A method and system connects a first terminal via multiple networks to a second terminal. An environment description is acquired and parsed by a description parser into cost parameters using a set of rules. An objective function evaluates the cost parameters to determine an optimal path to connect the first terminal to the second terminal through the multiple networks using a switch. The selection of the optimal path can be done periodically during a particular application session.

As shown in FIG. 1, for a communications network 100, a path is defined as all physical links 101 and nodes 102 that connect two terminals 110–111. The nodes can be routers, bridges, gateways, and the like The transmission medium of the communication network 100 can be, for example, cable, fiber, wired, wireless, satellite, and the like. The terminals 110–111 can be any type of device capable of transmitting or receiving data via the network 100. For example, in a cable network, the terminal 110 can be a content or Web server, and the terminal 111 can be a television connected to the network via a set-top box. In a wireless network, the terminals can be telephones, computers, PDA's, etc. Depending on the application, a terminal, at any one time, can be source or a destination for communicated signals, or both.
The conventional approach for selecting a path first selects a network, and then selects a path in the selected network on the basis of some desired cost or "objective." The objective can be attained by evaluating some predetermined objective function. The objective function can consider multiple factors, such as, monetary cost, bandwidth, capacity, link utilization, quality of serve (QoS), and the like. Some factors may be minimized, while others are maximized. For example, some users want to maximize bandwidth and QoS, no matter what the cost, while others may be interested in minimizing cost, even if performance is degraded.
In any case, the objective function is evaluated once, and an optimal path that best satisfies the objective function is selected, and a connection is established. The selected network and path are then used for all access by the terminals for the lifetime of the connection, i.e., a session providing data access services. In FIG. 1, this path is shown bolded. In other words, the selection of the path is static and for a single network.
A variety of methods for selecting the optimal path are known, see for example, R. Bhandri, "Algorithms for Diverse Routing," Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, D. Bertsakas, "Linear Network Optimization: The Algorithm and the Codes," MIT press, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,244, "QoS-oriented one-to-all route selection method for communication networks," issued to Huang, et al. on Oct. 9, 2001, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,701, "Method and system for performing a least cost routing function for data communications between end users in a multi-network environment," issued to Avargues, et al. on Aug. 15, 2000.
Among the most popular methods are the well-known Dijkstra algorithm, the breath-first-search (BPF) shortest path algorithm, and the Belman-Ford algorithm. These methods basically operate on the same principle. The selection of the optimal path is based on the combined costs of the individual links that form the path.
For instance, the Dijkstra's algorithm models the objective function as a graph with weighted links. Given a root vertex as its input, the function returns, as its output, a label for each vertex on the graph. In the case where the weights represent the length of the links, each vertex label represents the length of the shortest path from the root vertex to a particular vertex. Thus, the algorithm finds the shortest path for traveling from a given vertex on a graph to every other vertex.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,122, "Method and apparatus for routing traffic in a circuit-switched network," issued to Andersson on Jan. and an apparatus for routing traffic in a circuit switched network. This patent relates to traffic switching in a single telecommunications network including a plurality of routes between a call originating and destination terminals with no concern of time variant cost parameters, but not to that in a system with multiple networks with the concern of time variant objectives for use in communication switching. The method includes offering a call between an origin node and a destination node to a preferred route between the nodes, and if the preferred route is not available, offering an alternative route via an intermediate node, and for links between two nodes, setting a first trunk reservation threshold for reserving a certain number of circuits for direct calls along the links between the two nodes, and setting a second trunk reservation threshold for calls between nodes connecting a second link of the alternative route.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,245, "Automatic channel switching for jamming avoidance in burst-mode packet data wireless communication networks," issued to Satyanarayana, et al. on Dec. 4, 2001, relates to the field of wireless networks in which a large number of nodes communicate with a central computer. The invention relates more particularly to avoiding jamming in such a system. The invention uses a single channel of communication.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,878, "Mobile communications system with portable terminal for facilitating channel switching," issued to Noda on Aug. 21, 2001, describes a mobile communications system. A portable terminal can be used continuously in the mobile system without substantially terminating a communication session even when the communication with the mobile terminal is transferred from one base station to another as the terminal moves around.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,526, "Transmission system for switching connection from a working channel line to a protection channel line while avoiding instantaneous cutoff upon failure," issued to Egoshi on Dec. 19, 2000, relates to a transmission system with multiple terminals linked by a working channel line and a protection channel line in a redundant structure wherein a connection is switched from the working channel line to the protection channel line while avoiding instantaneous cut off when the working channel line has failed. That system does not consider the possibility that even if there is no failure, it may be desired to switch from a working channel to the protection channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,807, "Method of switching a channel from a first propagation path to a second propagation path," issued to Magnier, et al. on Nov. 30, 1999, describes a satellite telecommunications network for mobile stations. The network operates in a "switched diversity" mode in which a call set up between a first station, e.g., a base station, and a second station, e.g., a mobile terminal, can be transmitted over either one of two propagation paths, i.e., via one of two distinct satellites based on the measurement of a value representative of signal-to-noise ratio for each of said propagation paths, namely the current path and a next path.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,050, "Allocating communication traffic," issued to Johnson on Oct. 19, 1999, describes a method for selecting one of a number of possible routes through a communications network from a first node to a second node. The method includes defining a relationship between a range of costs for routes and a traffic density for routes. The relationship is represented by a curve with at least one point of inflection. The method monitors and uses traffic density for each of the possible routes to establish the cost of each the possible route in accordance with the relationship. One of the possible routes is selected in dependence on the cost of each possible route as established by said relationship.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,655, "Hybrid access system with quality-based channel switching," issued to Moura, et al. on Oct. 27, 1998, describes an asymmetric network communication system for use in a client-server environment having independent forward and return channels operating at different speeds and/or under different protocols on the same or different communication media to provide efficient utilization of shared resources. A network manager, such as a hybrid access system, effects transmission of packetized data on a forward (downstream) channel from a host server to multiple client devices coupled with a shared downstream media while simultaneously providing selectable multiple lower speeds of operation on shared or dedicated return (upstream) channels from the client devices to the host server depending on bandwidth availability, bandwidth demand, service level authorization, etc. for the return channel. Forward and return channels may be located on the same or different communication medium including a CATV network, direct broadcast satellite network, television or radio RF broadcast network, wireless or mobile cellular facilities or the like. The return channel may reside on a PSTN either directly coupled with the host server or connected with the network manager for subsequent transmission to the host server. The network manager handles or controls the forward and return communication to establish interactive full-duplex real-time network sessions between the host and a selected client device. The network manager switches upstream channel assignment based on quality of signals transmitted to the host. The system effects changes in the upstream transmitted power based on sensed conditions.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/862,899, "Method and system for assigning circuits to a new service request in a communications network," filed on May 22, 2001 by Sahinoglu and Porikli, a method for admission decision of application service request to a network is described. It does not involve channel management after a service request is granted and placed on an available channel.
In general, the primary drawback of using the prior art methods is that other networks and other paths may, at a later time, better satisfy the objective function after the network and path have initially been selected. In that case, the selected path is no longer the optimal path. Based on prior art methods, there is no way to exploite the availability of multiple networks in an optimal way.
Many elements are known for building an infrastructure to generate, transmit and receive multimedia content over networks, such as the one shown in FIG. 1. For example, standards such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 play an important role in the efficient broadcast and distribution of audio and video content, see ISO/IEC 13818:1995, "Information Technology—Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio," and ISO/IEC 14496:1999, "Information Technology—Coding of Audio-Visual Objects," respectively. For transport over IP networks, there exist a variety of specifications defined by the IETF, see for example, "RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real Time Applications," RFC 1889, January 1996 by Schulzrinne, et al., and "RTP Payload Format for MPEG-4 Audio/Visual Streams," RFC 3016, November 2000 by Kikuchi, et al. Furthermore, for the search and retrieval of multimedia contents, MPEG-7 provides a standardized set of descriptors and descriptions schemes, see ISO/IEC 15938:2001, "Information Technology—Multimedia Content Description Interface."
However, currently there is no standard that describes how these elements, either in existence or under development, relate to each other. The primary aim of the emerging MPEG-21 standard, officially referred to as ISO/IEC 21000, "Information Technology—Multimedia Framework," is to describe how these relate to each other. It is expected that the various specifications that exist, or will be developed, will be integrated into a multimedia framework through collaboration between MPEG and other standardization bodies. The overall vision for MPEG-21 is to define a multimedia framework to enable transparent and augmented use of multimedia resources across a wide range of networks and devices.
Within the MPEG-21 framework, the fundamental unit of transaction is referred to as a "digital item." A digital item is defined as a structured digital object with a standard representation and identification. The digital item includes resources (content) and associated descriptors The resources can include individual multimedia assets, such as MPEG videos, MP3 audio files. The descriptors include descriptive information about the internals of the resources, such as content identification and content-based descriptors, e.g., an MPEG-7 description. The proposed framework currently does not consider external descriptions, such as network condition, terminal characteristics, and user preferences.
MPEG-21 has recently developed a Digital Item Declaration (DID), Part 2 of ISO/IEC 21000, which is scheduled to become an international standard in May 2002. The purpose of the DID is to declare the make-up and structure of a digital item. An XML-based Digital Item Language Declaration (DIDL) has been developed. The DIDL is a generic structure to provide hierarchical and flexible meta-data expression, as well as re-usable and configurable elements. To enable an interoperable framework and support various applications, it is important that these descriptors be specified in a standardized way.
It is desired to provide descriptors that can also be used for optimal network and path selection. Furthermore, it is desired that the selection can change dynamically while terminals actively transmit and receive resources within any available network.

Dynamic optimal path selection in multiple communications networks

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


The invention relates to the treating, inhibiting or preventing of certain infectious agents including papilloma virus and various vaginitis-causing microbes by employing cellulose sulfate and other sulfated polysaccharides. In one embodiment, the method involves preventing, inhibiting or treating fungal infections. Corresponding methods of use in manufacturing a medicament as well as use in preventing and inhibiting various infectious agents as well as malignant lesions are disclosed. In another embodiment, use of a sulfated polysaccharide in preventing, inhibiting or treating a parasitic infection is disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,941 (941) describes inhibitory effects of certain sulfated polysaccharides on the enveloped retrovirus, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-III (now known as HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-1)). As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,704, sulfated polysaccharides are also known to be effective against various other enveloped viruses and in particular herpes simplex virus (HSV). The 941 patent, however, discloses that the inhibitory characteristics of sulfated polysaccharides against HIV-1 is quite different from the activities of polysaccharide sulfates against herpes virus. Since different viruses can have fundamentally different properties, a sulfated polysaccharide which is effective against one virus may not be effective against a different virus.
While the binding of human papilloma virus-like particles (VLP's) to HaCaT cells has been shown to be inhibited by heparin and dextran sulfate (Joyce et al. The L1 Major Capsid Protein of Human Papillomavirus Type 11 Recombinant Virus-like Particles Interacts with Heparin and Cell-surface Glycosaminoglycans on Human Keratinocytes. The Journal of Biological Chemisty, 1999, Vol 274, No. 9, February 26, pp. 5810-5822), studies with VLP's do not reflect papilloma virus infection and it is not known that sulfated polysaccharides can inhibit papilloma virus infection. Papilloma virus differs from HSV and HIV in that it does not have an envelope and it differs from retroviruses such as HIV since it is a DNA virus and does not rely on the enzyme reverse transcriptase for replication. This difference may explain the resistance of papilloma virus to nonoxynol-9, a commonly used spermicide, which has been shown to inhibit both HIV and HSV (Hermonat, P. L., Daniel, R. W. and Shah, K. V. The spermicide nonoxynol-9 does not inactivate papillomavirus Sex. Transm. Dis. 1992; 19:203-205).
Papilloma viruses infect basal cells of epithelia and induce squamous epithelial and fibroepithelial tumors, e.g., warts (papillomas) and condylomata and can lead to malignant epithelial lesions. (Tzenan Giroglou, et al. Human Papillomavirus Infection Requires Cell Surface Heparan Sulfate Journal of Virology, February 2001, p. 1565-1570). Genital human papilloma virus infections represent one of the most frequent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and papilloma virus infection of the vaginal mucosa in women has been linked to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer represents the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in women and accounts for more than 200,000 deaths per year world-wide (Pisani, P., Parkin, D. M., and Ferlay, J. Estimates of the worldwide mortality from eighteen major cancers in 1985. Implications for prevention and projections of future burden. International Journal of Cancer 55:891-903. 1993).
To date, very few reagents with microbicidal activity against human papilloma virus (HPV) infections have been described. These include reagents that specifically target HPVs such as monoclonal antibodies with virus neutralizing activity (Christensen, N. D., N. M. Cladel, and C. A Reed. 1995. Postattachment neutralization of papillomaviruses by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Virology 207:136-142; Christensen, N. D., J. W. Kreider, N. M. Cladel, S. D. Patrick, and P. A. Welsh. 1990. Monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization of infectious human papillomavirus type 11. J. Virol. 64:5678-5681) and virus non-specific agents such as povidone-iodine (Sokal, D. C. and P. L. Hermonat. 1995. Inactivation of papillomavirus by low concentrations of povidone-iodine. Sex Transm. Dis. 22:22-24.), alkyl sulfates and monocaprin (Howett, M. K, E. B. Neely, N. D. Christensen, B. Wigdahl, F. C. Krebs, D. Malamud, S. D. Patrick, M. D. Pickel, P. A. Welsh, C. A. Reed, M. G. Ward, L. R. Budgeon, and J. W. Kreider. 1999. A broad-spectrum microbicide with virucidal activity against sexually transmitted viruses. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 43:314-321; Howett, M. K., Wigdahl, B., Malamud, D., Christensen, N. D., Wyrick, P. B., Krebs, F. C., and Catalone, B. J. Alkyl sulfates: a new family of broad spectrum microbicides. XIII International AIDS Conference, 707-712. 2000. Durban, South Africa, Monduzzi Editore). Several reagents that have microbicidal activity against a broad range of STDs have proven to be ineffective against papillomaviruses such as C31G and as mentioned above nonoxynol-9. Some of these agents also induce significant cellular cytotoxicity. An effective treatment or prevention of papilloma virus infection is currently not available.
Cellulose sulfate, a sulfated polysaccharide can be synthesized by various known methods of sulfation of cellulose and may be readily obtained commercially. Sulfated cellulose has been reported to inhibit HIV activities in vitro (Yamamoto et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 14 (1990) 53-63). U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,773 (773) discloses the inhibitory effects of cellulose sulfate on HIV and HSV and further discloses that it can be used to treat or prevent bacterial infections. The 773 patent also discloses cellulose sulfate can reduce the risk of conception.

Cellulose sulfate and other sulfated polysaccharides to prevent and treat papilloma virus infection and other infections

Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center


The present disclosure provides an apparatus for preparing oligomer including: a reactor; a gas-liquid separator; a solvent transfer line; a second transfer line; a first spray nozzle unit; and a second spray nozzle unit. The apparatus is capable of improving stability of the entire process by including a first spray nozzle unit and a second spray nozzle unit in a reactor and thus preventing by-products containing polymer substances such as C20+ from being entrained with a desired product during a reaction.

An alpha olefin is an important substance used for a comonomer, a cleaner, a lubricant, a plasticizer, or the like, and has been used commercially widely used. In particular, 1-hexene and 1-octene have been frequently used as a comonomer to control a density of polyethylene when producing linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).
The alpha olefin such as 1-hexene or 1-octene typically has been produced through an oligomerization reaction of ethylene. The oligomerization reaction of ethylene is performed through an oligomerization reaction (a trimerization reaction or a tetramerization reaction) of ethylene in the presence of a catalyst using ethylene as a reactant. As a product produced through the reaction, a small amount of by-products containing polymer substances such as C20+ are produced during a catalytic reaction, in addition to a multi-component hydrocarbon mixture containing a desired 1-hexene and 1-octene. The by-products accumulate not only on an inner wall of a reactor but also in devices for subsequent processes of the reactor such as a condenser, a pipe, and a valve, which causes fouling. As such, in a case where the fouling occurs in the devices for the subsequent processes of the reactor, performance degradation and mechanical damage of the devices are caused, and in the worst case, operations of the entire processes are required to be shut down. Thus, a production amount is reduced due to a reduction of operating time, and a cost required in a cleaning process increases.
Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, it is required to conduct studies to reduce the amount of entrainment of solids containing polymers and liquids in a reactor.


The present disclosure discloses a mounting structure, an antenna device and a method for assembling the antenna device. The mounting structure is used for mounting a connector to a first fixing part and a second fixing part, and comprises: a main body portion which defines a hollow cavity for receiving the connector, a first flange arranged on an upper surface of the main body portion around the hollow cavity and a second flange arranged on the upper surface of the main body portion around the first flange and spaced apart from the first flange; a protective pad received in a protective pad receiving portion defined between the first flange and the second flange; a supporting component to be fixed to the second fixing part, the main body portion being fitted within the supporting component; and at least one fastener used for fastening the mounting structure to the first fixing part, so that the first flange comes into direct contact with the lower surface of the first fixing part.

In the field of wireless communication, many antennas (e.g. sector antennas) are mounted outdoors, and in order to reduce the maintenance work, the sector antenna should have reliable anti-electromagnetic interference performance and protection performance (for example, reaching the IP65 protection level).
An aluminum extrusion frame is generally arranged on the back of the antenna to allow cooperation with a blind mate connector. The connector should be precisely located in the extrusion frame. Multiple connectors (e.g., radio frequency connectors) need to be connected to the inner core of the antenna before the extrusion frame is installed in order to perform RF (radio frequency) testing. Many mounting structures are known in the prior art, but these mounting structures cannot typically ensure reliable protection performance and/or anti-electromagnetic interference performance after the extrusion frame is mounted. In addition, the mounting work using these mounting structures is relatively complex, particularly when multiple connectors need to be mounted.

Mounting structure, antenna device and method for assembling antenna device


An anti-rotation guide for preventing rotation of a roller follower valve lifter in an internal combustion engine. The guide has an outer surface for engaging an engine bore and an inner surface for slidably receiving the lifter. One end of the guide includes an anti-rotation feature for cooperating with a mating feature on the lifter, preferably flats although other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The anti-rotation feature may take any of a plurality of shapes, including but not limited to an arm and tang, a flap, and an orifice flat. The guide is installed from an opening in the engine bore proximate a camshaft disposed in the engine block. The cooperating features prevent axial rotation of a lifter within the sleeve but do not inhibit axial or reciprocal motion of the lifter.

Hydraulic valve lifters and solid valve lifters, for use in internal combustion engines, are well known in the engine art. A valve lifter of this type, engaging a camshaft lobe at one end and a push-rod or valve stem at the other end, slides reciprocally in a bore of the engine block. The lifter, typically assembled from the top side of the engine block, engages a camshaft lobe via a camshaft follower end which preferably includes a roller. Unless suitably constrained by an anti-rotation guide, a roller follower lifter may rotate axially in its bore during reciprocation, thereby undesirably misaligning its roller follower from the associated cam lobe.
Lifter anti-rotation guides in the prior art are positioned on and secured to the top side surface of the engine block adjacent the lifter bore. When fastened to the engine block above the lifter, a closely-fitting aperture in the anti-rotation guide snuggly surrounds an end of the lifter exposed above the engine block opposite the roller follower end. A locating feature in the guide aperture, such as a flat or a keyway, mates with a similar feature in the lifter to prevent the lifter from rotating about its longitudinal axis during reciprocation. Since the prior art anti-rotation guide resides above the block and occupies significant space, it may interfere with other engine components such as the cylinder head and intake manifold. Typically, a lifter is installed into its bore from the top side of the engine, and the anti-rotation guide is attached to the engine following lifter installation.
However, in some engines where the camshaft is embedded deeply inside the engine block, it is not possible for the lifters to be assembled from the top side of the block, and it may even be undesirable for an end of the lifter to be exposed above the block to be gripped by an anti-rotation guide installed on the top of the block as in the prior art. In such engines, the lifters must be installed from the bottom side of an engine block. Because of space constraints on the bottom side of an engine block, a conventional, externally mounted anti-rotation aperture guide cannot be readily adapted for use on the bottom side of the block.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a compact anti-rotation guide that fits inside an engine block as a non-rotatable sleeve between a lifter body and a lifter bore.
What is further needed in the art is a compact anti-rotation guide that can be assembled into an engine from the bottom side, or camshaft side, of an engine block.
What is further needed in the art is a compact anti-rotation guide that can be assembled into an engine block before the corresponding valve lifter is installed.
What is still further needed in the art is a compact anti-rotation guide that also permits oil to flow to a lash-control element of a hydraulic valve lifter.
What is still further needed in the art is a compact anti-rotation guide-element comprising a plurality of individual anti-rotation guides, the element being kittable in a pre-assembly step.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide lifter anti-rotation means that permits installation of a valve lifter from the bottom side of an engine block.

Anti-rotation guide for a roller follower valve lifter


A system for processing a prioritizing protocol for a database, the system including an interface for nominating a first prioritizing protocol that maps a plurality of user accounts to one or more performance groups and to one or more periods; a processor that is responsive to the interface for defining a second prioritizing protocol; and an output in communication with the processor for exporting the second prioritizing protocol. The processor defines the second prioritizing protocol by defining a plurality of workload classes; associating each user account to a particular workload class; and mapping each workload class to a workload weight. The system provides a mechanism for DBMS administrators to migrate their systems from user-centric management to workload-centric management, wherein many DBMS components require updating, replacement or modification.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
As database management systems continue to increase in function and expand into new application areas, the diversity of database workloads is increasing as well. In addition to the classic relational DBMS workload consisting of short transactions running concurrently with long decision support requests workloads comprising of an even wider range of system demands are expected.
Most known databases implement user-centric management. That is, incoming requests are separated and managed in response to the characteristics of users that submit the requests. To cope with this wider range of system demands, DBMS have been developed that use workload-centric management. That is, they separate and manage requests in response to characteristics of the individual requests.
As DBMS administrators migrate their systems from user-centric management to workload-centric management, many DBMS components require updating, replacement or modification. In many cases a great deal of time and money has been expended on personalizing complex settings in these components for a particular administrator's needs.
Throughout the specification, reference is made to the terms "workload class", "workload group" and workload definition". Those skilled in the art will recognize these terms as substantially synonymous. That is, the terms each relate to the same general identification structure used to separate requests for prioritization, processing and performance monitoring in a CLSM database system.

System and method for processing a prioritizing protocol


A wearable sombrero-style hat with a refillable reservoir is disclosed. The sombrero-style, or type, hat has a generally conical crown with an opening at the top of the conical crown. The opening allows the use of a reservoir that is adapted for insertion through the opening in the conical crown. The reservoir also includes an upper end with a fill neck that has a cantilevered collar or protrusion that extend from the fill neck in a generally radial manner. The collar or protrusions engages the edge of the edge of the opening at the top of the generally conical crown to support the fill neck at or near the top of the conical crown, while the lower end and outlet of the reservoir are positioned below the fill neck, and thus allow the connection of a dispensing tube to the outlet of the reservoir, and thus allow the user to drink from the reservoir through the dispensing tube.

(a) Field of the Invention
This application relates to headgear that includes a bladder or reservoir for storing and dispensing a beverage, and to a method for making such a device from known hats that have a high conical crown.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
The use of headgear to store liquids or beverages is known. Examples of known devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,523 to Atkins, which teaches the use of a baseball cap that has an inner layer and outer layer defining a reservoir for holding a liquid. The Atkins device also includes a headband that supports the reservoir at a distance from the wearer's head, and thus avoids direct contact of the reservoir and the wearer's head. Liquids stored in the reservoir are likely to be colder than the wearer's body temperature, and thus the spacing prevents heat transfer from the wearer to the liquid.
An important limitation of the Atkins device is that the entire hat structure must be specially made from impermeable material. This increases manufacturing and material costs. Additionally, the shape of the hat itself resembles the well-known baseball cap, and therefore does not provide clues as to its unconventional nature and do not provide substantial protection from the sun.
A review of known devices reveals several hats that hold beverages and serve as a novelty item for festive occasions. Examples of hats that have provide these benefits can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,827 to Rowan, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,244 to Geddie. However, these devices must be supported from a rigid hat, such as a hard hat, which provides significant weight and very little protection from the sun.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple device for holding beverages that also functions as a hat, providing protection to the wearer against the sun, and method for creating such a device.


An indicating instrument including a light guiding system having at least a first and second light guides, a sensor disposed at a first end of the first light guide and configured to receive incident ambient light that has traveled through the first light guide, a light-emitting device disposed at a first end of the second light guide and configured to emit light through the second light guide, and a covering body disposed at a second end of the first and second light guides that is opposite to the first ends. Further, the incident ambient light is incident upon the covering body and travels through the first light guide and is received by the sensor, and the light emitted by the light-emitting unit travels through the second light guide and exits the covering body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an indicating instrument with a light guide and sensor to determine if ambient light exists and that emits a control signal to an evaluation circuit for controlling a brightness of the indicating instrument based on the determined ambient light.
2. Description of the Background Art
European Patent EP 0 115 575 B1 discloses a light guiding system that detects light incident at both ends of a light guide so light passing through the windshield of a motor vehicle and also light directed in front of the dashboard is detected. Thus, in this system, the light guide includes two laterally placed sensors to detect the light approaching from different angles. The two sensors then produce an electrical signal, which is evaluated to control the brightness of the indicating instrument.
German patent publication DE 41 40 647 C2 discloses a light guiding system that detects ambient light in front of a display. In addition, the brightness of the display device is controlled based on the amount of detected light. Further, the above two light guide systems are used exclusively to control the brightness of a corresponding indicating instrument, and are integrated into or placed at the corresponding indicating instrument.
In addition, the indicating instruments display features regarding the operation of the motor vehicle. For example, the indicating instruments may indicate to an operator of the vehicle the optimal time to shift gears. This is accomplished via a shift control device associated with the vehicle transmission. One type of such a shift control device is disclosed in the German patent publication DE 29 23 986 C2. In this publication, the optimal shifting time for switching to a lower or higher gear is displayed to the operator. These type of displays generally include a lamp, which lights up to indicate to the operator that a necessary upshift or downshift is needed.

Display device with combined light guide


A method of planarizing an inter-layer dielectric layer includes using a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition method to deposit an undoped dielectric, which increases the polishing efficiency in a subsequent chemical-mechanical polishing operation, and eliminates the need for a high temperature densifying treatment for planarization. A chemical-mechanical polishing operation is used to planarize the inter-layer dielectric.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to a planarization technique used in the manufacturing of integrated circuits. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of planarizing an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, there are two types of dielectrics which are grouped under the title of inter-layer dielectric (ILD). The first type is a pre-metal dielectric (PMD), which refers generally to a dielectric material formed before a metallization process is performed. The PMD serves as an isolating layer located between a semiconductor component and a first metallic layer. The second type of dielectric is an inter-metal dielectric (lMD), which is a dielectric layer interposed between two metallic layers, and is used for isolation purposes.
FIG. 1a through 1c illustrate a conventional method of planarizing a PMD layer. First, and referring to FIG. 1a, a semiconductor substrate 10 having a field effect transistor (FET) 12 formed thereabove is provided. Thereafter, an undoped silicate glass (USG) layer 14 and a doped silicate glass layer 16 are formed, in sequence, above the semiconductor substrate 10. The undoped silicate glass layer 14 is formed, for example, using an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) method, or a sub-atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (SACVD) method. The doped silicate glass layer 16 is composed from, for example, phosphosilicate glass (PSG) or borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG).
Referring next to FIG. 1b, a heat reflow operation is performed at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. to about 900.degree. C. As a result, the silicate glass layers 14 and 16 become denser, and obtain a smoother appearance.
Lastly, and referring to FIG. 1c, chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is used to planarize the doped silicate glass layer 16. Then, an oxide layer 18 is deposited thereabove using, for example, a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method (which forms a silicon dioxide layer). Alternatively, tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS) can be provided as the main reactive gas to form a silicon dioxide layer.
Before the performance of the operations shown in FIG. 1c, that is, immediately after CMP step, an oxide layer may first be deposited above the silicate glass layer 16. The oxide layer acts as a passivation layer for protecting the silicate glass layer 16 from the formation of void structure.
However, the conventional manufacturing process is complex and requires a high temperature to densify the silicate glass layers 14 and 16. Therefore, the known process is unsuitable for most logic circuit products, especially when the front end processes, in the manufacturing of integrated circuits, include self-aligned silicide processes. As such, planarization of the PMD layer cannot be achieved in this known manner. Additionally, when the silicate glass layer 16 is subjected to the CMP operation, the polishing rate and the uniformity of the layer is difficult to control.

Method of planarizing an inter-layer dielectric layer


An etching method is provided. In the etching method, a protective film-forming gas including an amine gas is supplied to a substrate having a surface on which a first film and a second film are formed, the first film and the second film having respective properties of being etched by an etching gas, and a protective film is formed to cover the first film such that the first film is selectively protected between the first film and the second film when the etching gas is supplied. Further, the second film is selectively etched by supplying the etching gas to the substrate after the protective film is formed.

In constructing a semiconductor device, etching is performed on various films formed on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as a wafer) that is a substrate. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-63141 discloses that a wafer having an interlayer insulating film, e.g., a low-k film, formed thereon is etched to form a recess for embedding wires in the interlayer insulating film.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Elongated coolant pumps suspended under steam generators within containment in a power plant with limited access space, are removed and replaced by an elongated maintenance cart with an elongated opening along one side in which the motor is received. Rollers support the cart for conveying the elongated motor in an upright position out from under the steam generator and onto an elevator. The elevator is lowered to transfer support of the cart and motor through trunnions to saddles straddling the elevator for rotation of the cart to a generally horizontal position. The elevator then raises the horizontally disposed cart carrying the motor to a higher floor where it is rolled off the elevator and out through the auxiliary equipment hatch.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to installation and removal of large elongated pump motors suspended within a few feet of the floor beneath steam generators in electric power generating plants.
2. Background Information
In a new nuclear power plant design developed by the assignee of the present invention, the steam generators are contained within relatively narrow vertical chambers. The main canned coolant pumps are mounted on the bottom of the steam generator in an inverted position with the elongated motors, each weighing close to 40,000 pounds, extending downward to within a few feet of the floor of the chamber. Thus, access to the pump motor is very limited. Furthermore, the motor is fastened by a motor flange to a pump casing which in turn is welded to the bottom of the steam generator channel head. For removal of the pump motor, the fasteners must be removed and the motor lowered to clear the pump casing flange before it can be moved horizontally out from under the steam generator.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,432 entitled "Apparatus for Facilitating the Servicing of Inverted Canned Pump Motors Having Limited Access Space and Restricted Access Time Especially In Nuclear Power Plants" discloses a cart for facilitating installation and removal of such pump motors. This cart has a tall U-shaped frame defining a vertical opening along one elongated side. The cart is provided with rollers so it can be rolled across the floor of the steam generator chamber and into position with the suspended motor received in the elongated opening. Jacks on the cart support the motor while the stud nuts securing the motor to the pump housing flange are removed by workers standing on foldable platforms carried by the cart. The motor is then lowered by the jacks to seat the motor flange on the upper end of the cart.
The cart is then rolled out from under the steam generator and aligned with a narrow, vertical passage between the steam generator and the chamber wall. The cart supporting the motor in an upright position is then lifted by a polar crane up over the top of the steam generator chamber wall and lowered to the operating deck where it is rolled out of containment in an upright position through the main equipment hatch. The pump motor is reinstalled by reversing the above procedure.
While this maintenance cart solves the problem of removing and installing the elongated motor pumps in the very limited space available, it requires the use of the main polar crane and the main equipment access hatch. As it is important to limit plant down time as much as possible, and there are other demands for the main polar crane and the main equipment hatch during an outage, it is desirable to find an alternative procedure and necessary equipment for removing and installing the main coolant pump motors.

Apparatus and method for servicing an elongated suspended pump motor in an electric power plant with limited access


A system and method are provided for displaying a video composed of images each comprising a predetermined number M of lines and, a predetermined number N of pixels in each line. Values of a predetermined number P of reference pixels for each line of a current image of the video are stored in memory, where P is less than N. For each line of the current image, the value of a parameter associated with the line is determined, with the parameter corresponding to the number of the reference pixels of the line that are black according to a first predetermined criterion. A first nonblack line and a last nonblack line of the current image are determined to serve as a basis for an automatic reframing of the images of the video before display. The first nonblack line of the current image is determined by excluding, starting from a first line of the image, the lines of the image which are black according to a second predetermined criterion based on the parameter, and the last nonblack line of the current image is determined by excluding, starting from a last line of the image, the lines of the image which are black according to the second predetermined criterion based on the parameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing, and more specifically to systems and methods for displaying with automatic reframing a video on a display screen such as a television screen.
2. Description of Related Art
The available display screens exhibit a predetermined screen ratio (also referred to as the video format or aspect ratio or aspect format), that is to say the width/height ratio of an image. For example, standard televisions have a screen ratio of 1.33:1 (4/3 or standardized format), that is to say they are 1.33 times as wide as they are high. Likewise, widescreen televisions have a screen ratio of 1.78:1 (16/9 or widescreen format). Certain televisions may effect the display of images selectively according to one or the other of these formats, or even according to other formats (in particular, for some, a 14/9 format). Moreover, certain more recent display devices, such as LCD ("Liquid Crystal Display") or plasma screens, exhibit screen ratios of still different values.
Aside from this, the video images to be displayed have a screen ratio which may vary depending on the origin of the video. Thus, videos obtained via mass-market video cameras such as camcorders generally have a 4/3 format. On the other hand, films produced for television typically have a 16/9 format. Furthermore, cinema films can have a screen ratio of 2.35:1 (Cinemascope format) or of 1.85:1 (Panavision format, Vistavision format, etc.), for example.
Video broadcasting as standardized according to the recommendations of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), formerly the CCIR (Comité Consultatif International des Radiocommunications), involves a 4/3 format both for images having 525 lines and for those having 625 lines. A cinema film, for example, is therefore processed according to a "Letterbox" technique which adds black bands at the top and bottom of the original images (without modifying them), so that the images broadcast are displayed without distortion on a standard television (4/3 format).
FIG. 1 shows an example of an image thus processed so as to allow broadcast according to the aforesaid recommendations of the ITU. Such an image is said to be in the "Letterbox" format. In the example shown, the outer box 1 corresponds to the 4/3 format image, and the inner box 2 corresponds to the 16/9 format image, that is to say to the active video. The difference between these two images resides in the upper horizontal black band 3 and lower horizontal black band 4.
The need exists for a process that makes it possible to automatically detect the format of a video to be displayed, so as to adjust the display parameters in such a way as to optimize the display. Such a process could be used to implement a reframing of the images received in the "Letterbox" format, for example a zoom, so that the active video is displayed in full screen mode on a 4/3 format screen, that is to say without having horizontal black bands appear.
For this purpose, it is known to detect the upper and lower black lines of the video image, according to various methods that have been proposed. This amounts to detecting the active video within the video.
These known methods nevertheless exhibit insufficient accuracy, in the sense that the detection of the black lines may be deficient in a certain number of situations, depending on the content of the images. Moreover, the known methods exhibit limitations in terms of flexibility (e.g., no possibility of changes) as well as a higher cost when they are implemented in hardware.

Method and system for video display with automatic reframing


Means for holding the bottoms of petaloid shaped bottles in place in a wrap-around carrier. Side panel apertures include flaps connected to the side panel by fold lines which are inwardly curved at their upper portions. The lower portions of each pair of flaps extend toward each other so as to engage one or more support feet of the adjacent bottle and be forced out from the side panel thereby. The curved portion of the fold lines biases the flaps against the support feet, regardless of which portion of the feet engage the flaps, to assist in holding the bottles in place within the carrier. Fold lines extending from the flap edges to the flap fold lines and hook-shaped slits at the upper ends of the flaps allow the side flaps to flex lengthwise.

Wrap-around carriers are normally designed to accommodate the size and shape of the particular article to be packaged. In the case of beverage bottles, cutouts are conventionally provided in the side panels to allow the bottom or heel portion of the bottles to extend out beyond the side panel. Contact between the side edges of the cutouts and the bottles holds the lower portions of the bottles in place within the carrier to prevent the bottom from moving and falling out of the package. Since conventionally shaped bottles have bottom portions which are circular in cross section, the relationship between the bottle and the cutout remains the same regardless of which portion of the bottle is facing toward the cutout. The orientation of the bottles within the carrier at the time of packaging and during shipping is therefore not a consideration in designing the cutouts.
A problem arises when the bottle heels have varying contours of irregular shape. One such type of beverage bottle is formed of plastic and has a decorative bottom portion of petaloid shape. These bottles have support feet which are regularly spaced from each other about the periphery of the bottle. The sides of the support feet as well as the lower surface of the feet terminate at a point near the center of the bottom of the bottle, which is slightly higher than the bottom support surfaces of the feet. Thus when one views the bottom of the bottle, as in a plan view, the appearance of the bottom face is petaloid in nature, with the center area appearing to form the center of a flower and the support feet the petals.
Since the heel portions of petaloid bottles are not uniform, being broken up by the spaced support feet, the normal rotation of the bottles as they are moved into place for packaging makes it impossible to predict the exact portion of the heel which will be presented to a cutout at the time the carrier wrap is applied. Further, even if it were possible to orient the bottles so that the cutouts are able to fit the precise shape of the heel design presented at the time of packaging, rotational movement of the bottles in the package during shipping would tend to misalign the heel portions with the cutouts, rendering the cutouts ineffective. Aggravating the problem is the fact that petaloid bottles are sometimes formed with four support feet and sometimes with five, which would seem to require a different cutout for each type of bottle.
It would obviously be highly desirable to be able to lock petaloid shaped bottles in wrap-around carriers by means of a heel cutout capable of accommodating all the various configurations which such bottles are capable of presenting to the cutout. Furthermore, the means by which this is accomplished should not be expensive or require basic new machinery designs to carry out the packaging process.

Wrap-around carrier with flexible heel aperture


The present invention relates to a laser line beam emitting apparatus having a laser beam emitter from which laser beam flux are emitted and an optical broad element for broadening the laser beam flux to predetermined directions in which objects to be emitted reside for drawing of a straight reference line thereon. The apparatus's housing has an improved dust protective covering fitted into an outlet thereof such that the reflected, broadened laser beam flux from the covering through the cylindrical rod lens of the laser beam emitter becomes no ghost. Preferably, such covering has a curvature formed on its inner surface such that the reflected, broadened laser beam flux therefrom through the laser beam emitter return to the inside of the apparatus.

The vertical or horizontal emissive laser line beam by such laser line beam emitting apparatus may be used as a vertical or horizontal reference line passing objects such as a ceiling, a floor and walls or front, side and back walls in constructs.
This laser beam, which is generally an elliptical beam with a transverse section as its feature, is passed into a horizontal or vertical axial cylindrical rod lens through a collimator lens and becomes a vertically or horizontally broadened beam.
The foregoing laser line beam emitting apparatus has, as production of the vertical or horizontal emissive laser line beam, use of a laser emitter, which is a component making up a laser unit held to a laser unit holder held from a gimbals mechanism, therein. The laser unit holder may be maintained in a desired position without tilt with respect to the position so that emission of adequate vertical or horizontal laser beam flux may be performed.
The interior of the laser line beam emitting apparatus is provided with a laser beam source comprised of a semiconductor laser for emission of laser line beam and optical or precisely processing instruments such as cylindrical rod lens and gimbals mechanism, that are assembled therein. Therefor, the laser line beam emitting apparatus has a main covering so that it is airtight for protection of the interior from enterer of dust. Such laser line beam emitting apparatus has outlet(s) formed at predetermined position(s) of the main covering. The outlet(s) permit transmission of respective laser beam flux and are provided with respective dust protective coverings for protection from invading dust. The dust protective covering comprises a transparent glass or synthetic resin plate or film and so on.
The following gives a summarized description of a conventional laser line beam emitting apparatus, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. In FIG. 3, an underside base board 10 has three legs 12 mounted thereto such that the base board may be maintained in an approximate horizontal position through the legs. The upside base board 10 has a suitable number of columns 14 vertically stood thereon, each of the columns 14 has a gimbals mechanism 15 mounted at its top end, and a laser unit holder 24 is hung down from the gimbals mechanism. The laser unit holder 24 may have free swings to all directions.
The laser unit holder 24 has a first laser unit 30 tilted upward and mounted at its top end for emission of a vertical beam, a second laser unit 40 mounted in horizontal arrangement at a position below the gimbals mechanism 15 for emission of a horizontal beam, and a third laser unit 50 mounted at its lowermost with orientation to the undernearth for emission of spot(s) on a floor.
The first laser unit 30 for emission of a vertical beam comprises a laser beam source 31, a collimator lens 32 for collimated formation of the emissive laser beam from the laser beam source 31, and a cylindrical rod lens 33 for expansion of the collimated emissive beam only in vertical directions. The second laser unit 40 for emission of a horizontal beam also is of the approximate same construction, which comprises a laser beam source 41, a collimator lens 42 for parallel formation of the emissive laser beam from the laser beam source 31, and a cylindrical rod lens 43 for expansion of the paralleled emissive beam only in a horizontal direction. The third laser unit 50 for emission of spot(s) on a floor comprises a laser beam source 51, and a collimator lens 52 for collimated formation of the emissive laser beam from the laser beam source. Each of the laser units 30, 40, 50 is assembled into a cylindrical mirror. Each of the laser beam source 31, 41, 51 comprises, for example, a semiconductor laser.
The laser unit holder 24 is hung down through the gimbals mechanism 15 so that it may have an approximate vertical position. At the position electric power is applied to the laser beam sources 31, 41, 51 of respective first, second and third laser units 30, 40, 50, and then such laser beam flux are emitted out from respective laser units 30, 40, 50. The first laser unit 30 performs emission of a vertically broadened laser beam flux, which is drawn on its object(s) such as construct's wall(s) with drawing of a straight line on a floor and a ceiling that are continued to the corresponding walls, through respective transverse section, at the beam path. The second laser unit 40 performs emission of a horizontally broadened laser beam, which is drawn on its object(s) such as construct's walls at the beam path. The third laser unit 50 performs emission of collimated laser beam flux to the undernearth with drawing of laser spots on its objects such as a construct's floor on which the laser beams are formed at reference markings as indicated thereon.
Such laser line beam emitting apparatus has a main covering 60 provided for covering over the foregoing components. A vertical longitudinal outlet 61 is formed in the main covering 60 so as to avoid interruption of the vertically broadened, emitted laser beam flux from the laser unit 30, while a horizontal longitudinal outlet 62 is formed in the main covering 60 so as to avoid interruption of the horizontally broadened, emitted laser beam flux from the laser unit 40. The foregoing dust protective covering is provided into each of the outlets 61, 62.
FIG. 4 shows an example of provision of a dust protective covering according to the conventional laser line beam emitting apparatus. In FIG. 4, a dust protective covering 63, which is formed of a flat transparent plate, is fitted in the outlet formed at the ceiling of the main covering 60 of the laser line beam emitting apparatus. In addition, a dust protective covering 64, which is formed of a flat transparent plate, is fitted in the outlet formed at the front of the main covering 60 nearer to the ceiling thereof. Any of the dust protective coverings 63, 64 permit passage of the vertically broadened laser beam from the laser unit 30.
From the foregoing, each of the dust protective coverings 63, 64 of the laser line beam emitting apparatus comprises a flat transparent material formed of glass, synthetic resin or film and so on. Since each of them has an inner surface parallel with the transverse section of the emitted laser beam, the reflected beam therefrom returns to the interior of the apparatus, and thus does not cause the emitted objects to be subject to, for example, produced ghost. However, when the laser beam flux with formation of a vertical or horizontal straight reference line on the objects are transmitted onto the dust protective coverings 63, 64, most of the section of the laser beam flux are not parallel to the inner surfaces of respective dust protective coverings 63, 64, because of that the laser beam flux is broadened through the cylindrical rod lens. Hence, most of the section of the broadened laser beam flux through the cylindrical rod lens will be directed diagonally with respect to the inner surfaces of respective dust protective coverings 63, 64.
For the reason, as shown by the numeral reference 65 in FIG. 5, for example, a part of the diagonally directed laser beam with respect to the inner surface of the dust protective covering 63 are reflected from the inner surface of the dust protective covering 63, and then go toward another dust protective covering 64 for passage through the dust protective covering 64 and the emission onto the objects. This produces a ghost formed by the laser beam as represented by the numeral reference 65, whereby both of the original correct reference and forgeable lines are emitted, which are misleading.

Laser line beam emitting apparatus, and dust protective covering provided to the same


Massage mechanisms of a massage machine individually include a pair of left and right treatment members provided along a height direction of the massage machine. A first massage mechanism is disposed on a relatively upper side, and a second massage mechanism is disposed on a relatively lower side. A control means that controls operations of the first and second massage mechanisms. The control means controls advancing/retreating drive portions such that the treatment members of the first massage mechanism and the treatment members of the second massage mechanism advance or retreat at speeds different from each other such as with a time lag.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a massage machine.
Background Art
In the related art, there is a known massage apparatus in which an upper unit disposed on a relatively upper side and a lower unit disposed on a relatively lower side are provided in a backrest portion. The upper unit includes a shoulder unit and a scapular unit. The lower unit includes a back unit and a waist unit. In addition, in the shoulder unit, treatment members massage the shoulders so as to press down the shoulders due to expansion of air bags. In the scapular unit, treatment members massage the scapulas so as to press up the scapulas due to expansion of air bags. Therefore, it is possible to apply a massaging effect of clamping the shoulders and the scapulas with the treatment members of the shoulder unit and the treatment members of the scapular unit.
In addition, as another technology in the related art, there is a known massage apparatus in which an upper unit disposed on a relatively upper side and a lower unit disposed on a relatively lower side are provided in a backrest portion. The upper unit includes a shoulder unit and a scapular unit. The lower unit includes a back unit and a waist unit. In each of the shoulder unit and the waist unit, a pair of treatment members can operate in a lateral direction so as to interpose a treatment target portion therebetween and to massage the treatment target portion.
In addition, as further another technology in the related art, there is a known massage machine in which a plurality of roller portions and mechanical units are provided along a height direction. The plurality of roller portions and mechanical units are independently movable between a backrest portion and a leg mounting portion. Each of the roller portions and the mechanical units are controlled by a control unit which is configured with a substrate in which microcomputer elements are disposed, so as not to collide with each other.


An improved, universally adaptable, medical intermediate connector having a large tubular opening at one end and a through passage running the length thereof, the body of the connector having a rectilinear cross section with plural planar sidewalls, one of the sidewalls having an extension with projecting fastening knobs and at least one of the sidewalls having a window therethrough, a resilient flexible and elongate strap selectively and adjustably attachable to the knobs and selectively extendable therefrom and returnable to the attachment knobs under tension. A cannula is secured to the body on the axis thereof and projects into the large tubular opening for communicating engagement with a septum inserted guidably into the tubular opening at one end and penetrable by the cannula. A luer socket is an axial extension of the body and communicates with the cannula via the passageway on the axis of the intermediate connector.

In medical science, the use of injection equipment has gone well beyond the relatively simple needle and syringe as usually thought of in injection of material into a patient or in the sampling of body fluids taken directly from the patient. Intravenous dosage and transfusion along with accurate and intermittent control of the flow of medication solutions and mixes of whole blood with medicaments and diluents has extended beyond the body, directly, and extends into reliance upon apparatus for achieving the selected mixing, dilution, treatment and manipulation of body fluids and even their return and reintroduction to the body of the patient. This has caused a proliferation of exotic equipment beyond the simplistic use of mere tubing to a source or from a source to a reservoir. In a sense the apparatus becomes an extension of the body of the patient to achieve central access to the body fluids for analysis modification and recirculation. This is especially true of blood. Many manufacturers of intravenous sets, in view of the desired sterile aspects of such apparatus, have developed tubing, tubing connectors, and injection apparatus at the connectors for sterile entry of the cannula or needle in gaining access to an intravenous fluid en route to or from the body of a patient and to which a variety of the connectors are useful at pre-located Y-Sites, T-Sites, Manifold Sites, with plural entries possible at the same point in a flow line to or from the patient.
Collaterally, the body fluids themselves contain contaminants which threaten the health and even life of doctors, technicians, and nurses using or encountering them at points where serious contact with the fluids may occur. The most difficult problem is that a very sharp needle is present at the injection site or point of use of the intermediate connector and shielding at that point is desireable to protect both the patient and medical personnel. A wide spectrum of shielding proposals have offered specific structures to match the particular manufactured (septum) entry and removal sites and without serious regard to interchangeability or adaptability for use with sites of different style and manufacture. The present structure seeks to achieve three principal objectives (a) relative universality (b) shielding of the needle and (c) retention means fixing the needle to other connector and site elements or apparatus against chance of accidental disconnection at the injection or access site.
Typical of prior art structures are the devices shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,925 of Habib Al-Soufi et al shows a cylindrical sleeve-like extension shield jacketing the extending needle of a syringe and an extended sleeve to slidably cover selected injection caps, sites (septums) or luers as connected to tubing or apparatus pieces. The Al Sioufi device shows a form of sheathed connector with the needle mounted in the connector and the needle which, on one end of the needle axis, projects into the sleeve or sheath and on the other end is open into a luer lock. The tubular sheath portion includes a J-slot which bridges one of the extension legs of a Y-connector and allows the rotation of the shielded connector to secure the located shielded connector to a Y connector or fitting.
These various connectors and plural or manifold connector shapes create a problem since special fitting structures were required as the Y-Connectors vary from taper fits, keyed fits and special locks and caps at each nipple, or access point, to facilitate the selected sterile entry to the fluid and extraction of fluid, where desired.
The present invention demonstrates an ability to accommodate plural forms of connectors while providing a unique safety shield for the needle tip and universal tether means to secure the connection against chance loss while presenting rectilinear surfaces in prevention of loss of manual and tactile control by the personnel using the medical plural site devices either at the patient or remote from the patient being served. The intermediate connectors of the present invention are useable with a wide range of injection apparatus and tubular fluid conducting equipment as found in almost any particular laboratory or hospital for intravenous usage while maintaining acceptable structure accommodating sterile procedures and in shielded protection of patients and technical or professional personnel.
In addition, the presently described structure extends to technicians a visual control access over the scarf or needle through the wall of the protective shield while including a resilient and flexible strap means selectively in support relation to adjacent connected apparatus, patients, or dispensing attachments against chance dislodgement. This is achieved, partly by a shield wall extension from one of the planar walls, of the rectilinear sheath to serve as a guard for the needle and the extended wall enhances easy access for selected adjustable fastening means. The protruding planar shield provides additional tactile control.
Finally, the unit of the present invention provides a secured needle or cannula for establishing flow communication between at least two sites in an in-line relation and both selectively accommodating flow to and through the connection and for body fluids, chemicals, medicaments, food supplements, blood and blood fractions.
In general, the device of the present invention is an intermediate connector for use with conventional tubing fittings in which sterile techniques and apparatus are utilized in a plurality of medical and scientific flow relationships. Most notable are procedures in which blood or other body fluid is withdrawn from a patient through tubing that extends the flow from the body and then directs the flow for treatment or analysis and may return the fluid to the body in improved or treated condition to the patient. In the interval of removal, medicaments, additives and treatment or analysis is accomplished. Substantially the same apparatus may introduce transfused fluids or fluid fractions to the patient. This involves routines and protocol to assure protection from contamination of both patient and professional persons administering the procedures. In a typical use environment, the apparatus of many styles, manufacture sizes and shapes are found serving as fittings for the tubing. This is especially so where there must be an introduction or withdrawal of material to and from the flow line. The storage vessels for additives such as plasma sacks, whole blood containers and saline bottles and vacuum chamber tubes are usually fitted with penetrable self sealing entries but there always remains the problem of tapping the patient or the containers and controllably merging the flow of these fluids and then returning the enhanced or treated fluids to the body of the patient. This requires penetration of the seal at the entry to the patient or at entry to the container and from the container to the flow lines. Simplistically, the flow through the seals is by bolus injection via hypodermic syringes. The cannula of the syringe was driven through the rubber-like seal or septum site and additives introduced to the blood or the blood might be selectively withdrawn into the syringe.
Tubing-sets (for example IV-sets) flow the blood or fluids from the veins into the sterile tubing and the body fluid courses through the tubing to and through treatment stations such as found at injection sites and provided by Y-fittings capped with rubber penetrating seals at injection or withdrawal sites and which allow selected sterile penetration by cannula and the selected insertion of additives or selected withdrawal of fluids from the same ports as for analytical purposes. Valving and by-passes are utilized for flow control.
The emphasis on the design of prior art connectors is really an extension of the bolus utilization by syringe at junctures in the flow lines, at the points of receiving flow and at the points of juncturing two or more flowing fractions. In the present invention, the cannula plays a different role than as an intermittent injection fount. The thrust toward sterility involved covers or guards over the needles until the time of use. The many different styles of shielding of the user from the needle tips or scarfs are well known as in the U.S. Pat. No. of Bennett 4,419,098 (tubular closed ended tube cover for the needles or cannula); in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,925 to Habib Al-Soufi shielding the needle by means of an adapter and by a connector achieving almost complete coverage of an extended cannula while aligning the cannula for seal or septum caps for cannula penetration into the flow line. The structures of Ogle II in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,834,716 and Re 33,617 provide a cylindrical sheath with an arched cutout permitting needle access to a cap seal of a fitting without the extension of the cannula beyond the protected limits in at least two manners of use (1) where the cannula is carried by a syringe and the syringe penetrates the connector body and (2) where the cannula is embedded in the terminal insert in the body and insertion is provided with a cylindrical receiving entry for a septum access to a tubing flow line.
Vincent L. Vaillancourt U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,359 provides a two piece telescoping combination of a needle carrying cap and a male septum structure penetrable by the needle on its axis and lock tabs connecting the two upon axial connection.
George A. Lopez U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,292 provides two elongate connector elements one preventing access except by axial telescoping access in which a tubular septum ended conduit, upon axial insertion, impinges upon an axially extended cannula. A click lock external of a first tubular element and impinging on a second tubular element establishes when the septum seal is penetrated. Release is by releasing the click lock and separating the outer tubular element from the inner tubular element by axial straight line pull.
Jean M. Bonaldo in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,260 utilizes a two part connector structure in which a cannula projects through and into a tubular housing and the housing includes an integrally hinged cover element. The second part of the connector is elongate and friction insertable into the housing with a septum cap on the tip of the inserted element arranged for receiving the scarf of the cannula in providing flow through the second element. The second element includes a latch closed upon folding down the hinged cover. Alignment is assured by registry with the flat bottoms and by the cover receiver recesses.
Charles B. Fields in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,984 extends a cannula carrying member through a male luer threaded lock covered at its one end by a septum seal and at its other end equipped with a one way valve element with separate sleeve closing on a valve element, a six piece construction.


A method for cleaving amide bonds, including: a) providing a molecule including an amide group; b) reacting the molecule including the amide group with a hydroxylamine salt to cleave the amide bond of the amide group. The method may further include c) recovering a product formed by the reaction of step b).

Traditional methods to cleave amide bonds via saponfication or hydrolysis are harsh processes requiring strongly basic conditions (i.e. concentrated NaOH or the like) or strongly acidic conditions (i.e. concentrated HCl or the like) at elevated temperatures for long periods of time. Because of the harsh conditions required, these methods have major chemical compatability issues with regard to protecting groups and to preservation of chiral centers during the reaction.
Among the more recent methods cited is hydrazinolysis. Hydrazine permits the cleavage of amide bonds under almost anhydrous conditions. Hydrazine is a powerful nucelophile thanks to the alpha effect, and its reduced basicity as compared to NaOH permits the cleavage of amide bonds in the presence of other protecting groups and the preservation of certain chiral centres. This was recently highlighted in two high profile publications from Ohshima et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8564-8567 and Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 12623-12625). In these two communications Ohshima used ethylene diamine and hydrazine in the presence of ammonium salts, respectively, under microwave irradiation to cleave amide bonds while maintaining other sensitive protecting groups and chiral centers.
Even in the light of the recent findings of Ohshima et al. there is still a need in the field for improved and methods allowing for cleavage of amide bonds while preserving protecting groups and chiral centres.


Sensor position indicator coils to be used in magnetoencephalographic experiments and a means of attaching them to the head. The invention comprises a headband (1) and a coil assembly attached to it. The coil assembly consists of a coil set (5) and of at least three fastening strips (6) or of fastening strips having coil sets of individual coils (5') on them. The mechanical properties of the coils are very important. The coil set (5) has three thin- or thick-film coils cast in epoxy resin. The outside surface of the headband (1) and the inside surfaces of the fastening strips (6) have been covered with materials adhering to each other easily. In addition, the underside of the coil set (5) can contain three small knobs, formed during casting, on which the coil set leans when pressed against the head, staying in the tangent plane of the head.

This invention is about coils used in magnetoencephalographic experiments to determine the position and orientation of the magnetometer, and a means of attaching the said coils to the head. In magnetoencephalography (MEG), the weak magnetic fields elicited by the human brain are measured. The method is gaining gradually a more important role in medical research and diagnostics. In particular, it is possible to investigate the brain functions and disorders in a human being without touching the person or exposing him to electromagnetic radiation or radioactive tracers. In contrast to the widely used electroencephalogram (EEG), in which the electric potential distribution is measured on the surface of the scalp, the magnetoencephalogram suffers far less from distortions caused by inhomogeneities in the conductivity of the human tissue. Therefore, it is possible to locate source currents related to brain activity with a spatial and temporal resolution of a few millimeters and milliseconds. The method has been reviewed in detail, for example, in CRC Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, volume 14 (1986), issue 2, pp. 93-126.
Instruments used in MEG should be able to detect magnetic signals whose magnetic flux density is typically 100 fT or less. In addition, the measurement is to be performed simultaneously at several locations; the measurement of even more than one hundred magnetic signals from all over the head is necessary. The only sensor capable of detecting these minute signals is the so-called Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer. The operation of the device has been explained in detail in an article in Journal of Low Temperature Physics, volume 76 (1989), issue 5/6, pp. 287-386.
In order to locate accurately the current distribution caused by the brain's activity from the measured magnetic field distribution, the position and orientation of the magnetometers with respect to the head has to be known. Mechanical means of determining the position and orientation are too elaborate and prone to errors; therefore an automatic position indicator system is needed.
In magnetoencephalographic experiments, one typically uses a locating method employing at least three transmitter coils which are attached to the subject's head; the positions and orientations of the coils are accurately determined prior to the measurement by some other means. The system also includes a current supply, a magnetic field detector, and a computer to determine the coordinates of the coils on the basis of the measured magnetic field. The system is capable of automatically determining the position and orientation of the magnetometer during the measurement. As the magnetic detector of the position indicator system, a multichannel SQUID-magnetometer is particularly useful (cf. Review of Scientific Instruments, volume 58 (1987), issue 11, pp. 2145-2156 or Advances in Biomagnetism, edited by S. J. Williamson, M. Hoke, G. Stroink, and M. Kotani, Plenum Press, New York 1989, pp. 689-692 and pp. 693-696). Another known position indicator system U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,355 employs orthogonal coil sets comprising three coils as transmitters and receivers; the method is based on the induction principle. The receiver coils are attached to the head of the subject and the transmitter coils to the magnetometer.
It is crucial for the accuracy of the position indication that the coils stay firmly on their positions during the measurement; it is also important to have them as close to the measurement area as possible. Usually, the coils are wound, by hand or by other means, from wire around a non-magnetic core, as in the references cited above. Three such coils are cast in epoxy resin, forming a coil set. The coil sets are attached to the subject's head by means of a flexible headband or with adhesive tape.
The main drawback of the prior-art technique is that the coil sets are too big to be attached to the actual measurement area, i.e. between the head and the SQUID magnetometer. On the other hand, the present techniques do not provide a possibility to attach the coils firmly at an arbitrary position on the cortex. When using a headband, the area where the attachment of the coils is possible is limited, and the hair prevents a firm adhering of the coils with tape. The accuracy of dimensions of wire-wound multi-turn coils is not very good, and taking into account the stray fields or eliminating them is very elaborate. The determination of the effective dipole moment of the coil is therefore difficult; the error reflects itself correspondingly in the results of the sensor position determination.
In another context, several possible means of attaching the coils to the head have been described. For example, DE-2 206 913 deals with a stiff headband to be placed around the subject's head for attaching EEG electrodes. The headband is hinged on the back, and it is tightened around the head using a punched rubber strap or, alternatively, a spring-loaded hinge. The electrodes are attached to the headband via stiff connector wires. The wires are bent in a spring-like manner to press the electrodes against the head.
The solution presented in the said reference has several drawbacks. Due to the completely stiff structure, the construction cannot be made flat enough not to considerably hamper the ease of operation of the magnetometer. As a result, the multichannel magnetometer must be placed rather far from the head, resulting in a substantially deteriorated signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the means of attaching the electrodes (FIG. 1 of the reference cited above) is not suitable for position indicator coils because it utilizes only one support arm: a well-defined position and orientation (along the tangent plane) on the head, accurate enough for the MEG method and stationary during the measurement, cannot be guaranteed; coils may move easily during the measurement, for instance, when moving the magnetometer. A third drawback is that the electrodes can only be attached to certain predetermined positions.
DE-2 124 704 describes an elastic, hollow headband used to attach electrodes. The electrodes are located on the inside surface of the headband, and when the headband is pressurized, e.g., by compressed air the electrodes are pressed against the head of the subject. This is not a solution either, because the construction cannot be made flat enough not to hamper the placing the magnetometer as close to the head as possible. In addition, the electrodes can be attached only to predetermined places.
In EP-A2-399 499 magnetometer elements are attached to a stiff shell (cf. FIG. 6 of the reference). The method is not suitable for position indicator coils, since the resulting structure is completely stiff. The coils cannot be attached freely anywhere on the cortex on every subject so that the distance from the magnetometers to the head would not substantially increase. A solution to this problem would be an individual, tight-fitting shell for each subject, but this would certainly considerably annoy the subject. In addition, making individual shells would make clinical measurements with patients more elaborate and increase the time consumption and cost for preparing the measurement excessively.
EP-A3-199 214 mentions two means of attaching electrodes to the subject's head. The first one employs an elastic cap which can be set very tightly against the head. The second method includes a stiff headband which can be tightened around the head. A stiff strip is then attached to this headband in a fixed and stiff manner; this strip goes over the head. Neither of the two methods is suitable for position indicator coils, since the elastic cap does not guarantee that the coils are not moved during the measurement and the stiff construction does not allow a free selection of measurement points on the cortex. The stiff construction is also uncomfortable for the subject.
The use of planar coils, fabricated using thin film or thick film techniques and encapsulating them inside epoxy resin as well as the use of parallel conductors patterned on flexible, insulating substrates is known as such, for example, from DE-A1-3 135 962, DE-C3-2 315 498, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,946 Transactions on Magnetics, vol. MAG-17, issue 1 (January 1981), pp. 400-401 and DE-A1-3 148 192. None of the features described in the above references solves alone the problem how to make a small, dimensionally accurate coil the stray fields of which are negligible, including current supply leads, and which is, in addition, as flat as possible and can be reliably and easily attached to the head.

Sensor position indicator coils to be used in magnetoencephalographic experiemnts and a means of attaching them to the head


A splitterless system provides along a subscriber loop, full Ethernet wire speed data transmission between a date source and an Ethernet standard end device. The system includes a gateway modem device connected to a data source, and arranged in splitterless contact with a subscriber loop extending between a Punch Down Block (PDB), and an Ethernet standard end device; and a user modem device connected between the Ethernet standard end device and the subscriber loop so as to define with the gateway modem device a subscriber loop segment, wherein the gateway modem device and the user modem device are operative to communicate along the loop segment in different predetermined, first and second frequency spectra, for uplinking and downlinking, respectively, thus to facilitate therealong full Ethernet wire speed data transmission therealong.

The present invention relates to data communications and telecommunications generally, and, in particular, to high speed data transmission over copper telephony wires.
The term xe2x80x9cloopxe2x80x9d is used throughout the specification and claims to mean a single twisted pair of copper wires suitable for voice. The term xe2x80x9cvoice/data devicexe2x80x9d is intended to mean any telephone, facsimile machine, or other POTs or ISDN device which transmits voice/data along subscriber loops in the frequency band 0-80 kHz.
The need to transmit data at high speed over copper wires, by use of various digital subscriber line technologies, is well known. Many businesses and public institutions are well serviced by purpose built local area networks (LANs) for the internal high speed transmission of data.
LANs are often constructed on the basis of twisted pairs of high grade, so-called xe2x80x9ccategory 5xe2x80x9d copper wares. Among standard protocols for data transmission along LANs are the well known packet data communications standard IEEE802.3 and Ethernet. By use of this high quality wiring, Ethernet is employed to transmit data signals at a rate of more than 100 MB per second. Accordingly, LANs are commonly used to connect various network devices and personal computers (PCs), referred to herein collectively as xe2x80x9cnodes,xe2x80x9d to a central Ethernet hub or switch, by use of a star topology.
It will thus be appreciated that connection of a high speed direct connection to an Internet or other high speed data provider, referred to herein collectively as xe2x80x9cISPs,xe2x80x9d inherently provides each node on the network with equally high speed data connectivity to the ISP.
Residential and older office buildings, however, provide a challenge to high quality data transmission, as they normally have relatively low quality copper lines which, apart from being low grade, often category 3 or less, are sought to be used also for traditional voice telephony by means of various active devices such as telephones and fax machines, and will also have many internal connections and splits. Furthermore, while many telephone lines are provided with two or four twisted pairs, so as to enable the use of voice and data connections at the same time, many are provided with single loops, preventing simultaneous use of the line for both voice and data transmission.
Use of existing copper wires in LAN-less environments normally provides a low quality connection due to the presence of multiple connections in the wiring, each connection causing the reflection of electrical signals that create echoes, thereby degrading the quality of reception. The presence of analog voice devices on the lines also occupies a certain amount of the available bandwidth, thereby reducing the bandwidth available far data transmission.
Various solutions for enabling the use of subscriber loops simultaneously for voice and data have been suggested, although they generally involve the use of a splitter, which has the effect of rendering the cost of such systems relatively high. Echo cancellation may also be required, and crosstalk, which occurs in bundled lines extending from the central office of the telephone company to the Punch Down Block (PDB), particularly on high speed DSL services, is also a problem that must be overcome. As known, the (PDB) may be located at any suitable location, such as, in a street cabinet, the basement of an apartment building, or the like.
A splitterless solution that is known in the art, is the so-called xe2x80x9cG Litexe2x80x9d standard for Splitterless Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line Transceivers. While this clearly does not have the drawbacks of systems requiring the use of splitters it still does not overcome the problem of switching of analog voice devices during use of the line for data communications. In other words, while the use of a copper line for data and voice simultaneously is not a problem, per se, the switching of a telephone, namely, the picking up or replacing of the telephone handset while the line is connected to a data source, such as an ISP, can cause interference to or loss of communication between an end unit such as a PC, and the data source.
Furthermore, many of the high speed solutions to provision of a high data transmission rate related to the provision of data over subscriber loops extending from the central office of the telephone company to the PDB, and thus to the ability to provide data over distances of as much as 20,000 feet or more. Necessarily, these solutions must deal With many problems that arise specifically from the long distance over which the data must be transmitted along telephone lines.
The present invention seeks to provide a splitterless system for providing 10 MB/sec half/full duplex Ethernet quality data communications via a subscriber loop, wherein the quality of the data transmission is not significantly affected by the simultaneous use of voice/data devices, including POTs. ISDN, telephone and facsimile machines, on the same line. Specifically, the data transmission is not significantly affected either by voice data or by switching of an analog voice device.
A further aim of the present invention is to provide a system which provides Ethernet quality data communications along subscriber loops and is independent of the distance of the subscriber from the telephone company, thereby to overcome problems of known art caused specifically by the necessity of high speed transmission of data over long distances.
Specifically, as will be appreciated from the following description, the system of the present invention is suitable for use with any of the following wiring arrangements:
1. A single loop with a resident voice/data device.
2. A single loop dedicated to data.
3. A pair of loops dedicated to data, providing complete physical separation between uplinking and downlinking.
There is thus provided, an accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a splitterless system for providing along a subscriber loop, full Ethernet wire speed data transmission between a data source and an Ethernet standard end device. The system includes a gateway modem device connected to a data source, and arranged in splitterless contact with a subscriber loop extending between a Punch Down Block (PDB), and an Ethernet standard end device; and a user modem device connected between the Ethernet standard end device and the subscriber loop so as to define with the gateway modem device a subscriber loop segment wherein the gateway modem device and the user modem device are operative to communicate along the loop segment in different predetermined, first and second frequency spectra, for uplinking and downlinking, respectively, thus to facilitate therealong full Ethernet wire speed data transmission therealong.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gateway modem device and the user modem device are operative to communicate in frequency spectra predetermined so as to facilitate full coexistence on the loop with a voice/data device.
Preferably, the gateway modem device and the user modem device are operative to communicate in a frequency spectra having a predetermined minimum value which is greater than that at which the signal to noise ratio (SNR) is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum value, typically 24 DB, even in the presence of a switching signal caused by a hook on/off action of a voice/data device.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the maximum value of the first frequency spectrum for uplinking is no greater than the minimum value of the second frequency spectrum for down linking, wherein, in a case in which no coexistence with voice/data devices is required, the first frequency spectrum is typically in the range 0-4.0 MHz, but more preferably in the range 200 kHz-3.0 MHz, and the second frequency spectrum is in the range 4.0-10.0 MHz, but more preferably in the range 6.0-9.0 MHz.
In a case where coexistence is required, however, the first frequency spectrum is in the range 1.0-4.0 MHz, and the second frequency spectrum is in the range 6.0-9.0 MHz.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is also provided apparatus, associated with the gateway modem device, the loop segment, the user modem device and the end unit, for providing along the loop segment a first impedance in response to transmission in the first frequency spectrum, and a second impedance in response to reception In the second frequency spectrum, thereby to provide an unmatched system and thus to reduce a loss in transmission power that occurs in the presence of a change in system impedance caused by a hook on/off action of a voice/data device.
Preferably, the system impedance is less than the matched impedance of the loop segment such that, in a matched system whose impedance is 100 xcexa9, the impedance provided by the apparatus for providing an impedance is no greater than 93 xcexa9, and preferably is approximately 80 xcexa9.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user modem includes apparatus for preventing entry into the modem of ringing voltages of analog/voice devices; and apparatus for preventing entry into the modem of switching voltages, thereby to prevent loss of locking between the user modem and the gateway modem.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user modem includes apparatus for transmitting a disconnect signal to the gateway modem upon switching off of the user modem, and wherein, in the presence of user modem initiated a line break of greater than a predetermined time period, in the absence of receipt of the disconnect signal, the gateway modem is operative to provide an alarm signal.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gateway modem device is a multiple modem unit for splitterless connection to a plurality of subscriber loops extending from a common PDB, and wherein the plurality of subscriber loops are connected to a plurality of Ethernet standard end units via a corresponding plurality of the user modems; and the multiple modem unit and the user modems are operative to facilitate communications between the Ethernet standard end units, so as to form an Ethernet standard network thereamong.

Splitterless ethernet DSL on subscriber loops