Embodiments of a system for regulating an efficiency of a power supply in a computer system are described. During operation, the system measures an output load of the power supply using one or more telemetry monitors in the computer system. Then, the system determines if an efficiency of the power supply corresponding to the measured output load is within a predetermined range that includes an optimal efficiency of the power supply. If the efficiency is outside of the predetermined range, the system performs remedial action so that the power supply operates at an adjusted efficiency that falls within the predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and techniques for monitoring a computer system. More specifically, the present invention relates to techniques for regulating the power-supply efficiency of computer systems based on measured power-supply output loads.
2. Related Art
As the cost of electricity to power and cool servers in data centers begins to approach the acquisition cost of the servers, it is becoming increasingly important to operate these servers in a power-efficient manner. In order to maximize the power efficiency of servers, it is important to maximize the power efficiency of the server components, such as power supplies.
Typically, power supplies are configured to operate over a fairly wide range of output loads. However, the operating power-conversion efficiency of a given power supply is a nonlinear function of its output load. For example, while a power supply may have maximum power-conversion efficiency at 85% output load, the power-conversion efficiency for output loads above and below this point can drop by 10% or more. Therefore, even though a power supply may have a high power-conversion efficiency, when it is used in a server it may operate in an output-load regime where the power-conversion efficiency is sub-optimal. Consequently, specifying a power supply with high power-conversion efficiency may not guarantee that a server operates in a power-efficient manner, unless the power supply has a constant power-conversion efficiency over the entire range of output loads. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most power supplies.
Hence, there is a need for techniques to ensure that servers, and more generally computer systems, operate in a power-efficient manner without the above-described problems.

Technique for regulating power-supply efficiency in a computer system


A slot antenna apparatus 10 contains a circuit substrate having a high-frequency circuit arranged therein and a shield case accommodating the circuit substrate. A cross-shaped slot and a feeding pin are formed in an upper plate of the shield case. The cross-shaped slot is composed of first and second slots. The lengths of the slots are different and the slots are perpendicular to each other. The shortest distances from the feeding pin to the first slots are approximately equal. When the power is fed to the upper plate through the feeding pin, the slots are excited to irradiate linearly polarized waves perpendicular to each other, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slot antenna apparatus, and more particularly, to a slot antenna apparatus which is operated as a circular polarization antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
A slot antenna apparatus comprises a conductor member composed of a metal foil or a metal plate in which a slot having a predetermined size is formed and a circuit substrate in which a high-frequency circuit including an amplifier, an oscillator or the like is arranged. By feeding a power to an appropriate location of the conductor member through a feeding means such as a feeding line connected to the circuit substrate, a slot is excited and a linearly polarized wave can be irradiated. As a conventional example of such a slot antenna apparatus, an antenna apparatus in which an antenna unit is provided at one side of the circuit substrate is widely known (for example, see Japanese unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-234615 (Pages 3 to 4, FIG. 3)).
FIG. 6 is a plan view of essential elements of a conventional slot antenna apparatus and shows an antenna unit 2 provided at one side of a substrate 1 composed of a dielectric. In FIG. 6, on one surface of the substrate 1, a conductor layer 4 having a slot 3 is formed, and on the other surface of the substrate 1, a feeding line 5 traversing the slot 3 in a width direction is formed. In addition, the extending portion (not shown) of the substrate 1 forms a circuit unit 6 in which a high-frequency circuit is arranged. The conductor layer 4 or the feeding line 5 is formed by patterning copper foil or the like and a rectangular opening surrounded by the conductor layer 4 forms the slot 3. The length of the slot 3 is set to about half of the resonance length λ. The feeding line 5 is a micro-strip line connected to the circuit unit 6. By feeding the power to both ends of the slot 3 in a width direction through the feeding line 5, the slot 3 can be excited.
However, the conventional slot antenna apparatus is generally designed as the linear polarization antenna. But, when an additional slot extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the slot 3 is formed in the vicinity of the slot 3 and is excited with a phase difference of about 90 degrees with respect to a resonance mode of the slot 3 in FIG. 6, a circular polarization slot antenna apparatus is obtained. However, since the conventional antenna uses the extending portion (one side) of the substrate 1 in which the high-frequency circuit is arranged as a region of an antenna unit 2, when a pair of circular polarization slots and a pair of feeding lines are formed in the antenna unit 2, a wide space is required in the antenna unit 2 so that an area of the substrate 1 increases. As a result, the miniaturization of the overall apparatus cannot be accomplished. Further, in order to generate the phase difference of about 90 degrees in the resonance modes of the pair of slots, the phase difference circuit unit of 90 degrees must be provided in the feeding circuit. This results in the circuit structure becoming complex and the cost increasing.
Moreover, in order to minimize the slot antenna apparatus, the structure that the high-frequency circuit, the feeding line and the conductor layer having the slot are provided in each layer of the multilayered substrate can be considered. However, if the multilayered substrate is employed, the cost thereof increases greatly because the manufacturing process thereof is complex.

Circular polarization slot antenna apparatus capable of being easily miniaturized


A memory system, with a memory controller and a memory module, is configured to transfer error securing data and address signals within signal frames between the memory controller and the memory module. The memory system includes: an address register configured to pre-store an address signal associated with at least one block of data signals to be transferred, and at least one cyclic redundancy checksum calculator included in one of the memory controller and the memory module, the calculators being configured to calculate a cyclic redundancy checksum for the at least one data signal block, wherein the pre-stored address signal is used as an initial value for the calculation of the cyclic redundancy checksum and the at least one block of data and address signals are transferred together with the calculated cyclic redundancy checksum.

For detecting transmission errors occurring on high speed signal lines, a standard for future graphic memory systems (e.g., the Graphic Double Data Rate 5 (GDDR5) standard) envisages an error detection on the data bus to improve system reliability. As graphics systems store more and more code in the DRAM, effective error detection becomes essential, as random bit fails associated with any high speed data transmission would lead to unacceptable system failures.
In the GDDR5 standard, the transmitted data is secured using a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) with an algorithm that is well established within high quality communication environments like ATM networks. The algorithm enables a detection of most errors with 100% probability. Error detection can be used to trigger retraining of the data transmission line which allows the system to dynamically adapt to changing conditions (e.g., temperature or voltage drift).
Until now, such memory systems have not provided the ability to detect errors in the transmitted addresses without using an additional pin at the controller module and/or the memory module. Such an additional pin can be used for transmitting a so-called parity bit which can be used for detecting an error in the transmitted address. However the additional pin at the controller module and/or the memory module disadvantageously increases the pin count as well as the power consumption at the controller module and/or the memory module.
It is therefore desirable to achieve improved error detection by means of a cyclic redundancy check when data and addresses are transferred between a memory and a controller which also allows recognition of an error in the transferred address.

Memory system with cyclic redundancy check


A coupler assembly for connecting an appliance hose to a faucet spout includes a coupler body connected to the hose and having an inlet opening sized to telescopically fit over the faucet spout. A retaining collar slides over the coupler body from a hold position in retentive engagement with the faucet spout to a release position out of retentive engagement with the faucet spout. The retaining collar includes a thumb tab extending radially outwardly therefrom.

This invention relates to a coupler for an appliance hose, and particularly to a coupler which is used to connect an appliance hose to the spout of a sink faucet. Such a coupler is sometimes used to connect the water hose inlet of a dishwasher to the spout of a faucet in a kitchen sink.
An example of a typical prior art coupler is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,575. This patent discloses a coupler body having an inlet opening adapted to telescopically fit over the spout of a kitchen sink faucet. A locking sleeve or retaining collar is vertically slidable on the outside of the body to a hold position wherein the locking sleeve engages and moves locking studs into retentive engagement with the spout of the faucet. The sleeve or collar is movable away from the hold position to a release position to permit the studs to move out of retentive engagement with the faucet and thereby permit the removal of the coupler from the faucet.
Considerable difficulty is encountered in trying to mount these prior coupling devices to the faucet spout, particularly if the operator has only one hand free to accomplish the coupling process. Most prior art devices require both hands to accomplish the locking process, with one hand being used to hold the coupler body and with the other hand being used to slide the locking sleeve between its hold and release positions.
An example of a prior art hose coupler for a dishwasher is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,323. This patent shows a pivoted operating lever which is not integral with the coupling sleeve. It pivots to cause movement of a pressure relief mechanism before axial movement of the coupling sleeve to its release position. Other examples of separate pivoting levers are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,788,347 and 3,593,743.
Another disadvantage of prior devices is the difficulty with which the sleeve sometimes moves between its hold and release positions. Normally the sleeve is urged toward its hold position by a spring. When pressure is applied downwardly on the sleeve to move it away from its hold position, the sleeve sometimes becomes misaligned on the coupler body and binds, thereby making the sliding movement difficult. Such binding also sometimes occurs when the sleeve is urged from its released position back to its hold position by the spring, and the binding can sometimes result in unsatisfactory coupling of the coupler to the faucet spout.


A layer deposition method includes: feeding a reactant with a first flow of an inert gas as a carrier gas into a reaction chamber to chemisorb the reactant on a substrate; feeding the first flow of the inert gas to purge the reaction chamber and a first reactant feed line; and feeding the second flow of the inert gas into the reaction chamber through a feed line different from the first reactant feed line.

Generally, in a semiconductor device fabrication process, a layer or thin film is formed using a chemical vapor deposition method, a sputtering method and/or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, etc. The chemical vapor deposition method has an advantage in that the thin film can be formed to have excellent step coverage, but has a disadvantage in that the process temperature may be high and it may be difficult to control the thickness of the thin layer. By comparison, the sputtering method has an advantage in that the process temperature is low and a material layer can be formed without developing a precursor as may be required for vapor deposition. However, the sputtering method has a disadvantage in that step coverage may be poor.
Because the atomic layer deposition method can form an atomic monolayer at a low temperature, it can advantageously provide a layer having a low thickness, a uniform surface and excellent step coverage. Generally, the atomic layer deposition method employs a cycle including: a first feed step of feeding a first reaction gas into a reaction chamber to form a first reactant in the form of an atomic layer on a substrate; a first purge step of purging an internal section of the reaction chamber; a second feed step of feeding a second reaction gas into the reaction chamber to provide a chemical exchange reaction with the first reactant of the atomic layer; and a second purge step of purging the internal section of the reaction chamber. This cycle can be performed repeatedly to control the thickness of the layer.
In the atomic layer deposition method, because several atomic layers are laminated to form the desired layer, it is typical to feed the reaction gas in an amount sufficient to form the atomic layer. Further, because the precursor used for the reaction gas is expensive, the amount of the reaction gas used should be minimized. Because the atomic layer deposition method forms the atomic layer on a surface of the substrate by the chemi-substitution-reaction, it is necessary, before the reaction gas is fed, to completely purge the reactants incompletely physisorbed on the surface of the substrate from the internal section of the reaction chamber.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart representing a conventional layer deposition method. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram representing a conventional layer deposition method. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the conventional layer deposition method, a cycle for forming a layer is repeatedly performed, the cycle including the steps of: a first feed step t1, 10 for feeding the first reactant; a first purge step t2, 20 for purging the reaction chamber; a second feed step t3, 30 for feeding a second reactant; and a second purge step t4, 40 for purging the reaction chamber.
In the first feed step t1, 10 for feeding the first reactant into the reaction chamber, a first flow of an inert gas is used as a carrier gas and the first reactant is chemisorbed or physisorbed on the substrate. In the first purge step t2, 20, the first flow of the inert gas is fed to purge or remove the first reactant within the reaction chamber, within the first reactant feed lines, and physisorbed on the substrate. In the second feed step t3, 30, the second reactant is fed into the reaction chamber using the second flow of the inert gas as the carrier gas, and the first reactant chemisorbed on the substrate is chemically exchanged with the second reactant to form the layer. Thereafter, in the second purge step t4, 40, a second flow of an inert gas is fed to purge the reaction chamber and the second reactant feed line. The second reactant remaining in the reaction chamber and the second reactant feed line is removed along with the second reactant that is physisorbed on the substrate without chemi-substitution-reacting with the first reactant.
In the atomic layer deposition method, inert gas is used as the carrier gas and the purge gas. Accordingly, the amount of the reactant used as the precursor can be reduced by reducing the flow of the inert gas. The feed amount of the inert gas is controlled by a mass flow controller (MFC). In a general atomic layer deposition process, the feed step and the purge step are performed for a very short time of about one second, whereas the control response time of the mass flow controller may be the same as or longer than the process time for the feed step and the purge step. If the reactant feed line and the reaction chamber are not sufficiently purged in the purge step, not only may a non-uniform layer be formed, but the layer may also be formed so as to contain a non-required element or impurity. Accordingly, in order to purge the reactant feed line and the reaction chamber, a large amount of purge gas should be fed. However, as described above, because the mass flow controller cannot adjust the flow within the short time range allowed, if the amount of reactant consumed is reduced, the purge gas cannot be sufficiently fed in the purge step.
As a result, the conventional atomic layer deposition method has a drawback in that there is a limitation in reducing the amount of the reactant consumed. If the amount of the reactant consumed is reduced, the purging may not be performed sufficiently or smoothly.


A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus includes a tape-loading device having supports (17, 18) which are longitudinally movable on guide members (19, 20) and are caused to perform oppositely directed synchronous movements by means of two traction-means drives (29 to 34) for the purpose of threading a magnetic tape (4). The two traction-means drives (29 to 34) are mechanically coupled by a third traction-means drive (35). Toothed belts (31, 34, 35) used as traction means are driven by a torque generated by an electric motor (36).

The invention relates to a tape-guide device for a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus having a drum-shaped scanning device comprising a rotary magnetic head, first and second elongate guide members, and a tape-loading device comprising two supports having tape-guide elements engageable behind a magnetic tape accommodated in a magnetic-tape cassette, said supports being longitudinally moveable on said guide members to extract the tape from the magnetic-tape cassette and wrap it at least partly around the drum-shaped scanning device.
Such a tape-guide device is known from DE 37 29 661 A1. Supports carrying tape-guide elements are guided by two guide members arranged to the left and the right of a scanning device, two flexible metal bands of rectangular cross-section being in sliding engagement at the inner and the outer radius of each guide member. Supports secured to ends of the metal bands can be moved along the guide path of the guide member by winding or unwinding the metal bands.
Moreover, EP 0.024,361 B1 discloses a tape-guide device comprising a wire-drive device for moving two tape-guide supports, which wire-drive device comprises a rotatable wire drum and two wires which each act on one of the two tape-guide supports substantially in the direction of movement of the support from a rest position to an operating position. The wires are guided by a plurality of wire drums and are passed through two trough-shaped guide members.
In addition, DE 30 25 465 C2 discloses a magnetic-tape extraction device for a cassette recorder, in which the guides comprise at least one guide slot having an arcuate shape and extending from one side of the drum-shaped scanning device to the opposite side of the drum-shaped scanning device via the cassette holder section. The tape draw-in device is connected to a strip-shaped guide member, the strip-shaped guide member having an elongate continuously arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the guide slot and engages the guide slot so as to be longitudinally movable therein. The strip-shaped guide member is deformable to adapt to the shape of the guide slot. The strip-shaped guide member is driven by a driving device.
The known devices have the drawback that the relevant loading mechanisms require the use of a large number of complicated parts, some of which can be manufactured only by intricate production methods.

A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus having improved tape-guide device


There is provided an air conditioning system and method for operating an air conditioner according to a user's physical response to external conditions. The air conditioning system includes: an indoor environment sensing unit/a personal characteristic value reception unit for measuring an indoor environment and the user's physical status so as to obtain information used to operate an air conditioner; a control unit including at least a microprocessor, for finding out personal characteristic values which are used to evaluate the user's physical status on the basis of information inputted from the personal characteristic value reception unit; and a driving unit controlled by the control unit, for promptly enhancing the user's physical status.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning system and method, and more particularly, to an air conditioning system and method operating suitably to a user's characteristics, which can make living environment suitable for user's status.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional air conditioning system and method, indoor temperature and humidity vaguely intended by a user are set as target values, and the air conditioning system forcedly operates to reach the set temperature and humidity.
In such a conventional air conditioning system, the set target values may not be suitable for the user's physical environment. Particularly, it is difficult for a nonprofessional user to know accurate temperature, humidity, wind amount and wind direction, which are suitable for the user oneself. Accordingly, in case the set target values are excessively high or low temperature and excessively high or low humidity, a problem of injuring the user's health may be often caused.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Air conditioning system and method operating suitably to user's characteristics


A gravitational separator for a drainage system includes a collection cavity within which drainwater is collected. The collection cavity includes an exit; and a baffle is strategically arranged within the collection cavity for isolating a boundary region of the cavity interior from the central region thereof and for directing the flow of drainwater which moves through the boundary region along a desired flow path. In addition, an outlet control structure is disposed over the mouth of the exit and includes a sidewall having an opening through which drainwater which enters the mouth of the exit must enter so that as the drainwater enters the sidewall opening and moves into the mouth of the exit opening, the direction of flow of the drainwater is altered through at least 90 degrees.

This invention relates generally to the separation of contaminants, such as course sediment and debris, from water which passes through piping and relates, more particularly, to catch basins or other gravitational separators into which water, such as drainwater, is routed for the purpose of separating course sediment, debris and other contaminants from the water.
It is known that course sediment, debris, and the residue from oil and gasoline spills at service stations, parking lots or similar sites commonly remains at or accumulates at a site until it is washed away with water by way of a rainfall or a hose-cleaning operation. Of course, as the sediment, debris or residue is washed to a drain, it is likely to be carried to and mixed with the water supply (e.g. lakes, etc.) from which drinkable water is taken. Similar problems and environmental concerns arise at alternative sites, such as in a leaching pool designed as a detention basin, for filtering, for example, wastewater, stormwater, free-phased organics, petroleum spills, nonpoint source discharge water, vehicle washdown wastewater, wastewater from secondary containment dikes, evacuation and construction sites, underground storage tank removals, emergency response conditions, remote wash down areas, and captured water at stream crossings for timber cutting sites.
The class of gravitational separators to which this invention is to be compared includes a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls and an elevated inlet opening which is connectable to an upstream pipe portion at an angle with respect to the sidewalls so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the elevated inlet opening imparts a swirling motion (e.g. a circular, rotational or vortex motion) to drainwater collected within the collection cavity. In addition, a baffle is supported within the collection cavity adjacent an elevated exit opening of the separator for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater present within the collection cavity yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the collection cavity reaches the level of the elevated exit opening.
An example of a gravitational separator of the aforedescribed class is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,473.
It would be desirable to provide a new and improved gravitational separator for separating course sediment, debris or other unwanted contaminants from drainwater which is washed into a drainage system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved gravitational separator of the aforescribed class into which drainwater is routed when conducted along a drainage system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a separator having an improved capacity for separating course sediment, debris or other unwanted contaminants from drainwater which enters the separator.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a separator whose construction effects an alteration in the flow pattern of drainwater moving through the interior of the separator and wherein the performance of the separator is enhanced by such an alternation in the drainwater flow pattern.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a separator which is easily serviceable and is particularly well-suited for use with a filtration system through which drainwater which enters a storm drain is directed for the purpose of filtering the drainwater.
A still further object of the present invention is to provides such a separator which is uncomplicated in construction and effective in operation.

Gravitational separator providing enhanced contaminant separation


The isolation and identification of two O-methyltransferases from the hops plant (Humulus lupulus L.), designated as OMT1 (SEQ ID NO. 1) and OMT2 (SEQ ID NO. 3) is described.

The hops plant (Humulus lupulus L.) is an important ingredient of beer, contributing both taste and nutraceutical properties. The latter are mainly due to the presence of prenylflavonoids such as xanthohumol.
Xanthohumol (1-[2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one) is a prenylflavonoid found only in the hops. Xanthohumol possesses a range of biological activities, which include antioxidation and cancer chemoprevention via phase 2 protein induction (Stevens and Page, 2004). Increasing the levels of xanthohumol may lead to hops varieties that have enhanced health-promoting properties. Knowledge of the genes encoding the enzymes of xanthohumol biosynthesis may allow production of xanthohumol in alternative host organisms, such as bacteria.
8-Prenylnaringenin (5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)chroman-4-one) is formed by the isomerization of desmethylxanthohumol (a precursor of xanthohumol, see below) to its corresponding flavanone. 8-Prenylnaringenin is the most potent phytoestrogen thus far identified. It therefore has potential as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for treatment of osteoporosis and other menopausal/post-menopausal conditions.
As seen in the reactions illustrated in FIG. 4, the first step in prenylflavonoid biosynthesis is the condensation of p-coumaroyl CoA with three molecules of malonyl CoA to give chalconaringenin (also called naringenin chalcone), a reaction catalyzed by chalcone synthase (CHS, E.C. 184.108.40.206). This step is not unique to prenylflavonoid biosynthesis and chalcone synthase is ubiquitous in plants.
A chalcone synthase gene, chs-H1, was cloned from hops and found to be part of a multigene family consisting of at least six members (Matousek et al., 2002). Prenylation of the A ring of chalconaringenin with dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) yields desmethylxanthohumol, which is subsequently methylated at the 6′-hydroxyl group to form xanthohumol. Although the order of these two reactions is not clear, the detection of desmethylxanthohumol in hops (Stevens et al., 1997) suggests that prenylation occurs before methylation (and FIG. 4 shows this order). Desmethylxanthohumol isomerizes to 6- and 8-prenylnaringenin during beer brewing.
The prenyltransferase catalyzing desmethylxanthohumol formation has not been cloned or characterized. The O-methylation step, whether it proceeds via desmethylxanthohumol or chalconaringenin, has also not been elucidated in hops. It seems likely that the hops desmethylxanthohumol O-methyltransferase or chalconaringenin O-methyltransferase have similar properties to other plant OMTs such as chalcone O-methyltransferase (ChOMT) from Medicago sativa L. in that they use S-adenosyl methionine (SAM or AdoMet) as a methyl donor (Maxwell et al. 1993; Zubieta et al. 2001).
Enhanced production of xanthohumol or other prenylflavonoids such as desmethylxanthohumol (as a precursor of 8-prenylnaringenin) could be accomplished though breeding and selection programs as well as genetic engineering with the use of known genes in the flavonoid pathway.
Chalcones readily isomerize to form their corresponding flavanones via the action of chalcone isomerase. For example, chalconaringenin, the tetrahydroxychalcone precursor of xanthohumol, isomerizes to form (2S)-naringenin. This isomerization also occurs non-enzymatically to yield (2R)- and (2S)-naringenin. Similarly desmethylxanthohumol is isomerized during the beer brewing process to form 6- and 8-prenylanringenin, and xanthohumol isomerizes to isoxanthohumol, albeit at a slower rate.
Methylation of the 6′ hydroxyl group of the chalcone A-ring by an O-methyltransferase enzyme slows down the rate of isomerization to the flavanone due to chelation of the remaining free hydroxyl group with the nearby keto functionality. This methylation step is therefore important for two reasons: (1) efficient methylation of either chalconaringenin or desmethylxanthohumol ensures the formation of xanthohumol rather than their corresponding flavanones, (2) prevention of this specific methylation would lead to the accumulation of desmethylxanthohumol at the expense of xanthohumol, which could therefore be converted to 6- and 8-prenylnaringenin. Hops plants containing high amounts of desmethylxanthohumol could be used as sources for the semi-synthesis of 6- and 8-prenylnaringenin, which may be valuable in the pharmaceutical industry.

DNA sequences involved in prenylflavonoid biosynthesis in hops and their use in modifying prenylflavonoid production in plants


A folding multipurpose hand tool including folding pliers or scissors and other tool blades and bits. A pair of handles each has a pivot axle at each end. A base of each pliers jaw or scissors blade is mounted on the pivot axle at one end of a handle, allowing the handles to fold around the jaws to blades to a compact folded configuration of the tool. Each handle has frame side members with attached flanges. Elongate springs lie between the handle frame side members and fit around the flanges, rather than being riveted to the handle frame side members. The springs press against the base of each pliers jaw or other tool blade, to keep each in a folded position or support it in a deployed position. One end of a spring may be hooked around a spring retainer at one end of the handle. The pivot axles interconnect the handle frame side members and the jaws, blades, or tool bits.

The present invention relates to folding multipurpose tools, and in particular to such a tool which may include a pair of pliers and several different tool bits and blades and that can be folded small enough to be carried comfortably in one's pocket.
Folding knives and the like including blades or tool bits available to be unfolded from both ends of a handle have typically included springs in the back of the handle to hold each blade in its folded position or in its deployed position by pressing on the base of the blade. Not only do such springs press against the base of a blade to hold it open or closed, but they also bear a considerable axially-directed load when a deployed blade or tool bit is used. For example, a knife acts as a lever tending to rotate about its pivot pin and a surface on the rear of the knife blade presses against an end of the spring.
Where a single spring is required to act upon tool members on both ends of a handle the spring has typically been held in place with respect to other parts of the handle by a rivet located centrally along the length of the handle.
The forces generated by use of a knife blade typically are fairly small, and small-diameter blade pivot pins and spring-holding fasteners are sufficient. Where pliers are supported by a pair of folding handles, however, the loads to be carried axially within a spring are potentially significantly greater. A rivet or other fastener holding or supporting a spring in a handle of such a tool would need to be larger, and a spring would need to have a correspondingly large area to receive such a fastener. For a tool including folding pliers and intended to be small enough to be carried in one's pocket, that type of construction would result in an undesirably large tool.
Folding multipurpose tools of many types have been available in recent years, but most such tools including pliers large enough to be fairly strong are rather bulky, heavy, and industrial in appearance. Manufacture of more compact tools, using a single spring for multiple blades, has required careful adjustment during assembly in order to have pliers jaws and other blades and tool bits fold and extend crisply and without undesirable amounts of free play or friction. Use of an individual spring for each blade or bit has resulted in loss of compactness, making a tool requiring a pair of handles undesirably bulky. Smaller tools including folding pliers have been comparatively weak and thus of limited utility.
In some previously available multipurpose tools including folding pliers, various tool blades are available only after having to separate a pair of handles to reach those tool blades.
What is desired, then, is a multipurpose folding tool having a pleasant appearance, which has adequate strength, which can be folded or opened easily yet which feels secure, which can be manufactured satisfactorily without extremely close tolerances, and yet which is light enough and compact enough when in a folded configuration to be carried comfortably in one's pocket.

Folding multipurpose pocket tool with floating springs


The instant invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a cholesterol absorption inhibitor and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, one or more anti-oxidants, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate and lactose. The composition need not contain ascorbic acid in order to obtain desirable stability.

The instant invention involves a pharmaceutical formulation for bulk composition and oral dosage units comprised of the combination of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, particularly simvastatin, with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, particularly ezetimibe, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters of these compounds, which is useful for lipid management and for preventing and treating atherosclerotic diseases and related conditions and disease events.
It has been clear for several decades that elevated blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), and many studies have shown that the risk of CHD events can be reduced by lipid-lowering therapy. Prior to 1987, the lipid-lowering armamentarium was limited essentially to a low saturated fat and cholesterol diet, the bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine and colestipol), nicotinic acid (niacin), the fibrates and probucol. Unfortunately, all of these treatments have limited efficacy or tolerability, or both. Substantial reductions in LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol accompanied by increases in HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol could be achieved by the combination of a lipid-lowering diet and a bile acid sequestrant, with or without the addition of nicotinic acid. However, this therapy is not easy to administer or tolerate and was therefore often unsuccessful except in specialist lipid clinics. The fibrates produce a moderate reduction in LDL cholesterol accompanied by increased HDL cholesterol and a substantial reduction in triglycerides, and because they are well tolerated these drugs have been more widely used. Probucol produces only a small reduction in LDL cholesterol and also reduces HDL cholesterol, which, because of the strong inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol level and CHD risk, is generally considered undesirable. With the introduction of lovastatin, the first inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase to become available for prescription in 1987, for the first time physicians were able to obtain large reductions in plasma cholesterol with very few adverse effects.
Recent studies have unequivocally demonstrated that lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin, all members of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class, slow the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary and carotid arteries. Simvastatin and pravastatin have also been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease events, and in the case of simvastatin a highly significant reduction in the risk of coronary death and total mortality has been shown by the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study. This study also provided some evidence for a reduction in cerebrovascular events.
Despite the substantial reduction in the risk of coronary morbidity and mortality achieved by simvastatin, the risk is still substantial in the treated patients. For example, in the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study, the 42% reduction in the risk of coronary death still left 5% of the treated patients to die of their disease over the course of this 5 year study. Further reduction of risk is clearly needed.
Certain hydroxy-substituted azetidinones such as ezetimibe (described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,767,115 and Re. 37721) are now known to be useful as hypocholesterolemic agents in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. Cholesteryl esters are a major component of atherosclerotic lesions and the major storage form of cholesterol in arterial wall cells. Formation of cholesteryl esters is also a key step in the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol. Thus, inhibition of cholesteryl ester formation and reduction of serum cholesterol is likely to inhibit the progression of atherosclerotic lesion formation, decrease the accumulation of cholesteryl esters in the arterial wall, and block the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol.
Further risk reduction can be achieved with a combination therapy comprised of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor such as simvastatin with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor such as ezetimibe to provide lipid management, and to treat or reduce the risk of atherosclerotic disease; the combined use of these two active agents is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,966. Since ezetimibe can be given orally once daily, like HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as simvastatin, it would be beneficial to combine the two active agents into a single orally administerable pharmaceutical dosage unit such as a tablet using a formulation that is stable and minimizes the degradation of the active agents.
The instant invention addresses this need by providing a novel formulation for bulk pharmaceutical composition and for oral pharmaceutical dosage units comprised of simvastatin and ezetimibe that can be produced in a robust process that provides a high quality finished product with minimal unwanted degradation by-products and desirable shelf-life stability.


A method for producing light-sensitive material by using a curtain layer of coating solution. The method includes the steps of: discharging coating solution, including the light-sensitive material, from a coater die; forming a curtain layer of coating solution by causing the coating solution to fall from a die lip of the coater die in which the coating solution has at least 3 layers and a relational structure of dynamic surface tensions of the layers, satisfying the equation: .DELTA.K=.sigma.intermediate.sub.min -.sigma.outer.sub.max .gtoreq.0mN/m! in which, .sigma.intermediated.sub.min mN/m! represents the minimum value of dynamic surface tension of an intermediate layer among the layers, .sigma.outers.sub.max mN/m! represents the maximum value of dynamic surface tension of an outer layer among the layers; and coating a continuous support with the coating solution.

The present invention relates to a light-sensitive material production method wherein a curtain coater is used to manufacture light-sensitive materials through stable curtain coating.
There has been known a method for manufacturing light-sensitive materials by the use of a curtain coater wherein a coating solution in a form of a uniform layer flowing down along a slide surface of a coater die is caused to fall from a tip of a die lip of the coater die to be formed into a thin curtain layer of coating solution which is, then, put continuously on a web of a long support to be coated thereon, while the support is running at a certain high speed. In a method for manufacturing light-sensitive materials by the use of the curtain coater mentioned above, it is very important that a curtain layer is formed in a stable manner. When the coating solution flowing down along the slide surface leaves the die lip to be formed into a curtain layer, the coating solution whose surface tension makes it to shrink is held by a bar (or a plate) located at the side and called an edge guide so that a width of the curtain layer may be secured. However, when the edge guide fails to resist a force of the coating solution to shrink, a broken curtain layer is caused, making it difficult to form a curtain layer in a stable manner. In a prior art, there happened frequently phenomena wherein a curtain layer has been broken without being formed, or, even if it is formed, a curtain layer on the side edge is broken simultaneously with the start of coating by a force with which a coating solution is pulled in the direction of conveyance of a support, due to a lack of a force of the edge guide to support the curtain layer. For eliminating these phenomena, there have been made various proposals.
Namely, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 99668/1989 (hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) discloses a means to strengthen and stabilize a curtain layer by causing side solutions to flow additionally on end portions at both sides for improving the foregoing by preventing the broken curtain layer. In this means, however, the side solution is accumulated on each end portion intensively, resulting in an excessively thick layer on each of both sides, although the curtain layer is not broken.
For the intent of inhibiting the increase in a layer thickness on each side, coating solutions on a thick layer portion on an end portion of a curtain layer at the edge guide section are removed through suction, as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 477/1986 and 233954/1994.
In Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 57734/1976, curtain layer is stabilized by the use of an edge guide of a flat plate type. However, even in this case, a curtain layer can not be stabilized, and some types of coating solutions make it impossible to form a curtain layer. A problem of the phenomenon that both edges of a curtain layer are caused to be thick can not be solved either.
As stated above, various types of coating apparatuses have been proposed so far for forming a curtain layer, but none of them is satisfactory.

Curtain coating with dynamic surface tension control of layers


A nephropathy-associated gene which encodes a transcription repressor; and a nonhuman transgenic animal suffering from nephropathy which is constructed by transferring the above gene and allows the observation of increases in urinary volume, urinary albumin and urinary NAG, pyelectasis, enlargement in kidney tubule and glomerular swelling at the early stage and the following sclerosis.

Nephropathy, for which no specific medicine is available, requires an artificial dialysis treatment in an advanced stage even though this treatment inflicts pain on patients. In particular, diabetic neuropathy has become a serious problem as the number of patients with diabetes has increased.
With regards to mechanisms of onset of diabetes, it is well known that severe insulin dysfunction induces a diabetic condition. Recently, one of the mechanisms for insulin dysfunction has been elucidated (Inada A. et al., Bunshi Tonyobyogaku [Molecular Diabetology] 10:73-81, 1999), and elucidation of the onset mechanism of and studies on the treatment of diabetes have been actively performed. However, for mechanisms of onset diabetic complications involving diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic mental disorder, there is no effective and established diagnostic or therapeutic management.
Meanwhile, to develop diagnostic or therapeutic management of diabetes or diabetic complications, vigorous effort has made to establish optimal animal models. (JP 04-248941 A). However, animal model so far exhibits only hyperglycemia with low insulin but not diabetic complications identical to that of human. It has been reported that only a double transgenic (Tg) mouse obtained by crossing two gene-modified Tg mice exhibits diabetic nephropathy (J. Clinical Investigation, Vol. 108, No. 2, p. 261, 2001). However, in this double Tg mouse model, to develop diabetes and to maintain hyperglycemia, it is required to cross a Tg mouse that specifically overexpress inducible Nitric Oxide (iNOS) in insulin-producing β cells (J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 273, pp.2493-2496, 1998) with a Tg mouse overexpressing receptor for advanced glycosylation endproduct (RAGE) in vascular cells. High proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis which are similar to human diabetic nephropathy appear only when both transgenes are simultaneously expressed. In addition, modified overexpressions of iNOS in pancreatic β cells and RAGE in vascular cells are unusual situation. Thus, this model is artificial and far from actual diabetic condition, and no single animal model develops renal changes identical to those seen in humans.
It has been known that ICER suppresses insulin (A. Inada et al JBC 1999 vol. 274 no. 30 p. 21095-21103; A. Inada et al BBRC 1998 vol. 253 no. 3 p. 712-718) gene transcription, and that ICER is increased in the diabetic condition (Inada A. et al BBRC 1998 vol. 253 no. 3 p. 712-718), but no association of ICER with diabetic nephropathy has been known.
Thus, the development of a medicine effective for the diagnosis or the treatment of nephropathy including diabetic nephropathy and the development of a useful experimental system as a pathogenic model of nephropathy or diabetic nephropathy have been highly required.
The present invention mainly intends to provide a method useful for the diagnosis and the treatment of nephropathy including diabetic nephropathy and a transgenic non-human mammalian animal useful as a pathogenic model of diabetic nephropathy.


The present disclosure relates to local wireless connectivity for a radio equipment of a base station in a cellular communications network. In one embodiment, the radio equipment includes a radio subsystem that transmits and receives radio signals for the cellular communications network, a local wireless interface, and a controller associated with the local wireless interface that is configured to provide access to a maintenance subsystem of the radio equipment via the local wireless interface. Remote access to the maintenance subsystem of the radio equipment via the local wireless interface allows maintenance operations to be performed without the need to physically connect to the radio equipment via a wired connection, which is difficult in many installations.

Cellular communications networks include tens to hundreds of base stations installed at various locations. Two conventional installations are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional tower-top mounted installation 10 of a base station. As illustrated, the base station includes a Remote Radio Equipment (RRE) 12 connected to a Radio Equipment Controller (REC) 14. The RRE 12 is mounted at a top of a tower 16 and located between 0 to 20 kilometers (km) from the REC 14. The RRE 12 transmits downlink radio signals and receives uplink radio signals from wireless devices, such as a wireless device (WD) 18, located within a coverage area of the RRE 12. The coverage area of the RRE 12 may be a cell served by the base station or a sector of a cell served by the base station. In this example, the base station is a macro or high power base station where the coverage area of the RRE 12 extends from 0 to 10 km from the tower 16. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional roof-top mounted installation 20 of the base station. In this example, the base station includes two RREs 12 connected to the REC 14. However, in the roof-top mounted installation 20, the RREs 12 are mounted at the top of a building 22, and the REC 14 is located in the basement or cellar of the building 22.
One issue with conventional base station installations such as those of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the RRE(s) 12 is(are) difficult to reach when maintenance is needed. More specifically, in tower-top mounted installations, the RRE(s) 12 is(are) located at the top of the tower 16 at a height that is typically in the range of 20 to 100 meters (m). As such, when maintenance or field support personnel need to connect to the RRE(s) 12 to perform maintenance operations, the personnel may need to arrange access to the property on which the tower 16 is located and must then climb the tower 16. This is of course time consuming and expensive and creates a significant amount of risk of physical injury to the personnel and potential liability of the cellular communications network operator. Similarly, in roof-top mounted installations, the RRE(s) 12 is(are) located at the top of the building 22. As such, when maintenance or field personnel need to connect to the RRE(s) 12 to perform maintenance operations, the personnel must typically arrange access to the roof-top of the building 22 and potentially climb a mast mounted to the roof-top of the building 22. Again, this is of course time consuming and expensive and creates a significant amount of risk of physical injury to the personnel and potential liability of the cellular communications network operator. As such, there is a need for systems and methods that provide easy and efficient access to RREs for maintenance and field support personnel.
Another issue that arises with respect to installation of base stations relates to subsequent location and identification of RREs. More specifically, mobile data traffic is exploding at a 60% rate of increase every year. In order to meet this demand, small, or low power, base stations (e.g., micro and pico base stations) can be used, particularly in areas with very dense usage. It is desirable to scatter large numbers of small base stations in order to provide high data rates to a large number of users. As an example, FIG. 3 illustrates a number of small base stations, where each small base station includes three RREs (sRREs) 24 each serving a different sector 26 of a cell 28 served by the small base station. When these small base stations are scattered and used in large numbers, it is difficult to manage the locations and identities of the sRREs 24 of the small base stations. For instance, in an extreme case, the sRREs 24 for the small base stations are deployed in a temporary ad-hoc network to provide increased capacity for, as an example, a sporting event or a conference. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in a typical installation, each sRRE 24 includes a remote radio unit 30 and an antenna 32 mounted on a pole 34, or mast.
During network planning and inventory, it is necessary to associate particular sRREs 24 with corresponding planned physical locations for the sRREs 24. However, when installing the sRREs 24, particularly for a temporary ad-hoc network, the physical locations at which the sRREs 24 are actually installed, or deployed, may not match the planned physical locations for the sRREs 24. Similarly, the actual sRRE 24 deployed at a physical location may not match the sRRE 24 planned for that physical location. This may occur due to, for example, human error and/or on-site adjustments made by field support personnel. Thereafter, when problems arise, the maintenance or field support personnel may not be able to locate and identify a particular sRRE 24 to perform corrective action in a timely manner. Further, even when the physical location of an sRRE 24 is found, multiple sRREs 24 are oftentimes installed at the same physical location in order to cover different sectors of the same cell 28, in which case the maintenance or field support personnel cannot easily identify the particular sRRE 24 of interest. As such, there is also a need for systems and methods that enable easy and accurate location and identification of deployed sRREs.

Local wireless connectivity for radio equipment of a base station in a cellular communications network


A system may include an external device and an inhaler. The external device may include a processor, a communication circuit, and memory. The inhaler may include a mouthpiece, medicament, a mechanical dose counter, and an electronics module comprising a processor and a communication circuit. The electronics module may record a dosing event when the inhaler is actuated, such as when the mouthpiece cover is opened, and send a signal indicating the dosing event to the external device. The external device may receive a mechanical dose reading of the mechanical dose counter, determine an electronic dose reading based on the signal indicating the dosing event, determine that a discrepancy between the mechanical dose reading and the electronic dose reading exceeds a threshold, and notify the user of the discrepancy, for example, by providing a notification to the user by way of a mobile application residing on the external device.

Drug delivery devices facilitate the delivery of medication into a patient's body via various routes of administration. Typical routes of administration include oral, topical, sublingual inhalation, injection, and the like. The devices may be used to deliver medications for the treatment various diseases, ailments, and medical conditions. Inhalation devices, for example, may be used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). While drug delivery devices are designed to deliver an appropriate dose of medication to a patient as part of a therapeutic treatment, the effectiveness of a particular treatment may be influenced by non-physiological factors, such as the patient's adherence and compliance.
In the context of a drug therapy, adherence may refer to the degree to which a patient is following a prescribed dosing regimen. For example, if the patient's prescription calls for two doses each day, and the patient is taking two doses per day, the patient may be considered 100% adherent. If the patient is only taking one dose per day, he or she may be deemed only 50% adherent. In the latter case, the patient may not be receiving the treatment prescribed by his or her doctor, which may negatively affect the efficacy of the therapeutic treatment.
Compliance may refer to a patient's technique when using a particular drug delivery device. If the patient is using the device in a manner that is recommended by a doctor or by a manufacturer, the device is likely to deliver the desired dose of medication and the patient may be deemed compliant. However, if the device is not being used properly during drug administration, the device's ability to deliver a proper dose of medication may be compromised. As such, the patient may be deemed non-compliant. In the case of an inhalation device, for example, the patient may need to achieve a minimum inspiratory effort to ensure a full dose of medication is delivered from the device into the patient's lungs. For some patients, such as children and the elderly, meeting the requirements for full compliance may be difficult due to physical limitations, such as limited lung function. Accordingly, like adherence, failing to achieve full compliance may reduce the effectiveness of a prescribed treatment.
A patient's ability to achieve full compliance may be further complicated by certain physical properties of the medication. For example, some respiratory medications may consist of fine particles and/or may lack any odor or taste. Thus, a patient using an inhalation device may not be able to correct a non-compliant use because he or she may not be able to immediately detect or sense that medication is being inhaled and/or know whether the amount of inhaled medication complies with the prescription.


The current subject matter is related to optimizing resource (e.g., steam) allocation within steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system, and predicting future oil production from production wells of the SAGD system. In some embodiments data characterizing a hypothetical rate of steam injection into injection wells of the SAGD system can be applied within a capacitance resistance model (CRM) to determine an estimated rate of future fluid production, the fluid being a mixture of oil and water. An emulsion viscosity, as well as the estimate rate of future fluid production, can be applied within a Koval fractional flow model to determine an estimate rate of future oil production. In some cases, the hypothetical rate of steam injection can be optimized based on an optimization objective, e.g., a steam-to-oil ratio (SOR).

Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an enhanced oil recovery technique that can be used in the production of heavy crude oil or bitumen from oil sands. The technique may involve drilling a pair of horizontal wells into an oil sand reservoir. The well pair can include an injection well, and a production well below the injection well. Steam can be injected into the injection well, and the steam can permeate a portion of the reservoir to form a steam chamber. Heat from the steam can reduce the viscosity of the heavy crude oil and/or bitumen, which allows it to flow into the production well. The production well can collect a mixture of the heated heavy crude oil and/or bitumen, as well as formation water and water condensed from the steam. The mixture can be pumped to the surface, where the heavy crude oil and/or bitumen are separated from the mixture.

Rapid steam allocation management and optimization for oil sands


An apparatus for selectively activating a food waste disposer for a sink may include a housing and an activation member. The housing may include a switch and a first magnet. The first magnet may be movable relative to the housing and the switch between first and second positions. Movement of the first magnet from the second position to the first position may cause corresponding movement of the switch from an off-position in which electrical current is prevented from reaching a motor of the disposer to an on-position allowing electrical current to the motor. The activation member may include a second magnet and is receivable in a tubular member through which waste drains and positionable relative to the tubular member to place the second magnet in proximity to the first magnet to generate a repulsive magnetic force that moves the first magnet between the first and second positions.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
A food waste disposer may be mounted underneath a sink to receive liquid and food waste that passes through a drain of the sink. The food waste disposer may grind the food waste into particles that are small enough to be passed through a plumbing system connected to the drain without clogging or otherwise damaging the plumbing system.
A typical food waste disposer may include a food conveying section, a motor section and a central grinding section disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys the food waste to the central grinding section. The grinding section typically has a shredder plate that is rotated relative to a stationary grind ring by an electric motor of the motor section. The motor has a rotor having a rotatable shaft coupled to the shredder plate. The electric motor can be an induction motor or any other suitable type of motor, such as a brushless motor, universal motor, or switched reluctance motor, for example.
A batch-feed food waste disposer, as opposed to a continuous-feed food waste disposer, operates by grinding a discrete quantity of food waste before more food waste can be inserted into the food waste disposer. That is, a user may fill the disposer with a quantity or batch of food waste, then at least partially block the drain opening with an activation member or stopper before a motor of the disposer can be operated to grind the food waste in the manner described above. Removing the activation member from the drain opening will deactivate the motor and will allow the user to insert a subsequent batch of food waste into the disposer and repeat the above process. Examples of switch assemblies for a batch-feed food waste disposer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,626 for "Switching Mechanism for a Batch Feed Waste Disposer" issued Mar. 10, 2009 and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,981 for "Switching Assembly for a Batch Feed Waste Disposer" issued Jul. 20, 2010. The entire disclosures of these two patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Magnetically activated switch assembly for food waste disposer


A method, system, and computer program product for repetitively executing rules-based configurable business application operations. The method commences by initiating a recording session to record user steps taken within an interactive session, then during the interactive session, retrieving a post from a social media site using and access interface of the social media site. The recording session is saved in a persistent storage for subsequent initiation of a batch processor to replay at least a portion of the saved recording session. The method further comprises selecting one or more rules based on the sentiment of the post, and taking one or more actions in response to the rule. Operations for interactive processing or for batch processing include extracting an author of the post, extracting a sentiment of the post, extracting a category of the post, and performing further actions based on aspects of the post.

Many enterprises hold forth a significant presence on the web. Regardless of whether the enterprise is constituted more of bricks than clicks (or more clicks than bricks) certain functions within such enterprises often find it necessary to repeatedly perform certain online operations that are normally performed by an employee or agent using an interactive interface to access online web destinations (e.g., social media sites). Generally, no capability is provided for a user to repeatedly perform such online operations under computer-aided control. As an example, enterprises are subject to various forms of online consumer critique (e.g., via one or more social media sites). An enterprise might be the subject of criticism (whether deserved or undeserved) or praise. In the age of the Internet, an Internet posting (e.g., a post to a social media site) might "go viral" in a very short timeframe. In some cases the enterprise may regard praise as a form of modern-day word-of-mouth advertising, which is often a boon to the enterprise, and steps to proliferate the praise might be taken. Contrary-wise, criticism is generally unwanted, and can be very damaging to the enterprise, even to the point of tarnishing a brand or even to the point of preventing the enterprise from achieving corporate goals. Accordingly, some enterprises have established "watch centers" staffed with persons whose responsibility it is to monitor social media postings and to take notice of posts (whether praise or criticism), and further to take action to stop or foster proliferation, based on the sentiment of the post(s).
Such a "watch center" can be expensive to operate for the enterprise, and the repetitive operations attendant to monitoring the social media sites can become dreary for the staff of the watch center. Legacy systems have attempted to ameliorate the dreary and repetitive nature of performing repetitive operations by using macros, yet the mere playback of macros fails to address (1) the complexities attendant to effective monitoring of the social media sites, and (2) the sheer volume of posts to be processed when monitoring the social media sites.
What's needed are robust, techniques for creating and editing rules-based macros and what is needed are robust implementations of backend processes so as to accommodate rules-aware batch processes.

System for repetitively executing rules-based configurable business application operations


A credit status checking system for examining credit status of a customer immediately and easily, by utilizing a stored customer telephone number through a computer system performing the examining procedure automatically is disclosed. A telephone number examining apparatus connected with ISDN as a subscriber terminal processes circuit-switched call control procedures defined in the ITU-T recommendation Q.931 as a calling terminal. A database manager searches a customer file corresponding to a customer ID input by a customer through an automated transaction machine, retrieves a telephone number contained in the customer file, and transmits the number to the telephone number examining apparatus. The telephone number examining apparatus sends a SETUP message including an unrestricted or a restricted digital information in a bearer capability information element to the network where the telephone number received from the database manager defined as a called party number. When the network does not receive the SETUP message sent and transfers a DISCONNECT message, the examining apparatus performs a clear sequence immediately and obtains a cause in an information element of the DISCONNECT message from the network. When the cause indicates one of the predetermined set of causes, e.g., "Unallocated (Unassigned) number", the examining apparatus determines the number null, and notifies of the credit information manager that the telephone number is null.

It is important for financial institutions such as consumer financial business to check credit status of a customer seeking financing so as to minimize probability of a bad debt. Therefore, when the institutions hold a loan contract with a customer, they will verify fundamental personal information of the customer, including an address, a full name, a telephone number, a birth date, and a gender, furthermore, employment situation and an income of the customer. These verified personal information upon making a loan contract are usually registered to a customer database of the institution to be referred to upon request by a clerk.
This kind of personal information must be maintained properly. In other words, such changes in the information as the address or the telephone number should be immediately reflected to the customer database. Otherwise, inconvenience will be brought about in credit status checking of a customer, which may result in bad loan.
Various measures have been taken by various financial institutions including banks and consumer loan financiers to update the customer database properly by tracing the credit information of the customers. It is obvious that continuous examination on customers' credit information with sufficient time and labor will efficiently prevent bad loan. Such thorough trace of customers' credit information is not practical generally considering the cost required for the examination.

Credit status checking system for transaction processing system and checking method therefor


An apparatus for removing particulates from a wastewater stream includes a chamber having a wastewater inlet and wastewater outlet which promotes a generally horizontal wastewater flow. A grating is provided in the chamber between the wastewater inlet and the wastewater outlet having a screen size for preventing the passage of particulates having greater than the select effective diameter from the wastewater inlet into the wastewater outlet. The grating is vertically inclined relative to the direction of the wastewater flow. A baffle within the chamber is configured to cooperate with the grating to generate a vortex in the wastewater having a velocity component parallel to the face of the grating which urges particles trapped by the grating along the grating toward a surface of the wastewater to suspend particles in the wastewater as the wastewater flows between the wastewater inlet and the wastewater outlet.

In many parts of the United States, wastewater run-off from storm events is allowed to flow into natural waterways. However, particularly in urban areas, this wastewater is likely to entrain relatively innocuous particulate materials, such as sand, gravel and potentially more objectionable particulates such as hypodermic needles and all manner of garbage. This can result in the discharge of highly undesirable debris into natural waterways.
The problem described above is exasperated in those areas having combined wastewater and sewage conveying systems. As used herein "wastewater" shall mean either storm run-off or combined sewage and storm run-off. Combined conveying systems are particularly common in the eastern half of the United States. During times of moderate precipitation, the combined storm wastewater and sewage can be treated at existing sewage treatment plants. However, when exceptional storm events occur, sewage treatment plants can become overwhelmed and it is necessary to release combined and untreated wastewater and sewage to natural waterways.
Many parts of the country have laws requiring removal of particulates greater than a select size from wastewater or combined wastewater/sewage flows before they can be discharged into a natural waterway. For example, New Jersey has mandated removal of particulates greater than 0.5 inch in size.
One known technology for particulate removal is offered by Fresh Creek Technologies. This technology uses a mesh bag that floats at the end of a pipe or in-line with a stream of wastewater. The bag collects solids and floatable materials of a size to great to flow through the mesh. Once the bag is full, a maintenance truck removes the bag to a landfill.
This mesh bag technology has several serious deficiencies. First, debris collected in the bag can create significant headloss by limiting the cross-sectional flow area and creating additional force upon the bag. If sufficient force is developed, this can damage the bag or otherwise result in a release of unacceptable solid and floatable materials to the natural waterway. Second, the nets are also unsightly and can lead to odor problems. Third, rodent activity, prevalent in sewer and conveying systems, can create tears in the bags that would result in a release of unacceptable solid and floatable materials to the natural waterway. The disposable bag also exacerbates waste disposal issues.
It is well known in the art that sieves or screens can be used to remove particulates from a liquid flow. However, known screening systems have a problem with debris buildup that can obstruct the flow of wastewater through the screening system during a storm event. This can lead to serious problems, including sewage backups in the conveying system that can result in the undesired discharge of unscreened wastewater through upstream catch basins and manholes to the natural waterway.
Eimer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,113, teaches a sieve arrangement for recovering cleaning particles from a cooling water stream downstream of a heat exchanger. The sieve arrangement taught by Eimer includes a screen or sieve across a flow of discharged water which is inclined relative to the discharged water flow. The screen is sized to collect cleaning particles on a leading surface. Eimer teaches providing a baffle in the water flow which creates a vortex impinging downward in a vertical direction on the cleaning particles to direct the cleaning particles downward into a recovery conduit. While suitable for the removal of these cleaning particles for reuse, such a system is not effective for wastewater solids removal because of the difficulty in continuously extracting solids of non-uniform size and shape likely to be encountered in wastewater runoff.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.

Apparatus and method for the removal of solids and floatables from a wastewater stream


A spread illuminating apparatus includes a plurality of point light sources; a printed circuit board on which the plurality of point light sources is each mounted; and a light guide plate with a light input surface facing the point light source and a light output portion that exits plane light emitted from the point light source and introduced through the light input surface, wherein the light guide plate includes an inclination portion between the light input surface and the light output portion, the inclination portion having a thickness gradually decreasing toward the light output portion side, an inclined surface of the inclination portion includes a pedestal for disposing the printed circuit board in an area except the front of the point light source, and a light-blocking member is disposed between the neighboring pedestals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a side-light type spread illuminating apparatus having a light guide plate provided with a light output portion and a light input end face. A tight source is disposed on the light input end face so as to emit planar illumination light from the light output portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
For illumination units of a liquid crystal display panel, side-light type spread illuminating apparatuses (backlight) have been popularly used. In the apparatuses, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), being small but securing excellent environmental feasibilities, are arranged along the side end face of a light guide plate. These apparatuses have been widely employed in the field of miniaturized portable information apparatuses such as a mobile phone, etc.
In recent, for coping with need that makes the miniaturized portable information apparatuses to be further thinned, a light guide plate is configured to have an inclination portion between the light input surface and the light output portion. With formation of the inclination, the thickness of the light guide plate gradually decreases as moving away from the side end face (hereinafter, referred to as a light input surface) on which LEDs are arranged. For applying such a light guide plate, it is possible to thin the light output portion of the light guide plate regardless of the thickness of the LEDs.
In this type of the spread illuminating apparatus, the LEDs are typically arranged to face the light input surface of the light guide plate while being mounted on a rectangle circuit board. In this case, a front portion of the circuit board is abutted and fixed to the vicinity of the light input surface of the light guide plate (including an inclined surface of the inclination portion) so that the LED is positioned at the light guide plate.
In related arts, in such a type of the spread illuminating apparatus, when light is emitted from the LEDs and introduced into the light guide plate, some light is absorbed in the circuit board fixed to the inclined surface when reflected on the inclined surface. Further, as explained, since the circuit board is fixed to the inclined surface of the light guide plate, it becomes difficult for the light-emitting surface of the LED to face the light input surface of the light guide plate in parallel. A part of light that has been emitted from the light-emitting surface of the LED thus may externally leak without being introduced into the light input surface of the light guide plate. As a result, luminance of the illumination light may be degraded.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems and improve luminance of the illumination light, the applicant has proposed a spread illuminating apparatus described hereinbelow (see JP 2011-96523 A). FIG. 6 is an exploded plan view illustrating one example of the main parts of a spread illuminating apparatus 100. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A when the spread illuminating apparatus 100 is assembled. FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as a FPC) 131 in the spread illuminating apparatus 100 when viewed from the mount surface 131a side on which an LED 111, etc. are mounted.
In the spread illuminating apparatus 100, the light guide plate 121 includes: a light input portion 126 formed facing the light input surface 122; an inclination portion 127 formed continuously with the light input portion 126, the inclination portion 127 being configured that its thickness gradually decreases toward a front direction (meaning moving away from the light input surface 122); and a light output portion 128 formed in front of the inclination portion 127 and emits light, guided from the LED 111 toward the inclination portion 127, from the light output surface 125. In addition, the inclination portion 127 formed near the light input surface 122 of the light guide plate 121 includes a plurality of pedestals 129 in some areas except the front of the LED 111. The top surface 129a of each pedestal 129 is approximately perpendicular to the light input surface 122 of the light guide plate 121. The FPC 131 is fixed to the light guide plate 121 by bonding a part of the mount surface 131a to the top surface 129a of the pedestal 129 using a double-sided tape 140.
Furthermore, in the spread illuminating apparatus 100, the light guide plate 121 has a plurality of claw portions 130 that are separated from each other and protrude from the light input surface 122 to a rear direction (meaning opposite to the front direction). The top surface 130a of the claw portion 130 is approximately flush with the top surface 126a of the light input portion 126 and the top surface 129a of the pedestal 129. A part of the mount surface 131a of the FPC 131 is also bonded to the top surface 130a of the claw portion 130 using the double-sided tape 140.
In this configuration of the spread illuminating apparatus 100, while the FPC 131 is fixed to the light guide plate 121, the light-emitting surface 112 of the LED 111 faces the light input surface 122 of the light guide plate 121 approximately in parallel to each other. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently introduce light emitted from the light-emitting surface 112 of the LED 111 to the inside of the light guide plate 121 with no leakage light. In this manner, the spread illuminating apparatus 100 could achieve high luminance of the illumination light while solving the aforementioned problems.
Furthermore, in the spread illuminating apparatus 100, since the FPC 131 is fixed to the light guide plate 121, a gap would be present between the inclined surface 127a in front of the LED 111 and the mount surface 131a of the FPC 131. Therefore, light introduced into the light guide plate 121 and reflected on the inclined surface 127a can be suppressed from being absorbed into the FPC 131, being possible to achieve high luminance of the illumination light.

Light spreading illumination apparatus having a light guide with inclined portion having at least one pedestal and a light blocking member disposed thereon


A field effect transistor includes a nitride semiconductor layer; an InxAlyGa1-x-yN layer (wherein 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0<x+y<1) formed on the nitride semiconductor layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on and in contact with the InxAlyGa1-x-yN layer. The lower ends of the conduction bands of the nitride semiconductor layer and the InxAlyGa1-x-yN layer are substantially continuous on the interface therebetween.

The present invention relates to a field effect transistor usable as a high-frequency high-output-power transistor and a method for fabricating the same.
A group III-V nitride compound semiconductor typified by GaN (represented by a general formula, InxAlyGa1-x-yN (wherein 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1) hereinafter referred to as InAlGaN) is regarded as a promising material for a high-frequency high-output-power electronic device because it has a wide band gap (of, for example, 3.4 eV at room temperature in GaN), a very large breakdown electric field and very high saturated electronic velocity. In particular, in a hetero junction structure obtained by stacking an AlGaN film on a GaN film (hereinafter referred to as an AlGaN/GaN hetero structure), electrons are stored in a high concentration in the vicinity of the hetero junction interface within the GaN film owing to a strong polarization electric field formed on the (0001) plane, so as to generate what is called a two-dimensional electron gas. Since the two-dimensional electron gas is three-dimensionally separated from a donor impurity included in the AlGaN film and hence has high electron mobility. Furthermore, a GaN-based material is high at what is called saturated drift velocity, and has electronic velocity twice or more as high as that of a GaAs-based material currently widely used as a material for a high-frequency transistor in a high electric field region of, for example, approximately 1×105 V/cm. Also, the GaN-based material has a large band gap and a large breakdown electric field. Therefore, it is expected to be applied to a high-frequency high-output-power device.
In a field effect transistor having the AlGaN/GaN hetero structure (hereinafter referred to as the HFET (heterojunction field effect transistor)), however, high-frequency characteristics expected based on the material properties have not been attained yet. One of the reasons is large parasitic resistance derived from ohmic resistance, which will now be specifically described. The characteristic parameters of the HFET are cut-off frequency fT and mutual conductance gm, and there is a relationship represented by the following formula 1 between these parameters:fT=gm/(2πLg)  Formula 1:wherein Lg is a gate length. As is obvious from Formula 1, it is significant to increase the mutual conductance gm for improving the cut-off frequency fT. In consideration of parasitic resistance, the mutual conductance gm is represented by the following formula 2:gm=gmint/(1+Rs·gmint)  Formula 2:wherein gmint is intrinsic mutual conductance determined depending upon the material and the structure and Rs is parasitic resistance from an ohmic electrode to a channel and is designated as source resistance. As is understood from Formula 2, the mutual conductance gm increases as the source resistance Rs reduces, and as a result, the cut-off frequency fT also increases. Accordingly, in order to improve the high-frequency characteristics of the HFET, it is necessary to reduce the parasitic resistance.
In an AlGaN/GaN-based HFET, an ohmic electrode is formed on AlGaN with a larger band gap, and hence it is difficult to reduce contact resistance. Therefore, a cap layer made of a material with a smaller band gap is conventionally sandwiched between the electrode and the AlGaN so as to reduce the contact resistance. Such a cap layer is conventionally made of GaN (see Non-patent Document 1). In this conventional method, however, a potential barrier is caused between the GaN and the AlGaN because there is a difference in the polarization between the GaN and the AlGaN. As a result, parasitic resistance is increased on the GaN/AlGaN interface, so as to disadvantageously degrade the high-frequency characteristics.
In order to overcome this disadvantage, Patent Document 1 proposes a cap layer made of InAlGaN having a composition matching in lattice with GaN and having larger polarization than AlGaN.
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional field effect transistor disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 9A, an undoped GaN buffer layer 102 is formed on a sapphire substrate 101 by epitaxial growth. A two-dimensional electron gas 107 is generated in an upper portion of the undoped GaN buffer layer 102, so that the upper portion of the undoped GaN buffer layer 102 can function as a channel layer of the field effect transistor. An n-type AlGaN electron supply layer 103 and an n-type InAlGaN cap layer 104 are successively formed on the undoped GaN buffer layer 102 by the epitaxial growth. A recess reaching the n-type AlGaN electron supply layer 103 is formed in a given portion of the n-type InAlGaN cap layer 104, and a Schottky electrode 106 made of Pd—Si (namely, an alloy of Pd and Si) working as a gate electrode is formed in the recess. Also, ohmic electrodes 105 made of Ti/Al (namely, having a multilayered structure including a Ti layer and an Al layer) working as a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the n-type InAlGaN cap layer 104 on the respective sides of the Schottky electrode 106.
FIG. 9B shows change of Al and In composition along line Y-Y′ of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9C shows change of electron potential energy along line Y-Y′ of FIG. 9A.
Non-patent Document 1: T. Egawa, et al., Recessed gate AlGaN/GaN modulation-doped field-effect transistors on sapphire, Applied Physics Letters Vol. 76, pp. 121-123, U.S.A., American Institute of physics, Jan. 3, 2000
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-289837

Field effect transistor having nitride semiconductor layer


Protein kinase, such as CHK-1, inhibiting tricyclic compounds of the following formula (wherein R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification)

A eukaryotic cell cycle has a carefully regulated progression of phases: initial gap (G1), DNA synthesis (S), secondary gap (G2), and mitosis (M). G1, S and G2 are known as interphase. In G1, the cell, whose biosynthetic pathways were slowed during mitosis, resumes a high rate of RNA and protein biosynthesis. The S phase begins when DNA synthesis starts and ends when the DNA content of the nucleus has been replicated. The cell then enters G2 where again RNA and protein biosynthesis occur. Following G2, the cell enters M phase that begins with nuclear division and ends with the complete division of the cytoplasm into two daughter cells. This marks the beginning of interphase for the new cells. Non-dividing cells exist at G0, a time following mitosis and before DNA synthesis.
Checkpoint enzymes, such as the serine/threonine protein kinase called checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK-1 or p56CHK-1), are responsible for maintaining the order and fidelity of events in the cell cycle. CHK-1 transduces signals from the DNA damage sensory complex to inhibit activation of Cdc2-cyclin B complex which promotes mitotic entry (Science, 277, 1501–1505 (1997); Science, 277, 1497–1501 (1997)). In eukaryotes, Cdc2 is known as Cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1). CHK-1 regulates Cdc25, a dual specificity phosphatase that activates Cdc2. Thus, CHK-1 serves as the direct link between the G2 checkpoint and the negative regulation of Cdc2.
Healthy cells have both the G1 and G2 checkpoints and their associated repair processes to ensure viability after treatment of DNA damage (chemotherapy and/or radiation). Cancer cells, however, rely exclusively on the G2 checkpoint and its associated repair processes in order to remain viable and to continue replication. Abrogation of the G2 checkpoint would leave cancer cells with no means to delay progression into mitosis following DNA damage. Inactivation of CHK-1 has been shown to abrogate G2 arrest induced by DNA damage inflicted by either anticancer agents or endogenous DNA damage. In addition, inactivation of CHK-1 results in preferential killing of the resulting DNA damaged, checkpoint defective cells (Cell, 91, 865–867 (1997); Science, 277, 1450–1451 (1997); Nature, 363, 368–371 (1993); Molec. Biol. Cell, 5, 147–160 (1994)). Therefore there is a need for small molecule inhibitors of CHK-1 to preferentially abrogate the G2 checkpoint over G1 and to effectively remove the only checkpoint control found in many types of cancers. When administered during the course of a DNA damaging event, such as chemotherapy employing anti-neoplastic agents, radiation therapy, immunotherapies and antiangiogenic therapies, a CHK-1 inhibitor can sensitize cancer cells thereby triggering damage-mediated apoptosis. Therefore there is a need for a combination therapy involving CHK-1 inhibitor in the course of a DNA damaging event.
Since protein kinases are ubiquitous and interrelated, selective modulation of a single kinase, such as CHK-1, or family of kinases may not result in an effective therapeutic treatment. There is therefore a need for small molecule inhibitors to influence one or more targeted protein kinases whose inhibition, taken as a whole, would produce the desired therapeutic treatment. Although kinase selectivity and its relation to generalized toxicity are important, therapeutic efficacy may rely on the inhibition of more than one protein kinase. Chemical core structures that can be suitably appended to interact selectively and potently with targeted protein kinases represent a valuable tool for drug discovery and scientific research. Therefore there is a need for such a core structure as an inhibitor of one or more protein kinases. Whether administered as a single agent or as co-therapy, the protein kinase inhibitors, such as CHK-1 inihibitors, of the present invention could prove beneficial in the treatment of a number of human diseases, such as cancer.
Certain CHK-1 inhibitors have been proposed for cancer therapy (see Sanchez, Y. et. al. (1997) Science 277: 1497–1501 and Flaggs, G. et. al. (1997) Current Biology 7:977–986; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,413,755, 6,383,744, and 6,211,164; and International Publication Nos. WO 01/16306, WO 01/21771, WO 00/16781, and WO 02/070494).

Tricyclic compounds protein kinase inhibitors for enhancing the efficacy of anti-neoplastic agents and radiation therapy

Abstract: pharmaceutical compositions containing effective amounts of said compounds or their salts are useful as a single agent or in combination with an anti-neoplastic agent or therapeutic radiation having an anti-neoplastic effect for treating diseases or conditions such as cancers.


An electric vehicle charging cable system is provided. The system includes a charging cable assembly having an electric cable and a connector device coupled thereto. The connector device includes a connector housing and a first electric contact arrangement therein. A cable storage device stores the electric cable, and a retainer device includes a retainer housing having a first receiving opening for receiving the connector device and a socket portion arranged adjacent to the first receiving opening for receiving a DC-charging plug of a charging plug. The first receiving opening defines a cross-section corresponding to an outer contact surface of the connector housing. The connector device is positionable in a stowage position in which the connector housing is received within the first receiving opening, and in a detached position to clear the first receiving opening. The socket portion defines a second receiving opening which accommodates a second electric contact arrangement.

Generally, electric vehicles include an electric motor powered by a rechargeable electrical energy storage device such as a chargeable battery. Typically charging cables are used for charging the battery of the vehicle and a connector is provided at an end of the charging cable and is connected to an external, off-board electrical power source.
The charging cable may, for example, be stored within the cabin of the vehicle, for example in the trunk. To orderly store the cable within the cabin of the vehicle, the related art discloses a carry bag for the charging cable that is removably attached to a mounting bracket provided within the cabin. Another developed technique describes a cable reel assembly for storing a charging cable provided at an off-board charging station or an automatic cable rewinder for a vacuum cleaner.

Charging cable system for an electric vehicle, electric vehicle, and methods for charging an electric vehicle


The present invention provides computerized systems and methods for providing electronically presented interactive area representation, such as a map, and information associated therewith. A user can select text, imagery, or other information presented on the map and associated with one or more items or locations, causing presentation of information relating to the associated one or more items or locations, such as appropriate contact information or a hyperlink to an appropriate Web site. Additionally or alternatively, a user can input or select, based on a query or otherwise, information relating to one or more items or locations associated with text, imagery, or other information presented on the map, causing presentation of an indication of one or more locations of the associated text, imagery, or other information on the map. A magnifier feature allowing internal navigation within the map can be provided. Additionally, animated images can appear to move over the map.

The invention disclosed herein relates to electronic presentation and use of maps and other area representations (including geographic and non-geographic areas), and related information, and to the interactive use thereof. The presentations may be provided to users via any type of communications or computer network (including wired and/or wireless), such as an intranet, LAN, WAN or the Internet, an system including interactive television, or may be provided in local storage, e.g., in a client or server hard disk or CD, etc.
Electronically presented maps are available over the Internet. See, for example, www.mapquest.com, www.mapsonus.com, www.maps.expedia.com, www.maps.yahoo.com (accessed through www.yahoo.com), www.maps.com, www.maps.excite.com, (accessed through www.excite.com), www.mapblast.com, and www.zip2.com. Also see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,170, 5,682,525 and 6,148,260. A magnifier feature that facilitates use of an electronically presented map is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,455. U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,379 also discloses use of a magnifier in connection with display of an image.

Interactive electronically presented area representation