One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates computer system monitoring. During operation, the system receives monitored signals from a computer system. The system then computes cross-correlation coefficients between the signals. Next, the system groups the signals into clusters based on the cross-correlation coefficients, wherein signals within a cluster are closely correlated. The system also monitors signals within each cluster, and checks cross correlations between signals within each cluster to identify computer system anomalies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for enhancing the reliability of computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for efficiently clustering telemetry signals within a computer system to facilitate computer system monitoring.
2. Related Art
As electronic commerce grows increasingly more prevalent, businesses are increasingly relying on enterprise computing systems to process ever-larger volumes of electronic transactions. A failure in one of these enterprise computing systems can be disastrous, potentially resulting in millions of dollars of lost business. More importantly, a failure can seriously undermine consumer confidence in a business, making customers less likely to purchase goods and services from the business. Hence, it is important to ensure high availability in such enterprise computing systems.
To achieve high availability in enterprise computing systems, it is necessary to be able to capture unambiguous diagnostic information that can quickly pinpoint the source of defects in hardware or software. If systems have too little event monitoring, when problems crop up at a customer site, service engineers may be unable to quickly identify the source of the problem. This can lead to increased down time, which can adversely impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Fortunately, high-end computer servers, such as those manufactured by SUN Microsystems, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., are now equipped with over 1000 sensors that measure variables such as temperature, voltage, current, vibration, and acoustics. Software-based monitoring mechanisms also monitor system performance parameters, such as processor load, memory and cache usage, system throughput, queue lengths, I/O traffic, and quality of service. For example, SUN's telemetry harness collects over 25,000 soft variables in real time.
However, it is neither feasible nor desirable to build a pattern recognition engine to monitor as many as 25,000 variables concurrently. This is because, in general, not all the signals are correlated with each other, and the computational costs associated with analyzing so many signals concurrently is prohibitively high.
Among all the collected variables, many signals are entirely uncorrelated with each other. On the other hand, there are clusters of signals among which there is a high degree of correlation. Since signals from disparate clusters are not closely correlated, pattern recognition mechanisms, which derive information from correlations between signals, perform poorly if fed streams of data from uncorrelated of signals.
Furthermore, the computational complexity of pattern recognition increases quadratically with the number of monitored signals. A system can, therefore, substantially reduce computational costs by dividing the colleted signals into clusters and by monitoring each cluster separately.
Moreover, monitored signals often have time-varying phase shifts with respect to each other. These time-varying phase shifts are associated with the "speeding up" and "slowing down" of individual processes. Such dynamic phase changes may interfere with the processes of clustering and monitoring telemetry signals from a computer system.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for efficiently clustering a large number of telemetry signals to facilitate accurate and efficient computer system monitoring.

Method and apparatus for clustering telemetry signals to facilitate computer system monitoring


A self-draining planter includes a container body with a container body sidewall having an opening. The sidewalls partially enclose an upwardly-open container body interior. A filter assembly includes inner and outer ends, a tubular member with inner and outer ends, a coupling mounted on the tubular member outer end and a screen wrapped around the tubular member with fluid passages therethrough. The tubular member inner end is closed and the tubular member includes a bore and a tube wall with tubular member openings communicating with its bore. The coupling extends through the container sidewall opening and is adjustably mounted on the container sidewall in disposition such that water is drained to a preselected level within the receptacle. The coupling includes a coupling bore communicating with the tubular member bore and open at the filter assembly outer end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to planters, and in particular to a planter container with a drain assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of containers have heretofore been utilized for growing various plants. It is often desirable to provide such containers with drainage systems, such as openings in their lower parts, for discharging excessive water. Such drainage systems can be desirable because excessive moisture levels in the potting soil can cause the plant roots to rot and can otherwise be harmful to the plants.
Providing for the passage of water through a planter container and out of a drainage system can also have a beneficial effect of removing bacteria and contaminants from the soil. Flower pots have heretofore been provided with drainage systems which consist of simple openings in the flower pot bottoms or sidewall openings in proximity to the flower pot bottoms.
However, a problem with such openings is that the potting soil is often washed out with the drain water. Flower pots and other types of planters have heretofore been provided with gravel and other material which is coarser than potting soil to facilitate drainage. However, the potting soil can wash through such relatively coarse material, particularly after a relatively heavy watering or rainfall.
An additional problem with such prior art drainage systems is that they are not adjustable. That is to say, they do not provide for control of the drainage level, but instead provide for complete drainage of the soil to a preset level, generally at the bottom of the container. For certain types of plants, it is desirable to maintain a certain level of wetness around the lower roots. For other types of plants, complete drainage is required to avoid root rot.
Therefore, for many applications it would be desirable to provide a planter with an adjustable drainage system incorporating a filter to pass liquids therethrough while blocking the flow of solids and particulates, such as top soil. Heretofore there has not been available a self-draining planter with the advantages and features of the present invention.


A method for receiving a plurality of messages that includes obtaining the plurality of messages, grouping the plurality of messages into a data structure, generating a system call from a user-level application to a kernel, wherein the system call includes a request for the plurality of message, and returning a reference to the data structure to the user-level application in response to the request, and for each message in the plurality of messages in the data structure: extracting a selected message from the plurality of messages in the data structure using the reference to the data structure by the user-level application, and consuming the selected message by the user-level application.

A distributed computer system typically includes a number of interconnected nodes. Each nodes typically includes a processor and memory. In addition, the nodes typically include the necessary hardware and software to communicate with other nodes in the distributed system.
Nodes in the distributed computer system may be separated into a user level space (in which the user-level applications (such as internet browsers) operate) and a kernel space. The separation allows for stability and security in the system and for the user-level application to operate without requiring knowledge of the underlying hardware. For example, the kernel may send and receive a message from the network and process the message for the user-level application. Processing a message may involve translating the message from received signals from the network, determining the application receiving the message, coordinating the message passing with the sending node, etc.
When the user-level application wants to receive a message, the user-level application makes a request to the kernel (i.e., a system call) that may contain a socket descriptor, a pointer to a message structure for storing the message, the length of the message, any flags required when receiving the message, etc. The socket descriptor may identify a socket, which is often created prior to the receive request. A socket defines the endpoints of a connection. Specifically, when two user-level applications on two different nodes communicate, each of the user-level applications has a dedicated socket. As the sockets are dedicated, messages sent to the socket associated with a user-level application are only for the user-level application. The flags specify any special condition upon which to send the message.
Often, a user-level application has several messages to receive. These messages may be received from several clients or received from a single application. Each message requires a separate system call. Thus, the system call returns with each message individually to be consumed by the user-level application individually. With each system call, overhead is associated with the system call. This overhead may be derived from context switching, memory accesses, translation look-aside buffer (TLB) flushes, etc.
Often messages arrives at a greater rate than the user-level application can consume. When this occurs, messages are queued at the socket layer. The message queue at the socket layer may have a low water mark and a high water mark. The low water mark indicates that the user-level application has consumed enough messages and is ready to receive more messages. The high water mark indicates that the user-level application has messages arrive at the node at a rate faster than the user-level application is able to consume. In order to avoid unnecessary storage, when the number of messages reaches the high water mark, messages may be deleted. Specifically, rather than processing received messages for an application which has a message queue at the high water mark, the kernel may simply deletes the messages. Thus, the messages have to be resent from the sending node. Network bandwidth is wasted because messages are being sent and not processed. Therefore, throughput, or the amount of messages that are sent and processed at a time, decreases for all applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiple message receive routine for network packets


An intra-cavity high order harmonic laser consists of a output coupler, total reflection mirror, and a laser medium disposed therebetween. The output coupler and the total reflection mirror form a resonator. At least two nonlinear crystals are disposed between the laser medium and the output coupler. One of the crystals acts as a frequency doubler, doubling the fundamental frequency of the laser and the other crystal acts as a frequency mixer or high order harmonic doubler in order to produce higher nth order harmonic (n.gtoreq.2). The invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with producing a high order harmonic laser beam in low peak power lasers such as CW lasers.

The present invention relates generally to solid state lasers and more specifically to a method and apparatus for generating high order harmonics within a laser resonator by inserting several nonlinear crystals.
Although techniques for intra-cavity frequency doubling are well known (for example, see "20 W average-power KTP intra-cavity-doubled Nd:YAG laser" J.O.S.A. Vol 4 No 7, 1987), such techniques produce only second order harmonics.
In a paper entitled "Recent developments in barium borate" by Prof. Chen Chuangtian, a technique is disclosed using a nonlinear crystal outside of a laser resonator to obtain high order harmonic output. The method is shown in FIG. 1 in which (1) is the output coupler mirror of the laser; (5) is the laser active medium, Nd:YAG; (6) is the Q switch; and (7) is the total reflection mirror. Outside of the laser resonator (16), is a frequency doubling crystal (13). If the crystal (14) acts as frequency mixing or quadrupling medium, then third or fourth harmonics could be obtained. However, in practice useful power levels have been successfully obtained only in high peak power pulse laser systems. In a CW Nd:YAG laser, or low peak power pulse laser system, the output of the third or fourth harmonic will be very small when applying the above-referenced methodology, because in low peak power systems, the nonlinear frequency converting process is extremely inefficient, even though no high order harmonic is produced.
It is the principle object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages set out above, and to provide a method and apparatus which is suitable for producing high order harmonics in CW or low peak power pulse lasers.
The present invention achieves this object by using at least two nonlinear crystals within the resonating laser cavity. By constructing a laser in this way, the nonlinear crystals operate on the fundamental laser beam present within the resonating cavity (which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than the fundamental beam outside of the cavity). By accessing, and operating on, and fundamental laser beam within the resonating cavity, the frequency conversion efficiency is increased, thereby giving rise to the generation of more powerful harmonic frequencies.
According to the invention, nonlinear crystals are inserted in the laser resonator in order to obtain third, fourth or even higher harmonic output. In the system of the present invention, the laser consists of total reflection mirror, output coupler mirror, laser active medium, Q switch and at least two nonlinear crystals. Q switch is located between the laser active medium and the total reflection mirror. There are N nonlinear crystals (N.gtoreq.2) between the laser active medium and the output coupler mirror. Among them, the crystal which is nearest to the laser active medium is a frequency doubling crystal which converts the fundamental wavelength to the second harmonic wavelength. The other (N-1) crystals act as frequency mixing or frequency doubling devices depending on the desired harmonic to be output.
The laser active medium could be, but is not limited to, Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Nd:YAP, each of which generates a unique wavelength. When N=2 (meaning that only two crystals are present in the laser cavity), for a fundamental frequency F having wavelength W, the first crystal, which is the nearest to the laser active medium, acts to double the fundamental frequency, and the second crystal acts as a frequency mixing medium. This process is respectively expressed as: EQU F.fwdarw.2F (1) EQU F+2F.fwdarw.3F (2)
When N=3, it denotes that a third crystal is inserted in the laser cavity and acts as a frequency mixer and the process is expressed as: EQU F+3F.fwdarw.4F (3)
The process for a fourth crystal is expressed as: EQU F+4F.fwdarw.5F (4)
Both Type I and Type II phase match methods can be used to realize each of the above processes for frequency doubling and mixing.
Accordingly, for the Nth crystal inserted in the laser cavity, the (N+1)th harmonic is obtained.
Almost any nonlinear crystals can be used in above-mentioned process as frequency doubling and mixing devices, for example, but not limited to, KDP, KD*P, LiNb03, MgO:LiNb03, KNb03, BBO, LBO, and MtiO(X04) (where M is potassium, rubidium, titanium, and X is phosphorous or arsenic). Once the proper crystal is chosen, the working angle for the crystal is worked out according to the corresponding process (1)-(4) and known phase match methods.
In order to further increase the conversion efficiency of above nonlinear process, subresonator mirrors which have high reflectivity for certain harmonic frequency are inserted in the resonator.
One important advantage of the present invention is that the power density of the fundamental wavelength inside the resonator, is typically 1 to 2 times greater than the magnitude outside of the resonator. When a nonlinear crystal is inserted in the resonator, the conversion efficiency of the nonlinear process is greatly increased by the intense fundamental laser beam inside the resonator. By this means, the CW high order harmonic output is realized. This method is also applicable in low peak power pulse laser system to further increase the output of the high order harmonic laser beam.


A method and system for particle entrained fluid sampling, capable of sampling a high pressure and/or high flow rate fluid flow system using a pressure intensifier for applying pressure or suction to the fluid sample in the fluid sampling system operatively connected to a sample extractor and a sample analysis device. The pressure intensifier for applying pressure or suction is adjustable to provide control over the sample flow in the fluid sampling system. The fluid sampling system of the present invention may be particularly applicable to monitoring the condition of hydraulic and lubrication systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel method and system with an optional purging means for sampling fluids with entrained particles. The system is particularly applicable for monitoring particulate contamination of fluid samples using optical analysis for purposes of monitoring the condition and wear of machinery and monitoring operational parameters.
2. Description of the Related Technology
There exist a number of particulate fluid sampling systems and methods that may be operated in conjunction with an optical sensor. These systems and methods are used for a variety of different applications. Particulate monitoring is particularly important to monitoring and maintenance of machinery, especially where functional fluids are employed. For example, the analysis of debris particles in lubricating oil is a well-known method of monitoring the condition of oil wetted machinery. Particulate monitoring is also an essential maintenance procedure for hydraulic systems.
Particle fluid sampling systems may generally be categorized as either manual sampling systems and online analyzer systems. Traditionally, particulate monitoring involved manually withdrawing a sample of particle entrained fluid and transporting it to a laboratory for analysis. After reaching the laboratory, the samples had to be prepared for microscopic analysis using conventional methods such as centrifugal separation, separation onto a filter patch and ferrography. Only then was it possible to evaluate the level of particulate contamination by performing tests such as particle counting and microscopic analysis of debris particles. An expert then examined the particulates and the machine condition at the time the sample was taken is subjectively evaluated.
Unfortunately, this procedure is inefficient, time consuming, expensive and has limited effectiveness. Among the deficiencies of this conventional fluid sampling method are the long delays between sample extraction and obtaining an analysis of the sample, the necessity of sample preparation, inaccuracies resulting from subjective evaluation of samples and the fact that sampling often provides non-representative samples of the fluid since such samples are generally taken from drain ports or sumps. Additionally, the mere fact that the sample must be manually extracted substantially contributes to the inefficiency and expense of the process.
Online analyzer systems, such as online oil debris analyzers, by contrast, allow for sample analysis without requiring the manual extraction of a sample. Most of the online debris monitors, however, function to detect magnetic or ferromagnetic particles by using inductive, eddy current or magnetic interactions and provide only limited information about the debris particles. While systems such as the LaserNet Fines online optical debris monitor, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,320, may be more robust and provide more data analysis, these online systems are similar in that they cannot be used to analyze non-magnetic or non-ferromagnetic particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,333 is another example of an online analyzer. It discloses a sampling apparatus, an optical analysis means and a method for monitoring particulate contamination of hydraulic fluids which may be employed to sample a high pressure stream of fluid. The apparatus includes an optical analysis means and a double acting piston for extracting particle entrained fluid samples. The fluid sampling system includes two connections to the hydraulic fluid apparatus, one on either side of the double-acting piston, such that samples can be drawn from either connection and fluid pressure of an incoming sample can be employed to equalize pressure applied to a sample on the other side of the double-action piston which is being returned to the hydraulic system. As a result, system pressure is inconsequential to operation since the fluid sampling system acts with controlled low differential pressure on both sides of the piston. This piston driven fluid sampling system, however, is limited by a fixed flow rate and flow volume and is therefore incapable of adapting to the requirements of different optical sensors and different fluid flow systems, thereby requiring a custom design for each fluid system. For this reason, it is also inefficient in extracting and expelling fluid samples. Moreover, the disclosed system does not include purging lines for cleaning the sample extraction system.
U.S. Patent application publication no. US 2006/0070426 A1 discloses another optical online analyzer adapted for field analysis at high temperatures and pressures. The system includes a sample manifold and a pressure intensifier, such as a piston, for withdrawing samples from a high pressure system.
Fluid sampling systems are also typically incapable of regulating pressures so as to adjust to different fluid flow systems. Furthermore many fluid sampling systems are incapable of operating in high pressure fluid flow systems, and thus are limited to analyzing low pressure fluid flow systems or a low pressure portion of a fluid flow system, samples of which may not be representative of the overall system condition.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide a system and method for sampling and/or purging fluids with entrained particles that offers flexibility in working with different types of optical sensors and different fluid flow systems. There also exists a need to develop a system capable of regulating fluid flow pressure which enables online analysis of both magnetic/ferromagnetic and non-magnetic/ferromagnetic particles.

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A ganged coaxial connector assembly comprises a male connector including: a male connector body; and a plurality of unit male connectors arranged in the male connector body, wherein each unit male connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact and a dielectric spacer. The ganged coaxial connector assembly further comprises a female connector including: a female connector body; and a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connector body, wherein the number of the unit female connectors is the same as that of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponds to each unit male connector when the male connector and female connector are mated, and wherein each unit female connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact and a dielectric spacer. The female connector may be formed with structures for push-pull, ball and groove attachment or alternatively for threaded sleeve attachment.

Coaxial cables are commonly utilized in radio frequency communication systems. A typical coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric layer that separates the inner and outer conductors, and a jacket that covers the outer conductor. Coaxial connectors may be applied to terminate coaxial cables, for example, in communication systems requiring a high level of precision and reliability.
Coaxial connector interfaces provide a connect/disconnect functionality between (a) a cable terminated with a connector bearing the desired connector interface and (b) a corresponding connector with a mating connector interface mounted on an electronic device or on another cable. Coaxial connector interfaces generally utilize a connecting nut or other retainer to pull the coaxial connector pairs together to achieve reliable electromechanical engagement.
In general, coaxial connectors can be classified into male connectors and female connectors by type. A typical male connector generally includes: an inner contact (generally a pin or post) for connection with the inner conductor of the cable; an outer contact circumferentially surrounding the inner contact and spaced apart from the inner contact, the outer contact being generally used for connection with an outer conductor of a mating connector; and a dielectric spacer arranged between the inner contact and the outer contact. A typical female connector has a structure similar to the male connector, but the inner contact of the female connector is a sleeve that receives the inner contact (a pin or post) of the male connector in an interference fit.
Currently there is also known a type of ganged coaxial connector that includes multiple unit coaxial connectors that are arranged as a single integrated unit. The existing ganged coaxial connector may have a complex structure, poor reliability, and serious passive intermodulation distortion (PIM), and thus may be improved.

Ganged coaxial connector assembly with alternative attachment structures


The present invention regards a catalytic composition comprising gallium, at least one element chosen in the group of the lanthanides, and a zeolite belonging to the MFI, MEL or MFI/MEL families, the crystal lattice of which is made up of silicon oxide and at least one metal oxide chosen from among aluminum oxide, boron oxide and gallium oxide. Preferably, in the catalytic compositions of the present invention a zeolite is used belonging to the MFI family characterized by crystallites which for at least 90% have diameters smaller than 500 Å and which can form agglomerates of submicron dimensions characterized by possessing at least 30% of the extrazeolitic porosity in the region of the mesopores. The catalytic compositions of the present invention can, in addition, contain rhenium. These catalytic compositions are useful in processes of aromatization of hydrocarbons containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably, hydrocarbon mixtures containing olefins.

The present invention regards a catalytic composition comprising gallium, at least one element chosen in the group of the lanthanides, and a zeolite of MFI, MEL or MFI/MEL structure, the crystal lattice of which is made up of silicon oxide and at least one metal oxide chosen from among aluminum oxide, boron oxide and gallium oxide. Preferably, in the catalytic compositions of the present invention a zeolite is used belonging to the MFI family characterized by crystallites which for at least 90% have a diameter smaller than 500 Å and which can form agglomerates of submicron dimensions characterized by possessing at least 30% of the extrazeolitic porosity in the region of the mesopores.
In addition, the catalytic compositions of the present invention can contain rhenium.
These catalytic compositions are useful in processes of aromatization of aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms.
The reaction of aromatization of paraffins and light olefins (C2-C5) to yield mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) has for many years been a subject of study. In 1973, the use was described of zeolites having an MFI structure (ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-21) for the aromatization of light hydrocarbons (both saturated and unsaturated) resulting from cracking, and from the production of coker gasoline or pyrolysis gasoline (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,756,942 and 3,845,150).
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,057 and 4,180,689 describe the reaction of aromatization of propane and butane in the presence of a catalyst with a base of gallium and an MFI zeolite. These patents were followed by numerous others regarding various modifications of this process involving modifications of the catalyst (U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,844), of the throughput (EP 252705, EP 050021 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,835) and of the system of introduction of gallium (EP 120018 and EP 184927). In particular, EP 252705 describes a process for producing aromatic compounds from feedstock containing C2-C12 aliphatic hydrocarbons, using a catalyst comprising a zeolite, having a constraint index from 1 to 12, a preferably very high silica/alumina ratio, and from 0.5 to 10% of gallium. Possibly, other elements chosen from among the metals belonging to the Groups I-VIII may be present.
It has moreover been found that the addition of platinum and palladium to the Ga and MFI zeolite-based catalyst determines an improvement in the aromatic-compound selectivity and reduces the formation of coke on the catalyst (U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,728 and EP 215579, 216491, 224162, 228267). The presence of these metals increases, however, the formation of methane and ethane deriving from cracking. Subsequently, it was found that the introduction of rhenium, in the presence of platinum or palladium, determines a further improvement in the aromatic-compound selectivity, but also in this case there is an increase in the amount of C1-C2 light paraffins among the products (U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,265). Catalytic compositions containing copper, or chromium, and an MFI zeolite determine the formation of smaller amounts of methane, but the aromatic-compound selectivity remains smaller than the one obtained with catalytic compositions containing gallium and an MFI zeolite (P. Meriaudeau et al., Zeolites: Facts, Figures, Future, 1423-1429, 1989; E. S. Shapiro et al., International Symposium on Zeolites as Catalysts, Sorbents and Detergent Builders, Wurzburg (RFA), p. 73, 1988).
Also described are catalysts containing an MFI zeolite, a noble metal of the Pt family, a metal chosen from among Sn, Ge, In and Pb, and an alkaline and/or alkaline earth component (EP 474536). This catalytic system involves an improvement in the aromatic-compound selectivity as compared to the foregoing materials.
All the catalytic systems described above are characterized by a very short life, since, an account of the high temperatures necessary for the reaction of aromatization of olefins and light paraffins, there is an important phenomenon of fouling and formation of coke inside the pores of the catalyst. This phenomenon is linked essentially to phenomena of cracking and/or of polycondensation of the compounds present in the reaction environment.

Catalytic composition for the aromatization of hydrocarbons


A method by which one node can search for and retrieve information from another node. A message identifying the sought-for information item and an address is created at a first node. The address identifies a repository for the sought-for information. A second node receives the contents of this message and responds with the information item if the item is available. Otherwise, the second node propagates the message to other nodes. The message is propagated from node to node until it reaches a node having the sought-for information item. If this node can connect to the specified address, it sends the information item to the repository. Otherwise, the node adds the information item to the message, which is propagated to other nodes until the message reaches a node that can connect with the address. The information item can then be retrieved from the repository.

An ad hoc network generally includes a number of mobile devices (or nodes) that typically communicate with each other using some type of wireless signal. The types of wireless signals in use can include, but are not limited to, infrared signals and radio frequency (RF) signals including short wave, Bluetooth, and IEEE 802.11.
By virtue of their mobility, the nodes in an ad hoc network are continually moving into and out of communication range with other nodes. Thus, the topology of such a network is dynamic and temporal, as two nodes in communication range at one point in time may not be in communication range at a later time.
Because of their dynamic nature, searching for and retrieving information residing in the ad hoc network can be problematic. This problem is illustrated by Prior Art FIG. 1.
Prior Art FIG. 1 illustrates an ad hoc network that consists of nodes 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. As illustrated, nodes 7 and 8 can communicate directly, as can nodes 6 and 7, nodes 3 and 7, nodes 2 and 6, and nodes 2 and 3. In addition, node 8, for example, can communicate indirectly to node 3, for example, via node 7. The other nodes (1, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11) are not within communication range of any of the nodes 2, 3 6, 7 or 8.
A problem occurs when, for example, node 8 seeks to retrieve information from one of the nodes 2, 3, 6 or 7. Any one of these nodes may move out of communication range at any time, meaning that node 8 would no longer be able to retrieve information from them. Nodes that are more than one "hop" away from node 8 (e.g., nodes 2, 3 or 6) may move in and out of range without node 8 being aware. Thus, a message from node 8 intended for node 2, for example, may or may not reach node 2. If the message from node 8 does indeed reach node 2, then node 2 or node 8 (or one of the intervening nodes 3, 6 or 7) may in the meantime move out of communication range, severing the communication link between nodes 2 and 8 before node 2 can respond. In addition, a unique identifier may not be associated with each node, and so generally it is not possible to send a message (or a response) to a particular node (e.g., node 8), nor to send a response to a query back along the same path that the query traveled.
A similar problem occurs when, for example, node 8 is seeking information that resides only on node 1. In the example of Prior Art FIG. 1, nodes 1 and 8 are not in communication range. Also, none of the nodes in the ad hoc network (e.g., nodes 2, 3, 6 and 7) are able to communicate with node 1, so that a communication path from node 8 to node 1 is not established. However, it is possible that, at some future point in time, a communication path between nodes 1 and 8 may be established, perhaps via one or more hops over intervening nodes. Even so, should node 8 get a message to node 1, it still might not be possible for node 1 to respond to node 8, as explained above. In fact, when separated from node 8 by several hops, node 1 will likely not know that node 8 is the node seeking information, and therefore node 1 will not know where to direct a response.
Therefore, in general, searching for and retrieving information that resides in an ad hoc network is difficult because communication paths between nodes are continually changing. A communication path that was present when a search for an item of information was initiated may not be present by the time the item of information is located. Also, a node that has the sought-for item of information may not know where to send the information. Accordingly, what is needed is a method that can facilitate the search for and retrieval of information residing in an ad hoc network. What is also needed is a method that can satisfy this need without hindering the mobility of the nodes that form the ad hoc network. The present invention provides a novel solution to these needs.

Method for searching nodes for information

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A rotary compressor for compressing a working fluid includes a housing having an oil sump. A stationary shaft extends into the housing and includes a longitudinal passage. The longitudinal passage has an oil inlet in fluid communication with the oil sump. A working fluid inlet receives the working fluid. A motor has a stator and a rotor. The rotor is rotatably mounted on the shaft within the housing and includes an internal compression chamber in fluid communication with the longitudinal passage. A roller is rotatably mounted on the shaft and eccentrically disposed within the compression chamber. The roller is coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor rotates the roller and thereby compresses the working fluid within the compression chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary compressor having a compact design wherein the compression chamber is defined by the rotor of the motor driving the compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rotary compressors typically include a housing in which a motor and a compression mechanism are mounted on a drive shaft. Rotary type compression mechanisms typically include a roller disposed about an eccentric portion of the shaft. The roller is located in a cylinder block that defines a cylindrical compression space or chamber. At least one vane extends between the roller and the outer wall of the compression chamber to divide the compression chamber into a suction pocket and a compression pocket. The roller is eccentrically located within the compression chamber. As the shaft rotates, the suction pocket becomes progressively larger, thereby drawing a refrigerant or other fluid into the suction pocket. Also as the shaft rotates, the compression pocket becomes progressively smaller, thereby compressing the fluid disposed therein. Oftentimes the vane is biased into contact with either the wall of the compression chamber or the roller by a spring. Other configurations of rotary compressors are also known.

Compact rotary compressor with carbon dioxide as working fluid


The invention is directed towards a watercraft module and a connectorless sea train including two or more of the watercraft modules. The watercraft modules in the sea train are formed in a bow-to-stern relationship and are held together by compression forces. Each module includes a hull having a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile, and a stern end having either a continuous end or a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein. The size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end. In the sea train having two or more watercraft modules, the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end of a trailing watercraft is received in the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern of a leading watercraft.

Conventional shore-to-shore transportation of large quantities of cargo requires the use of large ships and deep harbors to accommodate for large ships. Because of their size and load, cargo carriers tend to consume a significant amount of energy. Generally speaking, the prior art does not teach energy efficient cargo transportation vessels having shore-to-shore capabilities for transporting large quantities of cargo, particularly ships capable of entering shallow harbors. Regarding sea trains, known arrangements of coupled ships involve flexor connectors, in which the loads on these connectors are as high as one half of the weight of a module. The prior art does not teach high-speed connectorless sea trains.

The United States of Americas as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A stacked piezoelectric element is produced by alternately stacking a piezoelectric layer and an inner electrode layer. The method includes producing a green sheet 110 for a base, forming a unit body 3 having a narrow stacked part 30 where a narrow piezoelectric material layer 115 having an area smaller than the green sheet 110 for base and an electrode material layer 20 having an area smaller than the green sheet 110 for base are stacked, the unit body being formed by disposing the narrow stacked part 30 on the green sheet 110 for base; forming a stacked body having groove parts by stacking a plurality of the unit bodies 3, the groove part having the bottom being defined by the side face of the narrow stacked part 30; and firing the stacked body.

Recently, in view of improving the fuel consumption and cleaning the exhaust gas of automobiles, development of injectors capable of more precisely controlling the fuel injection is demanded. As for such a highly precise injector, use of a stacked piezoelectric element as the actuator has been proposed. However, a stacked piezoelectric element having excellent durability and applicable to the actuator of those injectors has not yet been put into practice at present.
The stacked piezoelectric element can be produced, for example, by printing and forming an inner electrode layer of 5 μm on a green sheet having a thickness of about 100 μm, stacking, for example, hundreds of such green sheets, subjecting the stacked green sheets to press-molding, drying, firing, machining and the like to form a stacked body, and joining a side electrode to a side face of the stacked body.
For improving the durability of the stacked piezoelectric element, the inner electrode layer exposed to the side face of the stacked body must be insulated, without fail, so as to prevent the generation of migration or the like.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-160458 discloses a method of applying an insulating resin coat to the inner electrode exposed to the side face of a stacked body and thereby preventing the migration of silver. However, this method has a problem in that if the resin coat is stripped off, water or the like intrudes to cause migration of silver and insulation failures.
As for the method of insulating the inner electrode layer exposed to the outer peripheral side face of a stacked body, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-244514 has proposed a method of machining grooves and filling a resin in each groove to achieve insulation by resin. However, it is not practicable, in mass production, to machine grooves having a depth of 500 μm and a height (width) of 50 μm by a cutting saw as disclosed in this patent document.
For example, as described in Patent Publication No. 2001-244514, when grooves are provided on the side face of a stacked body, the insulating resin filled in the groove is stably maintained by an anchor effect and the durability can be improved.
However, machining of grooves by a cutting saw is industrially difficult in view of the working efficiency and, also, the stacked body may be damaged during the machining to cause a problem in quality.
The present invention has been made for solving these problems in conventional techniques and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a stacked piezoelectric element, where grooves can be easily formed on the side face of a stacked body without causing damage.

Production method of stacked piezoelectric element


A PET gantry and a CT gantry are placed in parallel such that the CT gantry becomes remoter to a common examination couch having a movable couch table top board mounted with a subject person and the CT gantry is made to be movable. The gantries are controlled by a control portion in a console. At first, the CT gantry is moved in a left direction to separate from the PET gantry so that whole body CT scan is carried out for the subject person in a direction from the leg portion to the head portion. Successively, the subject person is passed through a tunnel portion from the leg portion to the head portion by moving the couch table top board in a right direction in a state of considerably separating the CT gantry from the PET gantry to thereby carry out whole body PET scan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical imaging diagnosis apparatus preferable for early detection of the cancer or the like, particularly relates to a medical imaging diagnosis apparatus capable of taking both of a PET (positron emission tomography) image and an X-ray CT image.
2. Description of the Related Art
PET examination obtains a distributed image (tomographic image) of a positron emitting nuclide at a specific section of a subject person by calculation. After labeling a drug having a property of gathering to the focus of the cancer by a positron emitting nuclide, the drug is administered into the human body. In positron annihilation, gamma rays are emitted in directions opposed to each other by 180° and therefore, the gamma rays are detected at 360° surrounding of the human body to catch simultaneous incidence of the two gamma rays. Since the nuclide is disposed on a line connecting positions of the incidence, data of the line connecting the positions of incidence is provided as position data. The distributed image of the nuclide is reconstructed by collecting the position data for a constant period of time to subject to operational processing. The distributed image (tomographic image) represents a size and a shape of the cancer focus per se and therefore, direct diagnosis can be carried out. However, since the PET image only represent a state of accumulating and distributing the nuclide, it is not necessarily clear at what location of the human tissue the nuclide is present.
Meanwhile, according to an X-ray CT apparatus, by rotating an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector at a surrounding of the body axis of the subject person, X-ray projection data (absorption distribution data) from respective directions in a section orthogonal to the body axis are collected. Then, by subjecting the projection data to back projection, an image (X-ray CT image) of an X-ray absorption rate distribution at the section is reconstructed. The X-ray CT image represents the shape of the tissue at inside of the human body at the section.
Hence, in order to carry out ensured diagnosis, it is effective to use both of the PET image and the X-ray CT image. In a related art, there has been conceived a medical imaging diagnosis apparatus placing a PET apparatus and an X-ray CT apparatus in parallel relative to a single common examination couch, or integrally constituting the PET apparatus and the X-ray CT apparatus to be able to take a PET image and a CT image for the same subject person.
However, even in the case of placing the PET apparatus and the X-ray CT apparatus in parallel or even in the case of integrally constituting the PET apparatus and the X-ray CT apparatus, the subject person is inserted into tunnel portions of cabinets referred to as gantries of the both apparatus. Therefore, blocked feeling or oppressed feeling of the subject person poses a problem.
Further, JP-A-7-20245 describes a system of using a PET apparatus and an X-ray CT apparatus and an examination couch common thereto. However, according to the system, data provided by the X-ray CT apparatus is intended to use for correction of absorption of PET data and the system does not intend to provide a CT image for diagnosis from the X-ray CT apparatus. Further, nothing is conceived for improving blocked feeling or oppressed feeling which the subject person undergoes when the subject person passes tunnel portions of both of the PET apparatus and the X-ray CT apparatus.
Further, JP-A-11-164829 shows an X-ray CT apparatus for carrying out helical scan while continuously moving a gantry of the X-ray CT apparatus relative to a subject person fixed onto an examination couch, and there is not a description with regard to blocked feeling or oppressed feeling which the subject person undergoes.


A power converter includes a rectifier section, an inverter section, a capacitance element connected between inverter section input ends, an inductance element forming part of an LC filter with the capacitance element, a voltage detector detecting an inductance element voltage, and a controller controlling the inverter section based on the detected voltage. The LC filter has a resonance frequency set such that ripple current components contained in DC current outputted from the rectifier section passes through, and current components of a frequency equal to a carrier frequency of the inverter section are dampened. The controller controls the inverter section so that a transfer characteristic of input voltage of the inverter section versus the DC voltage from the rectifier section becomes a damping characteristic given by a phase lead element and a second-order lag element connected in series, and a damping coefficient of the transfer characteristic is set larger than 1.

As a typical main circuit construction for power converters, there has generally been used an indirect-type AC power converter in which commercial AC voltage is converted into DC voltage via a rectifier circuit and a smoothing circuit and then AC power is obtained by a voltage-type converter. Meanwhile, as a method for obtaining an AC output directly from AC voltage, there is known a three-phase capacitorless inverter which eliminates the need for large-scale capacitors or reactors for use of smoothing voltage pulsations due to commercial frequency so that downsizing of power converters becomes implementable.
As a conventional first power converter, there is provided a direct-type AC power conversion circuit in which sextuple-harmonic currents toward the power supply side are suppressed (see, e.g, JP 4488122 B).
As a conventional second power converter, there is provided one in which pulsating voltages are detected to modulate a voltage-type inverter so that voltage pulsations are compensated to obtain output voltages equivalent to those of conventional inverters (see, e.g., JP 61-48356 B).
In the above-shown conventional second power converter, when large harmonics of the motor slot are involved in the motor load, it is conceivable to increase the reactor capacity so that the resonance frequency of an LC filter is lowered to suppress power harmonics, in which case, however, features of the capacitorless method could not be utilized. As a result, with the conventional first power converter, in cases where harmonic components occur to high orders in the motor load, there arises a necessity for a plurality of control circuits and moreover, strictly, harmonic components cannot be erased without considering phase characteristics, which causes a problem of complicated control circuits.


A trailer of a semi-trailer truck includes a cargo container having affixed at a height of approximately forty-six inches from a base of the cargo container a hole that is approximately two and one half inches in diameter. A fleet pan enclosure in a form of a housing encompassing a communications circuitry, a global positioning device and an ultrasound sensor projects into an interior cavity of the cargo container through the hole. The global positioning device provides an accurate reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck to a central server. An antenna of a communication circuitry is fully encompassed within the housing. The location at which the housing is affixed provides for an effective measuring and reliable locating of a stored transport item inside the interior cavity of the cargo container through the hole.

A transportation services provider (e.g., a logistics provider) may be compensated based on available room inside of a cargo area of a trailer of a transportation vehicle (e.g., a semi-trailer truck). For this reason, the transportation service provider may determine a maximum volume the cargo area can hold based on available room inside the trailer. This information may be used to determine whether the transportation services provider can adequately service a particular customer request. When available space inside of the cargo area is short, the transportation services provider may need to turn down work.
Furthermore, a transportation services provider may be compensated based, at least in part, on how much time is needed to load and/or unload a trailer of a transportation vehicle. For this reason, the transportation service provider may determine when the storage state of a trailer changes.
Therefore, a focal point used in optimizing trailer utilization may be whether, when, where and to which extent the trailer is loaded. Sensors (e.g. weight sensors, wave sensors) employed in an interior space of the cargo area may not accurately measure an inventory level. Further, these sensors occupying the interior space of the cargo area may reduce available space for the transportation of goods. For example, 450 sq. ft. of space may no longer be available for the transportation of goods when sensors are placed in the interior space of the cargo area of the trailer. The problem is further compounded because modern trailers (e.g., DuraPlate™ composite panel based trailers) may not have a liner gap inside the walls of the trailers in which to place electronics. Because of this, valuable space inside the cargo area of the trailer may be wasted. To save space, the transportation services provider may elect to not install sensors. However, new problems may arise such as drivers may embark on long journeys, when, in fact, their cargo area is not used to its full capacity (e.g., may even be empty). This may lead to wasted time, fuel, efficiency, customer dissatisfaction, and/or ultimately, loss of revenue for the transportation services provider.

Fleet pan to provide measurement and location of a stored transport item while maximizing space in an interior cavity of a trailer


Described is T4 DNA packaging machine comprising: one or more DNA molecules packaged in a head of the T4 DNA packaging machine, one or more Hoc-fused proteins displayed on the head of the T4 DNA packaging machine, and one or more Soc-fused proteins displayed on the head of the T4 DNA packaging machine. Also described are methods of making and using such a T4 DNA packaging machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protein and nucleic acid delivery components, compositions, mechanisms and methods of delivery thereof.
2. Related Art
Delivery of genes and proteins into target cells would be essential to generate mechanistic understanding as well as to explore novel biomedical therapies. For instance, future treatments of complex genetic and infectious diseases such as cancer and AIDS might include delivery of genes and proteins in appropriate combinations. Currently no platforms exist that can efficiently deliver both genes and proteins into target cells. The present application overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art as described herein.

In vitro and In vivo delivery of genes and proteins using the bacteriophage T4 DNA packaging machine


Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. Each racing boat is mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The racing boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted adjacent the guide rails. Thrust is applied to the racing boats by magnetically conductive reaction plates that are attached to the undercarriage assembly and project laterally into linear flux slots formed in the induction stators of the linear induction motors.

This invention relates generally to amusement watercraft, and in particular to a passenger boat ride in which passenger boats are propelled by linear induction motors from a ground level launch or from an inclined launch through a watercourse.
Amusement parks and theme parks such as Six Flags Over Texas, Opryland U.S.A., Cedar Point, Carowinds, Busch Gardens, Geauga Lake, Elitch Gardens and many others feature various watercraft rides that are guided safely through natural and man-made waterways. Some watercraft rides that are currently popular include a floating gardens ride, a river rapids ride, a log flume ride and a mill chute ride.
In a typical watercraft ride, a passenger boat is guided along a water channel from a passenger loading station to one or more intermediate stations and back to the passenger loading station. Such boats are usually propelled in part by water currents, gravity or passenger manpower, although some are propelled by motor-driven chains. Generally, variations such as music, sound effects, lighting effects, stage props and costumed characters enhance the entertainment value of the ride.
Some dominant concerns in the operation of such rides is the creation of a sense of fun and excitement while maintaining passenger safety, reliable equipment operation and expedited handling of passengers during loading and off-loading.

Amusement boat ride featuring linear induction motor drive integrated with guide channel structure


A headset includes a connector configured to couple to a terminal, where the connector of the headset includes at least one functional pin. The headset further includes a sensor circuit and a logic control circuit. The sensor circuit is coupled to a functional pin of the connector of the headset using the logic control circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to sense a wearing status of the headset, and output a trigger signal to the logic control circuit when the wearing status changes. A sensor is added to the headset, and sensor information is fed back to the terminal.

With development of science and technology, functions of mobile communications terminals are increasingly powerful, so that a communication requirement of a user such as making a call can be met, and various entertainment functions such as listening to music or watching a video can also be implemented. During use, a user usually uses a headset to answer a call, listen to music, watch a video, or the like, to free hands. When the user is using the headset, if there is external interference, for example, when another person expects to communicate with the user, the user can communicate only after taking off the headset. However, after the user takes off the headset, a call that is being answered, music that is running, a video that is running, or the like still keeps running if the user does not manually enter a "pause" or "terminate" operation. Consequently, unnecessary power consumption is caused, and in addition, when manually entering the operation, the user often misses a piece of content, and consequently a received message is incomplete. When wearing the headset again, the user also needs to manually enter a play operation or the like. It is inconvenient for the user to use.


The heat-resisting material according to the present invention comprises a fiber aggregate containing crystalline alumina short fibers and formed in a continuous length and an inflammable sheathing for maintaining the shape of the fiber aggregate in a compressed state. The expansion percentage of the fiber aggregate after burn-off of the sheathing is not less than 10% by volume based on the volume of fiber aggregate in a compressed state. This heat-resisting material can be worked into various forms of product of the heat-resisting material such as rope, square bar, sheet, etc., according to the purpose of use. The present heat-resisting material is provided in continuously long products, has high heat resistance and restoring property, and can be easily applied to the openings or spaces ranged continuously in the longitudinal direction, such as the boundaries between the blocks of the heat-resisting material and joints.

The present invention relates to a heat-resisting material, and particularly, to a heat-resisting material used as a heat-insulating material or a joint packing for high-temperature furnaces and high-temperature ducts, having high heat resistance and restoring property as well as an excellent workability.
Heat-resisting materials are commonly used as heat-insulating material or joint packing on the wall surfaces or at the joints of the high-temperature furnaces, high-temperature ducts and like equipment. Various types of heat-resisting material, such as those comprising amassed alumina-based or alumina-silica-based ceramic fibers and those produced by adding an expansive material such as vermiculite to the ceramic fibers, have been proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 7-115962 discloses a composite heat-insulating material (composite heat-resisting material) comprising a heat-expansive core composed of sepiolite, vermiculite, ceramic fiber and an organic binder and a heat-insulating material (sheathing material) comprising alumina-based or alumina-silica-based ceramic fibers, the core being partially or entirely sheathed with the heat-insulating material. Such a composite heat-insulating material can make up for the heat shrinkage of ceramic fibers by virtue of expansion of the heat-expansive core, so that there has no risk of causing formation of spaces or cracks when used at the joints of high-temperature furnaces or such equipment.
This heat-resisting material of Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 7-115962, however, involves the problem that the expansive material used therein is susceptible to heat deterioration with shrinkage of the fibers under placed under a high-temperature condition of not less than 600.degree. C., so that when the heat-resisting material is applied to the boundaries between the blocks of the same heat-resisting material or the joints of equipment, there may be formed openings or spaces at such portion, or the applied heat-resisting material itself may be cracked, causing a reduction of its heat-insulating effect and/or sealing effect. Further, in case of applying the heat-resisting material to the boundaries between blocks thereof or joints thereof in expectation of the possible contraction percentage of the fibers in use under a high-temperature condition, there is required volumetrically massive compression molding, which gives rise to the problems in working of the material.
As a results of the earnest studies, it has been found that by the combination of a fiber aggregate as a core material, comprising specific crystalline alumina short fibers having excellent heat resistance, and a sheathing for maintaining the initial shape of the core fiber aggregate, the above-mentioned problems have been solved. On the basis of the finding, the present invention has been attained.
Further, this composite heat-insulating material is unsatisfactory in expansion percentage as a whole. Also, since the quality of the composite heat-insulating material mostly depends on the heat resisting properties of the heat-expansive material constituting the core, such composite heat-insulating material is unsuitable in use at high temperatures of not less than 800.degree. C.


A power distribution system for retrofitting to a household or other building. The power distribution system includes a means for supplying energy to the power distribution system for an indeterminate period of time. The power distribution system further comprises a means for converting the energy supplied to the power distribution system into motion. A generator is operatively connected to the energy converting means and converts the motion produced by the energy converting means into an electric current. The electric current produced by the generator is used to power a high-load circuit. An alternator is also operatively connected to the energy converting means. The alternator is configured to convert the motion produced by the energy converting means into another electric current. The alternator transmits this electric current to a bank of batteries which stores the charge. An inverter is electrically connected to the bank of batteries and transmits an electric current from the bank of batteries to a low-load circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of household power distribution systems. More specifically, this invention comprises a retrofittable power distribution system for delivering power to a household or other building via high-load and low-load power circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various power distribution systems exist for household applications. Most households obtain power from a common electrical power grid as a primary power source. Some of the other power systems serve as a back-up power supply for the household when the household's primary power source is not functional. Most back-up power supply systems are stand-alone systems which operate independently of the household's primary power source. Gas-powered generators are the most common back-up power supply systems. Gas-powered generators are generally activated manually when a household loses power provided by the primary power system.
In addition, some power systems are auxiliary systems to assist the household's primary power source. Some households obtain power from "renewable" sources to supplement power received from the household's primary power source. As an example, some households obtain power or energy from solar or geothermal sources in addition to using power from the common electrical power grid. Although these alternative sources may also be used as a back-up power supply, households which utilize these alternative power sources often draw power from these alternative sources on a continuous basis.
Although many power systems exist for serving various household power and energy needs, there remains a need for a retrofittable power system that can serve both continuous operating and back-up power needs. It is therefore desirable to provide a retrofitted power distribution system which can provide power to a household for both back-up and continuous operation needs.

Retrofittable power distribution system for a household


A ladder assembly for mounting a concealed ladder to a boat includes a frame having a pair of spaced-apart guides. The frame is adapted to be mounted within a boat. A slide is movably mounted to the guides for sliding from one end of said frame to an opposite end, and a ladder is pivotally mounted to said slide, such that the ladder can extend from a hatch in the boat and be lowered for use of the ladder in entering and exiting the water from the boat. In one embodiment, a pivot plate is pivotally mounted to the slide and the ladder is pivotally mounted to the slide. A control arm is pivotally mounted to the pivot plate or slide and provides leverage for the easy deployment and storing of the ladder.

The present invention relates to a concealed ladder employed for a recreational vehicle, such as a boat, for ingress and egress to and from the water and particularly to a boat ladder which is stored in the bow area of a boat.
Typically, boats include a swim platform at the stern area which includes a folding, collapsible or some otherwise deployable swim ladder allowing boaters to anchor their boats and enjoy the surrounding water for swimming or engaging in water sports. Many boats, particularly small boats, do not have swim platforms and utilize collapsible ladders or even rope-type ladders attached to the sides or stern of the vessel for ingress and egress into and out of the water. While such ladders are useful, they may be cumbersome to use and must be safely stored when not in use so as not to interfere with the movement of the boat or take up valuable storage area on the vessel.
It would be desirable, therefore, to have an improved ladder system for boats that can be easily stowed and deployed by the boat occupants without interfering with usable space on the boat.


A moving image anchor setting apparatus including a data operation portion for executing data operation relating to setting of anchors and links; a data storage portion for storing the data; a display portion for controlling display; and a user operation portion for inputting editing commands. When anchors are set for some frames with an anchor setting portion, an anchor information interpolation portion estimates anchor information of the other frames. As a result, the number of man-hours required for anchor setting is greatly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a moving image anchoring apparatus and a hypermedia apparatus employing this apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for inputting a moving image and setting an anchor to targets and suchlike included in said moving image and to a moving image hypermedia apparatus for linking related information to an anchor set by this apparatus and executing functions such as intended retrieval.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally in previous hypermedia apparatus the retrieval of information has taken the form whereby a logic unit for linking is created mainly for text or stationary images, the related information is linked to this logic unit, and when the user has clicked this logical unit, the related information is displayed. However, as for example is represented by MPEG relating to the coding and decoding of moving images, in recent years various techniques have been proposed for processing not only stationary images but also moving images. By handling moving images, the range of contents which can be created in the above hypermedia apparatus such as CAI, many types of presentation and electronic catalogs is expanded. Hitherto the use of editing of moving images has been somewhat limited to the industrial field such as broadcasting stations, but in the future it is expected rapidly to become widely available as a system for private use based on personal computers.
Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4-163589 discloses an image processing apparatus capable of setting logical units (therein referred to as "nodes") for moving images. In respect of the problem that setting of nodes for a stationary image is possible only with a specified display range, for a moving image this apparatus concentrates on (1) display range and (2) time, specifying the valid continuity period of the nodes and regional range and is an apparatus in which such specification is possible. Thus for (1) by pointing out with a mouse etc. the regions surrounding a subject appearing in a moving image the node at that time is set; on the other hand for (2) the valid continuity period of the node is specified according to the time elapsed since the start of the output of the moving image. Therefore this node is determined uniquely according to the region and the time elapsed, and a link can be made for the related information to each node. After a link is made, when the moving image is actually played, if the user clicks a region on the screen with a mouse etc., a node is pinpointed according to the position and time and the related information is displayed.

Moving image anchoring apparatus and hypermedia apparatus which estimate the movement of an anchor based on the movement of the object with which the anchor is associated


A device adapted to be integrated with a wall hanging for indicating an off-level condition is provided. The device includes a series electrical circuit including a power supply and a signal element connected with the power supply, wherein the signal element is capable of generating a perceptible output (such as a visible light or audible sound). The device also includes a level indicating switch connected between the signal element and electrical ground. The level indicating switch is capable of connecting the signal element with electrical ground only when the device is oriented at least at a selected acute angle relative to a substantially level condition such that the signal element generates the perceptible output only when the wall hanging is oriented in an off-level condition.

A number of leveling tools have been developed for determining an object's angular position relative to a substantially vertical and/or horizontal axis. For example, "bubble" or "spirit" levels have been used by carpenters for many years. More recent developments in this field have led to electronic light-indicating levels for indicating an object's angular position relative to a substantially vertical and/or horizontal axis. For example, some conventional "illuminated levels" include mercury switches configured to complete linear circuits including light emitting diodes and/or audio speakers such that the illuminated level emits a light and/or sound when the level is positioned either parallel to a vertical axis or parallel to a horizontal axis (indicating a level condition).
However, conventional illuminated or electronic levels are designed to be used as tools for use only during carpentry projects and/or other household projects (such as the hanging of framed artwork). Furthermore, such conventional illuminated or electronic leveling tools include many features (including, for example, multi-color LED lighting) for indicating a level condition by illuminating a first color LED and a number of different angular orientations using LED's of various colors that sequentially illuminate as the leveling tool is oriented in an off-level condition. The various features and settings present in such conventional tool-based leveling devices necessitates that such devices be relatively large and obtrusive. Furthermore, such conventional leveling devices are configured to emit a perceptible signal (such as the illumination of a red LED light) when the device is oriented in a level condition.
While some simple leveling devices have been integrated with picture-hanging hardware for indicating an off-level condition in a wall hanging, such conventional integrated levels utilize a "spirit level" configuration that must be viewed closely by a user to determine if the wall hanging is oriented at a selected acute angle relative to dead level.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for an electronic level device that is adapted to be unobtrusively integrated with a hanging picture frame or other wall hanging so as to provide a user with an easily-perceptible signal only when the wall hanging is "off level" or oriented at a selected acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal axis. There further exists a need in the art for an electronic level device that does not emit a perceptible signal when oriented in a substantially level position such that the device goes unnoticed until it detects a substantially "off-level" orientation.


A therapeutic formulation comprises a topically acceptable semisolid vehicle and carbamazepine, the vehicle consisting of components that are compatible with the carbamazepine, and the carbamazepine being in a concentration sufficient to permit a therapeutically effective amount of the carbamazepine to be absorbed from the formulation into the skin of a patient. The vehicle may be a cream, ointment, or gel. A method of treating a skin condition of a patient such as psoriasis comprises applying carbamazepine topically to the patient""s skin until the condition improves. A method of administering carbamazepine to a patient comprises applying a formulation comprising carbamazepine topically to the patient""s skin.

The invention relates to topical formulations of carbamazepine and their use in treating skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Carbamazepine and derivatives are well-known as systemic bioactive agents useful as anticonvulsants. They are used in treating central nervous system such as epilepsy. A review of patents referring to carbamazepine reveals that there has been ongoing research into oral formulations of carbamazepine, intravenous formulations, sustained release delivery systems including a transdermal patch, and uses for treating other central nervous system disorders, motion sickness, parkinsonian syndromes, drug dependency such as alcoholism, and cocaine use. These formulations are all directed to systemic applications, and the therapeutic targets are all essentially neurological diseases and conditions.
Systemic use of drugs has disadvantages, such as the need for high dosages, side effects at regions of the body unrelated to the affected tissue, toxicity to the liver or other organs, and slow or overly long-lasting results. Carbamazepine may cause neuropathy, adverse hematologic effects such as anemia, and a hypersensitivity syndrome including dermatitis. The side effects can be severe requiring discontinuation of therapy in some patients. Nonetheless, carbamazepine has been believed to be a drug that is only effective in systemic applications. Its mechanisms of action and metabolism are poorly understood. It would be desirable to find new ways of delivering carbamazepine with reduced side effects.
Psoriasis is a disease of poorly understood etiology. There has been a limited arsenal of therapeutic methods useful in treating the disease, including physical treatment (sun, local heating, mud treatment), and steroids. The beneficial effects of these approaches are limited. None is effective in all cases, and the failure rate is high. Any effective new method of treatment would be of enormous value in relieving the pain of people with psoriasis.
According to the invention, topical formulations of carbamazepine comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle in which a suitable concentration of carbamazepine is dissolved or suspended, the drug and vehicle interacting such that a topically effective amount of the carbamazepine may be transferred to epidermal tissue to which the formulation is applied. The invention also encompasses a method of treating psoriasis comprising applying an effective amount of a topical formulation of carbamazepine to the affected area until the condition is improved. This provides a new treatment modality using a new active agent.
A therapeutic formulation comprises a topically acceptable semisolid vehicle and carbamazepine, the vehicle consisting of components that are compatible with the carbamazepine, and the carbamazepine being in a concentration sufficient to permit a therapeutically effective amount of the carbamazepine to be absorbed from the formulation into the skin of a patient. The vehicle may be a cream, ointment, or gel. A method of treating a skin condition of a patient such as psoriasis comprises applying carbamazepine topically to the patient""s skin until the condition improves. A method of administering carbamazepine to a patient comprises applying a formulation comprising carbamazepine locally to an affected area, preferably topically to the patient""s skin.
Further objectives and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description and drawings.
In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
It was observed that an HIV positive patient suffering from psoriatic erythroderma exhibited improvement when he accidentally ingested 200-400 mg/day of Tegretol(copyright) carbamazepine for two weeks. The condition flared up again after he stopped taking the medication. The condition improved once again when he intentionally began taking the medication for a second time. His mood was affected, too. Smith and Skelton, New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 26, 1996, page 1999.
According to the invention, similar effectiveness may be achieved in a topical formulation whose use minimizes the psychological and other side effects of carbamazepine administered systemically. Such a formulation is a semisolid or non solid suitable for spreading on the affected tissue of a patient. The formulation may be a cream, ointment, gel, lotion, or liquid, and may be occlusive and moisturizing. An oil-in-water emulsion providing an elegant cream base is most preferred. A liquid is desirable for treating the scalp.
The components of the formulation are selected to be compatible, stable, topically acceptable, and able to support carbamazepine in a chemically stable state, and to deliver it into the skin of a patient upon application. The carbamazepine may be present as a suspension or a solution. A solution is preferred in order to facilitate prompt drug delivery. Carbamazepine is practically insoluble in water but is soluble in alcohols, acetone, and propylene glycol. Accordingly, propylene glycol containing vehicles are preferred.
The carbamazepine may be made into pharmaceutical compositions with appropriate pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents and may be formulated into semi-solid or liquid forms. Methods known in the art can be utilized to control release or absorption of the composition over time. A pharmaceutically-acceptable form should be employed which does not in effectuate the compositions of the present invention.
The compositions may be used alone or in appropriate association, as well as in combination with, other pharmaceutically-active compounds. The formulation may further comprise antiinflammatory components such as steroids or non-steroid compounds, and may comprise local anesthetics. The method and composition of the invention may be used in combination or in rotation with other treatment regimes, to avoid the desensitization effect occurring with psoriasis and other skin diseases.
xe2x80x9cNon-solidxe2x80x9d is meant to exclude solid dosage forms such as tablets, and includes gels, creams, ointments, lotions, liquids, and suspensions.
The term xe2x80x9ctreatmentxe2x80x9d is intended to encompass administration of compounds according to the invention prophylactically to prevent or suppress an undesired condition, and therapeutic administration to eliminate or reduce the extent or symptoms of the condition. Treatment according to the invention may be for a human or an animal having a disease in need of such treatment.
The xe2x80x9ceffective amountxe2x80x9d of the composition is such as to produce the desired effect in a host which can be monitored using several end-points known to those skilled in the art. For example, one desired effect might comprise reduction of psoriatic inflammation. Such effects could be monitored in terms of a therapeutic effect, e.g., alleviation of some symptom associated with the disease being treated, or particularized assays. These methods described are by no means all-inclusive, and further methods to suit the specific application will be apparent to the ordinary skilled artisan.
Furthermore, the amounts of each active agent included in the compositions employed in the examples described herein provide general guidance of the range of each component to be utilized by the practitioner upon optimizing the method of the present invention for practice either in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, such ranges by no means preclude use of a higher or lower amount of a component, as might be warranted in a particular application. For example, the actual dose and schedule may vary depending on whether the compositions are administered in combination with other pharmaceutical compositions, or depending on interindividual differences in severity, pharmacokinetics, drug disposition, and metabolism. One skilled in the art can easily make any necessary adjustments in accordance with the necessities of the particular situation.
The concentration of carbamazepine in such a formulation is high enough to permit delivery of a therapeutically effective amount, but not so high as to cause unwanted side effects. A preferred concentration is between about 0.05% and about 20%. A more referred concentration is between about 1% and about 6%.
By skin is meant any epidermal tissue in which psoriasis may occur, including that on limbs, trunk, head, as well as mucosa, etc.
As used here, carbamazepine is intended to mean 5-carbamoyl-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine and pharmaceutically acceptable and stable salts and therapeutically effective derivatives thereof. Without intending to be limited by the mode of action, it is believed that carbamazepine, applied topically, penetrates the skin from the outside to provide a therapeutic effect as when during systemic exposure the carbamazepine enters the skin from the fine capillaries.
In one embodiment of the invention, an oil in water emulsion is prepared to form an elegant cream. Carbamazepine in pure powder form is dissolved in propylene glycol (e.g. up to about 95%). Alternatives for the aqueous phase include an alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol, with a thickener added, for example Carbomer 934 or 940. The oil phase preferably includes mineral oil, petrolatum, cetyl alcohol, and/or stearyl alcohol. Emulsifiers such as polysorbate 80, sorbitan monostearate, or others known in the art may be used. Buffering agents, antioxidants, and chelating agents may be added to improve the characteristics of the formulation.
In another embodiment, an ointment is prepared by micronizing carbamazepine to provide particles with a size distribution primarily below 10 microns, and adding it to mineral oil to form a finely dispersed suspension, which is then mixed with petrolatum.

Topical carbamazepine formulations and methods of use


A photovoltaic energy storage system includes an energy storage device, an inverter, a photovoltaic array device, a DC/DC conversion device and a controller. When an output voltage of the photovoltaic array device is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the photovoltaic energy storage system is operated in a first working mode. When the output voltage of the photovoltaic array device is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the photovoltaic energy storage system is operated in a second working mode. The DC/DC conversion device includes a bypass switch and a DC/DC converter. When the photovoltaic energy storage system is operated in the second working mode, the bypass switch is turned on and the DC/DC converter is disabled. Consequently, the electric power of the energy storage device is transmitted to the inverter through the bypass switch.

With the rapid development of global industrialization, the demands on energy resources are increasing. At present, the fossil energy stored on the earth is gradually exhausted, and the energy issues and the environmental issues have accelerated the development of the new energy industry. Nowadays, solar energy occupies an important proportion of the new energy industry because of many benefits such as renewable, pollution-free and large storage capacity.
As the distributed photovoltaic power generation system is used in commercial buildings, industrial parks and other places, the penetration of the distributed photovoltaic power generation system in the power grid is gradually increased and the influence of the distributed photovoltaic power generation system on the power grid is increased. Since the distributed photovoltaic power generation system is greatly affected by the weather, the fluctuation of the distributed photovoltaic power generation system is large. Moreover, in the night without the sunlight, the distributed photovoltaic power generation system cannot output electric power. In order to reduce the influence of the distributed photovoltaic power generation system on the power grid and ensure the power output in the night, the energy storage system and the photovoltaic power generation system are usually combined as a photovoltaic energy storage system.
The technology of combining the power storage system and the photovoltaic power generation system as the photovoltaic energy storage system has the following advantages. Firstly, a function of a peak load shifting is achieved. In the load valley condition, the generated electric power from the photovoltaic power generation system is stored in the energy storage system. In the load peak condition, the electric power is released. Consequently, the peak output capacity of the power grid is increased. Secondly, the power quality of the power grid can be controlled. The energy storage system can control the electric power, for example stabilize the voltage, adjust the phase angle, and so on. Consequently, the power quality of the photovoltaic power generation system is improved. Thirdly, the application on a microgrid is achieved. The photovoltaic energy storage system can provide stable electric power to the load throughout the day. Instead, the energy storage system can provide electrical energy to the load in the night without sunlight.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a photovoltaic energy storage system with high efficiency and a control method of the photovoltaic energy storage system.

Photovoltaic energy storage system and control method thereof


Provided is an image processing apparatus that: acquires a depth map that includes information that indicates a distance up to a subject in an actual space, the depth map including, for each of one or a plurality of areas in the depth map, information regarding the distance up to a subject portion that appears in the area and regarding a color component of the subject portion; and generates a composite image in which a virtual object is arranged in a scene image that represents a scene of the actual space. The image processing apparatus determines a display color of the virtual object on the basis of the distance up to the subject portion that appears in the depth map and the color component thereof.

There is known a technique in which a virtual object is combined with a photographic image obtained by a camera. By using the above technique, it is possible to propose, to a user, an image as if the virtual object that does not really exist exists in a real space.


Provided is a vibration-insulating rubber composition and a crosslinked vibration-insulating rubber composition which are excellent in low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio, elongation fatigue resistance, low temperature characteristics, and processability, and a vibration-insulating rubber using the vibration-insulating rubber composition and the crosslinked vibration-insulating rubber composition. The vibration-insulating rubber composition of the present invention includes: a rubber component having a conjugated diene compound/non-conjugated olefin copolymer, and a non-conjugated diene-based polymer; a vulcanizing agent having a bismaleimide compound; and N-phenyl-N-(trichloromethylthio)benzenesulfonamide.

Conventionally, for the purpose of enhancing comfort of passengers in vehicles such as automobiles, there have been made various attempts to restrain the vibrations or noises from penetrating into the vehicle compartment by disposing various vibration insulators at those parts probably serving as sources of vibrations or noises.
For example, in relation to an engine which is a main source of vibrations and noises, vibration-insulating rubbers have been used for such component members as the torsional damper and the engine mount, to thereby absorb the vibrations during driving of the engine and to restrain both penetration of vibrations or noises into the compartment and diffusion of the noises to the peripheral environments.
As fundamental properties, such a vibration-insulating rubber is required to have a strength characteristic for supporting a heavyweight body such as the engine and a vibration-insulating performance for absorbing and suppressing vibrations. Further, a vibration-insulating rubber for use in a high-temperature environment such as an engine room is required to have not only a low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio and an excellent vibration-insulating performance but also high thermal resistance, ozone resistance, and permanent compression set. In particular, the temperature of an engine room tends to be increased in recent years along with high output of engine and reduction in engine room space due to increase in vehicle interior space. Consequently, the vibration-insulating rubbers for use in automobiles have come to be desired to meet severer requirements in regard of thermal resistance and the like.
Further, automobiles are also used in high latitudes, and thus the vibration-insulating rubbers for use in automobiles are required to have low temperature characteristics, in addition to the aforementioned properties.
In order to impart the vibration-insulating rubber with such excellent properties in a comprehensive manner, active developments have been made on the rubber composition of the vibration-insulating rubber and on crosslinking systems and other additives to be contained by a predetermined amount, and a number of patent applications have been filed therefor. Of those numerous patent applications, some have actively employed a bismaleimide compound as an improved crosslinking system.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a rubber composition having a rubber component compounded with sulfur, bismaleimide, and a specific carbon black, so as to be excellent in thermal resistance, low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio, and the like.
Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses the use of a bismaleimide compound and a thiazole vulcanization accelerator, which contributes to obtaining a rubber composition being excellent in thermal resistance, low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio, and durability.
However, the rubber compositions of PTL 1 and PTL 2 are still slightly inferior in terms of low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio, elongation fatigue resistance, and low temperature characteristics, even though both are reasonably excellent in thermal resistance and low dynamic-to-static modulus ratio. Further, in order to retain spring properties strongly required for vibration-insulating rubbers, it is necessary to suppress the rate of change of the modulus to minimum, and also to further improve thermal resistance.
To this end, attempts have been made to lower the dynamic-to-static modulus ratio, and to improve elongation fatigue resistance and low temperature characteristics by including sulfur as a vulcanizing agent, a specific sulfur compound, and a bismaleimide compound. For example, Patent Literature 3 discloses a vibration-insulating rubber composition containing: sulfur in an amount of not more than 0.5 parts by mass; a sulfur-containing compound of a specific structure in an amount of 0.5 to 2 parts by mass; and a bismaleimide compound in an amount of 0.5 to 3 parts by mass, each based on 100 parts by mass of diene rubber.

Anti-vibration rubber composition, crosslinked anti-vibration rubber composition, and anti-vibration rubber


The invention concerns a catalyst comprising a porous organic or inorganic support and at least one active phase comprising at least one acid selected from acids with formula R--SO.sub.3 H, where R is fluorine or an alkyl group or a fluorinated alkyl group, and at least one weakly basic aprotic organic solvent, the support having been impregnated with the active phase, the catalyst being such that it is essentially constituted by particles with an average diameter in the range 0.1 .mu.m to 150 .mu.m, and being such that before impregnation with the active phase, the support has a total pore volume in the range 0.5 cm.sup.3 /g to 6 cm.sup.3 /g. The invention also concerns the use of the catalyst for aliphatic alkylation.

A large number of liquid or solid acid catalysts are known for use in carrying out the aliphatic alkylation of isoparffin(s) such as isobutane or isopentane using at least one olefin such as propylene, 1- and 2-butenes or isobutene. The catalysts which are most frequently used in the industry are liquid catalysts, namely concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrofluoric acid, used alone or mixed with Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride. These processes suffer considerable disadvantages: hydrofluoric acid because of its toxicity and high volatility; and sulphuric acid because of its high consumption of catalyst, necessitating costly reprocessing. For this reason, the use of solid catalyst or catalyst supported on solids such as aluminosilicates or metallic oxides, for example zirconia treated with sulphuric acid, has been recommended.
In order to catalyse the alkylation of aromatic compounds by at least one olefin or the aliphatic alkylation of isobutane by at least one olefin or the oligomerisation or polymerisation of olefins, U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,712 describes catalytic compositions comprising a Lewis or Bronsted acid and a sulphone with formula R--SO.sub.2 --R', where R and R' are each and separately a monovalent radical comprising 1 to 8 carbon atoms per molecule, or together form a divalent radical containing 3 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, optionally in an inert hydrocarbon solvent. The acid concentration is in the range 10.sup.-5 moles per litre of sulphone to 5 moles per litre of sulphone, i.e., in the range 0.00012% to 37% by weight of acid when the acid is trifluoromethanesulphonic acid and the sulphone is sulpholane.
International patent application PCT WO 93/00316 describes catalytic compositions for aliphatic alkylation comprising 10% to 90% by weight of hydrofluoric acid or sulphonic acid substituted with at least one halogen and 10% to 90% by weight of a solvent with a donor number of less than 40 in the absence of a deliberate addition of a metal halide. The long list of such solvents includes sulpholane (tetramethylene sulphone) and dimethylsulphoxide.