A method and apparatus of processing signals in an ultrasonic imaging system for imaging a living subject. The ultrasonic imaging system including an ultrasonic emitter, receptor and display. N temporally-spaced signals from ultrasound produced by a plurality of temporally-spaced referenced pulses are obtained and the amplitude (power) of each of the N temporally-spaced signals is determined. In various embodiments, N is an odd integer, usually, 1, 3, 5 or 7, depending on a user-setting. A median temporal signal of the N amplitude signals is then obtained. In implemented embodiments, the median is obtained by sorting a list of the N amplitude signals until (N+1)/2 signals have been sorted. The median is temporally filtered with a previous signal displayed on the display of the ultrasonic imaging system, wherein the temporal filtering including a filtering coefficient having a magnitude approximating a cardiac cycle of the living subject. Such processing is especially useful for angiography studies, wherein artifacts are removed providing a higher-quality image than in the prior art.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ultrasonic imaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to a median temporal filter which is used in connection with ultrasonic imaging, especially, for applications such as angiography.
2. Background Information
Various applications of ultrasonic imaging within living subjects have included the mapping of bloodflow within a subject under examination. Some applications for this technology include angiography studies or the mapping of blood vessels. Angiography has been a recent development in ultrasonic imaging, especially in systems such as the Spectra.TM. VST Masters Series brand ultrasonic imaging system available from Diasonics Ultrasound, Inc., of Milpitas, California which includes the UltrasoundAngio.TM. brand angiography modality. Such systems typically employ a front-end gain to the Doppler signal and then assign a color index to the power level of the Doppler signal received. This new color index signal is then passed to a temporal filter which averages the signal in order to eliminate any pulsatile information and increase the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The implementation of such systems, especially for angiography studies, has encountered some problems with artifacts.
One main source of artifacts in angiography systems, as described above, are tissue flash and probe motion. Because probe motion is normally sustained for a large number of frames, it can usually be repressed only by blanking Doppler signals with frequency shifts below a certain threshold. When the probe becomes stationary, however, the sonographer can then study a fixed region and the problem normally resolves itself.
Tissue flash, however, is the result of either respiration of the patient or the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Since there is no way to repress these events, tissue flash provides a significant artifact in such a system.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of tissue flash as it occurs in a subject under examination in a ultrasonic imaging system during angiography studies. FIG. 1 illustrates a time versus displacement motion of the posterior wall of the carotid artery during the systolic phase of the patient's heartbeat. Note that the wall moves out quickly and retracts relatively slowly. As a result, the average frequency shift of the received Doppler signal from the vessel wall remains relatively high for a short period of time. Because the high pass filter typically applied to the Doppler signal exhibits a large gain gradient near the stopband, the power at the output of the filter produces a series of impulse-like outputs at the cardiac rate, as shown in FIG. 2.
As already discussed, one prior art method of reducing the effect tissue flash has upon the resulting signal is by using a linear filter. Linear filtering is used in the UltrasoundAngio system in the form of a frame-to-frame single-pole filter. This filter reduces the noise in the image by the following relationship: EQU SNR Gain dB=10 log (1/(1-.alpha.))
where .alpha. is the pole location of the filter wherein .alpha. is set to a value to approximate the cardiac cycle of the subject (e.g., typically wherein approximately 75%-90% of the previously displayed signal is used to generate the new signal). Unfortunately, when a linear filter encounters tissue flash impulses, it distributes them temporally, effectively retaining them on the screen for long periods of time. The amount of suppression achieved by the filter is minimal if the impulse amplitude is much larger than the desired blood flow signals. Obviously, the linear filter is not ideal for dealing with tissue artifacts.
Thus, although such linear filters typically have unique advantages, especially in the application of typical prior art Doppler color flow imaging for angiography, such linear filters also possess inherent disadvantages. Prior art Doppler color flow imaging typically maintains the pulsatility of data. Angiography has no such requirement. Thus, prior art techniques of linear filtering, especially for Doppler color imaging in a living subject, possess certain disadvantages which are neither suitable for nor desirable for performing angiography by way of ultrasonic imaging.

Median temporal filtering of ultrasonic data


This invention provides an improved alpha alumina-based ceramic and a method to make the same. The improvement consists of the addition of a chromium-based nucleating agent. Particularly useful embodiments of the improved alpha alumina-based ceramic include abrasive particles and fibers.

The preparation of dense alumina-based ceramic articles via a sol-gel process comprising an alpha alumina or alpha ferric oxide nucleating material is known in the art. For example, M. Kumagai and G. L. Messing spoke at the American Ceramic Society meeting of May 2, 1984 on this subject and later caused the publishing of a paper in November, 1984 in Communications of the American Ceramic Society entitled "Enhanced Densification of Boehmite Sol-Gels by Alpha Alumina Seeding". Other references on this subject include the following publications: "Microstructural Evolution in Sintering of ALOOH Gels", by Yarbrough et al., J. Mater. Res.,(4), 1987, pp. 494-515; "Enhancing Densification of 93% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 - 7% MgO Triphasic Zerogels with Crystalline .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 Seeds," Komareni et al., J. Mater. Sci. Lett., 6, 1987, pp. 525-27; "Sapphire Whiskers From Boehmite Gel Seeded with from .alpha.-Alumina, "Jagota et al., 85, 1987, pp. 527-34; "Ceramics By The Solution-Sol-Gel Route", Roy, Science, 238, Dec. 18, 1987, pp. 1664-69; "Solid-Phase Epitaxy of Boehmite-Derived from Alumina on Hematite Seed Crystals," Messing et al., J. Am. Ceramic Soc., 72, (5), 1989, pp. 864-67; "Nucleation of Alpha Alumina in Boehmite Gel," Pach et al., J. Mater. Res., 5, (2), Feb. 2, 1990, pp. 278-85; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,744,802 (Schwabel), 4,770,671 (Monroe), 4,623,364 (Cottringer et al.), 4,829,031 (Roy et al.), and 4,797,139 (Bauer), and European Patent Application Nos. 0293163 (Wood), published Dec. 7, 1988; and 0294208 (Wood et al.), published Nov. 30, 1988.
Although both Monroe and Cottringer et al. disclose the use of chromium oxide as a modifying additive in a sol-gel derived alpha alumina-based ceramic, they neither suggest nor teach its use as a nucleating agent.
Although Schwabel indicates that materials crystallographically similar to alpha alumina, in addition to alpha ferric oxide, are contemplated as alpha alumina nucleating agents, he neither specifies the use of alpha chromic oxide nor teaches the use of alpha chromic oxide as a nucleating agent. Further, he discloses the use of chromium oxide as a modifying additive, but does not suggest its use as a nucleating agent.
Several of the publications cited above suggest the use of chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) as a nucleating agent for the growth of alpha alumina from boehmite. None of these publications, however, disclose a method for the effective use of such a chromium-based seed or nucleating agent. For example, Bauer suggests the use of chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) as a nucleating agent for the growth of alpha alumina crystals from boehmite under appropriate conditions, he fails, however, to disclose or suggest such conditions. Roy et al. attempted to use Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 as a nucleating agent and concluded that a Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 seed has "hardly any" on the alpha alumina transformation temperature, because it appears that such a seed needs to exactly match the alpha alumina lattice.
Yarbrough et al. attempted to seed an alpha alumina precursor by introducing a high purity chromia powder into a xerogel. Diffuse reflectance infrared spectra of the calcined gel suggests that the oxidation state of all or all but a small amount of the chromium was +6, not +3. Further, the authors concluded that alpha Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 does not increase nucleation frequency as much as might be expected. This article includes a photomicrograph of their best example which, reveals domains having an average diameter of about 3 micrometers. No density data were reported.
Wood et al. teach the use of an amorphous iron containing oxy-hydroxy polymer as a nucleating material for the alpha transformation in basic aluminum salt derived aluminas. Although the inventors disclose that nucleating materials prepared by the cohydrolysis of iron and chromium salts can be as effective at nucleating the alpha alumina transformation in basic aluminum salt derived alumina as the hydrous iron complex they do not teach or suggest the use of alpha chromic oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) as an alpha phase nucleating agent.

Alpha phase seeding of transition alumina using chromium oxide-based nucleating agents

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A method for categorizing whole-breast density is disclosed. The method includes the steps of exposing breast tissue to an acoustic signal; measuring a distribution of an acoustic parameter by analyzing the acoustic signal; and obtaining a measure of whole-breast density from said measuring step. An apparatus is also disclosed.

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. In view of the commonality of breast cancer, diligent individuals subject themselves to regular mammograms for the purpose of detecting an existence of breast cancer.
An ancillary benefit of having a mammogram conducted is the ability of the radiologist to determine a radiographical density of the participant's breast tissue due to the fact that there is a prognostic relationship between breast density and cancer risk. In general, it is known in the art that the radiographical density of a breast illustrated within a mammogram may vary due to differences in the amount of fat, connective tissues, and epithelial tissues that are present. For example, because fibroglandular and connective tissues (i.e. glands, ducts, and fibers) have a relatively high x-ray attenuation, fibroglandular and connective tissues may appear to be radiographically dense/light on radiographic films. By contrast, fat has a relatively low x-ray attenuation and therefore appears to be the least radiographically dense/dark, when compared to the remaining breast tissue. Because of the distinct differences in x-ray attenuation between fat and fibroglandular tissue, segmentation of fibroglandular tissue from the rest of the breast is possible.
A known breast density estimation standard may be based upon a four-category Breast Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (BI-RADS) lexicon. Upon visually assessing a mammogram, a radiologist may classify the radiographical image of the breast into one of four BI-RADS compositional categories defined as: 1: Fatty, 2: Scattered, 3: Heterogeneous, and 4: Dense. Women whose breasts are categorized in the BI-RADS 4/densest breast category are four-to-six times more likely to develop breast cancer than those categorized as BI-RADS 1/fatty
Because the above standard in breast density estimation involves a radiologist's visual assessment of a mammogram, this assessment is subjective and relies on the perception of the radiologist. While such a subjective density classification is quick to use and widely employed, it has been proven to be limited due to considerable intra- and inter-reader variability of a radiologist.
Further, as also known in the art, the use of mammography is not ideal because of the associated radiation exposure to the participant that is undergoing breast evaluation Even further, a mammogram is a two-dimensional projection which, by definition, does not provide an accurate, three-dimensional volumetric estimation of the breast density due to the tissue thickness not being taken into account. Even further, it is also known that women are apprehensive about mammography due to the uncomfortable compression of the breast associated with the scan.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for determining breast density. In an embodiment, the novel method and apparatus is a non-ionizing method and apparatus. In an embodiment, the determined breast density may be utilized for assessing cancer risk.
Further, because the novel methodology yields parameters that are associated with high breast density, which, in turn, may be associated with increased breast cancer risk, it will be appreciated that data arising from the novel methodology may be utilized to assess cancer risk directly without the intermediate step of determining breast density.
Yet even further, by identifying women having high breast density, further preventative measures can be implemented.


An automatic shut-off valve for a fire hydrant or other device that is vulnerable to breakage, which is attached to a straight-walled fluid carrying pipe, the valve having a pair of separated mounting rings (20 and 22) positioned in the pipe near the breakable device. A cylindrical rod (36) having a frangible end (40) is slideably retained in the middle of the pipe by the rings and a disc (48) is positioned over the rod. A hub (66) is rigidly connected to the rod add a spring over the rod (72) forces the hub away from the ring. A link (60) connects the hub to the disc and the rod is pulled away from ring compressing the spring and opening the valve by positioning the disc parallel to fluid flow within the pipe. The rod is held in tension with a connecting bracket (44) that penetrates the hydrant or other device and in the event of damage such as actually shearing off or even a substantial jar a frangible end (40) of the rod breaks off releasing tension from the spring automatically rotating the disc into the closed position.

Many types of valves have been used in the past to provide an effective means for achieving a shut-off position by sensing the pressure of flow of fluid. The present invention does not sense the presence of movement of fluid, instead, it automatically closes if a fire hydrant, control valve or the like, attached thereto, is physically damaged. The breaking of the adjacent device may occur when it is hit by a motor vehicle or jarred by a natural physical force such as an earthquake, storm, avalanche etc. Prior art historically relied upon the fluid within the pipe for an indication of a leak of breakage which by the very nature of the dynamic physical attribute is complex and costly.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 4,880,030 Terry 14 November 1989 4,792,113 Eidsmore 20 December 1988 4,665,932 Quenin 19 May 1987 4,522,229 Van de Moortele 11 June 1985 4,180,088 Mallett 25 December 1979 3,805,673 Fisher 23 April 1974 3,298,390 de Graff 17 January 1967 3,183,928 Rosenberg 18 May 1965 3,079,938 McCann 5 March 1963 2,943,636 Reed, et al 5 July 1960 ______________________________________
Terry in U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,030 teaches a water valve with capability of manually shutting off the water flow and also as a safety control device to sense excessive pressure wherein the water pressure will overcome the force exerted by a spring and force a piston against a flange blocking apertures thus stopping the flow of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,113 issued to Edismore utilizes a flow limit valve providing sharp valve closure at a limiting flow rate using a piston and a pair of magnets moving a pin with one magnet outside and the other inside the valve body.
Excessive velocity of a fluid is sensed by static and total pressure which in turn electrically controls the movement of a rod to actuate the safety valve U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,932 of Quenin.
Van de Moortele in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,229 discloses a valve that cuts off water supply at a predetermined maximum flow and automatically returns to its initial position when reduced flow is present. This is accomplished by a flow regulator with a diaphragm in a precontrol chamber measuring flow and shutting off the flow from the discharge chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,088 of Mallett utilizes an electrical circuit with a flow sensor turning off a valve when a leak occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,928 issued to Rosenberg relates to a shut-off valve intended to control a feed line conduit through which a fluid flows, automatically shutting off when upstream pressure drops below a minimum value. This shut-off is accomplished by a spring loaded arm actuating a cock when insufficient pressure is available to retain its open position,
Reed et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,943,636 discloses a hydrant fueling valve for fueling and defueling aircraft, operated by pressure of the fluid flowing through the valve regardless of the direction. A pilot valve and piston are utilized.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates reference may be made to the Patents issued to Fisher and McCann.
From the above described prior art, it is seen that the use of a breakable spring loaded mechanism to close a valve in the event of physical damage is clearly lacking.


An image reading device includes an illuminating means for illuminating a reading position through which a sheet conveyed by conveying means passes, optical reading means for reading reflected light of the sheet illuminated by the illuminating means when the sheet passes the reading position, a white reference plate disposed opposite to the optical reading means with the reading position sandwiched therebetween, and moving structure means for moving a placement position of the illuminating means based on a placement position of the white reference plate, and storage means is included for storing information in a searchable manner.

A conventional image reading device includes a conveyor path, an illuminating device, and a camera. When a sheet is conveyed by the conveyor path arrives at a reading position, reflected light from the sheet which is illuminated by the illuminating device is condensed to a line sensor by a lens of the camera. The line sensor is scanned in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction, so that the reflected light from the sheet is read in synchronization with the scanning. Data thus read is converted into a two-dimensional image by an image acquisition portion.
However, the image reading device thus configured has such a problem that the conveyance of sheets causes the sheets to be uneven in a height direction of the sheets and light intensity distribution gradients (distribution) in the height direction are obtained as brightness of the sheets without any change when image reading is performed. In order to solve this problem, there is suggested a method to equalize the light intensity distribution in the illuminating device in the height direction.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-219244 discloses a reading device in which illuminating means formed in combination of an illumination and a rod-like light guide includes a first emission portion for illuminating a sheet obliquely, and a second emission portion for emitting light horizontally in conveying direction, and which is arranged to reflect light from the second emission portion and to obliquely illuminate the sheet in an opposite manner to light from the first emission portion with respect to an optical axis of image reading of the sheet, thereby resulting in that the reading device has resistance to flutters and tilts of sheets.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-483163 discloses a reading device in which a cylindrical optics is disposed in front of a rod-like illumination, and the illumination, which emits quite parallel light, obliquely illuminates a sheet from two directions opposite to each other with respect to an optical axis of image reading of the sheet, thereby resulting in that the reading device has resistance to flutters and tilts of sheets.
However, in these conventional image reading devices described above, the quantity of reflected light (reflecting luminance) from a sheet varies depending on a distance between a white reference plate and the sheet. That is, when a sheet flutters on a top surface of the white reference plate disposed at a reading position, the distance between the white reference plate and the sheet varies. This varies the quantity of reflected light from the sheet, thereby resulting in that, as an image reading device, the conventional image reading devices cannot obtain an image suitable for human sight. Further, as a sheet inspection device, the conventional image reading devices cannot obtain a stable reflection image, thereby causing such a problem that highly precise inspection cannot be performed. Particularly, a degree of influence by the white reference plate is different between a case of a thick sheet and a case of a thin sheet, thereby causing such a problem that these sheets have different quantities of reflected light from their surfaces.

Image reading device with illumination movement based on sheet characteristics, and sheet handling apparatus including the same


Provided herein is technology relating to treatment of sepsis and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods for predicting a response of a sepsis patient to treatment with L-carnitine.

Sepsis affects more than 750,000 patients annually in the United States and has a mortality rate of from 30 to 65%, which makes it the tenth most common cause of death in the U.S. The risk of sepsis is found to be inversely related to age. Sepsis accounts for 60 to 80% of childhood deaths in the developing world. As a result of its prevalence, hospital visits for sepsis or septicemia increased from 621,000 in the year 2000 to 1,141,000 in 2008. In economic terms, total costs for treating sepsis increased by an average of 11.9% each year between 1997 and 2008, adjusted for inflation, and amounted to $14.6 billion in the U.S. in 2008 and currently exceed $17 billion. In addition to other hospital treatments, over 2.5 million patients are admitted annually to ICUs for sepsis with the costs per individual ICU case adding $5,000 or more per day to total hospital costs and with treatment lasting at least two days and often more than 20 days. Additionally, nearly 50 percent of diagnosed sepsis cases in the U.S. are attributable to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which impose a major direct cost on hospitals due to little to no reimbursement from health insurers.
Sepsis is the body's response to infection. This response is characterized by the cardinal signs of inflammation (e.g., vasodilation, leukocyte accumulation, and increased microvascular permeability) occurring in tissues that are remote from the infection. Even a minor infection, such as strep throat or influenza, can trigger sepsis. Sepsis is usually not life-threatening, but complications of sepsis can cause serious illness and death.
Sepsis is a general term describing immune responses within a continuum from infection to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is the presence of two or more of abnormal body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or blood gas, and white blood cell count, and sepsis is defined as SIRS in response to an infectious process. Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis with sepsis-induced organ dysfunction or tissue hypoperfusion (e.g., manifesting as hypotension, elevated lactate, or decreased urine output). Severe sepsis occurs when a natural immune response to an infection triggers widespread inflammation and blood clotting in tiny vessels throughout the body, which also involves failure of critical organs in the body and can thus lead to death. Finally, septic shock is severe sepsis plus persistently low blood pressure.
Currently, measures for diagnosing sepsis and estimating its severity, prognosis, and the efficacy of therapy include laboratory tests that monitor the evidence of infection; clotting problems; liver or kidney function; oxygen availability; electrolyte levels; and/or cardiovascular, neurologic, or hematologic function. Often these parameters are used to derive illness severity and/or prognosis scores like the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. If the site of the infection is not obvious, imaging tests such as X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound, or, less commonly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are often performed.
While the existing technologies for treating sepsis have increased success rates of therapies, the management of sepsis remains complicated by inherent difficulties in diagnosis, delayed recognition of organ dysfunction, and a poorly characterized biological phenotype. As such, patient outcomes are compromised and the development of therapies to achieve optimal outcomes (e.g., reduce mortality) are hampered. In addition, use of existing technologies has been limited by an inability to select patients who will most likely benefit from specific treatments and to titrate dosing and duration appropriately.
Some previous approaches have attempted to address this problem using pharmacogenomics to predict drug response in sepsis patients. However, this approach has had limited success due to inconsistencies and limited understanding of the biological indications predictive of successful treatment. Thus, there is a growing need for biomarkers that can indicate both the responsiveness of a patient to a drug and how to titrate the dosage appropriately for a patient.

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER


A display device includes a display panel and a control circuit board configured to provide a driving signal to the display panel. The display panel includes a plurality of pixel structures of which pixel structures arranged in one row are connected to one gate line. Pixel structures arranged in one column are connected to one data line. The control circuit board includes a driving chip, an end portion of each of the gate lines and an end portion of each of the data lines are respectively provided with panel pins. The control circuit board is provided with circuit board pins to be electrically connected with the panel pins, and connecting lines through which pins of the control circuit board are connected to the circuit board pins. A spacing between adjacent circuit board pins is larger than a spacing between adjacent pins of the driving chip connected with the circuit board pins.

Currently, electronic products, particularly hand-held electronic products, tend to have smaller sizes. COF (chip on flexible) technology is an important technology to realize the miniaturization of electronic products. COF technology means that a driving chip (IC) is designed on flexible material, and then the flexible material is folded to the back surface of a display panel, thus the display device can have a small overall size.
The inventors have found that the width of the border region of the conventional display device is still too large, and not only the appearance of the display device but also the display effect of the display device are affected,
Therefore, the technical problem needs to be solved is to design a display device with a narrow border, and preferably the gate line fan-shaped wiring regions and data line fan-shaped wiring regions in the border region can be omitted.


A suspension system for a vehicle having a torsion spring interconnecting the wheels and axle to spaced portions of the frame via suspension arms wherein each suspension arm has one end secured to one element of the torsion spring and its other end connected to one end portion of a torsion type shackle. The other end of the shackle has its outer shell connected to the vehicle frame via replaceable shims that adjust the height of the vehicle frame relative to the axle and the ground.

The present invention relates to a suspension system for a vehicle and more particularly to a new and improved torsion suspension system.
Various types of suspension systems have been proposed and used for vehicles in attempts to improve ride characteristics under varying conditions of loading. It is particularly difficult to provide a suspension system that is good for loaded conditions as well as for empty conditions. Various mechanical expedients have been tried including a variable rate leaf spring but such suspension system provides a harsh ride when the vehicle is empty or lightly loaded. Another expedient has been air springs; however, because of their inherent lack of stability, their use requires complicated systems of stabilizers and are not readily adaptable to most vehicle bodies. The present invention is directed to a suspension system that employs a unique combination of torsion springs that enhance and increase ride quality, vehicle stability and spring durability. With the unique construction design of the present invention, the elastomeric member and its interacting supporting structures cooperate in a novel manner, enhancing performance and maintenance in a cost-effective way as the suspension system eliminates the need for bushings, bearings or the need for an external power source as used in air bags. By eliminating these components and simplifying the overall suspension design, there is a very low maintenance requirement. Further, the designed suspension eliminates the need for any welding of the assembled components to thereby eliminate any problems previously encountered in fatigue life of the elastomers and to further reduce cost of the finished and the assembled system. The design of the present suspension system provides a simplified structure for leveling the suspension system and to compensate for rubber creep where such problems arise.
The suspension spring and its outboard attachment significantly reduces sway or roll. Since the vehicle is completely cradled in rubber, there is a significant decrease in chasis vibration and noise which, in combination with sway and roll control, affect ride quality. These factors improve the driver's maneuverability and control while increasing passenger comfort.


A computer-implemented method for detecting potentially malicious hardware-related anomalies may include (1) profiling a computing environment of at least one hardware component on a computing device, (2) detecting, by comparing the hardware component's profile with an expected profile for the hardware component, at least one anomaly in the hardware component's computing environment, (3) identifying additional suspicious activity on the computing device, and (4) determining, by correlating the additional suspicious activity on the computing device with the anomaly in the hardware component's computing environment, that the anomaly in the hardware component's computing environment is potentially malicious. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Malware often causes severe disruptions to computing systems by interrupting normal computing operations, deleting data, and/or exposing sensitive information to attackers. Traditionally, computing systems often employ anti-malware software in an attempt to detect, prevent, and/or remove malware and viruses that exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system or other software of a computing system.
Unfortunately, malware developers are increasingly targeting specific aspects of a system's hardware in an attempt to avoid detection by traditional anti-malware solutions. For example, malicious or otherwise compromised firmware installed directly onto the hardware of a computing system may subvert and avoid detection by anti-malware software installed on the computing system. In some cases, these forms of malware may be the result of state-sponsored attacks or direct monitoring of computing systems. In other cases, users may unknowingly introduce this malware onto their system by "jailbreaking" their mobile device or installing custom hardware. Unfortunately, since malicious and/or compromised firmware operates outside of a device's operating system, this form of malware may circumvent traditional security measures and/or expose users to additional attacks. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for detecting and/or remediating hardware-related attacks.

Systems and methods for detecting potentially malicious hardware-related anomalies


The invention provides stem cell derived beta-pancreatic cells and animal models of T2D in which cells have been grafted. The stem cells bear a mutated form of SLC30A8 conferring protection or susceptibility to T2D. The cells and animal models can be used for drug screening as well as to provide insights into the mechanism of T2D and potentially new therapeutic and diagnostic targets.

Diabetes is a disorder characterized by metabolic defects in production and utilization of glucose resulting in a failure to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels in the body. Diabetes in humans can be defined as a disorder corresponding to a fasting plasma glucose concentration greater than 125 mg/dL, or a plasma glucose concentration greater than 199 mg/dL two hours after ingestion of a 75 g oral glucose load. Two major forms of diabetes are type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). T1D is an autoimmune disorder resulting in destruction of beta-pancreatic cells and an absolute deficiency of insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose utilization. By contrast, T2D can occur with normal or even elevated levels of insulin from the inability of tissues to respond appropriately to insulin. Most T2D patients have impaired insulin sensitivity. Insulin secretion cannot compensate for the resistance of peripheral tissues to respond to insulin. Many T2D patients are obese. Type 1.5 diabetes (late autoimmune onset in adults) shows some characteristics of T1D and T2D.
Zinc is required for insulin biosynthesis and processing. Two zinc ions are complexed in a hexameric form of proinsulin, which is ultimately processed to insulin.
Gene SLC30A8 encodes an islet zinc transporter, ZnT8, predominantly expressed in the alpha and beta-pancreatic cells. It is expressed ten-fold higher in these cells than any other zinc transporters. Its expression is localized in secretory granule membranes where it transports zinc ions from the cytosol into vesicles. The protein has six transmembrane segments with both N and C-termini being intracellular. The fourth and fifth transmembrane segments, which are connected intracellularly by a histidine rich loop, form the ion channel for passage of zinc.
Genome-wide association studies have found single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the SLC30A8 gene with significant differences in genotype frequencies between cases of type 2 diabetes and controls (Sladek, R. et al., 2007, Nature, 445:881-885). Loci in the SLC30A8 gene were found that contain variants that confer T2D risk.
The major allele rs13266634 (C), encoding an arginine at position 325 (R325; W325R) was identified as a risk allele for T2D. (Sladek, 2007, supra; Rutter G. A. and Chimienti, F. 2104, Diabetologia 58:31-36). Sladek et al. (2007) supra report that the major allele at rs13266634 (C) is the ancestral allele and suggest that the ancestral allele was adapted to the environment of ancient human populations but today in a different environment, it increases disease risk. The minor allele rs13266634 (T) encodes an arginine to tryptophan substitution at position 325 (R325W; W325) in the SLC30A8 protein, encoding a protein with increased zinc transport activity. Individuals carrying the T allele (W325) have a reduced risk of T2D.
Various mutations in SLC30A8 have been reported. A common mutation R325W due to an rs13266634 C>T polymorphism, located in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail, has been associated with increased levels of insulin and glucose and susceptibility to T2D (14% increased risk of T2D per R325 allele). Individuals with this mutation have reduced first phase insulin release and reduced proinsulin conversion. This mutation has been reported to reduce zinc transport activity but not change SLC30A8 expression significantly. Several rare mutations in which stop codons, frameshifts, splice site or initiator codon variants cause protein truncation, and presumably substantial loss of function of the truncated protein expressed, have a protective effect against T2D in heterozygous form in humans (Flannick et al., Nat. Genet. 46(4):357-363 (2014)). On average these mutations reduce the risk of T2D by 60%. Mice with a homozygous knockout of SLC30A8 have a heterogeneous phenotype depending on gender, genetic background, and nature of the knockout (e.g., all tissues or alpha or beta-pancreatic cell specific) varying from no overt effects to symptoms of T2D (Silva Xavier et al., J. Diabetes Res., doi: 10.1155/2013/906590, Epub Apr. 11. 2013). A beta cell specific knockout has been reported to have increased proinsulin level, defects in insulin crystallization, and delayed and reduced first phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (Wijesekara et al., Diabetologia 53:1656-1668 (2010)) or decreased pancreatic zinc levels, increased insulin release and increased clearance of insulin by the liver (Tamaki et al., J. Clin. Invest. 123: 4513-4524 (2013)). However, the phenotypes of these SLC30A8 knockout mice have been inconsistent, making them unsuitable for a T2D disease model.


A storage and retrieval system is provided. The storage and retrieval system having a frame and a shuttle movable within the frame, the shuttle having a carriage extending at least partially between a top and bottom of the frame. At least one tension member extends between a first and second ends of the frame and is coupled to the shuttle. At least one drive member extends between the first and second ends of the frame and is coupled to the shuttle. The at least one drive member and the at least one tension member project from opposite sides of the shuttle towards respective first and second ends of the frame and effect stabilization of the carriage against at least rotation relative to the frame. The at least one tension member crosses the at least one drive member and the at least one drive member effects movement of the shuttle.

1. Field
The present aspects of the disclosed embodiments relates for systems for handling and storing biological or chemical samples, and more specifically to an automated system for storage, retrieval and management of large numbers of samples retained in sealed arrays of storage containers.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Many scientific and medical organizations, including industrial concerns, regulatory agencies, research laboratories, and academic institutions, have the need for secure storage of very large numbers, e.g., a few thousand up to multiple millions, of samples and specimens. Such fields include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, laboratory diagnostics, genomics, biospecimen, forensic, agrichemical and specialty chemical. Depending on the application, the sample sizes can vary from tens of microliters to several drams, which are stored in small, sealed plastic tubes or vials. These containers are retained in a rack that allows individual samples to be inserted or removed without removing an entire rack, or the tray the holds one or more racks. To extend the useful lifetime of the samples, they are stored in a controlled environment of low temperature (typically −20° to −80° C. or lower), low humidity, and inert gas (nitrogen), and are subjected to as little environmental variation as possible. In order to handle very large numbers of samples in the most efficient manner, a number of considerations must be made to enhance the system's flexibility and adaptability for different applications with the smallest possible footprint to minimize the use of valuable laboratory space.
An overview of currently available compound storage systems and technologies is provided by Dr. John Comley in his article entitled "Compound Management in pursuit of sample integrity", published in Drug Discovery World, Spring 2005, pp. 59-78, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Tracking of the samples is essential, and the sample containers, racks and trays are usually labeled with a bar code or other machine-readable identifier. The identity and location of each sample is stored in a system memory that maintains records for all samples in the storage system so that individual samples or subsets of samples can be identified and rapidly retrieved from storage. Ideally, the retrieval process should occur without unnecessarily exposing samples to thawing or moisture, which means that the system must be capable of selecting individual samples from one or more racks in the storage compartment while minimizing exposure of other samples in the storage compartment, or in the same trays, to an environmental change. It is also important that the system be reliable so that it can be serviced without risking exposure of the samples to undesirable conditions.
To prevent evaporation of the sample or exposure to contaminants during storage, the containers are usually covered with a cap or membrane stretched across the open end of the container. In order to deal efficiently with the large numbers of containers in a tray, systems are commercially available to simultaneously seal all containers within the tray with a sheet of material, such as foil or laminated polymer, that is heat sealed or otherwise adhered to the top edges of all of the containers. These seals are pierceable or peelable to permit access to the sample. After the containers are sealed, the excess seal material between the containers is cut to separate the individual containers for subsequent retrieval without requiring the entire tray of containers to be thawed. After die cutting of the seals, the tray of containers is placed in storage. The die cutting operation requires a separate handling step, and usually, an additional piece of equipment with complex tooling that is specifically designed for a certain size and shape of tube, thus limiting the type of containers that can be used, or requiring that multiple die cutting tools be available.
In certain applications, the samples are preferably stored at ultra-low temperatures (−80° C. or lower), however, this cold environment can be hazardous to the electro-mechanical devices that are necessary for operation of an automated system. Lubricants are less effective at such low temperatures, making the robotics less reliable. Maintenance of robotics in the sample storage area is particularly a problem because the storage environment must be thawed and opened, subjecting the samples to condensation and possible thawing. Some commercial systems isolate the robotics in a somewhat warmer compartment (−20° C.), passing the samples between the two compartments. In such systems, an insulating wall must be created between the two compartments to maintain the temperatures in each compartment.
In existing systems, the sample storage areas have removable doors that are opened to obtain access to the trays. In others, the trays (or stacks of trays), have a block of insulating material at one end so that all trays together combine to form an insulated wall. When a tray is removed, the insulating material associated with that tray is also removed and must be replaced with a dummy block to maintain the integrity of the insulating wall. This replacement process takes time, however, increasing the risk of temperature change in one or both compartments.
In large storage applications, the samples may need to be accessed by multiple groups whose laboratory areas are in different locations within a facility, possibly even on different floors of a multi-story building. Access for loading and unloading sample containers in existing compound storage systems is located at a single location at the base of the storage unit. This often results in transporting large numbers of samples on carts and potentially exposing them to undesirable conditions. Further, with all groups needing to access their samples from a single station, time will be lost waiting for another user to finish their sample storage or retrieval operation.
Many prior art storage systems utilize a gantry-style robotic conveyor, which provides horizontal and vertical control of the positioning of a tray handler for extracting and replacing trays within the storage compartment. An example of such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,334, which is incorporated herein by reference. The conveyor often includes a horizontal rail on with a vertical beam rides, driven by a motor and a screw or chain drive mechanism at the bottom of the vertical beam. In some systems, an upper guide rail may be provided to maintain the correct orientation of the vertical beam, particularly where the storage racks are tall. In the system described in the '334 patent, the conveyor employs a loop drive belt that is driven by a motor at the bottom of the conveyor. The vertical lift utilizes a separate set of drive belts. Certain disadvantages of current systems include the amount of room required for the conveyor assembly. The footprint of the overall system is preferably as small as possible to minimize use of valuable laboratory space. Therefore, it would be desirable to reduce the size of the conveyor enclosure as much as possible.
the present aspects of the disclosed embodiments is directed to storage systems that address the foregoing concerns to provide the flexibility and ease of use of large volume sample storage system.

Drive assembly for robotic conveyor system


In a passenger judging apparatus with a load sensor excellent in practical use and capable of achieving not only the reduction of judgment delay in the case of the necessity for a quick judgment but also the improvement of the judgment accuracy in the other cases, a judgment indicating the occurrence of a state transition forming a transition between classes is made only when a load detected stays continuously in a predetermined class for a predetermined threshold time period, with the threshold time period being variably set to be different in length among inter-class state transitions. This contributes greatly to the improvement of the judgment accuracy by eliminating erroneous judgment stemming from a false signal without uselessly delaying the judgment on the state transition requiring a quick decision.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a passenger judging apparatus with a load sensor for a judgment on passengers (persons in a vehicle or the like, including a driver), located in a seat or the like. The invention is suitable for use in a safety device from collisions, such as an air bag.
2) Description of the Related Art
For example, for expansion control of an air bag, since it is a desirable manner to seize previously the body dimensions, physiques or the like of objects to be protected prior to the control of an expansion mode, a load sensor has so far been built in a seat of a vehicle (or in the vehicle) to make a judgment on the presence or absence of a passenger(s) or the body dimensions thereof on the basis of an output of the built-in load sensor. Basically, on the basis of an output voltage of the load sensor with respect to a predetermined threshold, a judgment is made as to non-seated, adult-seated and child-seated conditions.
However, the output of the load sensor varies with the getting-in/out of a passenger, posture variation thereof, variation of gravity acceleration (G) applied to the passenger during running (which will be referred to hereinafter as "running G"), and others, and in the case of a fixed threshold type, an erroneous judgment output occurs temporarily due to the variation of the output of the load sensor stemming therefrom.
For this reason, for the passenger judgment, it needs that a careful judgment operation is conducted to eliminate the temporary erroneous judgment output stemming from the posture variation of a passenger, the running G applied to the passenger, or the like for achieving the improvement of the judgment accuracy. Usually, the elimination of such a temporary erroneous judgment output has been made through the use of low-pass filter processing (low-frequency component extraction or averaging processing).
For example, EP99/00407 discloses a technique in which the judgment is made in a manner that an average value of the largest ten data of the past detection data is calculated to compare the resultant average value with a threshold. However, this technique has an advantage of improving the judgment accuracy and, at the same time, has a disadvantage that a delayed judgment result alteration occurs in a situation, such as replacement or getting-in/out of passengers, which requires an alteration of the judgment result.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. (HEI) 10-194079 discloses as technique in which a behavior of a vehicle is detected through the use of a G sensor and, when a decision is made that a vehicle is not in a stable condition, no alteration of the judgment takes place in spite of a change of a passenger detection result. However, this system requires the additional employment of the G sensor and takes no effect with respect to a variation of output of a load sensor in a case in which a passenger spontaneously changes his/her posture regardless of running conditions.
That is, although conventional passenger judgment techniques using an output of a load sensor is effective in providing a judgment result with high accuracy, they require the prolonged time taken for the judgment and, hence, cannot cope with a case in which the necessity for the passenger judgment information arises rapidly, for example, immediately after the getting-in/out of a passenger.

Passenger judging apparatus with load sensor


A clock driver circuit comprises a first driver including first and second inverters cascaded between an input terminal and a first output terminal for outputting a non-inverted signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a delay amount corresponding to two stages of inverters. The clock driver circuit also comprises and a second driver including third, fourth and fifth inverters cascaded between the input terminal and a second output terminal and a sixth inverter connected between the input terminal and the second output terminal. With this arrangement, a first signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a first delay amount corresponding to the third, fourth and fifth inverters, is synthesized by a wired-OR at the second output terminal with a second signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a second delay amount corresponding to the sixth inverter. Thus, a synthesized inverted signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a delay amount corresponding to two stages of inverters, is outputted from the second output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock driver circuit for use in a semiconductor device, and more specifically to a clock driver circuit for generating a non-inverted clock signal and an inverted clock signal which have a reduced phase deviation to each other.
2. Description of Related Art
A clock driver circuit for use in a semiconductor device is generally used to distribute a basic clock generated in a clock generator internally provided in the semiconductor device or supplied from an external, to various internal circuits of the semiconductor device.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a circuit diagram of the most general circuit of the clock driver circuit. The shown clock driver circuit includes a pair of inverters 34 and 35 having a high driving power, cascaded between an input terminal 1 and a non-inverted signal output terminal 3. The shown clock driver circuit also includes an inverter 36 connected between the input terminal 1 and an inverted signal output terminal 2.
If a clock signal is supplied through the input terminal 1 to each input of the inverters 34 and 36, a non-inverted clock signal is outputted from an output of the inverter 35 to the non-inverted signal output terminal 3, and an inverted clock signal is outputted from an output of the inverter 36 to the inverted signal output terminal 2.
Japan Society of Electronics, Information and Communication, Spring Meeting Transactions, 1992, C-565, Page 186 discloses another prior art. Referring to FIG. 5 showing a clock driver circuit disclosed in this paper, an even number of inverters 37, 38, 39 and 40 are cascaded between the input terminal 1 and the non-inverted signal output terminal 3, and an even number of inverters 41 and 42 are cascaded between an output of the inverter 37 and the inverted signal output terminal 2. Transistors of the inverters 38 and 39 are designed to have a size larger than that of transistors of the other inverters 37, 40, 41 and 42.
In this example, when a clock signal is applied through the input terminal 1 to an input of the inverter 37, a non-inverted clock signal is outputted from an output of the inverter 40 to the non-inverted signal output terminal 3, and an inverted clock signal is outputted from an output of the inverter 42 to the inverted signal output terminal 2.
Since the non-inverted clock signal is outputted by passing through the four inverter stages 37, 38, 39 and 40, the non-inverted clock signal is delayed in phase from the inverted clock signal outputted by passing through the three inverter stages 37, 41 and 42. However, since the transistor size of the inverters 38 and 39 are designed to be larger than those of the other inverters 37, 40, 41 and 42, the inverters 38 and 39 has a faster switching speed, and therefore, it is possible to obtain the non-inverted clock signal substantially in the same phase as the inverted clock signal.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. JP-A-127814 discloses still another prior art. Referring to FIG. 6 showing a clock driver circuit disclosed in this Japanese patent laid-open publication (partially replaced by a logic gate), a pair of inverters 43 and 44 are cascaded between the input terminal 1 and the non-inverted signal output terminal 3.
On the other hand, an inverted signal generating circuit includes a source follower circuit composed of P-channel insulated gate field effect transistors (called "P-channel MOS transistors" hereinafter) 45 and 46, another source follower circuit composed of N-channel insulated gate field effect transistors (called "N-channel MOS transistors" hereinafter) 47 and 48, and an inverter circuit composed of a P-channel MOS transistor 49 and an N-channel MOS transistor 50. A gate of each of the P-channel MOS transistor 46 and the N-channel MOS transistor 47 is connected to the input terminal 1, and a gate of each of the P-channel MOS transistor 45 and the N-channel MOS transistor 48 is connected to an output of the inverter 43. A source of the P-channel MOS transistor 46 is connected to a gate of the P-channel MOS transistor 49, and a source of the N-channel MOS transistor 47 is connected to a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor 50. Thus, an inverted signal is outputted to the inverted signal output terminal 2 from an output of the inverter circuit composed of the P-channel MOS transistor 49 and the N-channel MOS transistor 50.
Referring to FIG. 2 showing a timing chart illustrating an operation of the conventional clock driver shown in FIG. 1, since two inverter stages are inserted between the input terminal 1 and the non-inverted signal output terminal 3 and on the other hand only one inverter stage is inserted between the input terminal 1 and the inverted signal output terminal 2, the non-inverted output clock signal 3 is delayed from the inverted output clock signal 2 by T6 which corresponds to a delay of one inverter stage. Therefore, when the clock driver circuit is caused to operate at a high speed, it is not possible to obtain a non-inverted clock signal and an inverted clock signal in phase to each other.
Referring to FIG. 3 showing an operation waveform of the conventional clock driver circuit, when a pulse having a frequency of 200 MHz as shown in a lower half of FIG. 3 was applied, a non-inverted clock signal 3 and an inverted clock signal 2 were obtained as shown in an upper half of FIG. 3. It will be noted that, when the input pulse is 200 MHz, the non-inverted clock signal 3 and the inverted clock signal 2 should be properly deviated from each other precisely 2.5 ns, but are actually deviated from each other about 2 ns at a minimum and about 3 ns at maximum.
Here, examine a case that the non-inverted clock signal and the inverted clock signal obtained in the clock driver circuit shown in FIG. 1 are supplied to a master-slave T-type flipflop as a clock.
FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of a typical master-slave T-type flipflop. This master-slave T-type flipflop includes a master flipflop comprising a transfer gate 51, inverters 52 and 53 and another transfer gate 53 cascaded as shown with an output of the transfer gate 53 being connected to an input of the inverter 52 so as to form a latch circuit. The transfer gate 51 is controlled to be turned on when a clock C corresponding to the above mentioned non-inverted clock signal is at a low level, and an inverted clock C corresponding to the above mentioned inverted clock signal is at a high level. The transfer gate 54 is controlled to be turned on when the clock C is at a high level and the inverted clock C is at a low level.
The master-slave T-type flipflop also includes a slave flipflop comprising a transfer gate 55, inverters 56 and 57 and another transfer gate 58 cascaded as shown with an output of the transfer gate 58 being connected to an input of the inverter 56 so as to form a latch circuit. The transfer gate 55 is controlled to be turned on when the clock C is at a high level and the inverted clock C is at a low level. The transfer gate 58 is controlled to be turned on when the clock C is at a low level and the inverted clock C is at a high level. An output of the inverter 52, which constitutes an output of the master flipflop, is connected to an input of the transfer gate 55 of the slave flipflop, and an output of the inverter 56, which constitutes an output of the slave flipflop, is connected to an output terminal 60 and also connected through an inverter 59 to an input of the transfer gate 51 of the master flipflop.
When the transfer gate 51 is conductive and the transfer gate 54 is non-conductive, the master flipflop is put into a condition capable of receiving an input signal. At this time, the transfer gate 51 is brought into a conductive condition having a small on-resistance, basically when the clock C is at a low level and the inverted clock C is at a high level. However, at least if the inverted clock C is at a high level or if the clock C is at a low level, the transfer gate 51 can allow passage of the signal with about a double on-resistance. Accordingly, the period T2 in FIG. 2 corresponds to a period of capable of receiving the input signal. Similarly, at least if the inverted clock C is at a low level or if the clock C is at high level, the transfer gate 54 becomes a conductive condition and can allow passage of the signal. This period corresponds to the period T1 in FIG. 2.
Accordingly, a period in which the master flipflop is put in a hold condition corresponds to the period T3 in FIG. 2 in which the transfer gate 51 is in the non-conductive condition and the transfer gate 54 is in the conductive condition. During the period T4, the transfer gate 51 is conductive and the transfer gate 54 is non-conductive, so that the master flipflop is in the latching or data receiving condition.
During the period T5 generated by the phase difference between the clock C and the inverted clock C, both the clock C and the inverted clock C are at a high level, and during the period T6 also generated by the phase difference between the clock C and the inverted clock C, both the clock C and the inverted clock C are at a low level. Accordingly, both the master flipflop and the slave flipflop are put into the condition capable of receiving the data signal and allowing passage of the data signal. In this condition, the outputs of the inverters 59 and 53 conflict, and the outputs of the inverters 52 and 57 conflict. This is a cause for malfunction.
In addition, the periods T3 and T4 become shorter than a half of one period of the input clock. In other words, since the non-inverted signal and the inverted signal overlap each other during the periods T5 and T6, the flipflop must operate at a frequency apparently higher than the frequency of the input signal, and therefore, it is happens that the frequency of the input signal must be made low.
On the other hand, in order to overcome the above mentioned defect and to make the non-inverted signal and the inverted signal completely complementary to each other, the conventional clock driver circuit shown in FIG. 5 is configured to have the large size inverters in the path composed of a large number of stages for the non-inverted output signal and the small size inverters in the path composed of a small number of stages for the inverted output signal, for the purpose of cancelling the phase difference between the non-inverted output signal and the inverted output signal.
For example, assuming that next stage inverters connected to the non-inverted signal output terminal 3 and the inverted signal output terminal 2 have a size of "1", the sizes of the inverters 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 are made "8", "4", "2", "0.37" and "0.61", respectively. If this relation is normalized by putting the size of the smallest inverter 41 to "1", the sizes of the inverters 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 become "21.6", "10.8", "5.4", "1" and "1.6", respectively. Accordingly, the total of the inverter sizes shown in FIG. 5 becomes "40.4". In other words, the conventional clock driver circuit shown in FIG. 5 is disadvantageous in that the device size becomes large.
Furthermore, the conventional driver circuit shown in FIG. 6 is in common to the conventional driver circuit shown in FIG. 5 in which a pair of complementary output signals can be obtained from the non-inverted signal output terminal 3 and the inverted signal output terminal 2. However, since the conventional driver circuit shown in FIG. 6 includes the source follower circuit composed of the transistors 45 and 46 and the source follower circuit composed of the transistors 47 and 48, when any one of the transistors 45 and 48 acting as an active load is in a conductive condition, if the corresponding transistor 46 or 47 is turned on, a through current flows to pass from a high voltage VDD through the transistors 45 and the transistor 46 to ground GND, or from the high voltage VDD through the transistors 47 and the transistor 48 to the ground GND.


A method for determining the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a water sample comprising the steps:. (a) providing a water sample of predetermined volume, the oxygen content of which is to be determined; PA1 (b) mixing additives with the water sample to form a mixture, the additives comprising an oxidizable metal salt comprising a transition metal cation selected from the group consisting of scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, and an anion selected from the group consisting of an inorganic anion and an organic anion which, with the cation, results in a water soluble oxidizable metal salt, at least one water soluble alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal oxide and an alkali metal hydroxide and at least one oxidation-reduction indicator capable of a color change upon oxidation of the metal salt; PA1 (c) preventing any substantial contact of the mixture with atmospheric oxygen; and PA1 (d) comparing the color of the mixture to a predetermined color indicative of the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water sample.

Water quality management is of particular concern in the cultivation of aquatic organisms for such purposes as food, recreation, education, research and hobbies. Fish and other aquatic animals require an adequate supply of oxygen in order to ensure survival. In addition, aerobic bacterial processes require an adequate supply of oxygen to convert toxic waste into nontoxic by-products. It is crucial to maintain a minimum level of dissolved oxygen in water in order to maintain this aquatic life.
When water is free of all aquatic life, at a water temperature of approximately 70.degree. F. (21.1.degree. C.), the dissolved oxygen level in water is approximately 9 parts per million (ppm). However, in the presence of aquatic animals and accompanying aerobic bacterial processes, the oxygen level may become insufficient to support such life. Therefore, it is desirable for aquaculturalists to have a simple, reliable method for testing the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a water sample in order to ensure an adequate concentration of dissolved oxygen for maintaining such aquatic life.
The prior art discloses various methods for determining the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water. For example, the Winkler or Iodometric method uses titration based upon the oxidizing property of dissolved oxygen to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water. The electrometric method is based upon the rate of diffusion of molecular oxygen across a membrane of an electrode. However, these methods are prohibitively expensive both in terms of time and money to the home aquaculturalist as they require specialized titration equipment and solutions or membrane electrodes and complicated procedures for use.
Another prior art method for determining the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water ranging from 0 to 13.0 mg O.sub.2 /L uses a photometer to compare the color of a test water sample with a control sample containing a known concentration of oxygen. An ampul having a fracturable tip and containing an undisclosed reagent is immersed into a water sample. When the tip is fractured, a vacuum created within the ampul draws a predetermined volume of water into the ampul. The water and reagent are mixed within the ampul and the ampul is placed in the photometer to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water sample. In the presence of dissolved oxygen, the color of the reagent within the ampul changes from yellow to purple. The intensity of the purple color is proportional to the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample.
This method suffers from a number of drawbacks in terms of accuracy, convenience, and cost of use, especially since specialized equipment is needed. With regard to accuracy, the results obtained by use of a photometer are influenced by bubbles or particulate matter suspended in the water sample. The test results may also be influenced by the depth and turbulence of the water in the area from which the sample is taken, as well as temperature, light, sludge deposits, microbial action, travel time, mixing, and other factors affecting the water sample.
The prior art discloses another method which is used to determine concentrations of oxygen in water, such as boiler feedwater, ranging from 0 to 800 micrograms of oxygen per liter. This method follows substantially the same steps as the immediately preceding method except that a different reagent is used. In the presence of dissolved oxygen, the reagent color changes from yellow to blue, the depth of the blue color being proportional to the concentration of dissolved oxygen. This method suffers from the same types of drawbacks as that discussed above. Moreover, sodium hydrosulfite in the sample may reduce the oxidized form of the indicator solution and seriously interfere with the results of the test. Also, a 100,000-fold excess of hydrazine may reduce the oxidized form of the indicator solution.
Another method for determining dissolved oxygen concentration for use in aquaculture is disclosed in the prior art which involves substantially the same test procedures as those followed in the latter two aforementioned methods, except that the reagent changes color from yellow to purple in the presence of dissolved oxygen. The intensity of the purple color is proportional to the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample. This method suffers from similar drawbacks to those discussed above. In addition, magnesium, which is commonly present in sea water, may cause interference with the test results.
The prior art discloses a number of methods for determining the presence of oxygen in a gas.
There is disclosed in the prior art an oxygen-absorbing agent comprised of a ferrous compound, and, in a preferred embodiment, a metal powder such as a reduced iron, the composition exhibiting a color change upon absorption of oxygen.
The prior art also discloses a process for detecting the presence of oxygen in a gas by contacting the gas with a composition comprising a supported oxide of a transition metal of Group VB or VIB of the Periodic Table in a lower valence state. Oxygen present in the gas effects a color change in the composition. A process for detecting oxygen in a gas stream by contacting the gas with a reaction product formed by the reduction of an organo-transition metal compound with a metal hydride or an alkyl compound of metal of Groups IA, II, or IIIA of the Periodic Table is also disclosed in the prior art. The resulting product contains the transition metal in a lower valence state, and undergoes a color change.
The prior art discloses the use of ammoniated copper to indicate by color change the amount of oxygen in a gas mixture. A gas mixture containing oxygen is passed over a packed bed of inert particulate support material coated with ammoniated copper. The copper reacts with the oxygen to produce copper oxide or copper hydroxide, which in turn reacts with the ammonium ion to produce the blue cuprammonium ion. The length of the resultant colored stain on the coated support material is proportional to the amount of oxygen passed over the support material.
A number of methods for determining the concentration of oxygen in liquid are disclosed in the prior art.
There is disclosed in the prior art the use of a tube containing a colorimetric reagent which is partially evacuated and has a readily frangible tip. Examples of suitable colorimetric reagents include 5,5-indigo disulfonic acid and potassium thiocyanate. When the tube is fractured, a predetermined quantity of liquid is drawn into the tube. The reagent reacts with the liquid and develops a color proportional to the concentration of the material to be determined in the liquid. A product based upon this prior art is commercially available for use by fresh water and marine aquarists in which the dissolved oxygen content in a water sample is proportional to the intensity of the resulting blue color of the reagent within the ampul. An oxygen level of between 0 and 10 ppm is ascertainable upon visual comparison of the color of the reagent with a color chart.
The prior art discloses a method and means for determining the dissolved oxygen content in water based on the assertion that the amount of dissolved oxygen is inversely proportional to the iron content of the water. A color indicator containing tannic acid or other reagent capable of detecting minute quantities of ferrous iron in water changes color when the tannic acid or other reagent reacts with dissolved ferrous iron in the water.
Another prior art compound for indicating the presence of oxygen in a gas is comprised of at least one dyestuff, at least one alkaline substance selected from the group of oxides or hydroxides of alkaline earth metals, aluminum hydroxide, phosphates, carbonates, or organic acid salts of alkaline earth metals and at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of dithionites, ferrous compounds, reducing saccharides, and mixtures thereof.
While the prior art discloses a variety of methods for determining the dissolved oxygen concentration in liquids or gases, a simple, reliable method for determining the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a water sample capable of use by the home aquacultural enthusiast is needed.

Method for determination of dissolved oxygen in water


A head-mount type display device includes an image display device adapted to allow a user to visually recognize an image in a state of being mounted on a head of a user, a detection section disposed in the image display device and adapted to detect biological information of the user, a control section adapted to perform control of the image visually recognized by the user using the image display device, and an annunciation section adapted to inform the user of image control information as information related to the control of the image based on a variation in the biological information detected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a head-mount type display device.
2. Related Art
There has been known ahead-mount type display device (a head-mounted display (HMD)) as a display device to be used in the state of being mounted on the head. The head-mount type display device generates image light representing an image using, for example, a liquid crystal display and a light source, and then guides the image light thus generated to the eyes of the user using a projection optical system and a light guide plate to thereby make the user visually recognize a virtual image.
JP-A-2002-125137 (Document 1) discloses a device capable of operating the head-mount type display device by remote control. When a predetermined time has elapsed from when the head-mount type display device is powered ON, this device displays a message representing the fact that the head-mount type display device has been used for a long period of time to thereby call attention to the user in using the head-mount type display device.
Further, JP-A-2013-176535 (Document 2) discloses a technology capable of measuring the pulse wave while reducing an influence of a noise on a measurement signal by analyzing the fluctuation in the respective measurement signals detected by a plurality of light receiving sections in a pulse wave measurement device to be mounted on the wrist.
Further, as examples of related art documents, there can be cited the research study report on an influence of contents on a living body (March 2004, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), and the guideline on an imaging technique such as animation (2006, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association).
However, in the technology described in Document 1, the control for avoiding prolonged use, such as display of a warning message or forced stop of the head-mount type display device is performed without exception when a predetermined time has elapsed regardless of the type of the content to be visually recognized by the user or the health condition of the user. Since in the related art technology, the control for avoiding prolonged use is performed without exception after the predetermined time has elapsed as described above, there is a problem that in some cases, the timing of such control is too early, or by contraries too late depending on the physical condition of the user or the individual difference between the users. It should be noted that such a problem exists not only in the control for avoiding prolonged use, but also in other control such as the control of the luminance of the image light in a similar manner.
Further, in the technology described in Document 2, although the pulse wave of the user can more accurately be detected than ever, there is a demand for using the pulse wave thus detected in controlling a variety of types of devices. Further, there is a problem that the biological information of the user other than the pulse wave also needs to be detected.

Head-mount type display device and method of controlling head-mount type display device


Disclosed are various embodiments for implicitly confirming movement of an item in a materials handling facility. In one embodiment, a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) having an antenna directed at a plurality of storage locations is activated. Each of the storage locations has a corresponding RFID. A particular storage location of the plurality of storage location is determined based at least in part on an observed signal change of one of the corresponding RFIDs. An action is then initiated based at least in part on whether the particular storage location is an expected storage location.

A materials handling facility, such as a fulfillment center, has a multitude of item storage locations for storing an inventory of items. The exact locations of specific items in the inventory of items may be assigned via a computing system. For instance, the computing system may assign item X to be stored in bin Y. However, an agent directed to store item X in bin Y may accidentally store item X in bin Z due to human error. When another agent is later directed by the computing system to pick item X from bin Y, the other agent may be unable to find the item because it is not in the assigned bin. Also, when the computing system later directs another agent to store item Q in bin Z, the agent may discover that space in bin Z is unavailable.


A mobility management network element receives a node capability notification message from the access node, where the node capability notification message is used to indicate that the access node supports use of a user datagram protocol (UDP), to receive a paging message from the mobility management network element, the mobility management network element selects the UDP to send a first paging message to the access node such that a consumption degree of resources of the mobility management network element may be reduced, and occurrence of congestion on the mobility management network element may be avoided.

In a mobile communications network, one communications protocol, such as the stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) or the user datagram protocol (UDP), is generally used between a mobility management network element and an access node to process a paging message. However, it is extremely difficult to use only one communications protocol to meet a requirement of a user for reliable transmission of a paging message and, at the same time, avoid a problem of congestion on the mobility management network element that is caused by excessively heavy resource consumption.
For example, because the SCTP is a connection-oriented data packet transmission protocol, it is extremely reliable to process the paging message using the SCTP. However, for the purpose of implementing high reliability of the SCTP, a mobility management network element consumes a large quantity of resources when using the SCTP to process the paging message, and a problem of congestion on the mobility management network element may easily occur.
For another example, because the UDP features stateless switching and is connectionless, when the SCTP is used to process the paging message, when interacting with the access node, the mobility management network element may directly send a data packet using a port and according to a destination address. Therefore, when using the UDP to process the paging message, the mobility management network element consumes less resources, but at the same time, the reliability is relatively poor.

Access node, mobility management network element, and paging message processing method


An image forming apparatus and a method of forming an image by the image forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit for forming an image onto a recording medium, a supply path for supplying a recording medium to the image forming unit, a first discharge path for discharging the recording medium, a return path, connected with the first discharge path, for returning the recording medium to the image forming unit, a second discharge path, substantially parallel with the supply path, for discharging the recording medium, and a guide member movable from a first position to create the first discharge path and the return path to a second position to create the second discharge path.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a face-up sheet discharging function for discharging a single-sided printed sheet with a printed side thereof facing up, and a double-sided printing function for printing images on both sides of a recording medium.
2. Description of Related Art
A known image forming apparatus includes a double-sided printing function for printing an image on both sides of a recording medium. When the double-sided printing is performed in the image forming apparatus, the recording medium is discharged with a side of the recording medium which is printed first facing up and with the other side thereof printed next facing down.
For double-sided printing, a reverse feeding path is required in a rearward position of a fixing unit, to reversely feed the recording medium having an image printed on one side thereof, back to the image forming unit to form an image on the other side of the recording medium.
When an image is formed on a side of a special recording medium, such as thick paper like cardboard, it is required to feed and discharge such special recording medium, with the printed side thereof facing up, through a generally straight discharge path. If the discharge path has a turn, it is difficult to feed the recording medium of the cardboard through the turn, thus inhibiting the printing of an image on the cardboard.
To form a generally straight discharge path, a rear-side plate of the image forming apparatus disposed downstream of the fixing unit in a feeding direction of the recording medium is structured to open or close. When an image is formed on the special recording medium, such as cardboard, the rear-side plate of the image forming apparatus is opened to ensure the generally straight discharge path. The recording medium is discharged onto the rear-side plate after an image is printed thereon.
As described above, the reverse feeding path is required in the rearward position of the fixing unit for double-sided printing. In addition, a generally straight discharge path is required in a rearward position of the fixing unit for printing on the special recording medium, such as cardboard. Requirements of the reverse feeding path for double-sided printing and the generally straight discharge path for printing on the special recording medium cannot be satisfied at the same time.
The invention provides an image forming apparatus including a face-up sheet discharging function for discharging a single-sided printed sheet with a printed side thereof facing up, and a double-sided printing function for printing images on both sides of a recording medium.
In various embodiments of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit for forming an image onto a recording medium, a supply path for supplying a recording medium to the image forming unit, a first discharge path for discharging the recording medium, a return path, connected with the first discharge path, for returning the recording medium to the image forming unit, a second discharge path, substantially parallel with the supply path, for discharging the recording medium, and a guide member movable from a first position to create the first discharge path and the return path to a second position to create the second discharge path.
In various embodiments of a method of forming an image by an image forming apparatus, the method comprises the steps of supplying a recording medium to the image forming apparatus, forming the image onto the recording medium, and discharging the recording medium to either a first discharge path, a return path connected with the first discharge path or a second discharge path substantially parallel with the supply path, wherein a guide member is movable from a first position to create the first discharge path and the return path to a second position to create the second discharge path.

Image forming apparatus capable of single-sided and double-sided printing


A dual mode light source unit is configured so that it can be secured into a conventional incandescent bulb socket on the aircraft. The light source has a connector portion that fits in the socket and receives the electrical current supplied thereto by the aircraft electrical system. The unit also comprises electric circuitry connected with the connector portion and a visible light source and an IR light source. The electric circuitry processes the input current from the socket and, based thereon, operates in either a civilian, visible mode or a covert IR mode. Where the current is in one electrical state, such as for example a certain voltage, the electric circuit sends power to the visible light source. When the current is in a different electrical state, e.g., a different voltage level, the circuitry sends power only to the IR source, and no visible light is emitted. Such a system allows for ready upgrade of existing aircraft because all control may be accomplished over a single pair of wires, as are already in existing aircraft wiring systems that do not have IR mode capability. To upgrade, light source units according to the invention can be simply inserted into the existing navigational light sockets.

This invention relates to navigation light sources provided for aircraft that are used to render the aircraft visible, and more particularly to navigation lights for military aircraft that may wish to exercise an option of going to a covert mode of operation in which the only light generated by the aircraft is infra red (xe2x80x9cIRxe2x80x9d) light that can only be seen by friendly military wearing appropriate night vision goggles. The invention also relates to methods of upgrading the covert capabilities of existing aircraft that do not yet have covert IR navigational lights.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the aviation authorities of many countries require that aircraft have navigational lighting generally red lights on the left side and green lights on the right side of the plane, to improve their visibility at night.
Military aircraft, when in civilian airspace on non-covert activities, are also required to have such lighting. Normally, the external lighting is provided by incandescent light bulbs in sockets on the outside of the plane. These are conventionally powered by electricity from the internal electronics of the aircraft, which in most U.S. fighter aircraft is 400 Hz AC at 115 volts. A single double wire runs to each light bulb. The pilot can adjust the intensity of the navigation lights or turn them off completely with a brightness control dial in the cockpit which varies the voltage of the AC current sent to the light socket. In situations where visibility would be a disadvantage, these military aircraft would in the past simply turn off the external lighting.
In recent years, it was noted that in covert activities the aircraft was not visible to the enemy, but also not visible to friendly aircraft, and planes began to be supplied with covert mode IR light sources in addition to the visible navigational lights. The IR light emitted is not visible to the human eye, but can be seen with appropriate viewing equipment, e.g., night vision goggles.
To upgrade aircraft to covert IR capability, IR light sources of this type have ordinarily been additional arrays of IR diodes added to the outside of the plane in addition to the existing navigational lights. Alternatively, filters have been mounted over the existing navigational lights and IR diodes mounted in the light bulb fixtures. These kinds of additions, however, require substantial structural work to create the mounts and to wire the new fixtures into the aircraft body, which usually does not have very much extra room for more wiring. In addition, the extensive modifications result in considerable expense for an upgrade to covert IR capability.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an aircraft lighting system that can function both as a visible navigational light system and also as a covert IR light system for friendly eyes only. It is also an object of the invention to provide a design and method that allows for relatively easy upgrade of existing visible navigation lights to give an existing aircraft IR covert capability without the need for any substantial mechanical adaptation of the plane""s structure.
These and other objectives are accomplished by providing according to the invention a dual mode light source unit configured so that it can be secured into a conventional incandescent bulb socket on the aircraft. The light source has a connector portion that fits in the socket and receives the electrical current supplied thereto by the aircraft electrical system. The unit also comprises electric circuitry connected with the connector portion and a visible light source and an IR light source.
The electric circuitry is configured to process the input current from the socket and based thereon, operate in either a civilian visible mode or a covert IR mode. Where the current is in one electrical state, such as for example a certain voltage, the electric circuit sends power to the visible light source. When the current is in a different electrical state, e.g., a different voltage level, the circuitry sends power only to the IR source and no visible light is emitted. The electrical states of the current may be any variation of electrical parameters thereof, including amperage, voltage, frequency, or data encoded therein, etc.
Such a system allows for ready upgrade of existing aircraft because all control may be accomplished over a single pair of wires, as are already in existing systems that do not have IR mode capability. To upgrade, light source units according to the invention are simply inserted into the existing navigational light sockets.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification herein.

Dual mode light source for aircraft external lighting


A polycarbonate diol is provided, including three kinds of repeating diol units, wherein one of the repeating diol units is chosen from an alkoxylated diol monomer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a raw material for thermoplastic elastomers or polyurethanes, and more particularly, to a polycarbonate diol suitable for thermoplastic elastomers or polyurethanes.
2. Description of Related Art
When polycarbonate diols are used for manufacturing polyurethanes or thermoplastic elastomers as a soft segment, the polycarbonate diols enhance hydrolysis resistance, light resistance, oxidative degradation resistance, and heat resistance as well. However, because of the crystalline resulted from using 1,6-hexanediol as a reactant for polymerizing polycarbonate diol, a polyurethane using said polycarbonate diol has a drawback of exhibiting low flexibility and elastic recovery. In order to solve these problems, an aliphatic polycarbonate diol using one or more types of diols was disclosed. Among them, an aliphatic polycarbonate diol using 1,4-butanediol is reported to make the aliphatic copolycarbonate diol.
Moreover, Taiwan Pat. No. 1443125 disclosed a method to ameliorate the strength, elongation and elastic recoil of a polyurethane by adjusting the molar ratio of 1,4-butanediol to 1,6-hexanediol in the repeating units of the polymer.
On the other hand, Taiwan Pat. No. I316068 disclosed that using 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol or trimethyl-1,6-hexanediol as a monomer to manufacture polycarbonate diol cannot ameliorate the oil resistance of the polycarbonate diol-based polyurethane but an aliphatic polycarbonate diol made from 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and one or more diols highly enhance the oil resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and weather resistance of the polyurethane.
Therefore, to the development of a polycarbonate diol having an improved oil resistance, weather resistance and flexibility has become an urgent issue to be solved.

Polycarbonate diol and thermoplastic polyurethane made from the same