A credit card modularized set having a flexible stow envelope for receiving a companion nose-clasping type reading glasses, with a length and width approximately that of a conventional credit card; wherein as the set is stacked within a group of conventional credit cards, no portion of the set is substantially protrusive nor recessive of the stacked group. The reading glasses component has a special beam bridge portion having a square cross-sectional shape thereby affording maximum torsional resistance for its diminutive size plus a laterally tapering cross section evenly distributing any imposed bending loads. The modularized set has a minimal thickness enabling its user to slip the set conveniently within the user's wallet modularly among the user's credit cards for ready availability.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to well known so called Pince-Nez (French) or nose-pinching type reading glasses having a flexible bridge portion; plus, it also relates to well known wallet credit card holders.
2. Relevant Prior Art
Background research discovery provides some prior patent art regarded as germane to this disclosure, for example several discovered patents reveal "one piece" templeless eyeglasses having a common transversely interposed resilient plastic bridge portion, which bridge in its untensioned condition is said to bias the laterally opposed lenses sufficiently close together as to essentially grasp the upper portion of a user's nose there between close together as to essentially grasp the upper portion of a user's nose there between while being worn; hence the French derived term Pince-Nez, or nose-pinching eye glasses. The notion of templeless nose-pinching eyeglasses can be traced back several centuries to 1300's in Europe, when they employed a transverse rigid bridge affixed to the eyeglasses rims, and these lens rims were made so to adjustably clamp to the user's upper nose without lateral compliance.
In 1840 the true nose-pinching eyeglasses were conceived, employing a more aesthetic appearing transverse flexible bridge, which compliance obviated need for pre adjustment to the user's nose width. Then in 1890, the design trend swang to rimless lenses, wherein tiny holes were drilled longitudinally through the apposed lenses facilitating direct aesthetic attachment of the flexible bridge to the inward edges of the lenses; thereby eliminating a distracting presence of the lens rims. In 1916 U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,953 (filed: September 1913), W. R. Uhlemann introduced a novel vitreous (transparent glass) bridge member, which was integrally fused to the respective left and right lenses; yet this relatively fragile bridge construction offered no flexible adjustability to the user. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,098,513 (filed January 1934) is shown metal rimmed nose-pinching eyeglasses with the usual flexible metal bridge, but including opposed nose contact members which have closely spaced serrations serving to promote improved adherence of the eyeglasses upon a user's nose.
Then in UK Patent. #490,197 (filed: December 1937), Inventor J. P. Sidebottom introduced one piece frameless semi-flexible spectacles (eyeglasses) made of "an artificial molded material which is not glass", that is, die molded of acrylic thermoset/plastic resin called Perspex® (i.e., poly-nethyl-metacrylate); which set forth a pair of lenses formed in one piece with an integral if necessarily resilient bridge member portion (it is not known if inventor Sidebottom further contemplated bridge flexibility, in as much as he does not allude to it). However, non metal integrally formed bridges remained unknown until C. Baratelli's subsequent U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,087 (filed: April 1900; wherein above said inventor Sidebottom is erroneously referred to as J. Pearson), particularly identified in claim 1 which expressed the notion of a one piece plastic nose-pinching (Pince-Nez type) eyeglasses providing a more than resilient indeed "flexible" bridge portion. Additionally, Baratelli sets forth use of opaque coating or "masking" of the integral bridge portions (# . . . 087/Column 1, Lines: 49–51), owing as to thereby preclude spurious "piping in" of reflected/refracted light, which adverse effect was alleged to be found tending to obscure optical clarity to the degree of being visually annoying if possibly dangerous distraction to the wearer under certain ambient lighting conditions.
In. U.S. Pat. No. D322,262 (filed: December 1988) is shown a nose-pinching eyeglasses having a laterally adjustable metal bridge, which in FIG. 6 shows the lenses folded one atop the other by virtue of extending the bridge to its greatest length. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,197 (filed: January 1991 from Israel) is shown an "emergency eye glass" article which is tantamount to a flat plate of injection molded transparent plastic and dimensionally substantially the came as an ordinary credit card, but having a non adjustable nose slot formed from the lower elongate edge medially to two spaced apart integrally formed optical lens portions which are only protrusions formed beyond the nominal thickness of the eyeglasses card. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,404 (filed: April 1991) is shown an injection molded plastic nose-pinching eyeglasses having an integrally embedded flexible plastic (nylon suggested) or metal (stainless steel suggested) bridge, the notion being to enable the dependent lens potions to be readily folded against one another for compactness. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,614 (filed June 2000) and the inventor's related pending U.S. Pat. No. 2002/0191150 (filed April 2002) is shown a nose-pinching type eyeglasses comprised of two mirror image lens portions which in the pending iteration includes an integral flexible bridge specified as having an either circular (0.050 inch diam.), or oval or polygonal (0.050″×0.060″, i.e.; not a parallelogram) cross section; and which the bridge is necessarily formed to a particular M shape as viewed from the front, a shape claimed to lend greater flexibility in nose-pinching action.
Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 132,246 (filed: October 1872) the notion of a basic no frills rigid elongate eyeglasses case was presented, comprised of two concave stamped metal mirror image panels which are sheathed inwardly with felt material, and which perimeter flanges are permanently joined medially around three sides, leaving an open small end opening for insertion of one's eyeglasses into the crush resistant case. Next, an eyeglass case of simple flexible envelope design was introduced for nose-pinching eyeglasses via U.S. Pat. No. 272,450 (filed: April 1882), in which the conventional flexible metal bridge was employed further as to enable overlapped folding of the two lens portions. This was achieved by initial insertion of one lens portion within a discrete compartment divided by a medial layer of soft fabric, thereby protecting one lens portion from being scratched upon insertion of the other lens portion within its likewise discrete adjacent compartment. That embodiment was soon followed by U.S. Pat. No. 361,724 (filed: March 1887), wherein was presented a thin end opening eyeglass case featuring internal wiping pads of a felt material, serving to wipe the nose pinching type eyeglasses lens clean each time the eyeglasses were inserted or removed therefrom. However, none of these eyeglasses cases were adaptable to provide an embodiment suited to the ultra slim low profile criteria of my own immediate disclosure.
Therefore, in full consideration of the preceding patent review, there is determined a need for an improved form of device to which these patents have been largely addressed. The instant inventor hereof believes their newly improved nose eyeglasses, commercially referred to as: WALLETREADERx™, and currently being developed for production under auspices of the FlashlineProducts Mfg./Mkt.Co., exhibits certain advantages as shall be revealed in the subsequent portion of this instant disclosure.

Credit-card modular two-component wallet-reader set


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of estimating a blood flow characteristic in a patient. Present embodiments include providing a first probability distribution for an actual value of a function of the blood flow characteristic based on a previous value of the function, providing a second probability distribution describing a probability that observations of the blood flow characteristic were made given that the blood flow characteristic took a certain value, and combining the first and second probability distributions to facilitate selection of a most likely value of the function for posting as the value of the estimated blood flow characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to estimating blood oxygen saturation in a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Pulse oximetry may be defined as a non-invasive technique that facilitates monitoring of a patient's blood flow characteristics. For example, pulse oximetry may be used to measure blood oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in a patient's arterial blood and/or the patient's heart rate. Specifically, these blood flow characteristic measurements may be acquired using a non-invasive sensor that passes light through a portion of a patient's blood perfused tissue and photo-electrically senses the absorption and scattering of light through the blood perfused tissue. A typical signal resulting from the sensed light may be referred to as a plethysmographic waveform. Once acquired, this measurement of the absorbed and scattered light may be used with various algorithms to estimate an amount of blood constituent in the tissue. It should be noted that the amount of arterial blood in the tissue is time varying during a cardiac cycle, which is reflected in the plethysmographic waveform.
The accuracy of blood flow characteristic estimations obtained via pulse oximetry depends on a number of factors. For example, variations in light absorption characteristics can affect accuracy depending on where (e.g., finger, foot, or ear) the sensor is applied on a patient or depending on the physiology of the patient. Additionally, various types of noise and interference can create inaccuracies. For example, electrical noise, physiological noise, and other interference can contribute to inaccurate blood flow characteristic estimates. Some sources of noise are consistent, predictable, and/or minimal, while some sources of noise are erratic and cause major interruptions in the accuracy of blood flow characteristic measurements. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method that continues to provide substantially accurate blood flow characteristic measurements during interference and noisy periods as well as during periods with little or no noise.

System and method for probability based determination of estimated oxygen saturation


The present disclosure provides a sentence recommendation method and apparatus based on associated points of interest. The method includes: obtaining an input sentence from a user; extracting a keyword in the input sentence, and searching for a current point of interest matching the keyword in a preset point of interest association network determining a plurality of associated points of interest matching the current point of interest according to the preset point of interest association network, and filtering out an extension point of interest from the plurality of associated points of interest according to a preset filter strategy; and retrieving a first reply sentence and a second reply sentence from a preset corpus according to the current point of interest and the extension point of interest, and providing them to the user.

Currently, in a human-machine conversation scenario, a chat robot usually takes voice information of a user as an input, and automatically determines semantic content of the reply h analyzing the voice information in combination with a previous conversation history between them and user interest information.
However, the initial user interest information is usually specified by the user, or obtained from a short and brief interaction with the user. Accordingly, the initial user interest information may usually have an information granularity that is not fine enough, e.g., only at a level of special fields, such as entertainment and sports, and have coverage that is not wide enough. Additionally, the initial user interest information generally relies on the user's autonomous switching to a new topic, from which the user interest information may be extracted based on the dialogues with the user. Since the creation of topic is wholly dependent on the user, it tends to create to closed set of limited topics with an inefficient accumulation process, resulting in a narrower coverage of user interests.

Sentence recommendation method and apparatus based on associated points of interest

BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


An interfolding machine includes an assembly for and method of separating overlapped sheets of material at a desired sheet count. The assembly includes a vacuum assembly with a manifold having a plurality of vacuum inlet ports coupled to a valve body having a plurality of chambers. A spool is contained within the valve body and includes a plurality of ports to provide a plurality of respective vacuum paths to a rotating count roll. The spool also includes a plurality of inlet openings in its outer surface. Each opening in the spool communicates a respective set of count roll vacuum ports with a respective interior chamber of the valve body. A control valve selectively releases the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chambers to atmosphere. The selective application of vacuum pressure to the holes in the count roll creates a fold that separates the sheets to form separate stacks of sheets at the discharge of the interfolding machine.

Interfolding of a web or sheet material (e.g., napkins, paper towels, tissue, etc.) is frequently performed using folding rolls of a folding machine. The folding rolls are operable to fold a series of successive sheets that are cut from one or more webs and supplied to the folding rolls in an overlapping relationship. Upstream of the folding rolls, the sheets are cut against a bed roll by a knife roll, and the sheets are then supplied to a retard roll that functions to provide the desired overlapping relationship of the sheets. From the retard roll, the sheets are advanced by a lap roll and are then supplied to the folding rolls for interfolding, to create a stack of interfolded sheets at the discharge of the folding rolls. A count roll is located adjacent the lap roll, and rotates in a timed relationship with the lap roll. The count roll is selectively operable to eliminate the sheet overlap at a desired sheet count, in order to create a separation in the supply of overlapped sheets to the folding rolls. The separation in the supply of sheets to the folding rolls functions to separate the stack of sheets discharged from the folding rolls into adjacent stacks or logs of sheets, each of which has a desired sheet count. The sheet overlap is interrupted by means of a vacuum system in the count roll that folds the leading edge of one of the sheets onto itself at the desired count. As the count roll rotates, the vacuum system is selectively actuated to engage the leading edge of the sheet as the sheets is transported on the lap roll, and carries and/or retains the leading edge of the sheet while the remainder of the sheet is advanced by the lap roll. The count roll then releases the leading edge of the sheet, and the retention of the remainder of the sheet on the count roll creates the sheet fold that eliminates the overlap between the leading edge of the sheet and the trailing edge of the downstream sheet.
However, known count roll systems for interfolding machines have drawbacks and limitations. For example, the operational speed of the interfolding machine is limited by a relatively short switching time that is available for actuating the vacuum system to turn the count roll valves on and off. Further, known count rolls use two vacuum ports on the count roll that are 180° apart, which can only provide an even count of sheets.

Valve system for the count roll of an interfolding machine


A grill device includes an upper grill unit pivoted to a lower grill unit so as to rotate about an axis between an open position, and a closed position, in which, the upper and lower grill units cooperatively define a cooking space therebetween. A seasoning supplying unit includes a vessel mounted in the cooking space to receive a body of seasonings in liquid form, and a thermal conductive dispenser. The thermal conductive dispenser is extendible into the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position, and defines a plurality of channels. Each of the channel has an inlet that is immersed in seasonings in the vessel, and an outlet that is exposed from the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a grill device, more particularly to a grill device provided with a seasoning supplying unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional grill device is shown to include a lower grill unit 11 with a lower cooking member 111, an upper grill unit 12 with an upper cooking member 121, and a connecting unit which interconnects rear ends of the upper and lower grill units 12, 11 so as to rotate about an axis between an open position, and a closed position, in which, the upper and lower cooking members 121, 111 cooperatively confine a cooking space therebetween.
The aforesaid conventional grill device is disadvantageous in that it is inconvenient for the user to turn the upper grill unit 12 to the open position, whenever he or she wishes to sprinkle seasonings onto a piece of meat being grilled on the lower grill unit 11.
The object of this invention is to provide a grill device provided with a seasoning supplying unit that can eliminate the occurrence of the aforesaid disadvantage which results during use of the conventional grill device.
Accordingly, a grill device of the present invention includes a lower grill unit, an upper grill unit, and a seasoning supplying unit. The lower grill unit has a rear portion and a top that is provided with a lower cooking member. The upper grill unit has a bottom that is provided with an upper cooking member, and a rear portion pivoted to the rear portion of the lower grill unit so as to rotate about an axis between an open position, and a closed position, in which, the upper and lower cooking members cooperatively confine a cooking space therebetween. The seasoning supplying unit includes a vessel and a thermal conductive dispenser. The vessel is mounted in the cooking space, and is adapted to receive a body of seasonings in liquid form. The thermal conductive dispenser is mounted in the cooking space, and is extendible into the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position. The thermal conductive dispenser defines a plurality of channels. Each of the channels has an inlet that is adapted to immersed in the body of seasonings in the vessel, and an outlet that is exposed from the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position, so that when the thermal conductive dispenser is heated, a stream of seasonings continuously enters from the vessel into each of the channels via the inlet, and is ejected via the outlet into the cooking space by virtue of vaporization of the stream of seasonings in each of the channels.

Grill device provided with a seasoning supplying unit


Disclosed herein is a semiconductor package having a fan-out structure in which a semiconductor chip is buried by an encapsulation member and an external connection member is disposed below the buried semiconductor chip. The semiconductor package includes an embedded rewiring pattern layer, an upper semiconductor chip disposed above the embedded rewiring pattern layer, an upper encapsulation member encapsulating the upper semiconductor chip, a lower semiconductor chip disposed below the embedded rewiring pattern layer, and a lower encapsulation member encapsulating the lower semiconductor chip to prevent exposure thereof.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor package having a fan-out structure in which a semiconductor chip is buried by an encapsulation member and an external connection member is disposed below the buried semiconductor chip and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as semiconductor devices have been miniaturized and semiconductor device functions have been diversified, the size of semiconductor chips decreases and the number of input and output terminals of semiconductor chips increases, and, accordingly, electrode pad pitches have been further miniaturized. In addition, in line with acceleration of integration of various functions, there has emerged a system-level packaging technology in which a variety of devices are integrated in a single package. In addition, the system-level packaging technology has been changed to three-dimensional stacking technology in which a signal distance may be maintained short to minimize noise between operations and improve a signal rate. To control increase in product costs, increase productivity and reduce raw material costs, in addition to such demand for advances in manufacturing technology, a semiconductor package including a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked one upon another has been introduced.
In a conventional stack-type semiconductor package, for example, a system in package (SIP), input and output terminals are formed at an outer region of a second semiconductor chip stacked on a first semiconductor chip, and thus a difference between the sizes of the first and second semiconductor chips needs to be made. In addition, as such size difference decreases, the number of the input and output terminals is limited.

Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same


A safety needle system includes a safety mechanism for a needle assembly, such as a Huber needle. A main body has a channel having a proximal end to encompass tubing and a distal end for positioning proximate a needle. The main body further has a first hinge mechanism and a first latching mechanism. A movable cover has needle receptacle, a second hinge mechanism connected with the first hinge mechanism of the main body, and a biasing member for pivoting movable cover about the first and second hinge mechanisms relative to the main body. The movable cover has a second latching mechanism to latch with the first latching mechanism in a closed position, in which the safety mechanism can be undocked from the needle and slid away from the needle along the tubing. The movable cover has a release mechanism to allow pivoting of the movable cover about the hinge mechanisms such that the needle receptacle of the movable cover at least partially receives the needle of the needle assembly in an open, locked position.

The present invention relates to Huber needle assemblies, and more particularly to a safety device for a Huber needle assembly.
With the passage of the needlestick safety act (Public Law 106-430, 106th Congress, H.R. 5178) with an effective date of Apr. 18, 2001, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now requires affected employers, primarily healthcare institutions, to consider and implement new technologies when they update their "exposure control plan." Included are "engineering controls" (devices) to mitigate the possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens via accidental needle sticks.
Various engineering controls exist to protect nurses, technicians and caregivers from accidental needle sticks from injection needles, venous cannulation devices, skin closure devices and scalpels. In the area of subcutaneous medication device access (port), in which a Huber needle assembly is employed, a number of devices exist that offer a margin of protection from accidental needle sticks when removing the needle, or "sharp," from the port. One danger from de-accessing a subcutaneous port is the result of how the port itself is constructed. The port is a metal or plastic device with a pierceable area, often made of a silicone compound, through which access is made by a Huber needle to the vascular system for the purpose of infusing medication into the body. The Huber needle is specially designed to reduce the possibility of mechanically damaging and/or removing a portion of the pierceable area as it is punctured, and which is referred to as "coring." This coring limits the number of times a port can be accessed. To combat this damage and extend the useful life of the port, the silicone compound is inserted under pressure into the device. It is this pressure that is the arbiter of the danger to the clinician removing the needle used to cannulate the port.
There are some devices that provide at best limited protection to a clinician when removing the needle. For instance, in some devices, a safety capture device uses a latching feature such as "hooks" or "fingers" that are manually secured around the needle by forcing the needle between them. But these devices require the clinician to grasp the needle with one hand, and secure it with a latching cover with the other hand. These devices can be rearmed by simply defeating the latching feature, such as spreading the hooks or fingers, which could release the needle.
Another danger in removing the needle is the resistance to extraction exerted on the needle by the compressed silicone compound on the port the needle inhabits. Due to this resistance, the clinician may use both hands to remove the needle to prevent pain at the insertion site as well as manipulate the safety capture device to safely cover the needle. When the needle "clears" the resistance of the silicone barrier the individual removing the needle will involuntarily compensate for the loss of resistance by reversing the motion and redirect the needle back towards the patient and their fingers being used to stabilize the area of the patient's skin surrounding the subcutaneous port.
The other problem with these designs is that the force necessary to push the needle through the latching cover is substantial. If the clinician uses a strong enough spring to force the needle through the capture feature to assure a 100% capture rate it could pinch the patient as the swing arm travels and "pins" some sensitive skin between the partially indwelling needle and the arm of the safety device. If you use a weaker spring you run the risk of not having the needle force necessary to spread the fingers and secure the needle. Not unlike a yard gate latch that incorporates two opposing "hooks" held in closure by a spring. The latch pin attached to the gate section has to overcome the force of the spring to spread the hooks to engage the latch.
No passive device existed that would allow a single clinician remove and flush the device at the same time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are novel polymorphisms in the human cytochrome P450 2A6 gene and the use of those polymorphisms as predictive sequences for altered metabolism or occurrence of disease.

The present invention relates to the identification of various polymorphisms in the cytochrome P450 2A6 gene and methods and reagents for genotyping and phenotyping individuals using such polymorphisms.
The mammalian liver contains enzymes that convert various chemical compositions to products which can more easily be eliminated from the body. One enzyme system which plays a major role in determining the rate of elimination of these drugs is cytochrome P450. The cytochrome P450""s are among the major constituent proteins of the liver mixed function monooxygenases. They play a central role in the metabolism of steroids, the detoxification of drugs and xenobiotics, and the activation of procarcinogens. Without cytochrome P450 and related enzymes, naturally occurring and man-made foreign chemicals would accumulate in the body. Additionally, the biological effects of some chemicals are due solely to metabolites generated by cytochrome P450 and/or related enzymes. Metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes is often the rate-limiting step in pharmaceutical elimination. For example, most phase I metabolism of drugs and environmental pollutants is performed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. In this process, one or more water-soluble groups (such as hydroxyl) are introduced into the fat-soluble parent molecule, thereby rendering it vulnerable to attack by the phase II conjugating enzymes. The increased water-solubility of phase I and especially phase II products permits ready excretion. Consequently, factors that lessen the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes usually prolong the effects of pharmaceuticals, whereas factors that increase cytochrome P450 activity have the opposite effect.
The phenobarbital-inducible P450 gene, CYP2A6 or CYP4502A6, is a member of a multigene family located on by human chromosome 19. Induction by phenobarbital is mediated almost entirely at the level of transcription. P450 enzymes, as well as other so called xe2x80x9cdrug-metabolizingxe2x80x9d enzymes, play an important role in maintaining the steady-state levels of endogenous ligands involved in ligand-modulated transcription of genes effecting homeostasis, growth, differentiation, and neuroendocrine functions.
Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes result in subpopulations of individuals that are distinct in their ability to perform particular drug biotransformation reactions. These phenotypic distinctions have important implications for selection of drugs. For example, a drug that is safe when administered to the majority of humans may cause intolerable side-effects in an individual suffering from a defect in a cytochrome P450 enzyme required for detoxification of the drug. Alternatively, a drug that is effective in most humans may be ineffective in a particular subpopulation because of the lack of a particular cytochrome P450 enzyme required for conversion of the drug to a metabolically active form. Accordingly, it is important for both drug development and clinical use to screen drugs to determine which cytochrome P450 enzymes are required for activation and/or detoxification of the drug.
It is also important to identify those individuals who are deficient in a particular P450 enzyme. This type of information has been used to advantage in the past for developing genetic assays that predict phenotype and thus predict an individual""s ability to metabolize a given drug. Information such as this would be of particular value in determining the likely side effects and therapeutic failures of various drugs and routine phenotyping could be recommended for certain categories of patients.
Wood and Conney, Science, 1974, vol. 185, pages 612-614, found that basal and phenobarbital-induced rates of hepatic metabolism of coumarin to 7-hydroxycoumarin were markedly higher in DBA-2J mice than in other strains and that intermediate activities in hybrids indicated codominant inheritance. They suggested that there could be similar variability in man. Kratz, Europ. J. Clin. Pharm., 1976, vol. 10, pages 133-137, studied coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in human liver obtained by needle biopsy. A 4-fold range of enzymatic activity was observed and Kratz suggested that the difference was due to genetic differences between sample donors. Kratz excluded individuals taking drugs that might induce enzyme activity from the study. Yamano et al., Biochemistry, 1990, vol. 29, pages 1322-1329, reported a variant allele of the CYP2A6 gene termed *2 that had a single nucleotide substitution that resulted in an amino acid substitution of a histidine for a leucine at position 160. The variant allele was found to encode an unstable and catalytically inactive enzyme. Fernandez-Salguero et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet., 1995, vol. 57, pages 651-660, reported the genomic sequence for the CYP2A6, CYP2A7, and CYP2A13 genes, in addition to 2 pseudogenes truncated after exon 5, located on 19q13.2. They also identified three different CYP2A6 alleles: the functional CYP2A6 allele, referred to as *1; the variant-1 allele that had a single base mutation of a T to an A resulting in a substitution of a histidine for a leucine in exon 3, referred to as *2; and the variant-2 allele which was formed by gene conversion between the wildtype CYP2A6 and CYP2A7 genes in exons 3,6, and 8, referred to as*3.
Four different deletion mutants resulting in an absence of enzyme activity have been described by prior investigators. Oscarson et al., FEBS Lett., 1999, vol. 448, pages 105-110), described the structure of a novel CYP2A locus, referred to as *4A, in which the entire CYP2A6 gene had been deleted thereby disrupting CYP2A6-dependent metabolism. They proposed that this allele was generated by an unequal crossover event between the 3-prime flanking region of the CYP2A6 and CYP2A7 genes. A xe2x80x9cD-typexe2x80x9d deletion mutant lacking the CYP2A6 gene region from intron 5 to exon 9, referred to as *4B, was described by Nonoya et al., Pharmacogenetics, 1998, vol.8, pages 239-249. An xe2x80x9cE-typexe2x80x9d mutant referred to as *4C was also identified by Nonoya et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther., 1999, vol. 289, pages 437-442 in which exons 1, 8, and 9 of CYP2A6 gene were deleted. Oscarson et al., FEBS Lett., 1999, vol. 460, pages 321-327, identified a fourth type of deletion mutant referred to as *4D that they suggested resulted from unequal crossover event with a junction at either intron 8 or exon 9. In addition to characterizing the new deletion mutant CYP2A6*4D, Oscarson et al. also reported a new variant referred to as *5 that was a single nucleotide change of G to T at position 1436, resulting in a substitution of a valine for a glycine at codon 479. This variant allele resulted in a poor metabolizer phenotype. In addition, they found a new wild type variant referred to as *1B that resulted from a gene conversion in the 3xe2x80x2 flanking region of the CYP2A6 gene.
It has been established in the art that nicotine is inactivated by c-oxidation to cotinine. Tyndale, PCT Publication No. WO 98/03171, published Jan. 29, 1998, disclosed that inhibitors of the enzyme encoded by the CYP2A6 gene cause a decrease in nicotine metabolism. It has been suggested in the art that the enzyme encoded by the CYP2A6 gene may affect smoking patterns by mediating the metabolism of nicotine (Vineis et al., in Metabolic Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Cancer, IARC Scientific Publication No. 148, 1999). Pianezza et al., Nature, 1998, vol. 393, page 750, disclosed that smokers carrying two null CYP2A6 alleles consumed fewer cigarettes. Oscarson et al., FEBS Lett., 1998, vol. 438, pages 201-205, however, indicated that Pianezza et al. used an erroneous method to measure the association of the genotype to the phenotype and therefore additional studies need to be performed to correctly determine the true phenotype of individuals that are genetically CYP2A6 defective. London et al., Lancet, 1999, vol. 353, pages 898-899, also disclosed that polymorphism in the CYP2A6 gene has little influence on the propensity to smoke cigarettes. Seller and Tyndale, PCT Publication No. WO 99/27919, published Jun. 10, 1999, disclosed that the presence of the *2 and *3 mutant alleles of CYP2A6 are related to whether an individual becomes a smoker or if already a smoker, then the number of cigarettes that person smokes. Seller and Tyndale conclude that the CYP2A6 genotype directly influences the risk for tobacco dependence. Genotyping methods using variants of the CYP2A6 gene have been suggested by prior investigators (e.g., Kitagawa et al., Biochem Biophyis Res Comm, 1999, vol. 262, pages 146-151).
None of the previous investigators, however, have identified the polymorphisms of the present invention and their associated any genetic variation with the susceptibility or occurrence of inflammation, asthma or habitual smoking.
There still remains a need in the art to identify polymorphisms in the CYP2A6 gene that have predictive value for altered metabolism or occurrence of disease.
The present invention relates to novel polymorphisms located in the human CYP2A6 gene and the use of those polymorphisms as predictive sequences for altered metabolism or occurrence of disease. According to the present invention there are provided CYP2A6 polymorphic nucleic acid sequences and methods to use such nucleic acid sequences, in particular for diagnostic purposes to identify individuals having a polymorphic genotype.
One embodiment of the present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, and SEQ ID NO:20 and nucleic acid sequences that are filly complementary thereto. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule that comprises at least one base variation from that of a known human P450 sequence, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of:(a) a nucleic acid molecule that comprises a T for a C at position 202 of SEQ ID NO: 21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; (b) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a C for a T at position 369 of SEQ ID NO:21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; (c) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises an A for a G at position 394 of SEQ ID NO:21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; (d) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises an A for a C at position 413 of SEQ ID NO:21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; (e) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a G for a T at position 743 of SEQ ID NO:21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; (f) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises an A for a G at position 841 of SEQ ID NO:21 and at least 20 other bases of SEQ ID NO:21 contiguously appurtenant to said position; and (g) a nucleic acid molecule which is fully complementary to a nucleic acid molecule of (a)-(f).
Further embodiments of the invention include various methods for identifying polymorphisms. One such method is a method for identifying a polymorphism in a nucleic acid molecule of an individual which includes determining whether a nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, and SEQ ID NO:20 or a nucleic acid sequence that is fully complementary thereto is present in the nucleic acid molecule. Two other such methods include a method for evaluating an individual""s risk of developing asthma and a method for evaluating an individual""s propensity for cigarette consumption. These methods include obtaining a nucleic acid molecule sample from said individual. The methods further include determining whether a polymorphism in a nucleic acid sequence of the gene encoding coumarin 7-hydroxylation protein is present in the nucleic acid sample, wherein the polymorphism is selected from: a T for C substitution corresponding to position 202 of SEQ ID NO:21; a C for T substitution corresponding to position 369 of SEQ ID NO:21; an A for G substitution corresponding to position 394 of SEQ ID NO:21; an A for C substitution corresponding to position 413 of SEQ ID NO:21; a G for T substitution corresponding to position 743 of SEQ ID NO:21; and an A for G at position 841 of SEQ ID NO:21
The methods of the present invention can further include determining whether an individual is homozygous or heterozygous for a given nucleic acid sequence. Such methods can be either a cDNA assay and a genomic DNA assay. Such methods can also include a step of digesting a nucleic acid molecule with a restriction enzyme that distinguishes between a polymorphic nucleic acid sequence and the corresponding wildtype sequence. Further, the methods can include amplifying a selected region of the nucleic acid molecule of the individual.
Additional embodiments of the present invention include kits for conducting the various methods. Such kits can include nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, as well as restriction enzymes useful in the methods..
Further embodiments of the present invention include a computer for displaying nucleic acid sequence of a molecules of the present invention. Such a computer includes a computer-readable medium encoded with the nucleic acid sequence, to create an electronic file. The computer further includes hardware and software that display the nucleic acid sequence in the electronic file as a linear model of the molecule for analysis, alignment with other sequences or visualization of the nucleic acid sequence
A further embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:21 and a nucleic acid sequence that is fully complementary to SEQ ID NO:21.
A still further embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence consisting essentially of a nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, and SEQ ID NO:19 and nucleic acid sequences that are fully complementary thereto.

Genetic typing of the human cytochrome P450 2A6 gene and related materials and methods


A touch panel includes a strengthen cover lens and a touch electrode layer. The strengthen cover lens includes a first non-planar sulfate, and is planned with a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region. The touch electrode layer is formed, on the first non-planar surface and overlaid on the display region and at least part of the peripheral region for manufacturing a non-planar touch panel.

In today's market of variety of consuming electronic products, portable electronic products such as personal digital assistant (FDA), mobile phone, notebook and tablet PC touch panels are widely used as man-machine interface.
In order to meet the light weight and less thickness requirement of the electronic products, the touch panel technology has progressed to integrate the glass with touch electrodes and the cover glass, particularly, touch electrodes are being directly manufactured onto the cover glass. This technology efficiently reduces the entire thickness of the touch panel and also, reduces costs of the touch panel.
However, a normal lithography processing technology for directly manufacturing the touch electrodes on the cover glass of touch panel, such as photoresist sputtering, UV exposing and the like, is only applicable for a flat structure. If the photoresist is made from wet films, the non-planar structure would be unevenly coated due to high fluidity; and if the photoresist is made from dry films, the actual demand for less thickness can not be met. In addition, since the non-planar structure has height difference, UV exposure would cause uneven line width and line-spacing. Accordingly the touch panel where the touch electrodes are directly manufactured on the cover glass can not be laminated and applied on the non-planar display device, and hence, limits the applicability of the touch panel.
Presently, a technology of manufacturing the touch electrodes on the non-planar structure has been developed. However, since the manufacturing process is complicated and can only be accomplished by collocating with the conducting layer that made is of special materials, such as by a series of staking steps: spreading dispersing solvent, using cleaning solvent to remove dispersing solvent, steaming cleaning solvent and the like. This there is a need to efficiently accomplish a non-planar touch panel wherein the touch electrodes can be directly manufactured on the cover glass without adding any manufacturing process and changing materials of the conducting layer.

Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof


A flexible touch screen, comprising: a flexible display with a first bending line, wherein the first bending line separates the flexible display into a first part and a second part; and a first touch panel and a second touch panel disposed in different sides of the first bending line, wherein the first and the second touch panels attach to the flexible display, each of the first and the second touch panels comprises first electrodes and second electrodes which are connected with a touch sensitive processing apparatus, the first and the second electrodes intersect each other.

Electronic paper displays are widely adopted in equipment such as electronic book reader, electronic signage and etc. Electronic paper display is flexible. Other kinds of displays are also flexible. How to add touch sensitive function on flexible displays is the question the instant application intends to solve.
In the following, the instant application takes electronic paper touch screen as an embodiment of a flexible touch screen. However, person having ordinary skill in the art can understand the flexible touch screen may include flexible display other than electronic paper display.

Flexible touch screen, touch sensitive processing apparatus and method, and electronic system


In one aspect, a system for use in processing a fluid comprises a reservoir for holding the fluid and one or more bioreactors for receiving the fluid from the reservoir. One or more sensors are provided for sensing one or more parameters of the fluid, and corresponding control measures may be initiated. Regulators may also be provided for regulating various parameters of the fluid processing operation. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Cells typically require homogenous growth media with optimum levels of oxygen, pH, nutrients (sugar, micronutrients, etc.), and temperature. This may be accomplished in a container, termed a bioreactor, for housing the cultured cells and media, usually under sterile conditions. Growing multiple batches of different cells or the same cells under different conditions thus requires the use of individually regulated bioreactors. Avoiding this individualized approach by providing a reservoir for supplying fluid to multiple bioreactors, while also permitting individualized control of one or more parameters and assurances as to validation of the individual bioreactors, is highly desirable from an efficiency and cost standpoint.

Fluid processing control system and related methods


A method for reducing the altitudinal errors and run-out of a spindle motor is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. First is to mount a material layer on the loading surface. Then, a surface treatment is applied to the material layer until the average run-out of the surface of the material layer is below 10−2 mm during the running of the spindle motor, and the distance between the surfaces of the material layer and one end of a shaft of the spindle motor achieves an expected value.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for improving manufacturing accuracy of a spindle motor and, more particularly, to a method for improving altitude and run-out of a slim-type spindle motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prosperity in information development has propelled the significance of developing information storage medium. Regarding to information storage medium, a spindle motor has been playing a major role in the field. A spindle motor is a small motor, which mostly functions as a driving device for activating operation of information storage medium such as compact disk drive and hard disk drive. The types of spindle motor may vary, but the primary components of all types of spindle motor are the same, including a loading surface, a rotating shaft, a rotor, and a stator. Among them, a loading surface can be the surface of a loading disk that is independently provided or the surface of a motor rotor itself, and both of them can be used for loading or activating a hard disk or compact disk. On the other hand, manufacturing for spindle motors has been turned to miniaturization actuated by the more precise modern manufacturing techniques. For instance, FIGS. 1 & 2 represent a perspective diagram and a sectional diagram along the line A—A of FIG. 1 respectively according to a conventional slim-type spindle motor.
As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, a slim-type spindle motor is composed of several parts of components. Also, because the spindle motor's volume is small and its running speed can reach thousands of rotations per minute (rpm), normally there will be some requirements made to raise processing accuracy for each component of the spindle motor so that big vibrations can be avoided when the disk is in operation. Through the requirements, data reading on the disk will not be affected, nor will the optical read head be damaged. However, doing so can also increase the manufacturing cost. Besides, since a spindle motor comprises several parts of components, it is inevitable to accumulate assembly errors while assembling components for each part. Unfortunately, these accumulated errors can seriously decrease the stability of overall spindle motor operation.
To illustrate the above-mentioned drawback, the spindle motor 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be taken as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the loading surface 11 is a surface of motor rotor 13, and an anti-sliding slice 14 is adhered to the motor rotor 13 thereon to prevent the disk from sliding. Besides, there are other components of spindle motor 10, including a shaft 12, a cap 15, a base 16, a driving circuit 17, a stator base 18 (shown in FIG. 2), windings 19 (shown in FIG. 2), and a permanent magnet 20 (shown in FIG. 2). After the assembly has been done, the vertical errors between the loading surface 11 of the slim-type spindle motor 10 and the shaft 12, the manufacturing errors residing in the spindle motor 10 itself, and the existing assembly errors are all possible to cause a run-out when the spindle motor 10 is running; that is, when rotating, the loading surface 11 can result in a run-out corresponding to the shaft 12. In other words, the aforementioned errors can lower the product yield.
On the other hand, concerning about the applicability of a conventional slim-type spindle motor, a designer of the spindle motor has to diminish the volume of the motor. Therefore, besides that the altitude of the spindle motor being placed inside the disk drive has to be diminished, the altitude also has to be precisely controlled so that the relative positions among the spindle motor, the disk, and the read head can be fixed to facilitate a precise read head's reading data from the disk. In brief, the altitude accuracy of a slim-type spindle motor being placed inside the disk drive is essential.
However, there is usually no need to install any independent loading disk for the case of the slim-type spindle motor. Instead, the surface of the motor rotor will be used directly as a loading surface. Under such circumstances, it will be labor consuming and time consuming to try to solve the aforementioned run-out problem of the loading surface and try to precisely control the altitude accuracy of the spindle motor. Therefore, it is the subject for us to look for an easy and accessible method to improve altitude accuracy of the spindle motor as well as to reduce run-out of a loading surface in a short time.

Method for reducing the altitudinal errors and run-out of a spindle motor and a slim-type spindle motor


A plasma lamp structure of a microwave illumination apparatus including: mirror mounting portions formed to be concavo-convex at regular intervals so as to partially contact the bottom surface of a mirror in a supporting manner at the front end portion of a protrusion of a microwave guide in which microwave is guided toward a resonator; and support pieces formed to supportedly press the upper surface of the mirror mounted on the mirror mounting portion on the inner circumferential surface of the resonator that is extrapolated at the microwave guide. By having such structure, no space is allowed between the front end portion of the protrusion and the support pieces where the mirror is fixed, and a spark can be prevented from occurring and the mirror can be firmly supported.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma lamp of a microwave illumination apparatus, and more particularly, to a structure of a plasma lamp of a microwave illumination apparatus which is capable of preventing a spark in a plasma lamp as well as ensuring that a mirror is firmly mounted in the lamp.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, a microwave illumination apparatus having an electrodeless bulb installed in a resonator has been developed which has a long duration and an excellent luminous efficiency.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a general microwave illumination apparatus in accordance with a conventional art.
As shown in the drawing, the microwave illumination apparatus includes a high pressure generating unit 2 disposed at one side of the front side in a case 1 in a predetermined shape; a microwave generating unit 3 disposed at the other side of front side in the case 1, for generating a microwave by virtue of the high pressure generated from the high pressure generating unit 2; a microwave guide 4 disposed between the high pressure generating unit 2 and the microwave generating unit 3 to generate the microwave generated from the microwave generating unit 3, and having a protrusion 4a in a cylindrical form protruded outwardly of the case 1; a resonator 5 having holes in a comb form, of which one end is formed in a closed cylindrical form of which opening side is extrapolated to the protrusion 4a of the microwave guide 4, so as to resonate the microwave guided through the microwave guide 4; a reflector 6 installed at the front side of the case 1, covering the outer side of the resonator 5; an electrodeless bulb 7 installed inside the resonator 5, of which one end is fixed at a first motor 9 (to be described), and filled with gas excited by the microwave resonated in the resonator 5; a mirror 8 installed inside the resonator 5 for reflecting the light generated form the electrodeless bulb 7; a first motor for rotating the electrodeless bulb 7; a cooling fan 10 installed at the rear side of the case 1, corresponding to the microwave guide 4, for generating air to cool the heat generated at the high pressure generating unit 2 and at the microwave generating unit 3; a second motor 11 for rotating the cooling fan 10; an air guide duct 12 for guiding the air discharged from the cooling fan 10 to the high pressure generating unit 2 and to the microwave generating unit 3; and exhaust outlets 13 and 13xe2x80x2 disposed at the both sides of the front side of the case 1, for discharging the air that cooled the high pressure generating unit 2 and the microwave generating unit 3.
The plasma lamp including the microwave guide 4, the resonator 5 and the electrodeless bulb 7 of the microwave illumination apparatus constructed as described above will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure of a general plasma lamp of a microwave illumination apparatus in accordance with a conventional art.
As shown in the drawing, the conventional plasma lamp has a structure that a step portion 4b is formed at the front end portion of the protrusion 4a of the microwave guide 4, on which the marginal circumferential portion of a mirror 8 is mounted.
On the inner circumferential surface of the opening side of the resonator 5 that is extrapolated to the protrusion 4a of the microwave guide 4, an adiabatic support piece 5a is circularly protruded to the central axis of the resonator 5 or protrusively formed at regular intervals, so that it supportedly presses the upper surface of the mirror 8 that is mounted on the step portion 4b of the front end of the protrusion 4a of the microwave guide 4.
The operation of the microwave illumination apparatus having such a plasma lamp structure as described above will now be described.
When power is supplied from an external source to the high pressure generating unit 2, the high pressure generating unit 2 generates a high pressure and provides it to the microwave generating unit 3. And then, the microwave generating unit 3 generates microwave by virtue of the supplied high pressure.
Thusly generated microwave is guided to the microwave guide 4 and then transferred to the resonator 5 extrapolated at the protrusion 4a of the microwave guide 4.
Accordingly, the microwave is resonated inside the resonator 5, exciting the gas filled in the electrodeless bulb 7 placed inside the resonator 5, so as to change it to a light energy, thereby discharging light.
The light generated at the electrodeless bulb 7 is reflected on the mirror 8 in the forward direction and then reflected in one direction by the reflector 6.
The resonator 5 resonates the microwave and serves to prevent the microwave from leaking outside as well as transferring the light generated at the electrodeless bulb 7 outwardly at its maximum.
While the above operation is performed, the high pressure generating unit 2 and the microwave generating unit 3 are heated.
Therefore, in order to cool the high pressure generating unit 2 and the microwave generating unit 3, the second motor 11 is driven. As the second motor 11 is driven, the cooling fan 10 is rotated, by which the cool air cools the high pressure generating unit 2 and the microwave generating unit 3 and then is discharged to the reflector 6 through the exhaust outlets 13 and 13xe2x80x2 of the case 1.
The air discharged to the reflector 6 cools the reflector 6 as well. Then, as the reflector 6 is cooled, the resonator 5 within the reflector 6 and the mirror 8 heated by the hear generated from the electrodeless bulb 7 within the resonator 5 are accordingly cooled.
In this respect, the reflector 6 is made of aluminum which has a property that heat transmission is made quick. Thus, the reflector 6 is quickly heated, while easily cooled by the air discharged through the exhaust outlets 13 and. 13xe2x80x2, according to which the reflection mirror 8 is quickly cooled.
However, with the conventional microwave illumination apparatus having the above plasma lamp structure, since there exists a space (a gap) between the protrusion of the microwave guide and the support piece of the resonator where the mirror is mounted, microwave is charged in the space, causing a problem that spark is generated therein.
In addition, because of the space, the mirror is not firmly and supportedly mounted, degrading a stability and reliability of the device.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a plamsa lamp structure of a microwave illumination apparatus in which there is no space between a protrusion of a microwave guide and support piece formed in the inner circumferential surface of a resonator where a mirror is mounted, so that microwave is not discharged therein, thereby preventing a spark.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a plasma lamp structure of a microwave illumination apparatus in which a mirror is firmly mounted to thereby improve a stability of a device.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a plasma lamp structure of a microwave illumination apparatus including: mirror mounting portions formed to be concavo-convex at regular intervals so as to partially contact the bottom surface of a mirror in a supporting manner at the front end portion of a protrusion of a microwave guide by which microwave is guided to a resonator; and support pieces formed to supportedly press the upper surface of the mirror mounted on the mirror mounting portion on the inner circumferential surface of the resonator that is extrapolated at the microwave guide.
In the above plasma lamp structure of a microwave illumination apparatus, the support pieces contact the upper surface of the mirror, corresponding to groove portions between each of the mirror mounting portions.

Structure of plasma lamp of microwave illumination apparatus


A plugboard for housing sockets and micro-relays, of the type used for housing a plurality of connectors suitable for mounting sockets or micro-relays, which is composed of a base (1) and a plurality of holes (4) for housing connectors (2) suitable for mounting sockets or micro-relays Said holes (4) not being but instead rotated 180° with regard to the position of the adjacent holes (4) intended for housing the connectors (2) suitable for mounting sockets or micro-relays to said plugboard.

1. Object of the Invention
The present invention, a plugboard for housing sockets and micro-relays, consists of a multiple terminal connector plugboard structure for carrying out electrical inter-connections. This device will be especially useful in certain applications, particularly in the automobile sector, where reliability as well as quickness in carrying out the inter-connections are required, requiring a special design and concept of the connector devices used.
It is because of this that the present invention will be of special interest for the manufacturing and supply sector of electric connection equipment, and in auxiliary devices used for the automobile industry.
2. Description of the State of the Art
Currently, quickly and easily carrying out electric inter-connections is a requirement in most of the auxiliary industries, where a required reduction of assembly times has promoted the development of new types of connectors. Said connectors are fundamentally based on the constitution of connection boxes, which can be fitted together, provided with closure and clamping flanges between both plug tap and socket parts of the connectors. Likewise, carrying out the connection is done so by over-coming a specific pressure of said flanges, which cause the coupling of both plug tap and socket parts, the connection thereby being carried out.
For housing certain electric devices, the connectors, sockets or micro-relays, plugboards are used, by means of which the placement and connection thereof are facilitated, acting as physical protection of the terminals of the elements connected to them.
Traditionally the connection of the sockets or micro-relays to the plugboard is done by inserting them in aligned holes and with determined plugboard dimensions, always under conditions of lack of space conditioned by the necessity of the saving thereof. The fixing to the plugboard is carried out by means of two pins each in wedge form, each one placed on opposite sides of the socket or micro-relay. In the case of a plugboard intended for housing three sockets or micro-relays with aligned holes intended for housing them, only the central socket or micro-relay is fixed to the plugboard by both pins because it can open both pins due to the composition of the plugboard and the arrangement of the holes. The other two side holes, due to the lack of space, would only permit one of the sockets or micro-relay pins to be opened, giving way to a lack of stability in the connection and bad contact between electric components.

Socket used to house female plugs and micro-relays


In a device for reproducing front MPEG 2 code a sequence of motion pictures, a slow-motion picture signal for N times slow motion playing is produced by combining the sequence of motion pictures reproduced and a plurality of interpolation picture sequences. Each of the interpolation picture sequences is interpolated between each one of the motion pictures and a succeeding one of the notion pictures. Each of the interpolation picture sequences comprises (n-1) interpolation pictures and in produced by calculating, from the motion vector data included in the MPEG 2, a motion vector between each one of the motion pictures and a succeeding one of the motion pictures, then calculating, from the motion vector, (n-1) interpolation motion vectors, and then producing the (n-1) interpolation pictures from the (n-1) interpolation vectors and the succeeding motion picture.

This invention relates to a picture signal reproducing apparatus capable of producing a slow-motion picture signal or slow-motion image signal and, more particularly, to an efficient scheme for interpolating original pictures data such as original frame/field pictures to produce the slow-motion picture signal.
In the art of digital moving picture, digital data representative of a sequence of original moving pictures must be compressed. Generally, large amounts of data art required to define the sequence of original roving pictures. Transmitting/recording of such large amounts of data results in ineffectual use of the resources such as the available radio frequency spectrum. In view of the above, the data must be compressed.
One standard that has been adopted for encoding a sequence of original moving pictures into a compression coded picture data is the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEC) standard, more particularly, the MPEG-1 (MPEG Phase-1) or the MPEG-2 (MPEG Phase-2) standard. The data coded according to MPEG standard is called "MPEG code" or a "MPEG data". MPEG-1 code is employed in a Video CD and so on while MPEG-2 is employed in digital broadcasting and recording media such as a DVD (digital video disc). Both of MPEG-1 code and MPEG-2 code contain motion vector data. MPEG code is decoded with reference to the motion vector data by a picture signal decompression processor included in a picture reproducing apparatus, to produce the moving picture sequence.
A conventional picture signal reproducing apparatus comprises a picture signal decompression processor, a memory or a display buffer, and a buffer controlling unit. The picture signal decompression processor receives an MPEG code signal having the MPEG code sequence and decodes the MPEG code with reference to the motion vector data to produce a group of decoded pictures corresponding to the sequence of original moving pictures. The display buffer receives the decoded pictures from the picture signal decompression processor and temporarily stores the decoded pictures as reproduced pictures. The buffer controlling unit controls the buffer to read out the reproduced pictures in the order of displaying the reproduced pictures to produce a reproduced picture signal.
The conventional picture signal reproducing apparatus produces a slow-motion picture signal from MPEG code signal, as follows. In case of playing the reproduced pictures in slow motion which has a slow speed corresponding to 1/n of the normal speed, the buffer controlling unit controls the display buffer to repeatedly read out each of the reproduced pictures n times. Namely, in three times slow motion, the picture reproducing apparatus repeatedly produces each of the reproduced pictures three times.
However, the slow notion picture reproduced by the conventional picture signal reproducing apparatus gives a user unnatural impression. A particular one of the reproduced pictures is repeatedly displayed n-times and then in replaced with succeeding one of reproduced pictures. And then the succeeding reproduced picture is also repeatedly displayed n-times. Thus, the user watches, on a display screen, reproduced pictures changing from one to another in a longer period or cycle than a predetermined period at the normal speed. Consequently, the user feels that objects in the pictures on the display screen rapidly move at a time instant when changing from one picture to another picture. As a result, the user has unnatural impression for the moving picture.
Furthermore, a picture signal reproduction apparatus providing smooth slow-motion pictures is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 178270/94. This apparatus is not for decoding compression data such MPEG code, but for processing original pictures themselves. This apparatus analogously processes a plurality of original pictures such as frame pictures to predict motion vectors between the original pictures, thereby producing interpolation pictures by the use of the motion vectors. In order to carry out the above-mentioned processing, this apparatus has a complicated structure and makes no use of digital advantages possessed by MPEG code.

Method and apparatus for producing slow-motion picture signal changing smoothly from compression coded picture signal


Disclosed are a method and device for controlling an RRC state, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: sending, by a terminal device, a first RRC message to a network device, the first RRC message comprising an RRC connection resume request message; receiving, by the terminal device, a second RRC message sent by the network device, the second RRC message carrying first indication information which is indicative of a target RRC state of the terminal device; and entering, by the terminal device, the target RRC state based on the first indication information.

In order to meet people's pursuit for rate, delay, high-speed mobility, efficacy of services as well as the diversity and complexity of services in the future life, the International Standards Organization of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has started the study of the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication technologies.
The main application of 5G mobile communication technologies includes Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) and massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC).
In the 5G network environment, a new RRC state, i.e., an RRC inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state, is defined for reduction of air interface signaling, fast resume of wireless connections and data services. This state is different from an RRC idle (RRC_IDLE) state and an RRC connected (RRC_CONNECTED) state.
When user Equipment (UE) is in an RRC_INACTIVE state, a network side will configure a Radio Access Network (RAN) paging area for the UE by dedicated signaling. The RAN paging area may be one or more cells. The network side will not be notified of the movement of the UE within the area and the mobility behavior in an idle state is followed, namely, the principle of cell reselection is followed. When the UE moves out of the paging area configured by the RAN, the UE is triggered to resume the RRC connection and re-acquire the paging area configured by the RAN. When downlink data arrives at the UE, a base station (such as gNB) that maintains the connection between the RAN and a Core Network (CN) for the UE triggers all cells in the RAN paging area to send paging messages to the UE, so that the UE in the INACTIVCE state can resume the RRC connection and receive data.
Therefore, as for the transition of the UE from the INACTIVE state to the RRC connection state, there are three situations:
First, downlink data is transmitted to the UE and the network side initiates paging on the side of RAN to prompt the UE to enter the connected state.
Second, the UE itself initiates an RAN location area update, such as a periodic RAN location update or a cross-region location update.
Third, the UE has needs for transmitting uplink data, which allows the UE to enter the connected state.
At present, the control of the RRC state of the UE by the network side lacks flexibility and has low efficiency.

Method and device for controlling RRC state, and computer storage medium

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A reusable stackable tray for cans being formed by a rectangular wall structure, a web-like floor structure secured to and extending down from the wall structure and a plurality of spaced redoubt floor members spaced on and about and extending down from the bottom surface of the floor structure. Each of the redoubt floor members has a bevelled bottom edge perimeter such that a tray filled with cans can, without being lifted, be slidingly pulled and pivoted on the redoubt floor members directly on top of a layer of cans in another tray beneath it.

The present invention relates to trays for transporting and storing containers such as beverage containers, and more particularly for those storing two or more six-packs of pull-top aluminum cans. It further relates to such trays which can be securely stacked one on top of another both when full and when empty.
Pull-top aluminum cans for soft drinks, other beverages and the like are stored and transported during the distribution stage typically in short-walled cardboard trays or in cardboard boxes. On the other hand as to bottles, because of the ever increasing cost in disposable tertiary packaging, returnable, reusable containers are becoming popular for the storage and handling of bottles. However, unlike plastic or glass bottles which have rounded edges on their crown or top, pull-top aluminum cans have square sharp corners (as compared with bottle tops) where the top of the can attaches to the sides thereof. Therefore, particular difficulties have been encountered in the stacking and manipulating of the trays of cans stacked relative to one another. In fact, there are no known returnable, reusable trays suitable for supporting pull-top aluminum cans and which can, when filled with such cans, be stacked securely one on top of another, so that the top tray of a stack of filled trays can be easily pulled off and along the stack without being lifted. In other words, the trays should be constructed so that when loaded they can be easily pivoted and slid off of loaded trays beneath them without having to be lifted.


The present invention relates to an environment friendly, safe, and efficient four-step method of bio-bleaching Kraft pulp using the following strains of bacteria: (a) Serratia marcescens, MTCC 5094, (b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5095, (c) Providencia rettgeri, MTCC 5096, (d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5098. The present invention also provides a microbial consortium comprising a synergistic mixture of ligninolytic bacterial isolates Serratia marcescens, MTCC 5094, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5095, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5098, or comprising bacterial strains Providencia rettgeri, MTCC 5096, Serratia marcescens, MTCC 5094, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5095, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5098, and a process for preparing an inoculum of the bacterial isolate Providencia rettgeri, MTCC 5096. Also provided is a process for the preparation of a consortium comprising the ligninolytic bacterial isolates Serratia marcescens, MTCC 5094, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5095, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MTCC 5098, as well as a process for the preparation of a pulp suspension for bio-bleaching.

The process of lignin removal from chemical pulps to produce bright or completely white finished pulp is called 'Bleaching'. It is necessary for aesthetic reasons and for improvement of paper properties, because the left over residual lignin after pulping imparts an undesirable brown color to paper. The present day bleaching of Kraft pulp uses large amounts of chlorine based chemicals. The use of these chemicals generates chlorinated organics, which being highly toxic cause various health hazards. Thus, an alternative and cost effective method i.e. the use of microbes and enzymes, has provided a very simple and economic way to reduce the use of chlorine and other bleaching chemicals.
Overview of the Various Organisms
Fungi
Lignin is the most abundant aromatic polymer in the biosphere. It is found in the cell wall of all vascular plants in association with cellulose and hemicellulose. Because inter-unit bonds in lignin are not hydrolysable, lignin is difficult to degrade either chemically or biologically. Lignin surrounds cellulose in the plant cell wall forming a matrix, which is itself resistant to degradation. Lignin biodegradation is responsible for much of the natural destruction of wood in use, and it may have an important role in plant pathogenesis. On the other hand, potential applications utilizing lignin-degrading organisms and their enzymes have become attractive, because they may provide environmentally friendly technologies for the pulp and paper industry. To date, only a few groups of organisms are capable of degrading complex lignin polymers, and they are best exemplified by the white rot fungi. Most of the research concerning biodegradation of lignin has been centered on some fungi only such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Streptomyces viridosporus, Pleurotus eryngii, Trametes trogii, Fusarium proliferatum (Regaldo et al., 1997) etc. (1)
Wood-rotting basidiomycetous fungi that cause white rot in wood are the most efficient lignin degraders in nature (Kirk and Farrell, 1987; Eriksson et al., 1990), and they are perhaps nature's major agents for recycling the carbon of lignified tissues. No other microorganisms as pure culture have been described to mineralize lignified tissues as efficiently (Kirk and Cullen, 1998). They are a group of taxonomically heterogeneous higher fungi, characterized by their unique ability to depolymerize and mineralize lignin using a set of extracellular lignnolytic enzymes. Lignin degradation by white-rot fungi has been intensively studied during the last thirty years in relation to biotechnical applications such as biopulping, biobleaching, treating of pulp mill effluents, and soil bioremediation (Akhtar et al., 1992, 1998; Lamar et al., 1992; Messner and Srebotnik, 1994).
In 1992, Frederick Archibald (2) demonstrated that the fungus, Trametes versicolor was capable of substantial decolorization and delignification of unbleached industrial kraft pulps over 2 to 5 days.
A year later, same group of workers demonstrated that a biobleaching culture supernatant contained all components necessary for hard wood Kraft pulp (HWKP) biobleaching and delignification, but the supernatant needed frequent contact with the fungus to maintain these activities. Thus, labile small fungal metabolites may be the vital Biobleaching system components renewed or replaced by the fungus. Nearly all the CO2 evolved by HWKP containing cultures came from the added glucose, indicating that HWKP is not an important source of energy during Biobleaching. The presence of HWKP in culture markedly increased the culture's production of a number of acidic metabolites, including oxalate, glyoxylate and glycolate.
Aspergilli, the versatile ascomycetes are also found to transform at a rapid rate a wide spectrum of lignin related aromatic compounds. They are shown to overproduce high levels of hemicellulolytic enzymes. (4)
Maria Teresa et al. have shown that Bjerkandera sp. Strain BOS55 is a white rot fungus that can bleach EDTA extracted eucalyptus oxygen delignified Kraft pulp (UKP) without any requirement for manganese. Furthermore, under manganese free conditions, addition of simple physiological organic acids (e.g. Glycolate, glyoxylate, oxalate and others) at 1-5 mM stimulated brightness gains and pulp delignification two to three fold compared to results not receiving acids. The stimulation was attributed to increase production of MnP and LiP as well as increased physiological concentrations of veratryl alcohol and oxalate. These factors contributed to greatly improved production of superoxide anion radicals, which may have been accounted for the more extensive biobleaching. (5)
Bacteria
The role of bacteria in lignin biodegradation is still a matter of conjecture. Some workers have demonstrated that either mixed (Sundman et al., 1968) or pure culture of bacteria (Sorensen, 1962) can grow on lignin as a carbon source. Pseudomonas spp. was claimed by Kawakami (1976) and Odier and Monties (1977) to degrade plant lignins. Odier and Montis also indicated several other bacterial strains that can use within seven days time more than 50% of the lignin supplied in a mineral medium containing glucose.
Several Nocardia and Pseudomonas spp. as well as some unidentified bacteria, isolated from lake water containing high loads of waste lignin, were tested for their capacity to release 14CO2 from specifically 14C-labelled dehydropolymer of coniferyl alcohol (DHP) or corn stack lignins. However only some of them could release significant amount s of 14CO2 from the labeled lignin. The tested Nocardia spp. was more active than the Pseudomonas spp. and the unidentified bacteria.(6)
Actinomycetes are filamentous bacteria which are found in soil and composts where lignocellulose is decomposed. Several reports provide evidence that several species belonging to the genus Streptomyces are able to degrade lignin. Other lignin degrading Actinomycetes include Thermomonospora mesophila, Actinomadura, Micromonospora with Streptomyces exhibiting the highest lignin degrading ability. In most of the studies, the lignin degrading enzyme was produced at higher levels in cultures containing lignocellulose which suggests that an induction mechanism was active.
Ajit Verma et al. (1994) while working on symbiotic relationship between termites and their intestinal microbes concluded that both termite soil and termite gut bacteria play an important role in polymer depolymerization. Gut bacteria have the capacity to degrade cellulosic and hemicellulosic materials more efficiently. Several bacterial isolates which hydrolyze cellulose and hemicellulose have been obtained in pure culture from the termite gut. Some of these are Arthrobacter sp., Bacillus cereus, Clostridium sp., Micrococcus sp., Streptomyces sp., Serratia marcescens. Only a few xylan decomposing bacteria have been obtained from the termite gut (Micrococcus luteuns, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The question of lignin degradation by termites is intriguing, since much of the termite gut is anaerobic and natural anaerobic mechanisms of lignin degradation are unknown.(7)
Berrocal et al. (1997) have shown that cell free filtrates from streptomyces sp. Grown in solid state fermentation were capable of solubilising up to 20% of the [14C] lignin. The activity of two enzymes, extracellular peroxidase and phenol oxidase (laccase) was found to correlate with both solubilisation and mineralisation rates of lignin.(8)
The presence of bacteria in rotted wood often in association with fungi has been the subject of numerous reports. However, their exact role in degradation of wood components is still unclear. While the availability of nutrient nitrogen represses metabolism of synthetic 14C lignin to CO2 by Phanerochaete Chrysosporium, high levels of organic nitrogen were optimal for lignin degradation by the bacterium Streptomyces badius. (9)
Enzymes are the catalytic cornerstones of metabolism, and as such are the focus of intense worldwide research, not only in biological community, but also with process designers/engineers, chemical engineers, and researchers working in other scientific fields. Since ancient times, enzymes have played a central role in many manufacturing process, such as in the production of wine, cheese, bread etc. The latter half of the twentieth century saw an unprecedent expansion in our knowledge of the use of microorganisms, their metabolic products, and enzymes in a broad area of basic research and their potential industrial applications. Only in the past two decades, however have microbial enzymes been used commercially in the Pulp and Paper industry. (10)
The most common application of enzymes in paper industry is to enhance bleaching. At least 15 patents or patent disclosures dealing with enzymatic treatments to enhance bleaching of Kraft pulps were submitted between 1988 and 1993.
Kraft pulping, also known as sulphate, or chemical pulping, uses sulphur to get fiber out of trees. Kraft pulping uses less than 50% of the tree. The rest ends up as sludge which is burned, spread on land or land filled. A bonus of kraft pulping is that the chemicals can be recycled and re-used in the mill. Another is that kraft fiber is exceptionally strong ("kraft" means "strong" in German). Kraft pulp is usually dark and is often bleached with chlorine compounds.
The Kraft process accounts for 85% of the total pulp production in the United States, and it is the largest component of paper manufacture world-wide. Kraft pulping removes lignin, dissolves and degrades hemicellulose without damaging cellulose Unfortunately, degradation products generated during pulping become trapped in the matrix and impart a brown color to Kraft pulp. Cooking consumes pulping chemicals, and residual xylan (along with covalently-linked degradation products) precipitates on the surfaces of the cellulosic fibers. The chromophores are believed to be composed of residual lignin and carbohydrate degradation products. They are hard to extract because they are covalently bound to the carbohydrate moieties in the pulp matrix. Manufacturers use elemental chlorine (Cl2) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to bleach the chromophores, and then they extract the pulp to make white paper. The cost of Cl2 is about $12 to $15 per metric ton of pulp, but because this results in the production of chlorinated aromatic compounds, alternative-bleaching agents such as O2, ClO2 or H2O2 are employed. These can be several times more expensive than Cl2. Bleaching substantially increases the value of the product, so the additional expense can be justified.
Chlorine bleaching can create environmental problems. Byproducts from using these chemicals are chlorinated organic substances, some of which are toxic, mutagenic, persistent, and bioaccumulate, and cause numerous harmful disturbances in biological systems (Onysko, 1993). The available options are oxygen delignification, extended cooking, and substitution of chlorine dioxide for chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. But most of these methods involve high capital investment for process change. Thus, an alternative and cost effective method, i.e. use of enzymes has provided a very simple and economic way to reduce the use of chlorine and other bleaching chemicals.
Till now, all the basics and applied research work has centered on fungi only. In case of biobleaching of raw pulp, the application of fungi is not feasible due to its structural hindrance caused by fungal hyphae. Bleaching of pulp using purified enzymes from fungi is not economical as the steps of enzyme purification make the process expensive and lengthy. Hence, there exists a need to develop an economically feasible and effective process for bio-bleaching of pulp.

Process for bio-bleaching of kraft pulp using bacterial consortia

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


A method for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient, comprises acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of the patient, and analyzing the frequency distribution or content of the signal(s) to produce output information indicative of cerebral white matter injury for the patient. Loss or reduction of activity in the upper portion or spectral edge of the EEG frequency domain particularly in the immature brain is predictive of neural dysfunction. A system for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient is also described.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for detecting neural injuries and predicting neurological outcome. In particular the invention is useful for detecting injuries to the immature cerebral white matter in preterm infants and for enabling rapid prediction of the development of subtle and severe lesions in the cerebral white matter of and neurological outcome for preterm infants.
Very premature infants have a markedly increased risk of neurological morbidity (Volpe, Prev. Med., 23: 638-645, 1994). A recent study using cranial ultrasonography revealed that only 2% of infants (at 23 weeks), 21% (at 24 weeks) and 69% (at 25 weeks) survived without severe abnormalities (Allen et al., New Eng. J. Med, 329: 1597-1601, 1993). White matter brain damage is a characteristic of these injuries. Patterns of damage range from subtle gliosis (telencephalic leukomalacia) through to severe cystic infarctions of the periventricular and subcortical white matter (Volpe, Prev. Med., 23: 638-645, 1994).
Histopathologic studies indicate some of these lesions develop prenatally, others postnatally. Poor neurological outcome is associated with the presence of these white matter injuries (Guit et al., Radiology, 175: 107-109, 1990). The severe periventricular lesions are strongly associated with cerebral palsy (Hoon, J. Perinatol., 15: 389-394, 1995).
Long term neurological outcome appears to be similarly compromised. In a group of less than 32 week old premature infants at the age of 9 years 19% were in special education, 32% were in a grade below the appropriate level for their age and 38% required special assistance (Hille et al., J Pediatr., 125: 426-434, 1994).
Similarly, another study has shown that in very premature infants about 5-15% develop major spastic motor deficits and an additional 25-50% exhibit developmental and cognitive disabilities (J. J. Volpe. Brain injury in the premature infantxe2x80x94Current concepts of pathogenesis and prevention. Biol Neonate 62:231-242, 1992).
The aetiology of these lesions is not completely understood (Armstrong, Semin. Perinatol., 17: 342-350, 1993), but are thought to occur secondary to various prenatal environmental and genetic factors (Lou, Brain Dev., 16: 423-431, 1994).
Cerebral hypoperfusion is considered to be a significant final common pathway in the pathogenesis of these encephalopathies (Lou, Brain Dev., 16: 423-431, 1994). Experimental and epidemiological studies generally support this hypothesis. For example, intrapartum acidosis and asphyxia in the premature infant carry a high risk of periventricular leukomalacia (Low et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 162: 977-981, 1990). Also, both increased levels of hypoxanthine and prolonged metabolic acidosis in the neonatal period are associated with a high risk of periventricular lesions (Russel et al., Arch. Dis. Child., 67: 388-392, 1992; Low et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 162: 977-981, 1990). In particular, periventricular lesions are probably caused by cerebral hypoxia-ischaemia following arterial hypotension (Iida et al., Pediatr. Neurol., 8: 205-209, 1992). Cerebral hypoxia-ischaemia may arise from problems associated with prematurity including respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosis, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. There is considerable variation in the pattern of lesions observed and a range of factors are likely to influence outcome, including gestational age and the severity and nature of the insult (Gluckman et al., Proceedings of The Alfred Benzon Symposium no. 37, Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 1993). Other factors such as hypoglycaemia, infections or toxaemia are also likely to be important (Piekkala et al., Early Hum. Dev., 13: 249-268, 1986).
Current methods for assessing brain injury reveal damaged areas of the brain, but do not identify those premature infants at risk of suffering a neural injury. Brain damage assessed by neurological examination is of limited prognostic value, especially for those preterm infants on life support. Ultrasonography is also used and reveals lesions as white matter echodensities and echoluciencies, which are useful in predicting future handicap, such as cerebral palsy. However, this approach is less suitable for monitoring and detecting pathophysiologic events which may occur over several days, the knowledge of which could be used to minimise or avoid further injury.
Greater reliance needs to be placed on other investigations such as pathophysiologic measures (Hill, Clin. Invest. Med., 16: 141-148, 1993). Doppler cerebral haemodynamic measures have not been proven to be predictive of outcome (Shortland et al., J. Perinat. Med., 18: 411-417, 1990). In the more mature brain the EEG signal can be used to predict severe loss of the superficial neurons that generate this signal (Williams et al Ann Neurol, 31:14-21 1992).
Two patterns of white matter damage can occur: xe2x80x98subtlexe2x80x99 white matter damage which manifests as gliosis, impaired myelination, ventriculomegaly and is often termed telencephalic leucomalacia; xe2x80x98severexe2x80x99 cystic infarctions within the perventricular and subcortical white matter. The former are associated with cognitive deficits and the latter lesions are strongly associated with cerebral palsy.
Histopathological studies indicate the timing of injury is variablexe2x80x94some may develop prenatally whereas many others appear to develop during the first postnatal weeks. However in surviving infants the timing of injuries is typically unclear and there are considerable problems with detecting when these white matter injuries occur (D. J. Murphy, M. V. Squier, P. L. Hope, S. Sellers and A. Johnson. Clinical associations and time of onset of cerebral white matter damage in very preterm babies. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonat Ed 75 (1 Special Issue SI):F 27-F 32, 1996). The inability to detect the onset of injury makes management difficult. For example, if a subtle or severe injury to the deep white matter could be rapidly detected, then the injurious factor could be corrected or treatment applied.
The invention provides a method and system for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome particularly in preterm infants.
In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a method for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient, comprising:
acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of the patient, and
analysing the frequency distribution of the signal(s) to produce output information indicative of cerebral white matter injury for the patient.
Preferably the method includes comparing the analysed data with stored comparative spectral edge and neurological outcome information to produce information useful for managing the patient.
In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a system for detecting neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient, comprising:
means for acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of a patient, and
computing means arranged to analyse the frequency distribution of the EEG signals to produce output information indicative of cerebral white matter injury for the patient.
An electroencephalogram or EEG provides a record of electrical activity from the most superficial layers of the cerebral cortex recorded from electrodes on the scalp. This activity is the result of the rhythmic discharging of neurons under the electrode. The EEG signal provides information about the frequency and amplitude of the neuronal electrical activity and its temporal variation. We have found experimentally that loss of spectral edge frequency is highly predictive of deep white matter damage in the preterm foetus. By preterm or premature is meant infants born at less than 37 weeks gestation. The method and system of the invention also have application in detecting white matter neural injury in child and adult patients however.

Method and system for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome particularly for preterm infants