Apparatus and methods are disclosed for detecting motion between two subassemblies, for example in or near a litter box. A first subassembly includes a first frame adapted for supporting a receptacle. A second subassembly includes a second frame adapted for resting on a steady surface. Connecting members connect the subassemblies such that relative movement between them can occur. At least a first position indicating member is attached to one the subassemblies and at least a first detector is attached to the other of the subassemblies. The detector is positioned proximate the first position indicating member so that changes in relative position are detected. Preferably, the device includes a second position indicating member and a second detector for detecting more precise changes in relative position. It is also preferred for each position indicating member to include a patterned marker.

The invention is an apparatus used for detecting the presence, direction, and/or intensity of a force being applied to an object. This invention could be applied to a variety of fields. In one application described hereinafter, the invention is incorporated in an automatic litter box such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,889, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Although the description of the invention is made in the context of an automatic litter box, the scope and applicability of the invention is broader.
With regard to the application of the invention to an automatic litter box, the present invention has at least two purposes. The first purpose is to detect the presence of an animal within and its ingress/egress to/from an unenclosed litter compartment. The second purpose is to detect obstructions during the cycling phases of an automatic litter box, determine the direction of force, and, if appropriate, momentarily reverse the direction of the cycle to release pressure potentially caused by the cycling phase, and ultimately stop the cycle. Neither of these purposes are addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,889.
Some automatic litter boxes use various forms of weight sensors to detect the presence of an animal. Weight sensors have various issues making them difficult for use in detecting the presence of an animal within a litter compartment. Some weight sensors are not sensitive enough for smaller animals, and weight sensors that are sensitive enough tend to be relatively expensive. Weight sensors also must compensate for when litter is slowly but ultimately discarded by the cleaning cycle as well as compensate when new litter is added. The application of this invention solves these problems and permits the use of inexpensive components to detect small vibrations caused by an animal's ingress/egress to/from the litter compartment.
Due to the open nature of the litter box described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,889, there are edges and corners that will be moving during the cleaning cycle of the litter box. Although the movement of such edges and corners are not dangerous when viewed in isolation, one must consider the safety concerns that may exist should a customer ignore the instruction manual and place the litter box too close to other objects. Collision with other objects, such as electrical plugs or table legs, contacted by such moving edges and corners could have a damaging result. The present invention takes some precautions as a safeguard to customers that do not follow directions.
Accordingly, a need exists to adapt devices exhibiting automated movement, such as the litter box described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,889, to detect motion in or near the litter box and/or obstructions in or near the litter box.


A cerclage system for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a patient's body is provided. In a preferred embodiment the cerclage system includes a band formed to encircle the bone. Typically the band will be fabricated from a material having a high tensile strength such as a metal wire. A jacket supports the band in a spaced relationship from the bone. The jacket is resorbed by the patient's body.

The present invention relates to a cerclage system for the fixation of injured or fractured bones. The present invention also includes a method of treating injured or fractured bones utilizing a cerclage system. The present invention is particularly useful in the fixation of fractures of the femur and in prophylactic banding of the femur during press fit total hip replacement. The present invention can be used in the treatment of tibia fractures; stabilization of cortical onlay strut grafts; trochanteric reattachments; humerus, patella and ankle fractures. The present invention is also useful in the fixation of "soft" bones such as a sternum after open chest surgery.
In orthopedic surgery where severe breaks of bone have taken place, or in reconstructive procedures on bones, for example reconstructive hip procedures, a permanent cable implant is provided to hold bone portions together. During a total hip replacement, press fit femoral components are inserted into the canal of the femur, resulting in an extremely tight fit in many cases. Seating of the press fit components can sometime result in the induction of large hoop stress in the proximal femur. To counterbalance the induced stress, a cerclage system is provided to apply a counteracting compressive hoop stress. The counteracting stress prevents crack formation and/or propagation.
To apply a sufficient compressive hoop stress, the band portion of the cerclage system is tightened around the bone and clamped in a tensionally stressed state. The band portion of the cerclage is typically provided by a metallic or fabric strip, or preferably a metallic wire or multi-filament cable.
However when the bone heals, the tight fit of the cerclage band around the bone may possibly induce indications of necrosis in the areas of the bone contacted by the cerclage band. Necrosis is caused when there is insufficient blood flow to the bone tissue. To counteract possible necrosis, some cerclage bands may have to be removed after the bone has healed, therefore requiring a later second operative procedure on the patient. Further complicating the second operative procedure is the fact that the bone tends to grow around the band and incorporate it. Therefore removal of the band can be difficult.
Prior attempts have been made to make a cerclage band of a resorable polymeric material. Unfortunately, most resorbable materials do not have sufficient tensile strength to allow them to be optimally utilized as a cerclage band. Therefore most cerclage bands are fabricated from metallic wires or cables. Still another limiting factor is the flexibility of the material which is a critical factor in the operative procedure. Most resorbable materials are not flexible enough for use as cerclage bands.


An isolation system is provided for an electronic device that is configured to be mounted to a structure. The isolation system includes a flexible conductor configured to be electrically connected to the electronic device. The isolation system also includes an isolator configured to be coupled between the electronic device and the structure such that the isolator is configured to attenuate at least one of shock or vibration exerted on the electronic device. At least a portion of the isolator is electrically conductive. The isolator is electrically connected to the flexible conductor and is configured to be electrically connected to the structure such that the isolator provides an electrical path between the flexible conductor and the structure.

The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to isolation systems for attenuating shock and/or vibration exerted on electronic devices.
Shock and/or vibration can lead to significant problems for electronic devices, such as damage, increased wear, malfunction, and/or outright failure. Accordingly, some electronic device assemblies include isolation systems that are mounted between the electronic device and a support structure to which the electronic device is mounted. The isolation systems attenuate shock and/or vibration forces transmitted from the support structure to the electronic device.
At least some known electronic devices that utilize isolation systems are electrically connected to the support structure, for example to provide a ground path and/or a direct current (DC) bond between the electronic device and the support structure. Specifically, a conductor (e.g., a strap or cable) is electrically connected at opposite ends to the electronic device and the structure for providing an electrical path therebetween. But, the conductors of known electronic devices extend outside of an outer perimeter of the electronic device. For example, the conductors of known electronic devices extend around and stick out over mounts of the electronic device where the electronic device mounts to the structure. Accordingly, such conductors extend outside of the outer perimeter of the mount and thereby increase a size of the electronic device assembly, which may prevent the electronic device assembly from being used within a relatively confined space. Moreover, because such conductors extend outside the outer perimeter of the mount, the conductors may electrically short or be damaged from contact with neighboring objects.

Isolation system for an electronic device


An oxime ester compound represented below is useful as a photopolymerization initiator. A photopolymerization initiator including this as an active constituent has high sensitivity and causes no concern about coloration or contamination.

A photosensitive composition is a composition in which a photopolymerization initiator is added to a polymerizable compound having (an) ethylenic unsaturated bond(s). Since the photosensitive composition can be cured through polymerization on irradiation with 405-nm or 365-nm light, it is used for photocurable inks, photosensitive plates, various types of photoresists, and the like. Since a photosensitive composition sensitive to a shorter wavelength light source facilitates printing at higher resolution, there has been demand for a photopolymerization initiator with particularly high sensitivity to a 365-nm light source.
Patent Document 1 below proposed the use of an oxime ester derivative as a photopolymerization initiator used in such a photosensitive composition, and Patent Documents 2 to 4 below also described oxime ester compounds. When any of these publicly known oxime ester compounds was used as a photopolymerization initiator, however, decomposition products which generated on exposure attached to a mask, causing fault in the pattern shape on printing, and hence lowering the yield. In addition, since these oxime ester compounds have a decomposition temperature of 240° C. or lower, the photopolymerization initiator may decompose in a post-development thermosetting treatment which is typically performed at 130 to 240° C., possibly deteriorating properties of the resultant resin. For this reason, the thermosetting treatment was required to be performed at lower temperature for a long duration. Although thermosetting treatment at higher temperatures could shorten the duration of treatment, the properties of resins would be deteriorated by heat. Thus, in thermosetting treatment at higher temperatures, a photopolymerization initiator with higher heat resistance is required. It has been, therefore, desired a photopolymerization initiator with a decomposition temperature of 240° C. or higher that causes neither coloration of the resultant polymerized material nor generation of decomposition products that may diffuse as vapor and contaminate the polymerized material, apparatuses, or the like.
Patent Documents 5 to 8 below proposed O-acyloxime photopolymerization initiators with higher reactivity. These O-acyloxime photopolymerization initiators, however, were still unsatisfactory in terms of sensitivity, and a more sensitive photopolymerization initiator has been desired. Patent Document 7 below disclosed an O-acyloxime compound having a carbazolyl moiety, but that compound was not satisfactory in terms of sensitivity, resolution, or alkali resistance either.    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,309    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,513    Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,145    Patent Document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,697    Patent Document 5: JP-A-2000-80068    Patent Document 6: JP-A-2001-233842    Patent Document 7: WO 02/100903    Patent Document 8: WO 2004/050653

Oxime ester compound and photopolymerization initiator containing such compound

Abstract: (X represents a halogen atom or alkyl group. R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent R, OR, COR, SR, CONRR′, or CN, wherein R and R′ each represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, or a heterocyclic group; these groups may be substituted with (a) halogen atom(s) and/or (a) heterocyclic group(s); the alkylene moiety in the alkyl or aralkyl group may be interrupted by (an) unsaturated bond(s), (an) ether bond(s), (a) thioether bond(s), or (an) ester bond(s); and R and R′ may form a ring. Y1 represents an oxygen, sulfur, or selenium atom; A represents a heterocyclic group; m represents an integer 0-4; p represents an integer 0-5; and q represents 0 or 1.)


The cellular phone 1a sends a printing request to the PC 2 using a protocol that is allowed to connect bi-directionally between an internal network and an external network at the firewalls 5a and 5b, the PC 2 uploads a printing job to the file server 4 using a protocol that is allowed to connect only from an internal network to an external network at the firewall 5a, and the printer 3a downloads the printing job to print from the file server 4 using a protocol that is allowed to connect only from an internal network to an external network at the firewall 5b. The present invention enables one to form images of files stored on an image forming data transmission device on a first intranet on an image forming device on a second intranet using a portable terminal and a file server on an external network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing system that form images of files stored in an image forming data transmission device on a first intranet on an image forming device on a second intranet using a portable terminal and a file server on an external network.
2. Description of Related Art
As an example, there can be a situation where a person, who normally uses a personal computer ("PC") connected to an intranet X operating under an environment of the intranet X, goes on a business trip to an environment, which is under an intranet Y, and wishes to print out files stored in the person's PC connected to the intranet X with a printer or to view them on a monitor connected to the intranet Y at the trip's destination.
In such a case, although it is possible for the person to bring the files on the trip by storing them in advance in a recording medium such as a floppy disk, it requires an extra work for storing the files and it is impractical to bring all files the person may need on the trip, which makes the person impossible to cope with a situation where it is required to print files he didn't bring on the trip.
Under the situation, one possible method would be to transfer only those files desired to be printed from various files stored in the person's own PC to a printer via a network such as the Internet operating the person's own PC remotely, but such a transfer would not work due to the firewalls installed in the intranet X and the intranet Y.

Image processing method, image process system, and related equipment used therein including portable terminal, image forming data transmitting device and image forming device, as well as image processing program and computer readable recording medium that stores sa


The hydrodynamic bearing gap from one end to the other of the shaft and sleeve combination is effectively separated into sections, with the fluid in each bearing section being contained within that section. The viscosity of the fluid in each bearing section can then be selected to optimize the characteristics of the entire hydrodynamic bearing. Typically, the sections of the bearing adjacent each open end of the bearing would be filled with a fluid with relatively high viscosity. The remaining sections, toward the center of bearing, would typically be filled with a lower viscosity fluid, liquid or gas so that the power consumption within the motor itself would be minimized.

Magnetic disc drives are used for magnetically storing information. In a magnetic disc drive, a magnetic disc rotates at high speed and a transducing head "flies" over a surface of the disc. The transducing head records information on the disc surface by impressing a magnetic field on the disc. Information is read back using the head by detecting magnetization of the disc surface. The transducing head is moved radially across the surface of the disc so that different data tracks can be read back.
Over the years, storage density has tended to increase and the size of the storage system has tended to decrease. This trend has lead to greater precision and lower tolerance in the manufacturing and operating of magnetic storage discs. For example, to achieve increased storage densities the transducing head must be placed increasingly close to the surface of the storage disc. This proximity requires that the disc rotate substantially in a single plane. A slight wobble or run-out in disc rotation can cause the surface of the disc to contact the transducing head. This is known as a "crash" and can damage the transducing head and surface of the storage disc resulting in loss of data.
From the foregoing discussion, it can be seen that the bearing assembly which supports the storage disc is of critical importance. One typical bearing assembly comprises ball bearings supported between a pair of races which allow a hub of a storage disc to rotate relative to a fixed member. However, ball bearing assemblies have many mechanical problems such as wear, run-out and manufacturing difficulties. Moreover, resistance to operating shock and vibration is poor, because of low damping. Thus, there has been a search for alternative bearing assemblies for use with high density magnetic storage discs.
One alternative bearing design which has been investigated is a hydrodynamic bearing. In a hydrodynamic bearing, a lubricating fluid such as air or liquid provides a bearing surface between a fixed member of the housing and a rotating member of the disc hub. In addition to air, typical lubricants include oil or ferromagnetic fluids.
Hydrodynamic bearings spread the bearing interface over a large surface area in comparison with a ball bearing assembly which comprises a series of point interfaces. This is desirable because the increased bearing surface reduces wobble or run-out between the rotating and fixed members. Moreover, the use of fluid in the interface area imparts damping effects to the bearing which helps to reduce non-repeatable runout.
However, hydrodynamic bearings themselves suffer from disadvantages, including a low stiffness-to-power ratio. These problems lead to a high sensitivity of the bearing to external loads or shock.
A desirable solution to this problem would be to have the spindle motor attached to both the base and the top cover of the disc drive housing. This would increase overall drive performance. A motor attached at both ends is significantly stiffer than one held by only one end.
In order to have top cover attachment, the motor bearing would need to be open on both ends. Opening a hydrodynamic bearing type motor bearing at both ends greatly increases the risk of oil or fluid leakage out of the hydrodynamic bearing. This leakage is caused among other things by small differences in flow rate created by differing pumping pressures in the bearing. If all of the pressure gradients within the bearing are not carefully balanced, a net pressure rise toward one or both ends will force the fluid out through the capillary seal, thus creating a huge fluid wetted surface.
Another problem which follows from leaving the hydrodynamic bearing open at both ends is that more of the bearing is exposed to the atmosphere, increasing the possibility of evaporation of the fluid over the long term. Such a fluid loss would have a serious effect on the stiffness of the bearing as well as overall reliability of the drive.
A related problem is that it is desirable, in terms of the stiffness of the bearing and minimization of evaporation, to use a higher viscosity fluid. However, such higher viscosity fluids can create a drag effect which increases the power required for the motor.
Thus, the need exists for a new approach to the specification of hydrodynamic bearing fluids to optimize the motor performance and stiffness while diminishing evaporation.

Multifluid application in hydrodynamic fluid bearing to reduce evaporation and control stiffness and other bearing performance


In an angularly adjustable, releasably lockable ball joint, the ball has a surface covered with polygonal patterns of spaced apart protuberances, the protuberances defining concavities. An actuator tip is provided to penetrate at least one concavity and simultaneously contact the protuberances in the pattern to lock the ball and actuator together, thereby fixing the orientation of shanks attached to the ball and actuator.

The present invention generally relates to an angularly adjustable releasably lockable joint mechanism for rigidly joining first and second parts at a selected orientation, and more particularly to an angularly adjustable releasably lockable joint mechanism having a plurality of patterned protuberances forming concavities so that a tip of actuator can engage and disengage therefrom.
Such a joint mechanism is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,871. A movable rod has a ball fixed at its bottom, and the ball is provided with a plurality of holes orderly and equally spaced apart in the surface for the functional end of a locating pin of a supporter to selectably engage one of them to keep the movable rod secured in an angle needed. Such a dimpled ball and an actuator having a spherical tip are also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,510. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,841,769 and 4,620,813 show a socket having protuberances and a ball having dimples or indentations which engage to fix the orientation of the arms attached thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,788 shows a ball having a grooved surface and an actuator having a spherical tip which locks up by engaging a groove. U.S. Pat. No. 892,105 shows a ball and socket whose surfaces are both knurled.
Angularly adjustable, releasably lockable ball joints are commonly used as part of an umbrella assembly, to hold a suspended canopy locked at an angle to horizontal. Assemblies of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,674,523 and 5,002,081. In general, these prior art ball joints involve:
a ball attached to a shank forming part of the suspension stand;
an actuator or screw spindle carrying the canopy;
a housing engaging the ball and spindle so that they cannot separate, but which is operative to enable the spindle to be angularly adjusted when the actuator is disengaged; and
a concave socket or pin at the end of the spindle, for frictionally engaging the ball to lock the spindle and ball together and fix the canopy at a desired angle.
The frictional engagement of ball and socket as well as a dimpled ball and spherical pin actuator have been found to be insufficient when subjected to high torsional forces.
One objective of the invention is therefore to modify the joint mechanism described above to provide a stronger locking action between the actuator and the rounded member.
In combination with the features of the joint mechanism described above, the invention is characterized in that
the rounded member having a plurality of patterns of spaced-apart protuberances covering at least part of its surface, the protuberances of each pattern forming a concavity therebetween;
the patterns, and protuberances being mainly consistent in shape, area and size, the effective patterns having a regular polygonal configuration;
the protuberances, actuator tip and pattern being dimensioned so that the tip can penetrate the concavity of each pattern and simultaneously contacts all of the protuberances of the pattern that it penetrates but remains spaced from the bottom of the concavity at full penetration, whereby the tip and pattern of protuberances lock together.
The invention has the following advantages:
the locking capability is greater than one obtains with a dimpled ball;
by arranging the patterns in accordance with a geometric design, the longitude and latitude of the concavity sites is predictable;
the use of the triangular pattern yields a large number of concavity sites in the case of a rounded member that is spherical and of given diameter. Compared to an equivalent pattern of dimples, twice as many concavity sites result simply through the formation of the protuberances in place of the dimples; and
it is possible to address and achieve locking at each individual position by electronic means, since all of the concavity sites or locking positions are mathematically definable.
The rounded member may be spherical and could be defined by a ball.
The invention refers to an angularly adjustable, releasably lockable joint mechanism for rigidly joining first and second parts at a selected orientation, said mechanism comprising a rounded member having a plurality of concavities on its surface and being secured to the first part, a disengageable actuator having at least one tip and being operative to advance the tip to lock up with the rounded member by penetrating at least one concavity or to retract the tip to disengage it from the rounded member, said actuator being connected with the second part, and means for holding the parts, rounded member and actuator together, said means being operative to allow the parts to change relative orientation when the actuator tip is retracted.
This mechanism is particularly adapted for use with angularly adjustable, locking devices subject to high torsional forces.
The invention comprises patterns of three and four protuberances as well as any polygons of more than four protuberances. But complete locking could also be achieved between just two protuberances and one actuator: In this case the rounded member is defined by two smooth semi-spherical halves joined in the middle by a narrow sometimes recessed surface in the middle. This recessed surface is fitted with continuous half round protuberances extending between the semi-spherical halves along its surface and the whole unit is contained in a suitable shell structure. Here it would take only two protuberances and one incoming suitable actuator to ensure locking. The same would also apply to a gear-like structure contained in a suitable shell and locked by an actuator.
According to the invention, the penetrating tip of the actuator contacts the surfaces of the protuberances defining the penetrated concavity, but does not contact the surface of the rounded member defining the bottom of the concavity. But after extended use, the protuberances may show significant wear, allowing the actuator tip to touch said surface, To prevent such an incomplete locking, it may be useful to add a depression into the surface of the rounded member at each locking site which would in conjunction with the protuberances result in a kind of sine wave surface. This could prolong the use of the joint mechanism before the actuator tip touches the bottom of the concavity.
The configuration of protuberances preferably form triangular or square patterns, or the protuberances could define a combination of square and triangular patterns on said rounded member.
The actuator may have multiple tips disposed to penetrate simultaneously more than one concavity. Furthermore, the actuator or its head defined by the tip may have a floating seating to enable self-adjustment.
In a preferred version, the actuator can be biased, such as by spring loading, such that the actuator tip is prevented from falling out of contact with the protuberance or cluster of protuberances, when the actuator is not in the locking position.
It is also within the invention to use an actuator, the configuration of this actuator being similar to that of the rounded member including the protuberances.
The joint mechanism according to the invention will find application in different fields, for example in the field of prosthetics (defining an orthotic or prosthetic joint), wheel-chairs (head rest joint) and for example in connection with a sunshade umbrella.


With a view to attaining both easiness of position adjustment and sureness of position holding, a patient supporting apparatus comprises an arm for supporting a patient, the arm comprising a horizontal arm portion and a vertical arm portion, a rail for supporting the arm movably in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal arm portion and the vertical arm portion, and a brake for preventing movement of the arm along the rail by utilizing a moment of rotation with the vertical arm portion of the arm being as an axis.

The present invention relates to a patient supporting apparatus and a medical image photographing apparatus. Particularly, the present invention is concerned with an apparatus for supporting a patient during medical image photographing and a medical image photographing apparatus having the patient supporting apparatus.
When the body of a patient is photographed sideways by means of an X-ray photographing apparatus, the photographing is performed with both arms of the patient raised. For supporting both arms of the patient there is a need to use a supporting apparatus. The supporting apparatus is provided with a vertical arm portion mounted on the back side of an X-ray receiving panel and a horizontal arm portion projecting toward the patient side from an upper end of the vertical arm portion. The horizontal arm portion is convenient for the patient to grasp with both hands. A vertical arm mounting mechanism results in that the position of the vertical arm can be adjusted in a stepless manner in a direction parallel to the X-ray receiving panel (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
[Patent Literature 1] U.S. Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003/0202635 (pp. 4-5, FIG. 8)
For the vertical arm mounting mechanism in the above patient supporting apparatus it is required that the position of the vertical arm be easily adjustable and that an accurately adjusted position be able to be held positively. However, both requirements are generally difficult to be satisfied at the same time. More particularly speaking, if the position adjustment is made easier, the vertical arm becomes easier to be moved by the patient during photographing, while if the vertical arm portion is made difficult to be moved, it will become difficult to effect position adjustment.

Patient supporting apparatus and medical image photographing apparatus

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


The present disclosure describes implementations for processing instructions and data across multiple Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs). In one implementation, a graphics processing apparatus comprises a plurality of ALUs configured to process independent instructions in parallel. Pre-processing logic is configured to receive instructions and associated data to be directed to one of the plurality of ALUs for processing from a register file, the pre-processing logic being configured to selectively format received instructions for delivery to a plurality of the ALUs. In addition, post-processing logic is configured to receive data output from the plurality of the ALUs and deliver the received data to the register file for write-back, the post-processing logic being configured to selectively format data output from a plurality of the ALUs for delivery to the register file as though the data had been output by a single ALU.

Pipelined computing or processing architectures are well known, and such pipelined architectures vary in depth (e.g., the number of pipeline stages). Many pipelined architectures include five basic pipeline stages: (1) fetch, (2) decode, (3) execute, (4) memory access, and (5) writeback stages. The general operation of these stages is well known.
Reference is made to FIG. 1 showing a portion of such a basic pipelined architecture. Specifically, shown in FIG. 1 is a register file 12 and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 14. Typically, the execute stage of a pipelined architecture includes one or more processing units (such as an ALU) for carrying-out processing operations associated with the instruction. The ALU 14 of FIG. 1 includes various dashed lines to represent multiple cycles of operation (e.g., clock cycles).
With regard to the register file 12, as is known, data is retrieved from system memory into a "register file," which is an area of high-speed memory, configured in the form of registers. Once data is in the register file 12, it typically can be retrieved by any of the pipeline stages (e.g., fetch, execute, etc.) unit within a single clock cycle. The register file 12 has also been depicted near the bottom of FIG. 1 (in dashed line) to denote the writeback communication of data from the execute stage (or ALU 12) to the register file 12. To simplify the illustration, other pipeline stages have not been depicted.
As is known, to improve the efficiency of multi-dimensional computations, Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) architectures have been developed. A typical SIMD architecture enables one instruction to operate on several operands simultaneously. In particular, SIMD architectures may take advantage of packing several data elements into one register or memory location. With parallel hardware execution, multiple operations can be performed with one instruction, resulting in significant performance improvement and simplification of hardware through reduction in program size and control. Some SIMD architectures perform operations in which the corresponding elements in separate operands are operated upon in parallel and independently.
Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a diagram illustrating an architecture similar to FIG. 1, but depicting a plurality of ALUs 16, 18, 20, and 22. Such an architecture is efficient in many SIMD applications. For efficient operation in such an architecture, data is organized in the register file 12 such that operands (or other associated data) can be readily loaded (in parallel) into the various ALUs in the same clock cycles.
Notwithstanding the improved efficiency realized by the architecture of FIG. 2, further improvements to this architecture are desired.

System and method for vector computations in arithmetic logic units (ALUs)


The disclosed computer-implemented method for managing security certificates through email may include (1) receiving an encrypted email that contains both identifying information that identifies a security certificate for authenticating a website and a management command relating to the security certificate, (2) determining whether authentication of the encrypted email succeeded such that the management command is authorized, and (3) when a determination is made that authentication of the encrypted email succeeded, identifying the security certificate using the identifying information and executing the management command with respect to the identified security certificate. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Modern ecommerce typically requires some level of encryption and authentication between online vendors and buyers. Authentication of a message may ensure, for example, that a purported author of the message is the actual author of the message. Similarly, encryption may disguise a message so that the message is only readable to one who possesses a method for decrypting the message, such as a decryption key.
Both authentication and encryption may be achieved through public key cryptography, which typically involves a pair of keys: a public key and a private key. Modern ecommerce sites may attempt to maintain the integrity of transactions by ensuring authenticity and encryption through public key cryptography. More specifically, modern ecommerce sites may each provide a security certificate, based on public key cryptography, that authenticates the ecommerce sites.
Unfortunately, managing these certificates may become burdensome. For example, users may be required to log in to a separate portal and perform actions (e.g., approving, revoking, and/or renewing certificates) through the portal interface. The process of logging in to a certificate management services portal may be both clumsy and time consuming. For example, users may be required to login to the portal to approve each and every certificate issued by the certificate authority. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies a need for improved methods for managing security certificates.

Systems and methods for managing security certificates through email


A compartmented waste receptacle for segregating unrecyclable trash and recyclable paper. The receptacle has a main body and a secondary body releasably fixed to the main body. A spacing between the bottom walls of the secondary body and the main body defines a volume in which the recyclable paper is stored. A spacing between the secondary body and main body front walls define a chute leading to the recyclable paper storage volume. The main body and secondary body are adapted to be emptied independently.

Public awareness towards major issues such as pollution, waste disposal, and undue squandering of trees has increased drastically over the last few years. As a result, measures such as recycling have become increasingly popular and are now even institutionalized in some areas.
Many offices now ask their employees to segregate their waste and to dispose of used paper in recycling bins. Typically some offices have a central recycling bin ofter furnished by the paper recycling companies in which employees are encouraged to dump their recyclable paper. However, this type of practice requires that the employee leave his desk and transport the recyclable paper to the appropriate bin.
To circumvent this problem, the present invention proposes an individual compartmented waste basket which allows the user to segregate recyclable paper from other type of trash at his desk. Since the waste basket is particularly adapted to be used underneath office desks, the compartments are located one on top of the other in order to save on limited horizontal space. The waste basket comprises a lower compartment specifically adapted to receive recyclable paper and a top compartment adapted to receive conventional trash.
A search amongst previous patents has revealed a number of compartmented refuse containers having superposed compartments with the lower compartment specifically adapted to receive paper.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,653 discloses a combination trash receptacle for storing newspapers and other trash separately which includes a lower newspaper receptacle formed of a receptacle base having a floor and upwardly extending walls for receipt of the newspaper and positioned thereupon an upper trash receptacle having a floor therein and upwardly extending walls dimensioned so as to nest upon the lower newspaper receptacle. A newspaper slot is positioned within one of the walls of the upper trash receptacle to permit passage of newspapers into the lower newspaper receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,419 discloses another type of trash receptacle particularly adapted to receive paper in its lower compartment and having a top opening. The container has at least one pair of apertures in a side wall thereof, through one of which a divider panel is removably inserted to form a false bottom for the relatively top portion of the container. The other aperture serves as an entry port for loading one type of refuse in the relatively bottom portion of the container. The top portion is loaded with a second type, meanwhile, through the top opening; and when the container is to be emptied, the integrity of each type is preserved by unloading the top portion first and then removing the panel to expose the bottom portion of the container to the top opening.
However, both structures described in the above mentioned patents present the same major drawbacks. The first of these drawbacks is that the top receptacle must be removed or emptied prior to emptying the lowermost receptacle. This limitation is clearly indicated at line 32 of the second column of the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,653 and at line 63 of the first column of U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,419.
The second major drawback inherent to the structures described in these patents is that they do not provide a stacking chute adapted to direct the paper being dropped to the lower compartment in an appropriate stacking position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,653 provides a slot 24 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,419 an aperture 14 which leads directly to the lower receptacle. With the present invention, a chute is provided in order to guide the paper during its fall to a proper stacking relationship thus minimizing the risk of the paper folding during its fall.


A microcomputer of an ECU which is a master determines whether to turn on or off the power supply of a slave ECU, and outputs a power supply control signal indicating power-on/off via serial communication on the basis of the result of determination. A signal superposition circuit accepts the output power supply control signal and transmits the accepted power supply control signal to a CAN bus to which a CAN transceiver is connected. In the slave ECU, a signal separation circuit individually receives a CAN communication signal and a serial communication signal transmitted to the CAN bus, while an input/output control circuit to which the serial communication signal is input as the power supply control signal outputs a signal to the power supply circuit to control power-on/off of the microcomputer.

Such a system that includes a plurality of processing devices connected with one another through a communication medium to exchange information and to realize various types of signal processing has been used in a number of fields.
Especially in the field of vehicles, the control of a vehicle has been undergoing transition from mechanical control to electrical control. Hence, such a system in which a large number of vehicle-mounted processing devices, i.e. ECUs (Electronic Control Units) are mounted and respectively connected to vehicle-mounted communication lines in order to transmit and receive data for control to realize various functions becomes widely used.
In the field of vehicles, while a large number of ECUs are mounted as described above, it is desired to reduce power consumption for the entire vehicle. It is thus required to reduce power consumption of the entire system including ECUs, while a number of techniques for individually reducing power consumption of each ECU have been proposed.
In a structure in which existing in-vehicle ECUs are connected by bus connection to a communication line, the ECUs connected to the same communication line are basically activated all at once. When switching to a power-saving state, all the ECUs that are connected to the same communication line are ready to be switched to the power-saving state. Each of the ECUs is switched to the power-saving state only after communication on the communication line is stopped. Naturally, when a communication signal is sent out from any one of the ECUs to the same communication line, all the ECUs connected thereto sense the input of the communication signal and are activated. However, depending on circumstances, some ECUs may be unnecessary to be activated among the ECUs connected to the same communication line. Even in such a case, when all the ECUs connected to the same communication line are simultaneously activated and switched to the power-saving state, power saving as the entire system is insufficient. In order to reduce power consumption, it is desired to allow each of the ECUs connected to the same communication line to individually be activated or switched to the power-saving state.
A technique, therefore, has been devised in that information regarding activation or switching to the power-saving state of an ECU is separately transmitted and received between ECUs so that each ECU can individually be activated or switched to the power-saving state on the basis of the information. For example, the ECUs are connected through a dedicated signal line so as to separately transmit and receive signals different from an existing communication protocol (e.g., CAN (Controller Area Network)), to mutually control activation or switching to the power-saving state. This, however, incurs a waste such that a dedicated signal line is required in the system. Especially in the field of vehicles, reduction in weight of a vehicle is encouraged for improved fuel consumption. Increase of an excess signal line should thus be avoided.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-193606 discloses a system and a method for superposing the second signal on a twist pair cable in the same phase between ECUs communicating with each other according to the CAN protocol using a differential signal, making it possible to transmit data different from a communication signal in CAN.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-290538 discloses a system for superposing a different modulation signal to communication according to the CAN protocol, to increase an amount of information that can be transmitted and received without the need for an extra communication line.

Processing system, processing device and power supply control method


A method for automated detection of illegal substances smuggled inside internal cavities of a passenger, e.g., as capsules. The method provides for an automated detection of narcotics hidden in a passenger's stomach area using pictures produced by an X-ray scanner. According to an exemplary embodiment, throughput of the scanner is increased by an automated detection algorithm, which takes less time than visual analysis by an operator. The operator is only involved in cases when narcotics are detected. The automated detection method has a consistent precision, because the effects of tiredness of the operator are eliminated. Efficiency and costs of the process are improved, since fewer qualified operators can service several scanners.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to airport and prison security scanners, and more particularly, to a system for detection of illegal substances/narcotics smuggled inside internal cavities of a passenger or visitor to a secure facility.
Description of the Related Art
Currently, security systems at airports, secure facilities and other public areas use microwave or X-ray scanners with penetrating or reflected radiation. These scanners are used for scanning passengers (for example) and detecting prohibited or illegal objects located on a body of the passenger or inside the passenger without a manual pat down or search. A conventional scanner displays objects on an operator's screen and the operator has to perform a visual review of the screen images and to make a decision on whether to allow a person through or to perform additional manual search or scanning. However, this conventional approach is somewhat slow, inefficient and is heavily dependent on the operator who can get tired by the end of his shift, and make wrong decisions and miss some objects on the screen. Therefore, a method for automated analysis and detection of prohibited objects and illegal substances is needed.
Existing systems and methods are inefficient for detection of narcotics being smuggled inside person's stomach. U.S. Pat. No. 8,437,556 describes shape-based object detection and localization system. The separate objects are segmented on an image and are classified based on geometrical parameters and appearance similarity to suspected objects. This method cannot be used for detection of drugs located inside the stomach cavity, because the images cannot be segmented due to a low contrast of the drug filled packets with the surrounding area of the stomach. In other words, these packets cannot always be reliably distinguished on the image without considerable manual effort.
US Patent Publication No. 20150010128 discloses a method for finding liquids inside the laggage. The proposed method uses segments of the objects and uses their atomic number acquired by dual-energy method. However, this approach cannot be used for detection of drugs located inside the stomach. An automated method for detection of hidden objects using microwave scanners is described by U.S. Pat. No. 8,774,461. The proposed method analyses a set of consecutive images of a surface of a human body. However, this method cannot be applied to detection of drugs located inside a human body, because the method is based on detection of humps and valleys on a image of a surface of a human body.
Another automated detection method is disclosed in publication by Mery, D., Automated Detection of Welding Discontinuities without Segmentation, Materials Evaluation, p. 657-663 (2011). This method detects welding defects by a sliding window method. However, the stomach area has many abnormalities and produces visual noise, which does not provide reliable information without additional filtering of data provided by the window classifier.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an effective method for an automated detection of illegal substances smuggled inside internal cavities of a human being, particularly inside his digestive tract.

Method and system for detection of contraband narcotics in human digestive tract


A method of operating a wireless device may be provided. A wireless device may receive a release message from a network node of a radio access network. The release message may include an identification of a redirected carrier. In response to the release message omitting synchronization block related parameters for the redirected carrier, the wireless device may check in measurement information configured for the wireless device for the synchronization block related parameters for the redirected carrier; and may perform synchronization signal measurements for the redirected carrier using the synchronization block related parameters in the measurement information.

It has been agreed in New Radio NR to use different reference signals to aid mobility. The reference signals (RSs) to be used are Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBlocks) and/or Channel State Information-Reference Signals (CSI-RSs). The UE (also referred to as a wireless device) can be configured to use only SSBlocks, or only CSI-RSs or both the RSs for Radio Resource Management RRM measurements in the RRC_CONNECTED mode. A given reportConfig in NR may encompass the RS type for which the reporting configuration is applicable. These two RSs could use different number of beams per cell and different beamformers can be used even if the same number of beams are used per cell for both RSs. The UE can be configured to use only SSBlocks in the RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACTIVE modes.
When the UE is in RRC_CONNECTED mode the measurement object provides the parameters related to where to find the reference signals corresponding to the frequency locations where the UE is supposed to perform measurements. Such measurement objects, however, may not always be readily available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods providing release and re-direct message contents and UE behavior and related wireless devices


An apparatus for stacking semiconductor wafers comprises a housing configured to releasably maintain a plurality of semiconductor wafers in fixed positions relative to the housing. The apparatus also includes a transfer guide proximate to the housing, the transfer guide configured to facilitate the transfer of the plurality of semiconductor wafers into the housing. Also included is a member configured to detach the semiconductor wafers from the housing so as to collect the semiconductor wafers into a stack.

Cassette carriers are often used to transport finished semiconductor wafers prior to dicing. However, these carriers suffer from certain drawbacks. Current cassette carriers maintain excessive space between wafers, taking up too much volume in transport and resulting in unnecessary expense. This is especially the case in situations involving scrap wafers, when wafer-to-wafer contact is of little concern. Wafers are also subject to handling damage when they are removed from cassette carriers, resulting in reduced process yields and other inefficiencies.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to stack wafers more compactly, so that they occupy less volume in transport. It would also be desirable to stack wafers in a manner that minimizes handling damage.

Method and apparatus for stacking semiconductor wafers


A plumbing assembly is disclosed that comprises an access panel which allows increased access to a temperature and humidity control system such as a heating or air-conditioning system. The access panel includes at least one valve for controlling the flow of a fluid and communicates with the first end of a first piping assembly. The second end of the first piping assembly communicates with a second piping assembly typically through a valve situated within the second piping assembly. The second piping assembly is part of a temperature and humidity control system and is generally in fluid communication with a heat transfer coil in the temperature and humidity control system. The access panel allows a technician or inspector to service or inspect a heating or air-conditioning system without the risk of injury and the cost associated with conventional methods.

Large buildings such as schools, office buildings and hotels generally have central heating and air-conditioning systems for controlling the temperature and humidity of the air in the building. These temperature and humidity control systems typically include a fluid source and piping for transporting a fluid such as air, steam or water throughout the building. The control systems generally also contain heat transfer coils which communicate with the piping and are used to moderate the temperature and humidity of a second fluid such as air in the control system to provide warm or cool air to an enclosed space within the building. The piping and heat transfer coils of the temperature and humidity control systems are generally located in between floors in large buildings, thus not affecting the actual workspace and the inside appearance of the building.
Temperature and humidity control systems such as heating and air-conditioning systems typically require periodic service and inspection to keep the system working correctly and efficiently. Such service or inspection may include bleeding air that has accumulated in the heating or air-conditioning system or measuring the temperature or pressure of a fluid in the heating or air-conditioning system to determine if the system is working correctly and efficiently. This is conventionally accomplished by accessing an air vent (usually a valve) in the heating and air-conditioning system. Nevertheless, because the heating or air-conditioning system is generally located between floors in the building, a technician or inspector generally must climb into the ceiling to access the air vent. Often, this requires moving tiles and locating the air vent in the system to access the system. Requiring the technician or inspector to climb into the ceiling can be extremely dangerous and results in an increased risk of injury due to the possibility of falling from ladders or the ceiling. This is especially true in large buildings having high ceilings such as a school gymnasium or a hotel atrium. This increased risk not only may result in injury to technicians or inspectors but may also result in payments by the building owner for liability or worker's compensation to compensate the technician or inspector for his injuries.
In addition, because many technicians and inspectors are frequently paid on an hourly basis, the time needed to access the system increases the cost of service or inspection of the heating or air-conditioning system. Often with large buildings, if there is a problem in the system, numerous locations in the heating or air-conditioning system, even hundreds of locations, must be accessed to determine the location of the problem thus multiplying the risk of injury and cost of service and inspection.
Therefore, there is a need to provide increased access to heating or air-conditioning systems to allow a technician or inspector to access a system and to reduce the risk of injury and the cost associated with conventional methods.

Method of providing increased access to temperature and humidity control systems


A lipstick making device includes an elastic mold device having a mold cavity for filling and molding a lipstick element, three or more curved mold pieces movably disposed above the elastic mold device for forming a hole in the mold pieces when the curved mold pieces are moved radially inward and toward each other, and for receiving the lipstick material to form a root portion of the lipstick element. The root portion of the lipstick element may be exposed when the curved mold pieces are moved away from each other for allowing the slide of the lipstick housing to be easily and readily engaged onto the exposed root portion of the lipstick element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lipstick making device, and more particularly to a lipstick making device including a structure for stably holding a lipstick element and for allowing a slide of a lipstick housing to be effectively engaged onto the lipstick element and for preventing the lipstick element from being damaged inadvertently.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical lipstick making devices comprise an elastic candle mold having a number of circumferentially spaced metal plates movable outward simultaneously for allowing the elastic candle mold to be expanded and for allowing the molded lipstick element to be removed from the elastic candle mold.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,209 to Fox discloses one of the typical mechanical expanders for elastic candle molds including a number of circumferentially spaced metal plates embedded in the side walls of the mold and to be pulled radially outward simultaneously by such as individual pull cables, for allowing the elastic candle mold to be expanded and for removing the molded lipstick element.
However, the elastic candle molds include a mold cavity having a height or depth equals to that of the lipstick element to be molded or to be made, such that the molded lipstick element should first be removed or disengaged from the elastic candle molds before a slide of a lipstick housing may be engaged onto the lipstick element, and such that the soft lipstick element may have a good chance to be damaged or distorted inadvertently while being removed or disengaged from the elastic candle molds and/or while being engaged with the slide of the lipstick housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,845 to Putzer discloses another typical flexible mold having a rigid encapsulated mandrel for molding the soft lipstick element onto the rigid encapsulated mandrel within a cylindrical portion of the typical flexible mold.
However, similarly, the mold cavity of the typical flexible mold also includes a height or depth equals to that of the lipstick element to be molded or to be made, such that the molded lipstick element also should first be removed or disengaged from the flexible molds before a slide of a lipstick housing may be engaged onto the lipstick element, and such that the soft lipstick element also may have a good chance to be damaged or distorted inadvertently while being removed or disengaged from the flexible molds and/or while being engaged with the slide of the lipstick housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,209 to Kuo discloses a further typical lipstick making device including a flexible and expandable mold piece having a mold cavity for molding or making the soft lipstick element, and a seat disposed onto the expandable mold piece and having an opening formed therein for forming an additional root portion of the soft lipstick element and for allowing the root portion of the lipstick element to be extended out of the expandable mold piece when the seat is removed or disengaged from the expandable mold piece, and thus for allowing a slide of a lipstick housing to be easily engaged onto the root portion of the lipstick element when or after the seat is removed or disengaged from the expandable mold piece.
However, the seat includes a rigid structure and may not be expanded radially and outwardly relative to the root portion of the lipstick element, such that a complicated facility or mechanism is required for moving or disengaging the seat from the expandable mold piece.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional lipstick making devices.


Methods and compositions for detecting and characterizing target biomolecules using sensitizer-linked substrate molecules are disclosed. High throughput screening assays and therapeutic applications of the inventions are also included

The ability to detect, characterize, and manipulate biomolecules in complex media is critical for understanding biochemical and metabolic processes. Methods and systems which are capable of detecting trace amounts of microorganisms, pharmaceuticals, hormones, viruses, antibodies, nucleic acids and other proteins have been based on well known binding reactions, e.g. antigen-antibody reactions, nucleic acid hybridization techniques, and protein-ligand systems. Much attention is being given to the design, synthesis, and employment of molecular probes of enzyme structure and function [Wilker, J. J. et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (1999), 38, 90–92; Hamachi, I. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1999), 121, 5500–5506; Dmochowski, I. J., et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1999), 96, 12987–12990; Atkinson, R. N. et al. J. Org Chem. (1999), 64, 3467–3475; Tschirret-Guth, R. A. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1999), 121, 4731–4737; DiGleria, K. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1998), 120, 46–52; Murthy, Y.; Massey, V. Meth. Enzymol. (1997), 280, 436–460; Newcomb, M. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1995), 117, 3312–3313; Atkinson, J. K.; Ingold, K. U. Biochemistry (1993), 32, 9209–9214; Liu, K. E. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1993), 115, 939–947; Tschirret-Guth, R. A. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1998), 120, 7404–7410], owing in part to the abundance of naturally occurring cavity proteins [Tainer, J. A. et al. J. Mol. Biol. (1982), 160, 181–217; Bigler, T. L. et al., Prot. Sci. (1993), 2, 786–799; Badger, J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1988), 85, 3304–3308; Poulos, T. L. et al., Biochemistry (1986), 25, 5314–5322] and in part to the power of site-directed mutagenesis, to modify existing cavities and create new substrate binding sites [Wilcox, S. K. et al., Biochemistry (1998), 37, 16853–16862; Goldsmith, J. O. et al., Biochemistry (1996), 35, 2421–2428; DePillis, G. D. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1994), 116 6981–6982; Fitzgerald, M. M. et al., Biochemistry (1994), 33, 3807–3818; Eriksson, A. E. et al., Nature (1992), 355, 371–373].
Typically, detection of biomolecules of interest is performed by an observable tag or label attached to one or more of the binding elements (i.e. substrates) of the biomolecule and indicated by the presence or absence of the observable tag. Of particular interest are labels that can emit energy as luminescence through photochemical, chemical, and electrochemical processes.
The detection of specific proteins through luminescence spectroscopy should be useful in a wide variety of fields. The rise of combinatorial chemistry has necessitated the development of sensitive and rapid screens for drug-target interactions. Luminescence is ideal for rapid screening because of its speed and sensitivity. Similarly, a luminescent probe for the in vivo detection of enzyme expression and localization is generally useful. Examples of widely used probes include small molecule detectors for mono- and divalent cations and Green Fluorescent Protein hybrid proteins. (d. Silva, A. P. et al., Coord. Chem. Rev. (1999) 185–186, 297–306; Tsien, R. Y. Annu. Rev. Biochem. (1998) 67, 509–544; Takahashi, A. et al., Physiol. Rev. (1999) 79, 1089–1125). The wide usage of these techniques suggests that a method of detecting the localization and concentration of a given enzyme is highly desirable. However, few techniques currently exist that take advantage of the inherent specificity of an enzyme for its substrate.
In addition, molecules with photosensitizers attached to cofactors [Hamachi, I. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1999), 121, 5500–5506] can rapidly deliver redox equivalents to buried active sites for potential therapeutic applications.
Particularly important target biomolecules are oxygenases (e.g. cytochrome P450) involved in drug metabolism and many disease states, including liver and kidney dysfunction, neurological disorders, and cancer. 54 human cytochrome P450 genes have been identified. The cytochrome P450 genes are broken down into many families and subfamilies. The first isolated human P450s were 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, 3A5, and 4A11. The 1A family, for example, is actively studied due to its role in carcinogen activation (F. P. Guengrich, "Human Cytochrome P450 Enzymes" in Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism, and Biochemistry, 2nd ed. Ed. Paul R. Ortiz de Montellano, Plenum Press, New York, 1995, pp. 473–536.) and would be an optimal target for characterization.
Although more than 100 mammalian microsomal P450 isozymes have been identified, direct information about their structures and physiological function is lacking. The best characterized of these is, cytochrome P450cam(P450). Crystal structures are available for only six P450 oxygenases (Poulos, T. L., et al. (1995) in Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism, and Biochemistry, 2nd edn, ed. Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (Plenum Press, New York), pp. 125–150), all but one of which are water-soluble bacterial enzymes.
New methods for detecting mammalian P450s and characterizing their structures (Tschirret-Guth, R. A., et al. (1999) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 4731–4737) would facilitate rational drug design (Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. & Correia, M. A. (1995) in Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism, and Biochemistry, 2nd edn, ed. Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (Plenum Press, New York), pp. 305–364) and the engineering of new catalysts (Joo, H., Zhanglin, L. & Arnold, F. H. (1999) Nature 399, 670–673; Stevenson, J.-A., et al. (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 12846–12847) for use in diagnosis and/or therapy of diseases.
Another luminescent ruthenium complex [Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ is nearly undetectable in water but moderate in non-aqueous solvents. (Chambon, J.-C. et al., New J. Chem. (1985) 9, 527–529) The discovery that this and similar compounds also emit light when intercalated into doubled stranded DNA resulted in publications, both on the original dppz complexes and on related compounds. (Friedman, A. E. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1990) 112, 4960–4962; Erkkila, K. E. et al., Chem. Rev. (1999) 99, 2777–2795) The mechanism of this surprising effect has been elucidated to large degree. Luminescence quenching in aqueous solution seems to occur through water hydrogen bonding to dppz in the excited state, although solvent polarity may also play a role. (Olsen, E. J. C. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1997) 119, 11458–11467).
Another biomolecule of interest is nitric oxide (NO), a recognized ubiquitous biological second messenger molecule, that acts in a myriad of biological processes including neuronal development, regulation of blood pressure, apoptosis, neurotransmission, and immunological responses. (Kendrick, K. M. et al., Nature (1997) 388, 670–674; Huang, P. L. et al., Nature (1995) 377, 239–242; Ko, G. Y.; Kelly, P. T. J. Neurosci. (1999) 19, 6784–6794; Luth, H. J. et al., Brain Research (2000) 852, 45–55;Mize, R. R. et al., Nitric Oxide in Brain Development, Plasticity and Disease, Progress in Brain Research (Elesevier, 1998), vol. 118) (D. Nathan, J. Clin. Invest. (1997) 100, 2417–2423; J. Lancaster, Nitric Oxide: Principles and Actions (Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1996)). These diverse functions depend on the production of NO by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), a multidomain enzyme that catalyzes the overall transformation L-Arg+2O2+3/2(NADPH+H+)→L-citrulline+NO+2H2O+3/2 NADP+ where L-Arg is L-arginine and NADPH is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(Stuehr, D. J. Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1999) 1411, 217–230).
NO and NOS enzymes appear to play a role in many of the diseases that afflict humanity. This practical importance arises from the deep involvement of NOS in many of the channels of intercellular communication. During the 1990's considerable effort was expended in defining the characteristics of the various isoforms of NOS and their immediate effect on a wide array of cellular phenomena. Currently, the focus is shifting toward understanding how NOS functions within the context of the complex signaling pathways in and between cells. An example of this trend is the recent publication of a structural study of neuronal NOS that focused on the enzyme's interactions with PSD-95 and the NMDA receptor. (Hillier, B. J. et al., Science (1999) 284, 812–815)
The NOS monomer contains independently folded reductase and oygenase domains. The reductase domain binds NADPH and contains the cofactors FAD and FMN. The oxygenase domain contains a cysteine-ligated heme and a tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) cofactor, and catalyses the oxidation of arginine to NO and citrulline. (Crane, B. R. et al., Science (1997) 278, 425–431; Crane, B. R. et al., Science (1998) 279, 2121–2126; Raman, C. S. et al., Cell (1998) 95, 939–950; Fischmann, T. O. et al., Nature Str. Biol. (1999) 6, 223–242) The oxygenase and reductase domains are joined by a calmodulin binding peptide that regulates the activity of the NOS isozymes. Interestingly, NOS functions as a dimer. Reduction occurs in trans—the reductase domain from one monomer reduces the oxidase domain of the complementary monomer. (Crane, B. R. et al., The EMBO Journal (1999) 18, 6271–6281)
The currently known mammalian NOS enzymes are organized into three classes: nNOS (neuronal), iNOS (immune), and eNOS (endothelial). These classifications reflect the origins of the NOS isoforms. (Bredt, D. S. et al., Nature (1991) 351, 714–718; Janssens, S. P. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1992) 267, 22694; Lamas, S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89, 6348–6352; Lowenstein, C. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89, 6711–6715; Xie, Q. W. et al., Science (1992) 256, 225–228) However, subsequent research has shown that the various forms of NOS occur in a wide variety of tissues, with a complex distribution.
Although nNOS is constitutively expressed, its level of expression is dynamically regulated. (Dawson, T. M. et al., Progress in Brain Research (1998) 118, 3–11) For example, nNOS activity is high in the developing olfactory and visual systems, but low in their mature counterparts. Abnormal nNOS activity has been implicated in a variety of diseases, including both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. (Luth, H. J. et al., Brain Research (2000) 852, 45–55; Dawson, V. L.; Dawson, T. M. Progress in Brain Research (1998) 118, 215–229) The isozyme eNOS (endothelial NOS) is expressed in smooth muscles, including those lining blood vessels. (Huang, P. L. et al., Nature (1995) 377, 239–242) Local production of NO triggers the relaxation of the vascular tissue, leading to reduction in blood pressure. In addition to vasodilation, eNOS also modulates angiogenesis. (Dimmeler, S.; Zeiher, A. M Cell Death and Differentiation (1999) 6, 964–968) iNOS has both beneficial and destructive influences in the immune system. (D. Nathan, J. Clin. Invest. (1997) 100, 2417–2423) For instance, iNOS is thought to be essential in fighting Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (MacMicking, J. D. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1997) 94, 5243–5248) However, iNOS is also involved in the often destructive inflammation response to infection or injury. (D. Nathan, J. Clin. Invest. (1997) 100, 2417-2423)
Despite the intense interest in nitric oxide synthases in the biological and medical community, aspects of the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes remain poorly understood. In particular, the function of the H4B cofactor has not been adequately explained.
Currently, two general methods are used for imaging NOS distribution. (Feelisch, M.; Stamler, J. S. Eds., Methods in Nitric Oxide Research (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1996)) First, NADPH, arginine, NO, citrulline, nitrates, nitrates and other reactants and products of NOS can be detected chemically, usually through chemiluminescence or a stain (Kikuchi, K. et al., Analytical Chemistry (1993) 65, 1794–1799; Kojima, H. et al., Anal. Chem. (1998) 70, 2446–2453; Kishimoto, J. et al., Eur. J. Neuroscience (1993) 5, 1684–1694). Because these small molecules diffuse rapidly, this limits the spatial resolution of this technique. In addition, the staining techniques kill the sample. The chemiluminescence resulting from the reaction of NO with ozone can also be used to quantify NO production, but again gives limited spatial information. The second technique used is immunohistochemistry (Maines, M. D Ed., Nitric Oxide Synthase: Characterization and Functional Analysis (Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1996); Kobzik, L., Schmidt, H. H. H. W. in Methods in nitric oxide synthase M. Feelish, J. S. Stamler, Eds. (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1996) pp. 229–236). Briefly, an antibody is raised against NOS. The antibody binds to NOS, and the antibody is then detected through staining or fluorescence. This gives better spatial resolution, but again the staining process destroys the sample.
The disadvantages of many of the prior known probes utilized to study biomolecules are their requirements for chemical or biological modification of the biomolecules for characterization. Furthermore, because Ru-substrates interact with their targets reversibly, they differ from current probes of heme proteins that rely on covalent modification and chemical analysis (Tschirret-Guth, R. A., et al. (1999) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 4731–4737; Tschirret-Guth, R. A., et al. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120, 7404–7410). The shortcomings of many presently available molecular probes for detecting biomolecules demonstrate the need for new agents that can detect and characterize biomolecules without the need for covalent or mutational modification of the protein of interest. The present invention satisfies this and other needs.

Detection of biomolecules by sensitizer-linked substrates


Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer system, a computer program product, and a method that comprises generating a baseline prediction for each database in a plurality of databases, wherein the generated baseline prediction includes datapoints for each performance feature of a respective database in the plurality of databases; generating a linkage matrix using a dimension reduction algorithm in an equal-dimensional feature space based on a measured difference between actual performance datapoints of each respective database and respective datapoints associated with generated baseline prediction for each database in the plurality of databases; linking one or more databases in the plurality of databases based on the measured difference within the generated linkage matrix reaching a predetermined threshold of measured performance; and generating a design using the linked databases for a computer system capable of being displayed through a user interface.

The present invention relates generally to the field of data extraction technology, and more specifically data-driven insights for policy making.
Data extraction is a process that involves retrieval of data from various sources. Generally, data extraction is done with an effort to process the extracted data further, migrate the data to a data repository (such as a data warehouse or data lake) or to further analyze the extracted data. Data extraction is the act or process of retrieving data out of data sources for further data processing or data storage. The import into an intermediate extracting environment usually is followed by data transformation and possibly the addition of metadata prior to export to another stage of the data workflow. Data-driven data extraction is an approach that makes strategic decisions based on data analysis and interpretation.
Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of studying including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed, and the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same.
Data processing is the collection and manipulation of items of data to produce meaningful information. In this sense, it can be considered a subset of information processing, and the change of information in any manner detectable by an observer. Automatic data processing can refer to electronic data processing, and this uses relatively simple, repetitive activities to process large volumes of similar information.

International Business Machines Corporation


An information processing apparatus, method and program for managing a bookmark list in which URL information is registered that is used to access other information processing apparatuses in order to obtain desired information, comprising the steps of dividing the URL information into a plurality of items, assigning item numbers based on the location of each of the items in the URL information, and differentiating between the items in the URL information based on a desired item number and of registering the item in the bookmark list.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, for using a Web browser to access another information processing apparatus based on a desired URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and for referring to and obtaining desired information; and also relates to a computer-readable storage medium on which an information processing program is stored.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, a list of bookmark data, which is used with an information processing apparatus having a Web browser function, is constituted by arranging desired reference destinations in accordance with specific contents, or by arranging reference destinations in the order in which bookmarks are added to the bookmark list or in the alphabetical order of title information or URLs.
But although the order in which data are added or the alphabetical order of titles can constitute search indicators, it is difficult for a user to remember exactly when a desired bookmark was added or what its exact title is, and thus it is difficult to use this information to extract a specific bookmark from a long list. As a result, to perform a search for a desired bookmark, a user must often start at the very beginning of a bookmark list.
Furthermore, when URLs are merely arranged in alphabetical order, such an arrangement will not satisfy the needs of an operator. So to resolve these problems, a user must deliberately re-construct a bookmark data file. And for a user who has on hand an enormous amount of bookmark data, this is very inconvenient and complicated process.
To resolve the above shortcomings, it is one objective of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus wherein, when a user designates an item number to be used to identify (or discriminate) bookmark data and subsequently adds a bookmark to the bookmark data, the bookmark data are automatically identified (or discriminated) and managed in accordance with the designated item number so that the bookmarks are managed not merely in accordance with a data arrangement; and to provide an information processing method for bookmark management and a computer-readable storage medium in which is stored an information processing program for the processing method. It is another objective of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus wherein to express a preference an operator can deliberately designate an item number so that the desire of the operator is reflected in the management of bookmarks; and to also provide an information processing method for bookmark management and a computer-readable storage medium in which an information processing program for the processing method is stored.
To achieve the above objectives, according to the present invention, provided is an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, or an information processing program, for managing a bookmark list in which URL information is registered that is used to access other information processing apparatuses in order to obtain desired information, comprising:
a division step of dividing the URL information into a plurality of items;
an assignment step of assigning item numbers based on the location of each of the items in the URL information; and
a discrimination step of differentiating between the items in the URL information based on a desired item number and of registering the item in the bookmark list.
A sub-item that represents the type of assigned item in storage means that is stored for each item number.
Preferably, for items that represent domain names, the item numbers are assigned beginning with the last item.
The processing is initiated when an instruction is issued to register new URL information in the bookmark list.
A desired item number can be set.
A plurality of desired item numbers can be set.
It is preferable that the URL information be identified and registered in the bookmark list by employing an item number in consonance with the order in which numbers are allocated.
It is preferable, when a desired item number is set, that the registered URL information be identified and re-registered in the bookmark list.
The items may be protocol names or domain names.
The item s may include directory names.
The items in the URL information may consist of a character string that is delimited by a slash xe2x80x9c/xe2x80x9d and a dot xe2x80x9c.xe2x80x9d.
The items may be genres or channel numbers for a Web TV.
According to the present invention, since the bookmark data are automatically discriminated between and managed in accordance with an item number designated by a user, the management of the bookmarks is not based on a mere arrangement of data.
In addition, since a discriminating designation of a desired item number can be made by an operator, the intent of the operator can be reflected in the management of the bookmarks.
Furthermore, since item numbers are allocated beginning with the last of the items in domain names, systematic discrimination between and management of bookmarks can be provided.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description given while referring to the accompanying drawings, throughout which the same reference characters are employed to designate like or similar parts.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium for storing information processing program


A user may access an institution system via more than one communications channel, either by the same device (e.g., a mobile device accessing the institution system via a voice channel and a data channel) or by different devices (e.g., a personal computer via a web channel and a phone via a voice channel). If a user is not currently authenticated to a communications channel and attempts to access the institution system via a communications channel, the user may be authenticated using strong authentication. If the user is currently authenticated to the institution system via a communications channel and would like to engage a second communications channel to access the institution system, the user may authenticate to the second communications channel using both communications channels and weak authentication, such as single factor authentication or a challenge question.

A communications channel refers to the medium used to convey information from a sender to a receiver. Communications channels include voice and data channels. A receiver may have to authenticate to a sender to access the communications channel. An authentication procedure (e.g., involving a user name, password, a pass phrase, a personal identification number (PIN), etc.) may establish the identity of the receiver with some degree of confidence, and the sender may grant access privileges to that identity.
If a receiver is authenticated to the sender by a first communications channel and would like to engage a second communications channel to access the sender, the receiver has to separately authenticate to the sender via the second communications channel. This is burdensome and time-consuming to both the sender and the receiver.

Systems and methods for communications channel authentication

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


The present invention provides a leader member in a recording tape cartridge that is excellent in terms of strength, rigidity, corrosion resistance, a low frictional property, and abrasion resistance, have excellent productivity, and is manufactured with a low cost, a manufacturing method thereof, and the recording tape cartridge. A leader member that is attached to a free end of a recording tape wound around a single reel accommodated in a case and that is pulled out from an opening formed in the case by an pull out member of a drive device is manufactured by die casting with one of a zinc alloy, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, or a copper alloy.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge that accommodates a single reel on which a recording tape, such as a magnetic tape, which is mainly used as a record and reproduction medium of a computer, is wound, a leader member that is configured such that the recording tape is pulled out by a pulling out member of a drive device, and a manufacturing method of the leader member.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a recording tape cartridge where a recording tape, such as a magnetic tape, which is used as a data record and reproduction medium of a computer (data backup), is wound around a reel and the single reel is mounted in a case has been known. A free end of the recording tape is mounted with a leader member for which a pull out member of a drive device is engaged and pulls out.
As the leader member, a leader pin that is configured to have an approximately array shape is known, and this leader pin is manufactured using plastic (including fiber-reinforced plastic based on such as carbon fiber) or stainless steel (for example, refer to Japanese Patent No. 3952101).
The leader pin that is manufactured with stainless steel is excellent in terms of the strength, the rigidity, the corrosion resistance, the low frictional property, and the abrasion resistance. However, a manufacturing method of such leader pin is mainly implemented by cutting, and it may take about 20 to 60 sec. to process each one leader pin. For this reason, productivity may not be high and a manufacturing cost may be increased.
Since a leader pin that is manufactured with plastic (including fiber-reinforced plastic based on such as carbon fiber) has light weight and may be manufactured by injection molding (processing of one shot is enabled for about 10 to 20 sec.), so productivity is high. However, as compared with metal, the strength and rigidity of the plastic may be deteriorated. Although depending on a type of the plastic or a counterpart material, the low frictional property and the abrasion resistance of the plastic may be deteriorated as compared with the metal.

Leader member in recording tape cartridge, manufacturing method thereof, and recording tape cartridge


In association with a circuit for adding binary numbers, it is often useful to increment the sum by a value of 1, for example on a conditional basis. Each of the combined adder and incrementer circuits embodying the invention also provides an output indicating whether a CarryOut signal resulted from the incrementing operation, or whether the CarryOut signal resulted from the addition. The preferred embodiments utilize prefix-type adder circuits using a single carry chain. Alternate embodiments generate a CarryOut signal as a function of the incrementing operation, using either generate and propagate signals or from generate and kill signals from the carry chain.

Logic circuits for performing addition operations find many uses in Integrated Circuits (ICs), such as the circuits used in computers. For example, adders may be used to calculate addresses. Many applications for adder circuits also require an increment to be applied to the sum of the addition, for example to reflect a carry-in signal from another stage or circuit. In one particular example, an adder/incrementer circuit may be used as part of the back-end of a multiplier, to add two shifted numbers and perform a conditional increment, based on whether or not there is a need to round-up the resultant sum.
FIG. 13 provides a logical diagram of such an addition and conditional incrementer operation, preferably using a prefix adder type of circuitry. The illustrated circuit comprises an adder 11 and an incrementer 13, both of which may be implemented as prefix addition circuits. Prefix adders are binary adder circuits that compute the carries for the bit positions based on prefix equations. Prefix adders are described, for example, in Knowles, A Family of Adders, Element 14, Bristol, UK. [Proceedings of the 14th IEEE Symposium on Computer Arithmetic, pp. 30–34, Adelaide, Australia, April 1999] The logic needed to implement the carry chain in such an adder may be viewed as a prefix graph, illustrating the logical interconnection of the layers of the chain.
The adder (Σ) 11 adds two n-bit binary numbers A and B to produce an n-bit result (Sum) and an overflow or carry out bit (Overflow in the drawing). For some applications, the sum is incremented by adding a binary value of 1. For an application where it is desired to increment the value of the resultant Sum based on a conditional input (CarryIn), the illustrated incrementer 13 adds the conditional binary input value (CarryIn) to the Sum from the adder 11. As a result, the incrementer 13 produces a new n-bit result (IncrementedSum) and a new overflow or carry out bit (CarryOut in the drawing).
In some applications, the overflow bit from the adder 11 may be discarded. However, for an application where there is a need to determine the basis for the final carry out bit (CarryOut) associated with the IncrementedSum, it is possible to examine the value of the Overflow signal from the adder 11.
The implementation illustrated in FIG. 13, however, is not efficient, because the path through the adder 11 and the incrementer 13 passes through two n-bit wide carry chains, which requires a substantial amount of logic circuitry and introduces considerable delay. One solution to simplify the logic and reduce delay is to merge the incrementer with the adder into a single logic block 15, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In such an implementation, the incrementer 19 shares the carry chain (not separately shown) of the adder 17, and as such, requires only one stage of logic delay for the carry functions. This logical diagram shows the general form of the adder/incrementer 15, without showing the details. The logic circuitry for implementing the combined adder/incrementer 15 may be similar to a late carry in adder, which is one of the embodiments disclosed in published UK Patent Application No. (GB) 2342193 (published Apr. 5, 2000).
As noted, it is useful in some applications of the adder and incrementer to know the cause of the final CarryOut, and if the circuit is built as separate addition and incrementing circuits (FIG. 13), there is no problem in discriminating between the carry produced by the two separate operations. However, in the faster combined circuit 15 (FIG. 14), there is one problem. In such a circuit, the new CarryOut bit is not a function solely of any carry generated by the incrementer function. Instead, the new CarryOut bit may is a function of both the addition and the incrementing operation. Hence, there is a need for a combined adder/incrementer circuit that will also provide a signal indicative of the cause of the final CarryOut. Preferably, such a circuit should provide a CarryOut bit that depends solely on whether or not a carry signal is generated by the incrementer function.