Methods, compositions and kits are disclosed for determining one or more target polypeptides in a sample where the target polypeptides have undergone a post-translational modification. A mixture comprising the sample and a first reagent comprising a cleavage-inducing moiety and a first binding agent for a binding site on a target polypeptide is subjected to conditions under which binding of respective binding moieties occurs. The binding site is the result of post-translational modification activity involving the target polypeptide. The method may be employed to determine the target polypeptide itself. In another embodiment the presence and/or amount of the target polypeptide is related to the presence and/or amount and/or activity of an agent such as an enzyme involved in the post-translational modification of the target polypeptide. The interaction between the first binding agent and the binding site brings the cleavage-inducing moiety into close proximity to a cleavable moiety, which is associated with the polypeptide and is susceptible to cleavage only when in proximity to the cleavage-inducing moiety. In this way, an electrophoretic tag for each of the polypeptides may be released. Released electrophoretic tags are separated and the presence and/or amount of the target polypeptides are determined based on the corresponding electrophoretic tags.

The present invention relates to separable compositions, methods, and kits for use in detection and quantitation of polypeptides. The invention finds particular application to the area of multiplexed assays for polypeptides including proteins involved in post-translational activity.
The need to determine many analytes including polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences in blood or other biological fluids has become increasingly apparent in many branches of medicine. Most multi-analyte assays, such as assays in the genomics area that detect multiple nucleic acid sequences, involve multiple steps, have poor sensitivity, a limited dynamic range (typically on the order of 2 to 100-fold differences, and some require sophisticated instrumentation. Some of the known classical methods for multianalyte assays include the following:                a. The use of two different radioisotope labels to distinguish two different analytes.        b. The use of two or more different fluorescent labels to distinguish two or more analytes.        c. The use of lanthanide chelates where both lifetime and wavelength are used to distinguish two or more analytes.        d. The use of fluorescent and chemiluminescent labels to distinguish two or more analytes.        e. The use of two different enzymes to distinguish two or more analytes.        f. The use of enzyme and acridinium esters to distinguish two or more analytes.        g. Spatial resolution of different analytes, for example on arrays, to identify and quantify multiple analytes.        h. The use of acridinium ester labels where lifetime or dioxetanone formation is used to quantify two different viral targets.
Proteomics has come of interest over the last few years. While proteomics is more complex than genomics, the study of proteins gives more accurate pictures of cell biology than studying mRNA. The field of proteomics is very broad and involves areas such as, for example, protein profiling by the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to study proteins expressed in the cell, protein-protein interaction using yeast two-hybrid method, pathway analysis to understand signal transduction and other complex cell processes, large scale protein folding and 3-D structure studies and high-throughput expression and purification of proteins, cellular expression during metabolism, mitosis, meiosis, in response to an external stimulus, e.g., drug, virus, change in physical or chemical condition, involving excess or deficient nutrients and cofactors, stress, aging, presence of particular strains of an organism and identifying the organism and strain, multiple drug resistance, protein-DNA interactions, protein-peptide interactions, and the like. It is necessary to have a means for identifying a large number of proteins in a single sample, as well as providing some quantitation of the different proteins being detected.
As the human genome is elucidated, there will be numerous opportunities for performing diagnostic procedures relating to the coding sequences of genes. One major function of genes is to generate proteins, which play a major role in the work carried out in a cell. Because the protein functions in a cell are dynamic, the structure, concentration, location, and so forth of a particular protein at a particular point in time is constantly changing. Analysis of protein expression patterns is the subject of ongoing genomics projects. Studies of physiologically active forms of proteins and their spatial and temporal interaction in the cell is an important aspect of the overall study.
One post-translational modification of proteins is the addition or removal of phosphate groups. Protein phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation reactions have been established as major components of metabolic regulation and signal transduction pathways. Variations in protein phosphorylation provide the predominant means of enzymatic regulation now known in biological systems, especially in the regulation of signal transduction from cell surface receptors. Reversible phosphorylation is important for transmitting regulatory signals, including proliferative ones, in all living cells. To understand the molecular basis of these regulatory mechanisms, it is necessary to identify the specific amino acid residues that become phosphorylated. By identifying the substrates and sites of phosphorylation, diagnostic tools may be developed for some tumors and the modification of the process itself could be a target for therapeutic intervention.
Polypeptides such as growth factors, differentiation factors and hormones are crucial components of the regulatory system that coordinates development of multicellular organisms. Many of these factors mediate their pleiotropic actions by binding to and activating cell surface receptors with an intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. Changes in cell behavior induced by extracellular signaling molecules such as growth factors and cytokines require execution of a complex program of transcriptional events. To activate or repress transcription, transcription factors must be located in the nucleus, bind DNA, and interact with the basal transcription apparatus. Accordingly, extracellular signals that regulate transcription factor activity may affect one or more of these processes. Most commonly, regulation is achieved by reversible phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of a transcription factor by several different kinases (or by a kinase linked to more than one pathway) is a simple mechanism that allows different signals to converge at the same factor.
There are a number of approaches in the literature directed to the analysis of phosphorylation. One such method is two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of 32P-labeled proteins. Another approach relies on mass spectrometry for analysis of non-radiolabeled phosphoproteins. In another approach (Cao, et al, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. (2000) 14:1600-1606) phosphorylation sites of proteins are mapped using on-line immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC)/capillary electrophoresis (CE)/electrospray ionization multiple stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS). The IMAC resin retains and preconcentrates phosphorylated proteins and peptides, CE separates the phosphopeptides of a mixture eluted from the IMAC resin, and MS provides information including the phosphorylation sites of each component.
A procedure for micropurification of phosphorylated peptides, as a front end to mass spectrometric analysis, is disclosed by Posewitz, et al., Anal. Chem. (1999) 71:2883-2892. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography in a microtip format and more specifically, in combination with gallium III ions is employed. Phosphopeptides are retrieved in near quantitative and highly selective manner, to yield a concentrated sample for direct analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight and nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
A need still exists, however, for methods for identifying and/or determining activity of and/or determining the presence and/or amounts of polypeptides involved in post-translational modification processes. The methods should be able to identify the modification that has occurred, the site or sites of modification and the location of the sites of modification. The methods should utilize class-specific reagents where possible and be able to detect multiple polypeptides in a single assay, i.e., have a high degree of multiplexing capability. The methods should allow information to be determined in real time and allow a determination of the importance of certain polypeptides in biological pathways. Furthermore, it is important that the method permit multiplexing in order to determine whether a particular pathway is activated.

Methods and compositions for analyzing proteins


A transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, a record system as well as a media allowing selection of the ideal record media by the receiver. The EPG data generator of a transmit device generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) showing the scheduled transmission of the program to be broadcast. An editor generates supplemental information containing information indicating the program data quantity, adds the supplemental information to the EPG and a multiplexer transmits the EPG added with the supplemental information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, record system as well as a media and relates in particular to a transmit device and method, record/play device and method as well as a record system for transmitting the data quantity for a program from the digital broadcast, detecting the available capacity of the record media on the receive side, comparing both transmit data quantity and receive side available capacity and selecting the optimal record media for recording the data of that program.
2. Background of the Invention
Digital satellite broadcasting has recently become capable of providing programs on more than 100 channels. When the available channels become this numerous, selecting a desired channel becomes an inconvenient task for the viewer. Whereupon EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data is transmitted separately from the actual program information and the viewer can then select the desired channel based on the EPG.
In order for the viewer to be able to select the desired program from among the many available programs, the EPG data contains a table comprised of basic data such as broadcast station (channel) information, daily program broadcast information, program start time information and program length, etc. In addition to this information, information for the respective program attribute information descriptors such as the program title information, detailed program information (plot) is also sent. This transmitted information is acquired by the receiver and the EPG data corresponding to the data for a particular channel can be displayed on a monitor.
In contrast to analog broadcasts where the overall amount of data of the broadcast program is determined in proportion to the program broadcast time length in a fixed method, in digital broadcasts, the overall amount of program data is further determined by the proportion of transmission bit rate to the program broadcast time length.
Accordingly, in digital broadcasts it is difficult to know beforehand how much available record media will be required in order to receive the program. Consequently, selecting the optimal record media to record the program data is difficult.
In view of the above situation, this invention is intended to allow the program data quantity for the digital broadcast to be sent and the optimal record media to be selected by the receiver based on this program data quantity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmit device and method thereof, record/play device and method thereof as well as recording system and media


Self-injection system allows a user to inject a drug from a cartridge carrying unique identification information, into any one of a plurality of injection sites. Tissue at each injection site is associated with at least one injection parameter, such as flow-rate, that is different for each site. A scanner reads the identification information of the cartridge and cooperates with a central processing unit to determine the validity of the drug in order to permit an injection procedure to commence. The central processing unit has a memory for storing the different injection parameters and controls a drive unit for driving fluid from the cartridge and through a needle into the selected tissue, at the injection parameter that is associated with the user selected tissue for the injection.

The present invention relates generally to the field of medicament delivery systems and in particular to a drug deliver platform comprising an injection device for delivering medicaments to a subject through a needle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a drug delivery platform for self-administration of an injection having one or more of a medicament delivery device with stored tissue and site specific parameters for different injections, a non-sequential user feedback control process, a training component, a failsafe component, a drug monitoring and reporting component, a compliance assistance component, and a dynamic diagnostic drug delivery component. Further, this application relates to a method for using the same.
Human error in the health care environment accounts for an estimated 98,000 deaths a year. This staggering figure exceeds the numbers of death related to automobile accidents (about 43,450), breast cancer (42,300) or AIDS (16,500) as reported by the National Academy of Science [1]. National outcry has mandated that improved systems be developed to reduce the number of mistakes made in the health care setting. There is, therefore, an unaddressed, long felt need for a means of improving patient compliance by way of training, tracking and verifying subcutaneous injections performed on patients in an outpatient setting.
A "Standard of Care" in drug administration is defined by the ability to control a variety of drug delivery parameters of the injection/infusion event and ultimately ensure patient safety and patient comfort. These elements are currently lacking as it pertains to in-home, self-administered injection devices. Such devices may be generally categorized into two groups: manual disposable syringe based devices or auto-injection "pen" devices.
Manual disposable syringe based devices have existing since the mid-1800's. In 1844, Irish physician Francis Rynd, invented the hollow needle. In 1853, two physicians, Scottish physician Alexander Wood and the French physician Charles Pravaz, independently developed first practical hypodermic syringes [2]. Companies such as Becton Dickinson (1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, N.J. 07417) have developed disposable syringe based devices for over 100 years. These devices were designed for a single purpose of performing a subcutaneous injection through a hollow-bore needle affixed to the syringe device. Syringes are simple mechanical systems with no capability of refined fluid dynamics or ability to integrate advanced digital capabilities.
Auto-injection "pen" devices have recently become increasingly popular for single-dose or multi-dose, at-home self-administration. These auto-injection "pen" devices are primarily designed to accomplish two basic objectives: convenience and automation of drug delivery in an outpatient setting. These are typically mechanically spring-loaded devices that advance a plunger or rubber stopper to transfer medication via a hollow-bore needle to a patient's tissues. Auto-injection "pen" devices lack the ability to regulate flow-rate of injection, tissue exit-pressure of the injection or to integrate advanced digital capabilities. A significant limitation of auto-injection pens are the inability to control injection parameters such as flow-rate and pressure, or to collect and transfer digital information from the device to other sources.
See published international patent applications WO 2005/077441 A2 and WO 2007/088444 A1, applied for by Ares Trading S. A., which disclose hand-held electronically controlled injection devices designed to perform an injection by first mechanically advancing the needle into the subject's tissue, and then advancing a plugger for injecting the liquid drug into the tissue. The initial, and potentially most uncomfortable needle insertion step is performed by the device as part of its automated function, rather than by the subject. The speed of insertion of the needle is set by the device and automation of the insertion step may contribute to further discomfort, in that the subject may feel as though he or she has, in effect, been stabbed by the device, in a manner over which the subject has no control.
Manual syringes and auto-injection "pen" devices are devices that are designed to conveniently administer a fluid-flowing drug subcutaneously via a hollow-core needle. These devices are not designed to reduce apprehension, pain, user pain perception and/or prevent local trauma during the delivery of the medication. The inability to precisely control flow-rate and/or exit-pressure of the drug, and, in the devices that automate the insertion step, the inability to control needle insertion, further increase the chance of a negative experience by the home user, possibly leading to a reduction in home-use compliance when using such devices.
The mechanical design of these devices incorporates mechanical limitations that result in ineffective management of fluid flow specifically, and the overall inject process in general.
Another major deficiency in state of the art injection devices is that they do not provide a means for promoting user compliance for the outpatient, self-injecting segment of the market. Current manual syringes and auto-injection "pen" devices are susceptible to operator error and, as a result, lower user compliance. These operator mistakes can unfortunately lead to patient deaths and iatrogenic illnesses. There is, therefore, an unaddressed and long felt need to provide an apparatus and method for improving the safety of self-administration of medicaments, as well and improving patient drug regimen compliance.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method for a carrier aggregation system. The communication method includes receiving physical downlink share channel PDSCH information sent by a base station through a subframe n of a secondary cell. If a subframe n of a primary cell is a downlink subframe, an ACK/NACK of the sent PDSCH information is fed back on a subframe m or a subframe p of the primary cell.

For a long term evolution LTE (Long Term Evolution) version 8 (Release 8, R8) system, a base station and a user equipment (UE) communicate and transmit data on a carrier. The base station schedules the UE by a physical downlink control channel PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel). The PDCCH may be downlink scheduling grant (DL_grant) or uplink scheduling grant (UL_grant) information, respectively carrying time frequency resource distribution scheduling information and the like for indicating a physical downlink share channel PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) or a physical uplink share channel PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel). The UE, after receiving and decoding the PDCCH, according to the carried scheduling information, receives downlink data PDSCH or sends uplink data PUSCH, and thereafter, the UE feeds back uplink ACK/NACK (AN) for the downlink data, where feeding back ACK indicates determining receiving or receiving success and feeding back NACK indicates that no determining receiving or receiving failure. The base station, after receiving the uplink data, feeds back downlink AN. PDCCH and its scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH, and PDSCH and its corresponding uplink AN have a certain timing relationship, that is, or sequential relationship.
To increase a peak rate and meet the requirement of the future communication system for a data rate, an enhanced long term evolution LTE-A (Long Term Evolution Advanced) system introduces the carrier aggregation CA (Carrier Aggregation) technology, that is, allocating member carriers (Component Carrier, CC) to one UE for supporting a higher rate of data transmission. For example, an LTE version 10 (Release 10, R10) system configures a plurality of carriers for a UE, including a pair of uplink and downlink primary carriers (Primary CC, PCC) and the remaining carriers are secondary carriers (Secondary CC or SCC), where a PCC is also called a primary cell (PCell) and an SCC is also called a secondary cell (SCell), and an uplink AN of the UE can only be sent in an uplink PCell. Additionally, in a carrier aggregation scenario, an LTE R10 system supports cross-carrier scheduling, that is, sending the PDCCH of a plurality of carriers for scheduling a UE to a certain or several carriers, such as a PCell.
In a TDD CA system where a plurality of carriers has different UL-DL configurations, because the UL-DL configuration of a PCell and that of an SCell are different, according to the SCell timing relationship, communication between the base station and the UE through the SCell may be not normally performed.

Communication method and apparatus for carrier aggregation system


An apparatus and a method for inspecting a brake system of a two-wheeled vehicle are provided, which not only can reduce the time required for each inspection of the two-wheeled vehicle to efficiently perform inspection of the two-wheeled vehicle, but also remarkably improve the inspection accuracy. Each wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle is supported by respective corresponding support rollers and an anti-lock brake system and a front and rear wheel interlocking brake system acts on the wheels. Data for rotational speeds of the rollers supporting the wheel acted upon by the anti-lock brake system are measured by measuring encoders 20, 31. Data for temperature of a brake actuating part 45 of the wheel acted upon by the front and rear wheel interlocking brake system is measured by a measuring sensor 46. Pass/fail determination of the brake system is performed by a determination 50 from a first pass/fail determining element obtained by the measuring encoders 20, 31 and a second pass/fail determining element obtained by the measuring sensor 46.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting an anti-lock brake system provided in a two-wheeled vehicle and a front and rear wheel interlocking brake system including the anti-lock brake system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, apparatuses for inspecting actuation of an anti-lock brake system (hereinafter referred to as ABS) and a front and rear wheel interlocking brake system (hereinafter referred to as CBS) of a two-wheeled vehicle are known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-281108, for example).
The inspecting apparatus comprises one pair of support rollers (front wheel support rollers) on which a front wheel is situated and supported and one pair of support rollers (rear wheel support rollers) on which a rear wheel is situated and supported, wherein one of the front wheel support rollers and one of the rear wheel support rollers are coupled with each other by coupling means to synchronously rotate. The surface of each roller is formed of a low friction material. In addition, on the other front wheel support roller and the other rear wheel support roller, rotational speed detecting means for detecting rotational speed of the respective roller are provided in a coupled manner. Further, a drive motor is coupled to one of the rear wheel support rollers via a clutch.
In the inspecting apparatus configured in this manner, when the ABS of the two-wheeled vehicle is inspected, the front wheel and the rear wheel of the test vehicle are firstly situated on one pair of the front wheel support rollers and one pair of the rear wheel support rollers, respectively and the rear wheel support roller is rotated by the drive motor. Thereby, both rear wheel support rollers rotate via the rear wheel and this rotation is further transmitted via one front wheel support rollers to the front wheel and the other front wheel support roller, so that all rollers rotate synchronously.
Then, when the rotational speed of the roller obtained from the rotational speed detecting means reaches a predetermined speed, the clutch is brought into the OFF state to disconnect the one rear wheel support roller from the drive motor and an operator fully inputs the brake in this state. Accordingly, each roller which is disconnected from the driving force of the drive motor by means of the clutch continues to inertially rotate, while the rotational speed of each roller gradually decreases due to deceleration by the brake input. Because the surface of each roller is formed of the low friction material, slip occurs between the wheels of the two-wheeled vehicle and the respective rollers so that the ABS actuates to perform pumping brake action. Thereafter, each roller stops by actuation of the brake and then pass/failure determination of the ABS performance is performed by comparing the stop time and a value which is predetermined in actual driving measurement.
Also when the CBS of the two-wheeled vehicle is inspected by the conventional inspecting apparatus, as is the case of the ABS inspection, one of the brakes (e.g. the rear wheel brake) is inputted and the other brake (e.g. the front wheel brake) is interlocked with the former, and pass/fail determination of the CBS performance is performed by comparing the stop time of each roller and a value which is predetermined in actual driving measurement.
However, in the ABS inspection by the conventional inspecting apparatus, the determination result cannot be obtained unless rotation of each support roller stops after the brake input and therefore it is disadvantageous that the inspection time is relatively long. Further, because actuation check of the CBS is performed with physical feeling of the operator, the operator is required to be skilled in the task and it is disadvantageous that high inspection accuracy can not be expected.
Therefore, it has been proposed that increase/decrease in rotational speed of the wheel caused by repetition of ON/OFF of the brake during the ABS actuation is measured to determine a waveform based on this measured data and pass/fail determination of the ABS and CBS is performed by determining whether a part of the waveform is within a predetermined range in a predetermined elapsed time or not (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-254870, for example). According to this approach, the inspection time can be significantly reduced because inspection of the brake system can be performed without sampling the elapsed time from the brake input until the wheel stops.
However, also in this approach, one of the front wheel support rollers and one of the rear wheel support rollers are coupled with each other by the coupling means to synchronously rotate. Therefore, particularly in the CBS inspection, even if increases/decreases in the rotational speeds of the front wheel and the rear wheel are measured, it is disadvantageously not clear whether the increases/decreases in the rotational speeds of both wheels results from the CBS actuation or results from the braking force transmitted from one wheel to the other wheel through the coupling means.
Thus, in some two-wheeled vehicles provided with the CBS, the braking forces may be differently distributed in interlocking the rear wheel brake and the front wheel brake. In such a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, if the braking force for the front wheel brake actuation by the CBS is set to be remarkably smaller than that for the rear wheel brake at the time of fully inputting the rear wheel brake, it is conceivable that the increase/decrease in the rotational speed of the front wheel may not result from the actual actuation by the front wheel brake, but from the effect of the braking force of the rear wheel transmitted to the front wheel through the coupling means. If the pass/fail determination is performed based on the measured data which is sampled in such a condition, the interlock by the CBS can be determined to be successful even though the front wheel brake does not actuate, which results in a disadvantage of reducing the inspection accuracy.
To solve the above described disadvantages, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for inspecting a brake system of a two-wheeled vehicle, which not only can reduce the time required for each inspection of the two-wheeled vehicle to efficiently perform the inspection of the two-wheeled vehicle, but also remarkably improve the inspection accuracy.

Apparatus and method for inspecting brake system of two-wheeled vehicle


A seat pedestal assembly including a center post having a lower distal end adapted to be slidingly and rotatably received by a boat deck; a support frame including a center sleeve and a plurality of seat members disposed parallel to and in spaced relation with the center sleeve, the seat members being angularly spaced equidistantly around the center post, each of the seat members having an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a length, each of the seat members being respectively connected to the center sleeve by a connecting member; the center sleeve having an inner diameter adapted to slidingly and rotatably receive the center post therethrough; and, each of the seat members inner diameter being adapted to respectively receive for axial and rotational movement therein a seat post provided depending downwardly from an existing seat.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to seat pedestal assemblies for use on boat decks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a seat pedestal assembly for use on a boat deck, wherein the pedestal assembly supports a plurality of seats.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A seat is often provided on a deck of a boat to permit any passenger thereof to sit thereon or fish therefrom. More particularly, the seat is typically located towards the front portion of the boat deck and is pivotable about an axis thereof perpendicular to the boat deck, thereby permitting the passenger thereof to sit thereon and face outwardly from the boat in any direction therefrom.
It is often desirable to provide a second seat towards the rear portion of the boat deck which permits a second passenger to sit thereon or fish therefrom while permitting a first passenger to simultaneously sit on or fish from the first seat. However, with respect to many boats typical of the prior art, the rear portion of the boat deck often neither includes a second boat seat nor permits the provision of a second seat due to the presence of other permanent fixtures, such as, for example, an operator's cabin, a passenger bench or a water skiing post. In such a boat, only one passenger may sit on or fish from the first seat; the remaining passengers must therefore either stand on the boat deck or fish from non-pivotable bench seats, which is often uncomfortable or undesirable. It is therefore desirable to provide a seat pedestal assembly for use on a boat deck, wherein the pedestal assembly supports a plurality of seats.
It is furthermore desirable to provide a seat pedestal assembly for use on a boat deck, wherein the pedestal assembly is pivotally mounted to the boat deck using existing seat mounting means provided by the boat deck.
It is even furthermore desirable to provide a seat pedestal assembly for use on a boat deck, wherein the pedestal assembly includes means for receiving various attachments thereto, such as, for example, an overhead umbrella or a handle of a fishing rod.
It is furthermore desirable to provide a seat pedestal assembly for use on a boat deck wherein the pedestal assembly provides individual pivotal movement to the plurality of seats attached thereto.


The diaphragm of a dual tire equalizer has an axial probe actuating or not actuating a switch in a radio frequency transmitter circuit mounted on the wheel. The transmitter sends a signal varying, depending on the condition of the switch. A radio frequency receiver on the vehicle and connected to an indicator in the driver's cab responds to the signal and issues appropriate information to the driver concerning condition of the equalizer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dual tire pressure equalizer having means to communicate its status to the driver in his cab. Preferably, the communication means includes a radio frequency transmitter on the wheel and a receiver and display device in the cab.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under .sctn..sctn.1.97 to 1.99
U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,928 to Gordon R. Todhunter et al discloses a dual tire pressure equalizer and indicator. The equalizer in such devices normally has inlets from both tires, one being axial of the equalizer housing and the other being offset. A spring-pressed piston is provided in the housing, the spring urging the piston toward the axial inlet. Sealing means are provided usually in the form of a diaphragm transverse of the housing, and the piston presses the diaphragm to seat against the axial inlet when pressure is low in the chamber above the diaphragm. This seating cuts off communication between the two tires so that if one tire goes flat, they do not both go flat. A tire fill connection is provided in the housing.
Thus, in operation both tires may be filled through the fill connection by way of the chamber. Thereafter, the equalizer assures that both tires are at equal pressure to assure equal tire wear. When one tire develops a leak, the pressure in the chamber will drop and the spring will move the diaphragm to seat as described, cutting off communication.
The leak in a tire in the system described above can progress while the truck is actually speeding down the highway, and the driver will be none the wiser. Condition of the equalizer can only be known by checking its indicator when the truck is stopped.
In the prior art there have been other dual tire pressure equalizers and indicators. Examples are in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,445 which issued Sep. 16, 1947 to A. H. Davidson and the U.S. Pat. No. 1,882,455 which issued Oct. 11, 1932 to D. H. Spicer.
Using radio to transmit tire pressure information generally is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,210,898 and 4,273,728 to Betts. Other examples are disclosed in Wang U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,457 and Karbo 4,160,234.

Dual tire equalizer having remote indicator


Fine-grained parallelism within isolated object graphs is used to provide safe concurrent operations within the isolated object graphs. One example provides an abstraction labeled IsolatedObjectGraph that encapsulates at least one object graph, but often two or more object graphs, rooted by an instance of a type member. By encapsulating the object graph, no references from outside of the object graph are allowed to objects inside of the object graph. Also, the encapsulated object graph does not contain references to objects outside of the graphs. The isolated object graphs provide for safe data parallel operations, including safe data parallel mutations such as for each loops. In an example, the ability to isolate the object graph is provided through type permissions.

Concurrent programming for shared-memory multiprocessors can include the ability for multiple threads to access the same data. The multiple threads execute on multiple processors, multiple processor cores, or other classes of parallel hardware architecture involving a memory system shared among the processors. The shared-memory model is the most commonly deployed method of multithreaded communication. In such systems, concurrent threads can attempt to access and modify the same data in the shared-memory and perform side effects on this data and the real world through input/output. This can lead to race conditions and other undesired effects in concurrent programming and the stored data.
A major difficulty in implementing concurrent programming involves protecting the state of concurrently accessed data to avoid these undesired effects. Developers often rely on a form of synchronization for concurrency safety. Synchronization often involves the use of locks, which is a form of pessimistic concurrency control mechanism that prevents all other threads from accessing certain data while one thread is already doing so. Locks provide synchronization often at the expense of performance and scalability. Newer synchronization technologies, such as those based on optimistic concurrency control (like Software Transaction Memory), provide far superior performance and scalability than locks. But all contemporary synchronization mechanisms, even optimistic concurrency control systems, eventually provide scalability issues in concurrent programming: when threads wait for another, scalability drops; shared-memory systems use caches whose performance drops significantly when threads share access to memory; and so on.

Concurrent mutation of isolated object graphs


A concrete mold device for vertically forming a concrete panel comprises a plurality of concrete forms for collectively defining a mold cavity for receiving an uncured concrete mixture therein. The concrete forms include: a pair of opposing side wall forms configured to define side wall surfaces of the mold cavity; and a pair of opposing end wall forms, configured to define end wall surfaces of the mold cavity. An elongate lower support gasket has an upper surface configured to define a bottom surface of the mold cavity, the lower support gasket having gasket side walls configured to abut against at least a portion of each of the side wall forms to provide a seal between the lower support gasket and the side wall forms to retain the concrete mixture within the mold cavity. Reinforcing structure is associated with the lower support gasket to increase a load-bearing capacity of the lower support gasket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for vertically forming concrete panels for use in erecting concrete fences, walls and related structure.
2. Related Art
Vertically oriented concrete panels have been used for a number of years in applications including concrete fences, sound walls, partitions, etc. Concrete panels are often poured and cured in a central manufacturing area and shipped as cured panels to job sites, where the panels can be assembled into a fence or similar structure. It is often desirable to apply a textured, decorative finish to such concrete panels to enhance the appearance of the panels. Decorative finishes such as pseudo-brick finishes, pseudo-rock wall finishes, etc., give the concrete panels a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, and in some cases, such as in sound wall applications, can increase the effectiveness of the concrete panels.
Due to the difficulties inherent in vertically forming panels from uncured concrete, conventional processes often utilize a horizontal mold system to form panels which will be used in a vertical orientation. In one such method, a horizontal mold is formed that is relatively long and wide in relation to its vertical thickness; for instance 12 feet in length by 6 feet in width by 4 inches in vertical thickness. Such a horizontal mold would produce a vertical panel approximately 12 feet in length, 6 feet in height and 4 inches in horizontal thickness. While this process can provide a vertical panel having the desired vertical dimensions, it generally consumes a considerable amount of human labor and space. For instance, simultaneously pouring a sufficient number of concrete panels to erect 120 linear feet of fence would require at least 720 square feet of floor space to erect the molds, and additional floor space for movement of workers, equipment, etc.
In addition to the excessive labor hours and space such a process requires, applying a decorative finish on both sides of the horizontally-poured panel has proved difficult. For example, it is relatively easy to apply a decorative imprint on a bottom surface of a horizontal mold by placing an inverted, patterned mold form on the bottom of the mold which then forms the decorative imprint on lower side of the concrete panel. As the wet concrete is poured into the mold, the weight of the wet concrete ensures that the concrete fills indentations in the patterned mold to accurately form the pattern in the finished panel. However, such a process will only result in one side of the panel having a decorative imprint. While it may be possible to "press" an upper patterned form onto a horizontal mold in an attempt to apply a decorative finish on the opposing side of the panel, such a process can lead to voids or other irregularities appearing in the opposing side, as the weight of the concrete does not act to ensure that the concrete fills indentations corresponding to the decorative pattern desired.
For at least these reasons, attempts have been made to vertically pour concrete panels. This can be done by erecting forms which roughly correspond to the orientation the concrete panel will assume in use. However, conventional attempts to vertically pour panels have suffered from a number of problems. For example, vertically oriented forms are often held together by metal ties that are disposed through each wall form and the mold cavity that restrain the wall forms from separating in response to the weight of the uncured concrete poured into the cavity. This is problematic in that the resulting panel is structurally and aesthetically compromised by either the presence of the tie within the cured panel or a void left in the cured panel by removal of the tie.
In addition, vertically forming concrete panels has proved problematic in that the wet concrete poured into the forms has the tendency to flow under the forms and out of the mold cavity defined by the forms. This is especially problematic near the bottom of the forms, as it is at this location that the pressure from the weight of the uncured concrete is the greatest. Thus conventional methods of forming vertical concrete panels have produced panels that are structurally or aesthetically wanting, and often result in wasted materials and excessive labor due to leakage of uncured concrete from the mold.

System for vertically forming concrete panels


An apparatus and method for encoding picture data. A motion vector is detected and a distribution range of the detected motion vector is determined. Based upon such distribution range, a motion vector search range is predicted and set. Detection for the next motion vector is performed within the set search range. The picture data and/or motion vectors are variable length encoded, wherein codes having relatively short lengths may be utilized. As a result, the amount of information generated during such encoding may be relatively small. Upon reproduction of such encoded data, a picture having relatively high quality may be produced.

The present invention relates to a technique for motion compensating video picture data, encoding the motion compensated video picture data and recording such encoded video picture data.
A high-efficiency encoding system may conform to a Moving Picture Imaging Coding Experts Group (MPEG) standard. This MPEG system may be derived from an international standard prescriptions known as a video code for audiovisual services at p.times.64 kbit/s Recommendation H.261 of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector). The MPEG system may have a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM or the like, and may utilize motion compensation prediction for inter-frame prediction and discrete cosine transform (DCT) as an orthogonal transformation.
FIG. 8 illustrates a picture encoding device 200 which utilizes the above-mentioned MPEG system. As shown therein, such picture encoding device 200 generally includes a subtraction circuit 201, a DCT circuit 202, a quantization circuit 203, a variable length encoding circuit 204, a dequantization circuit 205, an inverse DCT circuit 206, an addition circuit 207, frame memories 208 and 210, a motion compensation circuit 209, and a motion vector detection circuit 211.
Video signals, which may represent blocks of pixels having a predetermined size (for example, 16.times.16 pixel blocks) which are obtained or divided from a current standard frame, may be supplied to an input terminal of the picture encoding device 200. Such video signals may be supplied therefrom as reference frame data to the frame memory 210, the motion vector detection circuit 211 and one input of the subtraction circuit 201.
The frame memory 210 may store the reference frame data received from the input terminal. The motion vector detection circuit 211 detects or determines motion vector(s) by reading out previous frame data stored in the frame memory 210, using such read frame data as a so-called search frame, and determining/detecting which blocks or positions of blocks of the search frame correspond to each block of a received reference frame. During such motion vector detection processing, a motion vector detection or search range may be utilized which has a pre-set size. The motion vector obtained by the motion vector detection circuit 211 is supplied to the motion compensation circuit 209 and the variable length encoding circuit 204.
In addition to the reference frame data from the input terminal, the subtraction circuit 201 receives motion compensated frame data from the motion compensation circuit 209. The subtraction circuit 201 subtracts the received data so as to obtain the difference between the reference frame data and the motion compensated frame data. The difference data is supplied to the DCT circuit 202, wherein discrete cosine transform processing is performed. An output signal from the DCT circuit 202 is supplied to the quantization circuit 203, wherein the received data is quantized in a predetermined manner. The quantized data from the quantization circuit 203 is supplied to the variable length encoding circuit 204. Simultaneously, the motion vector from the motion vector detection circuit 211 is also supplied to the variable length encoding circuit 204, as previously described. The variable length encoding circuit 204 encodes the received signals with variable length codes and supplies the encoded data to an output terminal.
The quantized data from the quantization circuit 203 is further supplied to the dequantization circuit 205, wherein processing substantially opposite to that performed by the quantization circuit 203 is performed. An output from the dequantization circuit 205 is supplied to the inverse DCT circuit 206, wherein processing substantially opposite to that performed by the DCT circuit 202 is performed so as to obtain the current frame data. Such current frame data is supplied to one input of the addition circuit 207 and the motion compensated frame data from the motion compensation circuit 209 is supplied to another input of the addition circuit. The addition circuit 207 adds or combines the received signals and supplies an added output signal to the frame memory 208, whereupon such output signal may be stored therein.
The motion compensation circuit 209 receives the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection circuit 211 and reads previously stored frame data from the frame memory 208. The motion compensation circuit 209 performs motion compensation processing on the received data so as to form motion compensated frame data which is supplied to the subtraction circuit 201 and the addition circuit 207, as previously described.
With regard to the processing or coding performed by the variable length encoding circuit 204, the length of a variable length code in a table which may be utilized by the variable length encoding circuit 204 may vary with the size of the search range used by the motion vector detection circuit 211. For example, the length or size of the code in the variable length code table may increase as the size of the search range increases. As a result, if the motion vector detection processing is performed utilizing a search range having a constant size, the code length allocated for a motion vector may be larger than needed as, for example, in the situation wherein a moving picture having relatively little motion is being processed. Thus, such processing or encoding may produce a larger amount of information than may be necessary.
Further, if the search range is larger than needed or larger than the actual movement, a motion vector may be erroneously detected which corresponds to a motion larger than the actual motion. In this situation, the length of the code(s) assigned to the erroneously large motion vector is larger than that of the correct motion vector and, as a result, the amount of information produced from encoding this erroneous motion vector is increased.
Furthermore, variable length encoding the difference between the reference frame data and the motion-compensated previous frame data may result in a distribution of motion vectors which is not smooth. As a result, the amount of information produced from encoding the motion vector may be increased.

Method and apparatus for setting a search range for detecting motion vectors utilized for encoding picture data


A vacuum adiabatic body includes a first plate, a second plate, a seal that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a space between the first plate and the second plate in a vacuum state, a support including at least a pair of support plates that maintain a distance between the first and second plates, a thermal insulator including at least one radiation resistance sheet provided between the pair of support plates to reduce heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate, and an exhaust port through which a gas in the space is exhausted.

A vacuum adiabatic body is a product for suppressing heat transfer by vacuuming the interior of a body thereof. The vacuum adiabatic body may reduce heat transfer by convection and conduction, and hence is applied to heating apparatuses and refrigerating apparatuses. In a typical adiabatic method applied to a refrigerator, although it is differently applied in refrigeration and freezing, a foam urethane adiabatic wall having a thickness of about 30 cm or more is generally provided. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is therefore reduced.
In order to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, there is an attempt to apply a vacuum adiabatic body to the refrigerator.
First, Korean Patent No. 10-0343719 (Reference Document 1) of the present applicant has been disclosed. According to Reference Document 1, there is disclosed a method in which a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared and then built in walls of a refrigerator, and the exterior of the vacuum adiabatic panel is finished with a separate molding as Styrofoam (polystyrene). According to the method, additional foaming is not required, and the adiabatic performance of the refrigerator is improved. However, fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method is complicated. As another example, a technique of providing walls using a vacuum adiabatic material and additionally providing adiabatic walls using a foam filling material has been disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0012712 (Reference Document 2). According to Reference Document 2, fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method is complicated.
As another example, there is an attempt to fabricate all walls of a refrigerator using a vacuum adiabatic body that is a single product. For example, a technique of providing an adiabatic structure of a refrigerator to be in a vacuum state has been disclosed in U.S. Patent Laid-Open Publication No. US2004226956A1 (Reference Document 3). However, it is difficult to obtain a practical level of an adiabatic effect by providing a wall of the refrigerator with sufficient vacuum. In detail, there are limitations that it is difficult to prevent a heat transfer phenomenon at a contact portion between an outer case and an inner case having different temperatures, it is difficult to maintain a stable vacuum state, and it is difficult to prevent deformation of a case due to a negative pressure of the vacuum state. Due to these limitations, the technology disclosed in Reference Document 3 is limited to a cryogenic refrigerator, and does not provide a level of technology applicable to general households.


A dishwasher appliance having a rack assembly that can provide support for both large and small bowls is provided. The rack assembly includes tines, referred to herein as vertical members, that can hold both large and small bowls in a vertical orientation. The rack assembly may be used in a dishwasher to provide the upper rack, lower rack, or both.

Modern dishwashers typically include a wash chamber where e.g., detergent, water, and heat can be applied to clean food or other materials from dishes and other articles being washed. Often an upper rack assembly is disposed close to the top of the washing chamber and is used to hold glasses, cups, and other small items. Typically, a lower rack assembly is positioned near the bottom of the chamber and a considerable distance below the upper rack. This provides vertical clearance to place dishes and platters on edge (i.e. a vertical orientation) and to place food preparation bowls and pots up-side-down on the lower rack for washing.
Each rack normally is supplied with an array of spaced apart, generally vertical tines or members, which support and separate the individual items. Preferably, these vertical members support and fix the position of various articles during the washing process. More specifically, it is desirable to position an article, such as a dish, so that water and detergent can access all surfaces during cleaning while also preventing movement of the dish that could lead to breaking, chipping, or other damage.
One challenge in the design of the racks and the positioning of the vertical members is the variability in the sizes of articles to be washed. The optimum spacing between adjacent vertical members for supporting thin items like dishes is much less than for supporting thick items like mixing bowls and pans. In addition, dishes, pots, and other articles to be washed can each come in a variety of different shapes. Frequently, the vertical members (e.g., tines) of a rack are in a fixed position. Accordingly, a user manipulates the orientation of dishes and other objects loaded into the rack in an effort to fill the rack with articles while also providing exposure to the washing action of the dishwasher. Alternatively, some rack assemblies may be provided with vertical members having a limited amount of adjustability in an effort to accommodate various article sizes and shapes.
Bowls are no exception to the variability a designer faces in the configuring the vertical members of a rack assembly. As with other articles, bowls can come in a variety of diameters, depths, and shapes. While bowls can be placed upside down in a rack assembly to provide exposure to the washing action of a dishwasher, this orientation can consume much needed space and thereby decrease efficiency.
Accordingly, a dishwasher rack assembly that can accommodate bowls of both large and small sizes would be useful. A rack assembly that can also provide for an efficient orientation of bowls of both large and small sizes during the washing process would be also be beneficial. Such a rack assembly that can be implemented within the space or sizes commonly applied for dishwasher appliances would be also be particularly useful.

Dishwasher rack assembly with support for large and small bowls


A charging connector for an electric vehicle for charging a power receiving connector coupled with a power supplying connector on a charging stand includes air purging unit provided within the power supplying connector on the side to be coupled with the power receiving connector. The air purging unit serves to purge foreign substance such as dust or moisture applied. The air purging unit of the charging connector prevents moisture or foreign substance from intruding into the inside of the supplying connector to be coupled with the power receiving connector, and if intruded, permits them to be removed swiftly, thereby preventing troubles such as poor contact of terminal and short-circuiting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charging connector for an electric vehicle, and more particularly to a charging connector which is provided with an air purging means to assure avoid troubles such as poor contact or short-circuiting due to applied dust or moisture.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 7 shows a conventional power supplying connector which can be used for charging an electric vehicle.
In using such a conventional power supplying connector 51, where moisture or water invade the inside of the connector or a foreign substance, such as dust, is applied thereto, compressed air is jetted into the connector from the outside of the connector using an air gun 52 so that moisture and dust is removed.
However, where a user does not clean the connector, or abrasion dust of a terminal builds up because of use for a long period in a charging stand, poor contact of the terminal may occur to hinder charging. Particularly, current-carrying started without noticing an application of water may lead to short-circuiting or electric shock.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above problem.


The present invention relates to cosmetic and skin care compositions comprising magnetosomes. The invention also relates to methods for the treatment of diseases associated with increased proliferation or accumulation of differentiating keratinocytes.

The concern to preserve for as long as possible a young-looking skin is a preoccupation of the majority of women and is also increasingly affecting the men. In order to meet this expectation, cosmetic compositions aimed at preventing and/or treating the signs of skin ageing have therefore been developed.
Skin aging is defined by all the alterations of the cutaneous covering resulting from the accumulation over the years of the gradual modifications of its various constituents.
It results, inter alia, in a flattening of the epidermis and of the dermo-epidermal junction and in the dermis, through, on the one hand, an overall reduction in the extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with a gradual decrease in collagen and elastin fibre production by fibroblasts and, on the other hand, by an increase in the destruction of these macromolecules by specific enzymes.
These biological phenomena therefore result in the induction, in the skin, of considerable physical modifications: loss of firmness, sagging. The skin loses its elasticity and the features slacken. The slackening of the subcutaneous tissues (fats and muscles) leads to an excess of skin and ptosis. This slackening is characterized by drooping of the cheekbones and of the cheeks, entraining the lower eyelid. Associated with surface mechanical stress, wrinkles form then accentuate and become deeper. In addition, during the day, depending on water movement due to gravity, some wrinkles increase and become more marked.
Among the wrinkles that coexist on the face, it is thus possible to make a distinction between embryonic wrinkles which are derived from small starting points invisible to the naked eye, which join up together over time to form a wrinkle; deeper marked wrinkles, resulting from the hollowing of certain furrows over time; and reversible wrinkles, which originate from the decrease over the day in the thickness of the skin and in the increase in its elasticity.
A certain number of compounds have already been identified as anti-wrinkle active agents and used in cosmetic compositions for the purposes of combating the cutaneous signs of ageing, and in particular decreasing and/or smoothing out skin wrinkles.
For example, retinol has a certain efficacy as an anti-wrinkle active agent, in particular by virtue of its anti-differentiating properties. However, retinol is an active agent which only acts long term. Moreover, in order to ensure tolerance in cosmetics, the amount of retinol introduced into cosmetic compositions is restricted, thereby limiting its effectiveness.
The invention aims precisely to compensate for this insufficiency, and makes it possible in particular to accelerate the manifestation of a visible effect on the reducing and/or smoothing out of skin wrinkles.

Cosmetic compositions comprising magnetosomes and uses thereof


An apparatus and a method for operating the same. The method includes providing an apparatus which includes a chamber, wherein the chamber includes first and second inlets, an anode and a cathode structures in the chamber, and a wafer on the cathode structure. A cleaning gas is injected into the chamber via the first inlet. A collecting gas is injected into the chamber via the second inlet. The cleaning gas when ionized has a property of etching a top surface of the wafer resulting in a by-product mixture in the chamber. The collecting gas has a property of preventing the by-product mixture from depositing back to the surface of the wafer.

In a typical fabrication process for forming a transistor, before forming the two contacting regions to provide electrical paths to the two source/drain regions of the transistor, a cleaning process is performed to remove native oxide layers at bottom walls of the two contact holes. This cleaning process usually creates by-products that may contaminate the surface of the wafer. Therefore, there is a need for a collecting process to prevent these by-products from contaminating the wafer.

By-product collecting processes for cleaning processes

International Business Machines Corporation


A dynamic inflatable sealing device for maintaining the pressure within an inflatable element at least substantially equal to the pressure in the annulus to maintain the inflatable element in a sealing position. The dynamic sealing device includes an inflatable element forming an internal chamber, the inflatable element expandable to sealing engagement with a wall, and a dynamic valve mechanism in operational connection between the internal chamber and exterior of the internal chamber substantially communicating the pressure external of the inflatable element to the internal chamber.

Inflatable packers that comprise an elastomeric bladder are well known and are used in attempts to seal off sections of a wellbore. The bladder defines a chamber that contains a pressurized fluid which is used to inflate the packer while the elastomeric body seals against the wellbore and prohibits annular fluid flow past the packer when in the inflated position. Problems with inflatable packers include loss of the seal between the packer body and the wellbore. Factors that affect the reliability of the seal include pressure differentials, incomplete inflation, seal leaks and compressibility.
Therefore, it is a desire to provide a dynamic inflatable sealing device wherein the bladder is maintained at a pressure substantially equal to or greater than the pressure in the annulus between the packer body and the wall of the wellbore. It is a still further desire to provide a dynamic inflatable sealing device that maintains the bladder a pressure substantially equal to or greater than the highest annular pressure encountered. It is a still further desire to provide a dynamic inflatable sealing device that provides a full internal diameter passageway thus maintaining full fluid flow and the ability to pass equipment through the passageway.


Uneconomical use of resist liquid is prevented by reducing resist liquid discharging time. Discharging time calculating means calculates a proper resist liquid discharging time, based on a first and a second rotation angular speeds of a supporting pedestal and a discharged flow quantity discharged from resist liquid discharging nozzle per unit time. When the proper resist liquid discharging time has elapsed from the start of discharging of the resist liquid by means of a pump, discharging of the resist liquid is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a spin coating apparatus such as a spin coater for processing a round substrate such as a semiconductor wafer while supplying predetermined coating liquid on a top surface of the round substrate and rotating the round substrate, and is also related to a spin coating method.
2. Description of the Background Art
As shown in FIG. 13, in a conventional substrate processing apparatus, through a nozzle 2, resist liquid 3 (i.e., photoresist) is supplied as coating liquid onto a central portion of a semiconductor wafer (i.e., round substrate) 1 which is horizontally supported, while rotating the wafer 1 at a low speed of about 900 rpm as shown in FIG. 14. Due to weak centrifugal force which is created by the slow rotation, the resist liquid 3 which stays at the central portion is spread entirely over the wafer 1. At this stage, the resist liquid 3 is spread as two portions, i.e., an approximately round portion 6 which spreads almost uniformly in all directions (hereinafter "core portion") and a portion 7 which outwardly flows in the shape of whiskers (hereinafter "river portion") because of the centrifugal force which becomes locally stronger than surface tension of the core portion, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17. In FIGS. 15 to 17, the symbol Q expresses a discharged flow quantity per unit time (per second) of the resist liquid 3, and the symbol .omega. expresses a rotation angular speed of the wafer during discharging.
Once the core portion 6 of the resist liquid 3 is spread to a certain range, the wafer 1 is rotated at a high speed to further spread the resist liquid 3 using the centrifugal force so that levelling is performed, that is, a film thickness of the resist liquid has a uniform in-plane distribution (i.e., a distribution of the film thickness on the substrate) as shown in FIG. 18. In FIGS. 13, 14 and 18, denoted at 4 is a supporting pedestal which fixes the central portion of the wafer 1 by suction force, denoted at 4a is a rotation shaft which is fixedly attached to the supporting pedestal 4 and driven to rotate by a motor not shown, and denoted at 5 is a drain chamber which is open at an upper portion.
In the conventional technique, conditions such as the discharged flow quantity, an discharging flow time and the rotation angular speed which are necessary to spread the resist liquid 3 all over the top surface of the wafer 1 are set by experiences, rather than based on a logical ground. Hence, in the conventional technique, when the wafer 1 is rotated at a slow speed (about 900 rpm) during discharging of the resist liquid 3, the resist liquid 3 of the core portion 6 spreads slower than the resist liquid 3 of the river portion 7, and therefore, a ratio of consumption of the resist between the core portion 6 and the river portion 7 is about 3:7. This means that the quantity of the resist which flows out without used is 2.3 times as large as the quantity of the resist which coats the top surface of the wafer 1. Thus, since 70% of the resist liquid 3 which is discharged through the nozzle 2 is not used, a large quantity of the resist is consumed, which in turn increases a cost. For instance, when a wafer having a diameter of eight inches is rotated at 900 rpm, assuming that the discharged flow quantity Q per unit time (per second) of the resist liquid 3 is 1 ml/sec, the discharging time t needs be about three to five seconds and a total discharged flow quantity is three to five mililiters.
Further, as the surface area of the core portion 6 is enlarged gradually at a slow rotation speed as in the conventional technique, a solvent evaporates during the spreading, whereby the spreading does not progress smoothly and therefore a processing time becomes even longer.


An exoskeleton for interfacing with a joint includes a base configured to be coupled to a user, a platform configured to be coupled to the user proximate the joint, and a plurality of substructures extending between the base and the platform. The substructures are actuated in parallel in order to move the platform.

The majority of exoskeleton robotic devices utilize a serial chain architecture of actuated joints and linkages to accomplish a desired task. This model can work for simple one degree-of-freedom (DoF) joints like the elbow and knee, but it is less effective for ball and socket joints like the shoulder, hip, wrist, and ankle, because unlike one DoF biological joints that can share an axis of rotation with a corresponding artificial joint, ball and socket joints operate about a center of rotation that cannot be shared in an anatomically similar manner.
The most common solution to augment the motion of a ball and socket joint with serial actuation is to use a multiple linkage robotic armature that works to bridge the ball and socket joint by connecting the structures on either side. The moment arm associated with these linkages has the inherent disadvantage of amplifying torques applied to the joint by external forces. Furthermore, each motorized joint in the armature must be capable of not only actuating the corresponding human limb, but also able to lift and manipulate the joints that follow in series. This requires larger motors that consume more energy.

Four-bar parallel actuated architecture for exoskeleton

ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY


The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving broadcasting signals. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a channel number of contents included in a first broadcasting signal; and allocating a channel number into contents included in a second broadcasting signal by using the obtained channel number. The method is characterized in that the same contents included respectively in the first and second broadcasting signals have the same channel number.

In related art, apparatuses for receiving broadcasting signals receive data streams including broadcasting signals, extract video and audio data streams corresponding to channels users want by using service information included in the received data streams, and outputs the video and audio data streams to a display device.
For example, Digital Television receivers can convert received broadcasting signals into digital codes for screen playback with high quality and have several additional functions. In digital broadcasting, image and sound streams are compressed into digital information and then broadcast, and also system information and program information are compressed conforming to a program and system information protocol (PSIP) and then broadcast.

Method and apparatus for determining that received broadcasting signals from different input ports are the same content


A manufacturing method of a touch display panel is disclosed and has steps of depositing a touch-control metal layer on ail inner side of a color-filler substrate and patterning the touch-control metal layer; depositing a black matrix layer on the inner side of the color-filter substrate and patterning the black matrix layer; depositing a color photoresist layer on the inner side of the color-filter substrate and patterning the color photoresist layer; depositing a common electrode layer on the inner side of the color-filter substrate and patterning the common electrode layer; and performing cell-assembling to assemble the color-filter substrate and an array substrate together.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a manufacturing method of a touch display panel.
Description of the Related Art
With the development of technologies, more and more electronic products require touch displays to interact with users, wherein capacitive touch displays are widely used in the display panel of the electronic devices due to characteristics of lightweight and high sensitivity.
In a traditional touch display panel the sensing wires for touch control and the driving wires are usually arranged outside the liquid crystal cell. For such structure of the touch display panel, the corresponding sensing wires and driving wires should be formed by performing etching process on the touch-control metal layer mounted outside the liquid crystal cell after the cell is formed by assembling an array substrate and a color-filter substrate together. Such manufacturing process is more complicated and the production cost is high.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a manufacturing method of a touch display panel to overcome the problems existing in the conventional technology.

Manufacturing method of touch display panel

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


To effectively cool down a stator coil generating a large amount of heat therein, a heat conductive member is disposed between a coil end and a metal frame in contact therewith. Heat generated in the stator coil is conducted to the heat conductive member and the heat conductive member is cooled down by cooling air from a cooling fan. Heat form the conductive member is also transferred to the metal frame, thereby the stator coil is further cooled. Even when the coil end cannot be cooled directly by the cooling air because the coil end is short, the coil end is effectively cooled by means of the conductive member. A corrugated fin made of a heat conductive metal plate such as an aluminum plate is preferably used as the heat conductive member. Fins formed on the metal frame may be also used as the heat conductive member. The heat conductive member may be disposed at both ends of the stator coil to enhance cooling effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric rotary machine having cooling fins for cooling a stator coil, and more particularly to an alternator for use in an automotive vehicle in which cooling fins are disposed in contact with a stator coil to effectively cool down the stator coil.
2. Description of Related Art
An alternator which is a kind of an electric rotary machine that may be used in an automotive vehicle to generate electric power for charging a battery and supplying electric power to various electric devices such as lighting equipment, an ignition system and others. Recently, more electric power is being required for a vehicle because the number of electric devices including electronic control systems used in a vehicle is increasing, and a mounting space for the alternator is getting smaller. Therefore, it is required that the alternator generate high power with a compact size. High efficiency and compactness of the alternator is also required from a standpoint of fuel economy.
It is generally known that it is effective, for attaining a higher efficiency of an alternator, to reduce copper loss generated in a stator coil (I.sup.2 R, where I is stator current and R is resistance of the coil). Since the stator coil resistance is dependent on temperature of the coil and increases with temperature rise in the coil, the temperature rise in the coil has to be suppressed by cooling down the coil.
A conventional technology for cooling down the stator coil is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-6-70508. An electric rotary machine disclosed in this publication has a metal ring attached to a coil end for cooling the coil by conducting heat generated in the coil to the metal ring and a housing. The metal ring is attached to the coil end by an adhesive tape and a filler material. Another conventional technology is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-1-166477and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho-63-213464. A linear motor disclosed therein has a resin-molded coil on which a heat radiating fin is formed. The coil is cooled down by the radiating fin.
Since the coil of the electric rotary machine disclosed in the publication Hei-6-70508 is cooled down by heat conduction through the adhesive tape and the filling material, cooling efficiency is not high enough to apply this technology to a coil of an alternator for use in a vehicle generating continuously a large amount of heat. The coil of the linear motor disclosed in the publication Hei-1-166477 or Sho-63-213464 is cooled by natural radiation from the radiating fin formed on the resin-molded coil. Therefore, cooling efficiency is not high enough to apply the same technology to an alternator.

Electric rotary machine heat conductive member


The present invention is directed to methods for inhibiting growth of pathogens and to substrates with selenium nanoparticles or selenium nanoclusters having antipathogenic properties.

Attachment and growth of bacteria is undesirable on surfaces of devices that are intended to be placed in the body of an individual because of the risk of infection to the individual. Such devices include needles, tubes, implants, medical devices and the like. Attachment and growth of bacteria is further undesirable on surfaces where materials or devices are prepared prior to insertion into an individual. Attachment and growth of bacteria is also undesirable on surfaces where food preparation takes place, as food can become contaminated prior to ingestion. It is therefore desirable to produce a surface where adherence and/or proliferation of bacteria is decreased thereby reducing the risk of infection. Implants with nanoscale surface features are known. See J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 2653-2659.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a surface characterized by selenium nanoparticles or selenium nanoclusters where the ability of pathogens to adhere and/or proliferate is inhibited. It is a further object to create articles such as medical devices which may or may not be incorporated into the body or implants which are intended to be placed within the human body that have or have been modified to include a surface characterized by selenium nanoparticles or selenium nanoclusters and having antipathogenic properties. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a surface or alter the surface of a substrate in a manner to reduce or inhibit pathogen adhesion and/or proliferation. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention or certain embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure and description of exemplary embodiments.

Antipathogenic surfaces having selenium nanoclusters


A system and method for automatic segmentation, performed by selecting a deformable model of an anatomical structure of interest imaged in a volumetric image, the deformable model formed of a plurality of polygons including vertices and edges, displaying the deformable model on a display, detecting a feature point of the anatomical structure of interest corresponding to each of the plurality of polygons and adapting the deformable model by moving each of the vertices toward the corresponding feature points until the deformable model morphs to a boundary of the anatomical structure of interest, forming a segmentation of the anatomical structure of interest.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of long-term disability. Abnormality of several sub-cortical structures such as, for example, the corpus callosum, hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus and caudate, have been associated with TBI. Thus, it is important to identify the neuropathology in individuals with TBI in 3D. However, methodological challenges have hampered previous studies from providing a clear pattern of structural atrophy following TBI.

System for rapid and accurate quantitative assessment of traumatic brain injury


A pneumatic tool (610) and a muffler assembly (600) therefor, for quieting the operation of the pneumatic tool, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the muffler assembly (600) is slidably disposed within the exhaust passage (616) and includes a tube member (602) having a proximal flange (604), an intermediate tubular portion (606) with apertures (608), and a distal receptacle (620). The tubular portion may include a blocking plate (618) therein. A porous, sound-deadening panel (622) is disposed about the tubular portion, and a diffuser panel (630) is disposed in the distal receptacle. A perforated end cap (624) holds the muffler assembly in place. In operation, the exhaust enters the tube member, is directed transversely through apertures in the tubular portion and through the porous panel, then back into the distal portion of the tube member, through the diffuser panel, and exits through the end cap.

Pneumatic hand tools are commonly used in industrial and residential settings. Various types of pneumatic hand tools are available, including ratchets, drills, wrenches, grinders, sanders, etc. Known hand tools typically include a handle having a hollow internal chamber. The chamber includes an air intake passage and an air exhaust passage. Each passage extends between a motor and an opening in or near the bottom surface of the handle. The portion of the intake passage located near the handle opening typically includes a standard air coupler or the like. The coupler is adapted to connect to a pressurized air source. The exhaust passage typically opens to the atmosphere. When exhaust air is vented from the hand tool, a considerable amount of noise and particulate debris are generated, potentially causing auditory and/or respiratory damage to the operator and others located nearby.
Although earplugs and facemasks are available to workers, they are often not used for a number of reasons—most typically, because they are not convenient. Numerous attempts have been made by hand tool manufacturers, therefore, to reduce the amount of noise and particles generated by the hand tool itself. These attempts include designing quieter and cleaner motors and designing hand tool components that suppress noise and trap waste prior to expulsion from the hand tool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,339 describes a pneumatic hand tool having an exhaust port filled with a web of nonwoven fibers coated with a binder resin. These types of mufflers have had some success in muffling sound, but there is often an increase in back pressure to the motor, causing a decrease in the operating efficiency of the hand tool. The operating efficiency of a tool is typically measured in the operating speed of the motor in revolutions per minute (rpm) at a certain gauge pressure.
Cylindrical, canister-type combination muffler and air filters are known for large machines, such as hoists and presses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,472 describes a combination muffler and air filter having a central tubular member with a number of slots. The tubular member is surrounded by a disposable canister having inner and outer perforated rigid cylinders encasing a series of stacked annular filter members. Exhaust air passes through the inner cylinder into the filters and out the outer cylinder. These devices are not typically used for hand tools, however, because they are large, heavy, and difficult to maneuver.
Thus there exists a need for a noise muffling system that can reduce sound levels and remove entrained solid and liquid contaminates from the exhausted air before it is discharged to the atmosphere. The ideal device would effectively muffle and filter the exhaust air without causing an undue increase in back pressure. This would allow a hand tool to be operated without jeopardizing performance of the pneumatic tool over long periods of usage. The ideal muffling system would further attach to and/or be inserted into a hand tool body and remain attached even during significant tool vibrations. The present invention is directed to fulfilling these needs and others as described below.


A system and method of identifying and allocating translation services in response to a user's request for translation of a document. The system and method of the invention is configured to put a user having a translation request in contact with a candidate translation service via a moderator. The method of the present invention includes registering translation services with the moderator via a website. The moderator creates a profile having contact information of the translation service. The profile further includes one or keys characterizing previously translated documents by the translation service. Upon receiving a user's request for translation of user's document, the moderator matches the keys characterizing the translation service with the user's translation request. The system and method increase the efficiency and lower the cost in locating a translation service having relevant experience in the field of the user's translation request.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for and a method of locating and allocating translation resources. More particularly, it is directed to a system for and a method of locating and allocating candidate translation services through a moderator in response to a translation request, and to a web-based tool for analyzing a continually updated database of documents associated with a candidate translation service so as to facilitate a knowledgeable search.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The globalization of the world's economy has increased demand for translation services to translate documents to be filed in and to receive documents from various foreign countries. For example, U.S. patent law requires English translations of patents issued in foreign countries that are filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and vice versa.
It is often the case that the same document is repeatedly translated by different translators, as those that need translations have a particular translation source that they use. As a result, both time and money are often wasted by duplicated work. A system that efficiently utilizes the resources that currently exist was therefore desired.
Moreover, there is oftentimes considerable effort expended to find an ideal translator for a given translation job. Although some translation suppliers tend to maintain extensive databases of known translators and translation suppliers, there is typically not much precise insight into exactly what experience a given translator or translation supplier candidate possesses. In fact, a translator may claim on a C.V. to have previously translated documents in the field of electrical engineering, for example, when in reality, that experience, when considered in detail, only involved a translation of a single relatively short document not particularly related to the subject at hand. This is particularly problematic when seeking a translation of a technical document where the experience of the translator is vital to accurately translate the technical terms of the subject document.
In sum, a system and method for intelligently matching translation supplier candidates with those who seek translations was desired. More particularly, a web-based solution that maintains the anonymity of each party and efficiently provides the matching function would be ideal. In doing so, a system was desired that could provide a way to continually become smarter in providing the match between the translation supplier candidate and the user by providing a function of continually updating the database of translated documents to build profiles of the translation service candidates.

System and method of identifying a translation resource


An electro-optical display includes a light source and a Polarization Separation Element (“PSE”) coupled to the light source. The PSE generates a first output having a first polarization state and a second output having a second polarization state. The display further includes a Hetero Polar Light Guide (“HPLG”) that includes a first region optically isolated from a second region and coupled to the PSE. The first output of the PSE is directed into the first region and the second output of the PSE is directed into the second region, and the first region and second region output light in substantially the same direction.

A liquid crystal display ("LCD") is a thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It has many advantages over competing technologies because it uses very small amounts of electric power and is therefore suitable for use in battery-powered electronic devices, and because of its thinness.
Each pixel in an LCD consists of a layer of liquid crystal ("LC") molecules suspended between two transparent electrodes, and sandwiched between two crossed linear polarizers (i.e., polarizers with axes of transmission which are perpendicular to each other). Without the liquid crystals between them, light passing through one polarizer would be blocked by the other. The liquid crystals act as polarization modifying light valves by changing the polarization state of the light coming from the rear polarizer. In order to function in this manner, the liquid crystal molecules must be correctly aligned so that they accept light of the polarization state transmitted by the rear polarizer and can rotate it to the polarization state that is transmitted by the front polarizer. Various techniques are known for achieving the appropriate alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. These include mechanical rubbing, which introduces microscopic grooves, or use of oriented linearly polarized UV illumination of an appropriate alignment layer substrate. Application of an electric field, by applying a voltage to the transparent electrodes, can modify the degree of polarization rotation, thus enabling fine control of the light passing through the pixel. The operation of LCDs depends on the correct relationship between the axis of transmission of the rear polarizer, the alignment of the liquid crystal layer (both for light entering and leaving) and the axis of transmission of the front polarizer.
The pixels by themselves do not generate light and therefore an LCD requires external illumination, either from ambient sources for a "reflective" LCD or from a backlight for a "transmissive" LCD (or from a combination in the case of a "transflective" LCD). A typical transmissive LCD has a backlight unit that consists of a light source and a light guide. The light guide is used to transform the light output by the light source into an even distribution across the LCD panel (typically the light enters the light guide and is constrained to continue propagating within it by total internal reflection, until it encounters an extraction feature). A large portion of the power consumption of a transmissive LCD is devoted to the backlight. However one problem with known transmissive LCDs is that the majority of this power is expended in producing light that is ultimately not used in the display output, since it is filtered out. A typical light yield (i.e., the fraction of generated light that is transmitted by a fully active pixel) of these known LCDs is approximately 5%-7%.
Light loss that is intrinsic to LCD designs is typically due to the following elements (assuming illumination from an unpolarized white source):
color filter set: approximately 28% transmission;
aperture ratio: approximately 70% transmission; and
rear and front polarizers: approximately 40% transmission.
Color filters are required since backlights typically generate white light. The aperture ratio arises since some of the area of an LCD does not transmit light.
Polarization losses arise from intrinsic aspects of the design of LCDs. As has been described, LCDs require illumination to be linearly polarized and appropriately oriented, which typically results in the loss of at least half of the light available from the backlight.
Various attempts have been made to improve the light yield of LCDs, which could greatly improve the electrical efficiency of LCDs, therefore enabling more power efficient appliances, extending battery life for mobile devices, reducing needed backlight illumination components since fewer or lower power lamp elements would be needed to provide a certain level of brightness, and improving heat management in display units since much of the lost light is absorbed as heat.
One known prior art approach for improving light yield involves the use of a Polarization Separation Element ("PSE") and a Polarization Conversion Element ("PCE"). For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,745 discloses the use of a reflective rear polarizer, which transmits a first polarization state and reflects a second polarization state, as a PSE and a Lambertian rear reflector in the backlight unit as a PCE. The Lambertian rear reflector depolarizes the second polarization to include some portion of the first polarization state, which can then be transmitted by the reflective rear polarizer, thereby improving light yield. In this disclosed approach, the polarization separation occurs after unpolarized light has been extracted from the light guide by frustrated total internal reflection. Commercial versions of this technology are in use and though it represents an improvement over previous approaches, a significant portion of the output of the light source is still not utilized.
Another known approach for improving light yield is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Application 2007/0064445, which discloses the use of a polarization beam splitter ("PBS") between the light source and the light guide as a PSE where the non transmitted output from the PBS is directed to a wave plate that operates as a PCE, the output of which feeds into the light guide. In this approach, polarization separation occurs before light enters the light guide. One problem with this approach is the efficiency of conversion of the PCE and its variation of performance by incident angle and wavelength, which leaves a portion of the output of the light source not utilized.
A further prior art approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,639 which discloses polarization selective out-coupling as a PSE and a quarter-wave plate and reflector as a PCE. Unpolarized light is coupled into a light guide which has polarization selective out-coupling based on reflection at a series of inclined surfaces within the light guide, which have appropriately tuned variations in refractive indices. These features selectively extract a first polarization state and continue the Total Internal Reflection ("TIR") propagation of a second polarization state, which eventually encounters the PCE, where some is converted to the extractable polarization state. As disclosed, polarization separation occurs in the light guide during the process of extraction. Again the efficiency of the conversion process leaves a portion of the output of the light source not utilized.
Several other polarization selective out-coupling techniques are known and have been applied to light guides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,669 discloses the use of inclined reflective films; U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,996 discloses the use of a volume hologram, which is equivalent to a stack of inclined planes with varying refractive indices; U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,544 discloses the use of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal ("PDLC") where the dispersed phase has anisotropic refractive indices; and U.S. Pat. App. 2003/0058383 discloses the use of a birefringent micro-structured layer. Some of these polarization selective out-coupling approaches benefit from extracting light in a confined range of directions, which can be useful in minimizing the need for prism films or other output collimation structures.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an LCD system that has an improved light yield relative to known systems.


A coaxial cable may include an inner conductor, an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and a proximal end sized and shaped for insertion into a connector. The proximal end may have an outer conductor contact coupled electrically to the outer conductor, and an extended section of the inner conductor that extends axially beyond the outer conductor contact. The extended section may include an inner conductor contact having an electrically conductive material disposed at least partially around the inner conductor, and an insulated area positioned to isolate electrically the outer conductive contact from the inner conductive contact, and having an electrically insulating material disposed at least partially around the inner conductor.

The subject matter generally relates to the field of electronic connectors, more particularly to electronic connectors for use with magnetic resonance imaging guidewires.
Many percutaneous intravascular procedures use a guidewire as an initial approach of accessing a particular vessel. Once the distal guidewire tip has been placed at the area of interest, a catheter is passed over the wire from the proximal end using it as a guide to track the catheter into that vessel. In order to allow the catheter to pass, the entire length of the guidewire generally needs to fit within the lumen of the catheter.