A method and device for reducing paravalvular leakage upon implantation of a replacement heart valve is provided. The valve assembly includes a tissue or bioprosthetic heart valve attached to an anchoring structure. The anchoring structure includes an inlet rim that is substantially C-shaped in cross section to form a concave landing zone. The anchoring structure self-seats when implanted in the sinus of a patient with the proximal and distal ends of the C-shaped inlet rim pushed against the aorta to effectively prevent paravalvular leakage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an anchoring structure for use in minimally invasive bioprosthetic heart valve replacement systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a tubular anchoring structure with an inflow end that includes a concave landing zone that reduces paravalvular leakage.
2. Description of the Related Art
The transport of vital fluids in the human body is largely regulated by valves. Physiological valves are designed to prevent the backflow of bodily fluids, such as blood, lymph, urine, bile, etc., thereby keeping the body's fluid dynamics unidirectional for proper homeostasis. For example, venous valves maintain the upward flow of blood, particularly from the lower extremities, back toward the heart, while lymphatic valves prevent the backflow of lymph within the lymph vessels, particularly those of the limbs.
Because of their common function, valves share certain anatomical features despite variations in relative size. The cardiac valves are among the largest valves in the body with diameters that may exceed 30 mm, while valves of the smaller veins may have diameters no larger than a fraction of a millimeter. Regardless of their size, however, many physiological valves are situated in specialized anatomical structures known as sinuses. Valve sinuses can be described as dilations or bulges in the vessel wall that houses the valve. The geometry of the sinus has a function in the operation and fluid dynamics of the valve. One function is to guide fluid flow so as to create eddy currents that prevent the valve leaflets from adhering to the wall of the vessel at the peak of flow velocity, such as during systole. Another function of the sinus geometry is to generate currents that facilitate the precise closing of the leaflets at the beginning of backflow pressure. The sinus geometry is also important in reducing the stress exerted by differential fluid flow pressure on the valve leaflets or cusps as they open and close.
Thus, for example, the eddy currents occurring within the sinuses of Valsalva in the natural aortic root have been shown to be important in creating smooth, gradual and gentle closure of the aortic valve at the end of systole. Blood is permitted to travel along the curved contour of the sinus and onto the valve leaflets to effect their closure, thereby reducing the pressure that would otherwise be exerted by direct fluid flow onto the valve leaflets. The sinuses of Valsalva also contain the coronary ostia, which are outflow openings of the arteries that feed the heart muscle. When valve sinuses contain such outflow openings, they serve the additional purpose of providing blood flow to such vessels throughout the cardiac cycle.
When valves exhibit abnormal anatomy and function as a result of valve disease or injury, the unidirectional flow of the physiological fluid they are designed to regulate is disrupted, resulting in increased hydrostatic pressure. For example, venous valvular dysfunction leads to blood flowing back and pooling in the lower legs, resulting in pain, swelling and edema, changes in skin color, and skin ulcerations that can be extremely difficult to treat. Lymphatic valve insufficiency can result in lymphedema with tissue fibrosis and gross distention of the affected body part. Cardiac valvular disease may lead to pulmonary hypertension and edema, atrial fibrillation, and right heart failure in the case of mitral and tricuspid valve stenosis; or pulmonary congestion, left ventricular contractile impairment and congestive heart failure in the case of mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis. Regardless of their etiology, all valvular diseases result in either stenosis, in which the valve does not open properly, impeding fluid flow across it and causing a rise in fluid pressure, or insufficiency/regurgitation, in which the valve does not close properly and the fluid leaks back across the valve, creating backflow. Some valves are afflicted with both stenosis and insufficiency, in which case the valve neither opens fully nor closes completely.
Because of the potential severity of the clinical consequences of valve disease, numerous surgical techniques may be used to repair a diseased or damaged heart valve. For example, these surgical techniques may include annuloplasty (contracting the valve annulus), quadrangular resection (narrowing the valve leaflets), commissurotomy (cutting the valve commissures to separate the valve leaflets), or decalcification of valve and annulus tissue. Alternatively, the diseased heart valve may be replaced by a prosthetic valve. Where replacement of a heart valve is indicated, the dysfunctional valve is typically removed and replaced with either a mechanical or tissue valve.
In the past, one common procedure has been an open-heart type procedure. However, open-heart valve repair or replacement surgery is a long and tedious procedure and involves a gross thoracotomy, usually in the form of a median sternotomy. In this procedure, a saw or other cutting instrument is used to cut the sternum longitudinally and the two opposing halves of the anterior or ventral portion of the rib cage are spread apart. A large opening into the thoracic cavity is thus created, through which the surgeon may directly visualize and operate upon the heart and other thoracic contents. Replacement heart valves typically include a sewing ring and are sutured into the annulus, resulting in a time intensive surgical procedure. The patient is typically placed on cardiopulmonary bypass for the duration of the surgery.
Minimally invasive valve replacement procedures have emerged as an alternative to open-chest surgery. A minimally invasive medical procedure is one that is carried out by entering the body through the skin or through a body cavity or anatomical opening, but with the smallest damage possible to these structures. Two types of minimally invasive valve procedures that have emerged are percutaneous valve procedures and trans-apical valve procedures. Percutaneous valve procedures pertain to making small incisions in the skin to allow direct access to peripheral vessels or body channels to insert catheters. Trans-apical valve procedures pertain to making a small incision in or near the apex of a heart to allow valve access. The distinction between percutaneous valve procedures and minimally invasive procedures is also highlighted in a recent position statement, Vassiliades Jr. T A, Block P C, Cohn L H, Adams D H, Borer J S, Feldman T, Holmes D R, Laskey W K, Lytle B W, Mack M F, Williams D O. The clinical development of percutaneous heart valve technology: a position statement of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005; 129:970-6).
As valves are implanted less and less invasively, the opportunity for suturing the valves around the annulus is reduced. However, a smaller number of sutures may increase the chance of paravalvular leakage (PVL), i.e. leakage around the valve. A smaller number of sutures may also increase the opportunities for migration and valve stability when placed in-vivo.
Tehrani discloses a superior and inferior o-ring for valve implantation in US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0271172. Such o-rings cover the entire length of the valve and can therefore not easily be placed within the aortic sinus region. The o-rings presented by Tehrani would also block coronary outflow and adversely affect valve dynamics. The non-circular nature of the o-rings also reduces the radial force needed to adequately conform to irregularities within the implantation site, and is thus not optimal for preventing PVL and migration. The large size of the o-rings disclosed by Tehrani is also not practical as they cannot easily be collapsed down, something that is necessary for minimally invasive valve implantation.
Surgical heart valves include a sewing cuff for direct attachment to the native annulus where the surgeon relies on visual identification to correctly place the inflow ring in the annulus. Minimally invasive heart valves, however, lack any defined feature that interfaces directly with the annulus, instead relying on radial force to hold the valve in position in an attempt to prevent paravalvular leakage. Other conventional designs rely on a "feeler" to locate the native leaflets and when located deploy the valve below the feeler in an attempt to properly seat the valve in the annulus thereby preventing paravalvular leakage. Yet other conventional heart valves rely on a flange construction in which the flange uses double fabric rings to sandwich the device in the native annulus to prevent paravalvular leakage. However, the double fabric rings require additional surgical time in order for the surgeon to verify that the two rings are placed on opposite sides of the annulus.
In addition, while new less invasive valves produce beneficial results for many patients, these valves may not work as well for other patients who have calcified or irregular annuluses because a tight seal may not be formed between the replacement valve and the implantation site. Therefore, what is needed are methods, systems, and devices for reducing paravalvular leakage around heart valves while preventing valve migration and allowing valve collapsibility.
The invention is directed to solving, or at least reducing, some or all of the aforementioned problems.

Anchoring structure with concave landing zone


An internal combustion engine according to the present invention is comprised of a conduit means that directs the flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine to a relatively low speed turbine connected to a generator. The conduit means also acts as a mixing means for mixing appreciable quantities of outside air with the exhaust for recombustion prior to entry into the turbine. The turbine is designed to utilize the energy of the recombusted gases through impact and redirection of the gases upon the turbine blades. This invention comprises a dual function conduit means connecting internal combustion engine exhaust to a relatively low speed turbine wherein the conduit means also induces an appreciable flow of outside air to mix with the exhaust gases to effectively lower the temperature of the gases imposed on the turbine but without lowering the total energy of the gases.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to means for effectively obtaining useful power from the exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine.
The exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine are at relatively high temperatures, relatively low pressures and at high velocity. The total energy of the emissions is generally estimated to be approximately thirty percent of the energy of the fuel burned, but there are many variables such as load on the engine, compression ratio, type of fuel, condition of the engine and various others, that may affect this total.
This invention involves reducing exhaust temperatures and velocity by inducing the flow of appreciable quantities of outside air and mixing the air with the exhaust gases. The mixture of additional air with the exhaust gases does several things:
1. The kinetic energy of the exhaust gases is retained but at lower velocity levels and with added mass (the air); and
2. The heat energy of the exhaust gases is retained but with lower temperatures and added mass.
Further, the heat energy of the mixture may be increased by the burning of combustibles in the exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide and unburned fuel. The lower velocities and temperatures of the exhaust gas mixture permit its use with a relatively low speed turbine, which in turn may be connected with engine driving means rather easily. The turbine in such a construction may be made of comparatively inexpensive material, compared with the common turbo superchargers which use exhaust gases going directly to the turbine, turning it at very high speeds and requiring expensive manufacture. Such turbines are practical for driving small high-speed compressor, but would be difficult to connect with an engine driving means.
The exhaust temperature of the engine depends on a multitude of variables but generally will be in the range of 200-400 degrees Fahrenheit at the low end and about 1600 degrees Fahrenheit on the high end. In this invention, the mixed gas temperature is expected to be within the appropriate range of 200-800 degrees Fahrenheit, but these temperatures are not considered limitations.

Internal combustion engine with exhaust turbine


A refrigerator including a body having a plurality of cooling compartments separated from each other by a partition, and a machine room defined by the partition in a lower region of one of the plurality of cooling compartments. The machine room receives predetermined elements required to operate the cooling compartments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator, in which the size of a machine room is reduced without a degradation in the efficiency of a refrigeration cycle, resulting in an enlarged volume of a cooling compartment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a refrigerator includes cooling compartments, such as a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and maintains food, etc. stored in the cooling compartments at a low temperature for a long time by supplying cold air into the cooling compartments. Further, the cold air is generated by a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a heat exchanger, etc.
The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a condenser and a heat-radiation fan to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor, an expander to expand the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator to absorb heat from the surrounding air in the process of evaporating the expanded refrigerant so as to create a low-temperature atmosphere.
The refrigerator generally further includes a space referred to as a machine room. The above mentioned compressor, condenser, and heat-radiation fan, etc. are mounted in the machine room.
In more detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a configuration of a machine room defined in a related art refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 1, the related art refrigerator includes a machine room 1 provided in a lower end region of a refrigerator body 10 to extend lengthwise in a horizontal direction.
Assuming the related art refrigerator is a double-door refrigerator, the interior of the body 10 is divided into left and right spaces, namely, a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment having predetermined volumes, respectively. Further, the machine room 1 shown in FIG. 1 is located below both the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the machine room 1 includes a compressor 2, a condenser 3, and a heat-radiation fan 4. The machine room 1 is covered with a cover 5. In addition the cover 5 has a suction hole 6 and a discharge hole 7, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance for the circulation of air into the machine room 1.
The related art machine room having the above described configuration, however, has a problem of occupying a significantly large area in the refrigerator, and thus reducing the volume of the cooling compartments. Moreover, the above mentioned double-door refrigerator inevitably undergoes a reduction in volume in both the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment.
Further, with the configuration that the air moves through the suction hole 6 and the discharge hole 7 formed in the cover 5, as shown in FIG. 1, the movement direction of air blown by the heat-radiation fan 4, the movement direction of air suctioned through the suction hole 6, and the movement direction of air discharged through the discharge hole 7 are perpendicular to one another. Therefore, it is difficult to assure the smooth circulation of air within the machine room 1.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, a lower end region of a cooling compartment 14, i.e. the space A designated by a dashed line, has a limited volume due to the presence of the machine room 1. The volume of the space A is further limited by a heat-insulating material 13 filled in an outer shell 11 and an inner shell 12 of the body 10.
The cooling compartment 14 includes a rear panel 15 to partition a space for receiving an evaporator (not shown) and a blowing fan (not shown). As shown, the panel 15 includes a cold air suction hole 16 and a cold air discharge hole (not shown), such that cold air blown by the blowing fan is supplied into the cooling compartment 14 through the cold air discharge hole, and be again suctioned to the evaporator through the cold air suction hole 16.
However, because the volume of the space A is limited due to the volume of the machine room 1, and in particular, the lower end of the space A is located at a long distance from the cold air suction hole 16, the related art refrigerator has a problem in that the cold air within the cooling compartment 14 stagnates in the space A, and thus fails to circulate smoothly in the cooling compartment 14.
To solve the above described problems, the space A may be reduced or eliminated, but this method excessively increases the volume of the machine room 1, and on the other hand, excessively decreases the inner volume of the cooling compartment.


A circuit arrangement for buck converters has a multiplicity of half bridges (10, 11). Each half bridge (10, 11) contains a first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and a second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) , the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) in each case having a vertical power transistor. The load paths of the power transistor of the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and of the power transistor of the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) are connected in series. The control inputs (G1, . . . , G8) of the power transistors can be driven individually. The half bridges (10, 11) are jointly accommodated in a semiconductor package and the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) lie above one another in each half bridge (10, 11).

Buck converters are converter circuits for converting a DC input voltage into a DC output voltage. As shown in DE 102 43 885, a known Buck converter topology has at its input a half bridge with a first switching element and a second switching element. An inductance is connected between the node which is between the switching elements, and a load. The switching elements are in each case alternately driven, for example by means of pulse-width control. Such Buck converters are used especially for the voltage supply of microprocessors, e.g. in PCs.
In this context, multi-phase Buck converters are also used as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,252. In this arrangement, the Buck converters contain a number of half bridges of in each case two power transistors. The power transistors are switched on and off by different phases and thus at different times. The current is thus distributed over a number of half bridges in order not to overload the power transistors located in the half bridges. In addition, the ripple of the output voltage is reduced since the switching-on and switching-off processes are distributed over a number of phases. However, providing the large number of power transistors means increased space and circuit expenditure.

Circuit arrangement comprising having plurality of half bridges


There is provided an image processing method for use in a computer system having a database for storing a reference image, control point chips (CP chips) of the reference image, and auxiliary data including geographic coordinates, incidence angles and orientation angles of the reference image and the CP chips, comprising the steps of (a) a CP chip extraction step of, when a target image and auxiliary data including location information and incidence and orientation angle information of the target image are inputted, finding out a region of the reference image corresponding to a region including the target image, selecting the found region as a control region, and extracting the CP chips included in the control region of the reference image, (b) an image matching step of searching matching points of the target image for the control points within the CP chips extracted from the CP chip extraction step, (c) a mismatching point removing step of finding out and removing mismatching points among matching results obtained from step (b), and (d) a precise image correction step of arranging the target image into a geographic coordinate system using the matching results obtained after performing step (c).

1. Description
The present invention relates to a method for processing a satellite image or general image, and more particularly, to a method for automatically performing an image matching process, an image registration and a precise correction process.
2. Background of the Invention
In general, remote sensing data measured from a satellite or aircraft include a great deal of errors and distortions due to an instrument state upon measurement, an atmospheric condition, a moving direction and posture of a platform, a map projection method, and the like. Thus, these errors or distortions should be eliminated or corrected for image restoration. To this end, geometric correction for correcting a difference between a geometric pattern of a collected image and a reference map is generally performed.
This geometric correction is a process of correcting an inherent geometric distortion of the image. The geometric correction is mainly divided into system correction using a result of systematically analyzing causes of the errors and distortions and precision correction using ground control points.
The system correction is a process of analyzing all the causes of the distortions such as an altitude change and shaking of the platform occurring when collecting the image, optical characteristics of a measuring instrument, topographic undulation, earth's rotation, and a map projection method, calculating an inverse transformation algorithm for correcting the distortion of the collected image using the analysis result, and restoring the collected image to its original state using the inverse transformation algorithm. The system correction has an advantage in that all the distortions included in the same transformation algorithm can be easily corrected if all the causes of the distortions of the collected image can be accurately analyzed so that the inverse transformation algorithm can also be accurately calculated. However, there are still disadvantages in that it is not easy to analyze all the causes of the distortions of the collected image and it is also difficult to precisely correct the distortions of the image in case of severe topographic undulation and high image resolution.
The precision correction is a process of analyzing only a distortion degree of the collected image without considering the distortion causes thereof, finding a correction formula which can be used to correlate the collected image with a reference map using the analysis result, and correcting the image distortion using the correction formula. Here, the control point is a coordinate of a specific position with the same shape which has been extracted from the collected image and the reference map so as to match the image with the reference map.
The distortion correction using the control point has advantages in that it can be used even when it is difficult to know or analyze the distortion cause, and the image distortion can be corrected more accurately than the system correction if the control point may be accurately extracted. However, there is a disadvantage in that if the control point is incorrectly extracted, the accurate correction result cannot be obtained. In the past, an operator has manually extracted the control point while viewing the collected image and the reference map with his/her naked eyes. Thus, a correction result may vary greatly according to a degree of skill of the operator who has extracted the control point. Further, there is inconvenience in that the control point should be obtained again every measuring day even though the same area would be measured. Therefore, many researches on methods for automatically extracting the control point have been recently conducted.
The methods for automatically extracting the control point developed heretofore are largely divided into semi-automatic extraction methods and fully automatic extraction methods.
One of the methods for semi-automatically extracting the control point is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1999-47500 (published on Jul. 5, 1999). According to the method disclosed in the publication, if the operator selects four control points, a system calculates a transformation formula and an inverse transformation formula used for correcting the image using the selected four control points, selects new additional control points, and finally corrects the image. However, since the operator should initially select and input four or more control points, there still remains a problem of the prior art in that the correction result varies according to the degree of skill of the operator, and much time and higher costs are needed for correcting the image.
On the other hand, as the methods of automatically extracting the control points, there are a method of extracting image characteristics and control points using a wavelet scheme, a method of automatically extracting the control points from Landsat satellite images, a method of automatically extracting the control points using a multispectral band, a method of automatically extracting the control points using a generic algorithm, and an automatic geometric correction technique using a DTM (digital terrain model). These various methods of automatically extracting the control points describes only a process of automatically extracting the control point from the image, but they never suggest or teach a process of finding out and overcoming the errors included in the extracted control points. According to the aforementioned methods, therefore, the control point can be automatically extracted, but there is also a problem in that it is difficult to perform the accurate image registration and the precise image correction due to the errors included in the extracted control points.

Image processing method for automatic image registration and correction

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A method, apparatus and system for managing loss of packets in data transmissions is provided. In a method embodiment, selective acknowledgements are received at a sending computer from a receiving computer. The sending computer is configured to analyze patterns in the selective acknowledgements and infer a type of packet loss. As a result of the inference, the packet delivery strategy from the sending computer can be adjusted.

Many network transport protocols (like the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)) feature adaptive congestion control mechanisms, in which the data transmission rate is dynamically adjusted to the network condition in order to utilize the available bandwidth optimally. For example, when available bandwidth is detected, the transport protocol increases the rate of data transmission. When network congestion is detected, the transport protocol reduces the rate of data transmission. Some network transport protocols use packet loss as an indication that network congestion has occurred. While this method is well suited to networks in which the predominant cause of packet loss is network congestion, it does not work well in networks in which a non-negligible amount of packet loss is caused by reasons other than network congestion. For example, in a wireless network, a significant source of packet loss is due to transmission errors caused by fluctuating signal strength, thermal noise and interference. Furthermore, despite the application of error control technique like forward error correction (FEC) and/or automatic retransmission requests (ARQ), there are often residual transmission errors that are not detected by the error control technique. For transport protocols using packet loss as an indication of network congestion, this will result in the sender unnecessarily reducing the data transmission rate, resulting in poor link utilization.
Various solutions have been proposed. For example, "De-randomizing" Congestion Losses To Improve TCP Performance over Wired-Wireless Networks" by Saad Biaz and Nitin H. Vaidya dated Sep. 27, 2004, ACM/IEEE Transactions on Networking June 2005, proposes one solution which relies on having a bottleneck network node that supports drop precedence.
As another example, "An Adaptive End-to-End Loss Differentiation Scheme for TCP over Wired/Wireless Networks" by Chang-hyeon Lim, and Ju-wook Jang IJCSNS International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security, VOL. 7 No. 3, March 2007 at page 72, proposes another solution, which uses the variation of round trip time (RTT) as the detection signature.
The inventors believe that other solutions for improving packet throughput can be provided.

Method, apparatus and system for improving packet throughput based on classification of packet loss in data transmissions


A fuse link, especially for low voltage, high-breaking-capacity fuses, includes at least one fusible conductor having a soldering substance in a solder depot of a carrier, the solder being tin-based and the carrier being copper-based. The solder contains a tin alloy as an active substance, the tin alloy having two other constituents. The first constituent, which is the larger of the two in weight percent but which is smaller in weight percent than the proportion of the base substance tin, is selected for lowering the fusion temperature of the solder. The second constituent, which is the smaller of the two in weight percent, is a substance which does not dissolve in tin. Crystal nuclei are formed when said substance is cooled from the liquid state to the solid state, creating a fine structure and preventing the structure from becoming coarse under a load.

In the fuse links which are available on the market, the solder substance is usually a tin-cadmium alloy. SnCd 80 20, i.e. an alloy comprising 80% by weight of tin and 20% by weight of cadmium, is customary. Recently, however, there has been a desire to avoid cadmium, for reasons of environmental protection. There are fuse links on the market in which the fusible conductors include a solder substance comprising SnBi 95 5. In these, the fusing times of the fusible conductors provided with this solder are subject to a considerably wider scatter than those which use the conventional SnCd solders.
SnBi solders generally tend to flow. To prevent this, in a fuse link which is commercially available, the solder has been covered with a layer which contains silicone. In this case, the arcing performance of the fuse link may deteriorate considerably when the silicone breaks down, on account of the carbon atoms.
The fusible conductor and solder system is generally to be configured in such a way that in the event of prolonged overload currents the solder melts locally, dissolves the material of its support, i.e. the fusible conductor and thereby accelerates switching off. In this context, one generally refers to a M effect. The solder should satisfy the following conditions:                Sufficient solubility of the solder substance with regard to the fusible conductor material, generally copper,        no flow of the solder during fusing,        solder bridges between the ends of the fused fusible conductor should be avoided.
An organic coating has already been provided as a solder stopping agent which is intended to prevent the solder from flowing in the event of a solder substance which does not include cadmium. Although it is in this way possible to prevent solder substances without cadmium from flowing, the thermal decomposition of the organic matrix during fusing of the fusible conductor, i.e. in order to break the fuse, may lead to the formation of an electrically conductive plastic film, which may prevent the circuit from being broken.
The problem of flow has existed since the start of attempts to use cadmium-free solders.

Fuse link, method for the production thereof and soldering substance


A terminal block allows wires to be connected to the block by insertion at a front portion of the block and along a direction parallel to the length of the block. The block includes a securing feature to retain the electrical conductor securely in the block while also allowing simplified connection and disconnection of the wire.

The disclosure relates to electrical terminal blocks, and more particularly to methods and hardware adapted to efficient connection of electrical conductors with electrical terminal blocks.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional terminal block having front connection access. In this terminal block, an electrical conductor terminated by a ring lug is secured to the block by a screw. The terminal electrical conductor is held securely because the screw passes through the ring lug and actually threads into the block. Drawbacks to this solution are that the screws are loose and may become lost, and that the loose screws must be held and manually aligned with the ring lug while threading into the block. Another drawback is that the electrical conductor is difficult to connect in tight spaces because the electrical conductors extend perpendicular to the face of the terminal block. It is therefore difficult for a technician to hold the electrical conductor while at the same time holding a screwdriver and advancing a screw into the block.
FIG. 2 illustrates another conventional terminal block having front attachment access and in which the electrical conductor is aligned with the direction of insertion. In this example, the electrical conductor is inserted into an aperture, and a thread is advanced to press a plate against the exposed metallic conductor of the electrical conductor. The plate, however, holds the electrical conductor in the block by friction and the electrical conductor may disengage the block when the electrical conductor is in tension.

Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd


A method of adaptively setting a transmission power level of a node within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the node and downstream nodes, and between the node and an upstream node, of the wireless mesh network. At least one worst quality reverse direction link is identified. If the at least one worst quality link is greater than a high threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is decreased. If the at least one worst quality link is less than a low threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is increased. A method of adaptively selecting transmission power of gateway nodes of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes each gateway node monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the gateway node and downstream nodes of the wireless mesh network. Each gateway node identifies at least one worst quality reverse direction link. For each gateway node, if the at least one worst quality link is greater than a high threshold, then decreasing the transmission power level of the gateway node is decreased. For each gateway node, if the at least one worst quality link is less than a low threshold, then the transmission power level of the gateway node is increased.

Wireless mesh networks are gaining popularity because wireless infrastructures are typically easier and less expensive to deploy than wired networks. However, wireless infrastructures can be susceptible to environmental conditions and self-interference.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art mesh network that includes a gateway 110 connecting a client devices 140, 142 to a wired network 100 through access nodes 120, 122, 130, 132. The connections between the gateway 110 and the access nodes 120, 122, 130, 132 can be wireless. Additionally, the connection between the access nodes 120, 122, 130, 132 and the clients 140, 142 can be wireless. Wireless connections typically are subject to conditions that can make the connections unreliable. Such conditions include fading, multi-path and signal interference.
The access nodes and gateways are all communicating with each other over wireless links. Therefore, the access nodes and gateways typically suffer from self-interference. That is, the access nodes and gateways tend to be somewhat proximate to each other, and typically, can receive at least some transmission signal energy (unintended) from each other. The unintended signal energy interferes with the intended transmission signals, resulting in self-interference.
It is desirable to have a wireless network in which transmission signal power is great enough to ensure proper link quality, but controlled to limit interference with unintended receiving devices.

Adaptively setting transmission power levels of nodes within a wireless mesh network


Disclosed are sugar free confectionery products, methods of making, and multilayer structures prepared from the confectionery products and chewing gum.

Sugar-free comestibles are highly desired by consumers to meet certain dietary restrictions or for the distinct advantage of not contributing to tooth decay.
Multilayered comestible products provide unique properties to entice and engage the consumer, particularly when the comestible contains a different composition in each layer. However, preparation of multilayered comestibles with varying materials and which are solely prepared from sugar-free compositions pose unique challenges including processing considerations, stability considerations, and consumer acceptance.
There is a need, however, for new confectionary compositions, which provide the desired advantage of an initial burst of flavor in combination with a long lasting flavor profile.
There is also a need, however, for new confectionery and chewing gum compositions, which provide the desired advantage of new textural features such as matching or mismatched textures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multilayered sugar free isomalt confectionery and methods of making same


Magnetic heat treatment of steel, characterized by transforming steel containing about 0.01 to 2.0 mass % of carbon in a magnetic field having a gradient of about 0.1 T/cm or more and about 10 T/cm or less (absolute value) at the Curie point or lower, to effectively refine the microstructure by subjecting the steel to heat treatment in a strong magnetic field having a gradient, followed by advantageously improving the mechanical properties of the steel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to magnetic heat treatment of steel, particularly to modification of microstructures of steel undergoing phase transformation in production. This is done by carrying out heat treatment with exposure to a specific magnetic field, followed by advantageous improvement of mechanical properties, as will be further discussed hereinafter.
2. Description of the Related Art
When steel is produced under usual production heating temperatures of 1200.degree. to 1300.degree. C., finish hot rolling temperatures of 800.degree. to 900.degree. C. and coiling temperatures of 400.degree. to 650.degree. C., its resulting microstructure usually comprises a mixed microstructure of phases of pearlite, bainite and martensite, with a ferrite phase and an austenite phase. It has long been known that the fine structure of this mixed microstructure depends on phase transformation which is brought about by cooling from high temperatures to low temperatures.
It is known according to an empirical equation of Hall-Petch that the finer the grains are, the greater the strength, ductility, toughness and fatigue strength of the steel. Accordingly, the constitution of the mixed microstructure is controlled by combination of composition, cooling rate and processing deformation of steel, and the microstructure is so refined that the prescribed characteristics can be obtained.
However, methods in which patterns of temperatures and processing are devised for every steel composition have reached their limits. Completely new methods are required.
A method in which a magnetic field is applied as an external field has been considered for the purpose. Sadovsky et all Fiz. Metal. Metalloved., vol. 12 (1961) p. 302! of Russia have made it clear by experiments that applying a magnetic field to steel elevates the temperature of martensite transformation and increases the martensite amount. It has been explained that in steel having an ordinary composition, the ferrite and martensite phases are ferromagnetic while the austenite phase is paramagnetic; therefore thermodynamic free energy of the former phase is reduced by magnetic energy. It is believed that, as a result, the driving force for transformation is increased by the magnetic field, so that the transformation temperature goes up. Recent researches have made it clear that the effect exerted on the transformation starting temperature includes high magnetic field susceptibility and forced volume magnetostriction, as well as the effect exerted by magnetostatic energy (T. Kakeshita et al, Japan Metallurgy Association Report 32 (1993), p. 591).
Motivation induced by these theoretical researches has led to researches relating to changing microstructure by applying a magnetic field to industrial common carbon steel Pustovoit et all, Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met. (1979) 22). However, distinct effects are not necessarily obtained because the applied magnetic field is as small as 1 T (T designates the unit tesla which represents strength of magnetic field) and details on how to apply the magnetic field were not strictly investigated. The effect of magnetic field exerted on transformation has not yet been applied to the production of steel.
An object of the present invention is to provide magnetic heat treatment of steel by increasing the driving force for transformation, to refine the microstructure, and to improving the mechanical properties of the steel.


New antifibrillogenic agents and compositions containing same, methods of using the antifibrillogenic agents and compositions for inhibiting amyloid fibril formation, and effective therapeutics for preventing or delaying the progression of, e g., Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

The invention relates to new antifibrillogenic agents, a composition containing same and a method of using these new antifibrillogenic agents for inhibiting amyloid fibril formation.
Amyloidosis refers to a pathological condition characterized by the presence of amyloid fibers. Amyloid is a generic term referring to a group of diverse but specific protein deposits (intracellular and/or extracellular), which are seen in a number of different diseases. Though diverse in their occurrence, all amyloid deposits have common morphologic properties, stain with specific dyes (e.g., Congo red), and have a characteristic red-green birefringent appearance in polarized light after staining. They also share common ultrastructural features and common x-ray diffraction and infrared spectra.
Amyloid-related diseases can either be restricted to one organ or spread to several organs. The first instance is referred to as "localized amyloidosis" while the second is referred to as "systemic amyloidosis".
Some amyloidotic diseases can be idiopathic, but most of these diseases appear as a complication of a previously existing disorder. For example, primary amyloidosis can appear without any other pathology or can follow plasma cell dyscrasia or multiple myeloma. Secondary amyloidosis is usually seen associated with chronic infection (such as tuberculosis) or chronic inflammation (such as rheumatoid arthritis). A familial form of secondary amyloidosis is also seen in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). This familial type of amyloidosis, as one of the other types of familial amyloidosis, is genetically inherited and is found in specific population groups. In these two types of amyloidosis, deposits are found in several organs and are thus considered systemic amyloid diseases. Another type of systemic amyloidosis is found in long-term hemodialysis patients. In each of these cases, a different amyloidogenic protein is involved in amyloid deposition.
"Localized amyloidoses" are those that tend to involve a single organ system. Different amyloids are also characterized by the type of protein present in the deposit. For example, neurodegenerative diseases such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalitis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the like are characterized by the appearance and accumulation of a protease-resistant form of a prion protein (referred to as AScr or PrP-27) in the central nervous system. Similarly, Alzheimer's disease, another neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In this case, the plaque and blood vessel amyloid is formed by the deposition of fibrillar Aβ amyloid protein. Other diseases such as adult-onset diabetes (Type II diabetes) are characterized by the localized accumulation of amyloid in the pancreas. Amyloid deposits are present in pancreatic islets of up to 96% of patients with Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (NIDDM) at post-mortem. These fibrillar accumulations result from the aggregation of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), also known as amylin.
Once these amyloids have formed, there is no known, widely accepted therapy or treatment which significantly dissolves the deposits in situ.
Each amyloidogenic protein has the ability to organize into β-sheets and to form insoluble fibrils that get deposited extracellularly or intracellularly. Each amyloidogenic protein, although different in amino acid sequence, has the same property of forming fibrils and binding to other elements such as proteoglycan, amyloid P and complement component. Moreover, each amyloidogenic protein has amino acid sequences which, although different, will show similarities such as regions with the ability to bind to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) portion of proteoglycan (referred to as the GAG binding site) as well as other regions which will promote β-sheet formation.
This suggests that amyloid fibrils are formed by a similar protein misfolding pathway and therefore therapeutic interventions to control their folding may be beneficial for all amyloid proteins. The associated proteins are the amyloid-β (Aβ) protein in AD and the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in Type-II diabetes. In both AD and Type-II diabetes, amyloid plays a key role which suggests that prevention of plaque formation will have significant therapeutic benefits.
In specific cases, amyloidotic fibrils, once deposited, can become toxic to the surrounding cells. As per example, the Aβ fibrils organized as senile plaques have been shown to be associated with dead neuronal cells and microgliosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease. When tested in vitro, Aβ peptide was shown to be capable of triggering an activation process of microglia (brain macrophages), which would explain the presence of microgliosis and brain inflammation found in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
In another type of amyloidosis seen in patients with Type II diabetes, and in patients with Type I diabetes post-transplantation, the amyloidogenic protein IAPP has been shown to induce β-islet cell toxicity in vitro. Hence, appearance of IAPP fibrils in the pancreas of Type II or Type I diabetic patients could contribute to the loss of the β islet cells (Langerhans) and organ dysfunction.
People suffering from Alzheimer's disease develop a progressive dementia in adulthood, accompanied by three main structural changes in the brain: diffuse loss of neurons in multiple parts of the brain; accumulation of intracellular protein deposits termed neurofibrillary tangles; and accumulation of extracellular protein deposits termed amyloid or senile plaques, surrounded by misshapen nerve terminals (dystrophic neurites). A main constituent of these amyloid plaques is the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a 40-42 amino-acid protein that is produced through cleavage of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although symptomatic treatments exist for Alzheimer's disease, this disease cannot be prevented nor cured at this time.
Amyloid-β and Alzheimer's Disease
Deposition of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) fibrils is an invariant feature of AD and is considered to be a major contributing factor to neuronal death and clinical dementia. Aβ is a proteolytic fragment of the β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP), which accumulates in the neurophils as senile plaques and within cerebral blood vessels. These abnormal filamentous deposits co-localize with dystrophic neurites and reactive gliosis. Similarly, the cerebrovascular amyloid disruption of integral blood brain barriers may be a key factor in eliciting detrimental inflammatory responses leading to neuronal dysfunction. Aβ processing and deposition appear to be pivotal processes in AD pathogenesis which is supported by a number of lines of evidence. The strongest link is provided by the familial AD cases that result from mutations in either the APP or presenilin genes which display abnormal APP processing and herald an early onset and acceleration of the disease process.
Sequencing of Aβ a decade ago provided a catalyst for Alzheimer's research and quickly led to the cloning of the encoding gene. Aβ represents an internal sequence of the membrane-associated amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) that is organized into a large extracellular domain, a single transmembrane helix and a short cytoplasmic tail. Aβ constitutes 28 residues N-terminal to the extracellular-transmembrane interface as well as 12–14 residues of the transmembrane domain.
Previous investigations have demonstrated that synthetic Aβ and its various fragments will spontaneously assemble into amyloid-like fibrils.
In vitro peptide studies have identified important domains within the Aβ sequence, which facilitate aggregation and fibrillogenesis. For example, histidine residues at positions 13 and 14 appear to play a critical role in fibril formation as shown by the pH dependence of the β-conformation (Fraser, P. E. et al., J Mol Biol 244(1):64–73, 1994; and Wood et al., J Biol Chem 271:4086–4092, 1996). In addition, truncated and mutated peptides indicate that Aβ has two principal β-sheet domains spanning residues 10–25 and 30–42 possibly linked by α-turns. Interactions between both domains are essential for promoting aggregation as exemplified by the observation that small peptides derived from the 10–25 sequence (KLVFFA (SEQ ID NO. 25); residues 16–21) can inhibit fibril formation. Electron microscopy studies of amyloid plaques from AD tissue have revealed that fibrillar Aβ has an additional level of organization, which has been termed "protofilaments" (Serpell et al. J Mol Biol 300:1033–1039, 2000). These small, fibril substructures laterally aggregate to produce the final amyloid fibril.
The C-terminal sequence has been extensively investigated and significant differences between the Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 isoforms have been observed (Jarret et al., Biochemistry 32:4694–4697, 1993; and Jarret and Lansbury, Cell 73:1055–1056, 1993). Peptides containing the final two residues (Leu41-Val42) exhibit increased aggregation and a greater propensity towards fibril formation. The importance of the Aβ42 isoform is further demonstrated by its association with familial forms of AD. Mutations in either the APP or presenilin genes, which are related to early onset AD, all result in significantly elevated levels of the Aβ42, which may represent the nucleating "seed" that initiates Aβ polymerization.
Islet Amyloid Polypeptide and Diabetes
Amyloid deposits are present in pancreatic islets of up to 96% of patients with Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (NIDDM) at post-mortem. These fibrillar accumulations result from the aggregation of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) or amylin, which is a 37 amino acid peptide, derived from a larger precursor peptide, pro-IAPP. IAPP co-localizes and is co-secreted with insulin in response to β-cell secretagogues. This pathological feature is not associated with insulin-dependent diabetes and is a unifying characteristic for the heterogeneous clinical phenotypes diagnosed as NIDDM. The causal factors for islet amyloidosis and its role in the disease process have yet to be determined. However, longitudinal studies in cats and immunocytochemical investigations in monkeys have shown that a progressive increase in islet amyloid is associated with a dramatic decrease in the population of insulin-secreting β-cells and increased severity of the disease. More recently, transgenic approaches have strengthened the relationship of IAPP plaque formation and β-cell dysfunction, which indicates that amyloid deposition is a principal factor in Type-II diabetes.
Islet hyalinosis (amyloid deposition) was first described over a century ago as the presence of fibrous protein aggregates in the pancreas of patients with severe hyperglycemia (Opie, EL., J Exp. Med. 5: 397–428, 1990). Today, islet amyloid, composed predominantly of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or amylin, is a characteristic histopathological marker in over 90% of all cases of Type-II diabetes.
The mature IAPP molecule is a 37 residue peptide synthesized in the pancreas, and is co-localized with insulin in β-cell dense core secretory granules. Since IAPP is co-secreted with insulin, it has been suggested that IAPP plays a role in regulating blood glucose by controlling insulin secretion. The presence of soluble IAPP in the plasma itself is normally not problematic. In patients with Type-II diabetes, however, the accumulation of pancreatic IAPP leads to a buildup of IAPP-amyloid as insoluble fibrous deposits which eventually replace the insulin-producing β cells of the islet resulting in β cell depletion and failure (Westermark, P., Grimelius, L., Acta Path. Microbiol Scand, sect. A. 81: 291–300, 1973; de Koning, E J P., et al., Diabetologia 36: 378–384, 1993; and Lorenzo, A., et al., Nature 368: 756–760, 1994).
The fact that IAPP fibrillar aggregates are present in the pancreases of patients with severe Type-II diabetes and β-cell failure is evident. However, determining whether fibrillar IAPP is toxic to β-cells as well as the conditions that lead to aggregation of this peptide are currently areas of great interest. It has been suggested that differing levels of glycosylation may lead to a pool of peptide that is more apt to be involved in aggregation. Other studies have suggested that in Type-II diabetes, incomplete enzymatic processing of IAPP from its precursor pro-IAPP by the prohormone convertase PC2 may provide a level of aggregatable peptide needed for the "seeding" of amyloid fibrils. Still other studies have examined the properties contained in the amino acid sequence of human IAPP that make it prone to aggregation as compared to rodent IAPP which does not form typical amyloid fibrils (Johnson, K H., et al., N. Engl. J. Med 321: 513–518, 1989; and Moriarty, D F., Raleigh, D P. Biochemistry 38: 1811–1818, 1999).
IAPP amyloid has many features in common with cerebral amyloid formed in Alzheimer's disease from the amyloid-β ( Aβ) peptide. Both amyloid diseases are progressive and age-related and associated with irreversible deterioration in cellular function. Neither pathological conditions require synthesis of a mutated form of the peptide and both component peptides are derived from a larger precursor and form morphologically similar amyloid fibrils.
IAPP contains three principal domains that contribute to fibril formation. These domains have been identified by looking at different peptide fragments and also through the effects of the proline mutations in the rodent sequence, which does not form amyloid fibrils. The initial N-terminal domain, disulfide bridge (residues 2 and 7) is not critical to amyloid fibril formation.
Diseases caused by the death or malfunctioning of a particular type or types of cells can be treated by transplanting into the patient healthy cells of the relevant type of cell. This approach has been used for Type I diabetic patients. Often these cells are cultured in vitro prior to transplantation to increase their numbers, to allow them to recover after the isolation procedure or to reduce their immunogenicity. However, in many instances the transplants are unsuccessful, due to the death of the transplanted cells. One reason for this poor success rate may be IAPP, which can form fibrils and become toxic to the cells in vitro. In addition, IAPP fibrils are likely to continue to grow after the cells are transplanted and cause death or dysfunction of the cells. This may occur even when the cells are from a healthy donor and when the patient receiving the transplant does not have a disease that is characterized by the presence of fibrils.

Inhibitors of IAPP fibril formation and uses thereof

The Governing Counsel of the University of Toronto


A heat exchanger, or the heat exchanger component of a multi-function device, comprising a polymeric heat transfer material. The heat exchanger exhibits reduced voltage-induced breakdown of the polymeric material, which can lead to cross-contamination of the two fluids. Either or both of two approaches may be employed. The first approach modifies the polymeric material to increase its resistance to breakdown. The second approach employs at least one electrical bridge between the fluids in the two sides of the heat exchanger, thus placing the two fluids into electrical equilibrium.

This invention relates to heat exchangers for physiologic fluids such as blood and blood-related fluids. Examples include stand alone heat exchangers used to maintain a patient""s blood at a predetermined temperature; the heat exchanger components of other devices, such as oxygenators used to maintain a patient""s blood at a predetermined temperature while replacing carbon dioxide in the blood with oxygen; heat exchangers used to cool cardioplegia solutions; and the like.
Heat exchangers of the well-known xe2x80x9cshell and tubexe2x80x9d type are widely used in the medical field for physiologic fluids, such as blood, blood-related fluids, blood-based and non-blood based cardioplegia solutions (including crystalloid solutions), cell culture media, cell suspensions, proteins, and microcapsule suspensions. (For convenience, the term xe2x80x9cbloodxe2x80x9d should be understood to include all such types of fluids unless specifically indicated otherwise.) Typically, the physiologic fluid is continuously or intermittently pumped through the heat exchanger and a suitable heat transfer fluid such as water is also pumped through the heat exchanger, physically separated from the physiologic fluid but capable of releasing or absorbing energy to or from the physiologic fluid. The water is either heated or cooled externally of the heat exchanger to maintain the physiologic fluid at a predetermined desired temperature.
One type of heat exchanger comprises tiny hollow fibers made of a polymeric material. Water entering the heat exchanger may flow around the outside surfaces of these fibers, while the physiologic fluid flows inside the fibers, or vice versa. The portion of the heat exchanger containing fluid which flows inside the fibers is known as the xe2x80x9ctubexe2x80x9d side, and the portion of the heat exchanger containing fluid which surrounds the fibers is known as the xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d side.
The first general embodiment of the invention is a polymeric heat exchange material which has higher resistance to elecrical discharge through the material. The second general embodiment of the invention is a method and apparatus for maintaining electrical charge equilibrium between the xe2x80x9ctubexe2x80x9d side and the xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d side of a polymeric heat exchanger, but the invention is not limited to only the tube-and-shell type of heat exchangers. The method comprises any technique for creating at least one electrical bridge between the tube side and the shell side. The apparatus comprises at least one electrical bridge between the tube side and the shell side. The only substantive requirement for the electrical bridge is that it permits sufficient current density to reduce the charge differential (or voltage potential) between the tube side and the shell side to a level below that at which electrical charge-induced breakdown of the polymeric material occurs. Since it is only necessary to equalize the charge between the tube and shell sides of the heat exchanger, an earth ground is not required. The two general embodiments may be employed separately or in combination.

Prevention of electrical discharges in polymeric heat exchangers


A foldable ladder has a first ladder portion and a second ladder portion hingedly attached to the first ladder portion by a pair of hinge mechanisms. Each hinge mechanism adapted to lock the first and second ladder portions such that the first ladder portion and the second ladder portion form an angle therebetween. The hinge mechanism has a shifting mechanism and a ladder angle selector coupled thereto to allow manual selection of the angle between the first and second ladder portions, and a locking pin to lock the first and second ladder portions at an angular position.

Ladders typically include rungs supported between stiles formed from a plurality of columns. In some cases, the ladder can be a telescoping ladder and can be expanded to separate the columns from one another for extension of the ladder, or collapsed together for retraction of the ladder. Such ladders often include mechanisms which can allow the ladder to be folded for storage and unfolded during use.


A low profile intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a quadruped. The intervertebral implant includes a plate and a spacer that extends from the plate. The intervertebral implant can define geometries that nest with complementary geometries of the vertebral bodies. Further, the plate can include fixation holes that extend along trajectories such that screws inserted through the fixation holes and driven into the respective vertebral bodies can purchase with dense cortical bone.

Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), also known as wobbler disease, affects primarily large and giant-breed canines, such as dobermans, great danes, and the like. Wobbler disease can cause an unsteady gait and weakness in canines. CSM can be caused by many different conditions, including malformation of the vertebrae, intervertebral disc protrusion, stenosis of the vertebral canal, and disease of the interspinal ligaments, ligamenta flava, and articular facets of the vertebrae. The instability can result in compression of the spinal cord.
Surgical interbody fusion is often performed to fuse adjacent vertebrae to each other, thereby eliminating the spinal cord compression. Conventional surgical techniques include distraction of the vertebral bodies, spanning the disc space with an intervertebral spacer, typically made from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and fixing the spacer in the disc space using screws or pins or the like. However, current surgical techniques risk complications, such as backing out of the screws or pins, cracking of the spacer, laceration of vertebral arteries, spinal nerves, nerve roots, and trauma to the spinal cord. Complications can further include improper placement of the pins or screws which are intended be bicortical, meaning that they are intended to thread into both a near cortex and a far cortex of the vertebral body.
What is therefore needed is an improved system for providing intervertebral fixation of a quadruped, and in particular of a canine.


A manually guided implement possesses a guide tube, wherein a first mass body is disposed on a first end of the guide tube, and a second mass body is disposed on a second end of the guide tube. One of the mass bodies has a housing, and the other of the mass bodies has a tool driven by a drive motor. A power transmission mechanism for driving the tool between the first and second ends of the guide tube is guided in the interior of the guide tube. A first antivibration element is disposed between the first end of the guide tube and the first mass body. The guide tube in the direction of the longitudinal central axis thereof includes a first rigid sub-portion and a second rigid sub-portion that are connected to one another at an abutment location by at least one second antivibration element.

The invention relates to a manually guided implement.
A manually guided implement, specifically a brush cutter, which has a guide tube is known from DE 100 34 437 A1. A housing in which a drive motor is disposed is disposed at one end of the guide tube. The tool of the brush cutter is disposed on the other end of the guide tube. A drive shaft for driving the tool protrudes through the guide tube. A damping element is disposed between the guide tube and the housing of the drive motor.
It has been demonstrated that oscillations can arise during operation, in particular in the case of implements having a long guide tube, for example in the case of hedge trimmers or pole cutters or the like, despite the guide tube being linked to the housing by way of an antivibration element.
It is also known for guide tubes of manually guided implements to be provided with a telescopic installation which enables a length-adjustment of the guide tube. To this end, the guide tube is usually composed of at least two sub-portions which can be retracted into one another or be extracted from one another and be mutually braced at desired positions. The mutual fastening of the two sub-portions of the guide tube herein is embodied so as to be tight and dimensionally stable. It has been demonstrated that the guide tube, when in operation, by way of exciter forces can be excited in terms of flexural oscillations. Said oscillations are transmitted to the gripping locations.


An ink paper cassette has ink paper, a supply shaft for supplying the ink paper, a take-up shaft for winding the ink paper, a front connecting portion for rotatably supporting first ends of the supply and the take-up shafts and a rear connecting portion for rotatably supporting second ends of the supply and the take-up shafts. The ink paper cassette is to be loaded into a printer. The printer performs thermal prints of characters and/or pictorial images onto a transfer paper with the ink paper loaded in the ink paper cassette. The front connecting portion has a depth so greater than that of the rear connecting portion that the front connecting portion is brought into abutment with a front face of a printer mechanism, whereby preventing the ink paper cassette from being loaded into the printer.

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus with a cartridge or cassette incorporating strip medium such as ink paper.
A method for loading ink paper onto a printer in which characters or images are to be printed with an ink applied paper has been well known in, for example, various printers or typewriters. In particular, a method for readily loading a wide ink paper onto a printer is known in JP-A-56/67278 in which a supply shaft for supplying the ink paper and a take-up shaft for winding up the ink paper are mounted on the cassette. During the printing operation, a pressure roller for superposing printing paper and the ink paper is connected to the supply shaft and take-up shaft within the cassette by a rotary connection means, thereby performing the feed of ink paper in response to the printing operation.
In accordance with the above-described prior art technique, if the cassette is inversely inserted into the thermal transfer recording apparatus, the cassette is inserted deeply into the apparatus so that a normal printing operation would not result. Also, if a cassette contains the particular ink paper such as super high sensitive ink paper that cannot be usually used in the ordinary thermal transfer recording apparatus, an improper printing would be carried out with an improper ink, resulting in an printing failure or a breakdown of the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

Thermal transfer recording apparatus with ink paper cassette


In an electric power steering device of the type wherein an input member connected to an electric motor and an output shaft including an output member connected to a steering wheel are connected via a plurality of sets of friction clutch mechanisms for transmitting an auxiliary torque from the electric motor to the output shaft, the output member is displaceable in a radial direction relative to the input member. In response to rotation of position control members of the friction clutch mechanisms, one of the friction clutch mechanisms sets is disengaged whereupon a force or pressure exerted from the locking members of the other friction clutch mechanism sets to the output member forces the output member to move in the radial direction relative to the input member. With this movement of the output member, a frictional engagement force acting between the locking members and the input and output members is reduced. Thus, the friction clutch mechanisms can be readily disengaged by a force which is much smaller than the force required to disengage all the friction clutch mechanisms at one time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in an electric power steering device.
2. Description of the Related Art:
In recent years, an electric power steering device has been used extensively to as the muscular effort or force required to steer or turn the steering handle can be reduced and hence provides a comfortable steering touch to the driver. The electric power steering device of the type concerned is constructed such that an auxiliary torque generated by an electric motor in proportion to the steering torque is transmitted via a mechanical clutch to the steering system. One example of such electric power steering device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. SHO 64-69829, entitled "Clutch Device".
The disclosed electric power steering device includes a cylindrical outer member connected to an electric motor, a shaft including a polygonal inner member connected to a steering wheel, and a clutch device for selectively connecting the internal member and the external member. The clutch device is composed of a plurality of friction clutch mechanisms disposed on the same circle. The clutch mechanisms each include a pair of wedge-shaped spaces (tapering spaces) defined between the inside surface of the cylindrical outer member and the outside surface of the polygonal inner member, a pair of rollers disposed in the wedge-shaped spaces, respectively, a spring acting between the rollers, and a retainer for positioning the rollers. The rollers selectively engage and disengage the outer member and the inner member (to engage and disengage the clutch device) in response to the movement of the retainer in a circumferential direction.
In general, at the initial stage of a steering motion of the steering wheel (caused when the steering wheel is turned back from one direction to the opposite direction, for example), only a very small steering torque is developed and, hence, the motor is not activated. Thus, no auxiliary torque is transmitted to the clutch device. Accordingly, in order to disengage the clutch device, a force which is greater than a frictional force required to lock up the rollers must be exerted. This clutch-releasing force should preferably be as small as possible so that the driver can get a comfortable steering touch.
On the other hand, when the need arises due to some reasons, the clutch device must be smoothly disengageable even though transmission of the auxiliary torque from the motor to the steering system is still continuing. In this case, clutch releasing operation requires a greater clutch-releasing force than as usual, posing a greater burden to the driver.


The invention relates to certain stable vaccine compositions comprising a macrocyclic lactone compound, a milbemycin compound, an avermectin compound or mixtures thereof; at least one antigen; a dispersing agent; an adjuvant; a water soluble organic solvent; and saline or water or mixtures thereof. The invention further relates to stable compositions as described above of a macrocyclic lactone compound, a milbemycin compound, an avermectin compound or mixtures thereof, but without an antigen. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or controlling helminthiasis, infection by acarids and arthropod endo-and ectoparasites and bacterial and viral disease in warm-blooded animals by the parenteral administration of compositions of the invention. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of the invention compositions.

Macrolide compounds including macrocyclic lactones such as LL-F28249.alpha.-.lambda. compounds, 23-oxo or 23-imino derivatives of LL-F28249.alpha.-.lambda. compounds, milbemycin compounds such as milbemycin D and milbemycin oxime, avermectin compounds such as abamectin, ivermectin and doramectin, and mixtures thereof are useful for the prevention and control of helminthiasis and infection by acarids and arthropod endo- and ectoparasites in warm-blooded animals. Subcutaneous injection of aqueous compositions is one of the preferred methods for administering those compounds.
Vaccines are used to protect warm-blooded animals from a variety of diseases and are also administered by subcutaneous injection. However, a vaccine composition containing both a macrolide compound and antigens is not known. The primary reason for the lack of such a combination vaccine is due to the fact that aqueous injectable compositions of macrolide compounds contain dispersing agents which are known to interact with proteins and affect the permeability of the outer membrane of bacterial cells. Such interaction can denature or otherwise disrupt proteins such as antigens.
GB-A-2030043 describes injectable compositions which comprise tetramisole or its levorotatory isomer and a vaccine. However, that application does not disclose a combination vaccine which includes a complex macrolide compound. Further, that application does not describe the use of a dispersing agent, an important component in aqueous macrolide injectable compositions.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide stable vaccine compositions comprising macrolide compounds and antigens. It is also an object to provide stable compositions of macrolide compounds in the absence of an antigen.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing or controlling helminthiasis, infection by acarid and arthropod endo- and ectoparasites and bacterial and viral disease in warm-blooded animals.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of stable vaccine compositions.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description thereof set forth below.

Stable vaccine compositions for parenteral administration, a method for their use, and a process for their preparation


The present invention relates to a phosphorylated glyceryl ether aluminum salt represented by the general formula (1):

Conspicuous pores on skin are listed at the higher rank of women's skin problems. Causes of conspicuous pores include, for example, clogged dirt and oil in the pores, pigmentary deposits and the shape of the opening of the hair pouch. As to the pore-clogging dirt and oil, various removing agents have been developed and used widely. Removal of the pore-clogging dirt and oil itself, however, is rather a drawback because pores on skin become more conspicuous unless the pore size is also decreased. Therefore, a contracting agent which makes pores inconspicuous by shrinking the pore itself has been demanded. From such point of view, phosphorylated glyceryl ethers have been known as compounds which significantly contract keratinocyte (JP-A1-2002-187817). In addition, the phosphorylated glyceryl ethers have been known to be ameliorating agents forskin elasticity (JP-A1-2001-192315).
As indicated by the presence of sebum and clogged dirt and oil in pores, the environment of pores is lipophilic. However, the above-described conventional phosphorylated glyceryl ethers are water-soluble. Therefore, a continued need exists for a compound which works more effectively on pores.

Phosphorylated glyceryl ether aluminum salt

Abstract: (wherein R1 represents an alkyl or an alkenyl group with 8 to 32 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a phosphoric acid residue or —CH2CH(OR2)CH2OR1 (wherein R1 and R2 are the same as described above, provided that a repeated binding number is 4 at the most when R2 is —CH2CH(OR2)CH2OR1); X1 represents a hydrogen atom or a phosphoric acid residue, and at least one of X1 and R2 is a phosphoric acid residue; Y represents an alkali metal atom or an alkaline earth metal atom; m represents a number from 0.3 to 1, and n represents a number from 0 to 1), and an external dermatological agent containing the same. The compound has benefits such as an excellent pore contracting activity and also a good solubility in oil.


A method for resizing a pattern to be written by using lithography technique includes calculating a first dimension correction amount of a pattern for correcting a dimension error caused by a loading effect, for each small region made by virtually dividing a writing region of a target workpiece into meshes of a predetermined size, based on an area density of the each small region, calculating a second dimension correction amount in accordance with a line width dimension of the pattern to be written in the each small region, correcting the first dimension correction amount by using the second dimension correction amount, and resizing the line width dimension of the pattern by using a corrected first dimension correction amount, and outputting a result of the resizing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for resizing a pattern to be written by lithography technique, and a charged particle beam writing method. More particularly, for example, the present invention relates to a method of previously resizing a pattern by using a dimension change amount of the pattern which is produced by a loading effect when performing a pattern forming after writing the pattern using electron beams, and to a writing method and apparatus for writing a pattern on a target workpiece based on resized pattern data using electron beams.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microlithography technology which forwards miniaturization of semiconductor devices is extremely important, because only this process performs forming a pattern in semiconductor manufacturing processes. In recent years, with an increase in high integration and large capacity of large-scale integrated circuits (LSI), a circuit line width required for semiconductor elements is becoming narrower and narrower. In order to form a desired circuit pattern on these semiconductor devices, a master pattern (also called a mask or a reticle) with high precision is required. Then, since the electron beam (EB) technology for writing or "drawing" a pattern has excellent resolution intrinsically, it is used for manufacturing such high precision master patterns.
FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram describing operations of a conventional variable-shaped electron beam writing apparatus. The variable-shaped electron beam (VSB) pattern writing apparatus operates as follows: As shown in the figure, the pattern writing apparatus includes two aperture plates. A first or "upper" aperture plate 410 has an opening or "hole" 411 in the shape of a rectangle for shaping an electron beam 330. This shape of the rectangular opening may also be a square, a rhombus, a rhomboid, etc. A second or "lower" aperture plate 420 has a variable-shaped opening 421 for shaping the electron beam 330 having passed through the opening 411 of the first aperture plate 410 into a desired rectangle. The electron beam 330 that left a charged particle source 430 and has passed through the opening 411 is deflected by a deflector. Then, the electron beam 330 passes through a part of the variable-shaped opening 421 of the second aperture plate 420, and irradiates a target workpiece 340 mounted on a stage that is continuously moving in a predetermined direction (e.g. X-axis direction). In other words, a rectangular shape capable of passing through both of the opening 411 and the variable-shaped opening 421 is written in a pattern writing region of the target workpiece 340 mounted on the stage. This method of writing or "forming" a given variable shape by letting beams pass through both of the opening 411 and the specially shaped opening 421 is called a variable shaped beam (VSB) system.
In the electron beam writing mentioned above, highly precise uniformity of the line width is required in the surface of a target workpiece, such as a mask surface, when writing a pattern on the target workpiece. However, in the electron beam writing, a phenomenon called a proximity effect occurs when electron beams irradiate a circuit pattern on a mask where resist is applied. The proximity effect is generated by the backward scattering of electron beams penetrating a resist film, reaching a layer thereunder to be reflected, and being incident into the resist film again. As a result, a dimension change deviated from a desired dimension occurs when a pattern is written. On the other hand, after writing a pattern, when developing the resist film or etching the layer thereunder, a dimension change called a loading effect caused by density difference of a circuit pattern occurs.
As the loading effect being a dimension change occurring in a charged particle beam writing represented by an electron beam writing, the following can be cited as examples: a loading effect generated when developing a resist film, a loading effect generated when etching chromium (Cr) serving as a shading film under a resist film, and a loading effect generated when a pattern dimension change is produced by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). In the electron beam writing, more highly precise uniformity of the line width in a mask surface is required with narrowing the line width of a pattern. Therefore, a loading effect correction to correct the dimension change caused by the loading effect is needed. The correction is executed, based on a design line width of a circuit pattern (design pattern), by performing writing using a dimension resized by previously estimating a dimension change amount (dimension error) caused by a loading effect, and then a desired design line width can be obtained after the loading effect produced by etching etc. For example, when a calculated dimension change amount produced by a loading effect becomes positive (direction of the line width becoming wide), the circuit pattern is irradiated after being resized so that the line width may become narrower than the design line width by the dimension change amount produced by the loading effect.
As to the loading effect correction, it is disclosed that a pattern data correction amount is calculated by adding a loading effect correction amount for correcting a dimension change produced in etching, to a process resizing amount for correcting a pattern shape error generated in writing and developing. ((Refer to, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-279950 (JP-A-2004-279950))
As the method of resizing a pattern for correcting the loading effect, there are a method of performing correction by changing a dose amount of electron beams after the shot division and a method of correcting the pattern shape itself before the shot division. The latter method will be described hereinafter.
Conventionally, when correcting a pattern shape itself, namely resizing a pattern dimension, a uniform resizing amount has been used for a pattern included in a certain small region regardless of the pattern shape. However, with an increase in miniaturization of a writing pattern, problems have occurred because of using a uniform correction amount (resizing amount) for all of a pattern. For example, in the case of a resizing amount being 20 nm, if a figure pattern with a width of 1 μm is resized to be narrower, the width becomes 980 nm and its reduction rate is 2%. On the other hand, if a figure pattern with a width of 100 nm is resized to be narrower, the width becomes 80 nm and its reduction rate is 20%. That is, an over-correction is made for the figure pattern with a width of 100 nm. Thus, when using a uniform resizing amount in a small region, the writing cannot be highly precisely executed because an over-corrected pattern is formed.

Method for resizing pattern to be written by lithography technique, and charged particle beam writing method


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detecting and sending control signaling, a user equipment, and a base station. The detecting method includes: obtaining, by a UE, a transmission mode of a data channel configured by a base station; determining, by the UE, a first DCI format and a second DCI format that are corresponding to the transmission mode, where PDCCH information corresponding to the first DCI format is transmitted in a precoding-based mode, and PDCCH information corresponding to the second DCI format is transmitted in a single-antenna port mode or transmit diversity mode based on non-precoding; and detecting, by the UE and in a subframe, PDCCH information corresponding to the first DCI format and the second DCI format according to a mode in which the PDCCH information is transmitted.

In a long term evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) system, downlink control information (Downlink Control Information, DCI) is carried over a physical downlink control channel (Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH), and may also be referred to as PDCCH information. Different transmission modes may correspond to PDCCH information in a variety of DCI formats. Because a capacity of a PDCCH is limited, a PDCCH based on a dedicated reference signal (Dedicated Reference Signal, DRS) (DRS-based PDCCH, D-PDCCH) is introduced to carry the PDCCH information, where the PDCCH information is transmitted in a precoding-based mode in the D-PDCCH.
The prior art does not provide how to send and detect PDCCH information that is transmitted in a precoding-based mode.

Method for detecting and sending control signaling, user equipment, and base station


Technologies for software testing include a computing device having persistent memory that includes a platform simulator and an application or other code module to be tested. The computing device generates a checkpoint for the application at a test location using the platform simulator. The computing device executes the application from the test location to an end location and traces all writes to persistent memory using the platform simulator. The computing device generates permutations of persistent memory writes that are allowed by the hardware specification of the computing device simulated by the platform simulator. The computing device replays each permutation from the checkpoint, simulates a power failure, and then invokes a user-defined test function using the platform simulator. The computing device may test different permutations of memory writes until the application's use of persistent memory is validated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Some computing systems include persistent memory, which may be byte-addressable, high-performance, non-volatile memory. Persistent memory may provide performance comparable to traditional volatile random access memory (RAM) while also providing data persistence. However, persistent memory may present additional challenges to application developers. In particular, application developers may have to guarantee that at any given time, data in persistent memory is consistent. Otherwise, unexpected failures such as hardware failures or power failures may result in data corruption.
Traditional software development tools such as compilers and debuggers may be used to correct errors and otherwise verify the correctness of applications using persistent memory. Additionally, a hypervisor-based framework for testing applications that use persistent memory is described in Philip Lantz et al., Yat: A Validation Framework for Persistent Memory Software, USENIX Annual Technical Conference at 433 (2014).

Technologies for application validation in persistent memory systems