An information collecting system includes a dictionary defining the kinds of each supporting information to be added to job-site data and a database of the supporting information. The supporting information is background information including pieces of information indicating an analysis assist material affecting an analysis and an evaluation assist material affecting an evaluation of an analysis result. That is, the job-site data is included as a factor in a fishbone diagram having a shared knowledge of an organization or an organization knowledge as a characteristic, and the background information is other factors in the fishbone diagram including the job-site data as a factor. Each supporting information is searched from the database in accordance with a dictionary, and each searched supporting information is added to the job-site data in addition to attribute data to generate event information.

Various facilities are operated in a factory, an office, etc. These facilities output job-site data indicating observation results to the facilities, works, or materials, such as error information and status information. The job-site data may be input by a user. The user connects a mobile terminal to the facility, etc, and uses the mobile terminal as a user interface to input job-site data. The job-site data is typically output in a coded manner or as values indicating an observation result. The facility or a computer managing the facility adds attribute data to such job-site data. The attribute data indicates a characteristic and a feature directly possessed by the observation result. Specific examples thereof are information on a place where the observation result was obtained and a date when the observation result was obtained. Information obtained by adding the attribute data to the job-site data is monitored as event information by an administrator. A fixed property administrator is a person responsible for improvement or a person responsible for maintenance and management of the facility in a factory, and is a person or an administrator responsible for various functional divisions, such as an administrator of a server device.
The event information is important since it attributes to the operation management of a factory or an office, the quality control of products, and the business operation of a company, etc. However, the event information directly output by the facility only indicates a code or a simple observed value, and attributes, such as a place where an event occurred and a date when the event occurred, and has no secondary or tertiary meanings. Hence, for many years, the event information is interpreted and evaluated at each hierarchy from a job-site level to a management and business operation level, and the event information is utilized for each level.
Accordingly, there is often a time lag between the job-site level and the management and business operation level to transmit information, and the job-site level and the management and business operation level are isolated from each other from the standpoint of information transmission. Moreover, even if information is received, it is necessary to interpret and evaluate the meaning of such information in combination of other various pieces of information. Therefore, there is also a time lag from the generation of event information to the recognition of the value thereof. Furthermore, the interpretation and evaluation of the meaning of the information is duplicated for individual persons, and a quick response based on the event information is often delayed.
Hence, various information collecting systems are proposed so far. For example, JP 2006-164182 A discloses an information collecting system which generally stores event information once in a database, and information necessary for the interpretation and evaluation of the event information is collected from the database together with the stored event information for each division. Those pieces of information are combined together at each division to interpret the secondary and tertiary meanings of the event information.
According to such an information collecting system, the job-site level and the management and business operation level can obtain the same event information simultaneously. However, as explained above, the event information generated at a facility has no meaning other than an observation result and an attribute. Hence, each person responsible for recognizing the meaning of the event information needs to repeat interpretation of the obtained event information. That is, the event information needs to be interpreted while other information is added thereto, a new interpretation obtained through such interpretation is added to further other information, and this procedure is repeated to give various meanings to the event information step by step.
For example, when job-site data indicating a yield is obtained from a facility, interpretation must be repeated step by step without a delay, such as, whether or not the yield indicates the abnormality of the facility; if it indicates the abnormality, whether the abnormality is caused by a consumable part or not; if it is caused by the consumable part, where the consumable part is stocked; if the consumable part is taken out from the stock, whether or not restocking is necessary; and if the restocking is necessary, from which company the consumable part is purchased, while other information like a communication to an important customer of the delay of delivery is added to the event information.
Accordingly, the information collecting system can deliver the event information to individual divisions without a time lag, but the necessary time for interpreting the event information varies depending on the divisions. Hence, a time lag is unavoidable for the recognition of the event information between the job-site level and the management and business operation level, resulting in a still-unsolved isolation between the job-site level and the management and business operation level from the standpoint of recognition of information.
The present invention has been made to address the above-explained problem of the related art. An object of the present invention is to provide an information collecting system that enables instantaneous understanding to the secondary and tertiary meanings of event information generated at a job site.


In a musical instrument having one or more tone generators in which a plurality of data words corresponding to the amplitudes of a corresponding number of evenly spaced reference points defining the waveform of one cycle of an audio signal are transferred sequentially from a note register to a digital-to-analog converter in repetitive cycles at a rate proportional to the pitch of the tone being generated, apparatus for loading a new set of data words in the note register without interrupting the transfer of data words from the note register to the converter is provided. The note register is divided into two sections. One section is loaded with data words defining half a cycle of an audio signal. By taking advantage of half cycle symmetry of the waveform, the other half of the note register is loaded at the same time using the same data words in reverse order. By reducing the number of data words transferred to the note register by half, the rate requied to transfer the words sequentially into the note register can be reduced to an acceptable level, while limiting the total time to effect a load so as not to interrupt the normal sequential transfer of data words from the register to the digital-to-analog converter.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,644 there is described a polyphonic tone synthesizer in which a master data set is computed and stored in a main register from which it is transferred to note registers of a plurality of tone generators. The master data set defines the amplitudes of equally spaced points along a half cycle of the audio waveform of the musical tones being generated. Each tone generator receives the words in the master data set and applies them to a digital-to-analog converter at a rate determined by the fundamental pitch of the respective tones being generated by the polyphonic tone synthesizer.
One of the features of the synthesizer circuit, as described in the above-identified patent, is that the transfer of successive words from the master data set in the main register to an individual note register in the respective tone generators is synchronized with the transfer of words from the note register to the digital-to-analog converter in respective tone generators. This feature allows the master data set defining the waveform to be recomputed and loaded in the respective tone generators without interrupting the generation of the respective musical notes by the tone generators, thus permitting the waveform of a musical tone to be changed with time without interrupting the resulting musical tone.
One problem with the arrangement described in the above-identified patent is that the rate at which the waveform can be varied as a function of time is limited by the time required to transfer the data from the main register to the note registers in each of the tone generators. The transfer time in turn is limited for each tone generator by the fundamental frequency of the tone being generated. The total transfer time for each tone generator is equal to one period at the fundamental frequency of the tone being generated. If all the tone generators, e.g., 12 generators, are generating tones simultaneously in the lower registers, the total time to load the master data set in all of the tone generators can become appreciable using the arrangement described in the above-identified patent.
One solution to reducing the transfer time would be to transfer the entire master data set into the note register of a tone generator in a period of time which was less than the time required to transfer successive digital values from the note register to the digital-to-analog converter of the tone generator. This would permit the master data set in the note register to be updated without interrupting the flow of data to the digital-to-analog converter and hence without interrupting the resulting audio signal at the output of the tone generator. However, to generate audio waveforms having 32 harmonics, a minimum of 64 data points is required for the master data set in the note register to define one cycle having the desired waveshape. To reproduce a musical note for the highest note on the musical instrument, which preferably is the note C.sub.7, corresponding to a fundamental frequency of 2093 hz. would require a transfer frequency of at least 8.57 mhz., i.e., 2093.times.64.times.64. This is too high a transfer frequency for low-cost microelectronic devices preferably used in electronic musical instruments.

Data transfer apparatus for digital polyphonic tone synthesizer


In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an amplifier FET and a gate bias FET, having the same structure as the amplifier FET and a total gate width smaller than that of the amplifier FET, are disposed close to each other. The gate bias FET is a constituent of a gate bias circuit for the amplifier FET, and the current determined by the drain current of the gate bias FET, first and second resistors respectively connected to drain and source of the gate bias FET, and a diode connected in series to the first resistor is applied to the amplifier FET as a gate bias voltage. In this structure, if the DC characteristic of the amplifier FET varies from chip to chip, the DC characteristic of the gate bias FET formed in the vicinity of and simultaneously with the amplifier FET also varies. Therefore, it is possible to make the operating current value of the amplifier FET consistent throughout a plurality of IC chips regardless of differences in the drain current of the amplifier FET, resulting in uniform high frequency characteristics, such as input-output characteristics, of the IC chips.

FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as IC) of a single-stage amplifier using a conventional gate bias circuit. In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates a field effect transistor (hereinafter referred to as FET), numeral 2 designates a signal input terminal, and numeral 3 designates a capacitor. An input end of the capacitor 3 is connected to the signal input terminal 2 and an output end of the capacitor 3 is connected to a gate of the FET 1. Reference numeral 10 designates a ground plane, numerals 112 and 113 designate resistors R.sub.12 and R.sub.13, respectively, and numeral 114 designates a gate bias terminal. An end of the resistor R.sub.12 is connected to the output end of the capacitor 3 and to the gate of the FET 1 while the other end is connected to the gate bias terminal 114. An end of the resistor R.sub.13 is connected to the output end of the capacitor 3 and to the gate of the FET 1 while the other end is connected to the ground plane 10. Reference numerals 21 and 22 designates first and second transmission lines, respectively, each serving as an output matching circuit. These transmission lines 21 and 22 are microstrip lines or coplanar lines formed on the IC. Reference numeral 23 designates an inductor which is formed by patterning a metal thin film having a prescribed width in spiral shape or meandering line shape. Reference numerals 24 and 25 designate capacitors, numeral 26 designates a drain bias terminal, and numeral 27 designates a signal output terminal.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the FET 1 included in the single-stage amplifier of FIG. 7. In the figure, reference numeral 31 designates a GaAs substrate. The FET includes a gate electrode 33 comprising tungsten silicide (WSi), a source electrode 36, and a drain electrode 37. The source and drain electrodes 36 and 37 comprise AuGe. An n type active region 32 is disposed within the substrate 31 and lies at a surface where the gate electrode 33 is disposed. Relatively heavily doped n.sup.+ type source and drain regions 34 and 35 are disposed within the substrate 31 lying below the source and drain electrodes 36 and 37, respectively. In production, the n type active region 32 is formed by implanting n type impurity ions, such as Si ions, into the substrate 31. Then, the center portion of the n type region is masked and the n.sup.+ type source and drain regions 34 and 35 are formed by heavily implanting the n type impurity ions.
A description is given of the operation.
A radiofrequency signal (hereinafter referred to as RF signal) which is input to the signal input terminal 2 is transmitted through the capacitor 3 to the gate of the FET 1. A partial voltage V.sub.g1, which is determined by a voltage V.sub.g0 applied to the gate bias terminal 114 and by the resistors R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 according to the following equation (1), is applied to the gate of the FET 1 as a gate voltage. EQU V.sub.g1 =V.sub.g0 (R.sub.13 /(R.sub.12 +R.sub.13)) (1)
Further, a drain voltage V.sub.dd is applied to the drain of the FET 1 from the drain bias terminal 26. Therefore, a drain current I.sub.d1, which is determined by the drain voltage V.sub.dd the gate voltage V.sub.g1, and the DC characteristic of the FET 1, flows between the source and the drain of the FET 1, whereby the RF signal in the gate of the FET 1 is amplified, and the amplified RF signal is transmitted through the first and second transmission lines 21 and 22 and the capacitor 25 and output from the signal output terminal 27.
FIG. 8 illustrates DC characteristics between the drain current I.sub.d and the gate voltage V.sub.g of the FET 1. A drain current I.sub.d1 of the FET 1 is determined by the threshold voltage V.sub.th of the FET 1, the gain coefficient K, and the gate voltage V.sub.g1 according to the following equation
(2). EQU I.sub.d1 =K(V.sub.g1 -V.sub.th).sup.2 ( 2)
In the gate bias circuit shown in FIG. 7, the gate voltage V.sub.g1 of the equation (2) is a fixed gate voltage determined by the equation (1), so that the above-described amplification is carried out with the drain current I.sub.d1 according to the equations (1) and (2).
In the above-described gate bias circuit of the conventional semiconductor IC, the gate voltage V.sub.g1 applied to the gate electrode of the FET 1 is fixed if the voltage V.sub.g0 applied to the gate bias terminal 114 is constant. In the conventional semiconductor IC, however, it is impossible to fabricate a plurality of FETs 1 with uniform impurity dopant concentration and uniform thickness of the n type active layer 32 and uniform length of the gate electrode 33 from wafer to wafer or from lot to lot, so that the threshold voltage V.sub.th and the gain coefficient K in the equation (2), i.e., I.sub.d1 =K (V.sub.g1 -V.sub.th).sup.2, undesirably vary between devices, resulting in undesirable differences in the drain current I.sub.d between devices. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, although the amplifier FET 1 is designed to have an operating point Q with the DC characteristic shown by the continuous line, the operating point unfavorably shifts to Q1 or Q2 if the DC profile varies as shown by the broken line (a) or (b), respectively resulting in undesirable variations in high frequency characteristics, such as input-output characteristics, from chip to chip.

Monolithic integrated circuit including gate bias transistor controlling the gate bias applied to an amplifying transistor


A fluid pressurization apparatus utilizing a slanted cam disk to oscillate, or to oscillate and rotate a set of piston assemblies arranged in a circle. The motion of the pistons is utilized to pressurize fluid or to perform work. The piston assemblies have multiple elements configured to allow the plungers to be engaged or disengaged to the motion of a disk by manipulating a working fluid introduced into the apparatus. By virtue of these disengageable plungers, the apparatus can be disabled and resumed at will. This apparatus is particularly well suited for pressurizing liquids such as water for high-pressure and high-flow applications.

Pumps and intensifiers are devices for introducing energy into a fluid so as to move it from point A to point B or to pressurize it to perform work. The word "pump" generally refers to apparatus that converts shaft power of an engine or motor to kinetic energy in moving fluid or potential energy in pressurized fluids, or both. Intensifiers are devices that transfer stored energy from one pressurized fluid, generally referred to as a working fluid, to another fluid, generally referred to as a system fluid. The two fluids are often different but can be the same.
There are many types of pumps. For instance, pumps are critical to the operation of fluid power systems. The selection of available pumps is very wide when the system pressure is low and the system operation is simple. The selection becomes narrower when the system pressure is very high, and the system operations are more demanding. By way of example, today's waterjetting processes are carried out at very high flow and pressure.
High-pressure waterjetting is now an accepted method for removing deteriorated coatings from various structures, such as storage tanks, bridges, and ship hulls. The system pressure of these processes is commonly 40,000 psi or higher. At these pressures, the fluid induced forces and stresses are very high. Specialized high-pressure pumps are required for handling water at such pressure levels.
Due to the high cost of labor, downtime, and dry dock fees, the cleaning of structures must also be performed at high speed and with good results. Waterjetting must be applied not only at high pressures but also at high flow rates. The flow capacity of these high-pressure pumps must also be very high.
Many waterjetting operations cover a large surface area, such as the hull of today's supertankers. The mobility of the pump system is one concern, because it may have to be moved often. The weight and compactness of the pump are related concerns.
Pumps for today's waterjetting processes must also be versatile and reliable. The high-pressure water flow needs to be turned on and off frequently. This task is simple when the system pressure is very low, but more difficult at very high pressures. Popular crankshaft pumps do not have this capability. The user has to dump the water or to shut off the motor or engine if the high-pressure waterjet is to be temporarily shut off.
The reliability of the pump is also important in today's waterjetting processes. The down time must be kept at a minimum, otherwise the profit of an operation can be lost.
Current waterjetting processes are often carried out with crankshaft pumps, also known as "oil field" pumps. These pumps are large and bulky, and typically have 3 or 5 pistons linked mechanically to a crankshaft. If one piston fails, the entire pump is basically out of order. If the crankshaft develops faults, the pump also fails. These pumps have no mechanism for stoppage. The only way to stop output is to dump the flow or shut off the engine or motor.
At present, crankshaft pumps are limited to a maximum system pressure of 40,000 psi. For operations at pressures above 40,000 psi, double-acting fluid pressure intensifiers are used. These hydraulically powered intensifiers have two opposed plungers sharing a common power piston. The output power of these intensifiers is discontinuous, and dead-volume high-pressure accumulators are required to reduce the pressure pulsations. These intensifiers are also very bulky in respect to their flow capabilities and have a geometry not conducive for many applications. The intensifiers also require electricity to operate, which can be difficult to provide in remote waterjetting operations.

Process and apparatus for pressurizing fluid and using them to perform work


The invention provides a method for removing code (applications and data) from read-only memory, and compacting the remaining code in memory either as an application is deleted or when there is not sufficient room to hold a new application. One or more xe2x80x9csparexe2x80x9d memory segments are reserved for use during compaction. Where the code for removal shares a memory segment with other code that is not to be removed, the other code is copied to a spare memory segment, and then swapped back to its original location. The code can then be compacted to remove the xe2x80x9cholesxe2x80x9d left by the erased code.

The present invention is directed to the area of memory management in computer systems with segmented memory space, such as embedded devices, and specifically provides a system for safely reclaiming memory and realigning the remaining applications contiguously in non-volatile, erasable xe2x80x9cflashxe2x80x9d-type memory.
This application is particularly useful in embedded systems with memory constraints, but is applicable in any environment in which applications may be removed from a machine and it is desirable to compact the remaining applications stored in memory, in order to provide the maximum amount of contiguous free space for new applications.
In embedded systems, total system memory may be in the order of 1 to 4 megabytes. Ideally, half of the system memory should be devoted to read-only memory (ROM), for storing applications and data which persist between sessions. Applications can be loaded, in sequential order, until the memory limits of the system are reached.
For the purposes of this invention, reference will be made to xe2x80x9cflashxe2x80x9d type memory. Technically, flash is a form of ROM in that it is non-volatile, but it is also erasable, generally in 64K byte blocks, according to current technology.
Particularly in the rapidly developing area of wireless communications, it may be necessary or desirable to delete existing applications in a device before a new application can be downloaded, either to free adequate memory to accommodate the new application(s) or to avoid incompatibility with newer versions of an application.
The present invention is directed to a system for safely removing applications from ROM, and then compacting the ROM to remove any xe2x80x9cholesxe2x80x9d left by application removal. This ensures that the maximum amount of contiguous free memory is made available for new application download.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an improvement in a device""s non-volatile memory. This flash memory is characterized by having multiple memory segments adapted to receive and store application code and data. The improvement consists of having at least one memory segment reserved for use during memory compaction, which is adapted to receive code and/or data copied from another memory segment of the read-only memory. A mechanism for correcting pointers within the code to reference the new memory location of the code and/or data copied from another memory segment of the read-only memory is also provided.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for removing a defined body of code from a read-only memory with multiple memory segments and at least one memory segment reserved for use during compaction. In the method, if it is determined that the defined body of code overlaps into a memory segment shared with other code, the other code is copied into a memory segment reserved for use during compaction, the memory segment reserved for compaction is swapped with the memory segment shared with other code, and the memory segment containing a portion of the defined body of code is erased.

Reclaiming memory from deleted applications

International Business Machines Corporation


Fusion proteins that contain the fusion of (i) a peptide of less than 100 amino acids comprising a first amino acid sequence comprising AASSG (SEQ ID NO: 1) and a second amino acid sequence comprising XAGXDXXTEXPXS (SEQ ID NO: 2), wherein X designates any amino acid, and (ii) a protein transduction domain (PTD) are provided, along with pharmaceutical compositions containing the fusion protein. The proteins can be used to treat Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects motor and cognitive functions, ultimately leading to dementia. In addition, although the disease is not itself fatal, it induces health complications (pneumonia, cardiac disorders) reducing the life expectancy of the person affected to about twenty years following the onset of symptoms.
It has been demonstrated that this disease is caused by a unique genetic mutation of the gene coding for the human Huntingtin protein (hHtt). This leads to synthesis of an abnormal protein, inducing neuronal disorders in the brain of the person affected by the disease.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the gene of the human form of Huntingtin (hHtt). This gene contains 3144 amino acids. The N-terminal (N-term) fragment of this gene is shown in more detail. This N-term fragment contains 548 amino acids (including a domain rich in proline amino acids) as well as a polyglutamine (PolyQ) domain, of variable size, ranging from 0Q to 35Q for a normal protein. This polyQ domain corresponds to a sequence composed exclusively of glutamine amino acids (whose abbreviation to a corresponding letter is "Q").
More specifically, in Huntington's disease, the abnormal protein is characterised by abnormal expansion of the polyQ domain contained in the N-terminal fragment of the hHtt protein.
When this domain exceeds 35Q, the polyQ-hHtt protein forms aggregates leading to degeneration of neurons in the striatum (a nervous structure responsible for motor function). Several studies have also identified an influence of the normal function of the Huntingtin protein in the disease.
To date, however, there is no effective treatment against this disease.
One treatment approach currently considered consists in fighting against aggregation of the polyQ domains in the protein, responsible for the disease.
A previous study (Mugat et al., Human Molecular Genetics, 2008) demonstrated a protective role of wild-type hHtt and its Drosophila homolog dHtt concerning aggregation of the polyQ-hHtt proteins. It was in fact possible to rescue the phenotypes induced by the polyQ-hHtt mutant protein with the 548 amino acid (aa) N-terminus (N-ter) fragment of hHtt or with the 620aa N-ter fragment of the Drosophila homolog of Htt (dHtt). These sequences are shown on FIGS. 1B and 1A respectively. FIG. 1B shows on the first line the series of glutamine amino acids (21Q in total) of this normal hHtt protein.
However, use of a protein of 548 and/or 620 amino acids could not reasonably be considered in the context of a genetic therapy. Indeed, in view of the numerous functions carried out by the huntingtin protein and in particular by its N-terminal end, these proteins would also be likely to carry out other functions whose type is not controlled.
The invention therefore relates to particularly targeted novel compounds that can be used as a drug to treat Huntington's disease.

Therapeutic peptides and use thereof against huntington's disease

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM)

Universite Montpellier 2 Sciences et Techniques


A computing device and method for establishing more direct access to a storage device from unprivileged code in an unprivileged storage architecture component. Using a storage infrastructure driver to discover and enumerate storage architecture component(s), a user-mode application requests at least one portion of the storage device to store application-related data corresponding to executing input/output activity. The storage infrastructure driver maps the at least one portion of the storage device to substantially match an address space associated with the application-related data and configures at least one path for the user-mode application to perform block-level input/output between the storage device and the unprivileged storage architecture component. A virtual function may be generated corresponding to at least one path between a computing device and the unprivileged storage architecture component to execute input/output activity using the address space. A completion notification mechanism may also be provided.

Computer technology consumers utilize various types of storage technologies to retain files that store financial records, documents, photos and other data. The storage systems may move, modify, add or delete data, on behalf of these consumers, as directed by various unprivileged mode software programs (e.g., commonly known as applications). To satisfy consumer demands with respect to latency and efficiency, these storage systems consume a considerable share of available computing resources, including storage space capacities, processing threads, operating system components and/or the like. This share of resources, in addition to reading/writing data, employs various access control mechanisms to synchronize data between threads and maintain consistency amongst variables (e.g., global variables).
A typical storage vendor supplies device-specific software programs that are configured to facilitate the above mentioned control mechanisms as well as perform block-level addressing. These programs run in privileged mode and are commonly known as device drivers. Each device-specific software program, when executed and combined with other privileged mode drivers, collectively function as storage architecture (e.g., a stack of kernel mode drivers and/or compatible storage hardware components). The unprivileged software programs mentioned above utilize this architecture to perform various data storage/retrieval tasks, such as reading/writing data. In the current state of the art, these tasks often result in reduced input/output bandwidth and increased response latency because of the reasons explained below.
Mainly due to overhead caused by some storage architecture components, it is becoming more difficult for current storage devices to handle the increasing loads of input/output requests. These storage architecture components may be unrelated to successfully completing certain data storage/retrieval tasks, but these components are executed anyway, which results in considerable processor overhead. High input/output loads are other example situations that cause a noticeable level of overhead. As another example, executing the data storage/retrieval tasks also can strain a processor already burdened with a considerable number of other tasks. The processor can be further burdened with context switches (e.g., changing program state) when the operating system handles file system operations asynchronously. Because of at least these reasons, the storage architecture described above is limited with respect to input/output efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Storage device access using unprivileged software code


The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I) and (II) wherein R, R21, R25-R33, m, n, X21-X23, and Q1 are defined herein. The compounds modulate protein kinase enzymatic activity to modulate cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinases, particularly p70S6 and/or Akt kinases. Methods of using and preparing the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions are also an aspect of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration, chemoinvasion and metabolism. Even more specifically, the invention relates to compounds which inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions.
2. Summary of Related Art
Improvements in the specificity of agents used to treat cancer is of considerable interest because of the therapeutic benefits which would be realized if the side effects associated with the administration of these agents could be reduced. Traditionally, dramatic improvements in the treatment of cancer are associated with identification of therapeutic agents acting through novel mechanisms.
Protein kinases are enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of proteins at the hydroxy groups of tyrosine, serine and threonine residues of proteins. The kinase complement of the human genome contains 518 putative protein kinase genes [Manning et al, Science, (2002), 298, 1912]. The consequences of this activity include effects on cell differentiation, proliferation, transcription, translation, metabolism, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, metabolism cytoskeletal rearrangement and movement; i.e., protein kinases mediate the majority of signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, abnormal protein kinase activity has been related to a host of disorders, ranging from relatively non-life threatening diseases such as psoriasis to cancer. Chromosomal mapping has revealed that over 200 kinases map to disease loci, including cancer, inflammatory and metabolic disease.
Tyrosine kinases can be categorized as receptor type or non-receptor type. Receptor-type tyrosine kinases have an extracellular, a transmembrane, and an intracellular portion, while non-receptor type tyrosine kinases are wholly intracellular.
Receptor-type tyrosine kinases are comprised of a large number of transmembrane receptors with diverse biological activity. In fact, about 20 different subfamilies of receptor-type tyrosine kinases have been identified. One tyrosine kinase subfamily, designated the HER subfamily, is comprised of EGFR (HER1), HER2, HER3, and HER4. Ligands of this subfamily of receptors identified so far include epithelial growth factor, TGF-alpha, amphiregulin, HB-EGF, betacellulin and heregulin. Another subfamily of these receptor-type tyrosine kinases is the insulin subfamily, which includes INS-R, IGF-IR, and IR-R. The PDGF subfamily includes the PDGF-alpha and -beta receptors, CSFIR, c-kit and FLK-II. Then there is the FLK family, which is comprised of the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK-1), fetal liver kinase-4 (FLK-4) and the fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1). The PDGF and FLK families are usually considered together due to the similarities of the two groups. For a detailed discussion of the receptor-type tyrosine kinases, see Plowman et al., DN&P 7(6): 334-339, 1994, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases is also comprised of numerous subfamilies, including Src, Frk, Btk, Csk, Abl, Syk/Zap70, Fes/Fps, Fak, Jak, and Ack. Each of these subfamilies is further sub-divided into varying receptors. For example, the Src subfamily is one of the largest and includes Src, Yes, Fyn, Lyn, Lck, Blk, Hck, Fgr, and Yrk. The Src subfamily of enzymes has been linked to oncogenesis. For a more detailed discussion of the non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases, see Bolen, Oncogene, 8:2025-2031 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Serine-theoronine kinases play critical roles in intracellular signal transduction and include the multiple families, including STE, CKI, AGC, CAMK, and CMGC. Important subfamilies include, the MAP kinases, p38, JNK and ERK, which modulate signal transduction resulting from such diverse stimuli as mitogenic, stress, proinflammatory and antiapoptotic pathways. Members of the MAP kinase subfamily have been targeted for therapeutic intervention, including p38a, JNK isozymes and Raf.
Since protein kinases and their ligands play critical roles in various cellular activities, deregulation of protein kinase enzymatic activity can lead to altered cellular properties, such as uncontrolled cell growth associated with cancer. In addition to oncological indications, altered kinase signaling is implicated in numerous other pathological diseases. These include, but are not limited to: immunological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, and degenerative diseases. Therefore, both receptor and non-receptor protein kinases are attractive targets for small molecule drug discovery.
One particularly attractive goal for therapeutic use of kinase modulation relates to oncological indications. For example, modulation of protein kinase activity for the treatment of cancer has been demonstrated successfully with the FDA approval of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate, produced by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation of East Hanover, N.J.) for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stroma cancers. Gleevec is a selective Abl kinase inhibitor.
Modulation (particularly inhibition) of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, two key cellular processes needed for tumor growth and survival (Matter A. Drug Disc Technol 20016, 1005-1024), is an attractive goal for development of small-molecule drugs. Anti-angiogenic therapy represents a potentially important approach for the treatment of solid tumors and other diseases associated with dysregulated vascularization, including ischemic coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. As well, cell antiproliferative agents are desirable to slow or stop the growth of tumors.
The enzyme, p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) is a serine-theoronine kinase that is a component of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt kinase (AktK) pathway. Both Akt and p70S6K are downstream of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), and undergo phosphorylation and activation in response to growth factors such as IGF-1, EGF, TGF-α and HGF. The enzyme p70S6K modulates protein synthesis by phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein promoting translation. A role for p70S6K in tumor cell proliferation and protection of cells from apoptosis is supported based on its participation in growth factor receptor signal transduction, overexpression and activation in tumor tissues [Pene et al (2002) Oncogene 21, 6587; Miyakawa et al (2003) Endocrin J. 50, 77, 83; Le et al (2003) Oncogene 22, 484]. Clinical inhibition of p70S6K activation was observed in renal carcinoma patients treated with CCI-779 (rapamycin ester), an inhibitor of the upstream activating kinase, mTOR. A significant linear association between disease progression and inhibition of p70S6K activity was reported [Peralba et al (2003) Clinical Cancer Research 9, 2887].
Recently, the enzyme p70S6K was found to be implicated in metabolic diseases and disorders. It was reported that the absence of p70S6K protects against age- and diet-induced obesity while enhancing insulin sensitivity [Um et al (2004) Nature 431, 200-205 and Pende et al (2000) Nature 408, 994-997]. A role for p70S6K in metabolic diseases and disorders such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperaminoacidemia, and hyperlipidemia is supported based upon the findings.
Accordingly, the identification of small-molecule compounds that specifically inhibit, regulate and/or modulate the signal transduction of kinases, particularly p70S6K and/or Akt, is desirable as a means to treat or prevent disease states associated with abnormal cell proliferation and metabolism is an object of this invention.


A method of photodelineating an adhesive on a substrate. The first step (10) is to coat the substrate with a layer of photopolymeric adhesive, typically spin coated. The adhesive is then briefly `soft baked` at a moderate temperature to set it (20). Portions of the adhesive are then selectively exposed to actinic radiation to partially cure them, while other portions are not exposed (30). A photomask is used to selectively expose the photopolymeric adhesive to ultraviolet light at an intensity and for a time sufficient to partially cure the photopolymeric adhesive. The adhesive is developed (40) to selectively remove those portions that were not exposed to radiation, usually in an appropriate solvent, creating a pattern in the adhesive. The developed adhesive pattern is then heated for a time and temperature sufficient to completely cure it (50).

Adhesives find use in an unending variety of applications, and are an integral part of our daily lives. A good adhesive must have many properties, some of which are mutually exclusive, and therefore require compromise in selection. For example, it must adhere tenaciously to the substrate upon which it is to be bonded, it must be able to be converted from a `non-adhesive` state to an adhesive state, it must be able to be properly applied or located on the substrate of choice, and must meet numerous other criteria such as cost, environmental resistance, toxicity, reliability, shear strength, peel strength, color, viscosity, etc. Of these, we are concerned here with the ability to be properly applied or located on the substrate of choice and the ability to be converted from a `non-adhesive` state to an adhesive state.
Conventional adhesives are applied in myriad ways, for example, dispensing, pouring, roller coating, spraying, dipping, painting, stenciling, and electrostatic coating. Each of these are performed manually or by machine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that each technique poses problems in uniform and accurate application, and can be messy. Creation of complex patterns of adhesive is difficult, and is typically achieved by stenciling or dispensing. Both of these methods have a limit to their usefulness when trying to achieve fine resolution and accurate placement of the adhesive.
Conventional adhesives, such as ultraviolet (UV) light-curable adhesives, cannot be patterned with existing photodelineation methods. To do so would completely cure the adhesive, thereby rendering it useless as an adhesive. The UV adhesives must also be fully exposed to be cured, which requires that either the part to be bonded is very small, or it is transparent to UV light, so that the adhesive can be cured under the part. This severely limits their use.
Photoresists have been used as masks to create very fine patterns on printed circuit boards and semiconductor wafers. These polymers are typically applied as a dry film or a liquid, and are selectively exposed, and developed. While these materials are widely used in the electronics industry, they suffer from poor adhesion to the substrate and cannot be used as true adhesives to bond articles together due to the need to irradiate the adhesive to cure it. For example, Gurtler, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,930 describes the use of RISTON photoresist to create a cavity in a liquid crystal display. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while RISTON is an excellent photoresist for masking and etching circuit patterns, it can not be used as an adhesive due to the marginal adhesion to the substrate. Sullivan, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,827 describes a cumbersome method to overcome the stated poor adhesion of dry film resists. Further, the resist must be fully and uniformly exposed by the light for proper results, thereby precluding its use as an adhesive to bond two opaque materials together. For example, RISTON cannot be used to adhesively bond a metal heat sink to a printed circuit board, because it is a very poor adhesive, and because the light cannot get through the opaque metal to initiate the curing photoreaction. Attempts to thermally cure these types of resists produce minimal, if any, adhesive bonding.
Therefore, a need has existed for a material and a method to produce fine line, high resolution patterns of adhesives to bond opaque materials together.

Radiation sensitive adhesive composition and method of photoimagingsame


An optical logic device wherein two light beams are launched into an optical nonlinear resonator, the phase shift characteristics of the resonator cavity being dependent on the intensities of the light beams traveling therethrough. The beams are launched in a manner such that each beam propagates in linearly independent modes whereby the relative phase of the beams does not affect the manner in which the light beams interact within said cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical devices and, in particular, to a nonlinear optical logic device in which at least two input light beams having independent modes are launched, the device operating independently of the relative phase between the two inputs.
2. Background Art
Bistable optical devices wherein the intensity of the output optical beam may be in either a low or high state for a given optical input, depending on the prior history of the device, have been previously described in the prior art. The potential applications for such devices include use as optical memory element, limiters, switches and logic gates.
One such example of a prior art bistable optical device is the nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer or resonator. The bistable feature of this device is provided by feedback due to mirrors and by the nonlinear refractive index of the medium that fills the device cavity. Although the bistable nature of the device would lead one to conclude that it could be utilized as an optical logic device in a multiple device optical data processing system, the requirement that the two optical input beams be combined prior to launch into the resonator in turn requires that the input beams be in phase coherence in order for the device to perform its intended logic function. This latter requirement is extremely difficult to provide in such systems. Further, Fabry-Perot optical logic "OR" gates could provide problems in complex optical data systems since the output signal phase shift is dependent on the input data, the output "1" logical signal for two input "1s" being different from the output "1" logical signal for an optical input comprising a logical "1" and a logical "0." Compensation for this difference is very difficult.
The use of optical nonlinear ring resonators as filters and bistable devices has also been described. For example, an article by R. G. Walker et al., "Integrated Optical Ring Resonators Made by Silver Ion-Exchange in Glass," Applied Optics, Vol. 22, No. 7, pp. 1029-1031 (April, 1983), describes an integrated optical ring resonator fabricated using silver ion-exchanged waveguides and used as a wavelength-selective filter.
In an article by Haavisto et al., "Resonance Effects in Low Loss Ring Waveguides," Optical Letters, Vol. 5, No. 12, pp. 510-512 (December, 1980), a technique for fabricating a thin-film ring resonator is described. An article by Sarid, "Analysis of Bistability in a Ring Channel Waveguide," Optics Letters. Vol. 6, No. 11, pp. 552-3 (November 1981), discloses the bistable operation of a ring-channel waveguide that is coupled to two line channels.
Although the aforementioned articles illustratte that the bistable (on-off) characteristics of nonlinear ring resonators in response to a single light beam input is widely known, only recently has an attempt been made to configure a device such that two light beams could be applied thereto so that the device could be utilized as an optical logic gate. In particular, an article entitled "Components for Optical Logic," Electronics, pp. 31-32 (Dec. 29, 1982), discloses a bistable optical device comprising a nonlinear ring resonator and two waveguide-like channels. The device, a one-chip optical gate, launches an input light beam into the resonator by first combining two optical inputs in one of the waveguide channels. Although this chip provides significant improvements over prior devices, a factor in limiting its use in large optical data processing systems is the same factor that limits wide application of a Fabry-Perat optical logic gate; phase coherency is required between the two optical inputs.
What is therefore desired is to provide an optical device which is capable of providing logic functions in response to at least two optical signal inputs and wherein the device performance is insensitive to the phase coherency of the input signals. Preferably, the logical operation can be performed entirely with optical components.

Phase insensitive optical logic gate device


A portable electronic device which provides hearing aid compatibility and a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in a portable electronic device are provided. The PCB comprises a body having at least one signal trace, a hearing aid compatibility (HAC) coil located in the body and electrically coupled to the at least one signal trace, and a ferrite core located in the body for amplifying a magnetic field generated by the HAC coil.

In general, hearing aid compatibility or HAC is directed to making devices such as telephones, which supply a conventional acoustic signal, compatible for use with devices that assist hearing, such as hearing aids. HAC involves generating a magnetic audio signal (which itself is not audible) from or near the earpiece area of a mobile telephone. The magnetic signal may be generated in addition to or instead of a conventional acoustic audio signal (which is audible). The magnetic signal is received by a receiving coil within the hearing aid. The receiving coil may be a telecoil (or T-coil). The hearing aid converts the magnetic signal received by the receiving coil into an acoustic signal. This acoustic signal, when emitted in the ear channel of a user, allows a hearing aid wearer to hear audio output from the telephone.

Portable electronic device which provides hearing aid compatibility


A piston of a gasoline direct engine may include a protuberance portion protruding along a circular arc shape having a radius (R1) equal to the piston diameter to have a predetermined height (T) from the upper surface thereof, and the edge of the protuberance portion is rounded to be connected with the upper surface; a bowl (B) having a bottom surface (F1) having an asymmetrical ellipse shape from the center of the protuberance portion to the intake side direction thereof, wherein the bottom surface thereof becomes deeper in the exhaust side direction to have a predetermined slope angle (θ1), and the inner wall portion thereof has a circular arc shape to form a predetermined rising angle (θ2) at the upper part thereof; and trumpet portions (TR) of which edge ends (E) thereof are expanded in the intake side direction of the protuberance portion to be connected to the bowl (B).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piston of a gasoline direct injection engine, and more particularly to a piston of a gasoline direct engine that stratifies an air-fuel mixture through efficient tumble flow thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a gasoline direct injection engine directly injects gasoline fuel into a combustion chamber thereof to combust therein.
In designing a gasoline direct injection engine, an important factor is the intake flow of air-fuel mixture, and the intake flow is determined by an intake port, a combustion chamber, and a piston shape.
Further, the intake flow is made to prevent the injected fuel from colliding with the piston surface, to appropriately mix the air-fuel to be evaporated, to optimize the atomization thereof, and to stratify the air-fuel mixture, and related investigations have been actively undertaken.
Particularly, the combustion chamber includes the upper surface of the piston together with the lower surface of a cylinder head, and the air that flows in through the intake port and the fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber during the compression stroke are mixed to form an air-fuel mixture such that the flow thereof is stratified to be combusted.
Further, the piston of the gasoline direct injection engine is developed to securely stratify the air-fuel mixture according to the engine load and the speed thereof.
A bowl of the upper surface of the piston has a uniform curvature according to the conventional art to form a gentle sphere surface such that the tumble flow is weak, and therefore there is a problem in stratifying the air-fuel mixture around a spark plug by second fuel injection and first fuel injection for optimizing flow.
Also, when the fuel that is injected through the injector collides with the bottom surface of the bowl of the piston, it takes a long time for the attached fuel to evaporate such that soot and hydrocarbons are increased.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Piston of gasoline direct injection engine


A first interface for reading a medical patient image record is provided. Furthermore, provision is made of an encoding module for machine-based learning of data encodings of image patterns by an unsupervised deep learning and for establishing a deep-learning-reduced data encoding of a patient image pattern contained in the patient image record. Furthermore, provision is made of a comparison module for comparing the established data encoding with reference encodings of reference image patterns stored in a database and for selecting a reference image pattern with a reference encoding which is similar to the established data encoding. An assignment module serves to establish a key term assigned to the selected reference image pattern and to assign the established key term to the patient image pattern. A second interface is provided for outputting the established key term with assignment to the patient image pattern.

Modern medical diagnostics are assisted to a significant extent by medical imaging which, for example, is based on radiological, angiographic, sonographic and/or tomographic image records of patients. However, evaluating such medical image records by a radiologist was often found to require much outlay. Thus, in order to identify spinal column tumors, the radiologist needs to, in general, examine each individual vertebra imaged in a record of the spinal column. Thus, automatic identification, detection and/or evaluation of anatomical features in medical image records by using image analysis methods is increasingly sought after in order to assist such a diagnosis.
To this end, the use of image analysis methods based upon machine learning is known. These often have a machine classifier, e.g. a so-called random forest classifier, which is specific to the lesions to be identified. However, such classifiers generally require a large training set with manually annotated boundary regions around the lesions to be identified. However, the provision of such manually annotated training sets is very complicated. Moreover, such classifiers often do not take into account a larger visual context about a lesion to be identified in each case, e.g. on the scale of a whole vertebra or the entire spinal column. By way of example, such an image analysis method based on machine classifiers is known from the article "Multi-stage osteolytic spinal bone lesion detection from CT data with internal sensitivity control" by M. Wels, B. M. Kelm, A. Tsymbal et al., in SPIE Med Imaging Proc 8315 (2012).


An interchangeable cover for a mobile communications device is provided. The interchangeable cover includes a a resilient three-sided semi-rigid shell having a substantially U-shaped profile adapted to wrap around a substantial portion of a front, back and side of the mobile communications device upon assembly over the device, without requiring any fasteners. In one embodiment, the cover is configured to fit a mobile communications device having a trapezoidal profile, whereby front and back face portions clasp around the front and back of the phone. In accordance with various embodiments, the cover may include holes and slots through which phone buttons pass, dumb buttons, or built-in buttons that enable users to provide inputs to the phone. The three-sided shell provides additional surface area when compared to conventional single-sided faceplates. Accordingly, the cover appears as a more integral part of the phone. Furthermore, the extra surface area may be used for advertisement purposes.

Mobile communications devices, such as cellular phones, wireless-enabled personal digital assistants (PDAs), and two-way pagers, have become very prevalent in many of regions of the world, such as the United States, Asia, and Europe. When such devices were much less common, they were regarded as a status symbol by many of their users. For example, by merely having a cellular phone, a message of importance or success could be projected. In contrast, many of the foregoing mobile communications devices have become a commodity item in today's mobile environment.
Today, many users desire that their cellular phones provide a unique expression of their personality, thereby differentiating the user's phone from a mere commodity item used by lesser people. For example, Nokia produces several phones that include faceplates that may be changed. These faceplates come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and enable users to personalize their phones by changing an existing faceplate to a new faceplate. However, it is often difficult to change faceplates, and the attachment features of the faceplates may be broken when trying to remove a faceplate or attach a new faceplate to the phone.
The use of interchangeable faceplates is especially popular with the teenage and young adult markets. These markets are also hot for manufacturers that produce goods that include or promote the manufacturer's (or other manufacturer's) marks. For example, many items sold at Old Navy and Ambercrombie and Fitch stores say "Old Navy" or "Ambercrombie and Fitch" on them. In other instances, an article of clothing or similar type item may contain known a well-known logo, such as a soft drink logo (e.g., Coca-Cola), a beer producer logo (e.g., Budweiser), or a sports team logo. By wearing clothing with these marks, individuals are able to express their personalities.

Interchangeable cover for a mobile communications device


A thin film transistor, an array substrate, a manufacturing method and a display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes a substrate and a gate layer, a source layer and a drain layer disposed on the substrate. The source layer and the drain layer are disposed in different layers and the drain layer and the gate layer are disposed in same and one layer.

With the development of science and technology, panel display devices have replaced bulky CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display devices and have spread into people's everyday life. At present, common panel display devices include LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display devices.
During image formation, each pixel dot in the LCD display device and the active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display device is driven by thin film transistors (TFT) integrated in the array substrate to realize image display. Thin film transistors, as control switches, are critical for LCD display devices and OLED display devices in display and are directly related to the development direction of high performance display devices.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a thin film transistor comprises a substrate P1 and a gate layer P2 formed on the substrate P1, a gate insulating layer P4, an active layer and respective insulating layer (namely composite layer P5), a source layer P6 and a drain layer P3. At present, source and drain in a thin film transistor are typically disposed in same and one layer, for example, the drain layer P6 and the source layer P3 are formed with a gap or trench therebetween. Accordingly, in a known thin film transistor manufacturing process, the source and drain film layer is formed by a film formation step, and then the source and drain film layer is subjected to exposure, development, and etching steps to form a source and a drain with a gap or trench therebetween. Thus, a source and a drain separated from each other are formed in the same layer.
As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the array substrate comprises the above-mentioned thin film transistors (TFT) and a passivation layer P7, a pixel electrode layer P8, wherein the passivation layer P7 is disposed over the TFTs and further provided with a via P9, the pixel electrode layer P8 is disposed over the passivation layer P7, and the drain layer P3 and the pixel electrode layer P8 of the TFTs are connected with each other through the via P9.
However, being limited by the capabilities of a conventional equipments and processes, a channel (i.e., a conducting region between the source and the drain) is often not completely etched, thus the source and the drain may be bridge connected with each other. As a result, it causes defectiveness of bright spots for pixels, and lowers the product quality grades (for example, grade lowered from P level to S level). Therefore, how to ensure completely disconnection between the source and the drain of a thin film transistor and improve the quality of products has become a problem to be solved in the industry.

Thin film transistor, array substrate, manufacturing method and display device

HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A variable compression ratio apparatus may include a plunger configured to move up and down in response to rotation of a crank shaft, a piston having a chamber formed thereinside, into which the plunger is inserted, and configured to move up and down with the plunger, the chamber including an upper chamber formed above the plunger and a lower chamber formed below the plunger, a spool valve configured to selectively supply oil to the upper chamber or to the lower chamber, and a controller configured to control the spool valve so that the piston moves up and down with respect to the plunger.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable compression ratio apparatus, and more particularly to a variable compression ratio apparatus for controlling variation of an engine compression ratio.
Description of Related Art
In general, the thermal efficiency of combustion engines is increased when the compression ratio is high. In the case of a spark ignition engine, the thermal efficiency thereof is increased when ignition timing is advanced to a certain level. However, when the ignition timing of a spark ignition engine is advanced at a high compression ratio, abnormal combustion may occur, thereby damaging the engine. Therefore, there is a limitation on the amount that the ignition timing can be advanced, and the corresponding degradation of output should be tolerated.
A variable compression ratio (VCR) apparatus serves to change the compression ratio of the gas mixture depending on the operational state of an engine. The variable compression ratio apparatus improves fuel efficiency by increasing the compression ratio of the gas mixture when the load on the engine is low. Further, the variable compression ratio apparatus prevents the occurrence of knocking and improves engine output by reducing the compression ratio of the gas mixture when the load on the engine is high.
A conventional variable compression ratio apparatus changes the compression ratio by changing the length of a connecting rod, which connects a piston and a crank shaft. However, because the connection structure between the piston and the crank shaft includes several links, the structure of the variable compression ratio apparatus becomes complicated, inertial mass is increased, and the volume of the package is increased.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


The mobile device described herein includes a display module. The display module rotates about one of two independent axes to provide different viewing angle options to the user. The mobile device includes a housing and a display module. The display module includes a display, first and second sides adjacent to the display, and first and second hinges associated with the first and second sides, respectively. The first hinge rotatably mounts the display module to the housing for rotation about a first axis. The second hinge rotatably mounts the display module to the housing for rotation about a second axis, independent of the first axis.

The present invention relates generally to mobile devices, and more particularly to mobile device displays.
Conventional mobile devices, such as mobile telephones, gaming devices, personal data assistants, etc., include one or more displays. By displaying information to the user, the display provides feedback to the user about current operations, past operations, and options for future operations.
On many devices, the orientation of the display relative to the housing is fixed. Some mobile devices, such as clamshell mobile telephones, include a display module that rotates in one direction relative to the housing. In all cases, the user's ability to orient the display is still generally limited. As such there remains a need for alternative displays for mobile devices.

Dual hinged display module for use in a mobile device


An improved apparatus for recycling asphaltic concrete includes an inclined chute for introducing composition into an open port into which a burner also feeds hot gases of combustion. The apparatus provides for improved continuous processing by feeding composition containing relatively large particle sizes into the open port and recovering heated composition adjacent the opposite drum end.

In my aforesaid co-pending applications, there are disclosed apparatus and methods for treating asphalt-aggregate compositions, particularly rotatable drum apparatus having an enlarged port open to atmosphere into which flame and hot gases of combustion are directed by a burner, and out of which simultaneously exhaust gases from the flame and combusted asphalt hydrocarbon volatiles, are vented. In that apparatus, composition to be heated and mixed may be introduced through the open port. Although the apparatus may also be provided with additional means for introducing compositions at or near the opposite end of the drum from the open port, such additional means are normally useful only for composition which is crushed, and of relatively small particle sizes. Thus, where larger particle sizes, chunks or pieces of asphaltic concrete are to be introduced into the drum, this must normally be accomplished through the open drum port.
Particularly, when the apparatus is moved to a job site at which asphaltic concrete is to be recycled, the composition is often not crushed and screened, but instead, is made up of both relatively small particles, and larger particles, chunks, and pieces. Thus, the material to be introduced into the drum and treated, is made up of a substatantial range of particle sizes. Usually, it is most convenient to simply shovel the materials into the large open port of the drum. Although such a method of feeding the material appears to be relatively simple, once the operation is begun, and the burner is ignited in front of the open port, the shoveling of the material into the port may be hampered. Particularly where the composition includes rather large chunks which must be shoveled into the open port past the ignited burner, an operator may be fearful of becoming burned, since shoveling material into the space between the burner and the lip of the port may seem awkward, difficult, or dangerous. It is to the elimination of this problem that the modification of the apparatus according to the present invention is directed.


Two novel genomic clones, ZZA1 and ZZA2, were isolated which encode for Pichia pastoris alcohol oxidase isozymes. The 5' non-coding region of ZZA1 contains common structural features involved in the transcription and translation of eukaryotic genes. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the ZZA1 and AOX1 51 noncoding regions showed that they are 66% similar to each other.. The rice .alpha.-amylase gene OS103 was placed under the transcriptional control of the ZZA1 promoter. The nucleotide sequences of ZZA1 and other methanol-regulated promoters were analyzed. A highly conserved sequence (TTGNNNGCTTCCAANNNNNTGGT) (SEQ ID NO:2) was found in the 51 flanking region. A yeast strain containing the ZZA1 -OS103 fusion and secreting biologically active a-amylase into the culture media while converting starch to ethanol was produced. The ZZA1 and ZZA2 regulatory sequences may be used to contol the expression of other heterologous proteins in multiple yeast species.. Methods of purifying proteins that are regulators of alcohol oxidase expression (referred to as AOER proteins) and methods of isolating these proteins are also provided.. The invention also provides for the efficient conversion of starch into ethanol.

There has been an intense interest in the structure and function of the regulatory regions controlling the expression of genes in the pathway for methanol utilization. The methylotrophic yeasts are found in four genera that can be divided into two groups the ascosporogenous Hansenula and Pichia, and the asporogenous Candida and Torulopsis. The first enzyme in the methanol-utilization pathway is alcohol oxidase. It catalyzes the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. During this reaction there is a simultaneous reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. When glucose grown yeast cells are transferred to methanol containing media as a sole carbon source, the peroxisome, a subcellular organelle, begins to swell and proliferate. Large amounts of alcohol oxidase are sequestered into the peroxisomes. The compartmentalization of alcohol oxidase in the peroxisomes protects the cytosol from hydrogen peroxide. The high concentration of this enzyme compensates for its low affinity for oxygen. In methanol-grown Pichia pastoris cells, alcohol oxidase constitutes up to 30% of the total soluble protein.
Alcohol oxidases have numerous commercial applications. These uses include the measurement of alcohol levels in various biological and nonbiological fluids, and the conversion of alcohol precursor molecules into aldehydes, e.g., for use in artificial flavor production.
Several genes encoding alcohol oxidase from Pichia pastoris (AOX1, AOX2), Candida boidinii S2 (AOD1), and methanol oxidase from Hansenula polymorpha (MOX1) have been isolated and characterized. The regulation of the synthesis of alcohol oxidase is primarily controlled at the level of transcription. During methanol induction, the rapid de novo synthesis of the enzyme is accompanied by a dramatic increase in alcohol oxidase mRNA. Previous studies by Ellis et al., Mol. Cell. Biol, 5: 1111-1121 (1985) of the AOX1 promoter indicates that it is strongly repressed by ethanol and glucose. Based on northern hybridizations, Pichia pastoris cells grown in the presence of ethanol did not synthesize alcohol oxidase specific poly(A).sup.+ RNA. The synthesis of alcohol oxidase is tightly catabolite repressed. In cells grown in glucose containing media, alcohol oxidase mRNA is not detectable. In order to study the regulation of the AOX1 gene Tschopp et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15: 3859-3876 (1987) took the AOX1 promoter and fused it to the E. coli lacZ gene. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains harboring an AOX1-lacZ fusion produced only small amounts of active enzyme when grown in glucose or ethanol. See Stroman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,231.
The methylotrophic yeasts Hansenula polymorpha and Pichia pastoris have been used as hosts for heterologous gene expression. Cregg et al., Bio/Technology, 5: 479-485 (1987); Tschopp et al., Bio/Technology, 5: 1305-1308 (1987). Over twenty proteins of potential commercial value have been produced using methanol regulated promoters. These heterologous proteins can accumulate to high levels in the cytoplasm (tumor necrosis factor was expressed at 8 g/liter, Skeekrishna et al., Biochemistry, 28: 4117-4125, 1989) or can be secreted into the media (Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase was secreted at 2.5 g/liter, Tschopp et al., Bio/Technology, 5: 1305-1308, 1987). Stable transformants have been obtained by integrating the alcohol oxidase promoter expression cassette into the yeast chromosomes. Increases in the level of expression have been obtained by increasing the number of integrated copies of the heterologous gene expression cassette (tetanus toxin fragment C was expressed at 12 g/liter, Clare et al., Bio/Technology, 9: 455-460).
Methylotrophic yeasts have been used in the production of heterologous proteins. Increases in gene dosage, cell density, and promoter strength have resulted in high-level expression of valuable proteins. Several genes encoding alcohol oxidase (Pichia pastoris AOX1, AOX2, and Candida Boidinii S2 AOD1), methanol oxidase (Hansenula polymorpha MOX), and dihydroxyacetone synthase (Hansenula polymorpha DHAS) have been isolated and characterized, see, for example, Ellis et al., Mol. Cell. Biol, 5: 1111-1121 (1985) (AOX1); Koutz et al., Yeast, 5: 167-177 (1989) (AOX2); Sakai et al., Gene, 114: 67-73 (1992) (AOD1); Ledeboer et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 13: 3063-3082 (1985) (MOX1). The synthesis of these enzymes is tightly controlled by methanol induction and glucose catabolite repression. When Pichia pastoris is grown on methanol as a sole carbon source, alcohol oxidase (a peroxisomal packaged enzyme) constitutes up to 30% of the total soluble protein.
Although high-level expression of heterologous proteins has been achieved using some methylotrophic yeast promoters, very little is known about the molecular mechanism involved in methanol induction. Previous studies comparing the methanol regulated promoters did not reveal any significant regions of homology. Koutz et al., Yeast, 5: 167-177 (1989); Sakai et al., Gene, 114: 67-73 (1992); Ledeboer et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 13: 3063-3082 (1985). A possible mechanism for the methanol induction of the methanol regulated gene is by means of a positive effector molecule that activates transcription by binding at specific DNA sequences, e.g., gene regulatory proteins. Thus, it is of interest to identify nucleotide sequences that are conserved among methanol regulated genes so as to identify molecules involved in their expression and regulation, and to confer similar forms of regulation on heterologous genes.
Given the recognized utility of methylotrophic yeast, as well as other yeast, in the expression of heterologous proteins, it is of interest to provide promoters and other regulatory nucleotide sequences for the controlled and/or high level expression of heterologous proteins in yeast. It is also of interest to identify new methanol regulated genes so as to provide for the increased production of the proteins encoded by these methanol regulated genes and to provide for nucleotide sequences involved in the expression of methanol regulated genes.
The breakdown of starch is an important process in the brewing, baking, and sweetener industries. The degradation of the starchy cereal grain endosperm is initiated by .alpha.-amylase. In rice (Oryza sativa), .alpha.-amylase is a monomeric Ca.sub.2+ -requiring metalloprotein which catalyzes an .alpha.(1-4) endoglycolytic cleavage of amylose and amylopectin. Since the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is commonly used in industry lacks the genes encoding for .alpha.-amylase, it is unable to directly ferment starch. During the commercial production of alcoholic beverages the starch is initially pretreated with an exogenous source of .alpha.-amylase.
Although the expression of a wheat .alpha.-amylase in yeast has been reported previously (Rothstein et al., Gene, 55: 353-356, 1987), the secretion of this protein across the cell membrane was minimal. Because the wheat a-amylase gene used is their study did not encode an enzyme containing an N-glycosylation site, the low level of secretion may by due to the lack of N-glycosylation. The secretion of barley .alpha.-amylase in yeast had higher levels of expression (Sogaard et al., Gene, 94: 173-179, 1990). The highest yield was 2-3 .mu.g/ml of barley .alpha.-amylase AMY1 under the control of the 3'-phosphoglycerate kinase promoter. It is interesting to note that the rice .alpha.-amylase is the only cereal amylase known to be glycosylated. Kumagai, et al., Gene, 94: 209-216 (1990) expressed .alpha.-amylase OS103 (O'Neill et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 221: 235-244, 1990) in a laboratory strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the transcriptional control of the enolase promoter. In that study, during the biosynthesis of rice .alpha.-amylase by yeast, the plant signal peptide was removed, the protein was N-glycosylated, and the active, enzyme was secreted into the culture media. Since the laboratory strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (LL20) used in that study was deficient in the enzyme maltase the recombinant strain LL20 [pEno/1031 is unable to produce significant amounts of ethanol. The reported yield of secreted enzyme was 1.8 .mu.g/ml of rice .alpha.-amylase OS103.
Other amylolytic genes have been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cDNAs encoding mouse (Thomsen, Carlsberg Res. Commun., 48: 545-555, 1983; Filho et al., Bio/Technology, 4: 311-315, 1986) and human salivary gland .alpha.-amylase (Sato et al., Gene, 50: 245-247, 1986), and Aspergillus awamori (Innis et al., Science, 228: 21-26, 1985) are some of the previous examples. Inlow et al., Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 32: 227-234, (1988) were able to convert Maltrin 150 (Grain Processing Corporation, Mucatin, IA) to ethanol. Maltrin 150 is a soluble starch which is enzymatically hydrolyzed by .alpha.-amylase.
Alcohol oxidases have numerous commercial applications. These uses include the measurement of alcohol levels in various biological and non-biological fluids, and the conversion of alcohol precursor molecules into aldehydes, e.g., for use in artificial flavor production.
Previous studies by Ellis et al., Mol. Cell. Biol, 5: 1111-1121 (1985) of the AOX1 promoter indicates that it is strongly repressed by ethanol and glucose. Based on Northern hybridizations, Pichia pastoris cells grown in the presence of ethanol did not synthesize alcohol oxidase specific poly(A).sup.+ RNA. In order to study the regulation of the AOX1 gene Tschopp et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15: 3859-3876 (1987) took the AOX1 promoter and fused it to the E. coli lacZ gene. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains harboring an AOX1-lacZ fusion produced only small amounts of active enzyme when grown in glucose or ethanol. See Stroman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,231. This result indicates that the AOX1 promoter would not be useful in the production of heterologous proteins during ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The subject invention provides for alcohol oxidase promoters that can direct high level expression of rice .alpha.-amylase in the brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in other yeast species. The ZZA1 regulatory region contains several nucleotide sequences involved in promoter activity. These sequences include a TATAA box, located 45 bp upstream of the putative transcription initiation site. In order to find additional regulatory sites, the nucleotide sequence of ZZA1 promoter was compared to AOX1, AOX2, MOX1, AOD1, and DHAS genes. The highly conserved regions between these genes may be involved in binding methanol specific transacting factors. A region in the core consensus sequence of ZZA1 (GCTTCCA, position -123) is identical to the sequence which is adjacent the S. cerevisiae regulatory activating protein (RAPL) binding site, as noted in Buchanan et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 8: 210225, Brindle et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 10: 4872-4885. Deletion of the terminal G of the GCTTCCA sequence causes a loss in ENO1 gene expression. The CTTCC motif may also serve as a binding site for the trans-acting factor GCR1. This regulatory protein is required for high-level expression of several glycolytic genes in S. cerevisiae Huie, et al. Mol. Cell. Biol., 12: 26900-2700 (1992).

Pichia pastoris alcohol oxidase ZZA1 and ZZA2 regulatory regions for heterologous gene expression


An apparatus for generating filtered light may include a broadband illumination source configured to generate broadband illumination and a total internal reflection (TIR) filter formed from a material at least partially transparent to the broadband illumination. The TIR filter may include one or more input faces oriented to receive the broadband illumination. The TIR filter may further be oriented to reflect wavelengths of the broadband illumination beam below a selected cutoff wavelength on one or more filtering faces as filtered broadband illumination and provide the filtered broadband illumination beam through one or more output faces. The cutoff wavelength may further be selected based on total internal reflection on the one or more faces.

High-power ultraviolet (UV) light sources are critical for the fabrication and inspection of integrated circuits with ever-shrinking feature sizes. In particular, optical diffraction constrains the size and density of features that may be fabricated and optically inspected. Accordingly, fabrication and inspection of integrated circuits is commonly performed with UV light, which may broadly include various spectral bands such as, but not limited to, deep ultraviolet light (DUV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light, or extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light.
High-power sources of UV light typically generate broadband radiation such that undesired wavelengths (e.g., out-of-band wavelengths) are filtered to provide an illumination beam having a selected range of wavelengths. However, undesired or excessive absorption of out-of-band wavelengths practically limits traditional filtering techniques. For example, conventional dielectric coating filters rely on absorption of undesired wavelengths, which may result in excessive heating, distortion, and/or damage based on the intensity of light in the out-of-band wavelengths. By way of another example, many traditional filtering techniques such as, but not limited to, spatial-selective filters or transmissivity of light through a material. However, many materials have absorption bands in UV spectral bands that limit the practical thickness and/or lifespan of transmissive optical components used in filters, again due to excessive heating or damage. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and method that cures the above deficiencies.

High-power short-pass total internal reflection filter


An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a generation unit and a first transmission unit. The generation unit generates parameter information that shows states of a user. The first transmission unit transmits the generated parameter information through a network to an information processing apparatus of a communication partner capable of generating an image that reflects the state of the user on the basis of the parameter information.

The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a server that are capable of performing information communication through a network.
In recent years, Internet services such as Internet phones, remote TV conferences, and video chat have become widespread. For example, a chat system using video and audio streams is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-5239 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1). In such a chat system, face images and voices of users in remote locations are mutually transmitted through a network. By reproducing moving images and voices in terminals of the users, real time communication is realized, in which the users feel as if they are in the same place.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and server


A digital video system (2) is disclosed, in which an analog input video signal is sampled at an optimum sample phase (Pnc), and converted to a digital datastream for display. A phase-locked loop (12) generates a plurality of sample clock phases. One of the sample clock phases (Pnc) is applied to an analog-to-digital converter (10), which digitizes the analog input video signal accordingly. Phase alignment circuitry (20) is provided that includes three sample-and-hold circuits (22b, 22c, 22a) that sample the analog input video signal, in parallel with the analog-to-digital converter (10), at times before, at, and after the current sample clock phase used by the analog-to-digital converter (10). The earlier and later sampled voltages are compared against the current sampled voltages to generate difference voltages that are each compared against a threshold voltage (Vthr). The numbers of times that the difference voltages exceed the threshold voltage over a field or frame is analyzed according to various techniques, to determine whether and in which direction to adjust the position of the current sample clock phase within the pixel period.

This invention is in the field of video display systems, and is more specifically directed to the sampling of analog input video signals for display on a digital video display.
As is well-known in the industry, many video display systems now operate in the digital domain, with the brightness and color of each picture element (pixel) in the displayed image controlled according to a digital value. As is also known in the industry and in the art, analog video signals are still prevalent to a large degree, especially as used in the communication and display of television content. In addition, many personal computers still present their video output in analog form. While digital video interfaces (DVI) are known, the additional cost associated with DVI video, and its relatively recent deployment, has resulted in analog video still being widely used, even in new systems.
The digital display of images communicated by analog video signals thus requires the conversion of the image data from the analog domain to the digital domain. And, of course, this analog-to-digital conversion requires the sampling of the analog signal to derive the digital representation. Accurate and faithful digitization of the analog video signal requires accurate and faithful sampling of that analog signal. In an ideal situation, this sampling is straightforward, considering that conventional analog video signals are represented by a sequence of voltage levels (e.g., associated with the luminance and chrominance components), each associated with a pixel on the display and having a duration of a period of the pixel rate (i.e., the pixel period), and each voltage level being relatively constant over the pixel period. Ideally, sampling of the analog video signal at the pixel rate will result in accurate digitization of the analog signal, at the source pixel rate.
However, the analog video signal waveform for each pixel is seldom ideal. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an analog video signal for given pixel, in which transitions to the analog level are made both prior to and after that pixel, from and to different analog voltage levels. A signal such as that shown in FIG. 1 will be repeated for each pixel in the display field or display frame, with the level of each pixel corresponding to its brightness or color value. As shown in FIG. 1, the leading edge of the signal for this pixel has substantial ringing during its settling time shown as ttr. After this settling time, the signal remains relative stable (during time to). But near the end of the pixel period, the trailing edge of this pixel signal also exhibits ringing during time ttf. It is therefore apparent that it will be more accurate to sample this pixel signal during time to, rather than during times ttr and ttf. Not only will the sampled value tend to be incorrect if acquired during one of times ttr and ttf, but because the ringing may vary in amplitude, duration, and phase from pixel to pixel, the sampled values for the same pixel will vary from field to field and frame to frame, even if the color or brightness value of the pixel remains constant. The resulting displayed image will be of poor fidelity if samples are routinely acquired in these unstable times ttr and ttf.
Of course, reducing the amplitude and duration of the ringing at transitions of the signal will increase the fraction of the pixel period during which accurate samples may be taken, and will also reduce the error resulting from sample points set or drifting within the transition and settling portions of the pixel period. However, the pixel rate required for the communication of display image fields or frames at the resolution of modern high resolution displays requires extremely fast switching times in the analog video signal for a given frame rate. These fast switching times not only reduce the pixel period within which the sampling must reliably take place, but also increase the amplitude of ringing. As such, it is much more difficult to accurately sample and digitize analog video signals for higher resolution displays.
Even at such high pixel rates, it is often possible to detect a stable portion of each pixel period in which accurate samples can be acquired. However, modern display systems are called upon to display images at various resolutions and frame rates, either as may be determined by a specific application, or as may be selected by the system user. Modern displays must therefore be able to sample at various pixel frequencies, and at various points within each pixel period, in order to handle this wide range of resolutions and frame rates.
Phase optimization techniques for determining a good sample point within each pixel period are known in the art. One common approach varies the sampling point within the pixel period from frame-to-frame, and compares the pixel values for successive frames to identify the optimum one of the various sample points. This approach necessarily involves degrading of the image as displayed, because the optimum sample point cannot be discerned without a degraded image against which to compare the optimum sample point. This degrading of the displayed image discourages adjustment of the sample phase during actual operation. In addition, this approach is excessively memory-intensive, because the pixel results from each of the sampled pixels must be stored for comparison with the next frame. Considering that many modern displays are 1600 by 1200 pixels in size, the memory requirements for a single sample phase can exceed two million bytes or words. While the memory requirements for this approach can be reduced by reducing the number of sample phases attempted, this reduction in possible sample phases will also limit and slow the optimization.
Another approach involves sampling the pixel values at various sample phases within a single frame. In this way, the accuracy of the sample for each pixel can be determined, using the pixel value for that pixel and that frame as a reference. However, this approach requires the sample rate to be a large multiple of the pixel rate, in order to accurately sample the same pixel level multiple times within each pixel period. For example, if thirty-two possible sample phases are to be attempted for a 1600 by 1200 display with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, the sample rate would be on the order of 4.4 GHz, which is of course a prohibitively high sample rate for modern technology.

Optimized phase alignment in analog-to-digital conversion of video signals