One feature pertains to a method that includes implementing a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) circuit, and obtaining a first set of output bits from the PUF circuit by operating the PUF circuit at a first supply voltage level and/or first frequency. Then, at least one of the first supply voltage level is changed to a second supply voltage level and/or the first frequency is changed to a second frequency, where the second supply voltage level and the second frequency are different than the first supply voltage level and the first frequency, respectively. A second set of output bits is then obtained by operating the PUF circuit at the second supply voltage level and/or the second frequency, where the second set of output bits is in part different than the first set. Secure data is generated using the first set of output bits and the second sets of output bits.

1. Field
Various features relate to integrated circuits, and more specifically, to using dynamic voltage scaling and frequency scaling techniques to enhance integrated circuit identification systems that use circuit-delay based physical unclonable functions.
2. Background
In the era of pervasive computing a lot of security issues exist related to software copyright protection, counterfeit ICs (i.e., chips), and system reliability. Software protection is a family of computer security techniques that are used to prevent the unauthorized copying of software. In other words, software must be able to determine whether the user is properly licensed to use it, and run only if this is the case. Another problem related to software protection is how to identify whether the chip or platform, on which the software is running, is a counterfeit chip. Counterfeit chips have proliferated throughout the industry and are a risk to the electronics supply chain. The product fallout from counterfeit semiconductors can range from small problems like dropped calls to much larger issues such as airplane crashes. Consequently, identifying and restricting the usage of counterfeit chips in the electronics supply chain is vital.
An on-chip Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) is a chip-unique challenge-response mechanism exploiting manufacturing process variations inside ICs. PUFs provide a mechanism to uniquely identify a hardware device based on intrinsic variations of physical components. When multiple chips are manufactured, the complex semiconductor process introduces slight variations that are beyond the control of the designer. For instance, even if two chips are manufactured from the same silicon wafer, circuit components (e.g., transistors) designed to be the same will probably differ in their silicon level features (e.g., gate length, threshold voltage value, gate oxide thickness, etc.) by microscopic amounts that may seem trivial. However, since these unique characteristics are uncontrollable and inherent to the physical device, quantifying them can produce an intrinsic identifier. Several different types of PUFs have been proposed based on exploration and analysis of silicon variations in circuit delays, such as ring oscillator based PUFs, arbiter PUFs, and path-delay analysis based PUFs. A PUF circuit receives a challenge as an input, and based on the physicals differences described above, the same PUF circuit may generate different response values in different chips.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of one example of a circuit-delay based PUF circuit 102 found in the prior art. The specific PUF circuit 102 shown is commonly known as a ring oscillator PUF. A plurality of ring oscillators (ROs) 104 may be concurrently enabled and their outputs are sent to two or more switches (multiplexers) 106, 108. Notably, the ROs and other components are supplied with a static supply voltage 119 (e.g., nominal supply voltage or a higher "stress" supply voltage). A challenge serves as input to each switch 106, 108, which causes each switch 106, 108 to then select a single RO from among the plurality of ROs 104. The challenges sent to the switches 106, 108 are designed such that each switch 106, 108 selects a different RO. The selected ROs each have a slightly different resonating frequency associated with them due to slight semiconductor-level manufacturing variations, even though each may have been manufactured to be identical. The PUF output (response) is generated by a pair-wise comparison 114 of these selected ring oscillators' frequencies as measured/stored by the counters 110, 112. For example, if the first counter 110 detects a higher frequency than the second counter 112, then a logical "1" may be generated, otherwise a logical "0" may be generated. In this fashion, the comparisons made represent a challenge/response mechanism where the chosen RO pair is the challenge and the RO frequency comparison result is the response. The same challenge issued to different yet (almost) identically manufactured chips will lead to different response values. This in turn helps identify one chip from another even though the chips may have been manufactured to be the same.
One problem with circuit-delay based PUFs is high power consumption. The RO based PUF 102 described above, as well as other types of circuit-delay based PUFs, operate using static supply voltages (e.g., nominal supply voltage or higher "stress" supply voltage) and may have relatively high operating frequencies. For instance, in ring oscillator based PUF approaches, the oscillation frequency can be several hundred MHz in typical designs even with relatively less advanced technology nodes (e.g. 90 nm), and the corresponding power consumption cannot be ignored. As another example, in path-delay analysis based PUFs, under typical supply voltages the clock needed to analyze the max operating frequency of each data path can be in the GHz range, which is difficult to be generate accurately in small frequency steps and may also consume significant power.
Another problem with circuit-delay based PUFs is the large circuit area overhead needed to implement them. In order to get a sufficient amount of bits to generate a chip ID, many replicated circuit units (e.g., a myriad of ring oscillator pairs) may be needed. Each of these circuit units occupies valuable area on the active surface of an IC, which may be otherwise used for other valuable modules such as memory or processing logic.
Thus, there exists a need to improve circuit-delay based PUFs so that they consume less power and less area, yet also still provide the same level of security (e.g., still provide the same encryption strength and number of identifier/key bits).

Method and apparatus for using dynamic voltage and frequency scaling with circuit-delay based integrated circuit identification


Method of urinary continence training utilizing an objective measurement indicative of the state of fullness of the bladder of the subject to identify the occurrence of an appropriate continence training opportunity. When the objective measurement equals or exceeds a signal threshold value, set to correspond to a bladder volume that is less than a reflexive urination volume, a signal is provided to the subject or to a caregiver. The objective measurement may be performed by a bladder monitor, using any of several modalities of automatic sensing, and preferably using ultrasound. The signal threshold value may be recalculated and increased, so as to continue to correspond to a relatively full bladder, as the subject grows and/or achieves progress toward continence. The method may include other steps directed to help the subject associate the physical sensation of a full bladder with voluntary urination, such as informing the subject that urination is imminent.

Newborn babies are incontinent, i.e., they are unable to voluntarily retain their bodily discharges and, instead, urinate and defecate reflexively. As they mature physiologically, children typically achieve urinary and fecal continence, that is, they develop the ability to voluntarily retain their urine and feces. Coincident with the development of continence, children typically develop the ability to voluntarily urinate and defecate, and cease reflexive elimination. This development of continence and of voluntary elimination, in place of reflexive elimination, may be accelerated and/or guided by caregivers through associative and conditioning techniques of training the child. For the purpose of this invention, the term "continence training" is used to denote training for both continence, itself, and for the voluntary elimination that is associated with continence. Thus, the term "continence training" is synonymous with what is referred to as "toilet training" or "potty training", in some countries.
The methods of continence training of children vary widely between countries and cultures, and even within a given population. In certain cultures, the continence training is started at a relatively early age and involves intensive conditioning. For instance, continence training may begin prior to the child's first birthday, such as at 6 months of age or even earlier. The continence training methods used in these cultures are based on conditioning the child to eliminate waste upon some signal, whenever the caregiver perceives that the child needs to urinate or defecate. Such conditioning methods are often extremely time-consuming and require the caregiver to learn and detect subtle signals from the child related to potential urination and defecation. With respect to urinary continence training, such a conditioning method may ultimately lead to earlier association of the physical sensation of bladder "fullness" with the possibility of voluntary urination into the designated receptacle. However, since the caregiver does not know the state of the bladder, a significant amount of time is wasted, since the bladder is often not sufficiently full to require emptying, or to produce the desired physical sensation of fullness in the child, at the time at which the caregiver attempts the conditioning.
In other cultures, the continence training is started at a much later age, e.g., when the child demonstrates an interest in the achievement of continence, with the intention being to minimize the psychological stress on the child by waiting until the child shows an interest. In these cultures, the start of continence training is typically postponed until the child reaches about 18 to 24 months of age. As a result, many children in these cultures are not fully continence trained until age three or later, even though they are physiologically capable of achieving continence much earlier. In addition to increasing the cost of caring for the child, through necessitating the purchase of diapers, disposable training pants, etc., delayed continence training may also result in the child feeling low self-esteem, if his or her chronological peers are already continent, and may lead to issues with preschools or daycare facilities that require that children in their care are continent.
Many types of continence training methods and aids have been utilized, including progress charts, reward systems, urination "targets" for boys, electronic wetness alarms, progress scales, readiness questionnaires, and thermal and tactile training signals in disposable absorbent products, among many others. A key step in urinary continence training, in particular, is helping the child to learn to associate the physiological sensation of a "full" bladder with voluntary urination. The methods and aids described in the prior art fail to provide a direct link for the child, or the child via the caregiver, between this sensation and voluntary urination.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of urinary continence training based on an objective measurement of the bladder


A prechamber ignition device for a spark-ignited internal combustion engine has a prechamber in fluid communication with a main combustion chamber by way of a plurality of ports. An outer opening of each of the plurality of ports is formed in an exterior surface of a prechamber body and circumferentially offset from a corresponding inner opening formed in an interior surface of the prechamber body, the interior surface forming a prechamber wall having a taper that assists in maintaining velocity of a charge of air and fuel to displace a flame kernel from a spark gap in the prechamber such that quenching of the flame kernel is prevented.

Internal combustion engines, including gasoline or natural gas spark-ignited engines, diesel compression ignition engines, gaseous fuel engines, and still others, generally operate by producing a controlled combustion reaction within a cylinder, which drives a piston to rotate a crankshaft. This basic technique has been used to operate engines with traditional fuels such as gasoline or diesel for well over a century. Emissions concerns, and price and supply concerns, amongst others, have led to an interest in and exploitation of less traditional fuels, notably, natural gas. These fuels commonly are used at a higher stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio, or so-called "lean" fuel mixtures, having an equivalence ratio less than 1. A traditional combustion engine ignition strategy that relies on a spark plug may fail to properly ignite these lean fuel mixtures, which can result in engine knock or other problems. Use of a prechamber ignition device can address these issues by igniting a charge of the lean fuel mixture in a prechamber before delivering a jet of hot combustion gases to a main combustion chamber, resulting in a hotter, more uniform, and typically more robust combustion reaction as compared to other techniques.
The use of a prechamber ignition device alone does not make a lean fuel mixture more combustible, however, meaning lean fuel mixtures may still fail to ignite in the prechamber itself. In particular, it has been observed that a flame kernel formed at a spark gap in the prechamber may be quenched, or extinguished, before the flame kernel produced a stable flame that can propagate to initiate combustion of the charge of air and fuel, resulting in a so-called "lean" misfire.
Several attempts have been made to more reliably initiate combustion of lean fuel mixtures in a prechamber. One such strategy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,839,762 to Chiera et al. ("Chiera"). Chiera discloses a multi-chamber igniter that is apparently structured to prevent quenching by pushing a newly formed flame kernel to a separate chamber, thereby isolating the flame kernel from gases in the prechamber. While this and other strategies may facilitate prechamber combustion in certain aspects, there remains ample room for improvement.

Prechamber ignition device for internal combustion engines and method


A resilient member having a central section is adapted to fit against the chest of the infant and two generally parallel downwardly extending side sections are adapted to fit snugly under the arms and against the sides of the infant. The central section has an extension which extends over the neck such that when the member is fitted over the chest of an infant, with the sides under the infant's armpits, the extension is in proximity to the chin of the infant. An inclined groove is provided along the upper surface of the extension for frictionally holding a nursing bottle in an inclined angle relative to the mouth of the infant.

Infant children have a liquid diet and are generally fed by means of a nursing bottle having a nipple which is adapted to dispense the liquid when the infant is sucking on the nipple. Infants require frequent feedings which involves the holding of a nursing bottle in an inclined position where the infant can easily reach the nipple with its mouth. After being fed, infants often fall asleep and most parents prefer that the infant sleep undisturbed for as long as possible. Very young infants are unable to roll over and have a limited ability to interfere with the feeding process, and therefore very young infants can be fed from an inclined bottle cradled in a towel or other pliable material on or near the chest of a reclining infant. However, a slight movement of the infant, or the changing distribution of the weight of the nursing bottle as the liquid is withdrawn will frequently disrupt such supporting structures causing the nipple to be withdrawn from the infant's mouth or changing the incline of the bottle such that the infant can no longer withdraw the liquid through the nipple.
Some of the prior art devices for feeding a reclining infant provide for retaining a nursing bottle in an inclined position such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,134,746 and 2,050,622. These devices can be easily removed after a child has fallen asleep but they fail to provide a means for holding the nipple in the general proximity of the infant's mouth. Existing devices which do hold a bottle in proximity to the infant's mouth, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,526,121 and 4,726,551, require that the device be strapped around the body of the infant. Such devices cannot be easily removed without the risk of awakening a sleeping infant.
It would be desirable to provide a nursing bottle holder which would hold a nursing bottle in an inclined position over the chest of an infant and which could be readily removed after feeding is complete without disturbing the infant.


Recombinant microorganisms are useful for producing xylitol by fermentation of arabinose. The recombinant microorganisms are produced by transformation of host microorganisms with heterologous polynucleotide sequences coding for each of L-xylulose reductase, D-tagatose 3-epimerase, and L-arabinose isomerase, which transformants express the heterologous polynucleotides at a sufficient functional level to be effective to produce xylitol from arabinose. Production of xylitol is effected by contacting these recombinant microorganisms with a substrate comprising arabinose under conditions effective to produce xylitol from arabinose.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is drawn to recombinant microorganisms effective for producing xylitol from arabinose.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Xylitol is a non-sugar sweetener approved for use in foods and other items in many countries. It has the same order of sweetness as sucrose with fewer calories and no unpleasant aftertaste. It is also well-known that xylitol is an anticariogenic sweetener. These properties make xylitol an extremely useful food ingredient.
Microbial production of xylitol, using hemicellulosic biomass such as agricultural residues, is attractive for reducing its manufacturing cost. The hemicellulose hydrolyzates are generally rich in D-xylose and L-arabinose (Saha, 2003, J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 30:279-291). D-xylose can be metabolized in xylose-fermenting yeasts such as Candida, Debaromyces, and Pichia species. These yeasts have xylose reductase, which reduces D-xylose to xylitol. Xylitol production from D-xylose has been well studied using the xylose-fermenting yeasts and their reductases [Saha & Bothast, Microbial production of xylitol. In: Saha, B. C. and Woodward, J. (eds.) Fuels and Chemicals, ACS Symposium Series 666, American Chemical Society, pp. 307-319, 1997]. However, in these systems, the arabinose is a particular problem to xylitol production because it can be easily converted to arabitol, which is very difficult to separate from the xylitol in a cost efficient manner.
In contrast to xylose, no xylitol production process from L-arabinose has been developed, despite its high abundance in the hemicellulosic hydrolyzates. Certain species of fungi have been reported to possess an L-arabinose catabolic pathway that synthesizes xylitol as an intermediate (Chang & Knight, 1960, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 3:554-559). However, no bacteria have been reported for producing xylitol from arabinose. Thus, the need remains for an improved fermentative process for producing xylitol from arabinose.

Method for microbial production of xylitol from arabinose

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


Disclosed is a method for producing an optically active 2-arylpiperidinium salt, comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating a pyridinium salt in the presence of an iridium complex and hydrogen, the 2-arylpiperidinium salt being represented by the following general formula (1):

Since substituted piperidine derivatives having optical activity are useful as pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, flavors, fragrance, synthetic intermediates thereof, and the like, there is a demand for production of piperidines having high optical activity.
In general, it is necessary to carry out hydrogenation to the corresponding piperidine by using an achiral palladium catalyst or the like (Heterogeneous Catalysis for the Synthetic Chemist, 1996, chapter 17, 421-424, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-242630, and European Patent No. 350733 (pages 65 and 66)) and further to carry out purification by optical resolution. This means that the other optically active isomer is removed as the by-product, and such loss of the product is also disadvantageous in addition to the costs associated with the purification.
Chem. Rev., 2012, 112, 2557-2590 describes asymmetric hydrogenation of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds (including quinoline rings, quinoxaline rings, isoquinoline rings, and the like) other than pyridine rings. However, as described on page 2573, only a few technologies are known for synthesizing a piperidine derivative by asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of a pyridine derivative. As described on page 2574, known technologies for producing an optically active piperidine derivative include (1) asymmetric hydrogenation using a rhodium catalyst; (2) asymmetric hydrogenation using an iridium catalyst; (3) asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction using an asymmetric Brønsted acid; and the like.
(1) In the asymmetric hydrogenation using a rhodium catalyst, the optical activity is low, or for a high optical purity, multi-step reaction (enamine, substitutution step, and hydrogenation) is necessary.
(2) The asymmetric hydrogenation using an iridium catalyst includes a method of asymmetrically hydrogenating an N-iminopyridinium ylide by using an iridium catalyst as described in Heterocycles, 2008, 76, 1271-1283, and a method for asymmetrically hydrogenating an N-benzylpyridinium ylide by using an iridium catalyst as described in Synthetic Communications: An International Journal for Rapid Communication of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 2012, 42, 1137-1145 and Angewandte Chemie, International Edition 2012, 51, 1-5. However, it cannnot be said that these conventional technologies are highly versatile production methods, because a step of eliminatiing a protective group at the 1(N)-position is necessary for obtaining a 1-unsubstituted piperidine derivative from a 1-substituted piperidine derivative.
(3) In the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction using an asymmetric Brønsted acid described on page 2575 of Chem. Rev., 2012, 112, 2557-2590, Hantzsch ester is used as the hydrogen source. The Hantzsch ester is contained in excess (4 equivalents), and hence has to be separated in purification.
As described above, there is still no simple method which makes it possible to industrially produce an optically active piperidine derivative in a high yield with a high optical purity. In other words, it is difficult to directly obtain an optically active piperidine derivative in a high yield with a high enantiomeric excess by direct asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of a 2-arylpiperidine derivative.

Method for producing optically active 2-arylpiperidinium salt

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, X, *, and m are as described in Description, the pyridinium salt being represented by the following general formula (2):

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, X, and m are as described in Description, and the iridium complex being represented by the following general formula (3):IrH(Z)(Q)(PP*)  (3),        wherein Z, PP*, and Q are as described in Description, or the following general formula (4):[{IrH(PP*)}2(μ-Z)3]Z  (4),        wherein Z and PP* are as described in Description.


The security object comprises a substrate, a surface structure and a hologram layer. A volume hologram is arranged in the hologram layer. The hologram layer is deformed in homogeneously by the surface structure, which gives rise to readily detectable changes in the reflections from the volume hologram. These changes can be used to verify the authenticity of the object. The surface structure can e.g. be applied using intaglio printing techniques or embossing. Alternatively or in addition to the deformation of the hologram layer by means of the surface structure, the hologram layer may also be deformed by embossing.

Security objects of this type may e.g. be bank notes, passports, credit cards, identity cards, packages or tags for valuable goods, data carriers, letterheads, etc. Such objects are often equipped with security features with the purpose to make counterfeiting difficult.
Security features based on holograms are widely known. While most of these features are using surface holograms (e.g. diffraction gratings having a depth in the order of only one or a few wavelengths), "volume holograms" have also been proposed for such applications, see e.g. EP 1 091 267. Volume holograms have gratings of a depth that is much larger than the wavelength of visible light, e.g. a depth of at least 10 μm, advantageously at least 50 μm. They can have high diffraction efficiencies, generate powerful images and have well-defined diffraction angles and wavelengths.
With the increasing skill of counterfeiters, a further improvement of such security objects is desired. Also, it is desired that the security objects have characteristics that makes them easy to be verified.

Anti-counterfeit security and methods for its production and verification


A memory device includes a block of memory cells having a plurality of levels. Each level includes strips of memory cells extending in a first direction between first and second ends of the block. A first bit line structure, at each level at the first end, is coupled to a first string of memory cells extending from the first end. A second bit line structure, at each level at the second end, is coupled to a second string of memory cells extending from said second end. Bit line pairs extend in the first direction with each including odd and even bit lines. Odd and even bit line connectors connect the odd and even bit lines to the second and first bit line structures, respectively. Each bit line for a series of bit line pairs are separated by a bit line of an adjacent pair of bit lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present technology relates to high density memory devices, such as memory devices in which multiple levels of memory cells are arranged to provide a three-dimensional (3D) array.
2. Description of Related Art
Critical dimensions of devices in integrated circuits are shrinking to the limits of common memory cell technologies. In one trend to achieve high density, designers have been looking to techniques for stacking multiple levels of memory cells to achieve greater storage capacity, and to achieve lower costs per bit. For example, thin film transistor techniques are applied to charge trapping memory technologies in Lai, et al., "A Multi-Layer Stackable Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) NAND-Type Flash Memory," IEEE Int'l Electron Devices Meeting, 11-13 Dec. 2006; and in Jung et al., "Three Dimensionally Stacked NAND Flash Memory Technology Using Stacking Single Crystal Si Layers on ILD and TANOS Structure for Beyond 30 nm Node," IEEE Int'l Electron Devices Meeting, 11-13 Dec. 2006.
Also, cross-point array techniques have been applied for anti-fuse memory in Johnson et al., "512-Mb PROM With a Three-Dimensional Array of Diode/Anti-fuse Memory Cells" IEEE J. of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 38, no. 11, November 2003. In the design described in Johnson et al., multiple levels of word lines and bit lines are provided, with memory elements at the cross-points. The memory elements comprise a p+ polysilicon anode connected to a word line, and an n-polysilicon cathode connected to a bit line, with the anode and cathode separated by anti-fuse material.

3D memory array with read bit line shielding


A computer-implemented method of detecting object distortion. The method includes receiving sensor data generated by one or more sensors of the vehicle. The one or more sensors are configured to sense an environment through which the vehicle is moving by following a scan pattern. The method also includes obtaining, based on the sensor data, a point cloud frame representative of the environment and identifying a point cloud object within the point cloud frame. Additionally, the method includes analyzing the point cloud object to identify a feature of the point cloud object that has an expected shape and comparing the feature of the point cloud object to the expected shape. The method also includes identifying that the point cloud object is distorted based on the feature of the point cloud object not matching the expected shape.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Self-driving or "autonomous" vehicles generally employ sensors, such as light detection and ranging (lidar) devices, to detect or "see" the surrounding environment as the vehicles move toward their destinations. A single lidar laser cannot scan the entire field of regard at once. Instead, lidar lasers may be configured to follow a scan pattern to scan the field of regard. As the lidar laser follows the scan pattern, a scanner determines depth data by measuring the travel time for light beams that are transmitted by the lidar system and scattered or reflected by objects in the field of regard. Each of these points along the scan pattern are referred to as "pixels" and are correlated to the determined depth data. While the lidar system is capable of scanning the field of regard at high speeds, there is still a time a delay between when the scanner determines the depth data at the various pixels of the scan pattern. Thus, if an object in the field of regard is moving relative to the vehicle, the object may appear to be distorted.


The invention is desktop computers sharing components and having divergent operating systems, hard drive(s) and memory for the expressed purpose of segregating the day to day data processing functions and files from access to the Internet and downloading information and e-mail therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to desktop computers and, more specifically, to desktop computers sharing components and having divergent operating systems, hard drive(s) and memory for the expressed purpose of segregating the day to day data processing functions and files from access to the Internet and downloading information and e-mail therefrom.
It is the scope of the present invention to incorporate the advantages of two systems without having two desktop computers. The desktop computer referred to in this application would be a computer having a case, power supply, motherboard, disk drive, disk drive interface, monitor, keyboard and can additionally include mouse, printer and cd-rom like devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other electronic device designed for segregated or backup data processing. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,040 issued to Blanset on May 24, 1988.
Another patent was issued to Blitz et al. on Jul. 9, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,399. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,297 was issued to Engquist on Sep. 1, 1998. Another patent was issued to Ohran et al. on Sep. 22, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,748 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 8, 1999 to Walker as U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,230.
Disclosed is a solid state disk drive, including a volatile, electronic RAM, memory and a non volatile, magnetic disk. The drive continuously saves unique data stored in the memory back to the disk. Additionally, the drive includes a number of tables and bit fields, in both volatile electronic memory and disk, for generally keeping track of what data has been restored from disk to memory, what data in the memory has been modified since it was restored from disk, and what modified data in the memory has been saved back to disk. In the event of a primary power outage, the drive first saves the volatile tables onto disk, and then saves the volatile, modified data onto disk, while using auxiliary power. If, however, auxiliary power is lost before any or all of the modified data is saved on disk, the saved tables provide information which enables the drive to distinguish the valid from the invalid data on disk.
The UNIX.RTM. and MS-DOS.RTM. operating systems are supported in a multi-tasking computer. At the heart of the computer is a microprocessor having protected and non-protected modes. The computer includes special-purpose hardware which prevents the MS-DOS system and its applications, which execute in the non-protected mode, from interfering with the UNIX system and its applications, which execute in the protected mode. In particular, this hardware monitors addresses generated by the computer and, by selectively inhibiting the associated control pulses, prevents the MS-DOS system from, for example, writing in UNIX-system-allocated memory, or accessing I/O devices that the UNIX system is currently using. In addition, a context switching feature is provided whereby the user can select, via a keyboard operation, to have displayed on the computer video monitor at any given time the image generated from the current UNIX system screen data or the image generated from the current MS-DOS system screen data.
A cache only client-server configuration which provides the performance benefits of xe2x80x9cdatalessxe2x80x9d client operation with the administrative efficiencies of a xe2x80x9cdisklessxe2x80x9d client-server configuration. Utilizing cache only clients, the performance of stand-alone systems can be approximated utilizing a relatively small disk drive as a local data cache. The cache only clients may be considered as interchangeable units in that they hold no critical data and any data held on the local disk is a xe2x80x9cclonexe2x80x9d of the master copy held on the server. System configuration, administration and maintenance costs are dramatically reduced since software installation, distribution and backup may be managed at the server.
A method for providing rapid recovery from a network file server failure through the use of a backup computer system. The backup computer system runs a special mass storage access program that communicates with a mass storage emulator program on the network file server, making the disks (or other mass storage devices) on the backup computer system appear like they were disks on the file server computer. By mirroring data by writing to both the mass storage of the file server and through the mass storage emulator and mass storage access program to the disks on the backup computer, a copy of the data on the file server computer is made. Optionally, selected portions of the data read through the mass storage emulator program can be altered before being returned as the result of the read operation on the file server. In the event of failure of the file server computer, the backup computer can replace the file server, using the copy of the file server""s data stored on its disks. A single backup computer can support a plurality of file server computers. Unlike other redundant file server configurations, this method does not require the backup computer system to be running the file server operating system.
A highly reliable computer memory storage system that is divided into subsystems, each of which is provided in triplicate: a primary subsystem, a backup subsystem and a spare subsystem. Upon detection of a non-recoverable failure in a primary subsystem, the backup subsystem substantially immediately assumes the tasks of the primary subsystem while the spare subsystem is integrated into the operation of the computer memory storage system. The triple replication of all subsystems and mechanisms for detecting failures in at least the primary and secondary subsystems provides an overall memory system which is highly reliable and substantially never requires servicing. In an alternative embodiment, three subsystems can share a load equally, for example a cooling or power supply load requirement. Upon failure, of any one or two of such three redundant subsystems, the remaining subsystems(s) is built with sufficent extra capacity that remaining subsystem(s) can still supply the total power or cooling requirements of the system.
While these electronic devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
With the advent of computers, data processing such as word processing, spreadsheets and graphic design were the mainstay of personal computer manufacturers and impetus for many people to invest in a PC. These machines proved to be more than adequate for these tasks and software developers were encouraged to expand the software capabilities of the personal computer, which was done with the addition of personal finance, interior design, landscaping and personal correspondence software, to name a few. All of this development was centered around faster processors, more disk space and bigger monitors.
With the advent of the Internet, the personal computer has transcended well beyond our wildest dreams. To the point that the government levies taxes on communications to provide Internet access to every public institution.
While the Internet is truly remarkable and for good or bad has become firmly intrenched in our culture, it has given rise to a subculture which expends a great effort in generating snippets of code, which when download into a personal computer can cause great harm to the contents therein. The present paranoia over the mischievous to malicious software, commonly referred to as computer virus, while effecting a relative small number of computers, has caused a regression in the exchange of information.
With the advent of e-mail this paranoia, either real or imagined, has reached pandemic proportion with the result that users are continuously warned to delete e-mail if they don""t recognize the sender.
The problem is simply stated. Computers have become an integral part of our culture. More and more personal information is being committed within the typical household to electronic recording. Banking is online, motor vehicle registrations and license renewal is online, tax filing is online, college registration is online, shopping is online, etc. The need to secure and protect this information is obvious. It is also obvious that e-mail is here to stay and so are those users who generate virus software.
Although there are many organization that make a valiant effort to identify and remove the virus code, it is too late for those original victims.
Therefore, it is felt that there is a need to design a single desktop computer which segregates the data processing functions of the computer from the Internet function of the computer.
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of the personal computer by segregating Internet functions to separate internal devices that are normally written to and are subject to malicious code.
During the normal startup of a computer the bios is loaded into memory which then retrieves the system configuration and operating system from the hard drive which permits user to execute application software and establish communications with other computers through their Internet service provider.
The present invention provides two hard drives having two operating systems having segregated process and memory access, permitting users to toggle between these systems.
One system having Internet access having its own operating system, processor, memory and hard drive would share the computer components which can not be effect by malicious software, such as, the motherboard, drive controller, video card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printers, scanners, etc.
The toggling between the two systems can be accomplished by a switch which can be incorporated into the PC case or by a third microprocessor using some keyboard key sequencing to switch between the systems.
The advantage of a third microprocessor with appropriate software is that it would monitor the state of both operating system. So that, if one crashed due to an application software bug, or a computer virus it would not effect the other because the other system""s basic instruction set and stack would still be intact. Also, the third microprocessors software could reboot the affect system.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having appropriate hardware and software to segregate application data processing from Internet communication functions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer which will boot two segregated operating systems.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having a microprocessor dedicated to each operating system.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having dedicated memory for each operating system.
Another object of the present invention is to have one or more dedicated hard drives for each operating system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having switch means for designating which operating system has control over system resources.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having a third microprocessor with applicable software for controlling and monitoring the function of each operating system microprocessor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having a KVM switch providing means for both operating system to share a common keyboard, video display device, and mouse pointing device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer having selective data transfer means for exchanging data between operating systems.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a desktop computer which will enhance the worldwide exchange of data by reducing the impact of virus software on data processing applications.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a desktop computer having appropriate hardware and software to segregate application data processing from Internet communication functions.
The data processing system will boot two segregated operating systems each having a dedicated microprocessor, dedicated memory and one or more dedicated hard drives for each operating system. Also, the desktop computer has a KVM switch whereby both operating systems share a common keyboard, video display device, and mouse pointing device.
Further, the desktop computer provides a switch for designating which operating system has control over system resources.
Additionally, the desktop computer has a third microprocessor with applicable software for controlling and monitoring the function of each of the operating system and selective data transfer means for exchanging data between operating systems.
Still further, the desktop computer of the present invention will protect and preserve the privacy of personal computer users by removing sensitive information from Internet accessible areas of the computer and relegate the impact of malicious virus code to expendable data areas of the computer.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
10 dual segregated operating system computer
12 first system board
14 second system board
16 mouse
18 monitor
20 keyboard
22 first single processor computer
24 second single processor computer
26 first case
28 second case
30 first processor system
32 second processor system
34 first cpu
36 first bios
38 first memory
40 static memory
42 isa, vlb, eisa, pci board slots
44 interprocessor bus
46 first disk drive
48 second disk drive
50 modem
52 second cpu
54 second bios
56 second memory
58 kvm switch
60 operating system
62 third microprocessor

Personal computer having a master computer system and an internet computer system and monitoring a condition of said master and internet computer systems


A maximum likelihood sequence estimation circuit includes: a signal extraction unit that estimates a reception sample signal including a preceding wave component and a reception sample signal including a delayed wave component from a plurality of reception sample signals sampled from a reception signal at sample intervals shorter than symbol intervals, and extracts, based on an estimation result, both first reception sample signals and second reception sample signals from the plurality of reception sample signals at the symbol intervals; and a maximum likelihood sequence estimation unit that estimates a maximum likelihood sequence using the first reception sample signals extracted and the second reception sample signals extracted.

In a digital wireless communication system, due to the multipath propagation environment, delayed waves cause mutual interference between symbols to produce distortion in the waveform of the signal, which can deteriorate the communication quality. Maximum likelihood sequence estimation is known as a technique for correcting such waveform distortion and improving the communication quality. Maximum likelihood sequence estimation is a technique of estimating a correct transmission symbol sequence by comparing a plurality of replica reception signals generated from transmission path impulse responses and a plurality of candidates for the transmission symbol sequence and reception sample signals sampled at symbol intervals from the actual reception signal. The comparison between a replica reception signal and a reception sample signal is performed using the square value of the difference between the replica reception signal and the reception sample signal, and this value is called a branch metric.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for realizing good communication quality even in a propagation environment in which the delay time of a delayed wave is not an integral multiple of the symbol interval. Specifically, the technique of Patent Literature 1 includes performing maximum likelihood sequence estimation by using reception sample signals sampled from a reception signal at sample intervals shorter than the symbol intervals. In this technique, reception sample signals are sampled from a reception signal at sample intervals of 1/N of the symbol intervals and divided into N strings of reception sample signals, each including reception sample signals at symbol intervals. Then, maximum likelihood sequence estimation is performed using the branch metrics generated for each string.

Maximum likelihood sequence estimation circuit, receiving device, and maximum likelihood sequence estimation method


A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

The present invention relates, in general, to railway coupling devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a retainer member for use in connection assemblies utilized in articulated coupling arrangements and slackless drawbar assemblies which are used in the railway industry to couple together the adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway type freight cars in a substantially semi-permanent fashion.
Articulated coupling arrangements and slackless drawbar assemblies have been generally well known in the railroad industry for several years, prior to the development of the present invention, as a means to connect together the adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway type freight cars in a substantially semi-permanent fashion. In other words, these railway freight cars generally will not require frequent separation during service. Normally they will only be separated during a required repair and/or routinely scheduled maintenance being performed on one or more of them.
These railway cars are particularly adapted for what is most commonly referred to, in the railroad industry, as piggyback service and/or dedicated service wherein the cars may be joined in a semi-permanent fashion. The railroad cars which are joined in such semi-permanent fashion are also commonly referred to in the railroad industry as either a xe2x80x9c5-packxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c10-packxe2x80x9d unit.
These 5-pack or 10-pack units do not require the use of a standard coupler, except between units. The primary reason such standard couplers are not required is because these units are only broken periodically. Normally, this occurs when maintenance of an individual component must be carried out. Obviously, considerable cost-savings are achieved by the use of this semi-permanent coupling arrangement. These cost savings are mainly derived from lower car weight, fewer railway trucks, reduced maintenance and generally lower equipment cost. Such lower equipment cost being achieved by elimination of draft gears and a reduction in the number of trucks required.
With the use of these semi-permanent coupling arrangements and with the higher loads presently being carried by modern railway trains, it is of the utmost importance that a close-buttoned relationship be maintained between the numerous coupler draft components. Such a close-buttoned relationship is required in order to reduce the detrimental effects of the impact forces which are encountered by a car under buff conditions of train operations.
One prior type of articulated coupling device used for the purpose of connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars, in a semi-permanent manner, is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,819, the teachings of such patent hereby being incorporated into the present application by reference thereto.
This particular articulated coupling device includes a male connection member secured to one end of a first railway car body and a female connection member secured to an adjacent end of a second railway car body. The male connection member includes an aperture therein. A bearing assembly, including a substantially spherical member, is positioned within this aperture for joining such male connection member with the female connection member.
A race assembly, formed by at least two members, is provided within the aperture and is positioned around a predetermined portion of the substantially spherical member. The race assembly enables requisite movement of the male connection member in relation to the female connection member in each of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range of angles measured from each of a centerline of the spherical member disposed in a vertical direction and a longitudinal axis of the articulated coupling arrangement disposed in a horizontal direction. A securing means is provided which is engageable with each of the race assembly and the male connection member for securing the race assembly and the spherical member to the male connection member.
One generally well known slackless type drawbar assembly using a ball and race type connection includes the following elements: a car connection member, or female connection member, engageable within the center sill portion of a railway vehicle, a spherical member securable within the car connection member, a male connection member having a curved butt end and an aperture which is disposed around the spherical member secured within the car connection member, a two piece race assembly secured within the aperture of the male connection member and disposed between the spherical member and such aperture and a drawbar connected to such male connection member.
A disadvantage of the articulated coupling arrangements and slackless drawbar assemblies discussed above is the provision of at least two separate members to form the race assembly and the care which must be taken to secure these two separate members within the aperture of the male connection member around a predetermined portion of the spherical member. These factors add additional materials cost, assembling time and labor to the manufacture of the articulated coupling arrangement and/or slackless drawbar assembly.
An object of the present invention is to provide a retainer member for use in a connection assembly which is utilized in an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar assembly to connect together the adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway type freight cars in a substantially semi-permanent fashion.
A further object of the present invention is to replace the two piece race assembly with a single piece retainer member which fits into a slotted portion formed by the male connection member so as to form a substantially spherical inner surface upon which the spherical member can rotate against.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer member for use in a connection assembly so that the connection assembly is easily assembled thus providing a significant reduction in time and labor.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer member for use in a connection assembly such that the connection assembly requires fewer component parts thereby providing a significant reduction in manufacturing cost.
Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing objects, the instant invention comprises a retainer member for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for use in one of an articulated coupling arrangement and a slackless drawbar arrangement. This male connection member includes an aperture having a predetermined configuration in one end thereof to form an inner surface. The retainer member comprises a circular member or component engageable with at least a portion of the inner surface of the male connection member so as to form a substantially spherical inner surface including at least a portion of the inner surface of the male connection member and at least a portion of the circular member. This substantially spherical inner surface is positioned around a predetermined portion of the spherical member and enables movement of the male connection member in relation to a railway car connection member in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range of angles.
A securing means is provided for securing the retainer member within the aperture of the male connection member. Also, a joining means is provided for joining the spherical member to the car or female connection member so as to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railway vehicles.
Although a number of objects and advantages of the present invention have been described in some detail above, various additional objects and advantages of the retainer member for use in a connection assembly according to the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the railway coupling art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description of the invention is taken in conjunction with both the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

Retainer member for use in railway coupling devices

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation


The present invention relates to a container for storing and sterilizing a chopping board which mainly comprises a case, a scattering plate, a sterilizing lamp, a screen cover, a water collecting box, a supporting plate, a microswitch, a compression spring, a holding plate, a heating element and a bottom plate. The weight of the chopping board forces the supporting plate to contact the microswitch which in turn actuates both the sterilizing lamp and the heating element such that the ultraviolet light generated by the lamp together with the heat produced by the heating element can be scattered by the scattering plate to improve both sterilizing and drying efficacy. In addition, the present container has a compact overall volume and can be easily assembled because the utilized elements are simplified and the number of elements are significantly reduced.

The present invention relates to a container and particularly to one which is used to store and sterilize a chopping board.
The sanitary requirements for the applicances to be used in the kitchen are increasing day by day. Although many newly designed devices, such as rice container, dish dryer, etc. have already been provided for such purposes, to date we still lack a proper container to store and to sterilize the chopping board which, otherwise, may easily be polluted.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate and mitigate the above-identified deficency.

Container for storing and sterilizing a chopping board


The direction control valve comprises a housing having a stepped central boring for accommodating a sliding control piston having a section of larger diameter and a section of smaller diameter. The housing defines two load ports each communicating with an assigned boring section through an annular gap. One load port is directly connectable through its annular gap with a pressure releasing or venting port and the other load port is connectable to the same venting port through a central passage in the piston.

This invention relates generally to directional control valves and more particularly it relates to a control valve preferably for controlling a pneumatic load, having a housing defining two load ports, a pressure port, a control port and an axially movable control piston.
In conventional directional control valves of this type having two load ports, a flow return or venting port is assigned to each load port. The disadvantages of such known structure is a relative complexity of the design and an increased length.


A capacitance-based pressure sensor for measuring a process variable includes a metal sensor body, a diaphragm disposed within a cavity of the metal sensor to form a deflectable capacitor plate, and an insulator extending through the metal sensor body from an end wall to the cavity. The pressure sensor further includes an isolation tube in fluid connection with the cavity, the isolation tube extending into the insulator through the end wall, a stationary capacitor plate on a surface of the insulator in the cavity, the stationary capacitor plate spaced from the diaphragm, and an electrical lead wire connected to the stationary capacitor plate and extending through the insulator parallel to the isolation tube and exiting the insulator at the end wall. A fill fluid is within the isolation tube and the cavity to apply pressure to the diaphragm.

The present invention relates to pressure sensors for use in industrial process transmitters, and in particular, to capacitance-based pressure sensors.
Capacitance-based pressure sensors are used to measure the pressure of process fluids in industrial process systems by generating electrical output in response to physical change. One such exemplary capacitance-based sensor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,875.
Oil and gas industries often use pressure sensors in extreme and harsh environments that subject the pressure sensors to high line pressures and high temperatures. There is a continuing need for pressure sensors that can operate in these extreme and harsh environments.

Differential pressure sensor with high pressure capabilities


A header for interconnecting electrical components comprises at least one column of conductors interposed between ground planes, wherein the column of conductors comprises at least a first, second and third conductor. The first conductor is a ground line, the second and third conductors are signal lines, and the first conductor is electrically connected to one of the ground planes, wherein the second conductor is positioned in the column in interposed relation between said first and third conductor.

In the manufacture of computers and other electronic apparatus, daughter printed wiring boards (PWBs) are commonly connected to mother PWBs by means of modular electrical connectors, typically comprising a receptacle and a header. A daughter card (or PWB) electrically and mechanically connects to a receptacle, which in turn electrically and mechanically connects to a mother card (or backplane).
Modular electrical connectors of the type mentioned above are used, for example, to connect a large number of signal wires to a PWB. Consequently, a connector is provided with a number of columns of contact holes with contact pins disposed therein. An exemplary connecter is an 8.times.12 connector which has 12 columns of 8 contact holes with contact pins disposed therein.
As miniaturization becomes more prevalent, the number of signal wires to be connected to a connector increases, but the dimensions of the connector itself must not increase and preferably should even decrease. This results in an increasing number of signal and ground connections in the limited space of the connector. In high-frequency applications, this results in the risk of cross talk in the signal connections.
Accordingly, to combat the risk of cross talk due to mutual EMI of the signal connections, electrical connectors are equipped with shielding to attempt to shield each signal from EMI from neighboring and nearby signals. This shielding can be a conventional mechanical shield or an electrical shield in the form of a ground line. With today's electrical connectors, however, the current state of shielding still leaves great risk for cross talk. It is, therefore, desirable to provide an electrical connector that has enhanced shielding capabilities, yet does not significantly reduce signal density.
Stripline configurations, i.e., arrangements in which conductors in parallel in a dielectric are interposed between ground planes, are known in the art. A need exists for a way to use such configurations to reduce cross.


A connective tissue modification cuff can be applied around a portion of the body and drawn tight. Integrated within the portion of the cuff that is pressed against the body is a plurality of variable compression beads. These variable compression beads comprise half spherical beads, half prolate spheroid beads, half oblate spheroid beads, or other similarly rounded structures that provide variably increasing pressure towards their high-points and gradually reduced pressure towards their low points. The cuff can be tightened down via a tensioning system that allows even tightening in small increments. Once in place, the person then stretches or uses the arm in order to apply the variable compression beads to the connective tissue under use. Such application works on the underlying connective tissue to reduce the pain and associated problems.

Athletes, sedentary people, and everyone in between can experience bodily pain at various times throughout their lives. As we age, these incidences of pain can increase in severity, duration, and number. The medical profession has an entire field of specialties devoted to helping people mitigate and cope with pain. Additionally, there are a number of devices, over-the-counter & prescription medications, methods of body manipulation, cold and hot therapies, wraps, and other approaches that can be employed by individuals in order to manage their pain. However, many, if not most approaches to pain management focus on the symptoms rather than correcting the cause of pain. In some instances, the pain is caused by connective tissue that is too tight and needs to be stretched. What is needed is a way to work on connective tissue so as to reduce the pain and problems it can otherwise cause.


A method for assembling an electric motor of the type having a stator unit (5) and a rotary unit (6) housed in a containment compartment (2a) delimited by a casing (2), includes exposing the compartment (2a) to a different pressure relative to the outside environment and checking for the passage of fluid between the outside environment and the compartment (2a) in order to test the motor (1) hermetic seal.

In general, a rotary electric machine comprises a stator, a rotor mounted on a shaft and a casing with supports for the rotor shaft.
To mount the stator and the rotor in the casing, the latter must be divided into at least two parts which can be assembled.
An example of an electric machine and a method for making it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,596.
Also known, especially in the sector of electric fans for motor vehicles, are watertight and moisture proof electric motors.
Such motors are designed to operate in environmental situations and in positions in which they may be subject to infiltration by water and moisture, which may create electrical problems for the motor.
There have been prior art attempts to make a watertight casing for electric motors, in particular made by inserting a gasket between the two parts mentioned above, for example as described in document WO2005/034309 by the Applicant.
However, this type of assembly is not without disadvantages: in particular, when the motor is closed, that is to say when the lid and the cup-shaped part are locked relative to one another, there is no absolute guarantee that the motor will be hermetically sealed.
Despite the many efforts made to ensure this, the gasket between the two parts of the casing may not be perfectly positioned or effectively squashed to guarantee a suitable seal between the parts in contact.
Moreover, infiltrations may occur at the motor shaft supports, in particular where the motor shaft comes out of the casing for motor effectiveness.

Method for assembling an electric motor and motor obtained using this method


Antibody expression vectors and plasmids can incorporate various antibody gene portions for transcription of the antibody DNA and expression of the antibody in an appropriate host cell. The expression vectors and plasmids have restriction enzyme sites that facilitate ligation of antibody-encoding DNA into the vectors. The vectors incorporate enhancer and promoter sequences that can be varied to interact with transcription factors in the host cell and thereby control transcription of the antibody-encoding DNA. A kit can incorporate these vectors and plasmids.

Antibody molecules consist of a combination of two heavy (H) chain and two light (L) chain polypeptides. Each heavy and light chain comprises a constant region containing the CL, CH1, hinge region, CH2, and CH3 regions, and a variable region containing the hypervariable regions (complement determining regions (CDRs)); the CDRs control the antibody's antigen-binding characteristics. The two heavy chains are joined to each other and the light chains in a Y-shaped structure via disulfide bridges such that the variable regions of the light chains (V.sub.L) and heavy chains (V.sub.H) are located next to each other.
To generate antibodies, conventional hybridoma techniques have been used in which clones of hybrid cells expressing genes coding for the light and heavy chains of an antibody molecule are obtained by immunization with an antigen molecule. This technique necessitates the fusion of cells of lymphocytic origin, containing the genes for antibody formation and cells forming immortal lines. The cells carrying the genes in question are generally obtained by random creation of libraries of circulating cells, and screening of the hybridomas with an antigen-antibody reaction after the hybridoma clones are multiplied and cultured. This technique can be uncertain and laborious with limited yield of antibodies, and is limited in application to non-human (e.g., mouse) antibody production.
In addition, monoclonal antibodies and their fragments can be expressed in various host systems, such as E. coli, yeast, and mammalian host cells. In general, a mammalian expression vector will contain (1) regulatory elements, usually in the form of viral promoter or enhancer sequences and characterized by a broad host and tissue range; (2) a "polylinker" sequence, facilitating the insertion of a DNA fragment within the plasmid vector; and (3) the sequences responsible for intron splicing and polyadenylation of mRNA transcripts. This contiguous region of the promoter-polylinker-polyadenylation site is commonly referred to as the transcription unit. The vector will likely also contain (4) a selectable marker gene(s) (e.g., the .beta.-lactamase gene), often conferring resistance to an antibiotic (such as ampicillin), allowing selection of initial positive transformants in E. coli; and (5) sequences facilitating the replication of the vector in both bacterial and mammalian hosts.
Unlike most genes that are transcribed from continuous genomic DNA sequences, antibody genes are assembled from gene segments that may be widely separated in the germ line. In particular, heavy chain genes are formed by recombination of three genomic segments encoding the variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J)/constant (C) regions of the antibody. Functional light chain genes are formed by joining two gene segments; one encodes the V region and the other encodes the J/C region. Both the heavy chain and .kappa. light chain loci contain many V gene segments (estimates vary between 100 s and 1000 s) estimated to span well over 1000 kb. The .lambda. locus is, by contrast, much smaller and has been shown to span approximately 300 kb on chromosome 16 in the mouse. It consists of four joining/constant region gene segments and two variable gene segments. Recombination resulting in functional genes occurs predominantly between V.sub.1 and either J.sub.1/C.sub.1 or J.sub.3/C.sub.3 elements or between V.sub.2 and J.sub.2/C.sub.2 elements (J.sub.4/C.sub.4 is a pseudogene), although recombinations between V.sub.2 and J.sub.3/C.sub.3 or J.sub.1/C.sub.1 are seen very rarely.
An example of a mammalian expression vector is CDM8. The transcription unit of CDM8 is composed of a chimeric promoter (the human cytomegalovirus AD169 constitutive promoter fused to the T7 RNA polymerase promoter), a polylinker region and the SV40 small tumor (t) antigen splice and early region polyadenylation signals derived from pSV2. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) promoter is expressed in a variety of mammalian cell types, while the T7 bacteriophage DNA-dependent RNA polymerase promoter can drive in vitro cell-free transcription/translation of cloned inserts. This particular promoter fusion allows initial experiments to be conducted within the confines of the host mammalian cell type, while further analysis and utilization of the cloned insert may potentially be carried out in an in vitro "cell-free" transcription/translation system. The constitutively expressed HCMV promoter has also been utilized in other mammalian expression vectors besides CDM8. Origins of replication in CDM8 include (1).pi.VX (allowing e.g., replication in E. coli) (2) SV40 origin (e.g., allowing replication in a variety of COS cell types) (3) polyoma origin (e.g., allowing replication in polyoma virus transformed mouse fibroblasts) and (4) the bacteriophage M13 origin (e.g., allowing generation of single-stranded template for DNA sequence analysis and/or oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis).
Furthermore, CDM8 carries the supF gene for selection in E. coli. In this antibiotic selection system, a CDM8-based plasmid construction is transformed into a specialized E. coli strain containing an episome carrying genes encoding resistance to the antibiotics, ampicillin and tetracycline. However, both genes contain chain termination ("nonsense" codon) point mutations inactivating the resistance phenotype. The supF gene product, a nonsense suppressor tRNA, restores the resistant phenotype for each antibiotic. Therefore, selection is based on growth of the specialized episomal-carrying E. coli strain on media containing ampicillin and tetracycline. Colonies exhibiting this phenotype are supposedly transformed with the CDM8-based plasmid construction.
The CDM8 vector is compatible with COS cell lines as well as cell lines transformed with the polyoma virus. COS cell lines are African green monkey CV1 cells transformed with an origin-defective SV40 mutant virus. The COS cells produce the large T antigen, which is required in trans to promote replication of SV40 or plasmid constructions, such as CDM8, which contain the respective cis-acting sequences initiating viral replication. Therefore, COS cells transfected with a CDM8-based construction will support replication of the plasmid, resulting in increased plasmid copy number and a transient overexpression of the gene of interest.
The major use of CDM8 is cDNA expression cloning and overproduction of specific proteins in a mammalian in vitro expression system. Expression cloning takes on various forms depending on the mode of detection utilized to identify the cDNA of interest; however, the initial step consists of isolating mRNA and synthesizing double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid copies of the mRNA population (cDNAs). These cDNAs must be efficiently ligated to a plasmid or bacteriophage DNA cloning vector and transferred to the appropriate host prior to library screening and analysis. The CDM8 vector contains two BstXI restriction sites, making it amenable to the "adaptor" linker procedure of ligating cDNAs to the vector, i.e., the use of DNA fragments blunt ended at one end (and therefore compatible for ligation with the blunt ended cDNA) but containing a non-palindromic overhang (sticky end) on the other end (in this instance, compatible for ligation with BstXI digested vector DNA, but not with other cDNAs).
Another example of a mammalian expression vector is pCMX. This vector contains (1) the immediate early promoter of HCMV, (2) an SV40 RNA splice/polyadenylation sequence, (3) an SV40 origin of replication, (4) a pBR322 origin of replication and (5) a selectable marker conferring resistance to an antibiotic, such as the .beta.-lactamase gene conferring resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin. The pCMX vector can also be used for the transient expression of a cloned DNA sequence in transfected COS cells. Control of transcription of both rearranged heavy and .kappa. light chain genes depends both on the activity of a tissue specific promoter upstream of the V region and a tissue specific enhancer located in the J-C intron. These elements act synergistically. Also, a second B-cell specific enhancer has been identified in the .kappa. light chain locus. This further enhancer is located 9 kb downstream of C.sub.kappa.
One such mammalian host system used to produce antibodies is a mouse myeloma host cell that has been transfected with cloned DNA encoding the desired antibody. Such "recombinant monoclonal antibodies" are often distinct from hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies for which the DNA has not been cloned and for which the cells producing the monoclonal antibody are derived by immortalizing a natural monoclonal antibody-producing cell isolated from an animal. The heavy and light chain immunoglobulin (Ig) genes being expressed in hybridoma cells are under the control of the natural endogenous promoter that had always been linked to the particular variable region sequence being expressed as opposed to the promoter contained in the recombinant vector.
In recombinant production, the monoclonal antibody sequence to be cloned must be ligated into an appropriate vector after restriction enzyme treatment of the vector. This task can be difficult and imprecise as the process of incorporating the antibody nucleotide sequence(s) into an expression vector or plasmid is complex.
However, by cloning the monoclonal antibody DNA sequences prior to preparing transfected cell-derived monoclonal antibodies, recombinant DNA methods can be used to replace the natural endogenous promoter for an Ig gene with any promoter of choice. A primary reason for changing a promoter is to realize higher monoclonal antibody production levels.
Promoter sequences, in conjunction with downstream enhancer sequences, are responsible for driving transcription (i.e., RNA synthesis) of the heavy and light chain genes in the transfected cells by binding to specialized nuclear proteins called transcription factors. It has become apparent that there are fewer sites for transcription factor binding in an Ig promoter than there are in an Ig enhancer; however, the fact that there is sequence variability among promoters but only a single copy of an enhancer sequence makes it highly likely that there is functional variability among Ig promoters. One promoter may be "strong," i.e., efficient at binding a favorable combination of transcription factors that leads to high levels of monoclonal antibody RNA synthesis, whereas another promoter may be "weak," due to having a different DNA sequence. Since each of the more than 200 variable region HC genes and the more than 200 variable region LC genes in an Ig repertoire has its own naturally linked promoter, and it is likely that no two promoters have identical sequences, the many different Ig promoters are likely to vary significantly with respect to how well they drive transcription.
Ig promoters are only functional in lymphoid-type host cells, such as T cells and B cells (and myeloma cells), due to their requirement for Ig gene-specific transcription factors (for example, Oct-2 and OBF-1) not expressed in other cell types. In addition, even lymphoid cell-specific transcription factors may be expressed only at particular stages of cellular differentiation such that optimal expression may depend on matching the differentiation state of the host cell line with the appropriate sequence motifs in the Ig gene promoters. Although the host cell specificity of Ig promoters may be seen as a minor disadvantage for expression of the monoclonal antibody in a non-lymphoid host cell, the large assortment of HC and LC promoters affords a chance to identify and perhaps further optimize strong promoters that can be incorporated into lymphoid cell-specific vectors.
Expression of monoclonal antibodies behind a strong promoter increases the chances of identifying high-producing cell lines and obtaining higher yields of monoclonal antibodies. Consequently, Ig vectors with strong promoters are highly desirable for expressing any monoclonal antibody of interest. In addition, vectors with unique DNA cloning sites downstream of strong promoters would have an added convenience.
Accordingly, there is a need for new vectors and plasmids useful for expression of antibodies that simplify ligation techniques and enable customization of enhancer and promoter sequences in order to increase antibody production.

Vectors, host cells, and methods of production and uses


A continuously variable transmission housing is provided that includes an inner cover and an outer cover connectable to the inner cover to define an interior chamber. The interior chamber is structured and operable to enclose a continuously variable transmission primary pulley, secondary pulley and pulley belt. The housing includes a duct panel mounted to the inner cover such that when the primary pulley is disposed within the interior chamber, the duct panel is disposed between an outer face of the primary pulley and the inner cover. Moreover, an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, wherein the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing. The duct panel includes a center opening that structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn through the air duct and into the housing interior chamber.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many of today's lightweight vehicles that are not designated for use on roadways, e.g., all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), etc., implement a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to transfer and control the distribution of torque within the vehicle drivetrain. Due to the dust, water, mud, rocks, etc., commonly encountered in off-road environments, such CVTs typically comprise a housing or cover designed to protect the components, e.g., pulleys, bushings and belts, from the environment. However, such covers substantially enclose the components and trap heat generated during operation of the CVT. More particularly, the air within the cover is not easily exchanged with fresh cooler air and the components cannot cool off, thereby degrading the life of the components.


A video phone comprising an input device for entering input image data to be transmitted, a circuit for digitizing the input image data into digital image data, a memory for storing the digital image data, a first circuit for producing an output image signal based on the digital image data from the memory, a display device for displaying an image of the output image signal, a second circuit for compressing the digital image data from the memory into compressed image data, a telephone part having telephone functions, a line control circuit coupled to a public analog telephone line for selectively coupling the second circuit and the telephone part to the public analog telephone line, and a control device. The control device controls at least the memory and the second circuit so that the compressed image data related to the input image data is read out from the memory and supplied simultaneously to the first and second circuits in an image transmitting mode and the compressed image data related to a voice frequency signal received through the public analog telephone line is stored in the memory and read out therefrom to be supplied to the first circuit in an image receiving mode.

The present invention generally relates to image transmission systems, and more particularly to an image transmission system suitable for use in a video phone, a facsimile machine and the like.
Various video phone systems have been proposed in the past. The video phone was developed mainly in the United States around 1950 to 1970 and experimental results on various systems were announced, but none were reduced to practice. The fundamental problems of the proposed video phone were that the system required a wide band video line exclusively for image transmission. However, the need for setting up the wide band video line exclusively for the video phone made it impractical costwise.
Coming into the 1980's, it has now become possible to reduce into practice a digital data line capable of data transmission at a transmission rate in the order of 56 bps to 64 bps. And, new image transmission systems have been proposed by combining such a digital data line with advanced digital image data compression techniques. But still, such new image transmission systems have not been reduced to practice since the digital data line above described has yet to come into wide use.
There are also image transmission systems which transmit a still picture on a public analog telephone line by using the digital image data compression technique. However, these systems take a long time to transmit the still picture. For example, it takes several tens of seconds to several minutes to transmit one still picture. Accordingly, these systems are not of much use in a personal video phone from the practical point of view.
There is a personal video phone employing a system which transmits one still picture within a few seconds by sacrificing the picture size and picture quality, that is, greatly reducing the quantity of transmitting image data. But this system is restricted to the transmission of a black-and-white picture.
In order to transmit image data related to a color picture, the quantity of the transmitting image data becomes extremely large and it inevitably takes a long time to transmit the image data. As a result, it is extremely difficult to realize an inexpensive personal video phone which can transmit the image data related to the color picture quickly without greatly deteriorating the picture quality.
When transmitting a still picture or a picture having negligibly small movements therein from a video phone, a facsimile machine and the like, a differential pulse code modulation (hereinafter simply referred to as a DPCM) or a delta modulation is usually used for efficiency. The still picture may be a page of a book, a scenery, a portrait and the like.
The DPCM is a predictive coding as is well known, and uses a correlation between picture element data or line data. In other words, the DPCM predicts by use of this correlation a value of a present picture element data from a value of a picture element data which is already encoded, and encodes a difference between the predicted value with an actual value. A difference signal is pulse code modulated into three to four bits.
On the other hand, the delta modulation approximates a signal waveform by a staircase wave having an amplitude which varies by .+-..DELTA., and obtains one step of the staircase wave as a binary code. Hence, the delta modulation essentially quantizes the difference signal in the DPCM into one bit. According to the delta modulation, the quantization step size (width) is constant with respect to a change in the data.
When the DPCM is used for an image data compression system to separate color image data related to a relatively small picture into a luminance signal and color difference signals, independently encode the luminance signal and the color difference signals and transmit the encoded data on the public line, the picture quality of the transmitted image data is satisfactory but the data compression rate is insufficient. As a result, the data transmission cannot be completed within a short time.
The data compression rate is sufficient when the delta modulation is used for the image data compression system, but noise becomes conspicuous with respect to the luminance signal, and it is impossible to obtain a satisfactory picture quality from the transmitted image data.
On the other hand, a delta modulation with adaptive control (hereinafter simply referred to as adaptive delta modulation) can also be used for transmitting a still picture. The adaptive delta modulation uses the fact that the difference between mutually adjacent samples becomes small as the sampling frequency becomes high, and encodes the difference signal into one bit by carrying out the sampling at a high frequency. When encoding the difference signal into one bit, the quantization step size is determined from past transmission pulse train. In other words, when pulses of the same polarity are repeated, the quantization step size is increased so as to follow a large difference between the mutually adjacent samples. On the other hand, the quantization step size is decreased to suppress the quantization noise when pulses of different polarities occur. Hence, according to the adaptive delta modulation, the quantization step size varies with a predetermined rate with respect to a change in the data.
However, because 50% or more picture element data out of the total picture element data constituting a still picture usually have no change in the tone. For this reason, the tone of a reproduced picture becomes unstable when the delta modulation or the adaptive delta modulation is used. To the human eye, it is a large tone change in the still picture that has a large effect visually.


A nasally inserted air filter including a plurality of filter materials in a compact housing, or alternatively, a series of electrically conducting plates connected to a battery in a compact housing. The filters may include a radio frequency identification system to interact with a user's cell phone to transmit and analyze important data.

The frequency of Ozone Alerts worldwide is increasing at an alarming rate and the health concerns are quite conclusive with more and more research reports being issued. These Ozone Alerts as announced by the media are actually Smog Alerts. The warnings are that the very old and the very young should avoid going outdoors if the air quality is very poor. Photochemical smog (summer smog) is caused by the action of sunlight on a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen created mostly by automobile and industrial exhaust emissions. This smog contains secondary pollutants such as ozone. aldehydes and fine particles. Of these "secondary pollutants", ozone is used as an indicator as it is easily and accurately monitored, and directly proportional to overall smog levels. When we refer to ozone, we are referring only to tropospheric ozone, not to be confused with stratospheric ozone, which forms a layer around the earth, protecting it from the rays of the sun. Tropospheric ozone is produced by the action of light and the chemical bonding of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Thus "SMOG" and "Ozone" alerts have become synonymous. The severity of smog in an urban area is usually assessed by measuring ground-level ozone. Tropospheric ozone (O3) is found as a ground-level polluting gas.
Smog, formed mainly above urban centers, is composed mainly of tropospheric ozone (O3); primary or coarse particulate matter such as soot, pollen and dust; and secondary or fine particulate matter such as sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia gas. As described by the EPA, coarse particles are larger than 2.5 micrometer and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, and fine particles are thus 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
As a result of heat from the rays of the sun, the concentration of ground-level ozone is highest in urban centers in the summer. Weather conditions also affect ozone formation; masses of stagnant air can hold pollutants at round level for several days.
Many people have resorted to wearing masks to filter out the primary and secondary particulate matter. The masks are needed by those who have already developed respiratory issues due to the smog. Many others don the masks prophylactically. Regardless of the reason for wearing the masks—most people do not realize that the masks are often not sufficient filters. Most face masks are only 20-30% effective (1) because of the inadequate filtration media. There are facemasks known as N95 and N100 that employ a much more effective media but often people are nor wearing the facemasks appropriately which servers to lower the efficacy. Many people are not wearing the appropriate clips and are not aware of the gaps in these face masks that don't properly conform the to the users face.


A fluidic oscillator device, in particular for a or in a flow control system for an aircraft or spacecraft, has a first and a second fluidic actuator, wherein each of the actuators has an inlet for supplying pressure and a first and a second outlet, from which an actuator flow can be discharged. The device further has a fluidic control for controlling an oscillating discharge of the actuator flow from the first and second outlet of the actuators, wherein the control has a connection portion which is arranged between the first actuator and the second actuator.

Although the present disclosure and the problem it addresses can be applied to any fluidic oscillator devices, they will be described in detail with reference to a flow control system for an aircraft or spacecraft.
Flow bodies, particularly for aircraft or spacecraft, must frequently have aerodynamic characteristics for different flow conditions.
Therefore, to broaden the flight range limits of an aircraft or spacecraft, mechanical solutions exist for lift systems, such as slats and/or flaps. Furthermore, there are also fluidic solutions, known as flow control systems, which manage without mechanical components.
A flow control system of this type is described, for example, in EP 2 650 213 A1. There, a multiplicity of openings is provided in a wing surface, the openings being arranged next to one another along or parallel to the leading edge of the wing. Discharged through the openings is a pulsating air flow which is provided by a fluidic oscillator device. The pulsating discharge of the air flow is provided to prevent separations of the flow at relatively great angles of incidence, without mechanical wing components being required for this purpose. For example, flow control systems of this type are used during ascent.
The fluidic oscillator device used for this purpose contains a multiplicity of fluidic actuators (actuators in the sense of fluid mechanics) with two outlets. The discharge from the outlets takes place in an oscillating manner and is controlled by a fluidic control flow. This control flow is adapted in respect of pulsation frequency by a correspondingly configured common feedback line, said common feedback line being connected to each of the actuators.

Aircraft or spacecraft fluidic oscillator device