A switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit comprises a first switch structured to be mounted to a bicycle for providing signals to move a moving bicycle control device, a second switch structured to be mounted to the bicycle for providing signals to move the moving bicycle control device, and a switch designation unit that allows a user to selectively designate movements of the bicycle control device signaled by at least one of the first switch and the second switch.

The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to a switch designation apparatus for adjusting a position of a bicycle control unit.
Bicycle transmissions that comprise front and rear derailleurs are well known. The front derailleur shifts a chain among a plurality of front sprockets that are coaxially mounted to the pedal crank shaft, and the rear derailleur shifts the chain among a plurality of rear sprockets that are coaxially mounted to the rear wheel. It is also known to use electric motors to operate the front and rear derailleurs. Such a system is shown in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. 2001-267002.
Bicycle transmissions formed inside the bicycle wheel hub (often called internal hub transmission) also are well known. Such transmissions include a planetary gear mechanism mounted inside the hub for communicating rotational force from a drive sprocket to the wheel hub shell through a plurality of transmission paths representing different gear ratios. It is also known to use electric motors to select the desired transmission paths. Such a system is shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-231006.
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a bicycle transmission having electrically operated derailleurs typically comprises one or more shift control devices mounted to one or more sides of the bicycle handlebar. For example, a shift control device for controlling the operation of the front derailleur may be mounted to the left side of the handlebar, and a shift control device for controlling the operation of the rear derailleur may be mounted to the right side of the handlebar. Each shift control device may comprise a switch for upshifting its corresponding derailleur and a switch for downshifting its corresponding derailleur, wherein the upshift and downshift switches are arranged vertically in a row. A shift control device for an internal hub transmission may comprise a switch for upshifting the internal hub transmission and a switch for downshifting the internal hub transmission, wherein both switches are mounted horizontally in a row on the right side of the handlebar.
Whether the switches are arranged vertically or horizontally, the upshift and downshift operations of the switches are fixed. However, some riders may prefer a reversal of the physical arrangement of the upshift and downshift switches. In other words, while one rider may prefer the upshift switch located above the downshift switch, other riders may prefer the downshift switch to be located above the upshift switch. With conventional shift control devices, this would require mounting the shift control device upside down or rewiring the device. Mounting the device upside down would result in any printing on the device also being upside down, and the switches may be oriented in a non-ergonomic manner. Rewiring the device would be very complex and troublesome.

Switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit


The processing of data packets sent over a communication session between a host and a server by a service gateway includes processing a data packet using a current hybrid-stateful or hybrid-stateless processing method. The processing then checks whether a hybrid-stateless or hybrid-stateful condition is satisfied. When one of the sets of conditions is satisfied, the process includes changing from a hybrid-stateful to a hybrid-stateless processing method, or vice versa, for a subsequently received data packet. If the conditions are not satisfied, the process continues as originally structured.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to data communications, and more specifically, to a service gateway.
2. Related Art
Demand for data communication services for consumer and corporate computing devices has been rapidly increasing. Service providers deploy service gateways such as server load balancers or traffic managers to bridge host computers or computing devices with servers providing the data services.
Service gateways provide services either using a stateful processing method or a stateless processing method. Generally, in a stateful processing method, packets are processed as a stream of packets, and each packet in the stream are processed in the same way. In a stateless processing method, packets are processed discretely, where each packet is assessed individually. The stateful processing method may be preferred over the stateless processing method due to the security and control features that may be implemented, however, the resource requirements of such features may make the services difficult to scale. The stateless processing method may be preferred over the stateful processing method due to its scalability, however, this is at the expense of security and control.
Traffic managed by service gateways is rarely uniform, as conditions on a network typically fluctuate, at times greatly. Currently, system administrators are required to choose either a stateful processing method or a stateless processing method for a particular service address, weighing the costs and benefits of each method. System administrators are not able to realize the advantages of both processing methods for such non-uniform traffic.

Combining stateless and stateful server load balancing


A heat management system include including application of phase change materials (PCM). A heat or cold storage multistage tower has a housing with a multistage system of flat rigid container. A significant fraction of internal space of each container is filled with PCM; these containers are fabricated from ceramics, glass, glass ceramics or sulfur concrete. Another version of the heat or cold storage tower is based on application of multi-channel blocks from ceramics, glass, glass ceramics or sulfur concrete; the parallel internal vertical channels of the blocks are open and sealed at their bottoms alternatively, and the channels with the sealed bottoms are filled partially with PCM. The tower achieves effective heat transfer between a heat transfer fluid (HTF) and PCM in the processes of charging and discharging of the containers with heat or cold.

This invention relates to the area of heat or cold management systems and, specifically, to the heat or cold management systems, which include application of phase change materials (PCM).
The main field of usage of these heat or cold management systems is thermal solar power plants that apply some types of optical concentrators of solar radiation in order to achieve sufficiently high temperature of heat transfer medium flowing in the receiver of a solar collector. However, the proposed heat management system can be used in other fields, for example, for decrease of energy consumption in thermal treatment of metals.
Another important application of the proposed heat or cold management system is cold accumulation in the form of ice in large air-conditioning systems in night-time.
It is known, that heat or cold can be stored in materials in the forms of sensible heat or latent heat. A material storing sensible heat can be in liquid form (for example, water, molten salts) and a bed of solid material (for example, concrete or ceramic packing, river rocks). The bed serves as well as a heat exchanging structure.
Heat or cold storage in the latent form is performed usually by phase changes: solid-solid, solid-liquid or solid-liquid accompanied by chemical reactions (in the most cases, by reaction: dehydration-hydration).
This invention proposes a heat management tower with a packing, which can be related to solid-liquid phase change.
It should be noted, that phase-change storage allows to achieve high energy density with resulting economical advantage. Design of a phase-change storage container must provide appropriate technical solutions to problems of poor heat transfer of a phase-change material (PCM), corrosion, possible chemical reaction between the PCM and a heat transfer fluid (HTF), possible change of the PCM volume in the process of the phase change.
Technology of micro- and macro-capsulation is widely used in the modern practice in order to solve these problems.
However, this technology is very expensive and resulting specific cost of stored thermal energy is usually high.
There are some U.S. patents related to the area of heat or cold storage with application of PCM.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,958 describes heat exchange method and an apparatus, which are based on direct contact of two non-mixable media. Thermal contact of these media is performed by bubbling the liquid medium through the second medium, when the second medium is in the liquid phase.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,183 proposes a thermal energy storage housing that is designed like as a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,260 describes a thermal accumulator, which is designed as a closed vessel with a set of horizontal trays filled with PCM, when HTF flows across the outer surfaces of the PCM layers in the trays. This construction requires application of special means for holding the PCM in these trays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,523 describes a heat storage apparatus with a plurality of heat exchanging elements mounted in a housing.
Each element has a central portion containing a storage medium, surrounded by portions through which a first and a second heat transfer fluids can be passed in heat contact with the storage medium.
U.S. patent application No. 20020000306 describes a device and method for storing thermal energy. The proposed device comprises: a) a container having inlet and outlet ports and at least one wall; b) at least one cell, this cell having two lateral sides and being placed within the aforementioned container such that the lateral sides of the cell are separated from the wall of the container; and c) at least one phase change material being capable of undergoing a phase change at a functional temperature above melting point of water at one atmosphere or pressure, this phase change material being disposed within the aforementioned cell.
In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,371,029, 4,807,696 and 6,116,330 should be noted. However, these patents do not provide a construction of a heat or cold storage, which is based on usage of ceramics or glass containers for their filling with PCM.
The article of Peter R. Payne "WHICH MATERIAL USES THE LEAST ENERGY?" (CHEMTECH, September 1980, pp. 550÷557) demonstrates importance of application of ceramics in construction of solar collectors as a low-energy-cost material. Conclusions of this article are true for the case of construction of heat or cold storage plants.

Heat and cold storage multistage tower with application of PCM


The invention is directed to methods and compositions that can be used in the treatment of headaches. In particular, methods and compositions are described involving the combination of a long-acting NSAID and a 5-HT1B/1D agonist.

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), also known as serotonin or enteramine, is a vasoactive agent and an endogenous neurotransmitter. It acts on receptors found in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as on blood vessels. Other drugs acting at these receptor sites are known as 5-HT agonists or antagonists. The 5-HT receptors have been divided into several sub-classes, some of which themselves contain subtypes. Examples of subtypes of serotonin receptors are 5-HT1, 5-HT1-like, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT2, 5-HT3, etc.
Agonists that act preferentially at 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, the triptans, make up a group of therapeutics that may be used for the treatment of migraine headache. A representative member of this group is sumatriptan succinate (distributed under the name Imitrex™ by Glaxo Wellcome, and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,470). Unfortunately, it has been reported that many patients who experience migraine symptom relief within two hours after receiving a 5-HT agonist, experience migraine symptoms again within the next 24 hours. These subsequent headaches are typically termed "rebound," "relapse," "recurrent" or "secondary" headaches.
A variety of analgesics have also been administered to migraine patients. For example, K. M. A. Welch (New Eng. J. Med. 329:1476-1483 (1993)) sets forth the following dosages of analgesics as being useful: aspirin, 500-650 mg; acetaminophen, 500 mg; naproxen sodium, 750-825 mg; tolfenamic acid, 200-400 mg; and ibuprofen, 200 mg. However, these agents, when taken alone, are rarely effective in providing complete relief symptoms and, after initial remission, migraine symptoms often return.
The problems that occur with migraine headaches may also be present in other types of headache as well. In all cases, an ideal therapy would reduce or eliminate the symptoms associated with the initial attack and minimize the frequency of later recurrences.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods of treating headaches using 5-HT agonists in combination with long-acting NSAIDs


In a code division multiple access transmission system (CDMA), codes are generated according to a tree structure organized on a plurality of layers. Each re-allocation is considered as an access request to the system by a new user and the re-allocation codes are transmitted to each involved user through the respective re-allocation messages. Re-allocation messages to users having the same spreading factor (SF), and hence the same service bit-rate (kR) are substantially sent simultaneously, in order to reduce to a minimum the time required for the re-allocation operation.

In the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) use context, on the basis of the UTRA (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) specifications, such as the TS 3 GPP RAN 25.213 v3.6.0, June 2001) specification, one or more OVSF (Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor) codes are allocated to each user in the "downlink" connections for channeling purposes.
Access with a higher data rate is made possible in two different ways: either by a single code using a lower spreading factor or by more codes, using the same spreading factor (multicode concept).
Supposing that—for the sake of treatment simplicity—each user is allocated a single OVSF code, it is possible to note that such codes are marked by the tree structure shown in FIG. 1.
To enable code identification, each code is allocated the number of a single layer or of a layer and of a branch number or branch, just as shown in FIG. 1.
For the sake of simplicity, should it be assumed that a service requiring a bit-rate equal to R bps, could be mapped into a code belonging to layer 1, a code belonging to layer M could be used to map a service requiring 2M−1·R bps.
This hypothesis is valid if the mapping of services are not considered in detail (that is the actual channel coding and/or the so-called puncturing function).
In any case, the management techniques of the codes treated here can be used also for allocating the codes for services, referring to their actual mapping as in the case of the solutions described in document IST-2000 ARROWS D04, "System Specification. Radio Resource Management Algorithms: Identification and requirements".
Maximum spreading factor Nmax is equal to the overall number of codes in layer 1.
The following definitions will hereinafter be used, consistent with those presented in the work of Thit Minn and Kai-Yeung Siu, "Dynamic Assignment of Orthogonal Variable Spreading-Factor Codes in W-CDMA", IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Vol. 18, no. 8, August 2000, pages 1429-1440:                descendant codes: all the lower level codes generated starting from a higher level code;        mother codes: all the high level codes connecting a special code to the code corresponding to the tree root;        sibling codes: two codes generated by their immediately preceding mother code; and        leaves: the lowest level codes.
Using this tree structure, it is possible to have all the codes belonging to the same level (and hence having the same length and the same spreading factor or SF) to be orthogonal to one another, that is having a cross-correlation equal to zero and a self correlation equal to one.
When a certain code is allocated, it is no longer possible to allocate any descendant code whatsoever or any corresponding mother code: these codes would not be orthogonal with one another.
It is then useful to define a branch in the form of a sub-tree of a code tree, the highest code level of which (called the branch root code) appears to be available as well as all the corresponding mother codes; should the branch root code belong to the layer x, the branch itself is called the layer x branch).
Based on the above mentioned considerations, it can be immediately noted that the advantage of the OVSF codes, just as used in a downlink UTRA connection, stays in their perfect squareness. There however remains the drawback given by the limited number of available codes. It is therefore important to be able to re-allocate the channeling code with an efficient way of proceeding, in order to avoid the phenomenon currently called "code blocking".
This denomination shows the situation where:                based on the interference analysis as well as based on the coding tree spare capacity—it could be possible to accept a new call, but        due to the code allocation, which appears to be inefficient, this ability is not actually available, entailing that the new call must be blocked.
This situation is schematically shown in FIG. 2. By adopting the same formalism as in FIG. 1, two different code allocation examples are shown here. In particular, in FIGS. 2a and 2b diagrams, the solid spots stand for the allocated codes, while the crosses highlight codes that are unavailable, and cannot be hence allocated, since they are blocked by other allocations.
In both cases the same services are supported; nevertheless in the example shown on the left side of the figure shown as 2a, no available code belonging to layer 3 is available. On the other hand, code (3,1) is available in the example shown on the right side of FIG. 2b this means that this last code allocation is more efficient than the first one.
About this matter it can be also noted that the "code blocking" phenomenon fully differs from a call block turning up when a new call cannot be accepted since the capacity available to the tree is not sufficient.
In order to oppose the code blocking phenomenon, allocation/re-allocation strategies have therefore been set to require a code passage or "code handover", arranging by way of example that each current call using a certain code, should be forced to use a different code belonging to the same layer.
In general terms, a code allocation strategy aims at:
minimizing coding tree fragmentation,
keeping the largest possible number of high rate codes, and
eliminating the code blocking phenomenon.
By way of example, in the above-mentioned Minn and Siu works, there is the proposal of a strategy based on an OVSF code allocation diagram, wherein the re-allocation criteria enable the complete elimination of the code blocking phenomenon. This is an optimal strategy in the sense that it minimizes the number of OVSF codes to be re-allocated in order to be enabled to withstand a new call. This diagram minimizes the number of code handover phenomena together with the associated signaling overhead.
It is possible to prove that should the data rate required by a new input call, fall within the maximum tree capacity, the new call could be supported through code reallocation. Should the full tree capacity be unable to be allocated because of the limit given by the interference, the related strategy is able to remove in any case the code blocking phenomenon.
Supposing that a new call could be supported, it is necessary to allocate to such call a candidate code. For the above reasons, this operation could nevertheless require the re-allocation of the descendant codes occupied by a branch with respect to which the candidate code constitutes the root code. This could in turn require the re-allocation of codes busy in other branches, and so on. In other words, with an adequate re-allocation strategy, it is possible to eliminate the code-blocking phenomenon.
There however remains the necessity for setting criteria capable of minimizing the number of the necessary reallocations in order to be able to withstand a new call.
To this purpose it is possible, by way of example, to proceed by associating a cost function to each candidate branch, allocating thereafter to the new call the root code of a minimum cost branch.
By such a method it can be mainly forecast three successive steps.
At a first step it is checked whether the new call (supposed to be requiring an OVSF code having an SF spreading factor for a service having a bit-rate equal to kR) is eligible to be absorbed by the available tree capacity. If this is not the case, the call is blocked.
In the positive case, it is proceeded with seeking a minimum cost branch having a root code that can be associated to the input call. If necessary, the descendant codes occupied by the identified branch are re-allocated. It is proceeded starting from the highest level code appearing to be engaged, and substantially dealing with it as if it were a new call.
In particular, in Minn and Siu works it is proved that should a new call require a code belonging to layer x, the algorithm is still optimal even if only x layer branches are considered (that is without having to analyze the higher level branches).
The minimum cost branch setting can be achieved according to different techniques which need not be illustrated in detail herein.
Code dynamic allocation diagrams in W-CDMA type transmissions or similar, are described also in document WO 2000/024145 (US equivalent U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,524).

Method for code re-allocation in telecommunication systems, related system and computer product


Alveolar-like macrophages and a method for generating alveolar-like macrophages from hemangioblasts is provided. The method comprises the steps of: i) culturing the hemangioblasts in a hematopoietic-inducing medium comprising vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) for a sufficient period of time to generate macrophages, and ii) culturing the macrophages in an alveolar macrophage-inducing medium comprising granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and optionally macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), under suitable conditions and for a sufficient period of time to yield alveolar-like macrophages.

In recent years, directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has rapidly become a major focus of regenerative medicine to help address the shortcomings of pulmonary therapeutics or transplantation. Specific efforts have focused on endoderm-derived lung epithelium tissue regeneration, while mesoderm-derived tissues in the lungs—such as non-circulating hematopoietic lineages—have received minimal attention. This oversight in pulmonary stem cell regenerative medicine has led to a failure to appropriately address the importance of the innate immune system of the lungs; particularly its most abundant population of airway cells, the alveolar macrophage (AM). This cell type is an environmentally adapted phagocytic macrophage unlike those of other tissues. Alveolar macrophages typically reside outside the epithelial barrier of the airways and are in constant contact with the external environment. It is uniquely peculiar that a cell in such a vulnerable environment exhibits an unusually long lifespan and has the capacity to self-renew within the lung apparently with little contribution from circulating monocytes. The origin of AMs has been considered in fate-tracing experiments illustrating that resident tissue macrophages, including lung macrophages, previously thought to have arisen from circulating adult monocytes, have a more primitive origin arising from early stages of embryogenesis. Furthermore, long living alveolar macrophages may differentiate from fetal monocytes during lung development, which likely arise from fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Fetal HSCs and monocytes are distinct in transcriptional and functional profile from their respective adult counterparts, which arise shortly after birth and not during embryogenesis. Thus, the fetal HSCs retain their early developmental signatures, which distinguish them from adult circulating hematopoietic cells. Retaining this primitive signature further distinguishes AMs from the mileu of circulating or bone marrow-derived adult immune cells, which do not possess such a primitive signature and cannot fully replenish the airways with macrophages of equal robustness and longevity. This is particularly exemplified during bone marrow transplantation (BMT) when alveolar macrophages die during myeloid ablative radiation. In this circumstance, adult monocyte-derived macrophages cannot repopulate the lungs to pre-injury levels with macrophages retaining an embryonic signature and the resulting replenished airway macrophage populations display significant functional deficiencies following BMT.
Recently, it was reported that pulmonary macrophage transplantation might be a viable strategy to address a rare hereditary lung disease known as hereditary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (herPAP). In these studies, however, adult circulating hematopoietic cells or bone-marrow derived macrophages were used as the macrophage source for transplantation and in both studies, the macrophage population was conditioned in vivo by the lung.
It would, thus, be desirable, to develop a method for generating alveolar macrophages in vitro in an effort to treat macrophage-related lung disease.

Mammalian alveolar macrophages derived from pluripotent cells


A mesa bipolar transistor comprising a collector layer formed on a surface of a substrate, a base layer disposed on the substrate so as to be joined to the collector layer, an emitter layer disposed on the base layer is further provided with a sub base layer comprising at least one of a polysilicon layer containing impurities, a metallic silicide, and a diffused layer formed on the surface of the substrate and being disposed under or on the external base region which is a region of the base layer lateral to that under the emitter layer so that the thickness of the external base region is increased to provide high conductivity.

This invention relates to a bipolar transistor, and more particularly to a mesa bipolar transistor provided with a base layer formed by patterning semiconductor layers laminated by epitaxial growth; and an emitter layer.
In order to enhance operating speed of a bipolar transistor, the maximum cut-off frequency of the bipolar transistor (hereinafter referred to as fTmax) must be raised by narrowing the base width. If the base width is narrowed, however, the emitter-collector withstand voltage is lowered and punch-through occurs easily. To prevent this while the fTmax value is increased, therefore, the bipolar transistor must be provided with a base layer in which impurities are diffused densely and shallowly. Generally, for such the base layer, an impurity diffusion layer has been used. The diffusion layer is formed by implanting impurities in it with the ion implantation method. Ion implantation cannot make the impurity diffusion layer shallow because of channeling. For the bipolar transistor having a base layer formed such way, the upper limit of fTmax was 30 to 40 GHz.
To solve this problem, another bipolar transistor was proposed. The transistor used a base layer comprising a semiconductor layer formed by epitaxial growth. This bipolar transistor is formed as described below.
At first, as shown in FIG. 1A, a P-type impurity-contained silicon film is epitaxial-grown as a first semiconductor layer 12 on a substrate 11 having an N-type collector layer 11a formed on the surface. Then, on the surface of the first semiconductor layer 12 is epitaxial-grown an N-type impurity-contained silicon film as second semiconductor layer 13. After this, as shown in FIG. 1B, a resist pattern 901 is used as a mask for etching the second semiconductor layer 13 to form an emitter layer 13a comprising the second semiconductor 13. Then, the resist pattern 901 is removed and a resist pattern 902 is used as a mask for etching the first semiconductor layer 12 as shown in FIG. 1C to form a base layer 12a comprising the first semiconductor layer 12 under the emitter layer 13a. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1D, an insulating film 18 is formed on the substrate 11 so that the film may cover both emitter layer 13a and base layer 12a. Then, contact holes 18a are formed in the insulating film 18 so that the holes 18a may reach the collector layer 11a, the base layer 12a, and the emitter layer 13a, respectively. Finally, a wiring 19 is formed so that the wire may be connected to each of the above layers.
Compared with the transistor whose base layer is formed by ion implantation, a bipolar transistor 9 formed in such way is provided with a base layer 12a in which impurities are diffused more densely and shallowly. It is reported that the fTmax can be reached to around 50 GHz in this case.
The base layer 12a may also be formed by patterning the first semiconductor comprising an impurity-contained Si--Ge (silicon-germanium: SiGex) film. Compared with the bipolar transistor formed only with silicon, the hetero bipolar transistor having such a base layer 12a has a narrower base band gap, so the emitter density can be set lower. This is why both hFE drop caused by band gap narrowing and emitter-base withstand voltage drop can be prevented. In the hetero bipolar transistor in such a configuration, it is reported that fTmax can reach around 100 GHz.
In recent years, semiconductors are highly integrated and their functions are enhanced rapidly. Also in the data communication field, smaller communication devices and higher communication speed are demanded more and more accordingly. To achieve such demands, it is necessary to form the elements that can operate as fast (fTmax=120 GHz) as those formed with Ga--As (gallium-arsentic) on the object silicon substrate and package those elements in an IC. Making each of the above mentioned bipolar transistors practicable is thus strongly desired.
However, the following problems had to be solved to put such a bipolar transistor to practical use.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 1B, the above mentioned emitter layer 13a was patterned on the first semiconductor layer 12 used as a base layer. This is why when patterning the emitter 13a, over-etching of the base layer (first semiconductor layer 12) exposed out of the emitter layer 13a cannot be avoided. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 1C, in the base layer 12a, the film of the base region other than the intrinsic base region B just under the emitter layer 13a, that is, the external base region A, becomes thinner than that of the base region B and this makes the base resistance higher.
Increasing of the base resistance caused by this over-etching becomes more apparent when the base layer is thinner. This prevents the IC elements from being operated with high speed.

Mesa bipolar transistor with sub base layer


A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Dissections occur when the wall of a lumen tears, creating a secondary or false lumen. Blood can flow into this false lumen, generally causing the vessel to balloon outwardly as a result of the weaker lumen wall. If the dissection is left untreated, there is the risk of rupture of the lumen, with severe consequences to the patient. Dissections can be treated by open surgery, involving closing the tear by suturing and/or strengthening of the lumen wall, again often by suturing. Open surgery procedures should, however, preferably avoided, particularly to the thoracic region, in light of the trauma caused to the patient. For this purpose, some endoluminal treatments have been developed in which the dissection is treated by means of a stent or stent graft placed against the damaged portion of the vessel wall. The stent or stent graft acts to press together the two parts of the lumen wall so as to close off the false lumen. It have been found that if the false lumen can be closed, the lumen wall often repairs itself. A stent graft can usefully be placed at the point of the tear, so as to close off the blood supply to the false lumen. This removes the blood pressure in the false lumen and thus allows the two parts of the lumen wall to come into contact one another and thus to heal in time.
The use of stents and stent grafts to treat dissections has been restricted to lumen locations and zones which are free of complications, such as branch vessels, complex lumen geometries and so on, particularly in light of the difficulties in placing the stent and stent grafts accurately in the lumen. As a result of the particular complexities of Type-A dissections, that is dissections in the ascending aorta, stents or stent grafts have not been used. At this location, there is only a short length of aorta which is free of side branches critical to the health of the patient. The geometry of the lumen, that is beyond the aortic arch, also causes positioning difficulties For these reasons the treatment of Type-A dissections still remains restricted to open surgical procedures.


According to a front suspension system, an upper control arm or link is pivoted at an inner end to a suspension member that is connected to a side rail. The upper link extends below the side rail and is connected at an outer end to a rotary joint receiving an upper edge portion of a knuckle. A lower control arm or link is pivotally mounted at two split distance inner ends to the suspension member and extends below the upper link, At an outer end portion, the lower link pivotally supports a lower edge portion of the knuckle. The rotary joint pivotally supports a bracket that holds a lower end portion of a shock absorber of a strut. The rotary joint has a joint axis that has an extension passing through a portion at which the lower edge portion pivots on the lower link. The upper link has a link axis that intersects the joint axis and an intermediate portion spaced along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle from the link axis. The upper link is normally held, with a predetermined rigidity, in a predetermined positional relationship with the link axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present Invention relates to a front suspension system for an automotive vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A 5-178041 describes a front suspension system. In this suspension system, a knuckle, serving as a wheel carrier, is connected at a lower edge portion thereof to a vehicle body via a lower arm. At an upper edge portion thereof, the knuckle is connected to the vehicle body via a rotary joint and an upper arm. The upper arm is pivotally connected at a single end to the vehicle body. The upper arm is bifurcated to form two split ends. At these split ends, the upper arm is pivotally connected to the rotary joint. The rotary joint has a site and supports at this site the lower end of a strut, At the lower edge thereof, the knuckle is pivotal relative to the lower arm. The rotary joint receives the upper edge of the knuckle so that the knuckle can rotate about a joint axis. This known suspension system can exhibit the merits of a suspension system of the strut type as well as the merits of a suspension system of the double-wishbone type.
With due regard to the durability of bushing at which the upper arm is mounted to the vehicle body, the suspension system of this type requires a relatively long upper arm for proper variation of alignment such as camber variation with wheel stroke. In order to obtain this relatively long dimension of the upper arm, it is necessary that the upper arm extend below side rail of an automotive vehicle into the engine compartment to attach the inner end of the upper arm to an appropriate location within the engine compartment. In the case of an automotive vehicle of the front-engine-mount front-drive type, there is a drive shaft below the upper arm in addition to the side rail and bushing at the lower end of the strut, which are disposed above the upper arm. Thus, it is difficult to find spaces above and below the upper arm for allowing movement of the upper arm during the wheel stroke.
An object of the present invention is to provide a front suspension system of the type including an upper arm or link, which ensures sufficiently large wheel stroke.

Front suspension system for automotive vehicle


When using an artificial knee joint replacement operation instrument, the amount of labor required to attach a tibial insert trial to a patient is further reduced. An artificial knee joint replacement operation instrument has a tibial trial attachment instrument assembly used in an operation for replacing a patient's knee joint with an artificial knee joint. The tibial trial attachment instrument assembly includes a template to be attached to a tibia, a keel punch guide to be joined to the tibia via the template, a keel punch to be inserted into the tibia through the keel punch guide, a keel punch handle for operating the keel punch, and a tibial insert trial to be placed on the template, the tibial insert trial being separate from the template.

In an artificial knee joint replacement operation for replacing a patient's knee joint with an artificial knee joint, an operator performs osteotomy on a distal portion of a femur using a surgical instrument, and disposes a femoral component onto a cut bone surface formed as a result of the osteotomy. The operator also performs osteotomy on a proximal portion of a tibia using a surgical instrument, and disposes a tibial component onto a cut bone surface formed as a result of the osteotomy. When the tibial component is attached, a tibial trial is tentatively attached to the cut bone surface of the tibia. An optimal tibial component for the patient is determined by referencing this tibial trial (e.g. see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a base portion trial (12) attached to an alignment handle (16) is aligned with a proximal end (20) of a tibia (22). Next, a guide tower (14) is driven into the tibia (22). Then, a keel punch (220), to which an impaction handle (222) has been attached, is inserted into the guide tower (14), and the keel punch (220) is driven into the tibia (22). Here, the impaction handle (222) and the keel punch (220) are locked to each other due to a leading end of a lever (308) of the impaction handle (222) being caught on a lever-receiving notch (246), which is formed at an upper end of the keel punch (220).
Upon the impaction handle (222) and the keel punch (220) being inserted by a predetermined amount or more into the guide tower (14), the lever (308) is pressed by the guide tower (14). As a result, the lever (308) and the lever-receiving notch (246) of the keel punch (220) are unlocked from each other. At the same time, the lever (308) is caught on the guide tower (14). That is to say, the impaction handle (222) and the guide tower (14) are locked with each other. If the impaction handle (222) is pulled in this state, the guide tower (14) is pulled out of the tibia (22) together with the impaction handle (222). Meanwhile, the keel punch (220) is left in the tibia (20).
In the configuration described in Patent Document 2, a tibial bearing component (32A) is attached to a base plate (38A), which corresponds to the base portion trial (12). According to the above configuration, an optimal tibial component for a patient is determined.

Artificial knee joint replacement operation instrument


A harness that positions and stablizes a guitar or like instrument on a wearer. The harness utilizes three length-adjustable segments connected together at one end of each of the segments. The connection of the three segments is located behind the back of the wearer and the opposite end of each segment is structured for attachment to the anchor points on the guitar or like instrument. One segment goes up over the right shoulder and down across the torso and attaches to one of the instrument anchor points. A second segment wraps under the left arm and attaches to the same instrument anchor point. A third segment wraps under the right arm, diagonally downward and attaches to the second instrument anchor point. The length of each segment is adjusted to vary the position and stability of the instrument.

1. Field Of Invention
This invention pertains to the field of stringed musical instruments. More specifically, it pertains to devices for positioning and stabilizing a guitar or like instrument during playing.
2. Prior Art
Guitars and like instruments are often played while standing with the instrument in front of the player's torso. For definiteness, explicit reference to guitars used throughout this specification shall be understood to be guitars and like instruments. These instruments are almost universally supplied with two anchor points, one at each end of its body in a line generally parallel to the neck of the instrument.
Prior art devices for positioning and stabilizing a guitar generally consist of a single or double strap connected to the two anchor points that transfers most or all of the weight of the instrument to the shoulder of the hand used for fretting. The fretting hand is positioned along the entire length of the instrument neck while performing its function of clamping the strings of the instrument against the neck of the instrument, and is thus, generally considered to have a more demanding role than the other, the strumming, hand. Prior art devices also allow the instrument to slip around and flop away from the torso of the wearer. Thus the fretting hand is required to provide some of the support and most of the stability for the instrument.
Although these burdens to the shoulder, the arm, and the hand involved in fretting is fatiquing and impedes performance, it has generally been accepted as unavoidable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION


A massage tool having a massage head with at least one massage wheel mounted on a shaft, the at least one wheel being rotatable; and a handle coupled to the massage head, the handle defining a longitudinal axis that is general perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft.

During intense physical activity, it is normal for a sport practitioner to suffer muscular aches and pains, arising from these physical activities. There are several solutions available to this person. Here are the main traditional solutions on the market:
The foam cylinder/roller: it is effective, but its range is limited, not very portable and must be placed on the ground.
The two-handed rollers: marketed in the shape of a stick with one handle on each of its end, the object is affordable, allows reasonable pressure and is relatively portable. However, its contact area for massage is not interchangeable, does not allow perpendicular therefore direct pressure, takes up more space, and its range of targetable muscular regions is limited during an auto-massage because it requires the use of both hands and arms at the same time
The massage cane: it is versatile, effective and solid, but not very portable and also pretty heavy, very little known and distributed, and does not offer interchangeability in its mechanism when applying the massage, neither it offers a rolling action.
The ball for the feet: it is very affordable and effective for the feet. However, little effective for other parts of the body and few points of possible pressure.
Stretching: it is a free, effective, localized practice and is complementary to the self-massage. However, activity is limited in terms of precision on the muscles and does not activate as much blood circulation.
Pills: (anti-inflammatory, for instance) they are affordable and they are without physical effort. However, they do not target muscles in particular. The user must dose the medication and follow a dosage. When administered, the user should apply an increasing dosage.


A pawl grounding clutch with synchronizer assembly attached to a planetary gear set of a drive unit. A cylindrical hub is engaged to the ring gear and the hub co-rotates with the ring gear. A gear is fixed to the hub. A pawl having a pawl tooth rotates between a first position with the pawl tooth spaced away from the gear and a second position having the pawl tooth engaged between successive gear teeth. A synchronizer rotates during pawl rotation and includes a friction surface directly contacting the hub before the pawl tooth engages the gear. A shift member displaces the pawl between the first and second positions. The pawl in the second position engages the ring gear with a case defining a clutch closed position. The pawl in the first position disengages ring gear from the case, defining a clutch open position.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Traditional automatic transmissions use friction clutches in the form of either band clutches or multi-plate friction clutches. Friction clutches work by pressing two plates together. Friction between clutch elements allows the transfer of energy by allowing one plate to spin faster than the other or to slip. Automatic transmissions use friction clutches so that changing gear doesn't require engine power to drop. While changing gears, an automatic transmission can disconnect one clutch as it engages another. When ambient temperature drops below zero, however, and particularly at temperatures approaching −40° F. the hydraulic fluid pressure required to actuate friction clutches requires increased pump capacity, which may not be available in smaller engine and vehicle designs.
Dog clutches can be used in place of friction clutches and are commonly used in manual transmissions. Dog clutches are interference in lieu of slip clutches. Power is transmitted by a tooth of one side pressing on a tooth of the other side. Dog clutches cannot slip therefore they are either engaged or disengaged. Dog clutches suffer little parasitic loss and are simple and compact. Synchronizer dog clutches commonly employed in manual transmissions synchronize the speed of two components prior to engagement of those two components. Known synchronizers include a conical sleeve integrally connected to a blocker or dog ring. The sleeve has a set of teeth and is rotationally fixed to a first component and is longitudinally translatable along an axis of rotation to engage a set of teeth located on a second component. Longitudinal movement of the sleeve toward the direction of the second component initially causes a frusto-conical surface of the blocker ring to engage a matching frusto-conical surface on the second component prior to engagement of the teeth. Engagement of these two surfaces is a clutching action which causes the second component to be speed synchronized with the blocker ring and sleeve and thus the first component.
Known dog clutch synchronizers and their conical sleeves and one-way ball bearing clutches are limited in that they only provide actuator force in one direction. In an application such as engagement of a final drive planetary gear set with a differential, known dog clutches do not allow actuation under load.


A number of methods can be used for zone arc protection to detect series and/or shunt arcing faults in various electrical components and/or circuits. A differential current detector, or a di/dt based detector, may be used to detect shunt arcs, while a differential voltage detector or a zero-sequence voltage detector, is used to detect series arcs. A differential phase current detection scheme may be used for both shunt arcs and series arcs. Series arcs may also be detected using a voltage drop system or a line power loss system. Detection of arcing in joints may be monitored directly. A ground fault detector may be combined with one or more of these systems for detecting a ground fault in the circuit to be protected. Two or more of the above systems or detectors may be combined for arc monitoring and detection.

The electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial applications usually include a panelboard for receiving electrical power from a utility source. The power is then routed through protection devices to designated branch circuits supplying one or more loads. These protection devices are typically circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers and fuses which are designed to interrupt the electrical current if predetermined limits of the conductors are surpassed or if other predefined fault conditions are detected on one of the protected lines or branches. Interruption of the circuit reduces the risk of injury or the potential of property damage from a resulting fire.
Circuit breakers are a preferred type of circuit interrupter because a resetting mechanism allows their reuse. Typically, circuit breakers interrupt an electric circuit due to a disconnect or trip condition such as a current overload or ground fault. The current overload condition results when a current exceeds the continuous rating of the breaker for a time interval determined by the trip current. The ground fault trip condition is created by an imbalance of currents flowing between a line conductor and a neutral conductor such as a grounded conductor, something causing a current path to ground, or an arcing fault to ground.
Arcing faults are commonly defined as current through ionized gas between two ends of a broken conductor or at a faulty contact or connector, between two conductors supplying a load, or between a conductor and ground. However, arcing faults may not cause a conventional circuit breaker to trip. Arcing fault current levels may be reduced by branch or load impedance to a level below the trip curve settings of the circuit breaker. In addition, an arcing fault which does not contact a grounded conductor or person will not trip a ground fault protector.
There are many conditions that may cause an arcing fault. For example, corroded, worn or aged wiring, contacts, connectors or insulation, loose connections, wiring damaged by nails or staples through the insulation, and electrical stress caused by repeated overloading, lightning strikes, etc. These faults may damage the conductor insulation and reach an unacceptable temperature. Arcing faults can cause fire if combustible materials are in close proximity.
There are also many conditions that may cause a "false" arcing fault. For example, the occurrence of an arcing fault event in one branch circuit of an electrical distribution system may cause a false arcing fault signal in another branch circuit as a series path is created between the branch circuits through a load center. As a result, circuit interrupters in more than one branch circuit are tripped. Another example is a noisy load such as arc welder, electric drill, etc. producing a high frequency disturbance in the electrical circuit which appears to be an arcing fault.
In general, a "zone" refers to any length of power wiring which is bounded by some definable end of zone device such as a current sensor, a line-to-ground voltage sensor, or a lug between conductors of the same phase. Generally speaking, arc faults are of two types, series arcs and parallel arcs. Series arcs are unintended interruptions in the normal current path such as broken wires, loose terminations or contacts with low contact force. Parallel arcs generally involve conduction through an insulating path between conductors of different voltages. These parallel arcs may be line-to-ground arcs (ground faults) or line-to-line arcs (phase-faults). Generally speaking, the current through a series arc is usually limited by the load impedance while the current through a parallel arc is controlled by the line impedance and the arc voltage.
Prior art arc detection systems leave room for improvement in a number of areas. Some prior art series arc detection devices have relied on noise detection in the load current to detect an arc. Generally speaking, the noise signatures of arcs are broadband current fluctuations which vary in amplitude and frequency content depending on the load type. Many loads also broadcast electrical noise due to electronic power switching components, brush-type motors or other generally "noisy" loads. Some prior art devices have difficulty in distinguishing load noise from arc noise.
Secondly, many arcs begin as a series arc in a failing connection, but are not detected by some prior art detectors until more serious line-to-ground or line-to-line arcs have occurred. That is, some prior art detection methods and devices do not detect a series arc substantially immediately when it is formed.
Thirdly, in line-to-line arc faults, the current is sometimes limited by the arc voltage or line impedance as noted above. Thus, line-to-line faults may not typically be detected by the instantaneous current (magnetic trip) setting of a circuit breaker or the I.sup.2 t time characteristic of a fuse. Moreover, some arcs are sputtering arcs with reduced I.sup.2 t which also slows over current detection by breakers and fuses. Thus, it is difficult with some prior art methods and devices to promptly detect faults of this type.
Fourthly, some prior art methods and devices use algorithms which require some time in which to accomplish signal processing, such as detecting the difference between the present waveform and a reference or time delayed image of the waveform. Such methods may include calculating average load impedances at different frequencies for use in the algorithm. The algorithm must then determine if any observed changes are due to arcs or due to fluctuating load conditions. Since loads may turn on and off and have unpredictable characteristics, arc detection with these methods typically takes some amount of time and is not substantially instantaneous or immediate upon the occurrence of an arc fault. This type of detection can therefore result in nuisance trips, i.e. tripping a circuit breaker due to a fluctuating load condition which is improperly identified as an arc fault, while also potentially missing some arc faults.


A motor controller for fully closing and opening a window glass for a vehicle door. The motor controller controls a motor that drives the window glass and includes a relay circuit connected to the motor and switching contact states in accordance with movement of the window glass. An FET is connected to the relay circuit. A sensor detects rotation speed of the motor and generates a detection signal. A CPU, which is connected to the FET and sensor, generates a duty signal having a duty ratio that is in accordance with a waveform of the detection signal generated by the sensor, provides the FET with the duty signal, and drives the motor in accordance with the waveform of the detection signal.

The present invention relates to a motor controller for controlling a motor and a method for duty-controlling a motor when driving the motor, and more particularly, to control of a motor for opening and closing a door window glass of a vehicle.
A first prior art example of a power window apparatus controls the raising and lowering speed of a door window glass by controlling the duty ratio of the voltage applied to a motor for opening and closing the door window glass. The power window apparatus lowers the travel speed of the door window glass when the door window glass approaches a fully closed position or a fully open position. This reduces the noise generated when the door window glass comes in contact with the door frame.
The travel speed of the door window glass may be decreased as the door window glass approaches the fully closed position or the fully open position. In this speed decreasing control, the motor torque is reduced. As a result, the door window glass may not reach the fully closed position or the fully open position.
A second prior art example of a power window apparatus increases the duty ratio of a motor drive signal just before the door window glass reaches the fully closed position to increase the motor torque when raising the door window glass (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-327574).
When the motor torque is increased just before the door window glass reaches the fully closed position, the door window glass may strike the door frame and produce a relatively large noise.

Motor controller and method for controlling motor

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


When one piston 3A and 3B moves to the forward edge by the pressured fluid supplied to the head side pressured chamber 5A and 5B, two communicating paths 11A and 11B communicates the head side pressured chamber 5A and 5B with the rod side pressured chamber 5B and 5A of other piston 3B and 3A. In a rod holding unit plate, the rod holding unit plate is provided such that one engaging unit 21A and 21B of the rod holding unit plate is in sliding contact with the side surface of this piston rod 4A and 4B to regulate the oscillation during one piston rod 4A and 4B is making forward or is setting back. At the same time, the rod holding unit plate is provided such that other engaging unit 21B and 21A of the rod holding unit plate 21 is engaged in the hollow 25 of other piston rod 4B and 4A located at the forward edge to engage the returning operation of the piston rod.

The present invention relates to a cylinder for escapement to perform a stable operation.
An escapement cylinder, in which two piston rods of two cylinders mounted in parallel on a cylinder body are alternately moved backward and forward by the action of a pressured fluid and other piston rod is brought in backward when one piston rod attains a vicinity of a forwarding edge, has been known conventionally (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2514783). According to this known escapement cylinder, a communication path mounted between both cylinders introduces the pressured fluid used for making a first piston rod forward into a pressured chamber at the side at which the piston rod is made backward in other cylinder when the first piston rod attains the forward edge and the piston rod is brought in backward with that pressured fluid.
According to the escapement cylinder with the above constitution, as described above, it is possible to perform a desired operation such that switching the pressured fluid appropriately in the above communication path makes the other piston rod when one piston rod attains a vicinity of the forwarding edge. However, when one piston rod attains a vicinity of the forward edge, a part of the pressured fluid for making the piston rod forward is introduced in the other cylinder. Therefore, the escapement cylinder with the above constitution involves a problem such that the fluid pressure at the side for making the piston rod forward is lowered temporarily at this time and the thrust of the piston rod is lowered.
Further, during one piston rod is making forward, the fluid pressure is not effected on the piston rod of the other cylinder. Accordingly, when the external force is effected on this piston rod, there is a problem such that the piston rod is moved by this external force.
In order to solve the forgoing problems, for example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 11-82420 discloses an escapement cylinder such that other piston rod is brought in locked automatically during one piston rod is moving forward and backward. However, in this well known example, when one piston rod is making forward, the fluid pressure for driving effects on other piston rod which is locked on the forwarding edge in the direction for making the other piston rod backward. Therefore, there is a case that the force effects on the other piston rod in the direction orthogonal to an axial line through a locking mechanism from this locked piston rod to have effect on the operation of the piston rod in forward movement. As a result, a countermeasure is required to solve this problem. Further, it is desired that the above described locking mechanism has a simple constitution and is stably operated.
The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problems into consideration, a technical object of which is to provide an escapement cylinder having a simple constitution and operating stably.
A further concrete technical object of the present invention is to provide an escapement cylinder such that when a piston rod attains a vicinity of the forward edge, the thrust of the piston rod is not lowered temporally by lowering of the fluid pressure and the other piston rod is not moved by the external force during one piston rod is moving.
Another technical object of the present invention is to provide an escapement cylinder such that the force does not effect on the other piston rod in the direction orthogonal to an axial line through a locking mechanism from this locked piston rod differently from the escapement cylinder disclosed in the above described Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 11-82420 when the other piston rod is automatically locked during one piston rod is moving. Accordingly, this escapement cylinder has a locking mechanism, which stably operates with a very simple constitution.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, an escapement cylinder according to the present invention comprises two pistons arranged in parallel within one cylinder body, two piston rods, which are extended in parallel from the two pistons, of which front edges are projected to the outside and which has hollows for locking therein, head side pressured chambers and rod side pressured chambers, which are comparted and formed on opposite sides of the respective pistons, respectively, ports for supplying a pressured fluid separately to the two head side pressured chambers, two communicating paths for communicating the head side pressured chamber of one piston with the rod side pressured chamber of other piston when one piston moves to a forward edge by supply of the pressured fluid to the head side pressured chamber and a rod holding unit plate, which is supported by a pin between the two piston rods oscillatably and has engaging units at portions facing to respective piston rods, respectively, to operate such that one engaging unit is in sliding contact with a side surface of this piston rod and the oscillation of this piston rod is regulated during one piston rod is making forward or is setting back and at the same time, other engaging unit is engaged in a hollow of other piston rod located at the forward edge to regulate the returning operation of the other piston rod.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rod holding unit plate is formed by a triangle plate, the engaging units are formed by two vertical angles and the pin is mounted between these vertical angles.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the respective piston rods comprise a first portion at a base edge along the piston and a second portion at a front edge, which is coupled with the front edge of this first portion and is in sliding contact with the rod holding unit plate. The outer size of this second portion is made larger than the outer size of the first portion, so that the hollow is formed on the coupling portion of these both portions by the difference in size between these two portions.
Said first portion of the respective piston rods forms a column shape and the second portion of the respective piston rods forms a rectangular column shape. It is preferable that engaging a projection in T-shape, which is formed on the front edge of the first portion, in a T-shaped groove, which is formed on the base edge of the second portion, allows these first and second portions to be coupled each other in floating.
The escapement cylinder having above descried constitution operates two piston rods alternately by supplying a pressured fluid and automatically locks other piston rod to a forwarding edge with a rod holding unit plate during one piston rod is making forward or making backward. For example, in the state that a second piston rod is mounted at the forwarding edge and a first piston rod is mounted at a backward edge, supplying the pressured fluid to a pressure chamber at a head side of the first piston allows this first piston rod to make forward. At this time, in the above rod holding unit plate, one holding unit is in sliding contact with the side surface of the first piston rod in moving and the oscillation thereof is regulated. On the other hand, in the above rod holding unit plate, other holding unit is fitted and engaged in a hollow of the second piston rod, which is located at the forwarding edge and the returning operation thereof is limited.
When he foregoing first piston rod attains the forward edge, the head side pressure chamber of this first piston and the rod side pressure chamber of the second piston are communicated each other in the communicating path, so that the pressured fluid is flowed into this rod side pressure chamber and the foregoing second piston rod begins to make backward from the forward edge. At this time, in the forgoing rod holding unit plate, two holding units are fitted into hollows in the first and the second piston rods at the forwarding edge at the same time, respectively, to be capable of being oscillated when the foregoing first piston rod attains the forwarding edge. Therefore, the foregoing second piston rod is unlocked temporarily to be capable of making backward. Then, when this second piston rod starts making backward, in the foregoing rod holding unit plate, one engaging unit is in sliding contact with the side surface of the second piston rod to regulate its oscillation. On the other hand, other engaging unit is engaged in the hollow of the foregoing first piston rod located at the forwarding edge to regulate its returning operation.
In the case that the foregoing second piston rod, which attains the backward edge, the same operation as that of the above described case is performed.
Thus, the piston rod attaining the forward edge is locked there, so that the thrust of the piston rod is not lowered temporally by lowering of the fluid pressure and the other piston rod is not moved by the external force during one piston rod is moving differently from the conventional escaping cylinder.
Further, when one piston rod is locked at the forwarding edge, the fluid pressure does not effect this piston rod unless other piston rod attains the forwarding edge. Therefore, the force is not applied to the side surface of the piston rod in forward movement by pushing the rod holding unit plate with this locked piston rod. Thus, respective piston rods are capable of operating stably despite of a very simple constitution of the locking mechanism.


A system and method are provided for tracking connections in a network bundle including a plurality of network links. The method comprises: receiving packet fragments in a plurality of sampling rounds; for a current sampling round, recording which links have supplied a packet fragment; and, advancing a record of the received packet fragments in response a packet fragment on each link. Typically, the packet fragments are received with a corresponding first plurality of sequence numbers. Then, the lowest sequence number in the completed current sampling round is recorded. Some aspects of the method additionally comprise: for the current sampling round, establishing a flag register with a flag for each link; establishing a next lowest sequence number (Mn) register; and, establishing a current lowest sequence number (Mc) register. Then, a flag register flag is toggled in response to receiving a packet fragment on a corresponding link.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to serial digital communications and, more particularly, to a system and method for calculating the value of M in the reception of multi-link traffic.
2. Description of the Related Art
In multi-link systems, a decision must be made to determine if a late arriving packet is lost. Request for Comments (RFC)-1990 is a specification defining an algorithm that determines when a late arriving packet can accurately be considered lost using a calculated value labeled "M". As defined in RFC-1990, which was advanced to standard status by the Internet Engineering Task Force in December 1999, a single twelve or twenty-four bit value must be maintained for each link within a bundle. While the M value is the most accurate means of determining that a late-arriving packet is lost, it is also very memory intensive.
For hardware implementations of the multi-link protocol that support thousands of connections, the method of calculating M as defined in RFC-1990, requires an amount of memory that prohibits the use of internal memory in a single chip solution. Current hardware implementations of the multi-link protocol avoid this problem by using a purely time based method of guessing when a late arriving packet is lost. This solution estimates to amount of time that the system will wait for an arriving packet fragment. While this solution requires little memory for the calculation of M, it wastes either connection bandwidth or packet resequencing resources in an environment of typical Internet traffic.
An estimate that is too small will cause packets that are late to be considered lost. When a packet, that has been previously determined to be lost, arrives, it must be discarded. Some upper layer protocols require discarded packets to be resent, thus consuming even more network bandwidth. An estimate that is too large requires that resequencing resources he consumed while waiting for a packet that is lost. These resources must be consumed because packets that are received while waiting for the late packet cannot be sent to the system until the late packet is determined to be lost. The problems associated with this purely time based solution are compounded when the implementation attempts to support connections with different bandwidths.
It would be advantageous if process were developed to calculate the value M that was not wasteful of either network resources or device memory.

System and method for tracking multilink packet information


A thermoplastic molding composition having improved properties is disclosed. The composition comprises polycarbonate resin, a first graft polymer, a first free copolymer, a second graft polymer and a second free copolymer; the weight-average molecular weight of the first free copolymer being lower by at least 32,000 g/mol with regard to that of the second free copolymer. The inventive composition features improved balance of melt flowability and ductility, good resistance to hydrolysis and process stability.

The inventive impact-modified polycarbonate (PC) compositions are characterized by their excellent low temperature ductility, and improved processing properties expressed by relatively high melt fluidity during injection molding. The inventive compositions have good processing stability at high temperatures, good stability to ageing under damp heat conditions and a good resistance to stress-cracking. An embodiment of the invention relates to flame-resistant compositions which, with a high ductility, are distinguished by improved processing properties characterized by a relatively high melt fluidity during injection molding.
Impact-modified polycarbonate compositions, e.g. those blends with ABS (acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), are known for their high ductility at room temperature and low temperatures and good processing properties. However, for realization of demanding uses, in particular complex component geometries, it is often desirable to improve the processing properties further. Conventional measures lead to the desired improvement, however, as a rule cause a deterioration in the toughness and/or resistance to stress-cracking under the influence of media such as solvents, oils, fats etc. This is critical inasmuch as high quality requirements of ductility, in some cases down to low temperatures, are as a rule imposed on components of PC/ABS, e.g. safety parts in automobile construction. In this as also other fields of use of PC/ABS blends, such as, for example, in the case of housing for electronic equipment, the materials often also come into contact with various media (e.g. fats, oils, solvents, skin creams etc.) and should withstand such media influences undamaged for as long as possible, including under mechanical stress.
A further requirement of PC/ABS compositions is an improved processing stability as well as stability to hydrolysis, i.e. long-term stability in a damp heat climate. This is necessary in order to ensure that the mechanical properties are realized at a high level over a wide processing window and are subject to as few changes as possible, including after storage under hot or hot damp conditions.
WO 01/25334 discloses that PC/ABS compositions based on ABS which has been prepared in the bulk polymerization process have good processing stability as well as an improved balance of low temperature toughness and melt flowability. EP 0 900 827 disclosed that PC/ABS compositions based on ABS which has been prepared in the emulsion polymerization process also have good processing stability if the impact modifier prepared in the emulsion process is substantially free from basic components and has been prepared on the basis of specific emulsifiers, such as alkylsulfonates. WO 91/18052 A1 discloses PC/ABS compositions of high heat stability, which are characterized in that the graft polymers have a sodium ion and potassium ion content of less than 1,500 ppm, preferably less than 800 ppm, and comprise a certain amount of antioxidants. WO 99/11713 A1 discloses flameproofed PC/ABS compositions having an improved resistance to moisture and at the same time a high level of mechanical properties, which are characterized in that the graft polymers have a content of alkali metals of less than 1 ppm. In particular, the sodium ion and potassium ion content of the graft polymer should be less than 1 ppm.
Such PC/ABS compositions which comprise a mixture of various ABS graft polymers prepared by different polymerization processes are also known.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,986 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,926 disclose low gloss compositions containing polycarbonate and graft copolymer. The graft copolymer prepared by bulk polymerization process or by the emulsion polymerization process or mixtures thereof. No limitation is specified relative to molecular weight of the SAN in the ABS employed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,162 discloses thermoplastic compositions which comprise aromatic polycarbonate, a graft copolymer of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) and an impact modifier. The ABS graft polymer is prepared by the bulk polymerization process and has a polybutadiene content of from 1 to 18 wt. % and an average rubber particle size of greater than 0.75 μm. An elastomer-based graft copolymer preferably prepared by the emulsion process, the elastomer content of which is between 15 and 98 wt. % and the average rubber particle size of which is less than 0.75 μm, is disclosed as the impact modifier. The influence of the molecular weight of the SAN contained in the ABS is not discussed.
EP-A 0 312 929 discloses PC/ABS compositions with mixtures of at least two graft copolymers, the one graft copolymer having been prepared by the emulsion process and being present in excess, based on the total amount in the total elastomer content, and the other graft copolymer having been prepared by another process (e.g. bulk or bulk-suspension polymerization.
WO 94/24210 discloses thermoplastic compositions comprising aromatic polycarbonate, a mixture of at least two graft copolymers, the one graft copolymer having been prepared by the bulk polymerization process and the other graft copolymer having been prepared by the emulsion polymerization process, a copolymer containing epoxide groups and optionally an aromatic copolymer.
EP-A 0 456 030 discloses PC/ABS compositions comprising polycarbonate and a graft polymer component comprising a mixture of bulk graft polymer and emulsion graft polymer, the content of emulsion graft polymer in the graft polymer component being 10-50 wt. %.
EP 0 372 336 A2 discloses PC/ABS compositions having a high toughness at low temperatures, which are characterized in that the graft polymers and/or the copolymers are replaced at least in part by graft polymers and/or copolymers in which the graft base and/or the copolymer comprises at least 86 wt. % of vinylaromatics. Nothing is said about the molecular weights of SAN in the various graft polymers and copolymers.
WO 99/65991 discloses impact-modified polycarbonate compositions having improved galvanizing properties which comprise a mixture of two graft copolymers, the one graft polymer comprising free SAN copolymer having an average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 150,000 g/mol. The examples disclose compositions comprising a graft polymer mixture which differ in the average molecular weight of the free SAN copolymer contained in the particular graft polymer by up to 30,000 g/mol.
The object on which the invention is based is to provide PC/ABS molding compositions for the production of complex moldings which have an improved balance of toughness, including at low temperatures, and melt flowability and moreover have a good resistance to ageing under the influence of a damp heat climate, a good processing stability and a good resistance to chemicals. The object of the invention is furthermore to provide flame-resistant molding compositions of high toughness and improved melt flowability.


A toothbrush includes a head and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements for enhanced cleaning of the teeth. The tooth cleaning elements include cleaning elements that define a loop arrangement for better retention of the dentifrice, a central cleaning element disposed within the loop, two opposing arcuate cleaning elements disposed on opposite sides of the loop, peripheral cleaning element with a stepped and tapered construction, elongate distal cleaning elements, and proximal cleaning elements.

A toothbrush is used to clean the teeth by removing plaque and debris from the tooth surfaces. Conventional toothbrushes provided with a flat bristle trim are limited in their ability to conform to the curvature of the teeth, to penetrate into the interproximal areas between the teeth, to sweep away the plaque and debris, and to clean along the gum line. Additionally, such toothbrushes have a limited ability to retain dentifrice for cleaning the teeth. During the brushing process, the dentifrice typically slips through the tufts of bristles and away from the contact between the bristles and the teeth. As a result, the dentifrice often is spread around the mouth, rather than being concentrated on the contact of the bristles with the teeth. Therefore, the efficiency of the cleaning process is reduced.


In a liquid crystal display device adopting a time-division scheme to improve viewing angle characteristics, the occurrence of horizontal lines on a screen is suppressed. When first output gray scales are obtained for one-line data, the sum total of differences between “source voltages for a horizontal scanning period immediately before a horizontal scanning period during which a processing target line is placed in a selected state” and “source voltages determined based on the first output gray scales obtained by a gray scale value obtaining unit” for all source bus lines is determined (step S110). Then, based on the amount of CS ripple corresponding to the sum total determined at step S110, correction addition/subtraction values are obtained from a polarity-by-polarity background look-up table, for the respective picture elements included in the processing target line (step S120). Then, second output gray scales are determined in an addition/subtraction process of the first output gray scales and the correction addition/subtraction values (step S130).

For liquid crystal display devices, various techniques for improving viewing angle characteristics are conventionally proposed. As techniques for improving viewing angle characteristics, there are known, for example, a scheme in which "one picture element is composed of a plurality of (typically, two) sub-picture elements, and liquid crystal is driven such that the luminances of the plurality of sub-picture elements differ from each other" (hereinafter, referred to as the "space-division scheme") and a scheme in which "for display at each picture element, display with desired luminance is performed by dividing a unit period (a period for displaying a one-screen image) into a period during which display with relatively bright luminance (hereinafter, referred to as "bright display") is performed and a period during which display with relatively dark luminance (hereinafter, referred to as "dark display") is performed" (hereinafter, referred to as the "time-division scheme").
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a portion forming one picture element (hereinafter, referred to as a "picture element portion") in a liquid crystal display device adopting the space-division scheme. As shown in FIG. 13, a picture element portion 80 is composed of two sub-picture element portions (a first sub-picture element portion PIX81 and a second sub-picture element portion PIX82). Both of the sub-picture element portions (PIX81 and PIX82) include thin-film transistors (T81 and T82) connected at their gate electrodes to a gate bus line (scanning signal line) GL and connected at their source electrodes to a source bus line (video signal line) SL; pixel electrodes (E81 and E82) connected to the drain electrodes of the thin-film transistors (T81 and T82); liquid crystal capacitances (Clc81 and Clc82) formed by the pixel electrodes (E81 and E82) and a common electrode EC; and auxiliary capacitances (Ccs81 and Ccs81) formed by the pixel electrodes (E81 and E82) and CS bus lines (auxiliary capacitance wiring lines) (CSL81 and CSL82). Note that a pixel capacitance is formed by the liquid crystal capacitance and the auxiliary capacitance, and a constant voltage VCOM is provided to the common electrode EC. In such a configuration, when the gate bus line GL is placed in a selected state, the thin-film transistors T81 and T82 are placed in an on state. Since the source electrode of the thin-film transistor T81 in the first sub-picture element portion PIX81 and the source electrode of the thin-film transistor T82 in the second sub-picture element portion PIX82 are connected to the same source bus line SL, the voltage of the pixel electrode E81 in the first sub-picture element portion PIX81 and the voltage of the pixel electrode E82 in the second sub-picture element portion PIX82 are equal to each other. Thereafter, one of the voltages on the CS bus lines CSL81 and CSL82 is allowed to increase and the other one of the voltages is allowed to decrease, by which the voltage of the pixel electrode E81 and the voltage of the pixel electrode E82 change in opposite directions. By this, the pixel electrode E81 and the pixel electrode E82 have different voltages and thus the first sub-picture element portion PIX81 and the second sub-picture element portion PIX82 have different luminances. As a result, viewing angle characteristics are improved.
In a liquid crystal display device adopting the time-division scheme, a unit period for displaying a one-screen image consists of, for example, four frames. When taking a look at the four frames, the display state of each pixel changes in the manner shown in, for example, FIG. 14. In the example shown in FIG. 14, some pixels change in their display states in the manner "dark display, dark display, bright display, and bright display" and some pixels change in their display states in the manner "bright display, bright display, dark display, and dark display". By thus performing display with target luminance using a bright display period and a dark display period, viewing angle characteristics are improved. Note that when the display state changes in the unit of picture elements instead of the unit of pixels, too, viewing angle characteristics are improved in the same manner.
In a liquid crystal display device adopting the space-division scheme or the time-division scheme, the voltage-transmittance characteristics are represented by two curves (two VT curves). For example, when an input signal with a gray scale value associated with a voltage denoted by reference character V1 in FIG. 15 is provided, for a pixel where bright display is to be performed (hereinafter, referred to as a "bright pixel"), the source voltage is determined based on a VT curve denoted by reference character 83 so as to obtain transmittance denoted by reference character T1, and for a pixel where dark display is to be performed (hereinafter, referred to as a "dark pixel"), the source voltage is determined based on a VT curve denoted by reference character 84 so as to obtain transmittance denoted by reference character T2. A correspondence relationship between an input gray scale (a gray scale value represented by an input signal) and an output gray scale (a gray scale value directly used to determine a source voltage) is, for example, represented by a curve denoted by reference character 85 in FIG. 16 for the bright pixel, and represented by a curve denoted by reference character 86 in FIG. 16 for the dark pixel. Note that data representing such correspondence relationships is typically stored in a look-up table in which input gray scales are associated with output gray scales for the bright pixel and the dark pixel (hereinafter, referred to as the "gray scale value conversion look-up table"). Although here description is made assuming that "bright" and "dark" are arranged in the unit of pixels, the same also applies to the case in which "bright" and "dark" are arranged in the unit of picture elements.
FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the gray scale value conversion look-up table. In FIG. 17, for example, a row denoted by reference character 87 refers to that "when the input gray scale is 192, the output gray scale is 240 for the bright pixel and the output gray scale is 32 for the dark pixel". Therefore, in the case in which a liquid crystal display device adopting the time-division scheme uses the gray scale value conversion look-up table shown in FIG. 17, when there is included data with an input gray scale of 192, the output gray scale of a pixel associated with the data changes in the manner shown in, for example, FIG. 18. Note that an invention of a liquid crystal display device that adopts a time-division scheme such as that described above to improve viewing angle characteristics is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-121144.


The invention provides compositions and methods for cell separation. These reagents and techniques specifically agglutinate cells via surface antigen recognition and can be used to recover even rare cell types in high yield.

Isolation of cells for in vitro studies or for applications in cellular therapies usually incorporates an initial separation of blood cell components mainly based on the bulk depletion of erythrocytes, which comprise >99% of the cellular mass of blood. Other cell types a so are removed that provide no long-term therapeutic potential (e.g., granulocytes), contribute to pathology (e.g., T-cells in graft versus host disease (GVHD) associated with bone marrow transplant, or erythrocytes in transfusion related reactions), or, in general, interfere with the ability to monitor the cell population of interest. Depletion of T-lymphocytes from bone marrow before implantation is a common technique used to reduce the incidence or degree of GVHD, which is mediated by T-cells. Techniques used to deplete these cell populations differ depending upon the cell population that is to be removed. Complete removal of T-cells may not be desirable as they might contribute to graft vs. tumor effect. A tunable cell separation medium that can be adjusted to remove specific levels of T-cell contamination could be a useful tool for the preparation of allogeneic stem cell transplants.
Techniques for erythrocyte removal are based on hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes, density gradient separation, or enhanced centrifugal sedimentation using hydroxyethyl starch. Hypotonic lysis, while useful in low volume in vitro studies, can be impractical for the large volumes of blood tissues processed for cellular therapies. If utilized in cell therapy procedures, erythrocyte hypotonic lysis usually is done as a final clean-up step to remove the remaining erythrocytes that may contaminate a sample after bulk depletions by other methods.
Density-gradient separation relies on differences in the density of different cell types causing them to segregate at different levels in a fluid medium of variable density. Differences in density between the cell types can be small, and individual cells types can be heterogeneous in size and density. Consequently, particular cell types can become distributed throughout a density-gradient medium rather than precisely segregating at a discrete area in the density medium, resulting in reduced recovery of desired cells and/or contamination with undesired cell types. In procedures that enrich for rare blood cell types such as hematopoietic progenitor cells, density-gradient sedimentation can lead to loss or reduced yields of desired cell subsets. For example, using conventional density-gradient methods to isolate progenitor cells (e.g., CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells) from umbilical cord blood results in a significant loss of the desired stem cells. See e.g., Wagner, J. E., Am J Ped Hematol Oncol 15:169 (1993). As another example, using conventional density-gradient methods to isolate lymphocytes results in selective loss of particular lymphocyte subsets. See e.g., Collins, J Immunol Methods 243:125 (2000). These separation methods have an addition contraindication for use in cellular therapies in that the chemical entities in the separation medium can be toxic if infused with the cells into the recipient. As such, additional steps must be performed to ensure their complete removal prior to infusion. Instrument methodologies such as elutriation also depend upon differential separation of blood components by density and can suffer from similar deficiencies in performance.
An additional method for removing erythrocytes from blood includes mixing with hydroxyethyl starch (i.e., heta starch), which stimulates the formation of erythrocyte aggregates that sediment more rapidly than leukocyte components when sedimented at 50×g in a centrifuge. While this method is generally non-toxic and 'safe' for the recipient, its performance in the recovery of important cell types, including, for example, hematopoietic stem cells, is variable depending upon factors such as temperature, age of sample (post-collection) prior to processing, cellularity (concentration of cells per unit volume) of sample, volume of sample, and ratio of anti-coagulant to blood sample. These factors, with respect to umbilical cord blood, for example, can result in less-than-ideal recovery of stem cells and diminution of the engraftment potential of the cord blood cells, increasing the risk for transplant failure.
Increasing the recovery of rare cell types from donor tissue could dramatically improve the outcomes of transplant and immune therapies (e.g., bone marrow transplants, stem cell-based gene therapy, and immune cell therapy), the success of which apparently is related to the actual number of the cells being used for therapy. Additionally, with allogeneic bone marrow or cytokine-elicited stem cell transplants, implants containing the highest possible recovery of stem cells in conjunction with a partial removal of T-cells, may favor the best chance for successful transplant survival.

Methods and compositions for depleting specific cell populations from blood tissues


A bolted joint which is formed by using a bolt having a tapered shoulder to cold form a deformable sleeve in order to provide a “zero-clearance” fit. Specifically, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used to join a ring gear to a differential case. As the bolts are installed into the differential case and ring gear, tapered shoulders on the bolts dilate deformable sleeves until outer diameters of the sleeves contact internal walls of through holes in the differential case.

The present application generally relates to bolted joints, and more specifically relates to a zero-clearance bolted joint such as for use in joining a ring gear to a differential case.
One application in which bolted joints have been attempted to be used is in joining a ring gear to a differential case. However, generally the bolted joints are not capable of keeping the gear from moving in relation to the differential case. This is because the bolts are not capable of producing enough tension to keep the gear from slipping which in turn causes the bolts to back out of the joint.
One current method of joining a ring gear to a differential case utilizes matching circular patterns of a plurality of through holes on the differential case and a plurality of tapped holes on the ring gear. This design has raised concerns with the hole position tolerance capability of the manufacturing plants. As a result, the challenge is to develop a way of fastening the differential case to the ring gear that will be forgiving of alignment and minimize gear slippage while the ring gear is submitted to a substantial load for a number of cycles.