A system for displaying electronic shelf labels (ESLs) or other devices includes a label holder. The label holder includes a base plate, adhesive, suction cups, and dowels. The base plate has two opposing side upon which an ESL may be adhesively engaged and supported. When supporting a single ESL on only one side of the base plate, the opposite side of the base plate may be equipped with suction cups or front facing dowels with which the label holder may be attached to a surface. When supporting ESLs on both sides of the base plate, dowels may be inserted along perimeter surfaces of the base plate in order to allow the holder to be secured into or onto surfaces having openings capable of receiving the exposed ends of the dowels, such as those constructed of pegboard, etc.

From retail store to wholesale warehouses, and other commercial settings, the products available therein as well as the displays of those products are in a seemingly constant state of change. As a consequence, many commercial entities have moved to the use of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) that have easily reprogrammable informational displays that allow a seller to change the information displayed to potential customers in a more fluid manner than conventional labels. ESLs may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes, and may be programmed to display anything from basic product information akin to a more conventional label (e.g. price, quantity, etc.) to full audio/visual commercial programing, depending on their level of complexity.
In modern commercial environments the use of ESLs is sometimes made more difficult as the products themselves (and/or their packaging), the shelving they are displayed upon, and the commonly used hardware of a commercial environment are often not provided with mounting surfaces that accommodate ready acceptance or mounting of an ESL directly thereupon. To overcome this difficulty, various specialized ESL holders and mounting devices have been proposed, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,593,236 and 6,935,062, which are intended to improve the use of ESL in specific commercial instances.
While known ESL holders, such those in the examples provided above, may provide mechanisms for securing ESLs to specific surfaces common to a retail or wholesale setting (e.g. directly to a product package or to the C-channel of a retail shelf) there remains a need for an ESL display system that is compact, provides the ability to display one or more ESLs in a variety of orientations, and that is useable with in a wide range of commercial settings. The label holder disclosed herein meets this need.


An actuator with a quick-release mechanism includes a base (10); an electric motor (20) including a worm shaft (212); a transmission mechanism (30) including a worm gear assembly (31), a lead screw shaft (32) and a bearing (33); a quick-release mechanism (40) including first and second cylinders (41, 42) attached to the lead screw shaft (32); an elastic member (50) clamped between the worm gear assembly (31) and the second cylinder (42) and a dialing mechanism (60) including a rotating piece (62) pivotally attached to the base (10); and wherein the worm gear assembly (31) including protruding teeth (316); the second cylinder (42) includes teeth slots (424) engaged with the protruding teeth (316) for engaged or disengaged transmission; and the rotating piece (62) includes a dial arm (621) to push the second cylinder (42) to disengage from the worm gear assembly (31) for torque transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator, in particular, to an actuator with a quick-release mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Linear actuators are commonly used in applications such as electric medical beds, treadmills and wheelchairs for adjusting and shifting the elevation positions and elevation angles thereof. For emergency purposes of patient treatments, the use of actuator with a quick-release mechanism allows the medical bed to be adjusted and shifted rapidly such that precious time crucial in medical emergencies can be saved, which is an important objective of the present invention.
A known actuator with a quick-release mechanism is disclosed in such as Chinese Patent Publication No. CN100552263C comprising an electric motor, a transmission mechanism and a quick-release mechanism. The electric motor comprises a main body and a worm shaft extended outward from a center of the main body. The transmission mechanism comprises a lead screw shaft and a worm gear mounted on one end of the lead screw shaft and engaged for transmission with the worm shaft. The quick-release mechanism comprises two cylindrical connection parts; wherein one cylindrical connection part is firmly attached to the lead screw shaft to rotate together with the lead screw shaft and another cylindrical connection part is firmly attached to the worm gear to rotate together with the worm gear. The corresponding end of each one of the cylindrical connection parts is provided with a torque transmission unit. By utilizing the engagement and disengagement between the cylindrical connection parts, the lead screw shaft and the worm gear can be either engaged with each other for transmission or disengaged from each other for transmission.
Nevertheless, the known actuator with a quick-release mechanism shows the following drawbacks during its actual operation and use. Such known actuator is of a complicated structure involving a great number of components, which poses difficulties to the assembly thereof and requires greater costs in the material and manufacturing the components as well as the overall production costs of the actuator. Furthermore, the method of push used to actuate the engagement and disengagement of the cylindrical connection parts tends to generate a relatively small reaction force, which leads to inconvenience to the use and operation of the actuator.


Control exposure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a determination is made by a computing device as to which of a plurality of controls correspond to one or more inputs detected using one or more magnetometers, cameras, or microphones. A result of the determination is exposed by the computing device to one or more applications that are executed by the computing device.

The way in which users are able to interact with a computing device is ever increasing. For example, interaction with a computing device was initially performed using text. Therefore, a user typically entered the text using a keyboard and viewed an output by the computing device that was also in text.
These techniques were then expanded into graphical user interfaces in which a user could interact with a cursor control device, such as a mouse. The techniques continued to expand as graphical user interfaces were configured to recognize gestures made by a user to provide inputs to the computing device. For example, gestures may be used to select objects, interact with a video game, and so on. However, these techniques conventionally relied on operations that were performed by an application itself, such as to recognize which motions corresponded to which gestures, and thus may complicate coding of the application by application developers.


A fluid level indicator for determining the level of fluid in a container includes a dipstick that is entered into the fluid in the container and withdrawn from the fluid, a billet of thermochromic material having a reference temperature, a billet length extending along a portion of the dipstick, and a fluid level range marking on the dipstick along the length of the billet.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to determining the level of fluid in a container. More particularly the invention pertains to sensing the temperature of the fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Accurately measuring transmission oil or engine crankcase oil level in a repeatable manner has been challenging because, when the dipstick is pulled out of a fill tube, the oil level is not clearly indicated. An oil film left on the dipstick does not provide a clearly visible demarcation. In addition, the dipstick can contact the side of the fill tube causing oil film to be formed in areas above where the actual oil level is located. This results in a measurement system that does not provide a repeatable, reliable indication of the oil level in the vehicle.
Additionally, transmission oil should be warmed to be about 150° F. before reading the oil level. Often the vehicle operator or service technician has no easy technique way to determine transmission oil temperature without the use of a diagnostic tool. Transmission oil level is very important in automatic transmission function since too much oil may reduce fuel economy and can result in venting fluid. Too little oil degrades function under cold conditions. These constraints often lead to a very tight oil level tolerance (about 0.5 liters), which may be difficult to verify using conventional dipsticks.
There is a need in the industry for a fluid level indicator that responds to fluid temperature and provides clear, reliable, visible indication of fluid level in a confined space, such as a transmission oil sump or an engine crankcase.


A device (1) for indicating downloading of a data item (3) by a user computer (5) from a first computer (7) using a data communication network (9) is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a processor (13) being configured for receiving an upload instruction for uploading the data item (3) from a second computer (15) to the user computer (5) via the data communication network (9). The upload instruction has been generated by a first markup language tag referring to the data item (3). The first markup language tag has been generated by a browser executable script uploaded to the user computer (5) from the first computer (7). The first markup language tag differs from a second markup language tag in a cache memory of the user computer (5) causing the user computer (5) to download from the second computer (15). The first and second markup language tags were generated by the browser executable script. The processor is also configured for indicating that the upload instruction has been received. Also disclosed is a device (1) for calculating an estimate of a number of downloadings of a data item (3) from a first computer (7) by a first group of user computers (5) which are configured for not allowing execution of a browser script and the cache memories of which comprise the data item (3).

Knowing whether a user of a computer has downloaded a page located on a server, or a computer, is often desired. For instance downloading information, such as a page on the internet or an intranet, may be relevant for instance a webmaster interested in knowing what pages that are considered important or relevant, a web designer interested in the attractiveness of a page in terms of its design, or a market research analyst investigating the interest of one or more pages in terms of product/service attractiveness and/or page design.
Even though there are various mechanisms available for tracking computer users' behavior, by using for instance cookies, a limitation today is the limited opportunities of finding out the what a computer user in fact finds interesting, since downloading statistics of a computer user is not identical with the actual interest of a computer user. This is at least partly based on that the cashing function of a cache memory arranged in a majority of computers.
There is a number of memories that can be operated as a cache memory. In the field of data communication networks, such as the internet or an intranet, cache memories are often used to store for instance pages, or components of pages, for instance temporary files or files earlier downloaded including pages or components of pages. In these cases, it is not unlikely that the cache memory is a part of a hard disk. The cache memory can also be a specific memory, for instance in a random access memory (RAM) type of memory.
A next time a page is to be downloaded, it, or one or more of its components, may be found in the cache memory, which leads to that downloading using the data network is not considered necessary since the information to be presented by a browser is present in the cache memory. This means that obtaining information concerning downloading behavior of computer user is limited by the function of the caching mechanisms described above. Thus, in case a computer user would visit the same page a number of times it is not unlikely that the page would be downloaded only once from a server computer, and the other times the page, or components thereof, will be read from the cache memory instead of being downloaded using the data network. This leads to difficulties when interpreting downloading statistics of pages, or components thereof, since the number of downloadings, i.e. the number of times when data has been communicated using a data network, will be correct, but the number of presentations of data will not be correct.

Device for indicating downloading of data items


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for shader lamps-based avatars of real and virtual people are disclosed. According to one method, shader lamps-based avatars of real and virtual objects are displayed on physical target objects. The method includes obtaining visual information of a source object and generating at least a first data set of pixels representing a texture image of the source object. At least one of a size, shape, position, and orientation of a 3D physical target object are determined. A set of coordinate data associated with various locations on the surface of the target object are also determined. The visual information is mapped to the physical target object. Mapping includes defining a relationship between the first and second sets of data, wherein each element of the first set is related to each element of the second set. The mapped visual information is displayed on the physical target object using a display module, such as one or more projectors located at various positions around the target object.

The term "telepresence" generally refers to technologies that enable activities such as remote manipulation, communication, and collaboration. More specifically, telepresence refers to commercial video teleconferencing systems and immersive collaboration between one or more participants located at multiple sites. In a collaborative telepresence system, each user needs some way to perceive remote sites, and in turn be perceived by participants at those sites. The subject matter described herein focuses on how a user is seen by remote participants.
There are numerous approaches to visually simulate the presence of a remote person. The most common is to use 2D video imagery which may include capturing imagery of a subject using a single video camera and displaying the imagery on 2D surface. However, 2D imagery presented in this way lacks a number of spatial and perceptual cues. These cues can be used to identify an intended recipient of a statement, convey interest or attention (or lack thereof), or to direct facial expressions and other non-verbal communication. In order to convey this information to specific individuals, each participant must see the remote person from his or her own viewpoint.
Providing distinct, view-dependent imagery of a person to multiple observers poses several challenges. One approach is to provide separate track and multiplexed views to each observer, such that the remote person appears in one common location. However, approaches involving head-worn displays or stereo glasses are usually unacceptable, given the importance of eye contact between all (local and remote) participants. Another approach is to use multi-view displays. These displays can be realized with various technologies and approaches, however, each has limitations that restrict its utility as illustrated in the following list.
Another approach is to use multi-view displays. These displays can be realized with various technologies and approaches, however each has limitations that restrict its utility, as illustrated in the following list.                "Personal" (per-user) projectors combined with retroreflective surfaces at the locations corresponding to the remote users [16, 17]. Limitations: no stereo; each projector needs to remain physically very close to its observer.        Wide-angle lenticular sheets placed over conventional displays to assign a subset of the display pixels to each observer [13, 21]. Limitations: difficult to separate distinct images; noticeable blurring between views; approach sometimes trades limited range of stereo for a wider range of individual views.        High-speed projectors combined with spinning mirrors used to create 360-degree light field displays [11]. Limitations: small physical size due to spinning mechanism; binary/few colors due to dividing the imagery over 360 degrees; no appropriate image change as viewer moves head vertically or radially.
One example domain to consider is Mixed/Augmented Reality-based live-virtual training for the military. Two-dimensional (2D) digital projectors have been used for presenting humans in these environments, and it is possible to use such projectors for stereo imagery (to give the appearance of 3D shape from 2D imagery). However there are difficulties related to stereo projection. Time/phase/wavelength glasses are possible from a technology standpoint—they could perhaps be incorporated into the goggles worn to protect against Special Effects Small Arms Marking System (SESAMS) rounds. However it is currently not possible (technologically) to generate more than two or three independent images on the same display surface. The result will be that multiple trainees looking at the same virtual role players (for example) from different perspectives would see exactly the same stereo imagery, making it impossible to determine the true direction of gaze (and weapon aiming) of a virtual character.
In fact there are two gaze-related issues with the current 2D technology used to present humans. In situations with multiple trainees for example, if a virtual role player appearing in a room is supposed to be making eye contact with one particular trainee, then when that trainee looks at the image of the virtual role player it should seem as if they are making eye contact. In addition, the other trainees in the room should perceive that the virtual role player is looking at the designated trainee. This second gaze issue requires that each trainee see a different view of the virtual role player. For example, if the designated trainee (the intended gaze target of the virtual role player) has other trainees on his left and right, the left trainee should see the right side of the virtual role player, while the right trainee should see the left side of the virtual role player.
Perhaps the most visible work in the area of telepresence has been in theme park entertainment, which has been making use of projectively illuminated puppets for many years. The early concepts consisted of rigid statue-like devices with external film-based projection. Recent systems include animatronic devices with internal (rear) projection, such as the animatronic Buzz Lightyear that greets guests as they enter the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin attraction in the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.
In the academic realm, shader lamps, introduced by Raskar et al. [20], use projected imagery to illuminate physical objects, dynamically changing their appearance. The authors demonstrated changing surface characteristics such as texture and specular reflectance, as well as dynamic lighting conditions, simulating cast shadows that change with the time of day. The concept was extended to dynamic shader lamps [3], whose projected imagery can be interactively modified, allowing users to paint synthetic surface characteristics on physical objects.
Hypermask [26] is a system that dynamically synthesizes views of a talking, expressive character, based on voice and keypad input from an actor wearing a mask onto which the synthesized views are projected.
Future versions of the technology described herein may benefit from advances in humanoid animatronics (robots) as "display carriers." For example, in addition to the well-known Honda ASIMO robot [6], which looks like a fully suited and helmeted astronaut with child-like proportions, more recent work led by Shuuji Kajita at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology [2] has demonstrated a robot with the proportions and weight of an adult female, capable of human-like gait and equipped with an expressive human-like face. Other researchers have focused on the subtle, continuous body movements that help portray lifelike appearance, on facial movement, on convincing speech delivery, and on response to touch. The work led by Hiroshi Ishiguro [9] at Osaka University's Intelligent Robotics Laboratory stands out, in particular the lifelike Repliee android series [5] and the Geminoid device. They are highly detailed animatronic units equipped with numerous actuators and designed to appear as human-like as possible, also thanks to skin-embedded sensors that induce a realistic response to touch. The Geminoid is a replica of principal investigator Hiroshi Ishiguro himself, complete with facial skin folds, moving eyes, and implanted hair—yet still not at the level of detail of the "hyper-realistic" sculptures and life castings of (sculptor) John De Andrea [4], which induce a tremendous sense of presence despite their rigidity; Geminoid is teleoperated, and can thus take the PI's place in interactions with remote participants. While each of the aforementioned robots take on the appearance of a single synthetic person, the Takanishi Laboratory's WD-2 [12] robot is capable of changing shape in order to produce multiple expressions and identities. The WD-2 also uses rear-projection in order to texture a real user's face onto the robot's display surface. The robot's creators are interested in behavioral issues and plan to investigate topics in human-Geminoid interaction and sense of presence.
When building animatronic avatars, the avatar's range of motion, as well as its acceleration and speed characteristics, will generally differ from a human's. With current state-of-the art in animatronics, they are a subset of human capabilities. Hence one has to map the human motion into the avatar's available capabilities envelope, while striving to maintain the appearance and meaning of gestures and body language, as well as the overall perception of resemblance to the imaged person. Previous work has addressed the issue of motion mapping ("retargeting") as applied to synthetic puppets. Shin et al. [23] describe on-line determination of the importance of measured motion, with the goal of deciding to what extent it should be mapped to the puppet. The authors use an inverse kinematics solver to calculate the retargeted motion.
The TELESAR 2 project led by Susumu Tachi [25, 24] integrates animatronic avatars with the display of a person. The researchers created a roughly humanoid robot equipped with remote manipulators as arms, and retro-reflective surfaces on face and torso, onto which imagery of the person "inhabiting" the robot is projected. In contrast to the subject matter described herein, these robot-mounted display surfaces do not mimic human face or body shapes. Instead, the three-dimensional appearance of the human is recreated through stereoscopic projection.
Accordingly, in light of these difficulties, a need exists for improved methods, systems, and computer readable media for conveying 3D audiovisual information that includes a fuller spectrum of spatial and perceptual cues.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for shader-lamps based physical avatars of real and virtual people

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL


A double-electrode capacitive sensor for detecting a detection object includes: an electrode assembly having first and second electrodes and an insulation substrate; and a detection circuit. The first and second electrodes are disposed on first and second surfaces of the substrate, respectively. The detection circuit applies an alternating voltage between a ground and the first electrode, and detects an electric potential of the second electrode, or controls the electric potential of the second electrode to follow the alternating voltage. The detection circuit detects a capacitance change between the first electrode and the ground when the detection object approaches the first electrode for determining whether the detection object approaches the first electrode. A periphery of the second electrode is substantially opposite to a periphery of the first electrode.

JP-A-2006-201129 corresponding to US Patent Application Publication No. 2006-164254 proposes a vehicular seating detection sensor using a double-electrode capacitance sensor having an electrode assembly in which a front electrode is provided on the front major surface of a resin film buried in a seat, and a back electrode which is smaller than the front electrode is provided on the back major surface of the resin film. The double-electrode capacitance sensor also has a detection circuit section for detecting whether someone is seated or not using the electrode assembly.
The detection circuit section applies an AC voltage between one electrode and the vehicle body and supplies an AC current to the other electrode via an operational amplifier so that the potential of the other electrode becomes equal to that of the one electrode. The detection circuit section judges whether someone is seated or not on the basis of a variation of the AC current.
Although the above double-electrode capacitance sensor is higher in detection sensitivity than single-electrode capacitance sensors, there is a market requirement that its detection sensitivity be increased further.

Double-electrode capacitive sensor, passenger detector, and passenger protection system


The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for utilizing a parameterized notebook to adaptively generate visualizations regarding machine-learning models. In particular, the disclosed systems can generate a parameterized notebook based on a user-defined visualization recipe and provide parameter values that correspond to the machine-learning model to the parameterized notebook. Upon execution of the user-defined visualization recipe via the parameterized notebook, the disclosed systems can extract visualization data corresponding to the machine-learning model from the parameterized notebook. In addition, the disclosed systems can generate visualizations based on the visualization data and provide the generated visualizations for display in a graphical user interface.

Recent years have seen significant improvements in computer systems for implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning models. For example, computer systems can implement machine learning models (such as neural networking models) to identify objects portrayed in digital images, identify and provide targeted digital content to client devices across computing networks, generate digital animations that illustrate realistic movement patterns, or operate autonomous vehicles. Such advancements have occurred as a result of many factors in relation to training data sourcing and generation, feature engineering, model engineering (e.g., modification of machine-learning architecture and parameters), model training, and improved model operation.
In generating, training, and operating machine learning models, some conventional systems provide limited model evaluation tools. For instance, some conventional systems provide a standardized set of visualizations to assist engineers in analyzing and explaining operation of machine learning models. Although conventional systems provide some tools for evaluating operation of machine learning models, these tools suffer from a number of technical shortcomings, particularly with regards to flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy of operation.
For example, conventional systems are often rigid and inflexible. Indeed, as mentioned above, conventional systems typically provide a pre-defined set of static, standardized visualizations that are provided for analyzing machine learning models. Unfortunately, machine learning models are not uniform or static and projects and engineers vary widely within the machine learning community. Computer engineers have generated a variety of different algorithms in different classes, that utilize different operations or loss functions, that manage optimization in different approaches, and that aim to track different results or metrics. Moreover, models often continually learn, adapt to data drifts, and evolve over time. In addition, engineers often utilize different coding languages that are not compatible with pre-defined visualization requirements (or implementing APIs and software development kits). Accordingly, the rigid approach utilized by conventional systems in generating pre-defined analytics visualizations fails to flexibly accommodate the demands and variability of modern machine learning model engineering.
In addition to flexibility, conventional systems also have significant shortcomings with regard to efficiency. Conventional systems often require significant time, computer resources, and user interaction to analyze machine learning models. To illustrate, in implementing conventional systems, data engineers are often required to provide a number of user interactions across different system components to identify, track, and compile machine learning model parameters; generate analytical visualizations; and then update and/or modify visualizations over time. These processes and procedures require excessive user interactions and an exceedingly large number of user interfaces that require significant computing resources and time to operate. These inefficiencies are significant, inasmuch as data scientists typically configure tens to hundreds of model experiments before arriving at a model that satisfies acceptance criteria. Furthermore, machine learning models typically require analysis of large data volumes and conventional systems perform slowly and require extensive time and computer resources to generate analytics visualizations.
Furthermore, conventional systems have additional shortcomings with regard to accuracy. For example, as just discussed, conventional systems often provided decreased accessibility to performance analytics and metrics for machine learning models. For example, pre-defined analytics provided by conventional systems do not provide information needed by engineers (and the time and computer resources needed to provide alternative information is too expensive). Without such information, conventional systems often produce inaccurate machine learning models. Indeed, the problems with regard to accuracy and efficiency discussed above often lead to inaccurate, incomplete, or insufficient information as engineers train or operate machine learning models, ultimately undermining the accuracy and implementation of the models themselves.

Adaptive model insights visualization engine for complex machine learning models


A stable, phase-pure magnesium-substituted crystalline hydroxyapatite containing from about 2.0 to about 29 wt % magnesium, wherein at least 75 wt % of the magnesium content is substituted for calcium ions in the hydroxyapatite lattice structure.

The present invention relates to methods for magnesium substitution of crystalline hydroxyapatites that provide heretofore unobtained levels of magnesium incorporation into the hydroxyapatite lattice structure. The present invention also relates to phase-pure magnesium-substituted crystalline hydroxyapatites obtained thereby.
Hydroxyapatite (HAp, chemical formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) has attracted the attention of researchers over the past thirty years as an implant material because of its excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. HAp has been extensively used in medicine for implant fabrication. It is commonly the material of choice for the fabrication of dense and porous bioceramics. Its general uses include biocompatible phase-reinforcement in composites, coatings on metal implants and granular fill for direct incorporation into human tissue. It has also been extensively investigated for non-medical applications such as a packing material/support for column chromatography, gas sensors and catalysts, as a host material for lasers, and as a plant growth substrate. All properties of HAp, including bioactivity, biocompatibility, solubility and adsorption properties can be tailored within a wide range by controlling qualitatively and quantitatively the ions substituted for Ca2+, PO43− and OH− in the HAp lattice structure.
Magnesium has been known as one of the cationic substitutes for calcium in the HAp lattice structure. Magnesium-substituted HAp can be expressed by the simplified chemical formula:Ca10-xMgx(PO4)6(OH)2
with x/10 representing atom-percent substitution of magnesium ions for calcium ions.
Magnesium is also one of the predominant substitutes for calcium in biological apatites. Enamel, dentin, and bone contain respectively 0.44 wt %, 1.23 wt % and 0.72 wt % magnesium. Accordingly, magnesium-substituted HAp materials (Mg—HAp) are expected to have excellent biocompatibility and properties that can be favorably compared with those of hard tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,742 and WO 00/03747, for example, disclose the use of Mg—HAp as bone substitutes and for dental applications, respectively.
Increasing concentration of MG in HAp has the following effects on its properties: (a) gradual decrease in crystallinity, (b) increase HPO4 incorporation, and (c) increase in extent of dissolution. Magnesium is closely associated with mineralization of calcified tissues, and indirectly influences mineral metabolism. It has been suggested that magnesium directly stimulates osteoblast proliferation with an effect comparable to that of insulin (a known growth factor for osteoblast). Thus, it becomes possible to tailor the physicochemical properties of HAp, as well as its biocompatibility and bioactivity, by controlling the Mg substitution of the HAp lattice structure.
Because the optimum amounts of magnesium in artificial HAp ceramics can vary with different applications, the capability to control precisely the amounts of magnesium in HAp in the widest possible range by controlling the synthesis procedure is of primary importance. Mg—HAp powders have been prepared by precipitation and hydrolysis methods with the replacement of calcium by magnesium limited to no more than 0.3 wt %.
Bigi et al., J. Inorg. Biochem, 49, 69-78(1993) disclosed the synthesis of crystalline Mg—HAp powders with up to about 30 atom-percent (about 7.5 wt %) of magnesium under hydrothermal conditions at 120° C. Above this level of magnesium substitution the product was reported to be completely amorphous. At most, 7 atom-percent (about 1.7 wt %) of magnesium ions were reported to be capable of substitution for calcium in the HAp lattice structure.
A need exists for crystalline Mg—HAp powders with a higher magnesium content, a higher degree of magnesium-substitution in the HAp lattice structure, as well as a simple and inexpensive synthesis of Mg—HAp.


A method for improving the processability of foam premixes containing HFC and/or pentane-based blowing agents in polyols is provided, which method comprises adding trans-1,2-dichloroethylene to said premix in an amount effective to enhance said processability.

This invention relates to the addition of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene ("trans-1,2") to hydrofluorocarbon ("HFC") and/or pentane-based blowing agents to provide foam premixes having improved "processability", that is, to provide foam premixes in which the blowing agents create a one phase system with the polyol and/or in which the blowing agents have improved solubility in the polyol and/or in which the vapor pressure of the premix is lowered, and/or in which the premix has a lowered viscosity.
Zero ODP (ozone depletion potential) compounds such as HFCs and pentanes have been identified as alternatives for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as foam blowing agents. However, unlike HCFC-141b (1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane), HFCs such as 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane ("245fa"), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane ("365mfc") and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane ("134a") have limited miscibility with polyurethane raw materials such as polyols, especially polyester polyols. For hydrocarbons such as n-pentane and iso-pentane, their miscibility with polyols, especially polyester polyols, is also low. This low miscibility results in several undesirable processing problems, such as phase separation of the premix resulting in inconsistency in foam production, high viscosity with resulting emulsions and mixing difficulties, and high vapor pressures. What is thus needed is a means of overcoming these processing problems with the new blowing agent alternatives.
Trans-1,2 has been mentioned as a component of azeotrope-like blowing agent blends, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,137, but its disclosure as a premix compatibilizing agent has not been disclosed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Foam premixes having improved processability


An NC machine surrounded by a housing provided with a door on a front surface of the housing so that a workpiece may be loaded into the housing and unloaded therefrom when the door is in an open condition. An articulated robot, for replacing the workpiece, is provided so as to be laterally movable along an opening and closing direction of the door. Such a laterally movable function of the articulated robot permits a hand of the robot to grip a desired one of the workpieces arranged in lateral and longitudinal directions on a stock table. The articulated robot is provided with a sensor for detecting a dog provided on the door and an air cylinder for connecting the robot to the door when the dog is detected by the sensor. Accordingly, after the robot is connected to the door by the air cylinder, the door can be opened and closed by the lateral movement of the articulated robot.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a door opening and closing device for opening and closing a door of, for example, a numerical control (NC) machine by using a moving robot.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known that an NC machine is surrounded by a housing so as to prevent lubricating oil, chips, and similar materials from being scattered around during machining. The housing is provided with a large-sized sliding door so that the workpiece to be machined can be loaded into the housing and the machined workpiece removed from the housing using a robot.
The robot is an articulated robot, having a plurality of arms, and it is usually located in the vicinity of the door. A leading one of the arms is provided at its free end with a hand for gripping the workpiece. The workpiece to be machined is moved, by operating the arms, from the outside of the housing to a working position in the housing and the machined workpiece is moved again, by operating the arms, from the working position to the outside of the housing.
In moving the workpiece, using the arms of the articulated robot as mentioned above, it is necessary to open the sliding door to create an opening through which the workpiece and the arms can pass. A large-sized air cylinder is necessary for opening and closing the large-sized sliding door. If the articulated robot is operated to enter the housing under the condition where the sliding door is not sufficiently opened, there is a risk that the articulated robot will contact the sliding door. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide sensors for detecting opposite edges of the opening as defined by the open condition of the sliding door.
As mentioned above, in loading or unloading the workpiece into or from the housing, by operating the arms of the articulated robot, and machining the workpiece in the housing of the NC machine, it is necessary to open and close the large-sized sliding door and it is accordingly necessary to provide the large-sized air cylinder for driving the large-sized sliding door. Further, it is also necessary to provide a device for driving the large-sized air cylinder. In addition, it is necessary to provide at least two sensors for detecting the opposite edges of the opening defined by the open condition of the sliding door. For these reasons, the door opening and closing device in the prior art is complicated in construction and causes an increase in cost.
In addition, in such a device for opening and closing the sliding door by using an air cylinder, the operating speed of the sliding door and the positioning of the sliding door cannot be precisely controlled so that the period of time (cycle time) for loading and unloading of the workpiece by the articulated robot cannot be shortened.

Door opening and closing device using a robot


A method and apparatus for storing and dispensing a liquid consisting of an oxygen containing mixture so that the liquid will not contain any more than a predetermined concentration of the oxygen at a predetermined pressure. In accordance with the invention, the mixture is introduced into the container at a specified initial concentration. A hypothetical volume of the saturated state of the liquid having the initial concentration is computed that when expanded into the total volume of the container, the resulting liquid would have the maximum enrichment. The liquid is dispensed from a bottom region of the container and dispensing is prevented when the liquid remaining within the container could possibly have the maximum enrichment computed at a particular dispensing pressure. Pressure relief methods are employed that avoid head space vapor being vented.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing and dispensing a liquid composed of an oxygen containing mixture, for instance a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a method and apparatus in which the liquid is stored and dispensed from a container in a manner to ensure that the liquid being dispensed will contain no more than a predetermined concentration of the oxygen. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such a method and apparatus in which dispensing is prevented when a volume of liquid remaining in the container is equal to a hypothetical volume of the liquid in a saturated state that is calculated at a particular dispensing pressure to contain the predetermined concentration of the oxygen.
The storage and dispensing of oxygen containing mixtures (for instance, synthesized mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen or liquid air for that matter) can be problematical because the nitrogen will preferentially boil off before the oxygen. The end result will be that a liquid will remain that becomes ever enriched in oxygen. Oxygen enriched mixtures can be particularly dangerous around hydrocarbons. For this reason, the prior art has provided numerous pressure relief devices in which liquid from the bottom of the container is passed through a heat exchanger in the head space of the container to collapse nitrogen enriched vapor back into the liquid. The liquid is then vaporized and vented. Examples of this can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,231 in which an external condensing coil system is provided to allow conversion of a standard liquefied gas container for use in storing mixtures of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen.
The shortcoming of this prior art method is that while there is no net change in bulk concentration, local variations in concentration are not guaranteed. As such, there is never a guarantee that the mixture actually being dispensed will not in fact exceed the permissible oxygen concentration.
As will be discussed, the present invention provides a method of storing and dispensing a liquid consisting of an oxygen containing mixture to prevent the dispensed liquid from having an oxygen concentration above a predetermined, allowable level.

Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing a liquid composed of oxygen containing mixture


Atomic-Layer deposition systems and methods provide a variety of electronic products. In an embodiment, a method uses an atomic-layer deposition system that includes an outer chamber, a substrate holder, and a gas-distribution fixture that engages or cooperates with the substrate holder to form an inner chamber within the outer chamber. The inner chamber has a smaller volume than the outer chamber, which leads to less time to fill and purge during cycle times for deposition of materials.

Integrated circuits, the key components in thousands of electronic and computer products, are interconnected networks of electrical components fabricated on a common foundation, or substrate. Fabricators generally build these circuits layer by layer, using techniques, such as deposition, doping, masking, and etching, to form and interconnect thousands and even millions of microscopic transistors, resistors, and other electrical components on a silicon substrate, known as a wafer.
One common technique for forming layers in an integrated circuit is called chemical vapor deposition. Chemical vapor deposition generally entails placing a substrate in a reaction chamber, heating the substrate to prescribed temperatures, and introducing one or more gases, known as precursor gases, into the chamber to begin a deposition cycle. The precursor gases enter the chamber through a gas-distribution fixture, such as a gas ring or a showerhead, one or more centimeters above the substrate, and descend toward the heated substrate. The gases react with each other and/or the heated substrate, blanketing its surface with a layer of material. An exhaust system then pumps gaseous by-products or leftovers from the reaction out of the chamber through a separate outlet to complete the deposition cycle.
Conventional chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) systems suffer from at least two problems. First, conventional CVD systems generally form non-uniformly thick layers that include microscopic hills and valleys, and thus generally require use of post-deposition planarization or other compensation techniques. Second, it is difficult, if not impossible, for CVD to provide uniform coverage of trench sidewalls or complete filling of holes and trenches.
To address these shortcomings, fabricators have developed atomic-layer deposition (ALD), a special form of CVD that allows highly uniform formation of ultra-thin layers having thicknesses of one molecule or several atoms of the deposited material. Though similar to CVD in terms of equipment and process flow, ALD relies on adsorption of some of the reactants into exposed surfaces, and thus provides coverage and fill of structural features that are difficult, if not impossible, using CVD.
In recent years, researchers and engineers have made strides toward making ALD commercially viable for some applications. For example, one team of researchers reportedly optimized an ALD process for depositing an aluminum oxide (AlOx) film in thin-film heads—devices used to read and write magnetic data. See, Paranjpe et al., Atomic Layer Deposition of AlOx for Thin Film Head Gap Applications, Journal of Electrochemical Society, 148 (9), pp. G465-G471 (2001), which is incorporated herein by reference.
However, the present inventors have recognized that the equipment and processes reported as optimal for thin-film head applications suffer from some limitations relative to use in fabricating integrated circuits. For example, the reported process deposits material at the slow rate of less than one Angstrom per cycle, suggesting that more than 50 cycles would be necessary to form a 50-Angstrom-thick layer. Moreover, the reported equipment uses a larger than desirable reaction chamber, which takes longer to fill up or pump out, and thus prolongs the duration of each deposition cycle.
Accordingly, there is a need for better systems and methods of atomic-layer deposition of aluminum oxides as well as other material compositions.


A device for disinfection of a medical injection port is provided. The device includes a capping portion having an inner surface, a hollow portion having an inner surface, a proximal opening, and a distal opening, a connector coupling the capping portion of the device to the hollow portion thereof, and a disinfecting absorbent material disposed inside the capping portion of the device. The connector permits movement of the capping portion between a fully-seated position on the hollow portion of the device, and a position apart from the proximal opening thereof to permit ingress to the medical injection port.

The present invention generally relates to a self-disinfecting capping device, and more specifically, to a capping device for disinfecting a medical injection membrane.
Most solutions for intravenous use are kept inside plastic intravenous (IV) bags. A majority of these bags have two ports. The first port is used for intravenous tubing insertion and allows the solution inside the bag to run through intravenous tubing into the patient's bloodstream. The second port is an injection port, which contains a rubber membrane, which can be penetrated by a sterile needle. Subsequently, a medication can be injected into the bag, or a solution can be drawn from the bag. In order to keep the rubber membrane disinfected and prevent contamination of the bag, medical professionals ordinarily wipe the rubber membrane with a pad containing a disinfecting agent. When faced with time constraints or stressful situations, only the most diligent specialists do so every time the medication is drawn or injected. Sometimes during a surgery, a medical provider has to repeatedly draw the medication from the same bag within a period of a few hours. For example, providers need to repeatedly access the injection port of a bag containing Neosynephrine in order to draw the medication into the syringe. Between these drawings, rubber injection membrane may be exposed to bacteria from the environment or may be accidently contaminated by blood or body fluids. This creates a risk of contamination of the content of the bag by introduction of bloodstream infections if aseptic techniques are not strictly followed. Most IV bags have a tubing port and injection port next to each other at the bottom of the bag. Some IV bags only have a tubing port at the bottom of the bag, while the injection membrane (often called "belly button" membrane) is located above the tubing port. Injection membranes are also found on IV tubings and other medical supplies. The same principle of covering with self-disinfecting caps applies to all membranes with some variations in size and shape.
It is a custom for a medical professional to always use a new, sterile syringe and a new, sterile needle to access the injection membrane on IV bags. However, even when the providers do so, it is still possible to introduce an infection if the rubber septum is contaminated. Occasionally, under pressure and stress, providers may utilize the same needle and the same syringe, which may be contaminated with blood or bacteria. This practice causes bag contamination and may introduce bacteria into the bloodstream of a patient.
While it is not recommended to use the same needle and syringe to penetrate injection membrane because of the risks described above, there are circumstances where the medication is frequently drawn more than once by the same syringe and needle. Examples include drawing Neosynephrine, Norepinephrine, or Epinephrine from a 250 milliliter IV bag into the syringe.
Thus, there remains a need for a convenient and reliable disinfecting device that would allow medical professionals to carry out multiple drawings from or injections into the same IV bag, tubing, or any other product containing an injection membrane with 100% antiseptic techniques compliance.

Capping device for disinfecting medical injection membranes


Pulverulent solid which consists essentially of at least one metal alkyl compound bound chemically and/or physically to a finely divided, porous, mechanically stable and chemically inert support, has a proportion by weight of metal alkyl compound of at least 5% by weight, based on the support, and has an angle of repose, determined in accordance with ISO 4324, of up to 48°. The solid allows trouble-free metering as active component into a reactor.

Solids of this type are known, for example, from the Japanese published specification JP-A-53-011 982 or from DE-A-26 23 693.
The solid described in JP-A-53-011 982 is magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, silica gel, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum silicate or magnesium silicate which has been reacted with triethylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, diethylaluminum hydride or isobutylaluminum dihydride at from 50 to 100° C. in hexane or decane. The resulting solids or supported aluminum compounds are used as activators for Phillips catalysts comprising chromium oxide in ethylene polymerization. For the aluminum alkyl compounds to be able to display their known activation effect, they have to react with the chromium oxide of the Phillips catalysts. It is therefore a physical requirement that the solid of JP-A-53-011 982 contains only a very small amount, if any, of immobilized aluminum alkyls, since otherwise the mass transfer between the solid and the Phillips catalyst which is essential for activation would no longer take place. Nothing is said in JP-A-53-011 982 about a purifying effect of the solid.
The solid described in DE-A-26 23 693 is likewise based on supports such as alumina, hydrated alumina, silicic acid, aluminum silicate and magnesium silicate and, in addition, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or a polyolefin powder which have been impregnated with at least one liquid aluminum alkyl compound having a vapor pressure of less than 1 mm/80° C., e.g. tri-n-octylaluminum. These solids are used as cocatalysts for the (co)polymerization of α-monoolefins in the gas phase by means of Ziegler or Phillips catalysts comprising transition metals.
EP-A-560128 discloses a solid which contains metal alkyl groups and in which the metal alkyls are all bound to the surface of the support. Although this has the advantage that it reduces the interactions with the polymerization catalyst, the supported metal alkyl compounds obtained in this way have, like all other previously known solids comprising metal alkyls, the disadvantage that they easily become conglutinated when being metered into the reaction, in particular when using long, narrow lines, and are therefore not very suitable for metering into a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor.

Supported metal alkyl compound and its preparation


A method includes placing an imaging device in contact with a sample, irradiating the sample via an illuminator such that radiation scatters off of the structure, and providing the scattered radiation to a detector to generate a digital video signal. A processor then performs various operations including subtracting a sum of a black state value and a user-defined black level clamping value from the digital video signal to create subtracted image data, substituting negative values in the subtracted image data with a reference value to create modified image data, and amplifying the modified image data by a user-defined gain to create contrast enhanced image data.

In a clinical setting, the locating of subcutaneous structures, such as veins, for needle insertion can often be problematic. For example, small veins in pediatric patients, or veins in very dark-skinned or obese people, can be difficult to see or palpate. In emergency situations, such as accident sites, or battlefield situations, the need to locate a subcutaneous vessel, or a vessel exposed in a wound site, can arise unexpectedly. Thus, under-skilled persons may be called upon to access a subcutaneous vessel, for example, to insert a needle, or to tie off a bleeder. Thus, an imager that allows a user to view the subcutaneous vessel is needed.
Present subcutaneous vessel imagers use large, multiple, and often separate assemblies with complicated optics to image subcutaneous structures as two-dimensional maps on a wide monitor, or as maps extracted by a computer and focused onto the skin by a video projection. Furthermore, due to the scattering of the infrared light, veins imaged by prior art methods appear shadowy and distorted. Thus, an imager which allows a user to view subcutaneous structures and produce two-dimensional or three-dimensional images, yet which is still compact and inexpensive, is needed

Two and three-dimensional near infrared subcutaneous structure imager using realtime nonlinear video processing

United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A magneto-optical recording medium formed to record an information signal on both of lands and grooves provides a capability of reproducing an excellent signal with a small magnitude of crosstalk even by narrowing a track interval more. In the magneto-optical recording medium, an optical depth d of each groove is in the range of (1/12+n/2).lambda..ltoreq.d.ltoreq.(1/6+n/2).lambda. or {-1/6+(n+1)/2}.lambda..ltoreq.d.ltoreq.{-1/12+(n+1)/2}.lambda., where .lambda. is a wavelength of a light beam to be applied onto the recording medium and n is an integer of 0 or more. When reproducing the information signal from the medium, a phase difference is given to the return light from the medium before detecting the return light.

1. Field of Industrial Application
The present invention relates to a magneto-optical recording medium having information signals recorded on both of lands and grooves thereof and to a method and an apparatus for reproducing the information signals from the magneto-optical recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a disc magneto-optical recording medium termed as a magneto-optical disk contains grooves formed concentrically or spirally on the disk itself. The grooves serve to guide a light beam to be applied onto the magneto-optical disk itself. When recording or reproducing information by applying the light beam onto the magneto-optical disk, the tracking control for the light beam is carried out on the light reflected on the grooves.
This type of magneto-optical disk has been conventionally formed to record an information signal not on the grooves but on the lands located between the adjacent grooves. On the other hand, for the purpose of increasing a recording density, in recent days, a new type of magneto-optical disk is proposed wherein the information signal is recorded on both of the grooves and the lands for widening the recording area.
However, this new type of magneto-optical disk formed to record the information signal on both of the lands and the grooves suffers from a drawback that the information signal is leaked from one track to the adjacent one and thereby a crosstalk is likely to take place, because one groove and the adjacent lands thereto are both served as the recording tracks. By keeping the land substantially equal to the groove in width, setting an optical depth d of the groove to a closer value to .lambda./6 and setting a Kerr ellipticity of a magneto-optical effect caused by a magneto-optical recording film contained in the magneto-optical disk to 0 or a closer value thereto, it is possible to reduce the crosstalk and reproduce the signal from the tracks if the interval between the adjacent tracks is narrow.
FIG. 1 shows relation between a crosstalk and a depth of the groove with a track interval as a parameter. In FIG. 1, a laser beam to be applied onto the magneto-optical disk has a wavelength .lambda. of 690 nm and an objective lens for condensing the laser beam onto the magneto-optical recording medium has a numerical aperture NA of 0.55, where the depth of the groove corresponding to a value of .lambda./6 is about 77 nm.
As is understood from FIG. 1, when the optical depth d of the groove is close to a value of .lambda./6, the crosstalk is made minimal. In case that the track interval is made narrower, the crosstalk is likely to be minimal when the groove is made deeper. That is, when the track interval is made narrower for increasing the recording density, it is necessary to deepen the groove for the purpose of reducing the crosstalk.
Next, FIG. 2 shows relation between a Level of a signal reproduced from the track and a groove depth when the track interval is 0.5 .mu.m. As shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction signal level is made smaller as the groove is made deeper, in which the reproduction signal level becomes minimal when the groove is .lambda./4 in depth. Further, the reproduction signal from the track becomes inferior in frequency characteristic as the groove is made deeper. Hence, from a viewpoint of obtaining a higher reproduction signal level, it is preferable to keep the groove shallower.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the track interval is kept narrower, for reducing the crosstalk, it is necessary to deepen the groove. As shown in FIG. 2, however, if the groove is made deeper when the track interval is narrow, the reproduction signal is degraded.
Hence, conventionally, the magneto-optical disk formed to record the information signal on both of the grooves and the lands has been requested to restrict the interval of the track. This type of magneto-optical disk, therefore, has difficulty in greatly improving its recording density.

Magneto-optical recording medium and method and apparatus for reproducing data therefrom


A frame structure is provided for a bed vessel in an energy plant with higher or lower pressure in the bed vessel in relation to the surrounding space. The walls of the bed vessel are stiffened by surrounding horizontally extending, continuous frames with stiff corners, beams in the frames are built up from rolled standard beams and each individual frame is supported and guided by devices applied to the bed vessel wall. The devices make possible axial movements of the frame beams in relation to the devices. Anti-twist bars for each frame are arranged by means of crossbars rigidly attached to each frame. The crossbars extend to the adjacent frame. The ends of the crossbars mounted in a web of the adjacent frame, the ends of the crossbars at the mounting point being freely axially movable.

In energy plants of the above kind the walls of the bed vessel are subjected to heavy forces because of the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the bed vessel. In a PFBC energy plant with the bed vessel enclosed in a pressure vessel and being surrounded by compressed combustion air, a pressure difference between the space in the pressure vessel outside the bed vessel and the space inside the bed vessel arises because of the pressure drop in inlet channels and nozzles for the supply of air for fludization of a bed material in the lower part of the bed vessel and a pressure drop in the fluidized bed. This pressure difference may amount to about 0.1 MPa. The side walls of the bed vessel may have the size 10.times.15 m, so the forces acting on the bed vessel walls will be very great. This, in addition to a high temperature, entails design problems which are difficult to deal with.
The walls of the bed vessel consist of panels of tubes which are connected to intermediate fins. These walls, often called panel walls, may be cooled by feedwater circulating in the tubes. The panel walls are incapable of absorbing the loads caused by the pressure difference between the two sides of the walls. The bed vessel is therefore surrounded by a force-absorbing frame structure. The bed vessel is connected to this frame structure by means of force-transmitting bars or links. In case of a cold plant, the frame structure and the bed vessel have the same temperature. In operation, the bed vessel wall assumes the temperature of the circulating coolant and the frame structure the temperature of the surrounding air. Depending on temperature differences between the bed vessel wall and the force-absorbing frame structure, the bed vessel may expand or contract in relation to the frame structure.
The connection between the frame structure and the bed vessel must be designed in such a way that the difference in expansion does not give rise to impermissible stresses in the bed vessel, the frame structure or the connecting members between these.
German Offenlegungsschrift 2 055 803 shows one way of carrying out the connection between a conventional boiler and a force-absorbing frame.
Another known design already occurs in the PFBC energy plants existing at the Varta plant in Stockholm and at Escatron in Spain. In these plants, a stiffening of the panel walls has been obtained by means of continuous support frames with stiff corners extending horizontally around the bed vessel. These frames have been made in the form of box girders welded-together at the corners and they have been given the ability to absorb thermal movements in the bed vessel, among other things by means of an arrangement with auxiliary beams in the corners of the bed vessel, as shown in European patent application 87117795.2.
The factors which must be taken into consideration when dimensioning beams in a frame construction of the kind mentioned are, among other things, horizontal bending stress caused by forces due to pressure difference along the beam from the panel wall stiffened by the beam, vertical bending stress caused by attached equipment, torsion due to uneven load from vertical auxiliary members which in the upper and lower frames are connected between the frame and the upper edge and lower edge, respectively, of the bed vessel wall, the risk of breaking due to bending in the vertical direction of the beams caused by great axial compressive forces, twisting of the beams, transverse forces, combined stresses and, finally, fatigue conditions.
The above-mentioned box girder design for frames have been chosen because it should withstand all of the different stresses enumerated above. However, a frame structure with box girders has proved to be heavy and material-demanding. In addition, it requires a considerable effort in the welding work to form the box girders in accordance with the requirements.
A basic design with continuous frames, provided with stiff corners, around the bed vessel is desirable in order to reduce deflections and stresses. Conventional solutions with beams which are freely mounted at the ends of the bed vessel corners are not considered to fulfil the demands imposed, among other things because these solutions give higher maximum moments on the beams. On the other hand, a possibility of utilizing standard beam sections in a frame structure with continuous frames with stiff corners is preferred, in order to considerably reduce the weight and reduce the work demanded during manufacturing, which renders the entire design simpler and less expensive. The types of load which particularly must be accounted for when changing from box girders to standard beam sections in a support frame according to the above are primarily breaking due to bending, the risk of twisting, and torsion caused by connected auxiliary beams. The present invention presents a solution to the problems described above.


The invention is directed to a newly discovered class of polynucleotide decoys that is capable of competitively inhibiting the binding of transcription factors to the X-box sequence. This binding is necessary for the expression of MHC-II genes. The invention is also directed to methods of preparing these polynucleotide decoys, and methods of use thereof. In particular, we have identified a class of polynucleotide decoys that mimic the X-Box of MHC-II and competitively bind the MHC-II transcription factor RF-X, resulting in the modulation of MHC-II antigen expression. Thus, the invention can be used to inhibit the expression of HLA molecules on the surface of donor cells or organs, in order to render them invisible to the host's immune system, or in methods of treating an individual with an autoimmune disease characterized by dysfunctional expression of an MHC class II antigen. Further, because of the role of RF-X in the expression of several viral proteins, the polynucleotide decoys of the invention can be used in methods of treating an individual infected with hepatitis B virus, or cytomegalovirus.

Among gene products that relate to transplantation antigens are the products of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) complex, also known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), located on the short arm of chromosome 6. The HLA antigens are divided into two classes depending on their structure. The genetic loci denoted HLA-A -B, and -C code for the HLA Class I antigens, and HLA-DP, -DQ and -DR code for the HLA Class II antigens.
HLA Class II molecules are composed of two non-covalently linked glycoproteins, the a chain and the highly polymorphic .beta. chain. Each chain contains one extracellular domain, a transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail. The structure of the .alpha. and .beta. chains and their genes have been elucidated. All known Class II genes are similar in structure and encoded by exons 1-4, with exon 5 coding for an untranslated region. The DP, DQ and DR loci all consist of multiple genes. A total of twelve class II genes have been identified. In some haplotypes, some class II genes do not code for a functional peptide and are classified as pseudogenes.
Regulation of HLA class II antigen expression occurs in part through a series of promoter regions such as the J, W, X (including X.sub.1 and X.sub.2), and Y boxes, and the gamma interferon response element. The X (including X.sub.1 and X.sub.2) and Y boxes are known to be required in the transcriptional regulation of all class II promoters. Ono, S. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) (1991) 88: 4304-4308.
Transcription of HLA-DR.alpha. Class II can be activated by RF-X (Regulatory Factors-X) which binds to the X-box region (-110 to -95) of the DR.alpha. promoter. RF-X and its binding site, the X-box are unique and have a high specificity for each other. The DNA binding domain of RF-X consists of 91 amino acids with a basic stretch and shares no notable homology with other known DNA binding motifs (Reith et al. (1990), Genes Dev., Vol. 4(9), pp. 1528-40). RF-X binds only the X-box; substitutions in the X-box are generally not well tolerated by RF-X. (Hasegawa et al. (1991), Nucleic Acids Res., Vol 19(6), pp. 1243-49). The X-box sequence is an atypical promoter site, being neither palindromic nor dyad symmetric. Additionally no other sequence (using the program Eugene) shows exact homology with the X-box. The X-box is conserved in humans. No other known cloned transcription factors bind to this entire region of the X-box in the same manner.
HLA antigens are implicated in the survival of cell grafts or transplants. Although there is acceptable graft survival in the first year for nearly all types of transplants, by five and ten years after transplantation only 40-50% of all grafts are still functioning. This low rate is due to the relentless attack of the immune system on the graft. In addition, death rates of 1-5% are recorded even at the best transplant centers. Drugs are commonly used to control immune responses and prevent graft rejection, and death is often an indirect result of this drug administration.
The drugs used to control immune responses usually cause a non-specific depression of the immune system. A patient with a depressed immune system is far more susceptible to develop life-threatening infections and a variety of neoplasia. The low rate of long term success, and serious risks of infection and cancer are the two main challenges now facing the entire field of tissue and organ transplantation.
It has been suggested that graft rejection can be prevented or reduced by reducing the levels of exposed HLA antigens on the surface of transplant cells. Faustman, D. et al., Science (1991) 252:1700-1702, observed that xenograft survival was increased by masking HLA class I surface antigens with F(ab').sub.2 antibody fragments to HLA class I or tissue specific epitopes.
One way to reduce the level of cell surface transplantation antigens is to retard (downregulate) the expression of the transplantation antigen genes.
Generally, eucaryotic gene expression may be regulated at any of the steps from DNA transcription to RNA translation to protein; and it is generally agreed that gene expression is at the level of transcription. In order for transcription to occur, transcription factors must bind distinct regulatory sites or promoters on the gene. Once bound, transcription factors may interact with RNA polymerase or other factors to activate or repress transcription. Some transcription factors are constitutively expressed in specific cells while others may be transiently activated in response to various physiological signals (such as cAMP, IFN-.gamma., etc.). Thus in a given cell transcription of particular genes depends on which transcription factors are present in that cell type and/or whether the signals to activate the transcription factors are present.
Agents such as actinomycin (an intercalator) have been used to block transcription in a nonspecific manner. A variety of approaches to sequence-specific gene modulation include use of antisense oligonucleotides and antigene oligonucleotides (triple helix formers). These are limited in general or in particular instances. Antisense oligonucleotides block gene expression by targeting mRNA while triple helix forming oligos target double-stranded DNA. Inaccessibility of the target mRNA due to RNA secondary structure can limit the usefulness of antisense methods; triple helix approaches are limited by poor nuclear access, chromatin structure (bypassing histones), and the need for targeting a homopurine-homopyrimidine stretch. Degradation of oligonucleotides by exonucleases an excessive binding to untargeted cellular factors can limit the effectiveness of both antisense and triple helix methods. Chemical modification of oligos can improve nuclease resistance but can also result in increased toxicity, reduced binding affinity, and lower activity (Cook 1991, Crooke 1991).
J. T. Holt (1991), Antisense Res. Dev., Vol. 1(4), pp. 65-9, has shown that by providing excess DNA binding sites, specific transcription factors can be quenched and are thereby prevented from binding to endogenous DNA.
Chu et al. (1991) Nucl. Acids Res. 19: 6958, describe DNA structures in "hairpin" and "dumbbell" configurations containing CRE and TRE sequences, and reported using them in vitro as substitutes for regular double-stranded DNA to bind CREB and JUN, respectively, in gel shift assays.
Chu et al. (1992) Nucl. Acids Res. 21: 5857-5858, demonstrate that in nuclear extracts, dumbbell DNA is much more stable than double-stranded or hairpin DNA. However, the nicking of dumbbell DNA in human serum, caused by endonuclease degradation of the single-stranded loops, is a potential problem, since it converts dumbbell DNA to a double-stranded form that is no more stable in the nucleus than standard double-stranded DNA molecules.
International patent publication WO92/19732 describes "closed" oligonucleotides that can be used as "sense" or "antisense" molecules, with the advantage of being resistant to exonucleases. Among the variety of "closed" structures are "dumbbell" configurations in which the ends are closed by virtue of addition links of thymidine nucleotides. Use of the closed "sense" oligonucleotides to bind protein factors having as affinity for RNA or DNA sequences or structures is suggested.
Single-strand circular DNA where a portion becomes double-stranded have been used as an experimental system for studying local thermal stability in DNA (Wemmer et al. (1985), Nucl. Acid. Res., Vol. 13(23), pp. 8611-21); as models for hairpins and cruciforms (Erie et al. (1989), Biochemistry, Vol. 28(1), pp. 268-73); and as models for comparison to nicked or gapped DNA (Snowden-Ifft et al. (1990), Biochemistry, Vol. 29(25), pp. 6017-25).

Polynucleotide decoys that inhibit MHC-II expression and uses thereof

Regents of the University of California, The


A shelf unit includes a base frame having first and second shelf brackets, lengthwise supports extending from the first shelf bracket to the second shelf bracket and widthwise strips extending between the lengthwise supports. A plurality of shelf skins are spaced apart from each other and mounted to the base frame. Each shelf skin surrounds at least a portion of a top, a bottom and a front of the base frame so that a portion of each widthwise strip of the base frame is exposed between the shelf skins.

Retail stores use a variety of display fixtures to present products to customers for purchase. These display fixtures can support the product, indicate the product price and include signage and graphics for highlighting the product. Exemplary display structures include shelves, trays, racks, peg hooks and other similar structures.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Shelf unit for a retail store display fixture


A method of improving the performance of a traveling wave field-effect transistor operated at frequencies in the microwave range or above the microwave range comprising the steps of forming a depletion region beneath a gate electrode wherein, in a plane transverse to the direction of signal propagation, a depletion region edge has a first end portion located between the gate electrode and a drain electrode and a second end portion located between the gate electrode and a source electrode; and separating the depletion region edge from the drain electrode. Further improvements in the operation of the TWFET include adjusting the first end portion of the depletion region edge to be closer to the gate electrode relative to the distance between the second end portion of the depletion region edge and the gate electrode, controlling an effective conductivity of a semiconductor of the traveling-wave field effect transistor, and setting the length of the gate electode at about one micron.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to field-effect transistors, and in particular to traveling wave field-effect transistors (TWFETs) for use at frequencies in the microwave range and above the microwave range.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art concepts for the design of high frequency semiconductor transistors, in particular field effect transistors (FETs), have obtained limited improvements in transistor performance in the aspects of signal power output and signal power gain at these high frequencies. Previous attempts to improve the performance of FETs for operation at these high frequencies have included the use of TWFETs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,782 presents the TWFET as an FET in which some of the FETs electrodes are adapted for use as coupled transmission lines. This concept was extended in U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,712, which presents a TWFET with a drain electrode that includes a meander segment. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,195, a TWFET is designed with unmatched termination impedances on the input and output transmission lines.
A TWFET comprises parallel elongated source, gate and drain electrodes disposed on a substrate of semiconductor material with an active channel connecting the electrodes. The direction of signal propagation is along the axis of these parallel electrodes. In the plane transverse to this direction of signal propagation, i.e. the cross-section of the TWFET, the arrangement of the electrodes and channel form an FET. In other attempts to improve the performance of TWFETs at high frequencies, this cross-section of the TWFET has been modified. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,718 the TWFET's cross-section is designed as a vertical FET. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,541, the TWFET's cross-section is designed as dual-FETs.
All of these devices, however, achieve moderate increases in signal power output and signal power gain, particularly at high frequencies.

High-frequency traveling wave field-effect transistor


An electroetching process of the present invention uses a multiphase environment for planarizing a wafer with conductive surface having a non-uniform topography. The multiphase environment includes a high resistance phase and an etching solution phase. The conductive surface to be planarized is placed in the high resistance phase and adjacent a phase interface between the high resistance phase and the etching solution phase. A wiper is used to mechanically move the thin high resistance phase covering the conductive surface so that the raised regions of the non-planar conductive surface is briefly exposed to etching solution phase. The mechanical action of the wiper does not disturb the high resistivity phase filling the rescessed regions of the surface. As the raised surface locations are exposed, the etching solution phase contacts and electroetch the exposed regions of the raised regions until the surface planarized.

Conventional semiconductor devices generally include a semiconductor substrate, usually a silicon substrate, and a plurality of sequentially formed dielectric interlayers such as silicon dioxide and conductive paths or interconnects made of conductive materials. Copper and copper alloys have recently received considerable attention as interconnect materials because of their superior electromigration and low resistivity characteristics. The interconnects are usually formed by filling copper by a deposition process in features or cavities etched into the dielectric interlayers. Although Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques may also be used, the preferred method of copper deposition process is electroplating. In an integrated circuit, multiple levels of interconnect networks laterally extend with respect to the substrate surface. Interconnects formed in sequential interlayers can be electrically connected using vias or contacts.
In a typical process, first an insulating dielectric interlayer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Patterning and etching processes are performed to form features such as trenches and vias in the insulating layer. Then, copper is electroplated to fill all the features. However, the plating process results in a thick copper layer on the substrate some of which need to be removed before the subsequent step. Conventionally, after the copper plating, CMP process is employed to planarize and then reduce the thickness of the copper layer down to the level of the surface of the barrier or insulation layer. In summary, CMP is used to remove all of the conductors from the surface so that copper-filled features electrically isolated from one another. However, CMP process is a costly and time-consuming process that reduces production efficiency. Further, more, although the CMP can be used with the conventional interlayer dielectrics, it may create problems with low-k dielectrics because of the mechanical force applied on the wafer surface during the CMP process. During the CMP step, the low-k materials may be stressed and may delaminate or other defects may form due to the low mechanical strength of the low-k materials.
Another material removal technique involves well-known electropolishing processes. In the electropolishing, which may also be referred to as "electrochemical etching" or "electroetching," both the material to be removed and a conductive electrode are dipped into the electro-polishing solution. Typically an anodic (positive) voltage is applied to the material to be removed with respect to the conductive electrode. With the applied voltage, the material is electrochemically dissolved and removed from the wafer surface. However, this technology has a limited use in planarizing non-flat and non-uniform overburden copper layers because, during electroetching, material removal generally progresses in a conformal manner. Conformal nature of the process produces dishing defects in large features with small aspect ratios, which adversely affect wire dimensions.
This situation can be demonstrated with help of FIGS. 1A–1B. FIG. 1A illustrates a substrate 10 coated with a copper layer 12, having an overburden to be removed. The substrate is a preprocessed silicon wafer having an insulation layer 14 on top it. The insulation layer 14 is patterned and etched to form features 16, 18 such as trenches and field regions 20. FIG. 1A illustrates a narrow trench 16 with an aspect ratio of greater than 1 and a wide trench 18 with an aspect ratio of less than 1. By aspect ratio, it is meant a ratio of the depth of the trench to the width of the trench. Before the copper plating, the features 16, 18 and the field regions 20 are lined with a barrier layer 22 (such as Ta/TaN) and a copper seed layer (not shown). Conventional electrodeposition processes may fill the narrow features 16 in a bottom-up fashion by utilizing additives in electroplating baths and thus yield a flat surface as shown in FIG. 1A. However, copper deposits conformally over the large features 18 and produces recess 23 over such features. As mentioned above, electroetching of the copper layer 12 also progresses conformally during the standard electroetching process. As shown in FIG. 1A, as the etching of the copper layer progresses, the top surface 24 of the copper layer 12 gradually approaches the features 16, 18. This situation is shown by dotted lines 24′, 24″ and 24′″. When the etched surface 24′″ is reached, some copper is still on the field regions but the copper in large feature is over etched. As shown in FIG. 1B, as the remaining copper on the field regions is etched away, copper in the large feature 18 is dished because of excessive removal. The large feature in this example may be a trench with a width larger than 10 micrometers.
Dishing problems originating from the conformal nature of the electroetching process may be alleviated by utilizing methods that partially planarize the overburden layer employing, for example, CMP or another planarization technique prior to the electroetching step. In such approaches, once the overburden is made flat, resulting flat surface is uniformly etched back down to the barrier layer. However, such multi-process approaches are cumbersome and time consuming. Besides, success of such processes strictly depends on the thickness uniformity of the flat layer that the electroetching process is initiated on. If the flat copper layer has slight local or global thickness non-uniformities, i.e., thinner and thicker areas, the features under the thinner copper layer are most likely dished while the thicker copper layer is still being removed from other thicker areas on the wafer. Such thickness non-uniformities can be the result of various reasons such as copper plating tool design, plating chemistry problems, problems with electrical contact to the wafer, plating solution problems, and the like. Alternately, there may be non-uniformities in the electro etching process itself that may cause non-uniform material removal from various parts of the substrate.
FIG. 2A illustrates a region of a substrate 30 having a copper layer 32 that is partially planarized and has thickness non-uniformity, which is exaggerated to clarify the point. In this example, t1 is the measured thickness taken near a first feature 34 and t2 is the measured thickness taken near a second feature 36. If t1 is greater than t2, as shown in FIG. 2B, the copper in the second feature 36 will be dished while the copper over the first feature 34 is planarized and leveled with the barrier layer 38. FIG. 2C shows another area on the substrate 30 where copper layer 32 is thinner with measured thickness t3 near a third feature 40, but it is thicker with measured thickness t4 near a fourth feature 42. As shown in FIG. 2D, in this case, removal of thin copper layer on the third feature is faster than the removal of the copper layer on the fourth feature 42. As a result, as the fourth feature 42 is planarized down to the level of barrier layer 38, the third feature 40 is dished. As described above, due to the thickness non-uniformities of the copper layer, conventional electroetching processes either over etch the copper in all of the features or over etch it in some of features while planarizing it in some features. A process that slows down or stops etching of the areas that begins to dish but accelerates etching of the un-etched areas would overcome above drawbacks.
Certain variations of electroetching process attempt to alleviate such process drawbacks. In one technique, for example, such recesses are filled or masked with a low ionic conductivity and low diffusivity material before the wafer is placed into the electroetching system. Use of such material coating on the wafer surface is claimed to slow down the etching of such recess areas during electroetching, and planarize the copper film.
To this end, however, there is need for alternative etching techniques that etch back even highly non-uniform conductive films with greater efficiency and those that do not cause excessive dishing into the features.

Method for planar material removal technique using multi-phase process environment


The present invention provides an apparatus and method of multiple antenna transmitter beamforming of high data rate wideband packetized wireless communication signals, where each of the signals comprises N frequencies, where N is a positive integer. The apparatus, in an exemplary embodiment, includes (1) a transmit beamformer that co-phases and weights the signals for each of the N frequencies across M antennas, thereby generating M co-phased and weighted frequency data and (2) M Inverse Fast Fourier Transform units (IFFTs) that convert the M co-phased and weighted frequency data into M digital outputs, and M transmit antennas transmitting the M co-phased and weighted signals, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

Wireless communication systems use antennas to communicate signals. A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a type of wireless communication system that communicates information between nodes in a given area.
Wireless communication systems use transmitters to transmit signals.
Types of Signals
Narrowband and Wideband Signals
Most current wireless communication systems are narrowband signal systems. Narrowband signals have signal bandwidths ranging from tens of kilohertz (kHz) (e.g. 50 kHz) to hundreds of kilohertz (500 Khz). In contrast, wideband, or broadband, signals have signal bandwidths greater than 1 MHz.
802.11 and 802.11a
One type of wideband signal is the signal used in WLANs using the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. The IEEE 802.11 standard (802.11) outlines Media Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications for WLANs.
The IEEE 802.11a standard (802.11a) is a part of 802.11 and addresses communications in high data rate wideband packetized wireless communication systems, covering frequencies of operation between 5 GHz and 6 GHz. 802.11a uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, which allows communication to occur at very high data rates by transmitting data over multiple frequency bins over a wide frequency range. All the discussions herein applicable to 802.11a is also applicable to IEEE 802.11g. The IEEE 802.11g OFDM standard is the same as 802.11a, with the exception of operating in the 2.4 Ghz band.
802.11 takes into account the successful and unsuccessful transmission of packets and includes mechanisms designed for dealing with packet transmission problems. For example, 802.11 allows for the retransmission by a transmitter of packets that were not received properly by a receiver.
Transmitters
A typical prior art transmitter 100 is depicted in FIG. 1A. Transmitter 100 includes an encoder 110, a modulator 120, a digital to analog converter (D/A) 130, a radio frequency (RF) front end 140, and an antenna 150, logically interconnected as shown in FIG. 1A.
802.11a wireless communication systems and other wireless communication systems can experience numerous problems during the transmission of signals.
Channel Effects—Fading and Multipath Communication Channels
For example, a wireless communication system could encounter channel effects, such as transmitting signals across a fading communication channel. The fading in the communication channel may be caused by multipath and propagation loss.
In the case of multipath channel, the RF energy that is transmitted between antennas experience destructive and constructive interference due to multiple paths taken by the RF energy with multiple delays on the way to a receive antenna. Such multipath interference modulates the phase and attenuates the amplitude of signals across all frequencies and carriers used by a wireless communication system. In a WLAN, such multipath interference could cause a receiver to receive a packet in error or to miss a packet entirely.
Antenna Diversity
Antenna diversity is a technique used to deal with fading and multipath communication channels. In a wireless communication system with transmit antenna diversity, a transmitter with multiple antennas, is used to transmit signals.
Switch Transmit Diversity
A typical prior art switching diversity transmitter 160 is shown in FIG. 1B. Diversity transmitter 160 includes encoder 110, modulator 120, D/A 130, RF front en 140, antenna switch 142, and multiple antennas 150, 164, logically interconnected as shown.
Prior art diversity transmitter 160 transmits the same information to RF front end 140, which then modulate the information and transmits the same signal via antennas 150, 164, respectively by switching between the two antennas. The downside of this technique is that it provides slow diversity. The antenna switching happens after the transmitter gets to know that the first signal transmission was in error. The delay could cause loss in throughput. The technique also requires a means of feedback from the receiver to the transmitter. Moreover, switching diversity provides limited diversity gain, since only the signal of the selected antenna is used at receiver. Whereas, optimum weighting of the signals transmitted from the antennas would result in greater diversity gain.
Transmit Beamforming
In a wireless communication system with antenna diversity, another way to achieve diversity is with transmit beamforming. With transmit beamforming, the wireless communication system includes a multiple antenna transmitter with transmit beamforming. A typical prior art multiple antenna transmitter with transmit beamforming 170 is shown in FIG. 1C. Multiple antenna transmitter with transmit beamforming 170 includes encoder 110, modulator 120, D/A 130, a transmit beam former 172, and multiple antennas 150, 174, logically interconnected as shown.
Prior art multiple antenna transmitter with transmit beamforming 170 sends information to be transmitted to transmit beam former 172, which then modulates and forms multiple RF signals for transmission on multiple antennas 150, 174, respectively. When modulating and forming the multiple RF signals, transmit beamformer 172, for each antenna 150, 174, weights each RF signal to be transmitted with a complex weight that includes a phase and an amplitude. Such prior art antenna diversity techniques may work well for narrowband signals, where the phase and weights are not frequency dependent. However, the conventional techniques would not work well for wideband signals that have transmitted phase and power that are not constant over the transmitted signal bandwidth and that are frequency dependent, such as 802.11a signals. Therefore, conventional antenna diversity techniques are not applicable to wideband signal wireless communication signals, such as 802.11a signals. Conventional antenna beamforming can not efficiently work for mobile nodes, since the beam can be focused in the wrong direction if the mobile nodes move. In addition environmental effects, such as movement of objects can change the communication channel between the beamforming transmit antennas and the receiver, therefore causing loss of connection.
Space-time Coding
Space-time coding is another way in which a wireless communication system with antenna diversity can encode signals for transmission. Space-time codes, use coding access antennas to achieve diversity gain. The coded signal is transmitted from multiple transmit antennas and is received by multiple receive antennas. A space-time decoder will decode the signal at the receiver. A simple space-time code is a delay-diversity code, where coding is done, by transmitting symbols and delayed replicas of those symbols from two or more antennas.
Such prior art antenna diversity techniques may work well for narrowband signals, where the phase and weights are not frequency dependent. However, the conventional techniques would not work well for wideband signals that have transmitted phase and power that are not constant over the transmitted signal bandwidth and that are frequency dependent, such as 802.11a signals. In addition space-time codes require special decoding processors that are not complaint with the 802.11a standard.
Therefore, a low cost and efficient multiple antenna transmitter beamforming technique is needed that is suited to confront the challenges posed by high data rate wideband packetized wireless communication signals, such as 802.11a signals, that implement frequency dependent weighting in beamforming wideband signals.
Thus, a system and method of low cost and efficient multiple antenna transmitter beamforming of high data rate wideband packetized wireless communication signals is needed.

Apparatus and method of multiple antenna transmitter beamforming of high data rate wideband packetized wireless communication signals


According to the present invention, there is provided a range of new conotoxin derivatives and methods for synthesizing these analogues and other intramolecular dicarba bridge-containing peptides, including dicarba-disulfide bridge-containing peptides.

Cysteine (—S—S—) bridges are common structural motifs in naturally occurring cyclic peptides. In some cases, these disulfide bridges act as reactive functional groups. In many other cases however, the cysteine bridge serves a skeletal, structural role, maintaining secondary and tertiary structure. Disulfide bonds in peptides and other compounds are highly reactive under broad-ranging conditions, and therefore useful peptides containing disulfide bonds that have a structural role are at risk of denaturation, resulting in loss of properties.

Conotoxin analogues and methods for synthesis of intramolecular dicarba bridge-containing peptides