The present invention logs events which occur in the target software, and stores these in a buffer for periodic uploading to a host computer. Such events include the context switching of particular software tasks, and task status at such context switch times, along with events triggering such a context switch, or other events. The host computer reconstructs the real-time status of the target software from the limited event data uploaded to it. The status information is then displayed in a user-friendly manner. This provides the ability to perform a logic analyzer function on real-time software. A display having multiple rows, with one for each task or interrupt level, is provided. Along a time line, an indicator shows the status of each program, with icons indicating events and any change in status.

The present invention relates to instrumentation of software performance, in particular real-time, embedded or multi-tasking software running on a target computer being monitored by a separate, host computer. As used herein, target and host computer could refer to target and host programs or suites of programs running on a single computer.
There are many applications where software needs to exert real-time control. Examples of this are control systems for aircraft, factories, automobiles, printers, broker transaction computers, etc. A typical implementation would have a dedicated target computer which controls the aircraft, factory, etc., with target software on the target computer. This computer could be uplinked via a TCP-IP ethernet link, linked, networked or otherwise connected to a host computer. This could be a Unix.RTM.-based workstation or a Windows.RTM.-based PC, for example. The host can be used to download and configure the software which will run on the target computer, and customize such software.
Today's tools for developing complex real-time and embedded target applications are inadequate. They have two main deficiencies. First, the tools do not provide enough visibility into the target application under development. Second, the access and presentation of what information the tools do provide is clumsy and crude.
The problem of application visibility is that a developer needs powerful tools for exploring the construction and execution of complex applications. Although tools such as source browsers and cross-references are increasingly available for exploring the static construction of a target application, there are still only primitive facilities for obtaining dynamic information about the actual execution of the application. For example, it is not unusual to be able to obtain snapshots of the state of various pieces of the system. However, there are not many tools which capture and present sequence or timing information, or interactions between components in the system. This dynamic is precisely the information which is critical in real-time systems.
The problem of presentation is that the interface to the limited information which is available is tedious and low-bandwidth. A user may need to repeatedly type commands, remember and type names and numeric identifiers, display lists with large numbers of names and numbers which must then be deciphered, etc. A user would have trouble displaying different pieces of relevant information simultaneously, as the results of previous commands scroll off the top of the display. When a target application has dozens of tasks, hundreds of semaphores, message queues, timers, etc., the inadequacy of such an interface is clear.
The architecture of typical target computers, among other things, prohibits an easy solution. Development tools are generally resident in the target computer. However, the memory of the target computer is often limited, and the tool developer is constrained by considerations of program size and memory utilization. GUI-based tools are particularly difficult.
It would be useful to be able to use the host computer to increase the visibility of the target application by monitoring what is happening in real-time on the target computer, especially for debugging and benchmarking purposes. Because the target computer is performing a real-time function, any such monitoring should minimize the intrusion on the target computer software. In addition, it is desirable to minimize the amount of data which needs to be uploaded. Uploading extensive amounts of data can also interfere with the control of the software. Finally, it would be desirable to significantly increase the accessibility and presentation of the monitored information by displaying such information in a manner which is easily grasped and usable by a user, such as a technician performing maintenance on or monitoring or debugging the target software.
Systems have been proposed which show in graphical form which of multiple tasks are performing at different times, such as through the use of a bar graph which indicates by the bar which task or program is running. An example of such a system is the Arts real-time scheduler analyzer/debugger from Carnegie Mellon University.


A device is provided for fastening and contacting a illuminant and/or a lighting module, the device including at least one socket housing. The illuminant and/or lighting module are/is arranged in the socket housing of the device. The illuminant and/or lighting module include/s at least two contacting elements, which are arranged separately from each other on the illuminant and/or lighting module and which are each electrically contacted by a respective individual contact of the socket housing. The device includes an adapter element having at least one collective contact point, wherein at least one electrical connection is present. An individual contact of the socket housing and a contact of a collective contact point are connected by means of an electrical connection. A lamp including the device is also presented.

Such devices are used for fastening at least one lighting means and/or lighting module, in particular LED module, and contacting to a voltage supply. Said devices are also connected to a lamp.
Devices for LED modules, also referred to as LED light engines, are known from the prior art, which make it possible for the LED module rear side to be pressed onto a heat sink area. This is intended to be performed using a defined force in order to be able to ensure necessary heat dissipation. As a result, the life of the LEDs is influenced. The device has a lampholder housing with at least one outer ring and one inner ring, which is mounted in the outer ring with a plurality of separate compression springs, screws and washers distributed in the perimeter. Owing to the resilient mounting of the inner ring, the rear side of the LED module is pressed onto a heat sink. The inner ring is intended to be produced from a plastic which is resistant to high temperatures owing to the generation of heat of the LED module. This is disadvantageous for cost reasons.
DE 20 2009 012 000 U1 describes a device which is intended to ensure a uniformly distributed contact pressure over the mutual bearing faces of the LED module and the heat sink. This takes place by virtue of the configuration of the electrical contact which is produced between the lamp holder contacts and the contacts of the LED module by means of the formation of contact in a manner which is free of counterforces in respect of the contact-pressure force. One disadvantage consists in that the electrical contact is nevertheless loaded.

Device for fastening and contacting a lighting means and/or a lighting module, and lamp


A device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating in relation to each other around an axis includes a light source and a polarizer, whereby the light source and the polarizer rotate in relation to each other as function of the rotating angle. The device also includes a receiver measuring the luminous intensity reflected by the polarizer, to produce a signal dependent on the rotating angle. The receiver has at least one initial reception element and the light emitted by the light source is either polarized or becomes polarized. A polarizing filter with an initial direction of polarization is positioned in front of the first reception element. At least one element casting a shadow is positioned in front of the receiver and the receiver has at least one quadrant diode. The position and/or shape of the shadow are varied on the receiver over a rotation of 360°.

The invention relates to a device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating around an axis in relation to each other, in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1.
Identifying the rotating angle of two objects rotating around an axis in relation to each other, for example, the rotating angle of a motor shaft rotating relative to a stationary element, may take place with the aid of a contact-free optical sensor, as based on the polarizing properties of light. Examples of such devices are disclosed by DE 201 02 192 U1, EP 2 187 178 A1, EP 1 507 137 A1, or U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,879.
Devices known to the prior art for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating around an axis in relation to each other have a light source assigned to one of the objects; a polarizer assigned to the other object, such that the light source and the polarizer rotate in relation to each other as function of the rotating angle; and a receiver which measures the reflected luminous intensity, or that which passes through the polarizer, in order to produce a signal dependent on the rotating angle. Here the receiver has an initial reception element, and the light emitted by the light source is either polarized or becomes polarized, and/or a polarizing filter with an initial direction of polarization is positioned in front of the first reception element. The relative rotation between a light beam polarized in linear fashion and a linear polarizer brings about a modulation of the luminous intensity. This modulation can be detected by a receiver, and from said modulation the relative angular positioned can be determined. If the polarizer is positioned on a rotating object, e.g., a motor shaft, the rotating angle of the rotating object can be determined. Based on the physical properties of the polarization, the angle-dependent signals have two periods per rotation over 360°, with the result that there is an incremental signal, but not an absolute signal.
Known from US 2005/211886 A1 and GB 1 498 409 A are devices for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating in relation to each other around an axis, which devices have a light source and a polarizer which rotate in relation to each other as a function of the rotating angle and, further, have a receiver which measures the luminous intensity passing through the polarizer, in order to produce a signal that is dependent on the angle of rotation. Here each receiver has at least one reception element, in front of which there is positioned a polarizing device with an initial polarization direction, while an element that casts a shadow is positioned in front of the receiver. Here the receiver has at least one quadrant diode, and means are provided for varying the shape of the shadow on the receiver over a rotation of 360°.
The goal of the invention, therefore, is to provide clarity of measurement over a full rotation of 360° for the rotating object and thus to provide an absolute angular signal, with as small as possible a loss in signal quality.
This goal is achieved with a device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating in relation to each around an axis and with a process for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating in relation to each other around an axis.
Advantageous embodiments and elaborations of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating around an axis in relation to each other


Provisioning of network containers provided as part of a cloud computing service. A network container defines a logical network topology to be hosted on a physical network infrastructure. One or more templates are populated using parameters and a network container profile associated with a requested network container. The requested network container is provisioned by translating the populated templates into a sequence of commands executed to configure the physical network infrastructure to host the requested network container.

Cloud computing has become a popular approach for obtaining access to (sometimes large-scale) computing resources. Cloud computing allows users to build virtualized data centers which include compute, networking, application, and storage resources without having to build or maintain a physical computing infrastructure. The virtualized data center may provide a user with a segmented virtual network located in the cloud, typically alongside virtualized data centers of other users. Such a virtualized data center may be rapidly scaled up (or down) according to the computing needs of a given user without the need to maintain excess computing capacity between peak demand periods. For example, an online retailer can scale a virtualized data center to meet increased demand during the holiday shopping season without having to maintain the underlying physical computing infrastructure used to provide the retailer's online presence.
The ability to successfully provide a cloud computing service depends on a number of factors, including the ability to provide effective end-to-end management services, security, and the ability to quickly provision services for customers. However, provisioning frequently takes days or even weeks, as configuring even a simple virtualized data center can require hundreds, if not thousands of variables, parameters and settings to be specified. For example, settings for virtualized networking components (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls, etc.), virtual machines and, a desired set of applications all need to be specified and used to configure the underlying physical computing infrastructure. Typically, a network engineer maintains a database or spreadsheet of settings for a given virtualized data center. Using this information, the network engineer manually configures the underlying physical systems to provide a virtualized data center that meets the specifications of a given customer.

Resource management tools to create network containers and virtual machine associations


To provide a semaphorin inhibitor; a peripheral or central nerve regeneration promoter which contains said semaphorin inhibitor as an active ingredient; and a preventive or remedy for a neuropathic disease and a neurodegenerative disease containing said nerve regeneration promoter, or the like.

Nerve cells are particular tissues, which has no mitotic potential in an adult. Therefore, once they are injured, the damage will last over a long period of time. It is said that there is no regeneration potential especially in the central nervous system (CNS) such as brain and spinal cord. Lack of the regeneration potential in the central nerves can be regarded as one of the reasons that there have been no established therapies for traumatic injuries such as spinal cord injury, nor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease. On the other hand, peripheral nerves possess regeneration potential. Their axons can regenerate and their functions can be recovered even after having been severed. In this case, however, the recovery requires a long span of time ranging from several months to even more than a year, and thus patients have to undergo considerable sufferings. Moreover, the recovery period is so long that some nerve cells may die during this period, which often leads to the failure of recovery of the functions. And yet, even the peripheral nerves having regeneration potential are entirely unable to outgrow in the CNS such as in brain and spinal cord. This brings the basis for the hypothesis that there exist some substances in the central nervous system that inhibit nerve outgrowth. If the inhibitory substances for nerve regeneration in the central nervous system are suppressed by using antibodies or the like, nerve regeneration in the CNS as well as the recovery of their functions will be observed, even though partially. As one of such inhibitory substances for the central nerve regeneration, Nogo has been recently discovered (Nature 403, 434, 2000, Nature 403, 439, 2000). However, only a small portion of axons are regenerated by inhibiting Nogo and it is thus presumed that there exist some other regeneration-inhibitory substances. The followings are exemplified as candidate substances that inhibit the nerve regeneration: MAG (myelin-associated glycoprotein); tenascin; gangliosides; ephrin; netrin; slit; semaphorins and the like. The only reason for these substances to be exemplified as the candidate substances is that they inhibit neurite outgrowth in vitro. Whether they actually act to inhibit nerve regeneration in vivo has not yet been elucidated so far.
Referring to semaphorin, its gene was first isolated as a factor involved in nervous system formation in developing locusts. Since then, it has been reported that semaphorins constitute a large gene family distributing in nematodes, fish, mammals or even certain kinds of virus, and currently semaphorin genes are classified into eight gene subfamilies or classes based on their structures (Cell 97, 551, 1999). Semaphorin is an endogenous protein identified as a factor which collapses nerve growth cone and suppresses axon outgrowth, and so far, about 20 molecular species have been reported (Cell 97, 551, 1999). However, most functions of many semaphorin families have not yet been discovered in detail. The most studied gene group is that of a subfamily called the class III type, all of whose translation products are secretory proteins. Although proteins encoded by these genes are known to possess intensive neurite outgrowth suppressing activity and growth cone collapse activity in vitro, it was reported that they induce neurite outgrowth under certain conditions. Among them, semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) is the most studied and is known to induce growth cone collapse of the cultured nerve cells at as low as 10 pM concentration in a short period of time (Cell 75, 217, 1993, Cell 75, 1389, 1993). In order to analyze in vivo functions of semaphorins, knockout mice for neuropilin-1, which is one of the components of Sema3A receptor, have been studied (Neuron 19, 995, 1997). The said knockout mice show embryonic lethality as well as motor abnormality in some nervous systems such as trigeminal nerve and angiogenesis abnormality. Although similar motor abnormality in nervous systems is observed in Sema3A knockout mice, some individual mice are reported to grow up to adults without serious problem. Therefore, the in vivo functions of Sema3A remain largely unknown.
Moreover, with regard to semaphorins the followings are also known: antisense nucleototides and antagonists such as antibodies or the like for semaphorin W, semaphorin Y and semaphorin Z are made for central nerve regeneration promoters (WO98/15628, WO98/11216, WO98/20928); and a method of inducing neurite outgrowth by contacting a nerve cell with an antibody that specifically binds to human collapsin is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,197). However, in vivo actions of these antibodies or the like still remain unknown. Besides, any low-molecular weight compounds other than peptide or nucleotide such as an antibody or an antisense nucleotide or the like, which specifically inhibits semaphorin have been completely unknown.
The subject of the present invention is to provide semaphorin inhibitors, peripheral or central nerve regeneration promoters that contain the said semaphorin inhibitors as an active ingredient, preventives and remedies for neuropathic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases that contain the nerve regeneration promoters.

Nerve regeneration promoters containing semaphorin inhibitor as the active ingredient

Abstract: A low-molecular weight compound, which acts at a concentration of 10 μg/ml or below to inhibit the growth cone collapse activity of semaphorin such as semaphorin 3A, semaphorin 6C or the like and/or the nerve outgrowth inhibitory activity of semaphorin in a collagen gel and which does not substantially affect cell proliferation, is obtained from the culture of strain SPF-3059 belonging to the genus Penicillium. The low-molecular weight compound with the semaphorin inhibitory activity thus obtained exhibits the in vivo nerve-regeneration promoting action.


A container for storing cleaning pads which includes as part of the lid, a used cleaning pad storage area in which a used cleaning pad may be stored between uses. A packaging system for the container having an anti-tampering feature is also provided.

Containers for storing essentially flat cleaning pads, applicators and the like are known in the art such as disclosed in Younghusband (U.S. Pat. No. 2,401,127); Roskam (U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,275); Monte et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,897); Patience (U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,231); Kaspar (U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,048); and Cotton (U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,368). None of these devices, however, address a long standing problem in using containers that store cleaning pads, particularly those that are capable of absorbing liquids.
In particular, typically flat sheet-like, cleaning pads have a wide range of commercial and household uses. Such pads may be used to clean utensils, dinnerware, counter tops, machinery, windows and the like. Such pads may be absorbent in that they are capable of absorbing liquid (e.g cleaning solution, water and the like) while used to clean various surfaces. When the consumer is finished with a cleaning pad, there is typically no place associated with the container to place the used pad until it may be used again. The consumer must therefore find another place to place the used pad or to discard the same which may be premature in that the pad may be used several times before it is necessarily discarded.
In addition, containers for housing cleaning pads are often sold in packages having advertising copy and information about the product printed thereon. One form of packaging is a sleeve which fits over the container and may be easily removed from the container so that the consumer may gain access to the container and the cleaning pads contained therein. There is a problem associated with such packaging systems in that the package may be removed by an unscrupulous person to expose the container and to remove the contents of the container (i.e. the cleaning pads) and then the packaging placed about the empty container without detection.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of containers for packaging cleaning pads to provide an area associated with the container for placing a used cleaning pad, especially in a position so that it may readily dry before being used again. It would be a further advance in the art of such containers to provide protection against removal of the packaging from the container by an unscrupulous person to gain access to the cleaning pads contained within the container.

Container with lid adapted to support a cleaning pad and packaging containing the same


A device for measuring a spherical surface, in particular the cornea of a human eye, can be made compact and not liable to cause heating when in use by the use as the requisite light sources for producing a pattern on the said surface of a system of light-emitting diodes whose emission is supported by a reflector behind a mask which forms the pattern. The device can also be used to determine the reaction of the pupil to glare, by reflecting an external light source into the beam path.

Systems of concentric, alternately light and dark rings are as a rule used as the pattern. They can be produced in various ways. Thus, it is, for example, possible to mount reflecting ring marks inside of a hollow spherical or paraboloidally shaped housing, on which the light from a light source provided in the optical axis is reflected, as this is, for example, already described in the Patent DE 32 33 178 C2. Such a device demands a considerable amount of industrial input: The ring marks must be constructed with extraordinary precision and must be arranged in the housing in order to produce a regular pattern. Small errors in the position of the reflecting surfaces on the ring marks result in considerable distortions of the pattern. The light source must be mounted rather exactly in the focal point of the concentrating reflector formed by the ring marks if the pattern is supposed to be evenly illuminated.
An arrangement of such a ring mark system, which arrangement instead is provided in a hollow-cone-shaped housing, is described in the Patent Application EP 0 589 857 A1. The housing is transparent throughout and is illuminated on the back side of the ring marks by an annular light source. The light source surrounds the housing coaxially on its front side with the small diameter, in the vicinity of which in addition a fixation point in the beam path can be reproduced, which is produced by means of a light diode and makes possible during the measurement of a cornea of an eye a (reproducible) at-rest position of the eye. The light source thereby demands a considerable energy supply without assuring a uniform illumination of the pattern. Small form and/or position errors of the ring marks are also in this arrangement disadvantageous for the uniformity of the pattern.
It is known from the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 43 25 494 A1 to construct the image pattern with the help of a hollow truncated-cone-shaped screen aperture, in which the annular aperture elements alternate with annular gaps. The screen aperture is illuminated by a surrounding light source and produces also a pattern of light and dark rings on the spherical surface, which is to be measured and is provided in its axis and in front of the larger front side. Such a screen aperture can be manufactured relatively easily and with precision so that the pattern is produced with a good regularity without much input and/or expense.
A pattern, which is reproduced in this manner, for example, on the cornea of an eye, can be measured with the help of a sensory mechanism; a video camera is, for example, suitable for this purpose.
The measurement results, which are evaluated by means of a suitable evaluating digital unit, are readied by the sensory mechanism and are, if desired, compared with a pattern. The measurement results are used, for example, to fit contact lenses or to guide surgical instruments during the surgical correction of curvature radii if the cornea of an eye was measured with the device.
Fluorescent lamps formed in most cases into a circular ring are used as light sources, which lamps demand much space and emit much heat during operation. Their glare is undesired during the measuring of the cornea of the eye.
A device for the topographical measurement of a surface is known from EP 0 397 962, in which the individual light spots on the surface of a hollow conical housing are produced by a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which directly and without additional illumination of a screen aperture produce a light pattern.

Device for the topographical measurement of a surface of a human eye


A method for the identification of a gene in a transposon population is provided. The method comprises isolating genomic DNA, optionally pooling the DNA, restricting the DNA in the pools using an enzyme, ligating adaptors, amplifying the adaptor-ligated fragments with primers one of which is a primer complementary to a border of a transposon sequence, sequencing the fragments using high throughput sequencing, aligning the fragments with known sequences in a database and thereby identifying gene candidates.

Transposon tagging populations are used in modern plant genomics research to identify genes affecting traits of agronomic or general importance by reverse genetics approaches.
They represent complementary tools for gene discovery, as transposon populations are commonly used to identify the gene responsible for an observed phenotype, the so-called forward genetics approach. This is distinguished in the art from the reverse genetics approach wherein, mutational events are identified in sequences (genes) of interest. The rate-limiting step for the methods is the screening work associated with identification of the individual carrying a mutation in the gene or sequence of interest. Below, the principles of transposon populations and the screening methods are described in more detail and more efficient screening methods are presented which increase the value of these tools for gene-discovery.
Transposons are mobile genetic elements occurring, naturally or engineered, at multiple copies in the genome. They are unstable as their position in the genome can change by excision and insertion at novel sites, usually at any given moment in the life cycle. Transposon populations are valuable for gene-discovery because they can disrupt gene function if they insert in gene sequences or their regulatory regions. The sequences of many transposons used in plant breeding are known, but once a plant with an interesting phenotype is observed, it is not known which gene is affected by transposon insertion. It is, in general, also not known if and if so, which, transposon is responsible for the phenotype. Depending on the organism and transposon, copy numbers of transposons in transposon populations range from several tens to hundreds of transposon per plant.
Current screening methods for analysis of transposon-induced phenotypic mutant sequences include linked-PCR based methods in order to obtain flanking sequences from sequence-specific transposon integration sites. A limitation of linker-PCR is that determination of flanking sequences requires band-excision from sequencing gels, which is time-consuming, difficult to automate and relatively low-throughput (not easily adaptable to thousands of bands).
Screening transposon populations would be improved if a simple method would be available to collect flanking sequences of all or at least part of the transposons, integrated in the genome. Here we seek to provide an efficient approach to analyse and use insertion events in preferred sequences.

Method for the high throughput screening of transposon tagging populations and massive parallel sequence identification of insertion sites


The invention relates to novel compositions comprising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and methods for preventing, treating or inhibiting a malignant neoplasm expressing an alpha-fetoprotein receptor (AFPR) with or without multidrug resistance. Compositions comprising a non-covalent complex of an exogenous AFP, and at least one apoptosis-inducing agent selected from the group comprising mitochondrial membrane permeabilizing agents, mitochondrial pore opening inducing agents, ionophores, caspase 9 activators, caspase 3 activators and retinoids, are provided, wherein the at least one apoptosis-inducing agent reversibly binds to the exogenous AFP. The invention also provides for a process for butanol extraction of porcine alpha-fetoprotein obtained from blood and amniotic fluid extracted during early embryogenesis.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a major transport protein in the fetus, acting as a shuttle and having a halflife of 3-5 days (Mizejewski, G. J., in "AFP and Congenital Disorders", pp. 5-34, Academic Press, Orlando, 1985; Abelev, G I, Alpha-fetoprotein: 25 years of study, Tumor Biology, 10:63-74; 1989). Expression of AFP is tightly regulated during development such that detectable levels of AFP expression are largely dependent on the developmental stage. Studies have established that AFP acts as a growth regulator during both ontogenic growth and tumour progression. Due to expression of AFP during development and tumourigenesis, AFP is referred to as an oncofetal antigen.
AFP is a glycoprotein belonging to the albuminoid gene superfamily, of which albumin is also a member. The molecular weight of AFP can vary from 64,000 to 72,000 daltons depending on the source, developmental stage and the method used for its purification. Associated percentage of carbohydrate varies from 3% to 5% again depending on the source and developmental stage.
AFP appears to be present in two basic molecular forms: 1) an unbound form, and 2) a bound form in which AFP is complexed to various ligands (e.g. fatty acids, estrogens, phytosteroids). However, variant forms of AFP have been identified. Different conformations (holoforms) of bound AFP exist which are dependent on the nature and concentration of the bound ligand(s). Molecular variants of Human AFP (HAFP) have been identified wherein the variations are attributed to carbohydrate microheterogeneity (i.e. different carbohydrate moieties bind at the site of glycoslation on HAFP) as well as due to differences in isoelectric points (Keel, B. A., et al., CRC Press; vol 2, 24-31, 1989; Mizejewski, G. J., Exp. Biol. Med. 226(5):377-408, 2001; Morinaga, T. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80(15):4604-8, 1983; Parker, M. H. et al., Purification and characterization of a recombinant version of human AFP expressed in the milk of transgenic goats, Protein Expression and Purification, 38:177-183, 2004). Genetic variants of HAFP have been detected that are attributed to developmental phase-specific expression of HAFP mRNA.
Mizejewski G. J. et al. (Tumour Biol. 7(1): 19-36, 1986) describe the cyclic physiology of AFP as the "developmental clock". The authors note that the structure and function of AFP changes throughout the course of development where the protein is expressed in fluctuating levels during fetal development and expression levels decline to negligible levels post-naturally, having a normal adult serum concentration of less than 50 ng/mL (Ruoslahti and Seppala, Int. J. Cancer 8:374-378, 1971). However, AFP plasma levels can be one thousand-fold higher in individuals with various cancers (Ruoslahti and Seppala, Adv. Cancer Res. 29:275-310, 1979). In addition, a number of cancers express high levels of AFP receptors on their cell surfaces (Uriel, J. et al., in "Biological Activities of AFP", CRC Press, 1987, Boca Raton, Fla., vol. 2, pp. 104-117; Moro, R., in "Biological Activities of AFP", CRC Press, 1987, Boca Raton, Fla., vol. 2, pp. 120-127). Therefore, in humans, AFP functions as a tumor marker in addition to being a fetal defect marker during embryogenesis.
Various chemical preparations, such as alkylating agents, antimetabolites, alkaloids, antibiotics, hormones and immunomodulators, known in the prior art are used to treat cancer. However, these preparations do not specifically target tumor cells resulting in what is referred to as "bystander effect", where normal, non-tumour cells are also susceptible to the anti-cancer agent. The overexpression of HAFP receptors (HAFPR) on the surface of malignant cells, compared to negligible expression of receptors on normal cells, prompted research into the use of HAFP as a carrier/transporter of anticancer drugs (Severin, S. E. et al., Biochem. Mol. Biol. Int. 37(2):385-92, 1995; Severin, S. E. et al., Dokl. Akad. Nauk 366(4): 561-4, 1999) to target cancer cells specifically. It has been demonstrated that HAFP can target anticancer drug conjugates to tumor cells (Moskaleva et al., Cell Biol Int. 21(12):793-799, 1997; Sotnichenko et al., FEBS Letters 450:49-51, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,445 to Murgita). The high specificity of HAFP for cancer cells that bear receptors for AFP provides enhanced efficacy of drugs due to specific targeting to tumour cells. In addition, such modes of active agent delivery are safer for the patient as normal surrounding cells are spared.
HAFP bound with numerous anticancer drugs including doxorubicin, daunomycin, calichemicin, carboxyphosphamide, bleomycetin, chlorbutin, cis-platinum, methotrexate and caminomycin has been reported (Moskaleva et al., Cell Biol. Int. 21(12):793-799, 1997; Lutsenko et al., Tumor Biology 21(6):367-374, 2000). In these instances, the active agents were bound to HAFP using chemical conjugation methods, resulting in the covalent binding of HAFP to the anticancer agent. The optimal molar ratio of AFP:drug for AFP-drug conjugates that enables both binding of ingredients without loss of their biological activity and targeted delivery of the drug was found to be 1:2 (Feldman, N. B. et al., Biochemistry 65:1140-1145, 2000). The same molar ratio 1:2 can be achieved in noncovalent binding of AFP and Dioxin (Sotnichenko et al., FEBS Letters 450:49-51, 1999).
Herve et al. (in "Biological activities of alpha-fetoprotein", Florida Congresses, ed. Mizejewski, G. J., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Vol. 1, 1987) demonstrated warfarin and phenylbutazone binding sites on rat AFP, similar to those found on albumin. In addition, they demonstrated that these agents bind to AFP at the same large hydrophobic pocket as estrogens, fatty acids, pyrrazolic compounds and proprionic drugs. As reviewed in Mizejewski (Mizejewski, G. J., in "AFP and congenital disorders", ed. G. J. Mizejewski, Academic Press, Inc., 1985), whereas fatty acids are capable of binding to human AFP and to rodent AFP, phytoestrogens have been shown to be capable of binding to rodent AFP only suggesting inter-species differences in AFP binding capabilities.
The predominant source of AFP used in AFP/drug targeted delivery experiments has been human AFP extracted from either female retroplacental serum (Moskaleva et al., Cell Biol Int. 21(12):793-799, 1997) or human fetal material (www.alfetin.ru). Human fetal material is difficult to obtain due to limited sources (extracted from abortion material of up to 12 weeks gestation) and it is additionally expensive. In Russia, human fetal AFP is registered as an immune modulating injectable drug under the name "Alfetinum" (1 ampoule containing 0.075 mg of 95% pure AFP). Thus, alternative sources of AFP useful in the delivery of cytotoxic agents to cancer cells would be beneficial.
Anticancer agents with different modes of action have been reported to trigger apoptosis in chemosensitive cells (Fisher, Cell 78:539-542, 1994). Changes in mitochondrial function such as mitochondrial membrane permeability and/or permeability transition pore complex alterations play a major role in apoptotic cell death including cell death induced by anticancer agents (Kroemer et al., Immunol Today 18:44-51, 1997; Susin et al., J. Exp. Med. 186:5-37, 1997; Marchetti et al., J. Exp Med. 184:1155-1160, 1996; Zamzani et al., J. Exp. Med. 183:1533-1544, 1996; Decaudin et al., Can Res 57:62-67, 1997). Many conventional chemotherapeutic agents elicit mitochondrial permeabilization in an indirect fashion by induction of endogenous effectors, such as p53, that are involved in the physiologic control of apoptosis. However, the frequent mutation of p53 in many different human cancers renders the cancer refractory to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. The discovery of cytotoxic agents that act directly on the mitochondria such as lonidamine, arsenite, betulinic acid and CD437 has provided an alternative therapeutic strategy in circumstances where conventional drugs fail due to disruption of endogenous apoptosis induction pathways, such as those involving p53 (reviewed in Costantini et al., J. Natl. Cancer Institute 92:1042-1053, 2000). Cytotoxic agents that target mitochondria and induce cell apoptosis such as betulinic acid have been described (Fulda, S. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 18; 273 (51): 33942-8, 1998; Pezzuto et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030186945). Costantini et al. reviews the mechanism of inducing apoptosis through mitochondrial destruction by alteration of mitochondrial membrane permeability and/or changes in the permeability transition pore complex (PTPC) and lists cytotoxic agents that target mitochondria to induce apoptosis (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92(13):1042-53, 2000).
The use of a single HAFP/anticancer agent conjugate (i.e. HAFP-estrone-doxorubicin conjugate) is considered to be a limiting factor in the treatment of malignant neoplasms due to the fact that many different types of cancer are refractory to chemotherapy and are said to exhibit multi-drug resistance (MDR) (Lehnert M., Eur. J. Cancer, 32A:912-920, 1996; Germann U. A., Eur. J. Cancer, 32A:927-944, 1996). Moreover, a number of anticancer agents are alkylating agents and antibiotics which induce tumour cell death by targeting DNA and thus, largely rely on an intact p53 signaling pathway (Bykov, V. J. et al., Nat. Med. 8(3):282-8, 2002). Given the large number of tumours that lack functional p53, these treatments are often ineffective.
There is therefore a need for improved mechanisms of delivering cytotoxic agents to cancer cells that are easily derived, inexpensive to produce, deliverable by non-invasive means and both efficient and specific in killing cancer cells.
The present invention may provide one or more of the foregoing advantages or other advantages which will become apparent to persons skilled in the art after review of the present application.

Compositions of alpha-fetoprotein and inducers of apoptosis for the treatment of cancer


A method to select, evaluate and recommend optimal rod pumping system design for a downhole well. The method includes the steps of selecting at least one downhole rod type as a setup preference, selecting at least one pumping unit type as a setup preference, and selecting at least one motor power meter type as a setup preference. Well information, including depth of a pump and run time, is entered as a case input. Additionally, a target production for the well is entered. Records are retrieved from a database wherein the records contain input data on each downhole rod type, each pumping unit type, and each pump motor type. Data is merged from all the case inputs, all of the setup preferences, and from the database records. Scores of gearbox loading, structure loading, system efficiency, rod loading, minimum polished rod loading and bottom minimum stress are calculated and then combined to determine a calculated percentage score for each pumping unit type for the downhole well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system and a method to automatically select and design a complete rod pumping system for the production of fluids from a downhole fluid well. In particular, the present invention is directed to a system and method to select the components of a rod pumping system that will produce the best overall system performance and for several types of surface pumping units simultaneously. Furthermore, the present invention uses artificial intelligence technology that allows it to learn from its own runs and can improve its itself by adding knowledge to a proprietary database to be used for future runs."
2. Prior Art
In some subterranean formations, fluid, such as oil or natural gas, is under pressure and will move to the surface once an opening is provided. In many other subterranean formations, the fluid must be extracted.
Rod pumping systems are utilized to produce oil and gas and are also used for many other applications. Downhole fluid well systems include a variety of different types of equipment which must all operate together.
It is advantageous to assemble and operate various equipment that operates together efficiently. In one type of rod pumping system, for example, a reciprocating piston pump is installed downhole beneath fluid level inside of a borehole. The pump is attached to a string of rods, sometimes termed "sucker rods", which reciprocate within a tubing and a casing.
An electric motor at surface level powered by a source of electricity typically drives cranks which are mechanically arranged to reciprocate the rod string. At or near the surface, the rod string has a section known as a polished rod which has a close fit to a stuffing box at the surface allowing the rod string to move in and out of the tubing without fluid escaping. One type of mechanical system is the well-known pump jack. Downhole in the borehole is a pump consisting of a number of valves. The motor, the assembly of rods, the surface pumping unit (pump jack), and the pump deliver fluid to the surface and must work together efficiently and without being overloaded.
Depending on the particular well and formation, the pumping equipment may operate for a few hours a day controlled by a timer or pump off controller or the pumping equipment may operate continuously 24 hours per day.
The various pieces of equipment operate within ranges and it is necessary to select equipment components that will operate within their operating ranges.
The depth of the pump in the well, the diameter of the pumping equipment, the type of motor, and the desired production all influence the optimum equipment to be employed.
In the past, it has been possible to select individual components of equipment, check the specifications to see if the individual components will operate with each other, and predict the production therefrom. This requires assembling data on equipment from various manufacturers and is time consuming.
In the more recent past, computer programs have been developed wherein individual input data on individual equipment components may be entered and thereafter predicted calculated results may be obtained on a number of items, such as predicted production rate in barrels per day and torque on the gearbox.
There remains a need to provide a system and a process that would automatically select and evaluate and recommend optimal rod pumping system design for a downhole well based on a number of preferences and on particular information on a particular well.
There remains a need to provide a system and a process that would evaluate components of a down well pumping system and compare multiple system designs against each other.
There remains a need to provide a system and a process that would evaluate chosen preferred components and attempt to suggest alternatives to improve thereon.

Software method to select, evaluate, and recommend optimal rod pumping system design used in the extraction of fluids from a downhole well


A particle detection system including; at least one light source adapted to illuminate a volume being monitored at at least two wavelengths; a receiver having a field of view and being adapted to receive light from at least one light source after said light has traversed the volume being monitored and being adapted to generate signals indicative of the intensity of light received at regions within the field of view of the receiver; a processor associated with the receiver adapted to process the signals generated by the receiver to correlate light received at at least two wavelengths in corresponding regions within the field of view of the receiver and generate an output indicative of the relative level of light received at the two wavelengths.

Various methods of detecting particles in air are known. One method of detecting the presence of particulate matter in air involves projecting a beam across a monitored area and measuring the attenuation of the beam. Such detectors are commonly known as 'obscuration detectors', or simply 'beam detectors'.
An exemplary, conventional beam detector is shown in FIG. 1. The detector 100 includes a light emitter and detector 102 and a reflector 104 placed either side of a monitored area 106. Incident light 108 from the light emitter and detector 102 are projected toward the reflector 104. The reflector 104 reflects the incident light 108 as reflected light 110. Reflected light 110 is reflected back toward the light source and detector 102. If particulate matter enters the monitored area 106, it will attenuate the incident light 108 and reflected light 110 and cause the amount of light received at the light source and detector 102 to diminish. An alternative beam detector omits the reflector and directly illuminates the detector with the light source across the monitored area 106. Other geometries are also possible.
Whilst the mechanism of smoke detection used by beam detectors is sound, beam detectors commonly suffer from a number of problems.
Firstly, beam detectors may suffer a type I (false positive) error where foreign objects or other particulate matter, such as dust, enters the monitored area and obscure the beam. Beam detectors are generally unable to distinguish between the obscuration caused by particles of interest e.g. smoke, and absorption which results from the presence of foreign body of no interest e.g. a bug flying into the beam.
Secondly, beam detectors may require careful alignment at the time of installation. Such alignment aims to ensure that in normal conditions, free from smoke, light enters the sensor so as to capture the majority of the transmitted beam, and to in turn maximise sensitivity to an obscuration. This calibration may be slow and therefore costly to perform. Moreover, it may need to be repeated as the physical environment that the detector occupies changes, for example because of small movements in the structure to which a beam detector is attached. In some cases, if the intensity of incident light on the detector diminishes quickly this misalignment may also cause a false alarm.
One way of compensating for the second problem is to introduce a photodetector having a high sensitivity over a wide range of incident angles. This reduces the effect that poor alignment between the beam and photodetector would otherwise have. However, this solution comes at the cost of increased sensitivity to unwanted background light, which in turn complicates the detection process and increases the likelihood of failing to detect the presence of particles of interest.
Supplying power to the transmitters within a particle detection system can be costly. There are practical/commercial limits on the amount of power that can be supplied. The limited supply of power limits the optical power output of the transmitter, which in turn limits the signal to noise ratio of the measured signal. If the signal to noise ratio of the system degrades too far, the system may experience frequent or continual false alarms.
In some systems, the signal to noise ratio can be enhanced by employing long integration or averaging times at the receiver. However system response times, which are usually between 10 and 60 seconds, must be increased to higher levels if long integration times are used. This is undesirable.


A guide lug for a starting or window mill is provided at the upper end of the whipstock. A back-up shoulder is provided to act against any tendencies of the mill to whirl. A taper is provided for use in guiding the mill toward the casing for the cutting of the window. The lug is configured to be worn by a guide for the window mill or starter mill rather than being milled away. As a result of the use of the lug, the upper sections of the whipstock are protected from the mill. In turn, any holes or other projections provided for subsequent retrieval of the whipstock are functional for such a retrieval at the conclusion of the milling process for the window.

In the past, window-cutting systems have involved the use of whipstocks and multiple trips with a starter mill and a window mill coming in behind it to cut out a window. Until recently, there has been no emphasis placed on retrievability of the whipstock in that the older designs and applications presuppose that the whipstock would remain in the wellbore after the window was milled.
More recently, the concept of retrievability of whipstocks has been introduced for a variety of applications. In some instances, the liner which is inserted through the window is cemented all the way back into the main wellbore. Thereafter, milling is required to remove the section of liner extending into the main wellbore. This procedure is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,760. Various attempts in the past have been made to retrieve whipstocks. One such tool is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,873, assigned to Weatherford. These retrieving techniques employed in the past generally required that the structural integrity of the upper end of the whipstock be maintained so that the retrieving tool could get a firm grip on the whipstock to ensure its removal.
Milling techniques have also improved so that a one-trip system can be employed to create the window. U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,924 illustrates a one-trip window-milling system where a started mill is followed by one or more watermelon mills. The assembly is initially retained to the whipstock by a lug and a shear pin.
FIG. 1 illustrates a lug of the type previously employed, with standard multi-trip window-milling systems as well as a one-trip system such as illustrated in Jurgens.
The initial contact wearing surface 10 was previously held at approximately an angle of 2-5.degree. as represented by "a" in FIG. 1. The starter mill 12 had a guide section 14 which was designed to contact the lug 16. In view of the speed of rotation of the starter mill 12 and the small angle "a" employed, the wear patterns on lug 16 were such that it would be quickly ground away before the starter mill 12 could get much of a bite into the casing 18. When this occurred, the mill would be driven away from the casing 18 so that it would retract from an initial window which had just started to open as the mill 12 is further advanced downwardly. If this was allowed to occur, eventually the starting mill 12 ground away the top of the whipstock 20 to a point represented by dashed line 22. This technique was somewhat hit or miss and frequently resulted in severe damage to the top of the whipstock 20. Such damage was generally sufficiently extensive to prevent or at least make extremely difficult any attempt to recover the whipstock 20 from the wellbore. This is because holes conveniently placed near the top of the whipstock for retrieval purposes would be one of the first things ground up if the blades of the starting mill 12 were allowed to progress into contact with the whipstock 20.
The shortcomings of the prior designs were due to the lug design and an effect called "whirl," which is best illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates in a plan view a casing 18, along with a starter mill 12, which has a series of blades 24 thereon. The blades are designed to create the cutting action when engaged against the casing 18 due to a clockwise rotation of the starter mill 12, as illustrated by arrow 26. However, since the mill 12 is itself smaller than the opening in which it is disposed, the clockwise rotation imparted to the starter mill 12 as indicated by arrow 26 results in the entire mill 12 rotating in a counterclockwise manner illustrated by arrow 28 within its surroundings. Since the initial surroundings about the starting mill 12 are larger than the O.D. of the mill, the whirl effect creates contact between the blades 24 and the casing 18 such that an undesirable force in the direction of arrow 30 is applied to each of the blades as the starter mill 12 whirls in a counterclockwise direction indicated by arrow 28. In the past, this whirl effect has resulted in severe damage to the starter mill 12 and in many cases to the whipstock 20. The whirl action further exacerbated the wearing away of the lug 16.
While in past designs the objective of beginning a window may have been accomplished, this achievement was at the cost of near complete destruction of the starter mill 12 as well as sufficient damage to the top end of the whipstock 20 to eliminate or at least make difficult subsequent attempts to retrieve it.
One of the many objectives of this invention is to provide guidance and stabilization to the mill or mills through the use of the configuration of the lug to remove the effect of whirl and to spare the whipstock from damage during the process of milling the window in the casing 18. To that end, a sacrificial lug including an initial contact taper and a back-up shoulder has been developed. The taper allows applied weight on the mill during the window milling to more directly orient the mill toward the casing where the window is to be cut. Greater torque control is possible due to the improved guidance of the mill or mills which reduces stall-outs when the mill gets stuck. The lug configuration is directed to the objective of providing a wearing surface rather than a surface that is milled during the creation of the window. Yet another objective is to preserve any retrieving slots or other protrusions used for subsequent retrieval of the whipstock by ensuring that the mill or mills do not destroy such features during the window-milling process.

Window-cutting system for downhole tubulars


A device for time-based multiplexing of a projection of a three-dimensional FIG. 1 image to increase its resolution includes a two-dimensional display comprising an array of pixels. An array of optical elements is placed in front of the pixels. The optical elements are structured to refract and configure into multiple parallel light beams, in a plurality of angles, light emitted from the pixels. An array of adjustable light deflecting devices is mounted in front of the pixels. Each of the adjustable light deflecting devices is structured to deflect the light emitted by the pixels. At least one controller is configured to (1) vary at least one of the intensity or color of light emitted by each of the pixels according to three-dimensional information set for display of a three dimensional image; and (2) change a deflection angle of the light deflecting devices during a period of image integration of the human visual system.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a high resolution and large field of view three-dimensional display, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a device for time-based multiplexing of a projection of a three-dimensional image to increase a resolution thereof. The present invention also relates, in some embodiments thereof, to a device for imaging a light field with high resolution, and in particular, but not exclusively, to an apparatus for time-based multiplexing of a light field to increase a resolution thereof.
Various methods have been developed for projecting a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional display. Stereoscopic methods present two offset images separately to the left and right eye of the viewer. These two-dimensional images are then combined in the brain to give the perception of 3D depth. In stereoscopic displays, the 3D image information is limited to a single plane of display. The mix-up between the depth sensation and the accommodation of the eyes leads to eye strain, fatigue, nausea, and slower eye accommodation to object distance.
There are various types of 3D displays that are able to provide a correctly-focused sensation of a 3D image. Volumetric displays use some physical mechanism to display points of light within a 3D space. Each voxel of a 3D image is located physically at a particular spatial position and reflects or emits light from that position toward observers. In combination, the voxels of a 3D volumetric display form a real 3D image. However, there are various problems with volumetric displays, including low resolution, large physical size, and complexity of the systems. These problems make volumetric displays expensive and cumbersome for regular use.
A second category of 3D display is a holographic display. A holographic display is a type of display that utilizes light diffraction to create a virtual three-dimensional image of an object. In these displays, the light wavefronts of the object are reconstructed. A drawback of this technology is that it is highly complex. In addition, creating the extremely detailed wavefronts requires suitable Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs), which are very rare.
Another 3D display technology capable of providing natural retinal focus cues is called Light Field (LF) displays. LF displays use layered LCD panels and compression algorithms at the time of display. A flat form-factor LF 3D display can produce both eye convergence and focus angles simultaneously, by controlling illuminated pixels visible to both eyes. The direction of the light beams from the illuminated pixels is also controlled. This technique has a drawback, however, in that it is capable of displays having a limited field of view and a limited angular resolution.
A light field camera, also known as a plenoptic camera, captures information about a light field emanating from a scene, and also the direction that the light beams are traveling in space. This is in contrast to a conventional camera, which records only light intensity. One type of light field camera uses an array of micro-lenses placed in front of an array of sensors with high resolution to sense intensity, color, and directional information. Another type of light field camera is a multi-camera array. A disadvantage of a light-field camera with a micro-lens array is that the resolution is low. In order to sense directional information with high angular resolution, each micro-lens must be placed in front of many sensors with high fill factor and resolution. This requirement limits the performance of currently known light cameras.


Apparatus and method for carrying out a DMA transfer wherein an address is written into a DMA register of a DMA controller specifying a memory location within a memory device at which either the parameters for a transfer of a block of data are provided or the status of the transfer of a block of data is to be written by the DMA controller.

Various computer system architectures have employed a number of approaches to attempt to efficiently transfer blocks of data across busses and between devices (including memory devices, I/O devices, etc.) within a computer system. One of the simplest approaches has been to allow the. CPU (central processing unit) to read a block of data from one device and then write the block of data to another device. However, this task is often regarded as a task better suited to being delegated to other alternative mechanisms so that the CPU may be more fully devoted to carrying out more complex calculations and other computational tasks.
One widely used alternative mechanism is the addition of a DMA (direct memory access) controller to such a computer system to take over the moving of blocks of data between the system memory of the computer system and other devices. Typically, such DMA controllers are programmed to carry out a specific transfer of a block of data by the CPU writing the parameters of the transfer directly into registers within the DMA controller. Then, as the transfer of a block of data is carried out, the CPU is typically programmed to poll one or more of the registers within the DMA controller to query the status of the transfer.
However, use of such a DMA controller has drawbacks. Although the CPU is relieved of the burden of actually carrying out the transfer of a block of data, having the CPU poll registers within the DMA controller to query the status of the transfer is still often considered inefficient. Also, in many implementations of computer systems, write operations carried out by the CPU to program registers within the DMA controller and read operations carried out by the CPU to query status from a register within the DMA controller may take more time than is deemed desirable.
Another widely used alternative mechanism is the incorporation of bus mastering capabilities into various I/O devices within a computer system so that the devices, themselves, are able to autonomously carry out the transfer of blocks of data. Typically, such transfers are programmed to take place by the CPU writing the parameters of the transfer directly into registers within such a bus mastering device. Then as the transfer of a block of data is carried out, the CPU polls one or more of the registers within the bus mastering device to query the status of the transfer.
However, such a use of a bus mastering device has drawbacks. Although the CPU is relieved of the burden of actually carrying out the transfer of a block of data, write operations carried out by the CPU to program registers within the DMA controller and read operations carried out by the CPU to query status from registers within the DMA controller may take more time than is deemed desirable. Also, read operations carried out by a bus mastering device, especially to read a block of data from system memory, may also take more time than is deemed desirable.

Readdressable virtual DMA control and status registers


Disclosed herein are a system, method, and computer-readable medium with instructions for recommending a service provider based on a user's approximate current location. The service provider may be recommended for a service that is verified under a user's insurance policy and is also within proximity to the user's approximate current location. The user's approximate current location may be determined by location-based technology. The entity that receives and/or recommends the service provider may initiate a request for the service from the service provider. Further embodiments are related to routing a call to provide information to the user that is responsive to the user's location-relevant request. For example, systems, such as an automotive telematics system, may request information and be routed to the appropriate division of a user's insurance provider such that the automotive telematics system can provide services to the user that are user-specific (e.g., covered by the user's insurance policy).

A service provider may provide services to a client based on need. For example, automotive telematic systems currently provide location-based services for vehicles over a wireless telecommunications network. Typically, the system instantly connects vehicle occupants to a service provider for roadside services, for example, while automatically reporting the vehicle position. An automotive telematic system uses a cellular phone for voice and data communications and an onboard global positioning system receiver for positioning. Typically, the automotive telematics systems are activated manually by the user pushing a button or, alternatively, the system can activate automatically when one of the vehicle's safety sensors detects an emergency event, for example. Activation of the system results in a connection to a service provider and the user may be connected to a service provider advisor. These call centers may initiate need-specific services depending on the needs of the user (e.g., roadside assistance, unlocking doors remotely).
Many companies operate customer service call centers where customers can call for information, product support or to initiate a transaction. Typically, these customer service providers operate as a call center or centralized office that answers incoming telephone calls from customers. In a call center the call is then typically answered by a telephone system known as an automatic call distributor (ACD) or private branch exchange (PBX). Subsequent routing of the calls is determined by the call center. In telephone systems, an Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) is a device or system that may route incoming calls to a specific agent. The routing strategy is usually a rule-based set of instructions that tells the ACD how calls should be handled, often based on the user's automatic number identification (ANI).
The ANI is a feature of telephony intelligent network services that permits subscribers to display or capture the telephone numbers of calling parties. The ANI is similar to the use of a calling number identification system (caller ID) that transmits a callers number to the called party's telephone equipment during the ringing signal. Based on the location linked to the party's telephone number, the caller may be routed to a unique location-relevant service provider. However the ANI locates a static location and doesn't identify the location of a mobile location based on a mobile telephone number (e.g., cell phone number).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for location based call routing

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


A method and apparatus for reducing emissions in combustion products. Fuel and primary oxidant are introduced into a burner tube and discharged as a fuel/oxidant mixture, preferably fuel-rich, into a primary combustion chamber. The combustion flame entrains, through a peripheral gap between the burner tube and a wall of a first housing, a first portion of secondary oxidant in the primary combustion chamber. The combustion flame is then directed, preferably through a swaged orifice, into a secondary combustion chamber. Within the secondary combustion chamber, the combustion flame entrains a second portion of secondary oxidant and then combustion products are discharged through an exhaust tube.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing emissions in combustion products resulting from a two-stage continuous combustion process.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many conventional combustion processes use staged combustion wherein fuel and primary air are introduced into a primary combustion chamber to form a fuel-rich mixture and secondary air is introduced in a secondary combustion zone. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,339 discloses a baffle member which divides a combustion chamber into first and second regions. A fuel-rich mixture of gas and primary air is injected through an inshot burner and a combustion flame is drawn into the combustion chamber by an induced draft blower which also introduces secondary combustion air. The baffle member channels the flame and secondary combustion air into a convergent flow path and over the baffle member to create turbulence, which enhances mixing between the fuel-rich flame and secondary combustion air within the second region of the combustion chamber, which is downstream with respect to the baffle member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,381 discloses an inshot burner mounted within a central opening that allows secondary air to pass into the combustion chamber. The secondary air is directed by a frustro-conical member into the combustion zone for enhancing the combustion process. The frustro-conical member spans from an upstream side of an exit plane of the inshot burner to a downstream side of the exit plane. A target plate is positioned near the discharge end of the inshot burner. The target plate transfers heat from the flame to rods affixed to a face of the target plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,301 discloses a burner emission device that includes a stack of perforate metal sheets positioned in a flow path of a flame, which enhances turbulence.
It is apparent from the known conventional technology that there is a need for a two-stage burner apparatus and method which reduces nitrogen oxides and which can be retrofitted into many existing burner devices.

Method and apparatus for reducing emissions in combustion products


An improved physical access control system has an online portion and an offline portion. A smartcard is configurable to transport access control information between the online portion and offline portion. The smartcard is further configurable to receive an offline reader identifier from an offline reader, and to control access of the smartcard holder to an offline entry/exit point. The smartcard is further configurable to carry a revoked list that is transmitted to each offline reader accessed. Methods of operating the improved physical access control system are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to access control systems generally, and more particularly to certain new and useful advances in offline smart-card readers and their integration with a networked physical access control system ("PACS") via one or more smartcards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Traditionally, a PACS has been either online or offline. An online, or networked, PACS stores an individual's access privileges in a database on single or multiple controllers, which are connected to credential reading devices (e.g., "reader" or "reader/writer") that control access to entry/exit points, such as doors. An online PACS is typically deployed in situations where access control privileges change often with time, and in situations where access control of a facility needs to be as strong and secure as possible.
FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional interaction of two conventional PACS—an online (or networked) PACS 116 and an offline PACS 118. The online PACS 116 includes a computer (or server) 102 that hosts a master database 103 containing one or more smartcard identifiers 211 and access privilege information associated with each of the smartcard identifiers 211. Any of the one or more smartcard identifiers 211 and the access privilege information associated therewith can be added, deleted, and/or modified by a user of the computer 102. A host-controller (e.g., first) communication path 122 couples the computer 102 with a controller 104, which hosts a replicated master database 105. Smartcard readers 108 are coupled to the controller 104 by online reader-controller (e.g., second) communication paths 124, and are coupled with doors 112 by online reader-door (e.g., third) communication paths 126. Smartcard holders use the same smartcard 200 in the online access control portion 116 and the offline access control portion 118; but the smartcard 200 contains only a smartcard identifier 211 and does not contain any access privilege information associated with the smartcard identifier 211. Instead the access privilege information remains stored in the master database 103, in the replicated master database 105 on the controller 104, and in another copy 107 of the replicated master database 105 (or is a part of the master database 103) that is stored on an offline reader 106, which is coupled to an offline door 114 via an offline reader-door (e.g., fourth) communications path 130. A path 128 that the smartcard 200 follows as it moves between an online reader 108 in the online access control portion 116 and the offline reader 106 in the offline access control portion 118 is indicated by a dashed line. Arrow 120 indicates a directional flow of access control information, instructions, and computer programs.
FIG. 2 illustrates conventional types of data 210 typically stored on the conventional smartcard 200. These conventional types of data 210 include the smartcard identifier 211, other data 213, and smartcard programs, bytecode, and executable files 215, e.g., "executables" or "binaries". "Bytecode" refers to various forms of instruction sets designed for execution by a software interpreter, which can be further compiled into machine code. Bytecode can be executed directly on a virtual machine, e.g., interpreter, or further compiled into machine code for better performance. More compact than source code, bytecode allows better performance than interpreting source code directly. Most implementations of computer languages execute a program first by compiling the source code in bytecode, and by subsequently passing the bytecode to a virtual machine. In contrast to files that contain only data, "executable files" cause a computer to perform various tasks per encoded instructions. In operation the online PACS 116 pushes the access privilege information and decision-making capabilities to the one or more central controllers 104, each of which can be easily updated to incorporate changes made to the access control information stored on the computer 102. That said the controllers 104 are sometimes overloaded and therefore periodically unavailable for updating access control information.
The offline PACS 118 also pushes the access privilege information and decision-making capabilities to the offline reader 106, which is capable of reading the smartcard identifier 211 from a smartcard 200 when the smartcard 200 is presented. In the offline PACS 118, a copy of the replicated master database 105 containing each smartcard identifier 211 and its associated access privileges is stored at every entry/exit point, i.e., on each offline reader 106. Unlike the online readers 108 in the online PACS 116, each offline reader 106 is not connected to a central point or amongst each other. Consequently, updating access privilege information is difficult, since the requisite database (or firmware) modifications must be done manually for each and every offline reader 106.

Physical access control system with smartcard and methods of operating

UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.


An absolute position encoder includes a position location medium containing position identifier code words providing absolute position indications, and an optical source, an optical detector, an optics subsystem and a code word decoder. The optics subsystem focuses a source beam onto the position location medium and directs a return beam to the optical detector, detects a focus condition from the return beam, and automatically adjusts focus of the source beam to maintain a predetermined focus condition during operation. The code word decoder responds to the detector signal to detect a code word and generate a decoder output indicative of a corresponding code word value and corresponding detected position.

The present invention relates generally to position measurement devices or encoders that measure the position of an encoder relative to a scale.
Absolute position encoders which enable the absolute position of an encoder relative to a scale are known. Such encoders typically comprise a scale having at least one track with unique position data formed continuously along the measuring dimension of the scale. The data can be in the form of, for instance, a pseudorandom bit sequence or discrete code words. By reading this data the encoder can determine the relative absolute position of the encoder and the scale. Absolute position encoders are needed that are of small size, accurate and contamination tolerant.

Absolute position encoder using a focused laser beam to detect position code words


A digital protective relay apparatus comprising an analog input section, a correction value-calculating section, a storage section, a correction section, a protective calculation section. A correction value for correcting the error of the analog input section is predetermined and stored in the storage section. Digital data obtained through the analog input circuit is corrected by the correction section using the correction value. The protective calculation section performs predetermined calculation using the corrected digital data, thereby determining whether or not a trip instruction should be supplied to a breaker.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a digital protective relay apparatus to be used for protecting a power system, and more particularly to an apparatus of this type equipped with a function of correcting an error caused in an analog input circuit incorporated therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional digital protective relay apparatus will be described referring to FIG. 4.
In the digital protective relay apparatus, the various analog amounts of a power system employed in the apparatus, such as current flowing through the power supply line and bus line of the power system and voltage applied thereto, are input in parallel into an analog input circuit 1.
The analog input circuit 1 is constructed generally as shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, it has a plurality of input channels each comprising a transformer 2, a filter circuit 3, and a sample/hold circuit 4. The output terminal of each circuit 4 is connected to a multiplexer 5.
The voltage or current input to each input channel of the circuit 1 is supplied to a corresponding transformer 2 where it is subjected to level transform, and is then supplied to the filter circuit 3 where those high frequency components contained in it which are unnecessary for protection calculation are removed. Thereafter, an output signal from the filter circuit 3 is input to the sample/hold circuit 4, where it is sampled at predetermined intervals of time and the resultant sampling value is kept for a predetermined period of time.
The multiplexer 5 changes the outputs of the sample/hold circuits 4 from one to another, thereby selecting the analog values of the input channels.
The analog signal selected by the multiplexer 5 is input to an A/D converter 6, where it is converted to digital data signal. The digital data signal is input to a protective relay calculation circuit 7.
The circuit 7 performs predetermined protective relay calculation using the input digital data signal, and supplies an output circuit 8 with a trip trigger signal when the calculation result indicates occurrence of a fault in the power system. Upon receipt of the trip trigger signal from the calculation circuit 7, the output circuit 8 outputs a trip instruction to a breaker provided in the power system.
In the analog input circuit 1, there exist errors in the characteristics of an output with respect to an input (i.e., in the amplitude gain of the output and/or in the phase of the same) of the output relative to the input due to various constants of the structural elements therein. These errors should be eliminated since they adversely affect the protective function of the circuit.
To this end, in the conventional digital protective relay apparatus, the analog input circuit 1 incorporates a correction circuit 13 comprising an adjustable resistor 11 and an adjustable capacitor 12 and disposed to perform error-correction of digital data, as is shown in FIG. 6.
In this conventional apparatus, a calibration signal having a waveform similar to that of an analog amount of electricity is input to the analog input circuit 1 from the power system, and is detected after having passed the circuit 1. The variable resistor 11 and variable capacitor 12 are adjusted in accordance with a detection result.
Since the constant of each component of the analog input circuit 1 varies with the lapse of time, it is necessary to periodically adjust the correction circuit 13.
As described above, the conventional digital protective relay apparatus is disadvantageous in that its calibration procedure is complicated and hence requires much labor.


A stent is disclosed and can include a stent body having a longitudinal axis. The stent body can also have a network of struts that can define a plurality of cells defined between interconnected struts. Each of the plurality of cells includes a major axis that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a cell angle, β.

Vascular stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel. Vascular stenosis can include peripheral artery stenosis, coronary artery stenosis, carotid artery stenosis, and renal artery stenosis. There exist several ways to detect vascular stenosis. For example, a vascular stenosis can be detected using a stethoscope to amplify bruit, i.e., noise, within the blood vessel due to turbulent blood flow through the narrowed blood vessel. Alternatively, one or more imaging methods can be used to detect and locate a vascular stenosis. For example, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography can be used to detect and locate a vascular stenosis.
A common cause of vascular stenosis is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, aka, hardening of the arteries, is a disease that affects the arterial blood vessel. Atherosclerosis is caused by the formation of multiple plaques within the arteries. As plaque builds up within an artery, the diameter of the artery is reduced and results in a stenosis.
Vascular stenosis can be treated using a stent. A stent can be from a shape memory material or a non-shape memory material. A stent made from a non-shape memory material can be installed on a balloon catheter and then, threaded through a patient's cardiovascular system to the stenosis. Once the stent is in place within the stenosis, the balloon catheter can be inflated in order to deform the stent and move the stent to an expanded configuration. Thereafter, the balloon catheter can be deflated and withdrawn from the patient.
A stent made from a shape memory material can be installed on a catheter and a sleeve can be placed over the stent. The catheter and sleeve can be threaded through a patient's cardiovascular system to the stenosis. Once the stent is in place within the stenosis, the sleeve can be removed from the stent. When exposed to the patient's body temperature, the stent automatically can move to an expanded configuration that corresponds to a shape memory configuration.


A method of managing schedule changes for correlated calendar events. The method includes receiving, at one or more computing devices, a first calendar event including an event designation as a parent event and receiving a second calendar event including an event designation as a child event. The method further includes receiving, at the one or more computing devices, an indication of event dependency between the second calendar event and the first calendar event. If an indication is received that the first calendar event is cancelled, the method further includes cancelling, using the one or more computing devices, the second calendar event. If an indication is received that the first calendar event is rescheduled at a temporal interval from a first event time, the method further includes rescheduling, using the one or more computing devices, the second calendar event from a second event time based on the temporal interval.

The disclosure relates generally to managing schedule changes for correlated calendar events in a calendar application.
Many users rely on electronic or online calendar applications to manage their schedules. Information regarding various upcoming activities can be entered by the user into a calendar application using sectioned blocks of time in the form of calendar events. The information stored as part of a calendar event can include the event title, event date, event time, event duration, event location, and participants for the calendar event. Some calendar applications allow users to repeat calendar events at defined time intervals in the form of recurrent events, but users are not provided with an opportunity to establish a relationship between different calendar events that enables coordinated schedule changes between calendar events.

Managing schedule changes for correlated calendar events


The present invention is a catheter assembly allowing for non-contaminated insertion of a catheter into a urinary canal. The assembly includes a package for the catheter and an applicator to be used for guiding the catheter into the urinary canal without touching the catheter by holding the catheter via walls of the applicator. The assembly further comprises clamping means for pressing the walls of the applicator into engagement with the catheter. The present invention further relates to an applicator with integrated clamping means to be used with the assembly.

Catheters for draining the bladder are increasingly used for intermittent as well as indwelling or permanent catheterisation. Typically, catheters are used by patients suffering from urinary incontinence or by disabled individuals like para- or tetraplegics who may have no control permitting voluntary urination and for whom catheterisation may be the way of urinating.
Typically, catheters are provided to the user enveloped in a completely sealed and sterilised package. During use and prior to insertion, the catheter is removed completely from the package whereby a potential contamination of the catheter may occur, e.g. if the user unintentionally touches the catheter or if the catheter touches surrounding obstacles such as a toilet seat or a wash basin etc. Catheter packages and assemblies of catheters and packages exist, wherein both a proximal end and a distal end of the package may be opened thus allowing for draining the urine through a catheter which is still at least partly enveloped in the package. Thereby, the user may urinate without completely exposing the catheter and the risk of contamination is therefore reduced. There is however still a severe risk that the handling of the catheter may cause an unwanted contamination, not least if the user touches the catheter during the insertion thereof.
WO 00/30575 discloses a urinary catheter assembly comprising a case and an applicator for non-contaminating insertion of a urinary catheter into a urinary canal. The disclosed applicator comprises a compartment with a soft resilient wall adapted to be squeezed into engagement with the catheter in question. The applicator thus reduces the risk of contaminating the catheter by allowing the user to insert the catheter without touching it by hand. The use of the disclosed compartment requires not only dexterity but also certain strength for the user to squeeze the compartment sufficiently tight against the outer surface of the catheter to allow manipulation thereof. The manipulation of the catheter through the compartment wall is even more difficult when the catheter is coated with a friction reducing substance.

Catheter assembly including a catheter applicator


The present specification discloses a flexible, adapable voucher gaming system having a LAN interconnecting a cashier terminal, a central voucher-record database server, one or more logical gaming controllers, and a plurality of player terminals in order to play games of chance at each player terminal. The system provides voucher printers at the cashier terminal and preferably at the player terminals as well. The vouchers include unique bar codes printed on the vouchers, and the bar codes are readable by scanners at the cashier terminal and at the player terminals. The player terminals are preferably adapted to provide the player with the option of receiving at least certain amounts of cash rather than a voucher, but to also ensure that at least a voucher is provided to the player in the event that the player terminal fails to dispense cash when earned by the player and payable to the player under the game rules at the player terminal.

This invention relates to games of chance. More particularly, this invention relates to networked games of chance that a player may play by using or being awarded vouchers or tickets rather than cash.
Casinos have long demanded cashless transaction systems for their games of chance. The applicants have discovered that, however, gaming players often desire a simple, familiar method of transferring funds in and out of gaming devices without inserting or withdrawing cash at the gaming devices themselves.
Although other prior art systems also have provided the player with the ability to transfer funds from device to device via a printed voucher, they often have required cash funds to be inserted into the gaming devices to initiate game credit deposits. This is unworkable in certain jurisdictions as well as less than optimal for players who prefer not to deal with insertion of funds at the games themselves.
Another problem is that the prior art voucher systems are usually inflexible. For example, they typically do not provide for games of chance in the system to provide awards in one kind (such as by cash or by a particular product) as well as by credit to the player through the voucher system. This deprives the casino using such systems of the ability to generate excitement in the gaming environment, and thus stimulate the desire to engage in further play of the games, by, for example, dispensing actual cash at the games or by providing awards of particular products to the game player.
The applicants have invented a method and apparatus that can be, but need not necessarily be, cashless and does not require the player to insert cash at the gaming device itself. The applicants"" method and apparatus prints a unique voucher from one of several different types of terminals on a gaming device network. The cash voucher is accepted by the networked gaming devices (player terminals or PTs) in order to play the games on those networked devices (preferably games of chance). The method and apparatus preferably allows for the issuance of a voucher from a cashier terminal operated by a cashier (CT), an optional mobile cashier terminal (MCT), an optional automated cash exchange terminal (CET), or from a player terminal (PT).
When a voucher is issued, a record of the voucher and its corresponding value are preferably recorded on a database in a separate computer called a player account server (PAS). The voucher preferably may be redeemed for value at a CT or MCT. The voucher may also be used to enable the transfer of credits from the database to a PT, so that a player may elect to play at a different gaming device by generating a voucher on one PT and inserting it into another, without use of cash.
Since the voucher identifies an item in the database, the apparatus and method can also be used, if desired by the casino, for the awarding of non-cash prizes, such as merchandise or other items of value at the CT or MCT or through a networked point of sale system.
As noted above, each voucher preferably has a unique and secure identification indicia printed on it in a machine readable code, preferably in a bar code. The identification can be issued by a random number generator or by a combination of the date, time, machine number, or other number wholly or partially encoded onto the voucher. In the preferred embodiment the value of the voucher is used in the encoding algorithm, but is not included in the bar coded information. This can allow reasonable verification of an amount, but not regeneration of the amount. This security method can also allow a ticket to be validated to a higher level of confidence using information not contained in the machine readable coding.
There are other aspects of the invention that will become apparent as the specification proceeds.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides a voucher gaming system and method that are economical and relatively cost effective to implement.
It is another advantage of the present invention that it provides a gaming system and method that allows the use of vouchers rather than cash to play games of chance. This can allow a cashless mechanism that does not require player identification, preregistration, or other inconvenient or expensive media.
Yet another advantage is that the present gaming system and method can provide the option of presenting other forms of award, such as merchandise, entertainment, meals, special game or tournament play credits, or player club points to a player other than cash or cash valued vouchers, such as products or services that may be verified through the networked gaming system, through a networked connection to a point of sale system or other system.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be used to issue vouchers representing large jackpot awards that require unique administrative handling, while also leaving remaining player credits on the gaming device, thus permitting continued play and profit for the gaming operator.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it can provide a fail safe award mechanism that ensures a player will receive a voucher award at the very least in the event of the inability of a gaming machine to dispense another type of award, such as cash, to a player.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that it can provide a system and method that are flexible and adaptable to provide a variety of types of awards under a varying system or use conditions.
Another advantage of the invention is that it allows a method of voucher redemption by a cashier under conditions where certain network or database elements not fully operational.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides for a dual mode of operation, whereby the same hardware can function as a player terminal or as a cash exchange terminal, with an optional manual operation by a player required to change the operating mode.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it allows for a cashier terminal to be mobile using a radio link for connection to the other elements of the system.
Still yet another advantage of the invention is that it allows a dual mode of prize payout, whereby a given prize can be issued from a gaming device in a voucher or cash form. This can be initiated by player selection or by one of several circumstances, such as when a coin or coupon payout hopper is empty or a malfunction of one or more other devices interferes with the payout taking place.
There are other advantages of the invention. They will become apparent as the specification proceeds. In this regard, it is to be understood that, with regard to the above-noted Brief Summary of the Invention and Advantages of the Invention, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the accompanying claims and not necessarily by whether the subject matter fulfills all aspects of the Brief Summary or Advantages stated above.