The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenating an aldehyde. An aldehyde is contacted with a catalyst comprising a support containing at least 95% α-alumina and non-support metals dispersed on the surface of the support. The non-support metals comprise nickel and/or one or more compounds thereof and molybdenum and/or one or more compounds thereof. The nickel and/or one or more compounds thereof comprise from 3 wt. % to 9 wt. % of the catalyst, by metallic weight, and the molybdenum and/or one or more compounds thereof comprise from 1 wt. % to 4 wt. % of the catalyst, by metallic weight.

1,3-propanediol (PDO) is a compound having multiple uses. It is used as a monomer unit in the production of polyesters and polyurethanes that are useful as films and as fibers for carpets and textiles. It is also useful as an engine coolant.
PDO may be prepared from ethylene oxide (EO) in a process involving two primary reactions. First, EO and synthesis gas (H2/CO) are catalytically hydroformylated to form 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (HPA) in an organic solvent. The HPA is extracted from the solvent with water to form an aqueous solution of HPA, and the aqueous solution of HPA is then hydrogenated to form PDO.
The hydrogenation of HPA to PDO is performed using a hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst should desirably have several features: 1) it should be highly active over an extended period of time; 2) it should cause the hydrogenation to be highly selective to the formation of PDO, rather than other compounds; 3) it should have a long catalyst life; 4) it should not be discharged into the PDO product stream; and 5) it should be economically cost effective, preferably using inexpensive components and, if required, as few expensive components as possible.
According to Hatch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,110, especially preferred catalysts for hydrogenating HPA to PDO are Raney nickel and Adkin's copper-chromium oxide. Hatch et al. also disclose that other suitable catalysts for hydrogenating HPA to PDO include catalytically active compounds of metals such as Fe, Co, Cu, Pd, Zr, Ti, Th, V, Ta, Ag, Mo, and Al. Slurry catalysts such as Raney nickel are known to have high activity and selectivity in converting HPA to PDO as a result of the homogeneous distribution of the catalyst in the hydrogenation reaction mixture. Suspended or slurry catalysts, such as Raney nickel, however, are susceptible to being discharged into the PDO product stream in the form of soluble compounds, necessitating additional steps to purify the PDO product stream.
Haas et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,511, discloses that a supported ruthenium catalyst is useful in the hydrogenation of HPA to PDO, and avoids the problem of the metallic portion of the catalyst polluting the PDO product stream. Use of the supported ruthenium catalyst in a fixed-bed is preferred. Ruthenium and other noble metals such as platinum or palladium, however, are very expensive, and ruthenium and other noble metal based catalysts are not commercially attractive, especially for large scale continuous operations.
Arhancet et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,945,570 and 6,342,464, disclose a hydrogenation catalyst for hydrogenating HPA to PDO that is a bulk metal catalyst. The bulk metal catalyst includes 25 to 60 wt. % nickel and 5 to 20 wt. % molybdenum bound together with a binder made up of oxides of silicon, and silicates and oxides of zinc, zirconium, calcium, magnesium and/or aluminum. The catalyst is particulate and may be used in a fixed bed hydrogenation reactor such as a trickle bed reactor. Bulk metal catalysts, however, are subject to breaking into catalytic fines over an extended period of use, and may lack sufficient physical stability to be used in large scale long-term continuous operations.
In short, hydrogenation catalysts in the art formed of economically advantageous non-noble catalytic metals either do not exhibit sufficient hydrogenation activity over an extended period of time, are discharged into the product stream requiring additional steps to purify the product stream, or are not sufficiently physically stable to be utilized in an industrial scale continuous long-term aldehyde hydrogenation process.


A verification assembly (10) for the verification of an article (34) so as to prevent tampering and positively identify the article (34) for use in future legal proceedings. The assembly (10) includes a flexible, adhesive substrate (12) having one face (18) thereof provided with an identification portion (22); the portion (22) presents a sufficient area to allow placement thereon of a unique, identifiable image of a print (38) of a person verifying the article (34). Preferably, a first image developing composition is applied to the identification portion 22, and a supply (14) of second image developing composition is provided, with the second composition being complemental with the first composition for image development. In use, the substrate (12) is adhesively applied to the article (34) so as to inhibit tampering. The verifying person then coats a print area (normally a fingerprint area) with the second composition and presses the print area into engagement with the identification portion (22) of the applied substrate (12). This immediately generates a unique, permanent identifying image of the print area on the substrate (12).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with a verification assembly and method which can be used for verifying and/or insuring a chain of custody of an article, e.g., an item of evidence in a legal proceeding. More particularly, the invention pertains to such a verification assembly which includes a flexible substrate having a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one face thereof and with the opposed face having an identification portion for receipt of a unique, identifying print area (e.g., a fingerprint) of the user. In one form of the invention, use can be made of an inkpad where the user simply applies ink to the print area which is then recorded on the identification portion of the substrate. In preferred forms, a first image developing composition is applied to the identification portion of the substrate, and a supply of second image developing composition is provided which is complemental with the first composition for image development. In use, a person seeking to verify an item would substantially permanently attach the substrate to the article, coat a print area (usually a fingerprint) with the second composition and press the coated print area into engagement with the substrate identification portion. This generates a permanent print image on the substrate to further strengthen the chain of custody and verification of the article.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Specialized adhesive tapes have been available for a number of years for use in sealing, protecting and verifying all types of packages, containers, boxes, bottles, envelopes, windows and documents. To give but one example, law enforcement officials use these tapes to form a tamper-indicating seal on an evidence package or container so as to assist in proving that the evidence in question remains in tact from the moment it was collected. In many instances, tapes of this type can also provide a chain of custody owing to the fact that the tapes are tamper-indicating and essentially permanently stick to any surface. Attempts to remove the tape result in shredding and peeling thereof at the point of attempted entry. For example, the tapes may be provided with a "zippered" edge design for tamper indication, solvent-sensitive inks which bleed in response to attempted chemical tampering, and also with a writing strip along the bottom for allowing the user to write dates, numbers, and signatures thereon.
In recent years, a number of highly publicized criminal cases have turned upon chain of custody issues and allegations of evidence tampering. As a consequence, there is an increasing need to enhance the verification and chain of custody integrity of existing evidence tapes.

Evidence sealing tape with fingerprint identification zone


Methods and apparatus for expeditiously releasing network resources for a mobile station based on low battery and lost signal conditions are disclosed. The wireless network (104) receives a power down warning message from the mobile station (102) indicative of a low battery condition. The wireless network (104) then identifies whether a lost signal condition exists with the mobile station (102). In response to receiving the power down warning message and subsequently identifying the lost signal condition, the wireless network (104) causes network resources for the mobile station to be released. The wireless network (104) infers that the mobile station (102) has powered down due to low battery without enough time to send a power down registration to the wireless network (104).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mobile stations operating in a wireless communication network, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for expeditiously releasing network resources for a mobile station based on low battery and lost signal conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless communication device, such as a mobile station operating in a wireless communication network, may provide for both voice telephony and data communications (e.g. IP packet data communications) for an end user. A mobile station may, for example, be compatible with 3rd Generation (3 G) communication standards (such as IS-2000 Release 0) and utilize Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless network technologies.
Many mobile stations receive power from one or more batteries or battery packs which are connected to the mobile stations. In current CDMA-based wireless networks, at least some service providers require that a mobile station automatically power itself off before its battery charge reaches an "empty" condition When a low battery condition is detected, the mobile station performs a power down procedure which is similar to the process that occurs when the mobile station is manually powered off by the end user. If the mobile station is in an "idle" state, the power down procedure includes generating an audible alert, sending a power down registration to the network on an access channel, and powering itself off. If the mobile station is in a "dormant" packet data session, the mobile station is required to setup a data call merely to tear down a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session established with the network, terminate the call, send the power down registration, and power itself off. If the mobile station is in an "active" traffic channel call, the mobile station sends a release order message with power down registration on the traffic channel and powers itself off. Some alternative methods are also possible and in general, these methods may be referred to as conventional power down registration techniques.
The purpose of sending the power down registration before the mobile station powers itself down is to conserve network resources. After the receipt of the power down registration, the wireless network "knows" that the mobile station is unavailable and no longer requires service from the network The wireless network knows, for example, that it is futile to page the mobile station for incoming calls when it is unavailable. In addition, the wireless network may release network resources such as an IP address and memory assigned to the mobile station when the mobile station is unavailable. This includes, for example, a Radio Access Network (RAN)-Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) binding or a Foreign Agent and Home Agent binding in a cdma2000™ network
When the mobile station is in an "active" traffic channel call, which may be a voice, data, or other type of call, it is not always possible for the mobile station to adequately transmit a release order message with power down registration before an actual hardware power failure occurs due to the magnitude of the battery's voltage fluctuation. Given wide current fluctuations, the mobile's battery voltage may drop across both soft and hard "power-off" thresholds at nearly the same time and cause the transmitted signal to be lost. When the mobile station's battery condition becomes poor in an idle state or a dormant data packet session, the mobile station may also experience a hardware power failure before it completes the power down procedure due to access probe or traffic channel transmission activity.
The result may appear to the wireless network as a "call drop" due to reverse link fading. When this occurs, the wireless network does not expeditiously release network resources for the mobile station. Over a subsequent time period during which the mobile station is inoperable and unavailable, the wireless network continues to page the unreachable mobile station for incoming communications and fails to deassign and reallocate its previously-assigned network resources.
Accordingly, what are needed are methods and apparatus for expeditiously releasing network resources for a mobile station to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art.


A substrate bonding apparatus includes a first bonding chuck configured to support a first substrate and a second bonding chuck configured to support a second substrate such that the second substrate faces the first substrate. The first bonding chuck includes a first base, a first deformable plate on the first base and configured to support the first substrate and configured to be deformed such that a distance between the first base and the first deformable plate is varied, and a first piezoelectric sheet on the first deformable plate and configured to be deformed in response to power applied thereto to deform the first deformable plate.

The inventive concept relates to a substrate bonding apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by using the substrate bonding apparatus.
In a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate bonding process of bonding two or more substrates may be performed. The substrate bonding process may be performed by enhancing a mounting density of semiconductor chips in a semiconductor device. For example, a semiconductor module having a structure where semiconductor chips are stacked may be used to enhance a mounting density of semiconductor chips, shorten a wiring length between semiconductor chips, and facilitate high-speed signal processing. In a case of manufacturing a semiconductor module having a stacked semiconductor chip structure, bonding may be performed in wafer level rather than in chip level, and then, a bonded wafer may be cut in plurality of stacked semiconductor chips, thereby enhancing productivity. The substrate bonding process may be performed as a wafer-to-wafer process of directly bonding two wafers without a adhesive medium. The wafer-to-wafer process may be performed by using a bonding apparatus including a bonding chuck for supporting wafers and an element for pressurizing the wafers.

Substrate bonding apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device by using the substrate bonding apparatus


Apparatus and methods tune analog filters that are parts of systems. When an analog filter is inserted into a system, the analog filter can be difficult to tune because of the difficulty in observing the analog filter's characteristics without being interfered by other circuits in the system. In one embodiment, analog filters are bypassed, and a response is determined. To this response, a time-invariant digital filter is applied to generate a reference response, such as an ideal response. The analog filters are then enabled and adjusted so that the difference between the response of the system and the reference response is minimized. This technique can be applied to arbitrary-order analog filters and can be used even when other circuits affect the observed filter response.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to electronics. In particular, the invention relates to communication systems in which analog filters are tuned.
2. Description of the Related Art
Analog filters are widely used in radio transceivers. Typically, a communication device uses assigned channels with given bandwidth. In a transmitter, analog filters are employed to reduce signal leakage to adjacent channels and meet the requirements of a transmission spectral mask. In a receiver, analog filters are used to pass signals in the desired channel while suppressing interference from other channels. Requirements for analog filters in radio transceivers can be specified by filter parameters such as time-constant, cutoff frequency, passband flatness, stopband attenuation, group delay, etc. Since an analog filter can vary significantly with manufacturing process and temperature variation, an analog filter should be tunable to accommodate the variability. In addition, wireless communication systems have been moving towards a single device that can support multiple standards and operate in various environments. This also requires analog filters to be tunable and configurable to ease system complexity and reduce cost.
In phase-response based filter tuning methods, an analog filter is tuned such that the phase shift between the test signal and the filtered signal matches a desired phase shift. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,334 to Kumar and A Digital Automatic Tuning Technique for High-Order Continuous-Time Filters, by Taner et al, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I, vol. 51, no. 10, pp. 1975-1984, October 2004. A test signal at a pre-defined limited number of frequencies is used to generate a filtered signal. This way, a filter is tuned at only the specified frequencies regardless of its amplitude response and phase response at other frequencies. However, it may not be practical to isolate an analog filter from the rest of circuits in a system. Circuits other than the filter being tuned in the signal path can cause a phase shift of the filtered signal. This can lead to an inaccurate estimation of the actual phase shift due to the analog filter, and, therefore to a degradation in tuning performance.
In time-constant-based filter tuning methods, an analog filter's cutoff frequency is tuned by measuring and adjusting a time constant associated with the cutoff frequency. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,451 to Lou, et al., A Mixed-Signal Approach for Tuning Continuous-Time Low-Pass Filters, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 307-314, June, 2004, Anthony et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,404, by Gaggl, et al.
Since the time constant is determined by the product of resistance and capacitance values in the filter circuits, the filter tuning result is sensitive to other circuits in the signal path used for measuring the time constant. Moreover, the time-constant based methods are typically only suitable for the tuning of single-stage RC filters. In general, a multi-stage analog filter has several low-order analog filters, which are separated by other circuits in a system. Thus, both the phase-response and time-constant based methods can only tune a multi-stage analog filter stage by stage, which leaves the combined overall performance uncertain.
In master-slave tuning methods, an analog filter is tuned at the cost of using an additional analog master filter that is identical in design to the operating analog filter. See, for example, A Single-Chip Dual-Band Tri-Mode CMOS Transceiver for IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN, by Masoud et al, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 39, no. 12, pp. 2239-2249, December, 2004 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,078,960 by Ezell. Instead of tuning the operating slave filter, the master analog filter is tuned, and the tuning results are then applied to the slave filter. The advantage of master-slave methods is that the slave filter in use can be tuned without interrupting ongoing communications. However, these methods require a relatively large die area, and variations between the master and slave can impair the accuracy of the actual tuning.


A method is provided for using Cav2.2 subunit calcium channel modulators to treat non-inflammatory gastrointestinal tract disorders.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders affect the quality of life of millions of men and women in the United States every year. GI tract disorders may involve disturbances of the GI smooth muscle, epithelium, sensory afferent neurons, or central nervous system pathways. In spite of the uncertainty regarding whether central or peripheral mechanisms, or both, are involved in GI tract disorders, many proposed mechanisms implicate neurons and pathways that mediate visceral sensation. Viscerosensory information from the GI tract is relayed by sensory fibers that enter the spinal cord via the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) or project to the nodose ganglion via vagal afferents (Physiology, ed. R. M Berne and M. N. Levy, 1983, CV Mosby Co. St. Louis). A number of different subtypes of sensory afferent neurons may be involved in neurotransmission from the GI tract. These may be classified as, but not limited to, small diameter, medium diameter, large diameter, myelinated, unmyelinated, sacral, lumbar, DRG, vagal, nodose, peptidergic, non-peptidergic, IB4 positive, IB4 negative, C fiber, Aδ fiber, Aβ fiber, high threshold or low threshold neurons.
GI tract disorders have been characterized as structural (or mucosal) GI tract disorders and non-structural (or non-mucosal) GI tract disorders. Structural disorders include inflammatory bowel disorders and non-inflammatory structural GI tract disorders. Non-structural disorders include a variety of disorders classified as functional GI tract disorders.
Inflammatory bowel disorders include a group of disorders that can cause inflammation or ulceration of the GI tract. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the most common types of inflammatory bowel disorders, although collagenous colitis, lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis, and other disorders have also been described.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology afflicting the large intestine and, except when very severe, is limited to the bowel mucosa. The course of this disorder may be continuous or relapsing and may be mild or severe. Medical treatment primarily includes the use of salicylate derivatives, glucocorticosteroids such as prednisone or prednisone acetate and anti-metabolites dependent on the clinical state of the patient. Salicylate derivatives, such as sulphazine or mesalamine, are efficacious in patients with mild cases of the disorder. Glucocorticosteroids and anti-metabolites are efficacious in patients with moderate or severe disease but are associated with a number of side effects. Patients who need chronic doses of glucocorticosteroids or anti-metabolites for control of their disorder eventually undergo removal of the colon surgically to eliminate the disease.
Like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease (also known as regional enteritis, ileitis, or granulomatous ileocolitis) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology; however the location and pathology of the disease differ. Crohn's disease typically presents in either the small intestine, large intestine or the combination of the two locations and can cause inflammation deeper into the muscle and serosa located within the intestinal wall. The course of the disorder may be continuous or relapsing and may be mild or severe. Medical treatment includes the continuous use of salicylate derivatives, glucocorticosteroids, anti-metabolites, and administration of an anti-TNF antibody. Many Crohn's disease patients require intestinal surgery for a problem related to the disease, but unlike ulcerative colitis subsequent relapse is common.
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are idiopathic inflammatory disorders of the colon that cause watery diarrhea typically in middle-aged or older individuals. Lymphocytic colitis is distinguished from collagenous colitis by the absence of a thickened subepithelial collagenous layer. Bismuth in the form of Pepto-Bismol may be an effective treatment in some patients, although more severe cases may require the use of salicylate derivatives, antibiotics such as metronidazole, and glucocorticosteroids.
Functional GI tract disorders are characterized by presentation of abdominal-type symptoms without evidence of changes in metabolism or structural abnormalities. Disorders that are typically considered under functional disorders include dysphagia, non-ulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, slow-transit constipation, and evacuation disorders (Camilleri (2002) Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders, In WebMD Scientific American Medicine, edited by David C. Dale and Daniel D. Federman, New York, N.Y., WebMD). A prominent example of a functional GI tract disorder is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known by a variety of synonyms, including functional bowel, pylorospasm, nervous indigestion, spastic colon, spastic colitis, spastic bowel, intestinal neurosis, functional colitis, irritable colon, mucous colitis, laxative colitis, and functional dyspepsia. IBS generally leads to abdominal pain and/or discomfort and an alteration in bowel habit with no clear etiology. Diagnosis relies on Rome criteria taking into account all symptoms related to patient presentation. (See, e.g., Drossman et al. (1997) Gastroenterology, 112: 2120). Patients typically present with symptoms consistent with hyperalgesia and allodynia.
At present, treatments for IBS have been largely ineffective, and have included stress management, diet, and drugs. Psychoactive drugs, such as anxiolytics and antidepressants, have been utilized but have limited utility because of the side effect profile. Antispasmodics and various antidiarrheal preparations have also been used but these remain as unsatisfactory remedies to patients with IBS.
Non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is another prominent example of a functional GI tract disorder with no established etiology. Symptoms related to NUD include nausea, vomiting, pain, early satiety, bloating and loss of appetite. Altered gastric emptying and increased gastric sensitivity and distress may contribute to NUD but do not completely explain its presentation. Treatments include behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, or administration of antidepressants, motility regulatory agents, antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, and, prokinetics. However, many of these treatments have shown limited efficacy in many patients.
In addition to the structural/non-structural classification described above, GI tract disorders may also be sub-classified based upon anatomical, physiological, and other characteristics of different portions of the GI tract as described in Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 6th Ed. (W.B. Saunders Co. 1998); K. M. Sanders (1996) Gastroenterology, 111: 492–515; P. Holzer (1998) Gastroenterology, 114: 823–839; and R. K. Montgomery et al. (1999) Gastroenterology, 116: 702–731. For example, acid peptic disorders are generally thought to arise from damage due to acidic and/or peptic activity of gastric secretions and may affect the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Acid peptic disorders include gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers (both gastric and duodenal), erosive esophagitis and esophageal stricture. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome may be considered an acid peptic disorder since it typically presents with multiple ulcers due to excessive acid secretion caused by a endocrine tumor. Treatments typically include gastric acid suppressive therapies, antibiotics, and surgery. In some patients, however, these therapies have proven ineffective.
Another sub-classification for GI tract disorders may be drawn between gastroesophageal and intestinal disorders based upon characteristics between different portions of the GI tract as disclosed in Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 6th Ed. (W.B. Saunders Co. 1998); K. M. Sanders (1996) Gastroenterology, 111: 492–515; P. Holzer (1998) Gastroenterology, 114: 823–839; and R. K. Montgomery et al. (1999) Gastroenterology, 116: 702–731. Structural gastroesophageal disorders include disorders of the stomach and/or esophagus where there is no evidence of structural perturbations (including those observed in the mucosa) distal to the pylorus. Dyspepsia (chronic pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen) is a prominent feature of most structural gastroesophageal disorders but can also be observed in non-structural perturbations, and has been estimated to account for 2 to 5 percent of all general practice consultations. Structural gastroesophageal disorders include gastritis and gastric cancer. By contrast, Structural intestinal tract disorders occur in both the small intestine (the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and in the large intestine. Structural intestinal tract disorders are characterized by structural changes in the mucosa or in the muscle layers of the intestine, and include non-peptic ulcers of the small intestine, malignancies, and diverticulosis. Non-peptic ulcers in the small intestine are typically related to administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Diverticulosis is a disorder that rarely occurs in the small intestine and most commonly appears in the colon.
Because existing therapies and treatments for GI tract disorders are associated with limitations as described above, new therapies and treatments are therefore desirable.

Methods of treating non-inflammatory gastrointestinal tract disorders using Cav2.2 subunit calcium channel modulators


A method using fluorescence microscopy for image evaluation using a laser scanning microscope in which an at least partially spectrally resolved detection of the fluorescence spectrum occurs. Reference spectra are used for spectral demixing. Temporally and/or spectrally variable dyes and/or dye combinations are employed for recording of the reference spectra. Finally, the recorded reference spectra are inspected for image evaluation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method used in fluorescence microscopy, especially laser scanning microscopy, in general, and to the use of dyes for image evaluation, in particular.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional application of light microscopy for investigation of biological preparations is fluorescence microscopy which is discussed in the "Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, Second Edition", Pawley, Plenum Press, 1995. Specific dyes are used in fluorescence microscopy for specific marking of tissues, cells, cell parts, or other materials.
The emitted photons of a specific energy excite the dye molecules from the ground state to an excited state by absorption of a photon. This excitation is generally referred to as one-photon absorption (See FIG. 1a). The dye molecules so excited can return in different ways to the ground state. In fluorescence microscopy the transition with emission of a fluorescence photon is most important. The wavelength of the emitted photon is generally red-shifted based on the Stokes Shift in comparison to the excitation radiation and therefore has a greater wavelength. The Stokes Shift permits separation of the fluorescence radiation from the excitation radiation.
A multiphoton excitation is shown in FIG. 1b. The fluorescence light is split and observed separately from the excitation radiation with appropriate dichroic beam splitters in combination with block filters. The depiction of individual cell parts stained with different dyes is possible on this account. However, several parts of a preparation, in principle, can also be simultaneously stained with different dyes by specifically adding dyes resulting in multiple fluorescence. Special dichroic beam splitters are again used to distinguish the fluorescence signals emitted by the individual dyes.
The prior art is explained as follows based on the example of a confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM) such as that show schematically in FIG. 2. An LSM is divided into essentially four modules: light source L, scan module S, detection unit D and microscope M. These modules are further described below. U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,173 also provides a detailed explanation of the LSM and is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in its entirety.
For specific excitation of different dyes in one preparation, different wavelengths are used in an LSM laser. The choice of excitation wavelength is guided according to the absorption properties of the dyes being investigated. The excitation radiation is generated in the light source module L. Different lasers 13.1 and 13.2 are used here (for example, argon, argon-krypton, TiSa lasers). Selection of the wavelength and adjustment of the intensity of the required excitation wavelength additionally occurs in the light source module L, for example by using an acousto-optic crystal 15.1 and 15.2. The laser radiation then goes to the scan module S via a fiber 14.1 and 14.2 and/or appropriate mirror arrangement.
The laser radiation generated in the light source is focused into the preparation with limited diffraction with objective 4 via the scanner 23, scan optics 16 and 17 and tube lens 9. The focus scans the sample in the x-y direction point-like. The pixel residence times during scanning over the sample are generally in the range of less than a microsecond to a few seconds.
During confocal detection (descanned detection) of the fluorescence light, the light emitted from the focal plane (specimen) 5 and from the overlying and underlying planes goes to a dichroic beam splitter (MDB) 24 via the scanner 23. This separates the fluorescence light from the excitation light. The fluorescence light is then focused on a diaphragm (confocal diaphragm/pinhole) 29, which is situated precisely in a plane conjugated to the focal plane. Fluorescence light fractions outside of the focus are suppressed on this account. By varying the diaphragm size the optical resolution of the microscope can be adjusted. Behind the diaphragm there is an additional dichroic block filter (EF) 30 that again suppresses the excitation radiation. After passing through the block filter, the fluorescence light is measured by means of a point detector (PMT) 31.
During use of multiphoton absorption, excitation of dye fluorescence occurs in a small volume on which the excitation intensity is particularly high. This region is only slightly larger than the detected region during use of a confocal arrangement. The use of a confocal diaphragm can therefore be omitted and detection can occur directly after the objective 5 in the nondescanned detection region 71 of the microscope.
In another arrangement for detection of dye fluorescence excited by multiphoton absorption, descanned detection again occurs, but this time the pupil of the objective is imaged in the detection unit (nonconfocal descanned detection) D.
Only the plane (optical section) that is situated in the focal plane of the objective is detected by a three-dimensionally illuminated image by both detection arrangements in conjunction with the corresponding one photon or multiphoton absorption. By marking several optical sections in the x-y plane at different depths z of the sample, a three-dimensional image of the sample can then be generated in computer-controlled fashion. The LMS is therefore suitable for investigating thick preparations. The excitation wavelengths are determined by the employed dye with specific absorption properties. Dichroic filters 30 adjusted to the emission properties of the dye ensure that only the fluorescence light emitted by the corresponding dye is measured by the point detector.
In biomedical applications several different cells or cell regions are now marked with different dyes simultaneously (multifluorescence). The individual dyes can be detected separately with the prior art based either on different absorption properties or emission properties (spectra). For this purpose additional splitting of the fluorescence light from several dyes occurs with the secondary beam splitters (DBS) 28 and a separate detection of the individual dye emissions in separate point detectors (PMT x) 31. Flexible adjustment of detection and excitation to corresponding new properties by the user is not possible with the arrangement described above. New dichroic beam splitters and block filters must instead be created for each (new) dye.
If the emission spectra of two dyes overlap, the previous detection devices reach their limits. In order to avoid overlap between two dyes, the spectral detection range must be restricted. The range in which the two dyes overlap is simply cut out for this purpose and not detected. The efficiency of the detection unit therefore deteriorates. An equal signal-to-noise ratio can only be achieved by increasing the excitation power, through which preparation damage can occur. Nowadays a maximum of up to six different dye probes are therefore simultaneously used, since the dyes otherwise could not be separated owing to the strongly overlapping emission bands.
Previously dyes have been modified so that they either differ from each in their absorption properties or in their emission properties. FIG. 3 shows the emission spectra of different typical dyes. The emission signal is plotted as a function of wavelength. The dyes denoted 1 to 4 differ in position and form of their emission spectra. These dyes, however, are in most cases toxic for living preparations. Investigation of the evolution of cell structure in living preparations is therefore impossible. In the late 90s, dyes occurring in nature, the so-called fluorescing proteins (GFP, YFP, CFP, TOPAS, GFT, RFP) were discovered by Clonetech, Mountain View, Calif. www.clontech.com. Fluorescence dyes for specific marking of preparations are used in all of the aforementioned systems.

Method to be used in fluorescence microscopy


A terminal block is disclosed having a leaf spring, a contact, a cam member, and a spring member. The contact is positioned adjacent to the leaf spring and has a contact seat. The contact seat has a projection extending towards the leaf spring and is positionable in a hole of a ring terminal inserted into the terminal block. The cam member is in rotatable contact with the leaf spring, has a rotational axis extending in a direction of insertion of the ring terminal, and when in contact with the leaf spring, presses the leaf spring against the contact. The spring member is located closer to the leaf spring than the contact seat and biased against the inserted ring terminal.

Conventionally, a terminal block of a type in which screws are inserted into holes of ring terminals and the screws are fixed to threaded holes of contact seats is widely used. In these terminal blocks, to install the screws when they are completely detached from the contact seat, the screws need to be inserted into the holes of the ring terminals, and then screwed into the contact seats in order to fix the ring terminal. This multistep process results in a process-heavy workload required to mount the ring terminal.
Alternative designs of a terminal block of a type that can reliably fix ring terminals with fewer steps is desired. While several alternative designs have been developed to solve this long-felt need in the industry, none of these designs offers the reliability desired, while reducing the number of assembly steps.
For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-306617 ("Reference 1") discloses a relay ground terminal for a residential distribution board. A ground wire is inserted into a housing, and a locking metal element is crimped to the ground wire by rotationally operating an operation lever. The operation lever is equipped with a cam face to drive an auxiliary member to the ground wire. While this design reduces the number of assembly steps, reliability is not increased, because the ring terminal can be pulled out when the ground wire is pulled with a sufficient force.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-165323 ("Reference 2") discloses an electrical terminal in that uses an operation cam to fasten a conductor, where the conductor is fastened through a pivoting action of the operation cam. The conductor is inserted into a through-hole, and the operation cam is rotationally operated to produce a camming action that fastens the conductor.
Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-64266 ("Reference 3") discloses a terminal device in which a conductor is secured by insertion into a locking hole of a locking spring. A release lever having a cam is rotationally operated to fasten the conductor through the pivoting action of the cam spaceion.
Similarly to Reference 1, References 2 and 3 also suffer from the ring terminal being pulled out accidentally when the conductor is pulled on. Further, since the insertion direction of the electric wire is different from the direction of a rotation axis of the cam, it is difficult to achieve a low profile terminal block.
Therefore, a terminal block is needed to reliably hold a conductor and to do so using a minimum number of steps.


In an insulated type switchgear device in which a pair of arc electrodes are separably disposed in an opposing manner in a vacuum tube, and having a movable conductor extending from a back face of a movable one of the arc electrodes to the outside of the vacuum tube, the pair of arc electrodes are designed to be separated through a rotation of the movable conductor around a predetermined main axis. The movable arc electrode is structured in such a manner that an electrode center of the movable arc electrode, when the movable arc electrode is brought into its circuit breaking position, is to be located near a center axis of the stationary arc electrode, whereby the center of the movable arc electrode is offset from the center axis of the stationary arc electrode when the pair of arc electrodes are brought into their circuit making position, and whereby an insulation type switchgear device is provided which suppresses a possible offsetting of arc electrodes at a circuit breaking position thereof, improves circuit breaking performance thereof, and permits downsizing thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in an insulated type switchgear device, and more specifically, to an improvement in a vacuum type switchgear with multifunctions in which a pair of arc electrodes are designed to be separable through rotation of a movable conductor around a predetermined main axis.
2. Related Art
A commonly used transformer substation includes such components as transformers, circuit breakers and disconnecting switches, and an electric power from the transformers is supplied via the circuit breakers and disconnecting switches to loads such as motors. When performing maintenance and inspection of the loads, these circuit breakers as well as the disconnecting switches which are provided separately from these circuit breakers are opened, and further, by means of a grounding device remanent electric charges and inductive currents at a power source side are sinked into a ground so as to ensure safety of maintenance persons.
In these switchgear devices, for example, in a vacuum circuit breaker, circuit making and breaking operations are performed by engaging and disengaging a pair of arc electrodes which are disposed in a vacuum tube.
In general, a vacuum circuit breaker having a structure in which a movable conductor is moved with respect to a stationary conductor in a vertical direction by means of an operating mechanism disposed outside the vacuum tube so as to engage and disengage the pair of arc electrodes, each provided at one end of the respective movable and stationary conductors, is frequently employed.
Further, a vacuum circuit breaker as disclosed, for example, in JP-A-55-143727(1980), in which a movable arc electrode is designed to engage and disengage with a stationary arc electrode through rotation of the movable arc electrode around a predetermined main axis, is also used.
Generally, in a circuit breaker, when an arc stays at a portion between the arc electrodes during a circuit breaking operation, the surface temperature of the arc electrodes increases due to thermal input from the arcing to thereby cause melting of the metal of the arc electrodes. In such an instance, consumption of the arc electrodes is significant as well as surplus vapour metal particles existing between arc electrodes extremely reduces its circuit breaking performance. Therefore, in vacuum circuit breakers and in particular those for interrupting a large current, a variety of measures are applied for the structure of the arc electrodes.
For example, with spiral electrodes in which spiral ditches are provided for the arc electrodes, an arc is provided with a driving force in a rotating direction by a current flowing through the arc electrodes and is always moved between the arc electrodes to thereby suppress the melting of metal on the surface of the arc electrodes.
Further, with coil shaped electrodes provided at the back faces of the arc electrodes, magnetic flux in the axial direction of the arc electrodes is generated to thereby diffuse the arc uniformly between the arc electrodes and to reduce current density of the arc.
However, conventional insulated type switchgear devices contain the following problems. Namely, in the conventional insulated type switchgear devices as disclosed, for example, in JP-A-3-273804(1991), circuit breakers, disconnecting switches and grounding switches therefor are separately manufactured and installed, therefore, the size of the device is increased. Further, with the circuit breaker making use of a rotating movement operation in which the engagement and disengagement with the stationary arc electrode is performed through rotation of the movable arc electrode around a predetermined axis, the pair of arc electrodes are placed in an offset position when performing a circuit breaking operation. Therefore, a region which allows an arc ignition (in other words the effective area of the arc electrodes) decreases, and thereby the circuit breaking performance thereof is likely reduced.


The present invention describes methods for the detoxification of a mixture of nitrile compounds, or a mixture of nitrile and amide compounds by conversion of the nitrile compound(s) to the corresponding amide or acid compounds using a pure culture of an induced microorganism strain capable of converting a nitrile moiety to an amide or acid moiety. If an amide is formed or is present in the mixture, the amide can be further converted, using the present methods for detoxification, to the corresponding acid. The acid can then, if desired, be further degraded to CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and biomass. The induced pure cultures are able to detoxify a mixture of nitrites or a mixture of nitriles and amides which are typically present, in high concentration(s), in nitrile production waste streams. The present invention further discloses methods for removing a nitrile compound from an amide preparation, such as an acetamide or acrylamide preparation containing an unwanted nitrile compound, using an induced pure culture of an induced microorganism strain capable of converting a nitrile moiety to an amide or acid moiety. The pure cultures are able to purify or reduce the toxicity of the amide preparation thus improving purity and amide product yield from the amide preparation. The present invention further discloses methods for the conversion of a mixture of amide compounds to the corresponding acid compounds using a pure culture of an induced microorganism strain capable of converting an amide moiety to an acid moiety. This invention also discloses kits, biofilters and methods for use of the kits and biofilters for detoxification containing the useful microorganism strains.

Nitriles are exceedingly versatile compounds that can be used in the synthesis of a wide variety of compounds, including amines, amides, amidines, carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, imines, and heterocyclics. One of the most important commercially important nitrites is acetonitrile which is a common solvent. Other nitrile compounds are used as herbicides or in the synthesis of detergents or antiseptics. Another of the most commercially important nitriles is acrylonitrile, which is used to make acrylamide, acrylic acid, acrylic fibers, copolymer resins and nitrile rubbers.
One method of production of acrylonitrile is by use of the SOHIO/BP process, which entails the direct ammoxidation of propene (a/k/a propylene) by ammonia vapors in air in the presence of a catalyst (see generally, Acrylonitrile, 1979, Process Economics Program Report, Stanford Research International, Menlo Park, Calif.; Weissermel and Arpe, 1978, Industrial Organic Chemistry, Verlag Chemie-Weinheim New York, pp. 266-270). The wastestream from this process contains a complex mixture of nitriles, including dinitriles, amides and acids at high concentrations. More particularly, the wastestream generally contains nitriles such as acetonitrile, acrylonitrile, succinonitrile and fumaronitrile as well as acrylamide. In addition, cyanide(s) at variable and/or high concentrations is/are often present. The wastestream generally contains high and/or variable concentrations of ammonium sulfate. This hazardous waste effluent cannot be released into the environment due to its toxicity and in the United States is usually disposed of by deep well injection into sub-surface formations. Such disposal cannot be considered to be a "treatment" of the wastestream, but rather is analogous to the process of landfilling.
Outside the United States, it has been common practice to "treat" the wastestream from the production of acrylonitrile by diluting the wastestream to a low total nitrile concentration of about 250 ppm or less and treating by conventional aerated biological wastestream systems, i.e., activated sewage sludge, after wet/air oxidation, which removes volatiles and partially oxidizes many of the organic constituents. Such method of "treatment" is not suitable to efficient disposal of a nitrile production facility wastestream for the following reasons: (1) wet/air oxidation causes volatile compounds to be stripped, creating an air emission problem; (2) dilution of the wastestream necessitates large wastewater treatment facilities to handle the flow and long residence time required to obtain adequate "treatment"; and (3) combination of wet/air oxidation with biological treatment by activated sludge results in high treatment costs. There remains a long, deep felt need in the nitrile production industry for an efficient, cost effective, environmentally sound method to dispose of the effluent of nitrile production plants.
It has long been known that certain microorganisms are useful to convert a nitrile compound to its corresponding amide or acid compound biologically. Both the scientific and patent literature contain numerous references describing the use of nitrile converting microorganisms for the production of specialty chemicals, for example, acrylamide and acrylic acid or acrylate from acrylonitrile. See generally, Kobayshi et al., 1992, Trends Biotechnol. 10:402-408. The nitrile converting microorganisms have been shown to have activities including, nitrilase, which converts a nitrile compound to its corresponding acid compound; nitrile hydratase, which converts a nitrile compound to its corresponding amide compound; and amidase, which converts an amide compound to its corresponding acid compound.
To the knowledge of the present inventor, however, in all these specialty chemical productions using nitrile degrading microorganisms, only a single compound has been employed to induce the relevant activity and only a single nitrile compound has been converted to produce a single desired specialty compound.

Methods for the detoxification of nitrile and/or amide compounds


The present invention proposes that the value of a crowd network comes from network entropy and a very well engaged crowd has more value than a poorly engaged crowd. The engagement (and the resultant value generated from the engagement) of a crowd network can be measured in terms of the entropy of the network. The entropy is calculated as a function of the probability distribution of incoming and outgoing messages, which represents the entropy or uncertainty in the activity over the network. In this way, the activity occurring over a network in terms of message exchange is translated as a measure of the value of the network. An evolutionary algorithm is presented to optimize the entropy of a network by successively changing the network topology. Results indicate that the value of a crowd network very closely relate to its small world-ness, sparsity, and connectedness.

In the recent past it is increasingly being observed that social media plays an important role in putting a dormant crowd into action. The most recent examples of social media fueled crowd activism are the Egyptian revolution, the Spanish May 15th movement, and the most recent Occupy Wall Street protests that spread out across many cities in the United States. The common underlying theme in all these examples of activism is the intelligent use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. to bring a crowd into action. Beneath any crowd is a network of people who are engaged towards a common goal for a crowd to perform a purposeful action. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to understand why and how the engagement of a crowd changes from time to time. For example, some movements start off great but die out soon, some movements start out small but pick up momentum and turn into a full-fledged revolutions.
Crowds can be represented as complex networks. Most real complex networks, such as telecommunication networks, are not homogeneously linked by similar type of edges. Most real complex networks display certain characteristic properties like small world phenomenon and scale free distributions. Today's hyper-connected networks of people, information, and devices pose an entirely different challenge—in order to extract the value of today's crowd networks, it is not enough to understand simply the connections of the network. It is also important to understand the activity on those connections, representing the engagement of the crowd, and how it grows or shrinks over time and under what conditions. Only then the true value of the crowd network can be extracted.
Complex network properties like clustering, shortest path lengths, etc. are traditional measures for examining properties of a graph network. In the case of a social network, the notion of 'engagement' or 'activity' between the people/nodes in the network is an important aspect. Engagement has certain properties like working towards a common goal or working in parallel on different tasks to achieve a common higher task, etc. Up until now, however, the relationship between engagement and network structures has not been well-defined. This invention provides a method for computing the value of a social network based on network entropy and for extracting the network structures that contribute to that value.

System and method for determining the value of a crowd network


A system and method for programming applications to respond to slow links. The programming may be done during configuration of a system, or it may be implemented dynamically in response to a recently-detected change in network performance. The method includes the steps of continually monitoring links in a network, periodically calculating runtime link speeds for the links, and identifying slow links based on the monitoring and calculating. The method may additionally include the preliminary step of predefining so-called original link speed factors for the links. Runtime determination of runtime link speed factors for the respective links and comparison of the original link speed factors to the real-time link speed factors will then be used for the identification of slow links. A variety of application responses may be programmed as slow link responses.

Communications in computing systems are restricted by the limitations of the available components, including not only the computing capacity but also the limitations along the communications media. Single closed systems are bound by the CPU speed and the size of the memory. In client-server systems having a single server, the transactions are bounded by the bandwidth of the network along with the CPA and memory of the server. In multi-server distributed networks, where distributed kernel services (DKS) and object request brokers are provided to handle requests, the factors influencing communications are multiplied. Not only are there endpoint restrictions (i.e., capacity of the hardware or software at an endpoint) multiplied by the number of endpoints, which may be in the millions, but also link speed restrictions multiplied by the number of links in the route for a given communications, and influenced by the amount of traffic over the route.
In distributed networks, the link speed between endpoints necessarily affects the speed of transmissions between the endpoints as well as the quality of those transmissions. In anticipation of slow links, some applications are preset to "assume" that the links are slow and the application's requests and transmission rates are scaled accordingly. Such is a typical practice in local area networks (LANs). In other point-to-point systems, the link speed (e.g., based on the modem speed at a client endpoint) is requested at the outset of communications and the application's responses are dynamically adapted to optimize usage of the anticipated link speed. In still other point-to-point systems, such as in the case of streaming audio and video players, the bandwidth of the connection, along with the capacity of the equipment at the receiving endpoint, are factored in to anticipate the link speed for communications and hence the streaming rate. On a point-to-point basis some applications (specifically those with SNMP device drivers) can poll to obtain the interface speed at an endpoint or can apply "ping" tests to measure the response time across a link between two endpoints. Those measurements can then be considered when tailoring the transaction to the available link speed. While the foregoing solutions are realistic for small scale point-to-point systems, they are not scalable for use in vast distributed networks where there may be one million endpoints. Moreover, those applications which can obtain interface speeds may have "stale" information; and, those applications without the ability to gather interface speed must blindly program with only InetAddresses. Often, a local server is required in each part of a network which is connected by a slow link to other distributed kernel services of the network. Since a local server is provided, all reads are done locally, with the slow link only being used for writes.
Delays caused by high network traffic are exacerbated by applications which continually poll for the status of the interface or link speed and the status of their pending requests, thereby further reducing overall network performance. In addition, when system administrators learn of system outages, the ability to limit traffic, for example by creating slow or time sensitive links, must be done automatically by automatic programming interfaces (APIs). When events occur, whether due to volume or outages, applications continue to poll the link and do not gracefully quit using a network resource. As a result, an error prone system of tuning each application's use of the network must be implemented, rather than providing a way for an application to determine link speed, by query or by automatic notification of a significant change in link speed, and then respond accordingly (e.g., decide whether or not to attempt to perform a task).
What is desirable, therefore, and what is an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of application programming to define responses to the existence of a slow link or system outage.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system and method for comparing link speeds in a network for use in tailoring network usage to optimize network performance.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for dynamically modifying application programming to respond to a detected change in network conditions.

Method and apparatus for identifying slow links and for providing application-based responses to slow links in a distributed computer network

International Business Machines Corporation


An improved battery paste composition and a lead-acid electrochemical cell which incorporates the composition. The cell includes a positive current collector and a negative current collector which are each coated with a paste containing one or more lead-containing compositions and a paste vehicle to form a positive plate and a negative plate. An absorbent electrolyte-containing separator member may also be positioned between the positive and negative plates. The paste on the positive current collector, the negative current collector, or both further includes a special additive consisting of polyvinylsulfonic acid or salts thereof which provides many benefits including improved battery cycle life, increased charge capacity, and enhanced overall stability. The additive also makes the pastes smoother and more adhesive, thereby improving the paste application process. The paste compositions of interest may be used in conventional flat-plate cells or in spirally wound batteries with equal effectiveness.

Lead-acid electrochemical cells which are otherwise known as "lead-acid batteries" are commonly used to store and deliver electrical energy. For example, lead-acid electrochemical cells are normally employed in vehicles (e.g. cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and the like) for ignition, lighting, and other related purposes. These applications are typically known as "SLI" or "starting-lighting-ignition" functions. Lead-acid electrochemical cells are also used in "deep cycle" or traction-related applications.
Conventional lead-acid electrochemical cells include electrically-conductive positive and negative current collectors typically manufactured in the form of foraminous (porous) metallic grids which are manufactured from a lead alloy or elemental lead (99.9%-99.99% purity lead Pb!) as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,688. The individual current collectors may be planar (flat) in configuration or spirally-wound as discussed further below. Regardless of form, both the positive and negative current collectors (e.g. grids) are supplied with a paste composition that is directly deposited onto both sides of the current collectors during cell production. As a result, positive and negative "plates" are formed from the pasted current collectors. The positive and negative pastes are typically produced from one or more particulate lead-containing compositions which may consist of, for example, finely-divided elemental lead (Pb) or lead compounds (e.g. oxides such as PbO "litharge"! and/or Pb.sub.3 O.sub.4 "red lead"!, as well as lead sulfates PbSO.sub.4 !). The selected lead-containing compositions are then combined with a paste "vehicle" (e.g. water) and various other optional ingredients including sulfuric acid H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 !. Other additives of interest comprise expander materials as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,532 which include barium sulfate, carbon black, and lignosulfonate. The expander materials are primarily used in connection with the negative paste as discussed further below.
The paste composition positioned on the positive current collector to form the positive plate in an electrochemical cell is typically characterized as the "positive paste", while the paste composition located on the negative current collector to produce the negative plate is known as the "negative paste". Further information regarding these items and other characteristics of battery paste compositions in general are presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,177 which is incorporated herein by reference. Likewise, methods of applying the paste compositions listed above to the positive and negative current collectors are specifically discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,886; 3,951,688 and 4,050,482 which are also incorporated by reference.
From a functional standpoint, the current collecting members not only collect electrical current within the cell, but likewise provide mechanical support for the paste compositions. The paste compositions specifically function as the active electrochemical materials for storing electrical energy. Battery systems of the type listed above are also commonly referred to as "pasted plate" batteries or "Faure-type" batteries. These particular battery systems (as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,886; 3,951,688; 4,050,482; and 4,902,532) further include a supply of a selected electrolyte composition therein. Electrolyte materials suitable for this purpose are normally acidic in character, with representative electrolyte compositions including but not limited to aqueous solutions of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4. The electrolyte may also comprise various additives therein such as sodium sulfate Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 !, phosphoric acid H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 !, and other sulfate salts associated with various counter-ions (e.g. Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, Mg.sup.+2, and the like). From an operational standpoint, the electrolyte functions as both an ionic current carrier and an active material in both the positive and negative plates.
The selected electrolyte solution may be used in different ways within a given electrochemical cell. For example, the electrolyte may be present in liquid form wherein the electrolyte is not contained or absorbed in any structures. This type of battery is normally characterized as a "flooded battery" or "free electrolyte battery." Flooded batteries are generally constructed from planar (flat) positive and negative plates which are arranged in a parallel configuration having the electrolyte solution therebetween.
In contrast, another type of electrochemical cell which is conventionally known as a "retained electrolyte battery" involves a system in which the electrolyte solution is absorbed and retained within a separator element positioned between the plates. To effectively retain the electrolyte solution within the separator element, the material used to produce the separator element is porous and absorbent. Representative compositions suitable for this purpose include cellulose materials or, more preferably, a "mat" comprised of ultra-fine glass fibers as discussed further below and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,966. Retained electrolyte batteries may involve plate structures which are planar (flat) in configuration and arranged in a parallel orientation having the electrolyte-containing separator member positioned therebetween. Representative electrochemical cells of this type are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,832 and 5,120,620 (incorporated by reference). In addition, retained electrolyte batteries may also be produced in a spirally-wound configuration in which the positive and negative plates (e.g. the current collectors having the pastes thereon) are wound together with the electrolyte-containing separator element positioned therebetween. Examples of this particular battery type are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,064,725; 4,212,179; 4,346,151; 4,383,011; 4,606,982; 4,637,966; 4,648,177; 4,780,379; and 5,091,273 which are likewise incorporated herein by reference. Spirally-constructed batteries offer a high degree of efficiency and capacity in a minimal amount of physical space.
Finally, lead-acid electrochemical cells may also be produced in two additional types, namely, (1) sealed; and (2) unsealed. In an unsealed battery system, the interior of the battery case or housing is open to the ambient (outside) environment. Excessive oxygen generated within this type of cell during, for example, overcharging is able to escape from the case. In a sealed battery unit, the housing is hermetically sealed to prevent any communication between the interior of the housing and the outside environment. As a result, oxygen generated during the charging process is consumed internally within the battery. Sealed batteries are also known as "recombinant" or "starved electrolyte" cells. Representative sealed (recombinant) battery systems are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,011.
Regardless of the particular lead-acid battery under consideration, a number of important operating characteristics and capabilities must be carefully considered during the battery design process. One factor of primary concern is "charge capacity". The term basically involves the amount of electricity (e.g. "charge") that can be stored and delivered by the battery. High charge capacity in an electrochemical cell enables the maximum, long-term delivery of electrical energy. Another important factor involves "cycle life". One "charge cycle" is generally defined as the change in electrochemical state of a battery when it goes from a charged condition to an uncharged (e.g. discharged) state. After a certain number of cycles, the charge capacity of the battery begins to diminish.
Finally, the battery reaches a failure point at which it cannot hold and retain a charge, thereby rendering it unusable. It is therefore important for a lead-acid electrochemical cell to have a maximum "cycle life" with this term being defined as the number of cycles which can be experienced by a battery while still maintaining a charge capacity above a useful value typically defined as 50% or 80% of rated capacity.
Battery failure as described above is believed to occur for many different reasons. In flooded electrolyte-type cells, long-term charge cycling typically causes some or all of the paste materials on the plates to separate from the plates and fall to the bottom of the battery case. This process is conventionally known as a "shedding" of the paste. Furthermore, in both flooded and retained electrolyte batteries, charge cycling may cause the paste compositions to chemically deteriorate. This situation contributes to a general decrease in charge capacity leading to eventual failure. Paste deterioration typically occurs for many possible reasons including microscopic morphological changes, formation of inactive lead sulfate, changes in crystalline structure, changes in amorphous character, loss of contact with the current collectors (e.g. grids) and the like. The positive plate in the cell is typically associated with this failure mode.
All of the factors listed above including charge cycle life, charge capacity, and paste stability contribute to the overall effectiveness and useful life of lead-acid electrochemical batteries. These considerations are therefore of primary importance in the development and production of lead-acid energy systems. As discussed further below, the present invention involves a significant advance in battery technology which is characterized by the development of specially-formulated paste compositions that provide improved charge capacity, charge cycle life, paste integrity, and longevity in lead-acid electrochemical cells. Likewise, the pastes of the present invention have a smooth consistency with beneficial rheology characteristics. These features improve the efficiency of the paste application process and also render the pastes more stable during battery operation so that premature paste separation and deterioration is controlled. For these reasons and the other factors discussed below, the present invention represents an important development in the art of electrochemical cell production and design.

Battery paste compositions and electrochemical cells for use therewith


Embodiments of the present invention includes a method of assembling a chip scale package (CSP). The method comprises adding bumps, sawing the saw streets from the front of a wafer, molding the front of the wafer, grinding the back of the wafer, sawing the saw streets from the back of the wafer, molding the back of the wafer, and sawing between devices to form a plurality of packaged devices. Sawing the saw streets from the front of the wafer establishes a first cut. Molding the front of the wafer includes using a first mold compound such that the mold compound fills in the first cut. Sawing the saw streets from the back of the wafer establishes a second cut.

The present invention relates to semiconductor package assembly, and in particular, to chip scale package fabrication methods.
The continued demand for smaller electronic devices has encouraged development of smaller semiconductor packaging. Traditional semiconductor packages have used a metal lead frame which is used to give the semiconductor support and provide electrical connection to the printed circuit board outside the package. The size of the traditional package is limited by the size of the lead frame.
Chip scale packages (CSP) have been developed to allow for a smaller package outline and footprint. A CSP package does not have a lead frame like traditional semiconductor packages. Instead, metallization is added to the contact pads of the semiconductor die for contact and the portions around the chip may be covered with a mold compound. Therefore, the semiconductor chip package is on the order of size as the semiconductor die itself. The reduction of packaging size allows for higher integration of electronics and therefore enables more enhanced functions.
Present chip scale package fabrication methods require complicated processing techniques and expensive materials in order to manufacture such products. The current methods may not be cost-effective for all types of semiconductor devices. Many chip scale packages have portions of the semiconductor die exposed to the surrounding environment which may increase possible damage to the device due to handling or moisture, for example. The exposed portions may create long term reliability concerns.
Thus, there is a need for improved package fabrication methods. The present invention solves these and other problems by providing chip scale package fabrication methods.


The present disclosure discloses an image fusion method, device and system. The image fusion method comprises: obtaining a visible light image generated by a visible light sensor and an invisible light image generated by an invisible light sensor, wherein there is a correspondence between the visible light image and the invisible light image; synthesizing the visible light image and the invisible light image to create a first synthetic image; denoising the visible light image and the first synthetic image; and fusing the denoised visible light image and the denoised first synthetic image to generate a second synthetic image. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the visible light image and the first synthetic image that is fused with the invisible light image are denoised respectively before the final image fusion to denoising the fused image.

In some actual scenarios, such as scenarios with low light level, in order to ensure that the acquired images contain more image information, it usually needs an image acquisition equipment for light splitting fusion to acquire images. Specifically, the basic principle of the image acquisition equipment for light splitting fusion would include: acquiring a visible light image generated based on visible light signals and an invisible light image generated based on invisible light signals, and fusing the visible light image and the invisible light image to create a fused image. The fused image is a dual-band image, which has more image information than any one of the visible image and the invisible image that are single band images. The invisible light images include near infrared images and infrared images.
The related imaging process may involve: obtaining imaging information including a visible light image and an invisible light image; denoising the visible light image based on the relative magnitude between the visible light image and the invisible light image; and then synthesizing the invisible light image and the denoised visible light image according to a predetermined weight coefficient to generate an image.
However, in the above related imaging process, only the noises in the visible light image may be reduced, while the noises in the invisible light image are ignored. Thus, the denoising is not thorough, with the result that there are still noises in the generated image.

Method, device and system for image fusion

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.


A dual-thickness active device layer SOI chip structure is provided. The SOI chip structure has an active device layer, at least one oxide region located at a predetermined position of the active device layer and with a first predetermined depth, at least one trench surrounding the oxide region and having a second predetermined depth greater than the first predetermined depth, and a ground layer connected to the active device layer and the oxide region. The SOI structure further has a first silicon-based wafer and a second wafer. Both wafers are bonded together by wafer bonding. At least two different active device layer thicknesses exist to meet requirements of a wide variety of SOI devices placed thereon, with the setting of the oxide region filled with thermal oxide or other oxide variations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual-thickness active device layer SOI chip structure, and more particularly, to a dual-thickness active device layer SOI chip structure having a shallower (buried) oxide region surrounded by a deeper trench. The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing the above SOI chip structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an SOI chip structure 10 according to the prior art. An SOI structure, by definition, has a silicon-based active device layer placed upon an insulator such as a silicon oxide. The SOI chip structure 10 includes an active device layer 12 for placing SOI devices thereon, an insulating layer 14 under the active device layer 12, and a ground layer 16 under the insulating layer 14. In general, the thickness of the active device layer 12 is uniform, meaning the prior art SOI chip structure 10 is an SOI chip structure having an active device layer with only a single thickness. The insulating layer 14 is also referred to as a buried oxide layer (BOX), which is formed in a wide variety of ways, such as ion-implanting hydrogen ions into the silicon-based substrate and placing the substrate into a comparatively high temperature environment for oxidation so as to form a silicon oxide buried oxide layer at a predetermined depth of the substrate. The active device layer 12, generally speaking, has a thickness d1 thereof ranging from 0.03 to 10 micrometers.
The concept of integrating all IC components in single chip, i.e., SOC, has gradually become the mainstream of current industry development, which also means that the active device layer of the SOI chip structure inevitably has to have different kinds of SOI devices placed thereon. Given that each SOI device has its own characteristics including size, heat dissipation requirement, and operating current/voltage, an SOI chip structure with only one active device layer thickness has trouble in complying with characteristics of all SOI devices. In other words, some SOI devices having greater operating voltages/currents, or greater heat dissipation are preferably placed on the active device layer, which is thicker, while other SOI devices with smaller operating voltages/currents or less heat dissipation are preferably placed on the active device layer, which is thinner. If the active device layer is uniformly thick, SOI devices with greater operating voltages/currents or heat dissipation can still be placed thereon, but have to occupy much more space. This means that the number of different SOI devices that can be located on any single SOI chip structure with a uniform active layer is limited and thus is not efficient from an economic standpoint. Besides, this SOI chip structure 10 is somewhat disadvantageous when it comes to the function of electro-static discharge, because with the constraint of insulating layer 14, the active device layer 12 is difficult to ground effectively and breakdown voltages of SOI devices placed thereon turn out to be insufficient provided the thickness thereof is d1.

Dual-thickness active device layer SOI chip structure


A computer-implemented method of creating a log file is disclosed. The method comprises: storing a request of a service to be executed by a computer system, wherein the service is performed using multiple software methods; executing the service by providing the request to the computer system; detecting a failure of the service; performing a stack trace of the service to identify a subset of the multiple software methods; providing a source code for the subset of the multiple software methods; modifying the source code for the subset of the multiple software methods to add logging statements, wherein the logging statements are configured for generating log data; re-executing the service using the modified source code to generate the log data; and generating the log file from the log data.

In case of a software failure, log files can be valuable because they can provide detailed information about the execution of the software. There is therefore value in making the log files as detailed as possible. On the other hand, during the normal execution of a program, it is not desirable to produce bloated log files. The log files should be fairly compact to reduce the noise and overall input/output cost of running the application.
Moreover, having a high density of logging instructions can make the source code bloated and difficult to read, which can increase the maintenance costs. It can also be difficult ahead of time, during software development, to predict if logging a particular state will be useful in the future. Some logging statements may be forgotten or omitted during the development phase due to a tight development schedule.


A machine learning method of a machine learning device including a machine learning classifier includes receiving, at the machine learning device, an image and first class information associated with the image, generating, at the machine learning device, second class information associated with the image by performing classification on the image by using the machine learning classifier, and as the second class information is generated, updating, at the machine learning device, the machine learning classifier by performing a first learning operation when a guide map is received together with the image and performing, at the machine learning device, a second learning operation different from the first learning operation when the guide map is not received together with the image.

The inventive concept relates to machine learning, and more particularly, to a machine learning device capable of preventing wrong learning, and to a learning method of the machine learning device.
Machine learning devices may operate by generating a machine learning classifier which may determine a category of a target based on iterative learning. Machine learning classifiers may be used in various fields. For example, machine learning classifiers may be used to determine a category of an image captured by a camera. A machine learning device may create the machine learning classifier through the following steps: first, a category determination is made for a number of images; next, a comparison is made between the result of the determination and the actual category of the images; finally, the machine learning classifier is updated based on the result of the comparison.
Machine learning may involve repeatedly updating various weights used to perform the classification. As the weights are repeatedly updated, the machine learning classifier may be trained to determine the category of images from patterns present in the images.
In some cases, images may have specific patterns which hinder machine learning. The presence of these specific patterns may result in suboptimal results from the machine learning classifier. That is, the machine learning classifier may be trained to incorrectly classify images that include these patterns. Accordingly, there is a need to prevent wrong learning of the machine learning classifier due to such patterns.

Machine learning device and machine learning method of machine learning device


Methods and systems are provided for obtaining information via a plurality of platforms communicatively linked together via a communication network. Each of the plurality of platforms comprising a dynamically threaded gateway comprising a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to communicate with other of the plurality of platforms along a communication link. The processor is coupled to the transceiver, and is configured to identify a plurality of paths among the plurality of platforms for obtaining requested information, select a desired path of the plurality of paths based on a cost index for the plurality of paths, and obtain the information via the desired path using the transceiver.

Health management systems are utilized today on a number of platforms, such as in vehicles, airplanes, ships, and industrial controls. The health management systems typically gather data pertaining to operation of the platform in terms of sensor, equipment, sub-system, and system, and provide determinations of the current and future health of the platform based on the data. However, in some instances, current methods and systems may not always provide optimal usage of embedded health management systems of multiple platforms.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems having embedded health management systems on multiple platforms with improved usage of the embedded health management systems across the platforms. It is also desirable to provide methods that provide for such with improved usage of the embedded health management systems across the platforms. Furthermore, the desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Dynamic threading gateway for embedded health management systems


An electrical connector has a multiconductor plug strip and a multiconductor socket strip fittable complementarily and transversely with the plug strip. A pivot seat on one of the strips defines a pivot axis, and a lever formed with a pivot is fittable with the seat and pivotal on the one strip about the axis. An actuating formation on the lever offset from the axis and another actuating formation on the other strip are engageable with each other when the other strip is at least partially fitted to the one strip to disengage and engage the strips with each other.

For multiconductor plug-in electrical connections it is standard to use one-row or multirow plug strips and complementary socket strips. To facilitate joining and disconnecting them, it is known to provide a lever that can be pivoted in one direction to fit and lock them together and oppositely to separate them. The forces required for the joining or separation are applied by means of this lever and the rotary motion thereof, thus enabling this assembly or disassembly to be performed more easily or with only a small force, and also without tools.
Such assist levers are typically fairly complex multipart elements that considerably increase the manufacture cost of the strip connector. In addition they are frequently somewhat susceptible to failure when fouled. Thus they are not appropriate for motor-vehicle use, where the connectors frequently are covered with road dirt and the like.

Electrical strip connector with lever assist


An oxidizer control device for controlling the amount of oxidizer passing into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The device has first and second diaphragm assemblies located adjacent to each other at a front portion of the chamber. The first diaphragm assembly has a first, generally annular member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vanes, adjacent vanes forming first oxidizer passageways therebetween, the first passageways opening through a periphery of the first member, and a second generally annular member extending around the periphery of the first member, the second member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart first orifices equal in number to the number of first passageways and being fixedly attached to the engine structure. The second diaphragm assembly has a third generally annular member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vanes, adjacent vanes forming second oxidizer passageways therebetween, the second passageways opening through a periphery of the third member, which is fixedly attached to the engine structure and a fourth generally annular member extending around the periphery of the third member, the fourth member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart second orifices equal in number to the number of second passageways. An actuator is connected to the first and fourth members of each pair of assemblies so as to simultaneously rotate the first member relative to the second member, and the fourth member relative to the third member, such relative movement opening or closing the first and second oxidizer passageways.

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the amount of oxidizer passing into the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine.
It is known to provide gas turbine engines with devices for controlling the amount of oxidizer passing into the gas turbine combustion chamber. Typically, such devices include a plurality of controllable diaphragms arranged in an array around the front end of the combustion chamber and controllable so as to regulate the flow of oxidizer through the devices.
The amount of oxidizer, typically air, passing into the primary combustion zone of a combustion chamber varies widely according to the operating mode and feed conditions of the gas turbine engine. The variations are generally not proportional and cause large deviations in the richness of the air/fuel mixture between the low power and full power operating modes. During low power operation, the air/fuel mixture is lean, while at full power, the mixture is rich.
Oxidizer flow, pressure, temperature and mixture richness are comparatively low during low power operating modes. Consequently, the reaction rates within the combustion chamber are also slow. It is desirable, therefore, when in the low power mode, to restrict the oxidizer flow into the combustion chamber to enrich the air/fuel mixture in the primary combustion zone and to introduce the oxidizer into the combustion chamber at large angles in both the axial and tangential directions in order to achieve a widely distributed air/fuel mixture in order to enhance the dwell time of the gases within the combustion chamber and improve flame stability.
In the full power operating mode, the oxidizer flow, pressure, temperatures and richness of the air/fuel mixture are very high, resulting in high reaction rates. Accordingly, it is desirable to increase oxidizer flow in the primary combustion zone to reduce the richness of the air/fuel mixture and to thereby minimize the production of NO.sub.x and smoke. The air/fuel mixture is introduced into the combustion chamber at small angles in both the axial an d tangential directions thereby reducing recirculation and dwell times and rapidly terminating the reactions following combustion to minimize the combustion of NO.sub.x.
In order to accomplish these parameters, it is necessary to modulate the oxidizer flow into the combustion chamber in order to restrict the changes in richness to the primary combustion zone. In a known turbine design, each of the variable diaphragms comprises a set of vanes forming oxidizer intake ducts between them, which ducts pass through a periphery of the diaphragm structure. The diaphragm structure includes a member enclosing a periphery of the set of vanes and having circumferentially spaced apart apertures whereby relative rotation between these elements will bring the apertures into alignment with the ducts, to open the diaphragm and allow the maximum amount of oxidizer, or to move the apertures out of alignment with the ducts, thereby restricting the oxidizer input. It is also known to arrange the diaphragms in adjacent pairs and to utilize a common actuator to regulate both of the diaphragms of the pair. Typical diaphragm control devices are illustrated in French Patents 2,661,714 and 2,676,529.
In French Patent 2,676,529, the control device utilizes adjacent diaphragm assemblies in which the structure having the plurality of vanes extending therefrom and which defines the oxidizer ducts are stationarily attached to a front end portion of the combustion chamber, while the actuator is attached to the movable structure having the apertures and extending around the peripheries of the vane structure. The vane structures are identical in configuration, as are the moveable elements which rotate with respect to each other in opposite directions.
Although this structure has been generally successful, the aerodynamic profiles of the oxidizer ducts of the two diaphragm assemblies are not identical, except when the oxidizer ducts are fully closed or fully open. The lack of identity is caused by the oxidizer ducts of one of the diaphragms being situated on one side of the vane surfaces, whereas in the adjacent diaphragm, the oxidizer passages are situated on an opposite side of the vane surface. Accordingly, the tangential and axial angles of the air flow passing through the two diaphragms will not be identical to each other for a given air flow setting, thereby resulting in a non-homogeneous air/fuel mixture.

Oxidizer control device for a gas turbine engine

Societe National d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation


This application provides a method for controlling a terminal to use a wireless network, a system, and a related device. The method includes: obtaining, by a network decision device, service information of a terminal, constructing network use indication information, and delivering the network use indication information to a network trigger device; and triggering, by the network trigger device based on the network use indication information, the terminal to use a wireless network corresponding to the service information. According to the method, an operator can assign, based on a service requirement of the operator, the terminal to use a specific wireless network, so that the terminal can use in time a wireless network that is consistent with a requirement of the operator. This helps improve network use efficiency for the operator, and can prevent a service of the terminal from being affected.

With the development of mobile internet applications, the internet applications pose challenges to a carrier network. For example, requirements are imposed on wide network coverage, a low latency, and a high bandwidth. In the future, coexistence of a 5G wireless network with a 4G wireless network will last for a long time. To meet different network requirements of upper-layer applications, many operators may expect to utilize network resources more effectively. For example, voice services are provided in the 4G wireless network, taking full advantage of a wide coverage of the 4G wireless network, and high-definition video services are provided in the 5G wireless network, taking full advantage of a wide bandwidth of the 5G wireless network. Therefore, an operator requires a terminal to be capable of performing a service over a preferred wireless network.
In the prior art, a preferred wireless network may be configured on the terminal side. This solution can only meet personalized requirements of an end user instead of requirements of the operator for network resource optimization, or even a service may be affected (for example, the terminal fails to receive a call as a mobile-terminated party) because a wireless network that is configured and used by the terminal does not meet service delivery requirements of the operator.

Method for controlling terminal to use wireless network and related device


Described herein are methods and compositions related to induced alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (iAEC2s), e.g., artificially-produced epithelial type 2 cells.

Disease modeling and drug development are greatly assisted by the availability of relevant cell types ex vivo. In vitro-differentiated cells are a particularly powerful tool in such cases, but effective methods for conducting such differentiation remain unknown for many cell types.
One example is lung cells, particularly type II alveolar epithelial cells, which are involved in a number of lung diseases and comprise an important part of alveaolae in intact lungs. Attempts to differentiate progenitors into type II alveolar epithelial cells have been plagued by high rates of transdifferentiation and/or the need for mixed cultures.

Methods and compositions related to differentiated lung cells