arranged, in a transistor cell array, row by row in an x direction and column by column in a y direction. Lower source/drain regions of the transistor cells are connected to a common connection plate. Upper source/drain regions of the transistor cells impart a contact connection for instance to a storage capacitor of a DRAM memory cell. Active trenches running between the transistor cells with word lines are formed along the x direction. The word lines form gate electrodes in sections. A potential at the gate electrode controls a conductive channel in an active region arranged in each case between the upper and the lower source/drain connection region. According to the invention, the active regions of adjacent transistor cells are sections of a contiguous layer body and are connected to one another. An accumulation of charge carriers in the active region and floating body effects are avoided without increasing the area requirement of a transistor cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and in particular to semiconductor memory architecture.
2. Background of the Invention
Memory cells of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) are usually designed as one transistor/one capacitor (1T1C) memory cells each having a storage capacitor for storing charge carriers and a selection transistor for addressing the storage capacitor. In the case of memory cells of the "trench capacitor" type, the storage capacitors are arranged in the substrate essentially below a transistor plane formed by the selection transistors and, in the case of memory cells of the "stacked capacitor" type, essentially above the transistor plane.
To increase the performance of DRAMs, both miniaturization of the feature sizes and achieving a smallest possible spacing between memory cells relative to a minimum feature size F is desirable. The minimum feature size may be reduced in lithography-dictated steps, in which case memory cell concepts can be transferred from a larger minimum feature size to a smaller minimum feature size without additional changes beyond shrinking of the memory cell structures to scale. Well-scalable memory cell concepts are advantageous since an additional outlay for changes in a layout of the memory cell structures over and above adaptations that are purely to scale is limited in the event of a transition to a smaller feature size.
A known approach to reducing the space requirement of a memory cell, is to provide the selection transistor in a structure that is vertical with respect to the transistor plane. In this case, the source/drain connection regions (S/D junctions) are arranged essentially vertically one above the other relative to the transistor plane. A channel controlled by a gate electrode of the selection transistor is then formed, principally in a direction perpendicular to the transistor plane, in an active region of the selection transistor which is provided between the two source/drain connection regions of the selection transistor. An architecture having vertical transistor cells is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,894 B1 (Goebel et al.) and illustrated in FIG. 1, which is adapted from the Figures of the above patent specification.
FIG. 1 shows a plurality of transistor cells 81 arranged on a substrate 1. In this case, each transistor cell 81 has an upper source/drain connection region 4 and a lower source/drain connection region 2. An active region (also called body region) 3 is in each case formed between upper 4 and lower 2 source/drain connection regions. transistor cells 81 are respectively arranged in rows and columns arranged at right angles to one another, the rows extending along an x direction and the columns extending along a y direction perpendicular to the x direction. Within a row, respectively adjacent transistor cells 81 are separated by narrow isolation trenches 6. Adjacent rows are isolated from one another by wide active trenches 5. First sections of gate electrodes 52 are formed in narrow isolation trenches 6. Two mutually insulated word lines 521, 522 which are respectively assigned to one of the adjacent rows pass through wide active trenches 5, said word lines forming second sections of gate electrodes 52. Gate electrodes 52 respectively arranged in a row are conductively connected to one another via word lines 521, 522. Gate electrode 52 of each transistor cell 81 surrounds active region 3 from four sides. Lower source/drain connection regions 2 of transistor cells 81 are formed as sections of a connection plate (buried plate) 21, which, in an upper region, is patterned by active trenches 5 and isolation trenches 6, and are electrically conductively connected to one another. Gate electrode 52 of a transistor cell 81 is insulated from active region 3 of assigned transistor cell 81 by a gate dielectric 51. An insulator layer 50 insulates source/drain connection regions 2, 4 from adjoining conductive structures and is opened section by section for the connection of the upper source/drain connection regions, for instance to an electrode of a storage capacitor, in the course of a further processing.
A disadvantage of the illustrated architecture of transistor cells 81 is that active regions 3 of transistor cells 81 are electrically without connection.
If, in the operating state of a transistor cell, a channel controlled by a potential at the gate electrode is formed in the active region of the transistor cell, then majority carriers do not flow away from the active region in transistor cells without electrical connection of the active region. However, an accumulation of majority carriers in the active region disadvantageously alters the electrical properties of the transistor cell. In particular, an accumulated charge in the active region can activate a parasitic bipolar transistor which, under specific operating conditions of an architecture of memory cells, may cause a leakage current to or from the source/drain connection region oriented toward the storage capacitor (floating body effect). As a result, a charge stored on the storage capacitor is altered and a datum represented by the charge and stored in the memory cell is corrupted, if the storage capacitor is not recharged within a specified time. Each recharging process increases an average access time to the datum stored in the memory cell and the power consumption of the memory cell.
With the transistor cell architecture illustrated in FIG. 1 it is possible, with a minimum feature size F, to produce memory cells with a planar area requirement of 4 F2, or 8 F2 in the case of memory concepts with a so-called folded bit line structure. An additional connection for the active region of each transistor cell according to a conventional type would considerably increase the area requirement of the transistor cell.

Architecture for vertical transistor cells and transistor-controlled memory cells


A mechanism for dealing with faster clock speeds by increasing the pulse width of the pump-up and pump-down pulses of a Hogge-type phase detector without dividing the clock. In particular, the NRZ data stream is divided into two, interleaved data streams which are provided through two series of flip-flops. By connecting the exclusive-OR gates separately to the two series of flip-flops to generate the pump-up and pump-down pulses, a longer time between transitions can be achieved by having alternate transitions (up and down) used by the two different series of flip-flops. In addition, delay circuits are provided to compensate for the clock-to-data output delay of the flip-flops.

The present invention relates to phase detectors for Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) data.
One type of phase detector is the Hogge phase detector, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,459. The Hogge phase detector provides good performance by detecting the phase at the mid-point of a pulse, where there is maximum noise immunity.
The above-referenced co-pending application modifies a Hogge phase detector for use in a Return-to-Zero (RZ) phase detector. The present invention, on the other hand, is directed to a different modification for improved use with NRZ data.
NRZ data has recently been popularized in the synchronous optical network (SONET) protocol used in fiber optics. The Hogge detector produces pump-up and pump-down signals which control the charge in the charge pump to provide a correction signal used in tracking and synchronizing with the incoming data. As clock speeds become faster, the pump-up and pump-down signals are shorter, leading to potential errors. One method for addressing this is to divide down the clock signal. However, this generates a separate problem with clock skew. An additional problem with high-speed data is that the clock-to-data output delay through the flip-flops used in a Hogge detector become significant with respect to the clock period. An example of a patent which discusses and addresses clock to data delay is Pat. No. 6,316,966.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a circuit which could implement a Hogge detector in a manner which can handle high-speed data without errors, and without clock skew.

Interleaved pulse-extended phase detector


An apparatus for measuring biopotential signals comprises a plurality of electrodes embedded or affixed to a wearable worn about the torso of a pregnant subject, enabling the non-invasive acquisition of electrocardiographic signals and the extraction of separate fetal and maternal electrocardiographic signals therefrom. The wearable is stretchable or adjustable to accommodate any maternal body habitus and can advantageously employ dry physiologic electrodes to eliminate the step of skin preparation and provide longer-term monitoring that is also both more convenient and more comfortable.

Acquiring signals indicative of the health of a fetus, both during gestation and during labor, assists in the treatment of a pregnant subject to insure healthy growth and delivery of the fetus. A determination of the heart health profile of a fetus may be used to screen for developmental heart defects, and, as fetal hypoxemia can alter the shape of the fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) waveform, the ability to acquire the electrocardiogram of a fetus is particularly desirable during labor to determine whether the fetus is getting enough oxygen. Such information assists an obstetrician in making informed health care decisions, such as whether to expedite delivery by means such as Caesarian section, in order to prevent or reduce the risk of severe metabolic acidosis and neonatal encephalopathy, which can result in cerebral palsy or other undesirable outcomes. Reliable acquisition of fetal ECG signals is critical to the identification of characteristic ECG patterns that detect existent fetal injury or predict impending or fetal injury caused by inflammatory, hypoxic, or ischemic insults. Presently-used invasive methods for fetal ECG monitoring are only conducted during labor, so there exists no ECG method of screening for fetal heart defects. Earlier, more accurate determination of such defects might lead to quicker repair of such defects after birth, or even before birth.
Non-invasive acoustic devices such as stethoscopes and microphones have long been used to determine fetal heart rate by listening for and counting a fetal heartbeat. Such methods do not present all the information found in a fetal electrocardiogram. Devices such as the cardiotocograph and the Doppler fetal monitor use an ultrasound transducer to detect fetal heartbeat and determine fetal heart rate, but such devices are labor intensive and inherently unreliable because they require regular adjustment of an ultrasound transducer over a fetal artery or heart valve, such placement being prone to change due to fetal or maternal movement. In any case, these devices do not acquire an electrocardiogram.
The fetal scalp electrode method involves passing an electrode through the pregnant subject's cervix and attaching it to the head of the fetus. Use of such a method is limited to the final stages of labor when the fetal scalp is accessible through the birth canal following the rupture of the amniotic membranes and the dilation of the cervix, and moreover presents the disadvantages typical of invasive diagnostics, e.g., complexity and expense of setup, subject discomfort, potential for harm to the fetus, and risk of infection. Cases of fetal scalp abscess have been reported after use of this method.
Although an accurate model of fetal heart activity can be constructed, the acquisition of a true representation of a fetal ECG from electrophysiological signals acquired by electrodes non-invasively placed on the skin of the maternal torso is impeded by absorptive media that exist between the fetus and the subject's abdominal surface and by the presence of the stronger maternal ECG that must be filtered out to remove interference. Techniques for isolating the fetal cardiac signal have remained as simple as template subtraction, matched filters, averaging and principal component analysis (PCA).
Experimental non-invasive fetal electrophysiology monitoring systems are cumbersome because of the setup time involved in the placement of the electrodes. NeuroDimensions Incorporated has been developing fECG algorithms, and has used 8-12 gel-based ECG electrodes for their acquisition apparatus. This number of ECG electrodes is inadequate to permit acquisition of ECG signals in a sufficient number of electrical axes so as to extract and distinguish fetal ECG and maternal ECG from the acquired signal. The portable fetal heart rate monitoring system CARE 2000, developed by Monica Healthcare, records the very small electrical signals generated by the fetal heartbeat and other electrophysiological events present on the maternal abdomen. The Care 2000 has demonstrated excellent correlation of the extracted fetal heart rate in comparison with conventional Doppler ultrasound fetal heart recording. The electrophysiological signals can also be used to extract fetal position, uterine activity information, and fetal ECG morphology parameters. However, this device cannot identify or assess the entire ECG waveform.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,168 to Frink describes a plurality of surface electrodes attached to a mother's skin and signal processing apparatus for distinguishing fetal rhythm ECG. U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,200 to Baker describes mounting a plurality of acoustic sensors and a movement sensor to a belt for detecting fetal heart rate, and while the disclosure contemplates using electrocardiographic electrodes in lieu of acoustic sensors, it does not envision acquiring a fetal electrocardiogram, only using sensors to obtain fetal heart rate. Baker also does not envision extraction and distinction of various types of electrophysiological signals from each other, such as ECG from a signal dominated by EMG, or vice versa.
Gel-type electrodes include a hydrating gel for reducing impedance of electrode-skin contact. Because this impedance increases as the hydrating gel dries, ultimately to the point where artifact dominates useful electrophysiological signal, these electrodes have a limited shelf life and a relatively short useful lifetime once applied. Application of gel-type electrodes also typically involves preparation of the electrode placement site by emery abrasion of the stratum corneum layer of the skin. For this reason and because of the adhesives typically used to secure them to the skin site, gel-type electrodes are generally not repositionable after they have been placed. They can become uncomfortable after extended wear due to the skin abrasion and due to irritation caused by the tape.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to offer a comfortable, convenient, wearable monitoring apparatus that makes both short-term and long-term non-invasive fetal and maternal biosignal monitoring simple and inexpensive. Specifically, it would be desirable to have a monitoring apparatus that could be easily put on and taken off without special training that would nevertheless be capable of reliably acquiring high-quality electrophysiological signals from both the fetus and the mother. Additionally, it is the object of the present invention to offer an electrode harness in the form of a wearable with sensor design and placement adapted to the acquisition of fetal and maternal ECG signals. Additionally, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of fetal ECG acquisition useable at any stage of gestation or delivery. It is further the object of the present invention to offer an integrated, resizable electrode harness that uses dry electrodes with an unlimited shelf life and a much longer useful lifetime once applied, and which also reduces setup time by eliminating the need for skin preparation. Finally, it is the object of the present invention to offer an electrode harness that allows advanced assessment of the fetal ECG waveform characteristics, which will mitigate risk to the fetus during delivery.

Apparatus for non-invasive fetal biosignal acquisition


An apparatus for enhancing the light reflective properties of a sidewall of a pneumatic tire. The tire may include a pair of sidewalls radially extending from a central axis of rotation of the tire. The sidewalls may include an inner diameter and an outer diameter defining an external surface. At least one of the sidewalls may include an annular band formed on the external surface of the sidewall. The annular band may include a pair of spaced apart band edge surfaces, each including a first edge and a sinusoidal second edge that may help to reduce sidewall undulations and enhance the reflective properties of the sidewall, so that indicia formed on the annular band may be legible to a viewer. Additionally, the sidewalls may also include any type of indicia.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to the field of tires. In particular, exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to enhancing/manipulating light reflective properties of sidewalls of pneumatic tires.
Pneumatic tires may be constructed from a radial body, which is attached to a bead structure, to form a toroidal shape when inflated. The bead structure may include a plurality of steel wires or cables, which, under tension, fit around the design rim of a tire for a vehicle. The radial body ply may be wrapped circumferentially with at least one steel belt. The tread, which contacts the road surface, may be formed outside of the at least one steel belt. The tread may be connected to the bead structure by a relatively thin section of sidewall rubber.
Vehicle tires having the above construction may affect various aspects of the vehicle's operation, such as the smoothness of the ride, the handling characteristics of the vehicle, the durability of the tire, and gasoline mileage. For example, decreasing rolling resistance of the tire may increase the gasoline mileage of the vehicle. Rolling resistance may be decreased in forming the sidewalls of the tire as mono-ply structures covered by a thin rubber stock layer. However, as a result, cosmetically unappealing sidewall undulations may be formed in the sidewalls of the tire. These sidewall undulations may be viewed as defects in the sidewalls of the tire.
Related art tire sidewalls include annular indicia bands to assist in concealing the unsightly sidewall undulations. These indicia bands may include numerals, letters, symbols and/or other characters to enhance the appearance of the tire sidewalls, as well as provide information. The information provided by the indicia may include information about a tire manufacturer and/or a tire, such as the manufacturer's name, a product name, tire specifications, a warning label, and/or other identifying information.
Although all of the information provided by the indicia may not always be substantively useful, the indicia may be provided on the sidewalls of the tire so as to provide an aesthetic and/or a decorative component, and may be viewed by any of the users at any time. Those viewing the indicia may include a tire manufacturer, a buyer, an end user, and/or any other person that handles and/or views the tire. However, the indicia may not always be legible to the users due to light reflective properties and/or light absorbent properties of the sidewalls of the tires.

Apparatus for enhancing light reflective properties of tire sidewalls

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC