Compounds having the formula (I), and enantiomers, and diastereomers, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, thereof,

A large number of cytokines participate in the inflammatory response, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. The overproduction of cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α is implicated in a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, endotoxin shock, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and congestive heart failure. See e.g. Henry et al., Drugs Fut., Vol. 24 (1999), at pp. 1345-1354; and Salituro et al., Curr. Med. Chem., Vol. 6 (1999), at pp. 807-823. Evidence in human patients indicates that protein antagonists of cytokines are effective in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, such as, for example, monoclonal antibody to TNF-α (Enbrel) (see Rankin et al., Br. J. Rheumatol., Vol 34 (1995), at pp. 334-342), and soluble TNF-α receptor-Fc fusion protein (Etanercept) (see Moreland et al., Ann. Intern. Med., Vol. 130 (1999), at pp. 478-486).
The biosynthesis of TNF-α occurs in many cell types in response to an external stimulus, such as, for example, a mitogen, an infectious organism, or trauma. Important mediators of TNF-α production are the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, including p38 kinase (p38). Activation of p38 requires dual phosphorylation by an upstream MAP kinase (MKK3 and MKK6) on threonine and tyrosine within a Thr-Gly-Tyr motif characteristic of p38 isozymes. The p38 kinase is an upstream kinase of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAP K2 or MK2). See Freshney et al., Cell, Vol. 78 (1994), at pp. 1039-1049.
MK2 is a protein that appears to be predominantly regulated by p38 in cells. In fact, MK2 was the first substrate of p38α to be identified, and in vitro phosphorylation of MK2 by p38α is required for MK2 activation. MK2, in turn, phosphorylates substrates including, but not limited to, heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), lymphocyte-specific protein 1 (LAP-1), leukocyte-specific protein-1 (LSP-1), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), ATF1, serum response factor (SRF), tyrosine hydroxylase, and most importantly, adenosine and uridine-rich element (ARE) binding proteins. ARE binding proteins regulate the mRNA stability of inflammatory mediators such as TNFα and COX-2.
Targeted mutations have been introduced into the mouse MK2 gene that resulted in the generation of MK2-deficient mice. See Kotlyarov et al, Nat. Cell Biol., Vol. 1 (1999), at pp. 94-97. These MK2-deficient mice exhibited increased stress resistance to LPS-induced endoxic shock and had a better survival rate compared to mice that retained the MK2 gene. See id. Isolated splenocytes from these mice challenged with LPS had reduced levels of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFNγ. See id. More recently, Lehner et al. reported that MK2-deficient mice showed increased susceptibility to Listeria moocytogenes infection and concluded that MK2 had an essential role in host defense against intracellular bacteria, probably through the regulation of TNFα and IFNγ, two of the cytokines required for the activation of antibacterial effector mechanisms. See Lehner et al., J. Immunol., Vol. 168 (2002), at pp. 4667-4673. Moreover, since MK2 is located immediately downstream of p38 in the p38 signaling pathway, it is recognized that MK2 could act as a focal point for more selectively modulating the inflammatory pathway thereby reducing the possibility of undesirable side effects.
Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives have been disclosed in WO2004076458(A1) and described as having kinase inhibiting activity.
New compounds and methods of modulating the activity of kinases, including MK2, would be desirable in the treatment of diseases and disorders that are mediated by cytokines, such as TNFα. It would be even more desirable to provide MK2 inhibitors that have improved potency and reduced undesirable side effects.

Fused heterocyclic compounds useful as kinase modulators

Abstract: are useful as kinase modulators, including MK2 modulation, wherein one of E and F is a nitrogen atom and the other of E and F is a carbon atom, Z is N or CR3, and R1, R2, R3, X and Y are as defined herein.


The delivery devices described herein are capable of delivering one or more active substances by osmotic pumping through preformed passageways. An osmotic device according to the invention includes a first osmotic device enclosed within a second osmotic device. In some embodiments, the semipermeable membrane of one or both of the osmotic devices completely dissolves or degrades during use. This delivery device can include an immediate release outer coat.

This invention pertains to a delivery device for the controlled release of active agents to an environment of use. More particularly, the invention pertains to a dual osmotic device for the delivery of active agents over a prolonged and extended period of time. The dual osmotic device comprises a first osmotic device enclosed within a second osmotic device.
Osmotic devices have demonstrated utility in delivering beneficial active agents, such as medicines, nutrients, food, pesticides, herbicides, germicides, algaecides, chemical reagents, and others, to an environment of use in a controlled manner over prolonged periods of time. Known devices include tablets, pills, and capsules.
Advancements in the prior art have focused on developing osmotic devices with improved semipermeable or porous membranes, various coatings surrounding the core and/or the semipermeable membrane, layered osmotically effective agents in the core of the device, specific release profiles for specific active substances, and specific membrane or core compositions.
While the prior art discloses a wide variety of osmotic devices, none of the prior art discloses a dual osmotic device comprising a first osmotic device enclosed within a second osmotic device.
The present invention provides a dual osmotic device, which provides a controlled release device of one or more active agents, comprising a first osmotic device enclosed within a second osmotic device. The first osmotic device provides a controlled release of a first active agent through a passageway in a first semipermeable membrane. The second osmotic device provides a controlled release of a second active agent through a second passageway in a second semipermeable membrane. Both devices deliver their respective active agents through osmotic pumping. In some embodiments, the first and second passageways can be located anywhere on their respective semipermeable membranes.
According to some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, a) one or both of the first and second semipermeable membranes loses its chemical and physical integrity during use; b) the first and second active agents are the same; c) the first and second active agents are different; d) the second semipermeable membrane loses its chemical integrity after about 3-20 hours after administration; e) the second osmotic device delivers a majority of the second active agent by about 3-30 hours after administration; f) the first osmotic device delivers a majority of the first active agent after about 20 minutes after exposure to an aqueous solution; g) the second active agent is delivered to the upper to middle GI tract and first active agent is delivered to the middle to lower GI tract of a mammal to which the dual osmotic device is delivered: h) the first osmotic device provides a controlled delivery of the first active agent, and the second osmotic device provides a controlled delivery of the second active agent; i) the first and second active agents are delivered in one of a concurrent, sequential or overlapping manner; and/or j) the second semipermeable membrane loses its physical integrity within about 3-30 hours after administration.
The invention also provides a therapeutic device for the delivery of pharmaceutically active agents, ranging in solubility from slightly soluble to very soluble drugs, in a controlled, continuous and approximately steady, preferably zero order, rate over a prolonged period of time. Depending upon the excipients used, among other things, the osmotic device can also deliver drugs according to first order, or pseudo-first order release profiles. In addition, the osmotic device may provide targeted delivery of a drug.
The device of the present invention is optionally provided with an external coating disposed on the outside of the second osmotic device and comprising one or more active agents for immediate delivery to the environment of use.
Active agents useful in the delivery device include, for example, compounds such as biologically or pharmacologically active agents, medicines, nutrients, food products, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, germicides, algaecides, fungicides, chemical reagents, growth regulating substances, parasiticides, sex sterilants, fertility promoters, biocides, rodenticides, disinfectants, anti-oxidants, plant growth promoters, preservatives, fermentation agents, fertility inhibitors, deodorants, micro-organism attenuators, catalysts, food supplements, cosmotics, vitamins, and other agents that benefit the environment of use.
Some specific embodiments of the invention include those wherein the active substance is pharmacologically or biologically active or wherein the environment of use is the GI tract of a mammal.
Other specific embodiments of the device of the invention are used in biological environments including the oral, ocular, nasal, vaginal, glandular, gastrointestinal tract, rectal, cervical, intrauterine, arterial, venous, otic, ophthalmic, sublingual, dermal, epidermal, subdermal, implant, buccal, bioadhesive, mucosal and other similar environments. Likewise, it may be used in aquariums, industrial warehouses, laboratory facilities, hospitals, chemical reactions and other facilities.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by the following description, accompanying examples and appended claims.


The disclosed embodiments include a plurality of plenums for distributing cooling air throughout the switch. The switch is divided into separate cooling domains. Each PCB receives a separate supply of cooling air, so that no PCB is located upstream or downstream from another PCB. The present embodiments thus eliminate the problem of stack rise, which can decrease switch performance.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to cooling in network switches.
2. Related Art
A computer network is an interconnected group of computers and other devices, such as storage devices. All networks are made up of basic hardware building blocks to interconnect network nodes. These building blocks include network interface cards (NICS), bridges, hubs, switches, and routers, for example. Each device in the network is called a node. All nodes include at least one port. An interconnect medium, such as copper wiring or optical cabling, extends between device ports.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a typical network 30. The network 30 includes a plurality of interconnected devices, including first and second switches 32, 34, a host system 33 coupled to the second switch 34, a disk array 36 coupled to the first switch 32, and a server 38 coupled to both switches 32, 34 and to storage 40.
A switch is a multi-port device in which each port manages a simple point-to-point connection between itself and its attached system. Each switch port can be attached to a host system, a server, a peripheral, an I/O subsystem, a bridge, a hub, a router, or even another switch. A switch receives data packets from one port and automatically routes them to other ports based on addresses contained in the packets.
Switches include a plurality of modules supported by a chassis. The modules are printed circuit boards (PCBs), and include one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, or chips, on at least one surface. In operation the chips generate heat that must be dissipated in order to keep the switch operating efficiently. One problem that plagues switch cooling is "stack rise." Stack rise occurs when cooling air passes over multiple chips in succession. Each chip heats the passing cooling air so that downstream chips always receive warmer, or preheated, cooling air. These downstream chips are more susceptible to overheating, which decreases switch performance.

Apparatus and methods for cooling networks switches


Improved dispensing devices (100) and methods are provided that include a hollow barrel (102) containing the composition to be dispensed along with a piston (120, 220, 320, 420) received in one end (104) of the barrel (102) for dispensing the composition from the opposite end (106) of the barrel (102). At least one tortuous groove (200, 202, 204, 226, 326, 426, 436) extends across the side of the piston (120, 220, 320, 420) and communicates with the exterior of the barrel (102). The groove (200, 202, 204, 226, 326, 426, 426, 436) allows both air and the composition to travel along the side of the piston (120, 220, 320, 420) as the piston advances into the barrel (102). By permitting passage of both air and the composition, the groove (200, 202, 204, 226, 326, 426, 436) eliminates air pockets in the composition while alleviating pressure in the barrel (102) as the piston (120, 220, 320, 420) advances.

1. Field of the Invention
Devices and related methods are provided for dispensing compositions. More particularly, these devices and methods relate to devices using a hollow barrel and a piston received in one end of the barrel to dispense a composition from the opposite end of the barrel. Applications include, but are not limited to, dispensing dental materials such as composites, adhesives, etchants, glass ionomers, cements, and sealants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Positive displacement dispensers, including syringes and capsules, are used in diverse industrial and commercial applications. Such devices find uses in medicine, laboratory processes, cooking, adhesives, inks, and others. Particular applications of devices are found in, for example, dispensing and measuring quantities of medications, adhesives, lubricants, resins, or even food products such as cake frosting.
One common type of positive displacement dispenser is a syringe. Syringes use a simple piston pump consisting of a plunger that fits tightly in a cylindrical tube or barrel. A composition is provided in a chamber within the barrel, and the plunger can be pulled and pushed along the barrel, allowing the syringe to take in and/or expel the composition through an orifice located at an open end of the barrel. Optionally, the open end is fitted with a hypodermic needle, nozzle, or tubing to help direct the flow of the composition into and out of the barrel.
In many of applications, it is desirable for air pockets or air bubbles to be expelled from the chamber of the syringe to prevent air from becoming entrained in the dispensed composition. In some cases, this can be accomplished by merely inverting the syringe to consolidate air bubbles at the front end of the chamber and discharging them through the orifice prior to use. However, this is an inconvenient extra step and not always practical or possible when dealing with viscous pastes or liquids.
Another approach to this problem is to use vented syringes. Vented syringes generally employ a plunger with an exit channel that is impervious to the composition but readily allows the passage of air. As the plunger is advanced into the barrel of the syringe, the channel redirects undesirable air pockets or bubbles out of the chamber to eliminate them from the dispensed composition. Examples of vented syringe concepts have been disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,210 (McKinnon), 4,660,569 (Etherington), 5,865,803 (Major), 6,916,308 (Dixon), and 7,503,905 (Jessop et al.), U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0076671 (Markus et al.), published British Patent Application No. GB 1 475 430 (Fischbach), and International Application No. WO 2009/029974 (Kiehne).


Techniques are disclosed for scheduling artificial intelligence model partitions for execution in an information processing system. For example, a method comprises the following steps. An intermediate representation of an artificial intelligence model is obtained. A reversed computation graph corresponding to a computation graph generated based on the intermediate representation is obtained. Nodes in the reversed computation graph represent functions related to the artificial intelligence model, and one or more directed edges in the reversed computation graph represent one or more dependencies between the functions. The reversed computation graph is partitioned into sequential partitions, such that the partitions are executed sequentially and functions corresponding to nodes in each partition are executed in parallel.

In recent years, with the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, application programs that employ AI models (such as, but not limited to, machine learning (ML) applications, deep learning (DL) applications, and data mining (DM) applications) have enabled significant development in many fields. However, as AI models become more complicated and need larger data sets, execution of such models requires more computing resources. Currently, due to limitations of computing capability and communication bandwidth of computing devices, a single computing device cannot typically satisfy the demands of a large-scale AI model. Therefore, efficient deployment and execution of AI models has become a focus of current research.

Scheduling artificial intelligence model partitions based on reversed computation graph


A photo-crosslinkable polyolefin composition comprises a polyolefin, a source of functionality receptive to crosslinking by UV radiation, a cationic photoinitiator and optionally includes a free-radical photoinitiator, a crosslinking accelerator or sensitizer, and other additives such as compatibilizers, inorganic fillers, nanofillers, glass, polymeric and ceramic microspheres, glass fibres, flame retardants, antioxidants, stabilizers, processing aids, foaming agents and pigments. A method for manufacturing a UV-crosslinked polyolefin article comprises forming an article by extruding, moulding or otherwise forming the UV-crosslinkable polyolefin composition and subjecting the article to UV radiation on-line with the extrusion, moulding or other forming operation.

Due to an attractive balance of performance and cost, polyolefin resins, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and compositions based thereon, are widely used in coating and insulation applications. These applications include: heat-shrinkable corrosion-protection sleeves for oil and gas pipeline joints; solid and foamed coatings for the corrosion, mechanical and thermal protection of pipelines and pipeline structures; wire and cable insulations and jacketing; and heat-shrinkable extruded tubing or molded shapes for the electrical insulation and mechanical protection of wires, cables, connectors, splices and terminations.
Many of these applications require that the coating or insulating material provide acceptable thermal and mechanical performance at temperatures close to or above the softening or melting point of the thermoplastic polyolefin resin(s) from which it is made. Such performance requirements include, but are not limited to, long-term continuous operating temperature, hot deformation resistance, hot set temperature, chemical resistance, tensile strength and impact resistance. To achieve these requirements it is necessary to impart some thermoset characteristic to the resin or polymer. This is accomplished by crosslinking the molecular structure of the polymer to some required degree. Crosslinking renders the material resistant to melting and flowing when it is heated to a temperature close to or above the crystalline melting point of the highest melting point polymeric component of the composition. This property is also necessary for the production of heat-shrinkable articles, such as pipe joint protection sleeves, where crosslinking imparts controlled shrinkage, or heat recovery, characteristics, and prevents the material from melting when it is heated to the temperature necessary to effect heat recovery.
Crosslinking, or curing, of polyolefin-based coatings or insulating materials is typically accomplished through one of two basic methods: by irradiation, such as exposure to electron beam radiation; or by thermo-chemical reaction, such as that induced by peroxide decomposition or silane condensation. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are noted below.
Irradiation of the polymer by electron beam generates free-radicals on the polymer chains which then covalently combine to effect crosslinking of the polymer. It is an instantaneous and clean method, but requires expensive, and potentially dangerous, high voltage "electron-beam" equipment. It also has limitations in terms of the product thickness and configuration that can be crosslinked uniformly.
Peroxide crosslinking is also a free-radical process but here the free-radicals are chemically generated through decomposition of the peroxide by heat. The process is thickness independent but needs substantial amounts of heat to effect crosslinking, is performed at relatively low processing speeds, and is frequently coupled with cumbersome and expensive processing equipment, such as pressurized steam or hot-gas caternary lines. A major disadvantage of using the high temperatures required to induce peroxide crosslinking (typically 200 to 350° C.) is potential softening, damage, and oxidative degradation of the polymer.
Silane crosslinking, also known as moisture crosslinking, occurs via hydrolysis and condensation of silane functionality attached to the polymer to be crosslinked. It is a relatively inexpensive process but requires a preliminary silane grafting or copolymerization operation, has restrictions in terms of polymer formulation flexibility, and is very time dependent, requiring many hours or days in a hot, moist environment to achieve full crosslinking of the polymer.
Typically, the crosslinking operations described above are performed as separate and discrete processes subsequent to melt processing, or forming, of the polymer article. It is, however, advantageous in terms of production efficiency, product throughput, and operating cost to perform the crosslinking operation at the same time as, and on-line with, the polymer processing, or forming, operation, and immediately following solidification of the formed article.
Of the methods described above, only the peroxide method realistically provides the opportunity of crosslinking in situ or "on-line" with the polymer processing or forming operation. The size, complexity, and safety risks of an electron beam typically preclude its use as an on-line crosslinking device. In the case of silane crosslinking, the crosslinking reaction can only be accomplished off-line since it is a highly time-dependant reaction, influenced by the diffusion of moisture into the polymer.
Crosslinking using ultra-violet (UV) radiation, namely radiation in the range of 200 to 500 nanometers wavelength, and also known as photo-crosslinking, provides a potential solution to the problems described. Compared with electron beam irradiation, the UV source required to effect crosslinking is relatively small, more easily configurable, less expensive and safer to use. It offers the potential of a portable crosslinking device which can be moved into position downstream of the polymer melt processing, or forming, operation. For example, the device may be positioned between an extruder and a product handling, or wind-up, station of a continuous polymer extrusion process, to allow on-line crosslinking of an extruded article, such as sheet, tubing, or wire insulation.
There are two primary methods of crosslinking or polymerization using UV radiation: free-radical and ionic.
UV free-radical crosslinking results from a reaction involving a photoinitiator, such as benzophenone, benzyldimethylketal and acylphosphine oxides, which absorbs UV light to dissociate into free radicals which can then initiate the crosslinking or polymerization reaction. A multifunctional crosslinking agent, such as triallyl cyanurate or trimethylolpropane triacrylate, may be additionally incorporated to achieve higher levels of crosslinking.
Unfortunately, a major disadvantage of UV free-radical crosslinking has been that it cannot readily be used for crosslinking thick or solid polymer sections, such as the functional thicknesses required for the pipe coatings, heat-shrinkable coverings, and wire and cable insulations described above. This is because of the relatively weak intensity of UV light which results in poor penetration of the radiation through the solid material, compared with electron beam radiation, for example. This is particularly the case with semi-crystalline polymeric materials, such as polyolefins, where the dense crystalline regions are relatively impenetrable to UV radiation. The effectiveness of UV free-radical crosslinking is also compromised if the resin to be crosslinked comprises additional materials such as filler and stabilizer additives, since these can provide further barriers to penetration by the UV light as well as interfering with the crosslinking reaction by neutralizing the free-radicals required for crosslinking. In addition, UV free-radical crosslinking is severely inhibited by the presence of oxygen, and for this reason is ideally performed in an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen.
Traditionally, therefore, the use of UV free-radical crosslinking has been restricted to the curing or polymerization of liquid or low viscosity functional monomers or oligomers, such as acrylates, methacrylates and unsaturated polyesters, in thin (typically less than 0.250 mm., more typically less than 0.100 mm.) coating applications, such as film coatings, paints, inks, and varnishes, or for sealants and pressure sensitive adhesives, whereby the liquid or low viscosity monomers or oligomers are converted to a solid or gel-like material.
UV crosslinking by ionic reaction, that is anionic or cationic polymerization, and more particularly cationic polymerization, has historically found limited use compared with the UV free-radical process due to the unavailability of effective cationic photoinitiators. However, recent technical advances in cationic photochemistry are now making this technique more attractive for commercial applications. The process relies on the cationic polymerization of epoxy, oxetane, vinyl ether and similar functionalities by strong protonic acids created by the UV irradiation of onium salts, such as aryldiazonium salts, triarylsulphonium and diaryliodonium salts, for example. The first type generates Lewis acids whilst the last two types produce Bronsted acids, these being preferable as initiating entities for cationic polymerization.
A very useful feature of cationic polymerization is that the reaction is mostly thickness independent and will continue to proceed to completion "in the dark" after the UV source has been removed. In addition, the cationic photoinitiation reaction is not inhibited by oxygen as is free-radical photoinitiation.
An example of a typical cationic reaction mechanism is shown below in relation to the polymerization of a cycloaliphatic epoxide.
Reaction Step 1: On UV irradiation, the cationic photoinitiator interacts with active hydrogen naturally present to produce a strong protonic,
or Bronsted, acid, and various aryl sulphur compounds:
Reaction Step 2: The acid will protonate epoxy, or oxirane, groups, and polymerization then proceeds by ring-opening reaction:

European Patent 0490854A2 describes one attempt to address the problem of crosslinking relatively thick extruded polyethylene materials by UV radiation (in this case an extruded strip of thickness 0.5 mm.). A proprietary benzophenone free-radical photoinitiator having low vapour pressure and high polymer solubility is used in combination with a crosslinking promoter to effect rapid crosslinking of extruded polyethylene. However, due to the problems associated with UV penetration described earlier, the crosslinking operation needs to be carried out in the melt, in other words before the polymer has solidified or crystallized. This severely restricts the use of this method in most extrusion operations, where it is necessary to shape the polymer and cool the material below its melting point immediately after exiting the extruder die. Crosslinking of the polymer in the melt state necessarily fixes the shape of the extrudate or dramatically increases the material viscosity, thereby limiting any downstream sizing or shaping operations that may need to be performed. It is also practically very difficult to insert a UV radiation device between the extruder die and adjacent cooling equipment, such as a water trough or casting stack, without severely impeding the overall extrusion operation.
Japanese Patent Application 05024109A2 uses a similar free-radical technique to crosslink an extruded polyolefin tube which is then expanded to create a heat-shrinkable tubular product. Again this process is performed in the melt state, so the limitations described above remain unaddressed.


A structural support block cooperates with a cone-shaped protrusion in a roof flashing. The support block and protrusion have a through-hole allowing a fastener to secure the support block and flashing to a roof. Cooperation of the support block and the cone-shaped protrusion in the roof flashing diverts water, particularly on sloped surfaces.

Solar energy panels are becoming increasingly popular. However, current solar panel mounting solutions are overly complicated, not reliable, and otherwise inadequate. For example, current solar panel mounting solutions involve the use of a lag bolt with a rubber seal to secure a mounting to an installation surface. However, rubber seals degrade from thermal, UV, rain, and ice exposure. Additionally, typical solar panel mounting systems are difficult to level, require numerous points of penetration in an installation surface, and require a plurality of tools for installing the mounting system to an installation surface.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for simpler systems and method of mounting solar panels and accessories to an installation surface.


A high-altitude platform (HAP) node provides communication service during an emergency. The HAP node uses a first network to provide communication services for handling calls initiated by at least one user equipment (UE). The HAP node detects that an emergency disruption has occurred that prevents the use of the first network. In response to detecting the occurrence of the emergency disruption, a mobile terminal (MT) in the HAP node searches for a second network able to accept emergency calls. The HAP node determines whether the second network will handle all calls initiated by the at least one UE or only emergency calls generated by the at least one UE. The HAP node handles the calls based on the determining and through the use of the second network.

Telecommunications connectivity via the Internet, cellular data networks and other systems is available in many parts of the world. However, there are many locations where such connectivity is unavailable, unreliable or subject to outages from natural disasters. Some systems are able to provide network access to remote locations or to locations with limited networking infrastructure via satellites or other high-altitude platforms (HAPs) that are located in the stratosphere. HAPs may communicate with each other and with ground-based networking equipment and mobile devices to provide telecommunications connectivity, for instance according to the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard.

Method and apparatus for detecting and responding to a disruption in communication services


An appliance for adjusting tooth and/or jaw malpositions, includes an upper arch wire suitably to be attached to teeth on the upper jaw of a user; a lower arch wire suitably to be attached to teeth on the lower jaw of the user; and a force-transfer element for mechanically connecting the upper arch wire and the lower arch wire to each other. The force-transfer element has a first longitudinal axis and includes a first end comprising an angled section. The angled section has a first hole, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The force-transfer element also includes a second end which is opposite to the first end and has a second hole which is rotationally offset 90° relative to the first hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to an appliance for correcting tooth and/or jaw malpositions, with an upper and a lower arch wire, which are attached to the teeth and which are connected mechanically to each other by at least one force-transfer element, usually by two force-transfer elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advantages of tooth-mounted appliances for correcting malpositions of the teeth and/or jaws have been recognized by orthodontists and dentists for many years. The mechanical connection of the upper jaw to the lower jaw to improve the occlusion, however, still represents a problem. There are only four possible ways to connect the upper and lower jaws together.
First, a distinction must be made between a rigid and a flexible connection. In addition, the jaws can be either moved toward each other, i.e., by exerting pulling forces on them, or they can be moved away from each other, i.e., by exerting pushing forces on them. These possibilities lead to the various appliances for mechanically connecting the jaws. Although no rigid pulling applications are known, elastic pulling applications can be designed with the help of elastic bands or springs. An example of a rigid pushing application is Herbst's hinge. A flexible pushing application is known in the form of the so-called "Jasper jumper", described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,646.
The known appliances are of complicated design and usually have bulky, bent compression springs, of which a very wide variety must be kept on hand to fulfill all the necessary functions. In particular, a progressive jaw correction requires the use of a series of new components to fit the changing size of the jaws.

Device for adjusting tooth and/or jaw malpositions


The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium having high durability and excellent electromagnetic transfer characteristics and having a lower coating layer, which contains a binder and has high dispersion property and durability. The magnetic recording medium comprises a lower coating layer where non-magnetic powder or ferromagnetic power is dispersed in a binder and an upper magnetic layer where ferromagnetic powder is dispersed in a binder, said two layers being placed on a non-magnetic support member, whereby the binder of the lower coating layer comprises polyurethane resin, which is a reaction product using diol and organic diisocyanate as major materials, the polyurethane resin contains short-chain diol having cyclic structure by 17 to 40 weight %, and the polyurethane resin contains long-chain diol, containing ether groups by 1.0 to 5.0 mmol/g to the entire polyurethane resin, by 10 to 50 weight %.

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium having excellent electromagnetic transfer characteristics and comprising a plurality of layers, i.e. at least two layers including an upper magnetic layer where ferromagnetic fine powder and a binder are dispersed and a lower coating layer.
The magnetic recording medium is widely used in tape for tape recording, video tape, floppy disk, etc. In the magnetic recording medium, a magnetic layer where ferromagnetic powder is dispersed in a binder is deposited on a non-magnetic support member.
The magnetic recording medium must be at high level in various characteristics such as electromagnetic transfer characteristics, running durability and running performance. Namely, an audio tape for recording and reproducing musical sound must have higher ability to reproduce original sound. A video tape must have excellent electromagnetic transfer characteristics such as high ability to reproduce original image. In particular, a magnetic recording medium for digital video tape recorder, which must be suitable for high density recording, must have higher electromagnetic transfer characteristics.
In addition to the excellent electromagnetic characteristics as described above, the magnetic recording medium must have good running durability as already described. To ensure good running durability, abrasive and lubricant are added in the magnetic layer.
However, to obtain good running durability by the use of abrasive, it is necessary to increase the quantity of the added abrasive to some extent. As a result, filling degree of the ferromagnetic powder decreases. In case an abrasive material having larger particle size is used to obtain good running durability, the abrasive material is more likely to protrude or to produce roughness on the surface of the magnetic layer. Therefore, the improvement of running durability by the use of abrasive often leads to deterioration of the electromagnetic transfer characteristics.
When it is tried to improve the running durability by the use of lubricant, it is necessary to increase the quantity of the added lubricant. As a result, the binder is more likely to be plasticized, and the durability of the magnetic layer tends to decrease.
Also, to improve the durability and the electromagnetic transfer characteristics, the binder, serving as a major component of the magnetic layer, also plays an important role. The materials used in the past such as vinyl chloride resin, cellulose resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin, etc. are low in anti-abrasive property of the magnetic layer, and this often results in contamination of running components of the magnetic tape.
To overcome the above problems, a method to use hard binder and to increase hardness of the magnetic layer is adopted.
Further, to improve the durability and the electromagnetic transfer characteristics, it has been proposed to provide at least two layers including an upper magnetic layer and a lower coating layer. For example, the use of aromatic polyurethane containing a structure of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide of bisphenol A in the magnetic layer other than the upper layer is disclosed in JP(A) 07176042. However, dispersion property of the lower layer is low, and both electromagnetic transfer characteristics and durability are not sufficient. Also, it is described that Tg=-50.degree. C. to +50.degree. C. In the embodiment, polyurethane and butanediol adipate polyol are used which use polyethylene oxide addition product of bisphenol A as chain extender, but Tg=-20.degree. C., and strength of the entire coating film is decreased, resulting in lower durability.
The use of polyvalent OH urethane in the lower non-magnetic layer is disclosed in JP(A) 04238111. In the embodiment, a compound containing caprolactone polyol by 60% is used as a long-chain diol, but it is insufficient in dispersion property.
In JP(A) 02113424 and JP(A) 05242450, the use of urethane containing negative functional groups in an intermediate layer and a non-magnetic layer is disclosed. Although there is no description on the content of long-chain diol in polyurethane, polyester type compounds are used in the embodiment, while these are low in dispersion property and durability.
In JP(A) 03083221 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,223), the use of polyester urethane of Tg=-20 to +40.degree. C. in an upper layer and the use of polyester urethane of Tg=-50.degree. C. to -10.degree. C. in a lower layer are disclosed. Because the value of Tg is low, the strength of coating film decreases, and durability is not satisfactory.
Further, in JP(A) 03088119 (EP 415,708), a magnetic recording medium is described, which uses aliphatic polyurethane in a lower layer and aromatic polyurethane in an upper layer. However, there is no description on the contents of long-chain diol, short-chain diol and ether. In the embodiment, it is described that Tg.ltoreq.20.degree. C. but strength of coating film is low, and durability and dispersion property are not sufficient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium, which has excellent dispersion property, high electromagnetic transfer characteristics, and high strength coating film, and hence exhibits excellent repeated running property and still durability.

Magnetic recording medium having a lower layer containing a specified polyurethane binder


A memory card with block erasure-type nonvolatile memory units is connected to a host apparatus by an I/O interface. The memory includes a plurality of block-erasure type nonvolatile memory units, a control circuit for inputting/outputting data to the host apparatus and managing nonvolatile memory units and address data to the memory, and a programmable logic device which converts address data to select respective erasure blocks of nonvolatile memories in accordance with a program. The control circuit programs the programmable logic device so that the address data for selecting defective erasure blocks is converted to address data for selecting other usable erasure blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card with nonvolatile memories of a block erasure type on board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a conventional memory card mounting flash memories which are nonvolatile memories of a block erasure type.
In FIG. 6, a memory card 50 consists of an interface circuit 51, an internal control CPU 52, a buffer memory 53 for inputting/outputting of data, a flash memory control circuit 54 and a memory part 55 composed of flash memories. The internal control CPU 52 is connected to the interface circuit 51 and the buffer memory 53, and also connected to the memory part 55 via the flash memory control circuit 54. When the memory card 50 of the constitution is connected to a host system apparatus 60 formed of a data processor, the host system apparatus 60 is brought into a connected state with the internal control CPU 52 via the interface circuit 51.
In the above state, the interface circuit 51 inputs/outputs data to the host system apparatus 60. The internal control CPU 52 controls signals in the memory card 50, and the flash memory control circuit 54 controls the memory part 55 in accordance with control data such as read/write commands, address data, etc. sent from the internal control CPU 52 to the memory part 55. For example, when the number of a sector is input from the internal control CPU 52, the flash memory control circuit 54 generates address data for the memory part 55 corresponding to the input sector number and outputs the data to the memory part 55.
Each flash memory as a component of the memory part 55 is electrically erasable memory, erasing data every erasure block of several K bytes to several tens of K bytes at a time. Data cannot be overwritten on the same address in the flash memory. While the flash memory of the memory part 55 is capable of writing or reading data only every 8 bits or 16 bits, the memory part 55 is required to send/receive data every 512 bytes to the host system apparatus 60, and therefore the buffer memory 53 is used as a cache memory between the internal control CPU 52 and memory part 55.
In general, there are several to several tens of flash memories mounted as an IC memory in the memory part 55 and, each flash memory has a plurality of erasure blocks. FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example of a memory map in the flash memories constituting the memory part 55 of FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, addresses of two flash memories 70, 71 each having a data width of 8 bits and erasure blocks of 64 KB each are connected parallel to each other, thereby attaining the data width of 16 bits. Respective 8 erasure blocks A-H are made to correspond each other in the flash memories 70, 71.
In the constitution of FIG. 7, even a single defective erasure block in the flash memory 70 or 71 generates an area not accessible from the host system apparatus in the memory space, whereby not a single byte of the partially defective flash memory is useful. The flash memories 70, 71 should accordingly be completely non-defective, and defective flash memories have been conventionally discarded, which leads to an increase of costs of the memory card.
Although it has been arranged in certain memory cards to use perfect erasure blocks alone with prohibiting the use of defective erasure blocks, when a plurality of flash memories are used in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 7 and if an erasure block A of the flash memory 70 is defective as well as an erasure block B of the flash memory 71, both erasures blocks A and B in each of the flash memories 70 and 71 become unusable. In other words, the erasure block of one flash memory corresponding to the defective erasure block of the other flash memory becomes unusable although it is not defective. The memories have been thus used inefficiently in the conventional memory card.

Memory card having block erasure type memory units which are used even when partially defective


An improved method for routing interconnect lines in a VLSI chip using repeaters. First, an optimal virtual assignment of the repeater locations is determined according to a suitable method. The "virtual" assignment is the ideal location irrespective of where logic blocks which could form a repeater cell might located. Next, repeaters are assigned to physical locations close to the optimal virtual locations. Finally, an optimal global routing is done using the physical locations of the repeaters. The optimal global routing revises the original global routing upon which the original optimal virtual assignment of repeaters was done. Preferably, blocks of circuitry and routing channels are identified first. Instead of simply routing the interconnect lines through the channels, a portion of the interconnect lines are routed through available spaces in the blocks themselves. This will reduce the number of turns required both through the channels and to reach a repeater. By routing through the blocks, repeaters can be placed at the entry or exit point on the block, eliminating the need for providing L or U-turns to a repeater from a channel.

The present invention relates to repeater cells in very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits, and in particular to the optimum placement and routing to and from such repeater cells.
In today's high frequency VLSI chips, delays through both active gates and wires have become equally important in determining the total critical path delay. As process technology and supply voltage are scaled, the active gate delay comes down quickly. The gate delay can fall into the sub nano-second range easily with today's advanced processes and scaled supply voltages. On the other hand, wire delay does not scale well due to the increased coupling capacitance and the increased series resistance in finer wires.
The use of repeaters or buffers in long wires can alleviate this delay problem. The RC time constant of a long wire follows the square rule with its length. Doubling the wire length quadruples the delay time at the end of the wire. On the other hand, the delay is only doubled when compared to the original wire delay (plus any added repeater gate delay) with the insertion of a repeater at the mid-point. This is an improvement in delay time when compared to the case without the use of repeaters.
Repeaters have been commonly used in high frequency chip design to resolve the long wire delay problem. The procedure can be described as follows: with an existing routed chip, all long signal wires are analyzed and identified for critical nets. This can be done using a SPICE program to simulate the signal net with the proper lumped or distributed RC model. Once repeater placement is identified, they can be inserted in the signal line where they are needed. The repeater cell can reside in a standard cell block, in a data path block, or in a stand-alone repeater block. However, they all occupy extra spaces in the layout.
In a high frequency VLSI chip running above 500 Mhz the required number of repeaters is quite significant. It was estimated that more than 15,000 repeaters are needed for a chip with die size of 18 mm.times.18 mm, compared to a few hundred for a 200 MHz or less chip. Also, the estimated wire distance between each repeater is about 4 mm.
The repeaters are essentially dedicated buffers which can be located at different positions on the chip. When a repeater is needed, the wire position where it is needed is broken and routed to the repeater and back. Depending on how close the repeater block happens to be, this additional wire routing can add additional delays.

Directional repeater physical assignment and connection for high-performance microprocessors


A roller skate wheel having a conical cavity includes an insert housing arranged for complementary reception within the cavity. The housing includes a housing base plate, with the base plate including a socket to receive the wheel fastening axle structure therewithin. A transparent forward plate is mounted in a spaced, parallel relationship relative to the base plate. A plurality of illumination bulbs diametrically aligned within the housing adjacent the forward plate are in electrical communication with a battery housing mounted medially of the housing, and wherein the battery and battery housing include first electrical contact support legs resiliently mounted, with the first electrical contacts mounted to distal ends of the legs for engagement with further electrical contact legs directed into the illumination bulbs, whereupon centrifugal force in use of the roller skate wheel completes electrical circuitry to effect illumination of the bulbs within the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to roller skate apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved illuminated roller skate wheel wherein the same is directed to effect illumination within the wheel upon rotation of the wheel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Illuminated roller skate wheel structure has been addressed in the prior art and exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,610 to Hegyi utilizing a self-generating apparatus to provide for illumination through a roller skate wheel. Illuminated roller skate wheel structure is further exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,336,573; 4,463,412; and 4,363,502.
The instant invention sets forth a wheel structure arranged to provide for illumination of the wheel during rotation thereof utilizing centrifugal force to provide for completion of electrical circuitry within a wheel structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A brush sealing system includes a plurality of bristles, each having a first end coupled to a holding device and a second end protruding outwards from the holding device. One or more shims are disposed between the first end of each of the bristles and the holding device; wherein the shims are configured to controlling a pinch point diameter of the bristles.

The invention relates generally to a brush sealing system and a method for adjusting stiffness of a brush sealing system.
Efficiency of rotary machines utilized for pumping a fluid or compressing or expanding a vapor (e.g. gas) depends upon the internal tolerances of the components comprising the machine. A loosely-toleranced rotary machine may have a relatively poor fit between internal components and may therefore exhibit poor efficiency, with relatively high leakage occurring within the device from regions of higher pressure to regions of lower pressure. The traditional approach to this situation is to decrease the amount of clearance on these critical interfaces.
Sealing systems are used in rotary machines to reduce leakage of fluid flowing through the rotary machines. One or more seals extend along an interface between rotating and stationary components. One type of seal, referred to as a brush seal, uses a plurality of bristles held in place across the area to be sealed. One environment in which brush seals are commonly used is within gas turbine engines of the type used for providing propulsion to aircraft, auxiliary power to aircraft or other moving vessels, or in land based power generation embodiments. For example, the brush seal may be used between a gap formed between a stationary part such as a diffuser, engine casing, or stator, and a rotating part, such as a turbine blade, shaft, or rotor.
The manufacturing cycle for a brush seal typically occurs over several weeks. During the design process of a brush seal, various parameters are set with one example being a pinch point diameter of the brush seal. The pinch point diameter affects the seal's stiffness and heat generation capability. A pinch point diameter of a brush seal must be fixed during early stages of the design process of the brush seal because, if any design changes are requested during fabrication, the seal cannot readily be altered.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that facilitates greater flexibility for adjusting a pinch point diameter of a brush seal during later stages of manufacturing and post manufacturing stages.

System and method for adjusting stiffness of a brush sealing system


A method of forming groups of smoking articles so that each group forms an individual bundle of smoking articles for receipt in a respective smoking article pack is disclosed. The method includes supplying a receptacle of an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles with different types of smoking articles such that they mix in the receptacle and each group is formed from the mixture of different types of smoking articles by said apparatus. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles and a multipack comprising a plurality of smoking article packs is also disclosed.

In an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles, a bulk supply of loose smoking articles supplied to a receptacle, such as a hopper, from a cigarette manufacturing machine are fed under gravity into a number of sets of channels. The smoking articles is pass down each channel in single file. Each set of channels supplies the smoking articles that comprise one row of a group of smoking articles, each group of smoking articles comprising multiple rows. The number of channels in a set of channels corresponds to the number of smoking articles in the row which is formed by that set of channels. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles of this type is primarily used to form groups of smoking articles formed in three rows prior to wrapping of each group in barrier material to form a bundle and before that bundle is received within an outer carton or container to form a conventional hinged-lid pack of smoking articles.
By way of example, apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles may have three sets of channels. A first set may have seven channels to form a first row of seven smoking articles. A second set may have six channels to form a second or centre row of six smoking articles which are laid on top of the first row, and a third row may have seven channels to form a third row of seven smoking articles, which are laid on top of the second row. The three rows comprise twenty smoking articles in total.
The smoking articles which are supplied to the receptacle of the apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles may be filter cigarettes. The filter rod of each cigarette may contain an object, such as a capsule, which has been inserted into the filter rod using a filter rod making machine.

Method of forming groups of smoking articles

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO MEXICO, S.A. DE C.V.


A method and system that blend graphics layers and a video layer. The graphics layers may be above and below the video layer, which may be a streaming video. The graphics layers may be stored in memory, blended and stored back in memory. The blended graphics layers may be combined with streaming video and output on a display. Blending the graphics in memory may be done offline and may save processing time and improve real-time combining with streaming video. In an embodiment of the present invention, there may be several layers of graphics below the video layer, and several graphics layers above the video layer. The top graphics layers may be blended into one top graphics layer, and the bottom graphics layers may be blended into one bottom graphics layer. The top and bottom graphics layers may be then blended into one graphics layer and combined with the video layer.

In video systems where graphics are added to video content, there may be a video layer and a graphics layer on top of the video layer. The video layer may come from a television (TV) source, and the graphics layer may be used to add information such as, for example, a user guide or some kind of a user-graphical interface such as a TV menu. In more sophisticated video systems, there may be graphics added on top of the video, as well as, graphics below the video. For example, adding a user guide on top of the video and a still background behind the video.
Outputting the layers as one output onto a display such as, for example, a monitor, requires blending the layers into one stream of data. The process of blending the layers together is known as graphics blending or graphics and video compositing.
A system with graphics and video layers may be viewed as a planar system with planes composed of the different layers. A low-end system consists of only one graphics layer and one video layer. A higher-end system consists of at least one graphics layer above the video layer, and at least one graphics layer below the video layer.
The way to blend the layers is generally done from the bottom up. So in a system with three layers, for example, the blending is done by blending the bottom graphics layer with the video layer, which results in a new blended layer, which may then be blended with the top graphics layer to get a composite image to output to the display.
Each layer of graphics, or the layer of video is composed of a buffer and an alpha. The buffer is a region of the memory in the system that contains pixels of the layer. Alpha is the blend factor of a layer and it indicates how much to blend of that layer with the layer below it. The value of alpha ranges from 0 to 1, inclusive. For video there alpha value can be the same for the whole layer or per pixel. Whereas with graphics, each pixel may have a different alpha value.
For example, if a system has two layers, a graphics layer on the top and a video layer below it, the buffer and the alpha for the graphics and the video layer would be, Bt, At, Bb, and Abs, respectively. Blending the two layers together yields the following:Btb=AtBt+(1−At)Bb  (1)Where Btb is the buffer for the blended layer. If At is 1, then when blending the graphics with the video below it, all that is seen is entirely graphics, so an alpha value of 0 implies complete transparency. If At is 0, then when blending the graphics with the video below it, all that is seen is entirely video, so an alpha value of 1 implies complete opaqueness.
In most systems, alpha is an 8-bit number ranging from 0 to 1, inclusive. So there are 256 levels of transparency ranging from complete transparency to complete opaqueness.
In a more complex system, with graphics layers above and below the video layer, things may get more complex as well. For example, a system may have a graphics layer on top of the video layer, with buffer B1, and alpha A1, the video layer with buffer BV and alpha AV, and a graphics layer below the video layer, with buffer B2 and alpha A2. Applying equation (1) above, blending the video and the graphics layer below it yields:BV2=AVBV+(1−AV)B2  (2)Where BV2 is the buffer for the blended bottom layer. Then blending the top graphics layer with the blended bottom layer yields:BV3=A1B1+(1−A1)BV2  (3)Where BV3 is the buffer for the three blended layers. Expanding and re-arranging equation (3) after applying equation (2) yields:BV3=AV(1−A1)BV+A1B1+(1−A1)(1−AV)B2  (4)
Equation (4) above illustrates the calculation required to blend two layers of graphics with one layer of video. In more complex systems, there may be several layers of graphics above a layer of video, and several layers of graphics below the layer of video. In such systems, the graphics layers on top may be blended together into one top graphics layer, the graphics layers below may be blended together into one bottom graphics layer, then the top layer, video layer, and bottom layer, may be blended together according to equation (4).
In video systems, hardware that performs the calculations for compositing needs to read all three layers simultaneously, with the video, which is streaming data, and output the result onto the monitor in real-time, which can get bandwidth-expensive. The compositing process can also be hardware expensive when two graphics layers are read out of the memory, and calculations are made to accommodate streaming video data. Problems may be seen sometimes on a personal computer (PC), for example, when moving a window, a portion of the screen that was covered by the window may remain blank for a few seconds, because the graphics engine may take time to respond and do all the blending to accommodate the new graphics layers.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Graphics layer reduction for video composition


A method for chromatic dispersion pre-compensation in an optical communication network includes (1) distorting an original modulated signal according to an inverse of a transmission function of the optical communication network, to generate a compensated signal, (2) modulating a magnitude of an optical signal in response to a magnitude of the compensated signal, and (3) modulating a phase of the optical signal, after modulating the magnitude of the optical signal, in response to a phase of the compensated signal.

Communication network traffic continues to grow, such as due to emergence of new services with high bandwidth demand, including data center interconnection services, fifth generation (5G) wireless broadband services, and virtual reality services. Optical communication networks, which use an optical cable to transmit data between network nodes, are increasingly being used for data transmission, due to their inherent capability to support high bandwidth and to transport data over long distances.

Systems and methods for chromatic dispersion pre-compensation


A modular cutting-teeth bit having controllable specific pressure for drilling includes: a module (1), a modular unit (2), a bit body (3), conventional cutting teeth (4) and a nozzle (5). According to mechanical performance of the rocks in the strata drilled and requirements of drilling well, a combination of shapes, sizes and numbers of the module and the modular unit is optimized; effective abrasion edge length of the cutting unit on a certain portion of the bit is controlled; and a constant specific pressure of the cutting unit of the bit during the drilling process is maintained.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to fields of technical equipment for oil-gas drilling engineering, mining, geological drilling, construction engineering, tunneling engineering, shield tunneling, trenchless engineering and etc., and more particularly to drill bit with modular cutting-teeth arrangement and having controllable drilling specific pressure.
Description of Related Arts
Bits are tools which directly contact with rocks and break the rocks by effects such as cutting and stamping during drilling process. Polycrystalline Diamond Compact Bits (PDC bits) which break the rocks by cutting and shearing are getting more and more extensive application in drilling engineering, geological engineering and even architectural engineering. The application proportion of the PDC bits in the drilling engineering is getting larger and larger. In a perfect operating condition that a center line of bit coincides with the borehole axis, motion trajectories of all the cutting teeth are relatively fixed concentric-circles during the bit drilling process. Due to rock breaking mechanism and structural differences, the PDC bits are more suitable for soft and medium-hard strata with high ROP (penetration rate). The characteristics of PDC bits include the following.
(1) Manner of Breaking the Rock
The PDC bits cut, shear and break rock depending on the compacts. According to abrasive property of the rocks, continuous or intermittent contacts and frictions are generated between the rocks and the bits during the rock-breaking process.
(2) Relationship Among Cutting-edge Length, Specific Pressure and ROP of the Cutting Element
While the bit is breaking rocks, the bit itself is gradually getting blunt by the abrasion of the rocks simultaneously, i.e., the cutting-edge length is increased. Therefore, the relationship among the cutting-edge length, the specific pressure and the ROP is as following. In the preliminary stage of drilling by the bit, an abrasion line of the cutting element is short, the specific pressure thereof is high, rock-breaking efficiency thereof is high and the ROP thereof is high as well. As the abrasion line thereof is gradually getting longer, the specific pressure thereof becomes lower, relative abrasion of the cutting element to the rocks is increasing, and the ROP thereof is gradually reducing until the bit is failure. For example, if a Φ16 mm circular compact bit serves as the cutting element and is drilling the medium-hard strata, the bit usually becomes failure when the cutting-edge length of the compact is approximately 80% of a diameter thereof. A sharp increase of the cutting-edge length will greatly reduce the breaking efficiency of the bit to the rocks and the drilling efficiency thereof accordingly.
(3) Relationship Among Abrasion Ratio of the Cutting Element, Effective Abrasion Volume and Service Life of the Bits
For a compact having a definite abrasion ratio, the greater the effective abrasion volume, the greater the effective utilization rate of the compact of the bit, and the higher the drilling depth, the longer the service life of the bit. For example, if the Φ16 mm circular compact bit serves as the cutting element and is drilling the medium-hard strata, actual abrasion volume of diamond layer of the compact is less than 20% of the total volume. Thus, without considering the effects of the impact damage, choosing a compact having a high abrasion ratio is conductive to prolonging the service life of the bit.
In order to improve performances of the compact, researcher from China and other countries have studied on several aspects such as cross-sectional shape of the PDC bits, back rake angle, cutting-teeth size and the teeth-arrangement density. However, the problem does not be solved effectively that the actual abrasion volume of the diamond layer is just a very small proportion of the total diamond volume which shorten the bit service life.

Modular cutting-teeth drill bit with controllable drilling specific pressure

Sichuan Deep & Fast Oil Drilling Tools Co., Ltd


An electric power transmission device as one aspect of the present invention comprises: a power transmitter that generates a magnetic field; a storage; and a power transmission controller. The storage stores a first parameter set concerning frequency hopping performed on a first frequency band and a second parameter set concerning frequency hopping performed on a second frequency band. The power transmission controller controls the power transmitter such that the frequency hopping is performed based on the parameter set acquired from the storage. The first frequency band is a band corresponding to a first resolution bandwidth for measuring a leakage magnetic field. The second frequency band is a band corresponding to a second resolution bandwidth intended for a higher band than the first resolution bandwidth.

Contactless electric power transmission (contactless power supplying) from an electric power transmission device to an electric power reception device is becoming widespread. In the contactless power supplying, power is transmitted via a magnetic field generated by the electric power transmission device. However, a magnetic field having leaked outside (leakage magnetic field) might interfere with broadcasting, wireless communication, and the like.
To deal with the leakage magnetic field, frequency hopping in which a frequency of a magnetic field is shifted has been proposed. For example, there has been a report that reduction in leakage magnetic field has been achieved by cyclically shifting the frequency. There has also been a report that reduction in leakage magnetic field has been achieved by setting a cycle for shifting of the frequency based on a resolution bandwidth (RBW) of a measurement instrument used for measuring the leakage magnetic field.
However, it has been found that when the frequency hopping is performed in a high-frequency band, an expected effect cannot be obtained. For example, in an electric passenger car expected to use the contactless power supplying, a frequency bandwidth considered to be standardized is an 85-kHz band. When the cyclic frequency hopping is performed in the 85-Hz band, the result has been that a leakage magnetic field of a fundamental wave can be reduced, but a leakage magnetic field of a harmonic wave cannot be reduced.

Electric power transmission device and electric power transmission system


Embodiments are directed to a dynamic radar detection threshold for stateful dynamic frequency selection (DFS). An embodiment of a storage medium includes instructions to operations including estimate a duty time of transmission of wireless signals by an access point, the access point to provide Wi-Fi communication, the wireless signals being communicated on a DFS channel of the access point, adapt, based at least in part on the duty time of transmission, a threshold of radar signals to indicate detection of a radar signal at the access point on the DFS channel, and perform analysis of received wireless signals on the DFS channel at the access point to detect the radar signal using the adapted threshold of radar signals.

In computer networking, a wireless Access Point (AP) is a networking hardware device that allows a Wi-Fi compliant client device to connect to a wired network and to communicate with other client devices directly over Wi-Fi. The AP usually connects to a router (directly or indirectly via a wired network) as a standalone device, but it can also be an integral component of the router itself. Several APs may also work in coordination, either through direct wired or wireless connections, or through a central system, commonly called a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) controller.
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) may be applied in Wi-Fi networks. DFS is a mechanism that allows wireless devices (e.g., stations (STAs)) to use 5 GHz frequency bands or channels without causing interference to radar systems or other services that are allocated in those channels. Using DFS, the AP(s) in the Wi-Fi network can automatically select frequency channels with low interference levels. DFS is mandated in the 5 GHz band for purposes of radar avoidance. Regulatory requirements limit the number of frequency channels (e.g., 5 GHz channels) that are available or place additional restrictions on their use because this spectrum is shared with other technologies or services. Wi-Fi networks operating in those bands should employ a radar detection and avoidance capability. In the context of Wi-Fi, an AP that supports DFS should be able to detect radar signals during the channel start-up and in-service. If radar signals are detected, the AP stops transmitting and then selects a new channel.

Dynamic radar detection threshold for stateful dynamic frequency selection

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A method for the non-destructive testing of an element for a nuclear reactor having the steps of: a) acquiring a radiographic digital image of at least one area in element, b) creating a reference image through the digital processing of the image obtained, and c) comparing the image obtained, processed if necessary, with the reference image to detect the presence of defects.

Generally, nuclear rods comprise a tubular sheath containing pellets of nuclear fuel which is sealed at its extremities by a bottom plug and a top plug. These plugs are welded to the sheath by circular weld beads ensuring a seal between the sheath and the plugs.
In addition to this, the upper plug has a channel for filling the sheath with a pressurized inert gas, for example helium. When the fuel rods have been manufactured, this channel is leaktightly sealed by a spot weld. The circular weld beads may show various types of defects. Thus, porosity may be present. This comprises voids in the weld bead. The weld beads may also show lack of penetration, that is to say parts where the radial extent of the beads is less than desired.
Where a TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding method is used, the weld beads may also have tungsten inclusions. The latter type of defect may also be observed in the spot weld plugging the filling channel.
In addition to this, it may happen that this spot weld is in a position and of such a size that it does not satisfactorily block the filling channel. Lack of penetration in the weld bead and poor positioning of the spot weld are likely to give rise to leaks in the fuel rod and therefore to the release of radioactive particles or gases into the nuclear reactor's primary circuit. Porosities and inclusions have an adverse effect on the mechanical integrity of the rod. These defects have to be avoided and for this reason non-destructive testing procedures are applied to the manufactured fuel rods.
In order to check the quality of the weld beads and the sealing spot welds a digital radiographic image of the corresponding areas of rods undergoing inspection is acquired.
The image acquired is then compared with a stored reference image. This reference image has been obtained from a fuel rod which is considered to be free from any defects. The reference image is therefore subtracted from the image obtained, and then the resulting image is digitally processed in order to cause any defects to appear more clearly, and an overall score is allocated to the weld bead, one score for the sealing spot weld and one score for tungsten inclusions. Beyond threshold values, the rod is considered to be non-conforming.
Because of uncertainties in the positioning of the rods and manufacturing tolerances, the position of a rod and its dimensions on the image obtained differ from those of the rod in the reference image. This therefore means that complex processing of the image obtained by subtraction is required in order to be able to detect any manufacturing defects. Furthermore, it has been found that the reliability of this check has remained low, despite this processing of the image obtained by subtraction, which has made it necessary to reject a large number of rods as being non-conforming in order to be on the safe side.
One objective of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a more reliable method for the non-destructive testing of an element for a nuclear reactor.
With this aim the objective of the invention is a method for the non-destructive inspection of an element for a nuclear reactor, a method comprising the steps of:                a) acquiring a digital radiographic image of at least one area of the element,        b) creating a reference image by digital processing of the image obtained, and        c) comparing the image obtained, which may have been processed, with the reference image to detect the presence of any defects.
In accordance with particular embodiments, the method may comprise one or more of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:                                    the element is part of a nuclear fuel assembly,            the element is a nuclear fuel rod extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a sheath sealed off by top and bottom plugs and containing a nuclear fuel,            the area comprises the weld bead between one of the plugs and the sheath,            the area comprises a spot weld sealing a channel passing through a plug,            step b) comprises a substep b1) of opening or closing the image by the addition of a structuring element,            the structuring element has an elongated shape along the longitudinal axis of the rod,            the structuring element is a segment of p pixels, p being a whole number which is not zero,            a defect which has to be detected is porosity or lack of penetration in the weld bead, and substep b1) is a substep of opening the image by addition of the structuring element,            a defect which has to be detected is a tungsten inclusion, and substep b1) is a substep of closing the image by addition of the structuring element,            step b) comprises a substep b0) of smoothing the image through a convolver, prior to substep b1),            the convolver is a square of side n pixels, n being a whole number which is not zero,            step c) comprises a substep c1) of calculating the difference between the image obtained, processed if necessary, and the reference image, and dividing that difference by the image obtained, processed if necessary, or by the reference image,            after substep c1) the method comprises a substep c2) of multiplying the image by a coefficient substantially corresponding to the maximum light intensity of the viewing device used to acquire the radiographic image,            after substep c1) the method comprises a substep of smoothing the image through a convolver,            the convolver is a square of side q pixels, q being a whole number,            the convolver lies with its length transverse to the longitudinal axis,            after substep c1) the method comprises a step of binarising the image,            as the defect which has to be detected is a lack of seal at the spot weld, step b) comprises a substep b1) of projecting the image along the longitudinal axis and reconstructing the image from its projection along that axis,            prior to substep b1) step b) comprises a substep b0) of smoothing the image acquired by a convolver,            the convolver is a square of side t pixels, t being a whole number,            step c) comprises a substep c1) of subtracting the reference image from the image obtained, which may have been processed,
after substep c1) the method comprises a substep of binarising the image,                                    the method comprises a step d) of automatic detection and determination of the characteristics of a region of the image produced in step c) corresponding to a defect,            one of the characteristics is the position of the defect detected in the image,            one of the characteristics is representative of the dimension of the defect detected,            the method comprises a step d) of determining the minimum axial thickness of the spot weld,            steps a) to d) are performed for several viewing angles,            the method comprises a step e) of reconstructing the defects detected in the images corresponding to different viewing angles,            step e) comprises a substep e1) of determining the positions which a defect detected in a first step corresponding to a first viewing angle may occupy in a second image corresponding to a second viewing angle,            a substep e2) comparing the positions so determined with the positions of the defect(s) actually detected in the second image in order to determine whether the defect has been detected in the second image and if the defect has been detected in the second image,            a substep e3) of calculating a dimension of the defect from the representative characteristics of the dimensions of the defect determined in the first and second images,            the method comprises a step e) of summing the representative characteristics of the dimension determined for several viewing angles and comparing the sum with a threshold value in order to reach a decision on whether the element conforms with predetermined manufacturing criteria,            the method comprises a step e) of calculating a mean for the minimum thicknesses determined for several viewing angles and comparing it with a threshold value in order to reach a decision on whether the element conforms with predetermined manufacturing criteria.

Method for the non-destructive testing of an element for a nuclear reactor

Societe Franco-Belge de Fabrication de Combustible


A liquid crystal display panel includes unit pixels including a first unit pixel and a second unit pixel, each of the first unit pixel and the second unit pixel including a first white area and first to third color areas, gate lines which extend in a first direction, cross the unit pixels and include a first gate line and a second gate line, data lines which extend in a second direction, and pixel electrodes which are electrically connected to the data lines and include first to seventh pixel electrodes, where the first to third pixel electrodes overlap the first to third color areas of the first unit pixel, respectively, the fourth to sixth pixel electrodes overlap the first to third color areas of the second unit pixel, respectively, and the seventh pixel electrode overlaps the first white areas of the first and second unit pixels.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid crystal display ("LCD") panel. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an LCD panel capable of improving display quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") panel may include an array substrate, an opposing substrate and an LCD layer therebetween. The array substrate may include a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix shape. A signal driving part may be configured to apply a desired voltage to the pixel electrodes to drive the LCD panel. A plurality of liquid crystal molecules in the LCD layer may be aligned due to an electric field generated by the voltage.
The LCD panel may include a plurality of color filters. The color filters may be disposed on the array substrate and/or the opposing substrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the color filters may include a red filter (R), a green filter (G) and a blue filter (B). The pixel electrodes may overlap the color filters. The pixel electrodes may be configured to transmit backlight as red light, green light or blue light according to an alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. A pixel area non-overlapping the color filters may transmit the backlight as white light (W).
If the LCD panel includes an RGBW pixel structure in which a unit pixel includes a red light transmitting area, a green light transmitting area, a blue light transmitting area and a white light transmitting area, then the pixel electrodes may include a plurality of domains to increase the transmitting areas of the color lights in order to improve color-sharpness and viewing angle of the LCD panel.

Liquid crystal display panel with unit pixels sharing common white area


A portable sheet, comforter and pillow cover apparatus whose embodiment members of a top and bottom sheet coupled together, with an incorporation of a protective ply member attached to the top and bottom sheet, whose purpose is to shield and protect an individual from harmful body organisms that are commonly found, and contaminated by prior occupants, in hotels or any other frequently used beds and bedding materials. Moreover, the design and enclosed features of the apparatus will give an individual user a piece of mind bought on by sanitary sleeping arrangements without sacrificing the comfort of the accommodation sought.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, namely a sheet, comforter and pillow cover, which is designed to provide a sanitary sleeping environment away from home. The sheet cover will also necessitate comfort and ease of mind by ensuring that the remnants of disease, bacteria, viruses and body contaminates which may be present from past occupants, will not come in contact with the individual utilizing the enclosed apparatus.


Supercritical carbon dioxide may be utilized to clean metal lines (e.g. copper, cobalt). The supercritical carbon dioxide cleans may include hydrogen gas in one embodiment, hydrofluoric acid in another embodiment, and hexafluoroacetyl acetone as a metal-binding ligand in another embodiment.

This invention relates generally to processes for manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits.
In a variety of processes, metal lines may be formed. For example in conjunction with a damascene process, copper lines may be formed. Copper has many performance advantages over conventional aluminum interconnects.
Metallic copper a high tendency to become oxidized when exposed to strong acids or water at elevated temperatures. Copper forms oxides with difference oxidation states like Cu2O and CuO. Normally, hydrogen-plasma based cleans are used in the industry. But, more delicate dielectric materials (ILD) preclude the use of this technique due to the deleterious effect of the hydrogen plasma on the ILD properties and the dielectric constant of the ILD.
In the dual-damascene process, a copper line may exist at the bottom of a via trench through a dielectric material with a layer of metal oxide as a result of the cleans and other etch residue on its top surface. These copper oxides at the top of the exposed trench copper need to be removed or reduced back to metallic copper to form lower electrical resistance metal lines and connecting vias.
Thus, there is a need for better ways to clean metal lines and especially to clean metallic lines that are subject to oxide formation without damaging the properties of the delicate dielectric material.

Supercritical carbon dioxide-based cleaning of metal lines