Disclosed is a transportable wood processing apparatus (10) for cutting, sorting and loading firewood and the like. A frame (12) is carried by wheels (14, 16) and includes a guide tongue (20) and trailer hitch (22) for moving the apparatus from location to location. A stop plate (42) sets the length of firewood which is cut by a reciprocating saw (38). A divider (54) is laterally offset from saw table (32) such that the cut firewood will fall either to side (58) or side (60) and be sorted according to relative size depending upon which side the center of gravity of the firewood lies. The cut firewood either falls into a feed conveyor (68) which then feeds a loading conveyor (70) for loading a vehicle or, if too large for direct loading, falls into a splitter conveyor (72) and is carried to a splitter table (74) for splitting with splitter (76). After being split, the firewood is placed into loading conveyor (70). Loading conveyor ( 70) is pivotally coupled to the frame (12) such that it can be rotated between an extended position for operation and folded back over frame (12) during movement from location to location.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to log cutting machines, and more particularly to a mobile apparatus for cutting and sorting firewood.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is common to cut firewood from pre-trimmed poles, trees and the like into lengths which are generally accepted for use in a household fireplace or wood stove. When the wood has a larger than acceptable diameter, it is also common to split the wood into smaller pieces. Saws, splitters and similar wood processing devices are well known. Once the wood is cut and split, it is generally hand sorted according to relative size and stacked in a central location.
Firewood processing devices heretofore developed have been designed primarily for cutting and handling generally straight lengths of wood which have been transported to a processing site. However, an increasing amount of firewood is available as agricultural "waste" which is generated by pruning and removing trees from almond, walnut, apple and other orchards. Such wood is typically bent, twisted and generally gnarly and, therefore, not suitable for processing with existing equipment which requires generally straight lengths of wood. Quite typically, a tree falls over in an orchard and is reduced to trimmed poles and a brush pile by the grower. The brush is removed immediately from the orchard and the poles are piled by the stump of the tree. After enough trees have fallen or have been pruned to generate a truck load of wood, or after a growing season passes, the wood is hauled off and processed. While some trees may yield as much as a cord of finished product, others yield as little as one cubic foot. Rarely does one tree produce a truck load of processed wood.
Furthermore, the waste product wood must be removed from the orchard with a minimum of disruption to normal farming activities. To do so, it is highly desirable to process the wood on site, thereby facilitating loading and removal. However, the wood is unlikely to be found in one central location, but will be scattered throughout the orchard. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus which can be easily moved through an orchard from location to location and which will cut, sort and load firewood without disrupting the normal farming activities.


A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is disclosed. The PSAP is configured to enable the detection of language preferences, capabilities, or inabilities and, based on such detection, assist the PSAP agent in assisting the PSAP caller. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of language information to assist in the decision to route or re-route the PSAP caller to appropriate PSAP resources.

Contact centers are often used to direct customer escalations (e.g., contacts) to various contact center resources (e.g., agents) based on a determination of the customer's question(s), the customer's needs, the availability of agents, the skills of agents, and so on. One specific type of contact center is known as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or E911 contact center.
PSAPs experience many unique problems not often encountered in a traditional contact center, usually because each contact in a PSAP is associated with an emergency. One problem that is more commonly experienced by PSAPs as compared to traditional contact centers is that the opportunity of language mismatches is heightened. Specifically, most traditional contact centers will first take a customer through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) script during which language preferences/requirements of the customer can be ascertained. Usually by the time the customer has finished interacting with the IVR, the customer's language preferences/requirements are determined and the customer can be assigned to an appropriate agent. PSAPs, on the other hand, forego the IVR script and connect the caller with an agent as quickly as possible. As can be expected, if the caller and agent do not speak the same language, or if the agent is not capable of understanding the language spoken by the caller, then serious problems can arise.
Similar problems can arise if the caller is unable to speak intelligibly in any language. For instance, if the caller has suffered a stroke and is unable to speak intelligibly, then it will be very difficult to understand the caller, regardless of language preferences. As another example, if the caller is in a situation where they cannot speak for fear of endangering themselves, then there will be no opportunity to interact with the caller verbally.

Public safety answering point language detection


The present invention concerns a grinding apparatus (1) including a number of grinding units (3), a number of drive units (11) and a number of screen units (2), where a number of the grinding units (3) are enclosed by at least one of the screen units (2), and where at least one the screen units (2) is arranged with a pipe connection (4) adapted for connecting one or more suction units (21), where the screen unit (2) with the pipe connection (4) is designed along a lower edge (6) with a number of spacer members (7) that are arranged adjustable and replaceable, and a number of sealing members (8) that fit tightly to an underlying surface, that the spacer members (7) establish an adjustment of spacing of the grinding units (3) relatively to an underlying surface, and that the sealing members (8) interact with the suction units (21) for forming a vacuum that holds the grinding apparatus (1) against the said surface during operation.

When grinding large surfaces, such as the hull of a ship, windmill wings or large tower elements, presently handheld grinding apparatuses are used which are moved back and forth on the surface to be ground.
The person using the grinding apparatus is usually to walk with respiratory protection and safety goggles for protecting himself against the abraded material whirled into the air while using the grinding apparatus.
In the coming years, there will be proposed regulation in Denmark where the use of grinding apparatuses in the outdoors without possibility of collecting the abraded material will either become banned, or very restrictive rules will be set up.
This implies that it will be necessary to grind the items either indoor in a controlled environment, or to provide grinding apparatuses with screening from which the abraded material may be removed.
It will be a great disadvantage if one is obliged to grind everything indoors, since it will imply large costs for establishing workshops that are large enough for e.g. tower elements, ships and the like to be indoor during the grinding process. Furthermore, it may entail large transportation costs in cases where the element to be ground is to be transported to a grinding workshop.
Another problem with grinding large elements or grinding high-level surfaces is that it may be difficult to stand on the ground and guide the grinding apparatus manually. I.e. scaffolding is to be used in order to grind the surface of the elements safely. A solution to this problem is to mount the grinding apparatus on a longitudinally adjustable handle whereby it is possible to reach the top of the element.
The disadvantage of a longitudinally adjustable handle in connection with a commonly known grinding apparatus for grinding approximately vertical surfaces is that it is difficult to apply correct pressure on the grinding disc for ensuring efficient grinding, and that the handle is to have a certain dimension for withstanding the weight of the grinding apparatus. This implies a cumbersome handling of the grinding apparatus and risk of bad surface grinding.
CH-A5-666 648 discloses a handheld grinding apparatus that includes two grinding units, a drive unit and a, screen member, where the two grinding units are enclosed by the screen unit which is arranged with a pipe connection for connecting a suction unit.
The spacer member, which is provided along a lower edge on the screen unit, only has one function, namely to prevent abraded material from being spread to the surroundings, as abraded material spread to the surroundings can be sucked out via the pipe connection.
The disadvantage of this grinding apparatus is that:                the grinding apparatus under use is to be pressed down against a surface, and the applied pressure is to be maintained manually for continuous grinding of the surface. This entails that the operator is to use effort in pressing the grinding apparatus against the surface and to move the grinding apparatus across the surface.        the spacer member, which is adjustable in height and rubber elastic, is deformed by applied pressure and thus only has a sealing function. Applied pressure may, however, also entail that the engagement between the grooves of the spacer member and the lower edge of the screen unit is released, after which the spacer element is pressed upwards onto the lower edge of the screen unit. This results in that the spacer member looses its sealing function, unless the operator is applied further pressure, which may be a drawback as the effect of the grinding is increased thereby.


The present invention provides engineered platelets with chimeric platelet receptors (CPR) with a desired target specificity. Additionally, the engineered platelets may comprise cargo which may be released upon activation of the platelet. Additionally, the platelets may be generated in vitro from megakaryocytes engineered to generate non-thrombogenic platelets.

Platelets are small and enucleated and cannot divide or reproduce. In the human body, they perform the important function of recognising injured tissue and releasing their contents to reduce or prevent bleeding. Thrombopoietin from the kidneys and liver contact a myeloid stem cell causing differentiation into a megakaryoblasorphant, and additional signals result in differentiation of the megakaryoblast into a progenitor megakaryocyte. Progenitor megakaryocytes are large cells with platelet precursor extensions that bud off fragments as they divide and proliferate to create platelets.
Mitochondria, microtubules, and vesicles are contained within the platelets, and the platelets have a life span of about 10 days before clearance by macrophages. Platelets have a volume of about 7 μm3 and a diameter of 300 nm. They are metabolically active and can alter gene expression through post-transcriptional control of preloaded mRNA expression (e.g. by miRNAs). On activation, granulation is stimulated to alter the shape and release the contents of the intracellular vesicles.
Platelets respond to a variety of extra cellular signals through a diverse set of signaling pathway receptors. Receptors act both to trigger intracellular signaling cascades resulting in platelet degranulation and effector release and to cause platelet aggregation and adhesion. glycoprotein VI platelet (GPVI) signaling functions analogously to many immune cell receptors—such as the TCR. Interestingly, platelets also express toll-like receptors (TLRs) and can mediated targeted killing of bacteria via peptide secretion and immune system activation.
A huge variety of products are released on platelet degranulation. Vesicles are released by exocytosis. Platelets contain three primary subtypes of vesicles: α-granules (50 to 80 per platelet), dense granules (3 to 8 per platelet), and large dense core vesicles (LDCV) (about 10,000 per platelet). Different mutations can selectively disrupt the biogenesis of each vesicle subtype.
α-granules have a diameter of about 200 to 500 nm and make up about 10% of the platelet's volume. Most effector proteins are found in α-granules. For example, effector proteins released from α-granules include: integral membrane proteins, such as P-selectin, αIIbβ, and GPIbα; coagulants/anticoagulants and fibrinolytic proteins, such as factor V, factor IX, and plasminogen; adhesion proteins, such as fibrinogen and von Willebrand Factor (vWF); chemokines, such as CXCL4 (cytokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 4), also known as platelet factor 4 or PF4, and CXCL12 (cytokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12), also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha or SDF-1α; growth factors, such as elongation growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF); angiogenic factors/inhibitors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and angiostatins; and immune mediators, such as immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement precursors.
Dense granules have a diameter of about 150 nm and make up about 1% of the platelet's volume. Effector proteins released from dense granules include cations, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+; polyphosphates; bioactive amines, such as serotonin and histamine; and nucleotides, such as adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
LDCVs have a diameter in the range of about 150 nm to about 300 nm and make up about 13.5% of the platelet's volume. Effector proteins released from LDCVs include structural proteins (e.g., granins and glycoproteins); vascoregulators (e.g., cateholamines, vasostatins, renin-angiotensin); paracrine signaling factors (e.g., guanylin, neurotensin, chromogranin B); immune mediators (e.g., enkelytin and ubiquitin); opioids (e.g., enkephalins and endorphins); ions (e.g., Ca2+, Na+, Cl−), and nucleotides and polyphosphates (e.g., adenosine monophosphate (AMP), guanosine diphosphate (GDP), uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP)).
Current cell therapies based on engineered chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) have shown promise treating cancer; however, concerns regarding their safety, specifically oncogenic transformation in the patient, and the limited ability to generate a generic or universal therapeutic product have restricted their use to a small number of patients. There is a long felt need in the art for a new type of therapy with the potential to treat cancer, autoimmune conditions, and infections, free from the safety, cost, and patient matching issues which plague current cell therapeutic products.

Engineered platelets for targeted delivery of a therapeutic agent


A fan speed control circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating circuit, a driving circuit and a phase compensation unit. The PWM signal generating circuit generates a PWM control signal with a sequence of alternating on-time and off-time, and the driving circuit outputs a driving signal according to the PWM control signal to a fan motor. The phase compensation unit is connected to the fan motor for delaying or advancing the PWM control signal by a phase angle to synchronize the acting period of the back electromotive force formed by the magnetic flux variation with the off-time of the PWM control signal.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan speed control circuit and, more particularly, to a fan speed control circuit capable of reducing vibrations and noises in a fan motor by using a phase control method.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Among conventional fan speed control technologies, pulse width modulation (PWM) control is the most common method used to control the speed of direct current (DC) motors.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a conventional PWM control method, an external PWM signal 102 is used to drive a bipolar transistor 104 and a driver IC 106 such that the terminal voltage of a stator coil 108 is controlled. Also, a hall element 110 whose output voltage is directly proportional to the magnetic field strength is used to sense the magnetic polarity of the rotor in a fan motor.
Referring to FIG. 2, the fan motor is "on-time" as the pulse level of the incoming PWM signal 102 is high (also called the duty cycle), while the fan motor is "off-time" as the pulse level is low. The sum of these two times is one period. Therefore, one can, for instance, decrease the on-time or increase the off-time of the fan motor in one period to lower the motor speed.
In a brushless DC motor, cogging torque is produced by the magnetic attraction between the rotor mounted on permanent magnets and the stator, and it is an undesired effect that makes precise positioning of the rotor impossible because the rotor tends to lock onto the position where it is aligned with the stator poles. Further, when the rotor rotates, the magnetic flux variation causes back electromotive force (back emf) effect, and the back emf effect in turn enhances the cogging torque to result in high values of output ripple, vibrations, and noises in the fan motor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A bond strength tester unit is provided for testing adhesive bond strength of a nutplate or the like attached to a substrate, such as by adhesive bonded attachment to a blind side of the substrate in substantial alignment with a substrate opening. The nutplate may be constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,391, and carries a fastener element such as a threaded nut or the like for subsequent connection with a mating fastener element such as a threaded bolt or the like passed through the substrate opening. The tester unit includes a tool tip having a reaction head for engaging the substrate, in combination with an actuator pin for applying a test force of selected magnitude against the adhesively bonded nutplate. In the event of inadequate bond strength, the actuator pin will separate the nutplate from the substrate.

This invention relates generally to a system and method for testing and verifying adequate bond strength attachment of an adhesively bonded attachment component such as a nutplate or the like affixed to a selected substrate. More specifically, this invention relates to a bond strength tester unit and method for quickly and easily testing nutplate bond strength attachment, e.g., to a blind side of a substrate. In particular, this invention relates to a bond strength tester unit for use with an adhesive bonded nutplate of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,391.
In many manufacturing environments, it is necessary or desirable to install components onto a blind or reverse side of a supporting substrate. As one common example, nutplates are well known in the automotive and aerospace industries for use in mounting a threaded nut or the like onto the blind side of a supporting substrate, typically in alignment with an access opening formed in the substrate, to accommodate subsequent reception of a mating fastener component such as a threaded screw or bolt. Such nutplates include a fastener element such as a floating or fixed nut carried by a base which is fastened to the substrate normally by means of one or more rivets extending through rivet ports formed in the substrate adjacent the access opening. Alternately, adhesive mounting techniques have been proposed for adhesively bonding the nutplate base onto the substrate, thereby avoiding the need to form the rivet ports. For optimum bond strength, such adhesive mounting techniques require the nutplate to be pressed against the substrate with a positive force during curing of the adhesive material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,391 discloses a nutplate assembly including a nutplate base adapted for adhesive bonding onto a substrate. A fixture pin is included for drawing and retaining the nutplate base with a positive force in a direction seated firmly against the substrate for the duration of a bonding agent cure time. The fixture pin is accessible through the access opening at a front side of the substrate for convenient post-cure removal or separation from the nutplate.
While such adhesive mounted nutplates of the above-described type, installed at the blind side of a substrate, accommodate quick and easy subsequent assembly with a mating fastener element, problems can arise when the bond strength is inadequate to support a subsequent load during normal use. That is, in the event of nutplate loading with a force exceeding the adhesive bond strength, the nutplate can separate and fall away from the substrate. When this failure mode occurs following normal substrate installation in an arrangement which renders the blind side of the substrate substantially inaccessible, remedial action can require time-consuming and labor-intensive substrate disassembly from adjoining structures, e.g., such as adjacent substrate panels and frame components in an aircraft or the like.
There exists, therefore, a significant need for a system and method for quickly and easily confirming adequate bond strength attachment of a nutplate to a substrate, and for identifying any inadequately bonded nutplates to permit replacement thereof prior to subsequent manufacturing steps rendering the substrate blind side substantially inaccessible. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.


A urinary bladder irrigation device includes: a first pipe, a second pipe, a third pipe, a liquid supply member, a liquid collection member, a detection member, and an elevation member. The first pipe has a first opening at one end thereof. The second pipe has a second opening at one end thereof. The third pipe has an end connected to another end of the first pipe and another end of the second pipe and has a third opening at another end thereof. The liquid supply member is connected to the first opening. The liquid collection member is connected to the second opening. The detection member is positioned in the second pipe. The elevation member accommodates the detection member.

In the clinically-adoptable urinary bladder irrigation, a liquid, e.g. an irrigating solution, is introduced into a urinary bladder through a catheter, and then extracts out of the urinary bladder to a container through the catheter. After which, a medical personnel collects the liquid in the container to analyze chemical properties thereof so that the irrigation efficiency is determined and also decides whether additional urinary bladder irrigation is required. However, such irrigation may lead to burdens and inconveniences on the irrigation operator. For example, the operator may constantly disassemble the container from the irrigation device or rush forward and backward between the irrigation device and the analyzing device.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the clinically-adoptable urinary bladder irrigation.

Urinary bladder irrigation device and method for using the same


A secure memory device which can be used for multi-application smart cards for secure identification in data transfer, or for component verification in a computer system, without the requirement of an internal microprocessor. The secure memory device features a dual authentication protocol in which the memory and host authenticate each other. The secure memory device also includes an encrypted password feature, as well as using stream encryption to encrypt the data.

Integrated circuit (IC) cards, commonly referred to as "smart cards" are widely used for data access protection. The smart card is generally a plastic card with a secure memory or microcontroller built into the card. The storage area of the secure memory is often divided into blocks of memory. The object of providing security to a memory is to protect against unauthorized access to and tampering with the data stored in these blocks of memory.
Smart cards have been used in a variety of applications. Some of these applications include, for example, electronic cash cards, in which monetary values are stored on the card to conduct electronic commerce, pre-paid telephone cards, in which a prepaid monetary value is stored on the card and is deducted by the appropriate amount during telephone use, and customer loyalty cards, in which a customer receives points from purchases at a grocery store, gas station, etc. . . . and then the points are accumulated on the card and are later exchanged for prizes, monetary discounts, or other benefits. Obviously, it is important to the institution who issued the card, be it a bank, phone company, or grocery store, as well as to the consumer using the card, that the smart card be secure from unscrupulous people who would attempt to tamper with or gain unauthorized access to the data on the card.
Many cryptology methods have been used to provide security to the data on the smart cards. In cryptology, the plain text message, which often is computer data in binary streams of 1's and 0's, is transformed under the control of a key, known only to the legitimate communicants, into ciphertext or encrypted data. Cryptology is used for a number of security functions of the smart card. For example, the user must corroborate his identity to the card each time that a transaction is made. Typically, the card and the card reader execute a sequence of encrypted sign/countersign-like exchanges to verify that each is dealing with a legitimate counterpart. Once this exchange is carried out, then the transaction itself is carried out in encrypted form to prevent anyone, including the card holder or the merchant whose card reader is involved, from eavesdropping on the exchange and then later impersonating either party to defraud the system. This cryptology security protocol is usually carried out in such a way that it is transparent to the user, except for the necessity of entering a password or PIN to initiate the transaction.
The majority of smart cards presently available incorporate an internal microprocessor in order to carry out the authentication and security functions. However, microprocessor-based smart cards are expensive, and thus are not normally used for inexpensive, large-scale consumer products.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a secure memory device for a smart card which is not microprocessor-based such that the smart card can be used for inexpensive consumer products.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a secure memory device that provides excellent data security that is comparable to microprocessor-based smart cards.


A method for displaying a partial stroke mode of a washing machine is disclosed, which permits a user to recognize that a stroke mode other than a currently selected stroke mode is not performed if the user selects a partial stroke mode. The method for displaying a partial stroke mode of a washing machine having a display device includes the steps of displaying a whole washing stroke mode, which sequentially processes a series of stroke modes related with washing, and a partial washing stroke mode which processes some of the stroke modes if a power supply is applied, displaying courses corresponding to the partial washing stroke mode in the display device if the user selects the partial washing stroke mode, and displaying a guide message for a selected course in the display device if the user selects a desired course in the displayed courses. The method acts to prevent the user's undesired washing stroke mode from being performed and provides the user with convenience for use.

In general, the washing machine rotates a rotating tub, and a pulsator by a driving force of a motor, for conducting washing, rinsing, and spinning, wherein laundry is washed by using friction between the laundry, the washing water, and the rotating tub occurred as washing water and the laundry introduced in the rotating tub are pulsated.
A system and operation of a related art washing machine will be explained, with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram showing a system of a related art washing machine schematically, and FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart showing operation of the related art washing machine.
Referring to FIG. 1, the related art washing machine is provided with a key application part 1 for selecting a user's desired function, a controlling part 2 for controlling cycles of the washing machine according to functions selected through the key application part 1, a load driving part 3 for driving different loads, such as a motor (not shown) a water supply valve (not shown), a drain valve (not shown), and the like in response to control signals form the controlling part 2, and a display part 4 for displaying operation states of the functions selected through the key application part 1 under the control of the controlling part 2. The display part 4 has 88 segments, and a plurality of light emission diodes LED for displaying a remained washing time period.
When the user applies an washing command by pressing keys on the key application part 1, the related art washing machine processes washing as the controlling part 2 applies control signals to the load driving part 3 according to a preset washing cycle sequence, to drive the motor (not shown), the water supply valve (not shown), the drain valve (not shown), and the like, in succession. Also, when the user applies the washing command, the controlling part 2 provides control signals so that particulars of the setting the user selects are displayed on the display part 4, when the display part 4 displays operation time periods, and remained washing time periods required for washing, rinsing, and spinning functions respectively for each of washing courses, in response to the control signals from the controlling part 2.
A related art method for controlling a particular cycle of the washing machine will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, power to the washing machine is turned on (S1). Then, user's selection of an all cycle mode is determined (S2). As a result of the determination (S2), if the user selects the all cycle mode, a desired washing course is selected (S3). Then, once pressing an operation button, washing cycles are conducted in an order of water supply→washing→rinsing→spinning (S4–S8). On the other hand, as a result of the determination (S2), if the user does not select the all cycle mode, implying that the user selects a particular cycle(s), selection of the washing cycle only is determined (S9). As a result of the determination (S9), if the user selects only the washing cycle, a desired washing time period is set by pressing washing buttons, and the operation button is pressed (S10–S11). Once the operation button is pressed, the washing cycle is conducted for the set washing time period (S12). Then, user's selection of the spinning cycle is determined (S13). As a result of the determination (S13), if the user selects the spinning cycle, the spinning cycle is conducted (S14). On the other hand, if the user selects the rinsing cycle only, a number of rinsing is set by a rinsing button, and the operation button is pressed (S15–S17). Once, the operation button is pressed, the rinsing cycle is conducted as many times as the user sets. If the rinsing cycle ends, and the user selects the spinning cycle, the spinning cycle is carried out as much as a preset time (S19–S20). If the user selects the spinning cycle only, a desired spinning time period is set by pressing a spinning button. Then, once the operation button is pressed, the spinning cycle is conducted for the set spinning time period (S23–S24). On the other hand, if the user selects both the washing cycle and the spinning cycle, a washing time period is set by the washing button, and a spinning time period is set by the spinning button (S25–S27). Then, once the operation button is pressed, the washing cycle is conducted for the set washing time period, and the spinning cycle is conducted for the set spinning time period, and the operation ends (S28–S30). If the user selects both the washing cycle and the rinsing cycle, a washing time period is set by the washing button, and a number of rinsing is selected by the rinsing button (S31–S33). Then, once the user presses the operation button, the washing cycle, and the rinsing cycle are conducted according to the set washing time period, and the set number of rinsing times. (S35–S39). If the user selects both the rinsing cycle and the spinning cycle, a number of rinsing is selected by the rinsing button, and a spinning time period is selected by the spinning button (S37–S39). Then, once the user presses the operation button, the rinsing cycle is conducted according to the number of rinsing set by the user, and the spinning cycle is conducted for the set spinning time period (S40–S42).
However, the foregoing related art washing machine has a problem in that the user can not know conducting of a particular cycle exactly, to be inconvenient in conducting the next cycle.

Method for displaying partial stroke of washing machine


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for detecting objects in images. One of the methods includes receiving an input image. A full object mask is generated by providing the input image to a first deep neural network object detector that produces a full object mask for an object of a particular object type depicted in the input image. A partial object mask is generated by providing the input image to a second deep neural network object detector that produces a partial object mask for a portion of the object of the particular object type depicted in the input image. A bounding box is determined for the object in the image using the full object mask and the partial object mask.

This specification relates to detecting objects in images.
Deep neural networks (DNNs), or "deep networks," are machine learning systems that employ multiple layers of models, where the outputs of lower level layers are used to construct the outputs of higher level layers.
Object detection includes determining one or more portions of an image that include an object. The portions of an image that include the object can be designated by a bounding shape, e.g., a bounding box. An object mask indicates which portions of the image include the object and which portions of the image do not include the object. For example, for each pixel in an image, an object mask can assign a value of zero if the pixel is not part of the object in the image and a value of one if the pixel is part of the object.

Object detection using deep neural networks


The present invention relates generally to a method of modulating bone resorption and to agents useful for same. More particularly, the present invention provides for the use of leptin and its derivatives, homologues, analogues, antagonists or agonists to modulate osteoclastogenesis. Even more particularly, the present invention contemplates the treatment of disorders characterised by or associated with excessive bone resorption such as but not limited to osteoporosis and Paget's disease. The present invention further provides for the use of leptin and its derivatives, homologues, analogues, antagonists and agonists in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of bone resorption.

Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification are collected at the end of the description. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences are referred to by a sequence identifier, i.e. (SEQ ID NO: 1), (SEQ ID NO:2), etc. A sequence listing is provided after the claims.
Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other country.
The designation of nucleotide residues referred to herein are those recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission, wherein A represents Adenine, C represents Cytosine, G represents Guanine, T represents thymine, Y represents a pyrimidine residue, R represents a purine residue, M represents Adenine or Cytosine, K represents Guanine or Thymine, S represents Guanine or Cytosine, W represents Adenine or Thymine, H represents a nucleotide other than Guanine, B represents a nucleotide other than Adenine, V represents a nucleotide other than Thymine, D represents a nucleotide other than Cytosine and N represents any nucleotide residue.
The regulation of bone metabolism is a multifaceted process requiring the tight control of bone resorption and bone formation. The latter is the primary function of osteoblasts whereas bone resorption involves osteoclasts.
Osteoclasts are multinucleate cells formed in bone marrow by the fusion of cells from the monocyte/macrophage lineage (Suda et al., 1992; Quinn et al., 1998). A variety of factors play a role in regulating osteoclast formation including growth factors, systemic hormones and cell contact with marrow stroma.
A number of proteins have been identified which are involved in the process of osteoclastogenesis. Osteoprotegerin, also known as osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OPG and OCIF, respectively), is a secreted member of the TNF receptor superfamily that blocks osteoclast differentiation both in vitro and in vivo (Yasuda, et al., 1998; Simonet et al., 1997). The cloning of a membrane bound ligand for OPG (OPG-ligand [OPGL]) resulted in the identification of an essential signal for proliferation and fusion of osteoclast progenitors (Yasuda, et al., 1998). This protein, also called osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), is expressed on the plasma membrane of osteoblasts/marrow stromal cells and has a membrane bound receptor (in contrast to the soluble receptor, OPG/OCIF) identified as receptor activator of NF-kappa β (RANK). OPGL/ODF has also been termed TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE) and RANK-ligand (RANKL). The combination of M-CSF and a soluble form of recombinant ODF, lacking the transmembrane domain, is necessary and sufficient to stimulate osteoclast generation, in the absence of osteoblast or stromal cells, from either murine spleen cells or human monocytes (Matsuzaki et al., 1998; Quinn et al., 1988).
Leptin, a cytokine produced primarily by mature adipocytes, is linked to food intake and energy expenditure (Friedman and Halaas, 1998) but also has activity in neuroendocrine, metabolic, reproductive and haemopoetic pathways (Auwerz and Staels, 1998).
In work leading up to the present invention, the inventors investigated the role of leptin in the bone microenvironment. The inventors have now identified leptin as a regulator of osteoclastogenesis. This provides the basis for the development of a range of medicaments for modulating bone resorption.

Method of treatment and agents useful for same


A female undergarment including a first fabric layer having an abdominal region and a crotch region and a second fabric layer secured to the first fabric layer at the crotch region and at the abdominal region. The crotch region is defined by first and second leg openings. The second fabric layer, secured to the first fabric layer at the crotch region and at the abdominal region, defines a first opening between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer proximate the first leg opening and a second opening between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer proximate the second leg opening. Manufacturing the undergarment includes forming a first fabric layer having an abdominal region and a crotch region, and securing a second fabric layer to the first fabric layer at the crotch region and at the abdominal region, thereby defining the first opening and the second opening.

Undergarments, particularly female undergarments such as briefs and body briefers, often create pressure points around the leg and center front of the leg when worn. These pressure points may be attributed to design and construction, as well as the fabrics and components, such as closure panels, of which they are made.


The performance of a content package can be influenced by a variety of factors, at least some of which can be identified by analyzing user interaction events. The user interaction events can be analyzed to generate data representative of the current performance of the content package. Based on the performance data, one or more modifications can be identified and recommended to the content package owner. A modification can include a change in file size, a change in encoding quality, a change in a component, and/or a change in a presentation rule.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic content delivery and more specifically to optimizing an electronic content package based on performance data.
2. Introduction
The development of digital content delivery has enabled new techniques for creating sophisticated content packages that are highly interactive. It has also made it possible to evaluate the performance of the content packages after distribution to users. For example, it is possible to collect various pieces of data regarding a user's interaction with the content, such as time spent, gestures performed, completed conversions, items viewed, etc. The user interaction data can easily be communicated to the content package owners. However, content package owners often lack an understanding of how the composition of a content package shapes performance of the content package. Therefore, it is not always clear to the content package owners how the user interaction data corresponds to the composition of the content package and more importantly how the user interaction data can be used to maximize performance of a content package for various metrics. For example, data indicating the number of unique users that visited each section of a content package does not necessarily convey to the content package owner whether the content package is performing well or how to change the content package in order to improve the overall performance. Without an understanding of how to correlate user interaction data to changes for improving performance of a content package, content package owners are limited to trial and error techniques or settling for underperformance of the content package.

Content package modification based on performance data


The present invention provides an apparatus and method of detecting, locating, and suppressing electronic devices, specifically IEDs. This RF emission measurement device in some embodiments can also be considered a system for RF emission measurement, location, and suppression. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a high sensitivity receiver for receiving and analyzing electronic emissions. In other embodiments the apparatus comprises a high sensitivity receiver and an electromagnetic source for illuminating, and/or suppressing an electromagnetic device. The electromagnetic source could be any electromagnetic emitter known in the art, for example a magnetron or an adjustable wideband electromagnetic emitter.

Much of the background of this invention is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,094 and is herein incorporated by reference.
It has been demonstrated that there are significant advantages to the analysis of both intentional and unintentional emissions from electronic devices to garner information about the emitting equipment, the information processed by the equipment and the location of the equipment. Nearly all IEDs utilize a commercial electronic device as a triggering mechanism.
Examples include remote keyless entry devices, handheld radios, garage door openers and long-range cordless telephones. This contract seeks to leverage a patent-pending method of active IED detection through the stimulus of electromagnetic signatures that unintentionally emit from trigger electronics. The active Advanced Electromagnetic Location of Electronic Devices (AELED) system is a complete system comprised of sensitive passive detection and active illumination. Passive detection had been demonstrated in field tests to provide detection and identification of IED trigger electronic devices at range. The ability to further actively perturb the signatures of the devices and further demonstrate that improved detection is thereby possible has also been demonstrated.
Emission signatures also provide valuable information regarding the potential susceptibility and vulnerability of the systems to electromagnetic (EM) energy at those frequencies. Emission sources are often susceptible at the same frequencies where they emit. Antennas, apertures, through reciprocally are generally both good transmitters and good receivers. Cables, circuit traces, antennas typically emit and receive at same frequencies. From a system standpoint, EM energy that efficiently propagates from the device is often efficiently received by the device.
Some knowledge of the emitting frequencies may be leveraged offensively and some examples are outlined below.
The introduction of EM field strengths at select frequencies where the device is measured to be emitting, suitable to cause failure, degradation or temporary disruption may amplify and/or alter the unintentional radiation characteristics of the device. Damaged semiconductors, which are determined by breakdown characteristics, for instance may radiate robustly. The characteristic signatures of a specific device may be easier to pick out of the noise. The signature changes might be leveraged in numerous ways.
The introduction of EM field strengths at select frequencies suitable to cause failure, degradation or temporary disruption may amplify and/or alter the unintentional radiation characteristics of the device. Damaged semiconductors, determined by breakdown characteristics, for instance may radiate robustly. The characteristic signatures of a specific device may be easier to pick out of the noise. The signature changes might be leveraged in numerous ways. Some benefits might be: amplification of the emission signature when semiconductor components are degraded may improve the ability to detect, identify and track the emitter
Field strengths sufficient to cause the described signature enhancement could be introduced through non-lethal technologies such as high-power microwave (HPM) or electromagnetic pulse (EMP) sources or other high power microwave sources (jammer, radars, stand-off weapons) that were designed for other applications in the field.
The field strengths necessary to cause the described responses may not have to be so robust. Lower field strengths in some cases may alter circuit function substantially. For example, oscillator instabilities at low field strengths can significantly alter the emission signature of such devices.
In geographical regions where background emissions are minimized by a lack of electronics among the local population there may be greater potential to leverage such techniques.
In tight packed cities non-lethal RF devices may be used to amplify emissions signatures to better track electronics, an individual or gather other useful information. An example would be proximity RF/HPM source directed towards a building. If the signature being tracked changes one would gain information about the occupants or contents of the building.
The integration of passive emission collection techniques and offensive RF strategies have synergies that when integrated and utilized efficiently may improve the remote location of electronics and individuals that have dependency on electronic equipment.

Active improvised explosive device (IED) electronic signature detection


A fastener assembly, such as a nail assembly, includes a row of fasteners held together and maintained in position by a multi-layered structure including a first polymeric layer having a first surface for contacting the fasteners and a second surface and including a polymer with at least one polar moiety; and a second polymeric layer is disposed on the first polymeric layer over the second surface, the second polymeric layer being sufficiently rigid for reinforcing the first polymeric layer.

Fast-acting fastener driving tools are commonplace in the building industry. A plurality of fasteners, such as nails, screws or staples, are assembled in strip assemblies that are adapted for use in the magazine of such tools. It has been the general practice to provide such strip assemblies in a generally flat construction, in which fasteners are aligned generally parallel to one another, and are maintained in position by being bonded to a substrate. An example of one such structure is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,085, incorporated herein by reference.
A successful fastener assembly, such as a nail strip, will depend upon various factors. Among them are the ease of use, the cost of manufacture, and reliability. By way of illustration, for a number of nailing applications, it has been regarded as important for a nail strip to be durable while being transported to and handled on the worksite, such that the strip of nails is intact when the carpenter is ready to use them, and preferably such that the nails are generally in proper alignment. It also has been regarded as desirable for the nail strip to be easily loaded into a magazine of the nail gun, with minimal force and without buckling (referred to in the art as "corrugation") or other damage to the strip.
For helping to achieve a successful fastening operation, particularly using a power driving tool, the ability to manage (particularly on a consistent and reproducible basis) the energy needed to drive the fastener also has been regarded as important. In addition to the necessary energy to pass the nail into or through a workpiece, there is a component of energy needed for simply detaching the fastener from the nail strip. Of course, since many of these power driving tools are handled by human workers, weight and ergonomic considerations abound as well.
Another consideration for fastener assemblies is that because an adhesive is commonly employed, upon driving a fastener, a certain amount of the adhesive will tend to be subjected to the force of the driver. It is common that the adhesive will largely remain attached to the fastener and be driven into the workpiece. It is possible, however, that fragments of the adhesive will become detached, with the potential for scattering of the loose fragments about a work site. Another phenomena is known as "flagging", and involves the tendency of pieces of adhesive to separate from fasteners during driving, and becoming lodged in the workpiece, but protruding outwardly from the insertion point, causing the workpiece under construction to have a potentially less pleasing appearance.
Practical requirements also impose design constraints upon fastener assemblies. For example, experience has shown a preference for any structures for carrying fasteners to have an adhesive layer thickness less than about 100 μm. Transport and handling considerations have favored relatively light weight materials. Of course, as gleaned from the above, these must be considered in light of the mechanical properties desired of the materials, such as appropriate tear resistance, stiffness or otherwise.
As can be seen, for the successful manufacture and use of a fastener assembly, such as a nail strip, there are a surprisingly large amount of potentially competitive design considerations. The mere selection of any adhesive to satisfy each of the above needs is extremely difficult, let alone the optimization of the properties of any such adhesive for the specific intended use. It would therefore be valuable to have an improved structure by which at least some, if not all of, the above needs can be met.
Other publications of potential interest to the teachings herein are U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,446 and Published U.S. Application No. 2003/0087996 (both incorporated by reference).

Fastener assembly and multi-layered structure


A mechanically tunable reflective metamirror optical device for a targeted design optical wavelength includes a dynamically deformable substrate and a sub-wavelength periodic arrangement of patterned isolated gap surface plasmon (GSP) resonators positioned in or on the dynamically deformable substrate. The patterned isolated GSP resonators are movable relative to each other and comprise a patterned optically thin metal layer for the design wavelength, a patterned optically thick metal layer for the design wavelength, and a patterned insulator layer between the patterned optically thin and optically thick metal layers.

The control of light using flat optics has attracted much recent attention due to unique technological opportunities presented by these devices. For example, optical metasurfaces, which are composed of rationally designed nanostructures (called e.g., artificial atoms, meta-atoms, meta-tokens, nanoantenna, etc.), are proposed to replace some of the conventional optical elements given their compact size and more importantly, the ability to produce spatially varying phase change (i.e. wavefront reshaping), amplitude modulation and polarization conversion of incident light over subwavelength dimensions (see, e.g., references 1-5 cited below). Based on these properties, several compact and flat optical elements have been demonstrated, such as refractive/diffractive gratings (see references 6-8 cited below), waveplates (see references 9, 10 cited below), vortex-beam generators (see references 11, 12 cited below) and meta-holograms (see references 13-16 cited below). Planar lenses (see references 17-23 cited below) based on metasurfaces, also referred to as metalenses, exhibit a number of advantages over their conventional counterparts not only in terms of size and weight, but also in creating cost-effective high numerical aperture (see references 22, 23 cited below), achromatic (see references 24, 25 cited below), multifunctional (see references 21, 26 cited below), and flexible lenses (see references 19, 20 cited below). A metamirror is a reflective optical device having a metasurface whose optical function can be custom-tailored by designing the local geometry of the subwavelength nanostructures patterned on the device.
The two-dimensional nature of metasurfaces may be integrated with dynamic components (e.g. elastomers, semiconductors, graphene, liquid crystal, phase change materials, etc.) for designing active devices, such as frequency-tunable metasurfaces (see references 27-37 cited below), electrically tunable modulators (see references 38-40 cited below), beam steering devices (see references 41-44 cited below) and holograms (see references 45, 46 cited below). Among the above active devices, transmissive tunable metalenses based on dynamic components have been demonstrated recently, including electrically-tunable metalenses (see references 47-49 cited below), phase-change material based metalens (see reference 50 cited below), elastic metalenses (see references 51-53 cited below) and Alvarez lens (see reference 54 cited below). One MEMS-integrated reflective metalens has also been described, capable of dynamic beam steering at mid-infrared wavelengths (see reference 55 cited below).
A reflection type, mechanically tunable metamirror optical device working in the visible has not yet been reported. Such a device may find application in a variety of applications such as flat optics, optical communications, and wearable consumer electronics such as augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) hardware, among other applications.

Mechanically tunable reflective metamirror optical device


The present invention provides a binder carrier containing at least a magnetic particle and a binder resin, in which the binder resin comprises at least a copolymer containing an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile and preferably an optional silicone-modified acrylic resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carrier for use in a two-component developer in an image-forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a binder carrier containing a magnetic particle dispersed in a binder resin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a copying machine or printer of electrophotographic system, a two-component developing method using a two-component developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier is in practical use in developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image supporting member such as a photosensitive member.
As a carrier for a two-component developer, various carriers are known such as an iron particle carrier, a ferrite carrier, a resin-coated carrier containing these magnetic particles coated with a resin, a binder carrier containing magnetic fine particles dispersed in a binder resin. However, resin-coated carriers raise a problem that a smooth image cannot be obtained due to their hard ear when they are transported as a magnetic brush on a developing roller or problems such as disturbance of toner images or damage to the photosensitive member due to scraping. Also, the resin-coated carrier has a problem that its life as a developer is short due to peeling-off of the coating layer during its use.
The binder carrier can solve the above-mentioned problems, and is further attracting public attention as a carrier which can be produced easily in small particles, which has a high volume specific electric resistance, and into which electric charge from a developer-supporting member is not easily transferred.
However, conventional binder carriers raise a problem that the toner itself, a charge-controlling agent of the toner, a post-processing agent, or the like adhere to the carrier surface during their use, whereby the charging efficiency of the carriers deteriorates to provide insufficient charging with the toner, resulting in a toner flying phenomenon or an image noise such as fogging in an image formed on a sheet. This problem becomes conspicuous in a full color developing process that uses a large amount of toner.

Binder carrier containing ethylenic unsaturated nitrile copolymer as binder resin


A portable terminal including: a controller receiving signals corresponding to a plurality of input buttons and outputting image data to be displayed on the plurality of input buttons using the received signals; and a plurality of buttons for inputting a key from a user and outputting a signal corresponding to the key pressed, and for receiving the image data from the controller and displaying the received image data. By using the display buttons for displaying variable images corresponding to specific functions as well as an essential function of inputting keys from a user when a specific function is input in the portable terminal, a plurality of functions can be input with only a few buttons, providing speed and convenience to the user for function input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal such as a cellular (cell) phone, and more particularly, to a portable terminal having display buttons for displaying images corresponding to specific functions through keys pressed by a user, and a method of inputting functions of the portable terminal using the display buttons.
2. Description of Related Art
A portable terminal user selects a function such as a phone call or short message send/receive function and inputs, for example, Korean characters, English characters, and digits, using a plurality of buttons on the portable terminal.
Recently portable terminals such as cell phones have been developed to integrate and fuse functions of many other electronic devices in addition to basic functions such as a phone call function and a short message function. For example, functions such as an MP3 audio file reproduction function of an MP3 player, image capture and reproduction functions of a digital camera, an electronic dictionary function, and a digital TV function, have been included in recent cell phones.
Such a function increase of a portable terminal accompanies an increase of devices for controlling the functions, but users do not usually want extra complexity, cost or physical size.
Though it is not that difficult to integrate several functions into a portable terminal or to miniaturize a device, due to the development of technology, it is still challenging to provide a user interface through which a user can quickly and easily input complex functions and then control the portable terminal. For example, a user interface is needed for reducing key-press steps for a user to perform a specific function, or for easily managing, searching for, and reproducing digital content such as photographs, video, audio, and e-mails.
For portable terminals, an increasing number of buttons for inputting the extra functions can be a problem, due to complexity of user input according to the limited size and greater number of buttons. On the other hand, without extra buttons, the number of key presses for inputting a specific function increases.

Portable terminal having display buttons and method of inputting functions using display buttons


A unique method and apparatus for detecting the power level of communication signals, such as RF communication signals being transmitted from a wireless communication device (100), increases the dynamic range of a conventional power detector. The method and apparatus selectively switches between two power detection paths (314, 317) with different operating ranges. More particularly, when a transmitted signal having a power within a predetermined range is detected, a first path is biased to transmit the RF communication signal. The predetermined range could be determined, for example, by a number of power steps. Similarly, when a transmitted signal having a power in a second predetermined range is detected, such as a low power transmitted signal, a second path provided. Preferably, the second path includes an amplifier (372) to offset the loss of resolution as the detect voltage is low.

Devices for transmitting communication signals, such as radio frequency (RF) communication signals, must regulate the power at which the signals are transmitted. For example, a conventional cellular telephone, such as a class III portable as defined under the IS-19 standard published by the Electronics Industry Association/Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA) located at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006, is adapted to transmit RF signals at one of six predetermined power levels varying at 4 dB steps. The more recent IS-136 standard, also published by the EIA/TIA, calls for a class IV portable which is required to have three additional power steps below the step 7 level of class III portables. Each of these new levels is also a 4 dB step, requiring a power control dynamic range increase from 20 to 32 dB.
Conventional radio designs use a coupler with a peak detector on the coupled port to detect radio power output for power setting purposes. The peak detector operates with a minimal bias voltage. At higher power out levels, the detector output voltage linearly tracks the power into the peak detector. As power falls, the detect output voltage approaches its bias value asymptotically.
As a result, the power/detector output voltage curve no longer follows the linear slope. Also, larger changes in power are required to produce each dB of change in detector output voltage, resulting in a loss of resolution as the detector output voltage approaches its bias value.
Conventional radio designs also typically set the coupling ratio to provide the minimum necessary power into the detector at the lowest power step in order to keep the detector insertion loss to a minimum. Applying this technique to a class IV portable would require a 12 dB increase in coupling ratio to maintain equal performance. With existing couplers operating in the 16 to 20 dB range for coupling, such an approach would require a detector with a 4 to 8dB coupling ratio. Such a coupler would have an unacceptably high insertion loss.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for detecting communication signals over a wider dynamic range.

Method and apparatus for detecting communication signals


This application concerns a distributor for agricultural chemicals, and in particular a manifold used in distributors of anhydrous ammonia. The manifold comprises a housing having an axially aligned inlet port and several radially arranged outlet ports. The outlet ports have equal angular separation around the periphery of the housing. A rotatable distributor is arranged within the housing, and a passage is provided through the rotatable distributor. The passage extends from an entry port communicating with the inlet port of the housing, to a delivery port which communicates with each outlet port in turn as the rotor rotates about the axis. The arrangement is such that, in use, the rotatable distributor has sufficient rotational momentum to enable it to behave like a flywheel, so that its rotational velocity remains substantially constant irrespective of the volumetric proportions of liquid to vapor at the entry port.

The application of anhydrous ammonia to the soil is generally achieved by the use of tractor mounted equipment. A reservoir of anhydrous ammonia is mounted on the tractor, and a series of knives are pulled through the soil behind the tractor. Anhydrous ammonia travels from the reservoir, through a metering device, to a distribution manifold, and from there to tubes attached to the rear of the knives. As the knives are dragged through the soil behind the tractor the ammonia is directed out through holes in the tubes into the soil.
There are a number of different designs for the distribution manifold. They commonly have a cylindrical body with one axial inlet, and a number of radial outlets. In some designs a cone is provided inside the manifold immediately below the inlet to divert the incoming stream towards the radially arranged outlets.
There have been longstanding difficulties in calibrating anhydrous ammonia applicators and ensuring an even rate of delivery to the soil. An application distribution error rate of about 16% has in the past been found to be typical. To overcome this problem, operators often increase the application rate to ensure that all areas receive a full application. This may cause off-site pollution by nitrogen entering the ground water, and in addition is wasteful.

The Minister of Agriculture for the State of New South Wales


A communication device and method for offloading communications from a first communication network to a second communication network. The offloading decision can be based on one or more parameters defined in a communication framework. The communication framework can be, for example, Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) framework. The offloading of communication can be from a Long-term Evolution (LTE) network to a Wi-Fi network, or vice-versa. The communication framework can include, for example, positional, movement, signal quality, connection duration, a data rate, and/or quality of service (QoS) parameters.

Field
This application relates generally to wireless communications, including the reduction of upstream control channel resources and inter-system offloading within a communication environment.
Related Art
The cellular network industry and service providers have been developing inter-system offloading solutions to alleviate congestion within communication environments by delivering data originally targeted for cellular networks to one or more other complementary technologies such as Wi-Fi. Inter-system offloading can reduce congestion issues and provide flexible bandwidth for load-balancing.
Conventional offloading solutions, such as 3GPP I-WLAN architecture as set forth in the 3GPP TS 23.234 specification, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, relies on policies stored in mobile devices with pre-configured conditions to effectuate offloading.
The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.

Systems and methods for network discovery and selection using contextual information


A handover control method includes the follow steps. First, determining a geographical location of each femtocell and determining a maximum bandwidth provided by each femtocell, and determining which femtocells are in a same region according to the geographical information of each femtocell. Secondly, selecting one or more femtocells from one region as server femtocells of the region by comparing the maximum bandwidth of the femtocells in the same region, and transmitting identification information of each server femtocell to non-server femtocells near the server femtocell. Thirdly. transmitting registration information of all other femtocells of all regions to each server femtocell. Fourthly, when receiving a handover report from user equipment to switch from an original femtocell to a target femtocell, obtaining the registration information of the target femtocell from one server femtocell. Finally, transmitting a control signal including the obtained registration information to the user equipment.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to femtocells, and more specifically, to a handover control system and a handover control method for femtocells.
2. Description of Related Art
A femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, which is used to improve network coverage within a small area, for example in home and small offices, thus allowing service providers to extend service coverage indoors.
When user equipment (UE) is moved from a region covered by a first femtocell to another region covered by a second femtocell, the user equipment transmits a handover request to a core network via the first femtocell. The core network determines the location of the second femtocell based on the handover request, and transmits the handover request to the second femtocell. The second femtocell then transmits a response to the core network, and the core network determines whether the user equipment is allowed to be connected to the second femtocell according to the response. If the user equipment is allowed to be connected to the second femtocell, the core network transmits a control signal to the first femtocell, and the first femtocell transmits the control signal to the user equipment. Thus, the user equipment is connected to the second femtocell.
With the known configuration, the core network needs to process a great amount of data, therefore making it easy for the core network to break down. Thus, there is room for improvement in the art.

Handover control system and handover control method for femtocells


A hanger and driving assembly for hanging clothes or curtains that has a simple and reliable driving mechanism involving an easy operation to close and open the curtain without the need of cords, the assembly having a rail fixed to a wall or a roof of a building, a rod extending inside and along the entire length of the rail, the rod having at least one helical thread length, at least one driven runner being slidably mounted on the rod, the runner comprising a threaded bore through which the rod passes whereby the threaded bore is engaged with the helical thread length of the rod so as to be moved along the rod when the rod is rotated, the runner having at least one pair of wheels rotatably mounted to rotate about an axis and along inner surfaces of the rail the runner having a horizontally projecting hanging arm passing through an elongated opening extending along the bottom or the front wall of the rail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new hanging assembly for hanging clothes or curtains of the type comprising a rail for guiding a plurality of sliders or runners capable of closing and opening the curtain and, more particularly, the invention refers to a hanger and driving assembly for hanging a curtain and for closing and opening the curtain, the assembly being capable of being fixed either to a supporting horizontal surface, such as a roof, or to a vertical surface, such as a wall of a building.
To the purpose of the present specification the term curtain must be understood as comprising one or more lengths of clothes or hangings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to provide hanger assemblies for clothes or curtains, having a square C-shaped rail defining an inner track along which a plurality of sliders run, the sliders being connected to the curtain so as close and open the curtain when running along the inner track or tracks of the rail. The rail generally has a square section with the opening part of the C-shape defining a slot or opening running all along a bottom side of the square section, that is looking towards the floor of the building the track along which the sliders run are defined at both sides of the slot. Each slider generally comprises a plastic body slidably fitted within the rail with a bottom surface in sliding contact with the tracks of the rail. Each slider also comprises a hanger element, such as a hook, downwardly projecting from the slider and passing outside the rail through the bottom slot of the rail, for fixing an upper edge of the curtain. Although this type of hanger assembly is widely used the same does not suitably operate as far as a friction resistance must be overcome between the slider and the track inner surface of the rail over which the slider slidably runs. This resistance is increased with the dirty, particularly room dust, collected within the rail, on the inner surfaces thereof.
To overcome the drawback related to the increased friction which frequently causes the system to be broken or the curtain dragged, other hanger systems incorporate wheels. In this type of hangers the runner includes two or four wheels rotating about respective horizontal axes and along horizontal tracks defined by inner surfaces at each side of a bottom slot of the rail. Like the slot of the type including sliders, this slot is for allowing a hanger element downwardly projecting from the runner to pass through the slot outside the rail for retaining a curtain.
The tracks for the rolling runners must be free of any irregularity or obstacles which, including dust, may cause the wheels to be taken off from or run off the tracks which, in turn, causes the runner to be blocked within the rail. This is because the wheels rest and run along the horizontal tracks under the load of the gravity plus the weight, some times very heavy, of the hangings.
In any of the above types of hanger systems, either with sliders or rolling runners, a driving mechanism is necessary to make the runners or sliders move along the inner tracks of the guiding rail. In most simple systems only one or two bars are provided for one length or two lengths of clothe respectively. The bar or bar are manually pulled on to open or close the curtain. The bar generally is fixed to a leading runner or slider while the remaining runners are fixed to the upper edge of the curtain in a uniform spaced array so as to move the curtain entirely when pulling only from the leading runner.
Another systems include a cord extending along the rail, fixed to the only one leading runner, if the curtain comprises only one length of cloth, or to the two runners moving in opposite directions, when the curtain comprises two lengths of cloth. The cord is also extended around one or two pulleys and two ends of the cord is accessible to the user to pull down from one end or from the other to respectively open or close the curtain. As stated above, when two lengths of cloth are provided the system comprises two driven leading runners moving in opposite directions towards to or away from a central section of the guiding rail.
In all the above hanger systems, however, the square C-shaped rail comprises two lateral walls, an upper wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall including a slot running all along the length of the rail and the hanging member projecting from the slider or the runner is downwardly pending so as to extend outside the rail through the bottom slot, with the slot, or opening of the C-shaped section, formed in the bottom wall of the rail the rail must be fixed to a horizontal surface such as a roof, by engaging the upper wall of the rail against the roof and fixing the wall by screws, for example, passing through the upper wall and fixed in the roof. When the roof is not accessible to fix the rail the upper wall must be fixed against another horizontal surface provided to this purpose which implies to manufacture an additional supporting structure or to specially provide additional support members.
Also in most of the conventional hanger systems the hanging member projecting from the slider or the runner comprises generally a hook-shaped member capable of being fixed to the fabric of the curtain in several manners. In some cases the hook has a sharp end so as to pass the hook through the fabric by puncturing the fabric with the risk of damaging the curtain. In addition, since no predetermined point in the curtain are marked to insert the sharpen end of the hook is quite probable that all the hooks do not remain aligned and at the same distance from the curtain edge, this causing the curtain to be not uniformly retained. Other systems provide a plurality of rings stitched in the proximate of the upper edge of the curtain and spaced apart from each other uniformly all along the entire length of the curtain. Each ring is respectively hooked in each of the hooks of the runners these rings, however, are an obstacle when the curtain is removed from the hanger assembly and is washed in a washing machine because the cloth is damaged under the effect of the repetitive action of the rings over the fabric during the washing operation of the machine.
It would be therefore convenient to have a hanger and driving system which can be fixed onto a vertical wall, which can be easily and reliably operated to close and open the hangings, such as a curtain and which allows the hangings to be easily retained in the hanger system with retaining means by means of which the curtain can be easily removed from the hanger system and can be washed manually or in a washing machine without the risk for the curtain to be damaged by the retaining means.

Hanger and driving assembly for clothes or curtains


A method for dimensioning a component of a braking system; the braking system having at least two brake-circuit partial circuits; each brake-circuit partial circuit having at least one pump element for building up a brake-circuit pressure and/or for returning brake-circuit fluid in an ABS case, the pump elements of the at least two brake-circuit partial circuits being operable using a motor element; and the at least two brake-circuit partial circuits being separable using a separating element, so that different brake-circuit pressures may be created in the at least two brake-circuit partial circuits.

Braking systems are used in vehicles to perform deceleration of a vehicle in a targeted and in particular moderate way during regular driving operation. In particularly extremal situations, for example, full braking, a braking system is frequently operated at its limit, to carry out the best possible or quickest possible braking of the vehicle, for example, to a standstill.
One such scenario in which full braking may be necessary is pedestrian protection. It may thus occur, for example, due to inattention of the driver of a vehicle or also of the pedestrian himself, that the distance between a vehicle and the pedestrian is sufficiently small so that full braking of the vehicle has to be carried out to ensure the physical integrity of the pedestrian. When a pedestrian is referred to hereafter, this is to be considered any object in the travel path of a vehicle which will possibly be significantly damaged in the event of a collision with the vehicle. This may be, in addition to conventional pedestrians, for example, bicycle riders, animals, stationary objects, or also other, in particular smaller vehicles.
It is foreseeable that future vehicle technology is to fulfill increased demands from the field of pedestrian protection. In this case, through suitable recognition and in particular partially autonomous or autonomous braking intervention, a collision with an object, for example, a pedestrian or the like, is to be prevented. A system improvement usually provides a shorter braking distance. The braking distance is determined not least according to possible dynamics of a braking system, therefore, how rapidly a requested pressure may be built up in a braking system in order to actuate brake elements on the wheels, for example.
Sensors and suitable software for reliably recognizing a pedestrian are also required, however, a possible braking power of a vehicle is essentially determined by the pressure buildup dynamics of the braking system. The demands on a braking system with regard to the pedestrian protection are therefore pressure dynamics demands for this braking system. For improved pedestrian protection, a braking system having the greatest possible pressure buildup dynamics is required, to make a time delay as short as possible between initiation of a braking action and final application of the brakes, therefore the full deceleration of the vehicle.

Braking system and method for dimensioning a braking system


A communications network comprises a lower transport layer and an upper overlay incorporating a plurality of routers. Adjacencies are defined between respective pairs of routers. Path protection is provided by defining a software model of the overlay of the network and defining in the model a hierarchy of protection levels for the main path. Each protection level is characterised by a respective set of one or more broken adjacencies in the model, the adjacencies to be broken being determined from a knowledge of the underlying topology. A protection level is selected and a protection path avoiding the broken adjacencies associated with that protection level is calculated. If this calculated path is not available in the real network, a lower protection level in the hierarchy is selected and the protection path calculation repeated. The process continues until a suitable protection path is identified.

Modern communication networks are designed as a layered structure in which lower layers provide communication services for upper layers. These upper layers each have a topology which, when configured logically, may he referred to as an overlay topology. For efficiency reasons an overlay topology might not have a one-to-one correspondence with the underlying topology that supports it.
Each layer commonly has its own responses to changes in the network, including alarms in the case of failure. A typical example of a layered topology which illustrates the interplay of alarms and layers is the case of a SONET or SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) ring supporting IP (Internet Protocol) traffic that is routed by Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol. A network may detect a failure at the SONET layer and respond within 100 ms to switchover traffic using Automatic Protection Switching (APS). If it is unable to take this action, then, in the scale of tens of seconds (typically 30 to 40 seconds) OSPF neighbours whose adjacency was supported by the failed equipment will notice the loss of adjacency and take actions to re-converge the network to support IP routing, e.g. by flooding of Link State Advertisements, and computation of routing tables.
Alarms at different network layers are capable of providing different amounts of information about the nature of a network fault. Lower layer alarms provide more detail than higher layer alarms. For example, SONET systems typically produce thousands to millions of alarms in response to a single fibre break. SONET networks themselves are designed as layered systems and each layer propagates specific alarms up to the management plane. These alarms can be correlated to determine the precise nature of a fault. Loss of IP adjacency supported by a failed fibre, however, only indicates that, at some SONET layer, or possibly due to a break in fibre, a failure to get IP layer messages between peers has occurred.
Not all networks which carry IP traffic have SONET protection beneath them. To provide fast restoration at the IP layer for Hop by Hop routed traffic or for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) label switched paths, schemes have been proposed that act on loss of IP layer adjacency in order to route traffic around failed equipment to where it might be forwarded normally again. The requirement for these schemes is to get traffic flowing again on the scale of 10s of milliseconds to support services like voice or video over IP.
A particular problem with current fault recovery systems is that of determining an effective recovery path. As the network upper and lower layers may have a differing topology, there is a risk that a minor 'route around' path change may not avoid the fault. There is the further problem of determining the precise nature of the fault. For example, it may not be easy to determine with any degree of rapidity whether a network failure has resulted from a fault in a switch, a router or a fibre path.

Route protection in a communication network


The use of alkoxylates and nitrogen containing detergents in a fuel additive composition to prevent intake valve sticking and reduce intake valve deposits.

The present invention relates to a fuel composition containing a fatty acid alkoxylate and a nitrogen containing detergent as a method to remedy engine intake valve sticking.
Hydrocarbon fuels generally contain substances that tend to form deposits in the fuel delivery system of an internal combustion engine such as the fuel injectors in diesel engines and the intake valves in gasoline engines. These deposits, if allowed to build up, can significantly reduce engine performance in terms of drivability, power output, fuel economy and exhaust emissions. It is highly desirable to incorporate detergents into hydrocarbon fuels that are effective in controlling deposits by inhibiting their formation and facilitating their removal so that engine performance is maintained or improved.
However, it is also known that these detergent additives which remove carbonaceous engine deposits can actually cause intake valve sticking when they work up the intake valve stem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,723, Eberhand, Sep. 14, 1999 discloses a method and fuel composition to prevent intake valve sticking, or to reduce or eliminate intake valve sticking comprising a fuel, an effective amount of a hydrocarbyl poly(oxyalkylene) aminocarbamate having at least one basic nitrogen atom and an average molecular weight of about 500 to about 10,000 and wherein the hydrocarbyl group has 1 to about 30 carbon atoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,452 B1, Su, Apr. 3, 2001 discloses fuel additives effective to control the formation of deposits in internal combustion engines, which comprise carboxylic acid alkoxylates suited for use with nitrogen containing fuel detergents.
International Publication WO 98/12282 A1 discloses a detergent additive composition for diesel fuel that contains a polyisobutylene monosuccinimide in an aromatic hydrocarbon diluent. The detergent additive composition can be used to remove or prevent engine deposits.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,651 B2, Carabell et al., Jun. 15, 2004 discloses that a combination of a specific Mannich condensation product, a hydrocarbyl-terminated poly(oxyalkylene) monol, and a carboxylic acid for use in a fuel composition can provide for the control of intake valve deposits.
The present invention, therefore, solves the problem of reducing the amount of deposit formation while reducing or eliminating the intake valve sticking by providing a new fuel composition and composition that can clean up deposits formed and prevent deposits from being formed on the valve stem, which will lead to intake valve stem sticking.

Use of fatty acid alkoxylates as a method to remedy engine intake valve sticking


A combined lighter and cutting device includes a fixed handle, a cutting seat, a movable handle, a lighter device and a blade unit. The fixed handle has a pair of arms extending downwardly and frontwardly from one end thereof. The cutting seat is mounted between the distal ends of the arms of the fixed handle. The movable handle is connected pivotally to the fixed handle and has a horizontal support plate that extends forwardly from the hollow member to a space between the two arms of the fixed handle above the cutting seat. The movable handle is moved toward the fixed handle so as to move the support plate toward the cutting seat. The lighter device includes a gas cylinder received in the hollow member and operable so as to release gas from an outlet thereof, a tubular ignition rod communicated with the outlet of the gas cylinder and having a perforated end extending under the support plate, and an ignition device including an ignition electrode secured on the support plate, and a push-button operable so as to generate a spark at the ignition electrode to ignite the gas released by the gas cylinder. The blade unit is connected to the perforated end of the ignition rod under the support plate.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to a combined lighter and cutting device, more particularly to a combined lighter and cutting device which has two cutting modes.
2. Description Of The Related Art
Presently, a tail cutting device is used to cut the tails of piglets so as to prevent the piglets from biting each other's tails when the piglets are fighting for feed. Additionally, an ear cutting device is used to cut the ear of a piglet so as to mark the piglet in order to distinguish which one of the piglets in a herd of piglets has been injected with vaccine. In operation, both the blade of the tail cutting device and the blade of the ear cutting device are heated to a predetermined temperature by a lighter so as to prevent bleeding of the piglet when the tail and/or the ear of the piglet is cut. It is inconvenient and timeconsuming to operate either one of the aforementioned cutting devices and a separate lighter.


An engaging structure of an electric shaver and an electric charger is provided wherein the electric charger at least serving to charge the electric shaver is mounted thereat. The engaging structure includes a magnet provided at one of the electric shaver or the electric charger; and an attracting member provided at the other thereof, the attracting member being made of a material magnetically attracted to the magnet. Further, a contact portions for electrically connecting the electric shaver and the electric charger are provided between a weight center of the electric shaver and the magnet disposed above the contact point at an opposite side of a mounting direction of the electric shaver.

In a typical engaging (mounting) structure of an electric shaver and a cleaning/charging apparatus having a cleaning function that is configured to clean a blade unit of the electric shaver, the electric shaver has at its upper portion the blade unit and at its lower portion charging pins which electrically connects the electric shaver with the cleaning/charging apparatus. The electric shaver is placed upside down on the cleaning/charging apparatus so that a shaving head of the electric shaver is mounted faced down. The shaving head is positioned in a cleaning part of the cleaning/charging apparatus, and the charging pins are made to contact with a contact portion (terminals) provided at the cleaning/charging apparatus so as to charge the electric shaver by supplying power therethrough.
However, in case of mounting the electric shaver, which has the charging pins at the lower portion thereof, on the cleaning/charging apparatus, the charging pins are positioned uppermost. Therefore, in order to secure a stable contact with the charging pins of the electric shaver, the height of the cleaning/charging apparatus needs to be greater than that of the electric shaver.
In order to solve the problem, a structure is proposed which disposes charging pins on the rear surface of the electric shaver (hair removing apparatus), which allows the height of the cleaning/charging apparatus to be lower (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2004-261208; hereinafter, referred to as "Reference 1"). Reference 1 discloses therein techniques for preventing a loose contact between terminals by ensuring a rigid contact therebetween, one of which is a mechanically engaging mechanism to engage the electric shaver and the cleaning/charging apparatus by pulling the electric shaver with a movable support arm provided at the cleaning/charging apparatus; and the other is an electromagnetically inductive engaging mechanism to engage the electric shaver and the cleaning/charging apparatus by generating an electromagnetic induction from coils provided at the electric shaver and the cleaning/charging apparatus.
Moreover, although it is not an engaging structure designed specifically for an electric shaver and a cleaning/charging apparatus, there is an engaging structure of a portable radio telephone and a desktop holding stage for supplying power to the portable radio telephone, wherein the portable radio telephone has a magnet and the desktop holding stage has a weight made of a material that is capable of being attracted to the magnet (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2000-324220; hereinafter, referred to as "Reference 2").
In addition, there has been proposed a technique for fixing a terminal of a charging device. Although it is not an engaging structure designed specifically for an electric shaver and a cleaning/charging apparatus, in the technique, an elastic part of the terminal is supported by a support member disposed away from a fixed end of the terminal and a pressure applied from a to-be-charged device mounted on the charging device to the contact portion of the terminal is received by a deflection of a portion from the contact portion to the support member supporting the elastic part, to thereby prevent the pressure applied to the contact portion from reaching a vicinity of the fixed end (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2003-132958; hereinafter, referred to as "Reference 3").
However, the techniques disclosed in References 1 to 3 provide an unsatisfactory electrical connection state between the electric shaver charging device and the to-be-charged device and, accordingly, the contact mechanism between terminals needs to be further improved to provide a better connectivity.

Engaging structure of electric shaver and electric charger thereof