A device for operating a steering system having at least one electrically operable actuator includes at least one carrier substrate on which a first electronics system and a second electronics system, which is at least partially redundant thereto, is arranged for operating the actuator. The at least one carrier substrate is sealed in a fluid-tight manner, at least in regions, by a protective coating. The first electronics system is sealed at least substantially by the protective coating, and the second electronics system is at least partially free of the protective coating.

In order to facilitate driving a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, for the driver, it is known to use steering systems that produce an auxiliary steering torque electromotively or hydraulically that assists the driver when steering. For actuating electrical components of such steering systems, devices, in particular control units, are known that carry an electronic system on one or more carrier substrates that is embodied for operating an actuator for producing the auxiliary torque. Sealed plug connections, sealing of individual components of the electronic system, encapsulation of leadthroughs and similar are used to seek to prevent water from entering the housing of the control unit or at least to delay this for as long as possible. However, if water enters the housing of the control unit despite the constructional measures and passes to the circuit board, short-circuits or low-impedance shunts can be caused by the liquid that can result in shutting off the steering assistance.
In order to protect the components of an electronic system against the moisture, it is moreover already known to seal the electronic system liquid-tight with a protective coating at least in some areas in order to increase the availability of the electronic system in the event of water ingress into the housing by delaying the effect of the water as much as possible. To increase operating reliability, it is moreover known to provide the electronic system in a redundant form, so that two at least substantially identical electronic systems are disposed on one or more carrier substrates, in particular circuit boards. As a result, however, only electronic defects of the electronic system can be captured. The two-channel or redundant system is not particularly robust against a mechanical malfunction of a seal without further measures.

Device for operating a steering system, steering system and method


An integrated storage device for transferring data between a remote base station and an appliance, includes a non-volatile storage device configured for storing the data, an antenna and a processor arrangement. The antenna is configured for wirelessly receiving electrical energy from the remote base station in order to power the non-volatile storage device. The antenna is also configured for transferring the data between the remote base station and the non-volatile storage device. The processor arrangement is permanently operationally connected to the non-volatile storage device. The processor arrangement is configured to manage data transfer between the non-volatile storage device and the appliance when the processor arrangement is electrically connected to a power supply via a wired power link.

The present invention relates to storage media and, in particular, it concerns non-volatile storage media that are accessible wirelessly.
By way of introduction, non-volatile storage devices are widely used in a wide variety of applications. Non-volatile storage devices include all read-write digital storage devices that retain their content when power is disconnected. Non-volatile storage devices include magnetic disks, writable optical disks, and non-volatile solid-state devices such as flash disks. From an application viewpoint, non-volatile storage devices can be categorized into three groups. The first group includes embedded storage devices, wherein the storage device is a permanent part of an electronic appliance such as a cellular telephone or a computer. The second group includes removable storage devices, wherein the storage device is easily inserted into and removed from an electronic appliance, such as, a memory card of a digital camera. The last group includes portable storage devices, wherein the storage device is a stand-alone device that can be selectively connected to appliances, for example a USB flash disk. In all three groups the non-volatile storage devices are sometimes disconnected from a power source. For example, a new cellular telephone is customarily supplied boxed with its battery disconnected from the cellular phone, a flash card of a digital camera is often removed from the camera, and a portable USB flash disk is energized only when connected to a USB port of an appliance. In all these examples, the non-volatile storage device maintains the data stored therein after power is disconnected therefrom, but the non-volatile storage device cannot be accessed to read therefrom or write thereto unless the non-volatile storage device is physically connected to a power source.
Contactless smart cards are an example of an exceptional case whereby a non-volatile memory can be accessed without the non-volatile memory being physically connected to a power source. Each contactless smart card includes a small antenna. When positioned in the proximity of a compatible base station, the antenna of the card receives sufficient electrical energy to operate the card's circuitry. The same antenna is also used to establish a wireless communication link between the contactless smart card and the base station. The wireless communication link enables the base station to read from, and in some models also write to, the smart card's non-volatile memory. This technology is applied in a variety of ways including credit-card-like plastics and key fobs. The main applications of contactless smart cards are high-speed identification and value transactions in mass transit and parking. Due to the very limited energy supply, on the one hand, and the requirement for high transaction speed, on the other hand, the amount of writable non-volatile memory in contactless smart cards is very small, with current typical memory values up to four kilobytes of EEPROM.
Dual smart cards provide both contactless and contact interfaces, whereby the smart card receives data wirelessly and transfers the data via a wired link to an appliance. Dual smart cards typically have two shortcomings. First, the non-volatile memory in dual smart cards is still very small. Second, the dual smart cards are only able to transfer data via the wired link to the appliance if a specialized card reader is disposed between the smart card and the appliance.
Thus, presently there are two types of non-volatile memories. The first type being memories with large capacities, typically in the range of Megabytes to Gigabytes. These memories require physical electrical connection for the memory to be accessed. The second type being contactless cards having small amounts of non-volatile memory, up to a few kilobytes.
A system and method for writing data onto a non-volatile memory, having a large capacity, when the non-volatile memory is not physically electrically connected to a power supply is taught by U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0236899 to Teicher, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,734, co-assigned with the present invention. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0236899 is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. The aforementioned system includes a primary storage medium having a large capacity, a contactless secondary storage device for storing small amounts of data received wirelessly and a processor configured for copying data from the secondary storage device to the primary storage medium when the system is connected via a wired link to an appliance. Therefore, the aforementioned system overcomes one of the shortcomings of prior art systems by providing access to a large capacity primary storage medium without the need to have the primary storage medium connected via a wired link to a power supply.
As mentioned above, dual smart cards provide both contactless and contact interfaces for use in a wide variety of applications. Nevertheless, one of the main shortcomings of dual smart cards is that they are only able to transfer data via a wired link to an appliance if a specialized card reader is disposed between the smart card and the appliance.
Therefore, there is a need for a device having a contactless and contact interface for direct connection to an appliance without an intervening card reader.

Contact and contactless interface storage device with processor


A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in tire air-pressure is determined on the basis of rotational velocity information of a wheel of a vehicle. Respective thresholds for determining whether judgment of decrease in tire air-pressure is to be made or not are changed depending on magnitude of driving torque of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing turning movements. It is possible to improve the detection accuracy without issuing an erroneous alarm even in the case where a large driving force is applied when the vehicle is, for instance, running on a climbing road or when it performs trailer towing.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure and a program for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure and a program for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure with which it is possible to improve the detection accuracy without issuing an erroneous alarm even in the case where a large driving force is applied when the vehicle is, for instance, running on a climbing road or when it performs trailer towing.
While various methods for detecting decompression of a tire attached to a vehicle have been suggested so far, the applicant of the present invention suggests a method for detecting decompression in which judgment of decrease in air-pressure can be performed by using a "turning correction logic" also during turning movements of the vehicle (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 8713/1994 and No. 8714/1994).
According to the methods for detecting decompression as recited in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 8713/1994 and No. 8714/1994, decompression of a tire is detected upon comparing angular velocity signals from wheel speed sensors attached to each wheel. More particularly, wheel speed sensors composed of gearings provided with a magnetic pickup are employed for measuring respective wheel speed values C1, C2, C3 and C4 of the four wheels, and these values C1, C2, C3 and C4 are substituted into the following equation (1) for obtaining an error value DEL′.
                                                                        DEL                ′                            =                                                [                                                                                (                                                  C1                          +                          C4                                                )                                            /                      2                                        -                                                                  (                                                  C2                          +                          C3                                                )                                            /                      2                                                        ]                                ×                                  100                  /                                                                                [                                                      (                                          C1                      +                      C2                      +                      C3                      +                      C4                                        )                                    /                  4                                ]                                                                                (        1        )
The error value DEL′ is then substituted into the following equation (2) for the "turning correction logic" for obtaining a corrected error value DEL.
                                                        DEL              =                                                DEL                  ′                                -                                  LAT                  ×                                      A                    (                                          ≈                                                                        DEL                          ′                                                -                                                  lateral                                                                                G                          ×                                                                                (                                                correction                                                                                coefficient                                                                                1                                +                                  slip                                                                                rate                  ×                                                                                correction                                                                                coefficient                                                                                2                                    )                                )                                                                                (        2        )
When it is detected that the corrected value falls within a range of a specified threshold of 0.05 to 0.5, a tire alarm indicator within the vehicle is actuated for indicating that at least one tire has been detected.
However, where a large driving force is required, for instance, when running up a steep climb or when performing trailer towing, it would happen that such corrections could not be sufficiently performed particularly in the driving wheels so that erroneous alarm was apt to happen.
One possible factor thereof might be that a large slip is generated at the tire upon application of large driving force during turning movements so that corrections cannot be sufficiently performed by the above equation for turning correction alone.

Method and apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure and program for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure


A thin base member for use in a disk drive apparatus in which a bearing mechanism and an actuator are arranged includes a plurality of lower recess portions, a C-shaped smooth surface, and a fan-shaped recess portion. The C-shaped smooth surface is arranged in a region of an upper surface of the base member to at least partially encircle the region where the bearing mechanism is arranged and the C-shaped smooth surface has a height constant or substantially constant in a circumferential direction. At least a portion of each of the lower recess portions is provided below the C-shaped smooth surface, in which the C-shaped smooth surface has a cross section positioned at the lower recess portions to protrude in a direction toward which the upper surface of the base member faces or in a direction toward which the lower surface of the base member faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a base member for use in a motor and a disk drive apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a disk drive apparatus such as a hard disk drive apparatus or the like is equipped with a spindle motor for rotating a disk. The disk drive apparatus includes a disk, a housing, a stator, a FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), and so forth. The housing includes a cover member, a base member, and so forth.
In recent years, the disk drive apparatus is required to become smaller in height and size. Particularly, in order to further reduce the height of a disk drive apparatus of a 2.5 inch 7 mm-thickness or a 2.5 inch 5 mm-thickness which are used in small-size disk drive apparatuses, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of a housing or a motor arranged within the housing. In general, the motor includes a hub, a coil, a stator core, a wiring substrate, a base member, etc. When assembling the motor, these components are arranged to axially overlap with one another. In order for the thickness of the motor to become small, these components need to be made thin. However, if an attempt is made to reduce the overall height of the motor by reducing the turn number of the coils or the lamination thickness of the stator core, the magnetic fluxes generated in the stator during the operation of the motor are reduced such that the torque constant is reduced. It is therefore impossible to obtain the torque required for rotating the disk attached to the hub.
In order to reduce the height of the motor, it is therefore necessary to reduce the thickness of the base member, among the components of the motor, which dominates a large portion of the axial dimension of the motor. However, if the base member is merely made thin, the rigidity of the base member is reduced to a great extent. As a result, if a shocking force is applied from the outside to the base member, it is likely that the base member is broken and that the disk arranged within the housing is damaged.
With a view to solve this problem, it is thinkable to employ a method in which a thickness is secured by depressing only the portion of a base member where a circuit board or an integrated circuit is arranged, accommodating the circuit board or the integrated circuit in the depressed portion, and keeping the remaining portions of the base member not depressed. However, if an attempt is made to reduce the thickness of the base member through the use of this method, the thickness of the base member becomes extremely small and the rigidity becomes reduced in the depressed portion. In addition, a difficulty in machining the base member arises and the base member may be pierced during a machining process. The present inventors have solved this problem by employing the following structure.

Base member of a motor which includes specific surface structure


Due to a characteristic of a switching element, a current leaks into a display element in an undisplayed region through the switching element to thereby cause a speckled pattern to occur in the undisplayed region. In addition to a supply of scanning signals to scanning lines corresponding to display elements in a displayed region, scanning signals are also supplied to scanning lines corresponding to display elements in the undisplayed region to thereby inhibit the speckled pattern from occurring.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of driving display elements, such as liquid crystal devices, and an electronic apparatus for which the method of driving the display elements is used.
2. Description of Related Art
In a related art method of driving a plurality of display elements, the plurality of display elements arranged in a matrix and constituting a region for displaying characters and images, are driven by using a plurality of switching elements, such as TFTs (Thin Film Transistors) connected to the plurality of display elements. In more detail, a so-called line sequential driving is performed, in which simultaneous activation of a specified number of the switching elements, arranged in a direction of a row (X-direction), i.e., in a direction of a scanning line, is sequentially performed in a direction of columns (Y-direction), i.e., in a direction of data lines. This is performed by sequentially supplying scanning signals, for sequentially activating the plurality of switching elements, that is, for driving the plurality of display elements, to the plurality of scanning lines for controlling activation of the plurality of switching elements.
As described above, each of the scanning lines is used for activating each of the specified number of switching elements, i.e., for driving the specified number of the display elements. Therefore, when the characters and images are only to be displayed in a certain part of the region, by only supplying the scanning signals to scanning lines corresponding to the display elements in the certain part of the region out of the plurality of scanning lines, the characters and images can be displayed in the certain part of the region. That is, the characters and images can be displayed in the certain part of the region without supplying the scanning signals to the scanning lines corresponding to display elements in the other part of the region, excluding the certain part of the region, where none of the characters and images are allowed to be displayed.
However, a problem exists in which, due to a characteristic of the switching element, when off-resistance is not sufficiently large, for example, a current is leaked to a display element in the other part of the region through the switching element to thereby cause a speckled pattern in the other part of the region.

Method of driving display elements and electronic apparatus using the driving method


A license corresponding to digital content includes reliable reference date/time information. A content playback apparatus includes a reference-date/time-information storage unit for storing the reference date/time information. The reference-date/time-information storage unit is updated to maintain the reference date/time information at the latest version. When the digital content is to be played back, the system date/time of the content playback apparatus is compared with the reference date/time to validate the system date/time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to content use management systems, content playback apparatuses, content use management methods, content playback methods, and computer programs for digital content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, many users access various types of digital content including text content, such as newspapers and books, music content, and video content, such as movies, by the use of information processing apparatuses, including personal computers (PCs) and portable terminals such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. The available time of such digital content is restricted in some cases, just as, for example, video-rental shops and libraries allow their videocassettes and books to be available only within a limited period of time.
The available time of digital content is restricted such that, for example, digital content itself or a license for managing the digital content is assigned an available time, which is compared with the system date/time of the information processing apparatus with which the digital content is used to determine whether or not the user is entitled to the digital content.
However, since the system date/time of an information processing apparatus is accessible by the user, the user can easily override the available time by changing the system date/time. Thus, the known system has a problem in that the user can freely use digital content even if the digital content has a restricted available time.
To overcome this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-22339 proposes a content management system where reliable reference date/time information is saved in, for example, an information processing apparatus with which digital content is to be used, so that it is determined whether or not the user is entitled to the digital content on the basis of the reference date/time information and the system date/time.
According to the above-described content management system, however, if the saved reference date/time information is destroyed, it is necessary to acquire new reference date/time information from a reliable external server via a communication network to restore the destroyed date/time information. This means that if the user is in an environment where no connection to a communication network is available, the destroyed reference date/time information cannot be restored, that is, a determination cannot be made as to whether or not the user is entitled to the digital content.

Content use management system, content playback apparatus, content use management method, content playback method, and computer program including system date/time information validation


In some aspects, the present invention provides cell-reactive compstatin analogs and compositions comprising cell-reactive compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using cell-reactive compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ. In some aspects, the invention provides long-acting compstatin analogs and compositions comprising long-acting compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using long-acting compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ. In some aspects, the invention provides targeted compstatin analogs and compositions comprising targeted compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using targeted compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ.

Complement is a system consisting of more than 30 plasma and cell-bound proteins that plays a significant role in both innate and adaptive immunity. The proteins of the complement system act in a series of enzymatic cascades through a variety of protein interactions and cleavage events. Complement activation occurs via three main pathways: the antibody-dependent classical pathway, the alternative pathway, and the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) pathway. Inappropriate or excessive complement activation is an underlying cause or contributing factor to a number of serious diseases and conditions, and considerable effort has been devoted over the past several decades to exploring various complement inhibitors as therapeutic agents. However, there remains a need for innovative approaches to inhibiting complement activation for a variety of therapeutic purposes.

Cell-reactive, long-acting, or targeted compstatin analogs and uses thereof


A peptide is provided for use as a diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutic, or therapeutic agent, which peptide has a conformationally constrained global secondary structure obtained upon complexing with a metal ion. The peptide is of the general formula: EQU R.sub.1 --X--R.sub.2. where X is a plurality of amino acids and includes a complexing backbone for complexing metal ions, so that substantially all of the valances of the metal ion are satisfied upon complexation of the metal ion with X, resulting in a specific regional secondary structure forming a part of the global secondary structure; and where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each include from 0 to about 20 amino acids, the amino acids being selected so that upon complexing the metal ion with X at least a portion of either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2, or both, have a structure forming the balance of the conformationally constrained global secondary structure. All or a portion of the global secondary structure, which may be sychnologic or rhegnylogic, may form a ligand or mimic a known biological-function domain. The peptide has substantially higher affinity when labeled with a metal ion. The peptide may be labeled with radioisotopes of technetium or rhenium for radiopharmaceutical applications.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to peptide and peptidomimetic constructs, particularly for use in peptide receptor-based compositions for pharmaceutical and radiopharmaceutical applications, in which the peptide is conformationally fixed, with the biological-function domain having increased affinity for its target, upon labeling of the metal ion-binding backbone with a metal ion.
2. Background Art
Peptide Drugs. In recent years, a significant number of peptides have been discovered with various biological effects. These peptides are being explored for use as drugs, in treatment or prevention of a variety of diseases. There are significant limitations with use of peptide drugs, including extremely rapid clearance from the circulatory system, low affinity with some peptides, immunogenicity of larger peptide constructs, and lack of stability against proteolytic enzymes. However, there are peptides in use or under investigation as therapeutic agents for a number of conditions, including somatostatin analogues, arginine vasopression, oxytocin, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, angiotensin converting enzyme, renin and elastase inhibitors, a variety of antagonists, including fibrinogen receptor antagonists, and the like. In addition, peptidomimetic antibiotics and peptide-based vaccines are also in use or development as human drugs.
The problems of immunogenicity and short circulatory half-life are well known, and various modifications to peptide-based drugs have been proposed in attempts to solve these problems. These include the modification of peptides or proteins with a variety of polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG). Thus, in Braatz J A and Heifetz A H, U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,176, Polymer-Modified Peptide Drugs Having Enhanced Biological and Pharmacological Activities, a method is set forth for making polymer-modified drugs, with reduced immunogenicity, increased circulation half-life, and enhanced potency. A different method is disclosed in Sano A, Maeda H, Kai Y and One K, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,131, Polyethylene Glycol Derivatives, Modified Peptides and Production Thereof.
Peptide-Based Radiopharmaceutical Drugs. The use of biologically active peptides, which are peptides which bind to specific cell surface receptors, has received some consideration as radiopharmaceuticals. Canadian Patent Application 2,016,235, Labeled Chemotactic Peptides to Image Focal Sites of Infection or Inflammation, teaches a method of detecting a site of infection or inflammation, and a method for treating such infection or inflammation, by administration of a labeled or therapeutically-conjugated chemotactic peptide. In this application, the chemotactic peptides are chemically conjugated to DTPA and subsequently labeled with .sup.111 In. The utility of DTPA chelates covalently coupled to polypeptides and similar substances is well known in the art. Hnatowich D J, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,479,930 and 4,668,503. Other bifunctional chelates for radiolabeling peptides, polypeptides and proteins are well known in the art. Biologically active peptides described include Olexa S A, Knight L C and Budzynski A Z, U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,646, Use of Radiolabeled Peptide Derived From Crosslinked Fibrin to Locate Thrombi In Vivo, in which iodination is discussed as a means of radiolabeling. In Rajagopalan R, Lyle L R and Dunn T J, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,184, Radiolabelled Peptide Compounds, hirudin receptor-specific peptides, radiolabeled via a chelate ligand, are disclosed. In Morgan C A Jr and Anderson D C, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,979, Imaging Tissue Sites of Inflammation, use of chelates and direct iodination is disclosed. In Tolman G L, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,864, Trace-Labeled Conjugates of Metallothionein and Target-Seeking Biologically Active Molecules, the use of metallothionein or metallothionein fragments conjugated to a biologically active molecule, including peptides, is disclosed. In Dean R T and Lister-James J, International Application No. PCT/US93/05372, Technetium-99m Labeled Peptides for Imaging; Dean R T and Lister-James J, International Application No. PCT/US93/04794, Technetium-99m Labeled Peptides for Thrombus Imaging; Dean R T, Buttram S, McBride W, Lister-James J, and Civitello E R, International Application No. PCT/US93/03687, Technetium-99m Labeled Peptides for Imaging; Dean R T, Lees R S, Buttram S and Lister-James J, International Application No. PCT/US93/02320, Technetium-99m Labeled Peptides for Imaging Inflammation; and Dean R T, McBride W and Buttram S, International Application No. PCT/US92/10716, Technetium-99m Labeled Peptides for Imaging a variety of peptide constructs are disclosed, all involving a Tc-99m binding moiety covalently or otherwise linked to the peptide, or to a polyvalent linker moiety, which is itself linked to one or more peptides. These previous methods all employ some conjugation means with a chelator in order to effectuate labeling with a radionuclide or other medically useful metal ion, such as a paramagnetic contrast agent. The only exception involves direct radioiodination; the iodine labeling of proteins or peptides containing tyrosine or histidine residues is well known, for example, by the chloramine-T, iodine monochloride, lodogen or lactoperoxidase methods.
In Dean R T, Lister-James J and Buttram S, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,180, Technetium-99m Labeled Somatostatin-Derived Peptides for Imaging, technetium-99m labeling of peptides containing at least two cysteine residues capable of forming a disulfide bond through reduction of the disulfide is disclosed. Other somatostatin-based radiopharmaceuticals are disclosed in Lyle L R, Rajagopalan R, Deutsch K, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,654, Radiolabelled Peptide Compounds; Albert R and Macke H, International Application No. EP94810008.6, Somatostatin Analogs Containing Chelating Groups and Their Radiolabeled Compositions; Dean R T, McBride W and Lister-James J, International Application No. PCT/US94/06274, Radiolabeled Somatostatin-Derived Peptides for Imaging and Therapeutic Uses; and McBride W and Dean R T, International Application No. PCT/US94/08335, Somatostatin Derivatives and Their Radiolabelled Products. Use of peptide radiopharmaceuticals in general, not limited to somatostatin analogues, and various examples thereof, are given in Fischman A J, Babich J W, Strauss H W: A Ticket to Ride: Peptide Radiopharmaceuticals. J Nucl Med 34:2253-2263, 1993.
Other biologically active peptides include analogues of formyl peptide chemoattractants which bind to neutrophils. These peptides are based on the sequence N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (SEQ. ID NO. 1). The clinical and diagnostic imaging potential of formylated chemotactic peptides has been demonstrated by Fischman et al. (Fischman A J, Pike M C, Kroon D, Fucello A J, Rexinger D, tenKate C, Wilkinson R, Rubin R H and Strauss H W: Imaging focal sites of bacterial infection in rats with indium-111-labeled chemotactic peptide analogs. J Nucl Med 32:483-491, 1991) using chemotactic peptides chemically conjugated to DTPA and subsequently labeled with .sup.111 In. Chemotactic peptides have also been radioiodinated by synthesizing formylated peptides containing tyrosine amino acids. These peptides have been used in vitro and have the same biological function as unlabeled formylated peptides (Janeczek A H, Marasco W A, Van Alten P J and Walter R B: Autoradiographic analysis of formylpeptide chemoattractant binding, uptake and intracellular processing by neutrophils. J Cell Sci 94:155-168, 1989). Finally, chemotactic peptides have also been labeled with .sup.99m Tc using a nicotinyl hydrazine bifunctional chelate approach (Babich J W, Graham W, Barrow S A, Dragotakes S C, Tompkins R G, Rubin R H and Fischman A J: Technetium-99m-labeled chemotactic peptides: comparison with Indium-111-labeled white blood cells for localizing acute bacterial infection in the rabbit. J Nucl Med 34:2176-2181, 1993).
Peptides containing the adhesive sequence RGD are under active investigation as anti-thrombotic agents (Imura Y, Stassen J-M, Dunting S, Stockmans F, and Collen D: Antithrombotic properties of L-cysteine, N-(mercaptoacetyl)-D-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Asp-sulfoxide (G4120) in hamster platelet-rich femoral vein thrombosis model, Blood 80:1247-1253, 1992). Knight et al. (Knight L C, Radcliffe R, Maurer A H, Rodwell J D and Alvarez V L: Thrombus imaging with Tc-99m synthetic peptides based upon the binding domain of a monoclonal antibody to activated platelets. J Nucl Med 35:282-288, 1994) have reported on the use of .sup.99m Tc-synthetic peptide-metallothionein complexes, containing the radiometal binding sequence Lys-Cys-Thr-Cys-Cys-Ala (SEQ. ID NO. 2), which bind to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex to image fresh thrombi in jugular and femoral veins. Other RGD-containing sequences are disclosed in Stuttle A W J, U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,609, Synthetic Peptides for Use in Tumor Detection.
Radiolabeled peptide constructs, with two binding sequences coupled to DTPA, have been reported. A dimer .sup.111 In-DTPA-labeled laminin sequence was prepared for tumor imaging, in which the dimer was formed by reacting a peptide sequence containing a single YIGSR with DTPA dianhydride, yielding a dimer represented by the formula DTPA-(GYIGSR-NH.sub.2).sub.2 (derived from SEQ. ID NO. 3). In preliminary studies the dimer was more potent than a peptide with a single YIGSR (SEQ. ID NO. 3) sequence. Swanson D, Epperly M, Brown M L et al: In-111 laminin peptide fragments for malignant tumor detection. J Nucl Med 34:231P, 1993 (Abstract). A dimer of a melanotropin analogue linked to .sup.111 In-DTPA in a similar fashion has also been reported as an imaging agent for metastatic melanoma. Wraight E P, Bard D R, Maughan T S et al, Br J Radiology 65:112-118, 1992; and Bard D R, Wraight E P, Knight C G: BisMSH-DTPA: a potential imaging agent for malignant melanoma. Ann NY Acad Sci 680:451-453, 1993.
Structure of Peptides. The folding of linear chain amino acids in peptides and proteins in a very distinctive manner is responsible for their unique three dimensional structure. It is now clear that the side chains of individual amino acids have preferential propensity to nucleate a particular secondary structure (Chou P Y and Fasman G D: Prediction of the secondary structure of proteins from their amino acid sequence. In Advances in Enzymology, Vol. 47 (1978) pp. 45-145, John Wiley & Sons, New York). The properties of these side chains, such as steric bulk and inherent hydropathicity, cause the peptide chain to fold as a helix, sheet, or a reversed turn. In addition to these local effects, both covalent as well as noncovalent interactions between distant as well as adjacent amino acids in the chain also play a very important role in determining, stabilizing and biasing a particular three dimensional structure. Examples of noncovalent interactions include hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals' forces, and hydrogen bonds. Electrostatic interactions in the form of a salt bridge between a positively charged side chain and a negatively charged side chain are common, and stabilize a peptide or protein in a particular configuration. The most important type of covalent interaction between two amino acids in a chain is the formation of a disulfide linkage between two Cys residues that nucleates a particular conformational preference in the molecules. These interactions can be short range (local or regional) or long range (global).
Most of the elements for inducing and stabilizing a conformational preference in naturally occurring proteins and peptides have been used to design and synthesize a wide variety of peptide analogues with preferred or biased conformational characteristics. Examples of structural changes in peptides to cause conformational biasness and restriction have been discussed in the literature (Hruby V J: Conformational restrictions of biologically active peptides via amino acid side chain groups. Life Sciences 31:189-199, 1981). The incorporation of modified amino acids, such as N.sup..alpha. -Methyl or C.sup..alpha. -Methyl amino acids or other designer amino acids with conformationally restricted side chains, cause a strong local conformational effect. In synthetic peptides long range or global conformational restriction can routinely be achieved by cyclizing a peptide through appropriate amino acid end groups or side chains. The types of cyclic bridges commonly employed are disulfide bridges between two Cys residues in the peptide chain, and related thioester and thioether bridges, and formation of a lactam or lactone bridge between appropriate chemical groups in the amino acid side chains. Numerous highly potent analogues of many biologically active peptides have been designed using these approaches. Examples include peptide hormones such as somatostatin, opioid peptide, melanotropin, neurokinins, glucagon, and ACTH analogues. Hruby V J, Sharma S D, Collins N, Matsunaga T O and Russel K C: Applications of synthetic peptides, in Synthetic Peptides, A User's Guide, Grant G A, editor, W. H. Freedman and Company, 1992, pp. 259-345.
Peptide--Metal Ion Interaction. Metal ion complexation within a given amino acid sequence, such as encountered in certain proteins, also appears to effect conformational restriction. Specific structures, called Zinc fingers, in various DNA transcription factors result from complexation of Zn ion to a specific amino acid sequence in the protein. In Vallee B L and Auld D S: Zinc coordination, function, and structure of zinc enzymes and other proteins, Biochemistry 29:5648-5659, 1990, the general characteristics of non-metallothionein proteins which contain zinc binding sites are described. Similarly, a family of calcium binding proteins, including calmodulin and related proteins, have highly conserved domains for complexation of Ca ions. These metal binding proteins have unique functional roles in the body that are displayed after the metal ion has complexed to them. The complexation process is known to cause a switch in conformational characteristics which in turn triggers the functional response exerted by the protein.
The area of peptide-metal ion complex receiving the most interest involves zinc fingers, natural sequences with specific Zn binding domains in transcription proteins that mediate gene regulation (Rhodes D and Klug A: Zinc fingers. Scientific American 268(2):56-65, 1993. The reported zinc fingers which have been synthesized and studied for metal binding characteristics in respect to conformational restriction and peptide folding are not of biological relevance, since they are not capable of establishing site-specific interactions with DNA in a manner similar to the transcription proteins that incorporate these zinc fingers. Krizek B A, Amann B T, Kilfoil V J, Merkle D L, and Berg J M: A consensus zinc finger peptide: Design, high affinity metal binding, a pH-dependent structure, and a His to Cys sequence variant. J. Amer. Chem Soc. 113:4518-4523, 1991.
Metal ion induced switches in the tertiary structure of synthetic peptides have been shown in some model studies. Reid, Hodges and co-workers (Shaw G S, Hodges R S, Sykes B D: Calcium-induced peptide association to form an intact protein domain: 1H NMR structural evidence. Science 249:280, 1990; and Reid R E, Gariepy J, Saund A K, Hodges R S: J. Biol. Chem. 256:2742, 1981) showed that a peptide fragment related to a natural calcium binding protein exhibits enhanced .alpha.-helical structure upon binding to calcium. This is due to dimerization of two helical peptide segments located at each end, which is induced by complexation of a calcium ion in the middle peptide segment. Sasaki and co-workers (Lieberman M, Sasaki T: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:1470, 1991) have attached a metal binding chelator to one end of a peptide with a low propensity to form an .alpha.-helical structure. Upon complexation with iron ion three peptide-chelator molecules complex with one metal ion to form a helix bundle. Formation of three-dimensional arrays of the existing secondary structure in these examples, although caused by the complexing metal ion, is not entirely stabilized by it. The helical segments involved in forming a bundle of two or three helices are amphiphilic. The main role of complexing metal ion in these cases has been to bring these amphiphilic helices close enough so that they interact with each other through amphiphilic interactions, thereby stabilizing the helical bundle.

Peptide-metal ion pharmaceutical constructs and applications


A gauge apparatus includes an extension assembly. The gauge apparatus also includes a profile assembly configured to radially extend from an outer periphery of the extension assembly. The profile assembly is configured to reciprocally coaxially travel relative to the extension assembly. The profile assembly is configured to cease coaxial movement in response to making travel-interfering contact.

A cylinder block of a reciprocating engine is configured to provide motive force to a vehicle (car, truck). The cylinder block is an integrated structure including various machined components such as cylinders along with some or all of the associated surrounding structures (such as, coolant passages, intake and exhaust passages and ports, crankcase, etc.). The term engine block is often used synonymously with "cylinder block" although technically distinctions can be made between the cylinder block as a discrete unit versus the engine block having integrated components.
Machining of the components used in the engine block includes various processes in which a piece of raw material is cut into a desired final shape and size by a controlled material-removal process. The many processes that have this common theme, controlled material removal, are today collectively known as subtractive manufacturing, in distinction from processes of controlled material addition, which are known as additive manufacturing. Traditional machining processes include: turning, boring, drilling, milling, broaching, sawing, shaping, reaming, tapping, etc. Machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, drill presses, or others, are used with a sharp cutting tool to remove material to achieve a desired geometry. Newer machining technologies include: electrical discharge machining, electrochemical machining, electron beam machining, photochemical machining, and ultrasonic machining.
A gauge or gage is used widely in metalworking. The gauge is a device (tool) used to make measurements on a machined component, such as the engine block. A wide variety of gauges exist which serve such functions, ranging from simple pieces of material against which sizes can be measured to complex pieces of machinery. There are two types of gauges (measuring tools): direct and indirect. Due to the realities of machining metal pieces, most measurements are of the plus/minus type; for example, the plus/minus type measurement may be recorded as 2.125 inches+/−0.0005 inches (42.00 mm+/−0.005 mm). The first number is the preferred size (dimension). The +/− number is the amount of variation between the preferred size and an acceptable size (preferred or target size). During inspection of a part or machined component, the preferred dimension is given. After measuring the machined component, a comparison is made between the measured size and the acceptable size to determine whether the measured dimension of the machined component is acceptable or not acceptable (and if found not acceptable, the machined component is rejected).
Accurate measurement of engine components, such as the dimensional aspects of the machined components used in the engine block, is critical to properly manufacture an acceptable engine block, both in terms of longevity and performance as well as profitability. Unfortunately, a component that was improperly machined and then inaccurately gauged (measured) adds unwanted time and/or cost to the process of manufacturing the engine block (or other components used in the vehicle).


A system for data transfer in a rotorcraft includes a power bus extending from a power source in a main fuselage of the rotorcraft to provide electrical power to electrical loads located in a tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a first power line communication node on the power bus in the tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a second power line communication node on the power bus in the main fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a digital sensor bus connected to the first power line communication node. Information from the digital sensor bus is transmitted to the first power line communication node and across the power bus to the second power line communication node.

The present disclosure relates generally to data transfer systems, and in particular, to data transfer systems in aircraft.
A health and usage management system (HUMS) in an aircraft uses a data transfer system to gather information about extremities of the aircraft, such as a tail boom section of a rotorcraft. The main HUMS is located in the main fuselage of the aircraft where the power source is also located. Often, the HUMS data transfer system requires large amounts of wiring, wire hangers, and connectors to collect and send data from the extremity of the aircraft to the health and usage management system located in the main fuselage. A simpler and more efficient data transfer system is needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rotorcraft tail boom health management system


A process and apparatus to support passive call blocking, a call block that is performed in a manner that the caller does not recognize as a call block. When passive call blocking is utilized, blocked callers receive a passive response, such as a continuous telephone ring, instead of an error message or rejection notification. The caller is thus unaware or uncertain that they have been blocked. Blocked calls are determined by comparing caller identification information with a caller database.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate in general to telephony, and an apparatus and method to reject a call in a manner that the caller does not recognize as a block.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional telephone network, users are able to subscribe to a Class 5 Call Blocking feature that allows them to maintain a list of callers that are unable to place a call through to the subscriber. Upon attempting to call the subscriber, a blocked caller is notified by a recording that their call has been rejected. The subscriber's telephone does not ring. The caller is thus aware that the subscriber is blocking them.
Similarly, in a mode of Internet telephony implementing the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), users are able to subscribe to a comparable call blocking feature. In this case, call attempts made by blocked callers are met with a SIP 603 Decline response, which ends the call session. As with the Class 5 Call Blocking feature, blocked callers are thus aware that the subscriber is blocking them.
Outgoing calls are also subject to being blocked. Subscribers may choose to control outgoing calls by blocking certain telephone numbers, sets of numbers, or all numbers. Callers that attempt to make outgoing blocked calls on the subscriber's telephone are generally met with a request for authorization to complete the call or an error message. Once again, these callers become aware that they are being blocked.
Also known in the art is a "do not disturb" feature for telephones. When active this feature generally diverts all incoming calls immediately to voicemail, a recording, or an error message. A caller subjected to this feature may still easily recognize that their call has been rejected.

Passive call blocking method and apparatus


Compounds effective in inhibiting replication of Hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) are described. This invention also relates to processes of making such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat HCV infection.

HCV is an RNA virus belonging to the Hepacivirus genus in the Flaviviridae family. HCV has enveloped virions that contain a positive stranded RNA genome encoding all known virus-specific proteins in one single, uninterrupted, open reading frame. The open reading frame comprises approximately 9500 nucleotides encoding a single large polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids. The polyprotein comprises a core protein, envelope proteins E1 and E2, a membrane bound protein p7, and the non-structural proteins NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B.
HCV infection is associated with progressive liver pathology, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with peginterferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin. Substantial limitations to efficacy and tolerability remain as many users suffer from side effects and viral elimination from the body is often inadequate. Therefore, there is a need for new drugs to treat HCV infection.


Cables, including electrical cables. The cables are provided with a series of elements designed to interlock with each other when a first length of cable is pressed against a second length of cable, the element including protrusions and spaces between the protrusions. A user folds a length of cable on itself or on another cable, snugly pressing the protrusions into the spaces, to store the cable, or to restrict the movement of the cable during use. In this manner, movement of the cable is restricted into the configuration set by the user, and preventing the cable from becoming tangled, knotted, or so forth.

Currently, wires, cords, or cables are well known in a variety of arts. For example, electrical wires or cables are used to connect computers, their accessories, phones, and many other types of items to power sources. They are used to connect components to each other, or components to other objects, whether to parts of the body (such as headphones to one's ears), or otherwise. They are used in consumer applications, household applications, clothing applications (such as shoes), automotive applications, and many other applications, for a myriad of uses.
It is common, however, for cables to become tangled or knotted, whether with each other, or with other objects (such as other cables). Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved cables which are less prone to tangling or knotting.


The present invention relates to monomeric fusion proteins comprising the extracellular part of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) and the extracellular part of the interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Ralpha) as inhibitors of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) activity. The invention relates further to the use of said inhibitors as a medicament in the treatment of—but not limited to—inflammatory diseases, cancer and fibrosis.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin-2 (IL-2) family cytokine produced by epithelial cells at barrier surfaces in the lung and gut, and by epidermal keratinocytes in the skin. It regulates immunity by driving the activation of immature dendritic cells (DC), mast cells, basophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes into a type 2 polarizing phenotype (Bell et al., 2013; Ziegler, 2010, 2012; Ziegler and Artis, 2010; Ziegler et al., 2013). Cell signaling mediated by TSLP is initiated at the cell surface via a heteromeric receptor complex with its cognate receptor, TSLPR (encoded by CRLF2) (Pandey et al., 2000; Park et al., 2000), and IL-7Ralpha, a receptor that also serves as the cognate receptor for IL-7 to regulate T-cell development and homeostasis (Mackall et al., 2011). Indeed, the crystal structure of mouse TLSP in complex with TSLPR and IL-7Ralpha has revealed how TSLP establishes extensive interfaces with its two receptors to evoke membrane-proximal receptor-receptor contacts poised for intracellular signaling. In addition, binding of TSLP to TSLPR is a mechanistic prerequisite for recruitment of IL-7Ralpha to the high-affinity ternary complex (Verstraete et al., 2014).
Aberrant signaling by TSLP has serious consequences for human health and imprints a massive healthcare and socioeconomic footprint. This is because type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-mediated inflammatory responses primed by activated dendritic cells (DCs), are pivotal for the onset of widespread allergic diseases of the airways, skin and gut. In fact, TSLP is now widely considered to be the master regulator for most prevalent inflammatory allergic disorders, such as the triad of atopic diseases (asthma, atopic dermatitis and atopic rhinitis), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and eosinophilic esophagitis (Noti et al., 2013; Redhu and Gounni, 2012; Siracusa et al., 2013; Ziegler, 2012; Ziegler et al., 2013), and has been annotated as a genetic risk factor for the development of asthma (Hunninghake et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012; Torgerson et al., 2011) and eosinophilic esophigitis (Rothenberg et al., 2010). In addition, there is a clear pathophysiological connection among some of these diseases. For instance, 70% of patients with atopic dermatitis go on to develop asthma via what has been called "atopic march" (Spergel, 2010), while adults with active asthma are strongly predisposed for acquiring COPD when compared to non-asthmatic individuals (Guerra, 2009). Several recent developments have added new dimensions to the pathophysiological pleiotropy of TSLP. First, TSLP mediated signaling has been identified as the molecular liaison between the skin epithelium and neuronal cells to trigger itch associated with atopic dermatitis (Wilson et al., 2013). Second, TSLP has been identified as a new molecular factor contributing to the development of psoriasis, a large-scale autoimmune disease, by virtue of its effects on IL-23 production by DC (Volpe et al., 2014). Third, TSLP has been reported to have causative effects in terms of tumor progression in breast- and pancreatic cancer (De Monte et al., 2011; Pedroza-Gonzalez et al., 2011), and genetic rearrangements and mutations in the TSLPR gene (CRLF2) have been reported in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Perez-Andreu et al., 2013). Fourth, TSLP has been implicated in the pathogenesis of non-allergic diseases characterized by a type 2 immune response and in promoting organ fibrosis (Ying et al., 2015).
Considering the above described pathophysiological profile and the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide, it is no surprise that TSLP has emerged as therapeutic target, in particular for the treatment of atopic diseases (Borowski et al., 2013; Romeo et al., 2013, 2014; Zhang et al., 2011). In this regard, a recent study employing a primate animal model has shown that blockade of the TSLPR reduces allergic inflammation (Cheng et al., 2013). Recently, the validity of TSLP as a therapeutic target in humans was further demonstrated in a clinical trial in which asthmatic patients were treated with an anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody (Gauvreau et al., 2014). Nevertheless, despite proof of in vitro potency of the currently available agents that target the TSLP/TSLPR/IL-7Ralpha complex, the in vivo effects seem to be mild. Also uncertainties regarding the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies against TSLP may arise due to possible cross-reactivity with the recently described short form of human TSLP (Bjerkan et al., 2015; Fornasa et al., 2015). In addition, EP2703414 (Amgen Inc) discloses alternative TSLP blockers consisting of soluble hulL-7Ra-huTSLPR-Fc protein fusions which are dimeric and are very large fusion proteins. Intrinsic shortcomings of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and the fusion proteins in EP2703414 are poor tissue penetration, Fc-mediated immunostimulatory effects, limitations in administration and dose indications and cost of production which necessitate the exploration of alternative strategies. Accordingly, and as there is no effective treatment available, there is an unmet need for a potent inhibitor of TSLP signaling that does not have the above mentioned limitations and which can be used for effective treatment of TSLP related diseases.


An aircraft structure (11) for flow control including a perforated panel (13) having an inner surface (15) directed to a structure interior (17), an outer surface (19) in contact with an ambient flow (21), and a plurality of micro pores (23) connecting the inner and outer surfaces (15, 19). Elongate crack stopper elements (25) are attached to the inner surface (15) of the perforated panel (13). The crack stopper elements (25) are configured to inhibit crack propagation within the perforated panel (13).

The present invention relates to an aircraft structure configured for flow control, such as configured for hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC). A further aspect of the invention relates to an aircraft comprising such an aircraft structure.
The aircraft structure comprises a perforated panel having an inner surface directed to a structure interior, an outer surface in contact with an ambient flow, and a plurality of micro pores distributed over the perforated panel and connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The perforated panel may be formed of a metal material, such as titanium.
Such aircraft structures are known in connection with hybrid laminar-flow control (HLFC) systems where air is sucked in or blown out through the micro pores in the perforated panel to advantageously influence the ambient flow along the aircraft structure to increase lift and reduce drag, and as a consequence reduce fuel consumption. The micro pores necessary for sucking in or blowing out air, however, decreases the fatigue strength of the perforated panel as crack initiation and propagation through the perforated panel is simplified by the micro pores. Thus, a higher panel thickness is required to obtain the required fatigue strength, which however adds to the weight of the aircraft structure.
Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the weight of the aircraft structure while maintaining the required fatigue strength.


An image processing method comprising a first step of displaying a moving image being captured on a display and a second step of displaying a still image captured in response to a still image capture instruction on the display simultaneously with the moving image being captured when receiving the still image capture instruction during display of the moving image on the display in the first step and an image processing apparatus using the same.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for displaying a moving image and a still image being captured.
2. Description of the Art
In the past, an imaging device able to simultaneously capture a moving image and a still image has been proposed. In such an imaging device, it is possible to record an impressive scene as a still image while capturing a moving image without interrupting capture of the moving image. These imaging devices are equipped with liquid crystal panels and other display devices and use these display devices to confirm the subject being captured and confirm the quality of the captured still image. For such related art, see Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-158684.
When simultaneously capturing a moving image and a still image, however, a conventional imaging device displays only one of the still image and moving image, therefore while capturing a moving image, only the moving image was displayed and the quality of the still image could not be confirmed or conversely only the still image was displayed for a few seconds, so the subject of the moving image could not be confirmed. The performance was therefore felt to be poor. Further, at the time of reproduction, only one of the moving image or the still image was displayed. No attractive method of reproduction making good use of the function of simultaneous recording has yet been proposed.

Image processing method and image processing apparatus


A fixing structure of battery module for fixing a battery module in an electronic device is proposed. The fixing structure includes a first lid and a second lid, which are formed on a surface of the electronic device, wherein the first lid is formed with a first fastening part, and the second lid is formed with a second fastening part for being engaged with the first fastening part; a mounting cavity formed in the electronic device at a position corresponding to the second lid; a first locking part formed on the second lid; and a second locking part formed on the battery module, for being coupled to the first locking part so as to fasten the battery module to the second lid. When the first and second lids are coupled together by the first and second fastening parts, the battery module fastened to the second lid is received in the mounting cavity and fixed in the electronic device.

With the development of information technology, various electronic devices have been widely used by people of different age. Simultaneously, with the growing demand of processing large amount of information and improving the operation efficiency, current electronic devices are facing the problem of supply efficiency of power. Besides having power saving device in the electronic device itself, the most popular solution to this problem is to have a backup portable battery. For example, some electronic devices, such as desktop, laptop and server, have cache memory in their motherboard for storing information temporarily when the electronic device is turned on where the cache memory is empowered from the power supplier. However, information stored in cache memory will be lost when the electronic device is turned off because power supplier is unable to supply power. In order to retain information, usually a battery module of cache memory in installed in electronic devices.
However, the battery module in most electronic devices is fixed in the semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery module 10 is fixed on a frame 2, similar to the size of the battery module 10, coupled to the inner part of an electronic device such as a server. This type of fixing structure in the prior art adopts a screw lock method to fasten the screw bolt 21 of the frame 2 and bolting hole 101 on the battery module 10 together with a screw 9.
Although the method to fasten the battery module 10 to the frame 2 by a screw 9 is quite effective, many auxiliary tools, such as a screwdriver, must be inserted into the narrow interior space of server and some important components in server may easily become damaged by these tools. Moreover, not all servers have enough room for operation, which may lead to a waste of time and increase in complication for screwing. Moreover, if the screw drops in the inner part of the server, there is a risk of regional electrical interruption. Therefore, not only the use of auxiliary tools is required to assemble and dissemble the battery module, it also brings inconvenience to the user.
In addition, when dissembling the screws to take out the battery module from the substrate, it easy that the user may drop or lost the screw accidentally. Therefore, the process of dissembling and assembling in this prior art is time consuming and also it is disadvantageous that the cost of purchasing additional screws is increased. Alternatively, in most servers, as the battery module is mounted together with other major components such as a motherboard, it is inconvenient that every time if the battery module is to be replaced or fixed, the user must open the lid of the electronic device.
Hence, there is an urgent need for solving the prior art problem for assembling and dissembling the battery module in a shorter time and easier way.


A plasma reactor is provided with two or more plasma generating electrodes which are installed in series inside a gas passage in a casing, with each plasma generating electrode being electrically controlled independently. The surface area of the conductor on each unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the upstream side of the gas passage is smaller than the surface area of the conductor on the unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the downstream side of the gas passage. Plasma can be generated between each of the unit electrodes by supplying each of the plasma generating electrodes with independently controlled electric power. The plasma reactor can efficiently react specific components contained in the gas passing through the gas passage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma reactor. More particularly, the invention relates to a plasma reactor which can reduce the electric power required for generating plasma and can efficiently react components contained in the gas passing through a gas passage.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to remove particulate matter contained in exhaust gas from a diesel engine and the like or to oxidize nitrogen monoxide (NO) into nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a plasma reactor equipped with plasma generating electrodes such as parallel plate-type electrodes, coaxial cylinder-type electrodes, or packed bed-type electrodes is used (see Patent Documents 1 to 3). When using such a plasma reactor, each plasma generating electrode installed in the plasma reactor is connected to one power supply, such as a pulse power supply.
The plasma generating electrodes used in such a plasma reactor have a ceramic dielectric installed between opposing electrodes (conductors). Plasma can be generated by applying an alternating or periodic pulse voltage between the opposing electrodes to produce a silent discharge. Patent Document 2, for example, discloses a plasma reactor having one reaction board (electrode) or two or more segmented reaction boards. Specifically, the patent specification shows a drawing in which a plurality of reaction boards (electrodes) are arranged on the surface of one ceramic dielectric. Patent Document 3 discloses a multi stage reactor having two or more reaction vessels installed in series, in which the reaction vessels on the downstream side are designed to be less energized than the reaction vessels on the upstream side.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-193441
(Patent Document 2) U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,368
(Patent Document 3) Japanese Patent No. 3089213


A device may detect a change in a connection being used for network access. The device may send a message, including a domain name, based on detecting the change in the connection. The device may receive a response from either a first device or a second device based on sending the message. The first device and the second device may be associated with the domain name and may have different network addresses. The device may selectively enable or disable a toll-free data service based on the response.

Content providers, such as online media companies, may wish to deliver content to network users. Network users may pay a network data usage fee to access the content. Some content providers may choose to subsidize the cost of network data usage, associated with the content, which would otherwise be paid by the network users accessing the content.

Enabling a toll-free data service based on a type of network connection


Methods are disclosed for depositing materials selectively and controllably from liquid, near-critical, and/or supercritical fluids to a substrate or surface controlling the location and/or thickness of material(s) deposited to the surface or substrate. In one exemplary process, metals are deposited selectively filling feature patterns (e.g., vias) of substrates. The process can be further used to control deposition of materials on sub-surfaces of composite or structured silicon wafers, e.g., for the deposition of barrier films on silicon wafer surfaces. Materials include, but are not limited to, overburden materials, metals, non-metals, layered materials, organics, polymers, and semiconductor materials. The instant invention finds application in such commercial processes as semiconductor chip manufacturing. In particular, selective deposition is envisioned to provide alternatives to, or decrease need for, such processes as Chemical Mechanical Planarization of silicon surfaces in semiconductor chip manufacturing due to selective filling and/or coating of pattern features with metals deposited from liquid, near-critical, or supercritical fluids.

Semiconductor chips used in a multitude of electronic devices are structured or composite substrates fabricated from materials including semiconductors, dielectrics, metals, metal oxides, and patterned films comprising these materials. For example, the critical circuitry and interconnects on semiconductor chips require deposition of metals including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, tungsten, tantalum, and ruthenium in pattern features, e.g., vias and trenches of the chip. The impetus to produce devices with higher component densities, enhanced operating speeds and/or efficiencies means smaller features and/or generally more complex geometries are required. As the footprint of critical feature patterns continues to decrease, efficient, optimum, and/or proper deposition of materials is not guaranteed using standard or established industry deposition technologies. Accordingly, a need exists for processes that selectively deposit materials, e.g., as layers, films (e.g., deposition of barrier films on silicon wafer surfaces for semiconductor chip manufacturing), and fillers or coatings to surfaces, sub-surfaces, feature patterns (e.g., vias), and/or other surfaces having complex geometries, e.g., voids (e.g., three-dimensional voids), and tunnels (e.g., interconnected tunnels).

Method and apparatus for selective deposition of materials to surfaces and substrates


Presented herein are a system and method for sharpening edges in a region. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for sharpening edges. The method comprises measuring differences between at least a value associated with a first pixel and a value associated with a second pixel of a plurality of pixels, and applying a sharpening mask to the plurality of pixels. The sharpening mask is a function of at least one of the measured differences, a first value associated with any one of the plurality of pixels, and a second value associated with any other of the pixels, thereby resulting in sharpened pixels.

Video signals typically include signals corresponding to different color components that make up the picture. For example, some video signals include luma (Y), chroma red (Cr), and chroma blue (Cb) color components. The signals correspond to pixel values for a grid of pixels representing the color component in the picture.
The video picture is formed by overlaying the pixel grids on a screen. However, the pixel grids must be overlayed in the proper positions relative to each other. If the pixel grids are not overlayed in the proper positions relative to each other, the picture will not appear properly. Additionally, edge sharpening can further aggravate the problem.
There are several reasons that can cause the pixel grids not to be overlayed in the proper positions relative to each other. For example, the video signals may not be properly synchronized. When the video signals are not properly synchronized, the pixel grids may have an offset with respect to one another when overlayed on the screen.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

System and method for aligning chroma pixels


A fixture device and method for uniformly and efficiently treating an article in a gaseous atmosphere. The fixture device provides a plurality of point contact support locations for supporting the article during the treatment. The fixture device and treatment method are especially useful in the plasma treatment of contact lenses to improve surface biocompatibility and hydrophilicity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to methods and devices for treating articles in a gaseous atmosphere. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to methods and devices for plasma treating ophthalmic lenses, especially contact lenses, to increase hydrophilicity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various treatments of articles in a gaseous atmosphere are known. For example, the treatment of articles in a plasma (i.e., ionized gas) atmosphere has been used to produce surface coatings or modify the surface of an article, so that the surface properties differ from the properties of the native material. Plasma surface treatments are especially useful in the production of ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,575, issued to Peyman, et al., on Jan. 26, 1982, discloses the treatment of the surfaces of soft contact lenses in an electrical glow discharge polymerization process. The atmosphere consists essentially of hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and hydrogen, hydrocarbons and an elemental halogen, and mixtures thereof. The lenses are supported in a ring structure having an arcuate slot in which the lens periphery rests. A second coating step is required in order to coat the lens periphery, because a peripheral portion of the lens is blocked by the support structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,844, issued to Yanagihar, et al., on Dec. 30, 1986, discloses an optical product having a thin surface film obtained by subjecting a mixed gas of oxygen and an alkene to plasma polymerization in the presence of the optical product. The optical product is supported on a supporting table placed inside the reaction vessel, and the exposed surface of the optical product is treated. Again, in this configuration, one half of the lens is treated and the other half is sheltered ("shadowed") from the reactive plasma.
While there have been numerous attempts at improving plasma surface treating processes, there remain problems with treatment uniformity and processing efficiency.

Method and apparatus for gaseous treatment


A reservation system for lodging has a first computer and a second computer, in which the first computer has data of available facilities and accepts user's input of lodging date and facility, and the second computer that accesses the first computer through a network and manages vacancy data of facilities. The second computer accesses a plurality of the first computers and their databases to search available facilities, and is capable of accessing other first computers for searching and reserving available facilities. Situation where reservation is not made even when a vacant room is available is prevented by accessing a plurality of the first computers.

An existing reservation site of a travel agency for reserving lodge at a hotel through Internet registers information on the number of vacant rooms allotted from hotels to be reserved to the travel agency system and takes reservations for lodge within the number of the assigned vacant rooms.
For these reasons, there are proposed a lodging reservation system for registering only lodging reservation according to a demand from a user terminal and for updating status of vacant rooms in databases of accommodations, a reservation registering device, and a programming technology for processing reservation register (refer to Patent Document 1).
Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-26987

TOYOKO INN IT SHUUKYAKU SOLUTION CO., LTD.


Air-meltable, castable, machinable, tough, silicon containing, chromium-nickel-iron alloys that are resistant to hot concentrated sulfuric acid and to abrasive or erosive action of grit or vapor bubbles in the acid. The alloys consist of, by weight, about 15% to about 25% nickel, from about 15% to about 26% chromium, from about 4.5% to about 8% silicon, from about 1% to about 4% copper, from about 0.3% to about 3% molybdenum, from about 0.5% to about 1.7% carbon, up to about 1.5% manganese, and the balance substantially iron plus the usual impurities and incidental tramp elements.

Though hundreds of metallic alloys have been developed and employed in the handling of sulfuric acid, relatively few of them are useful in handling hot concentrated sulfuric acid. There are instances in which high hardness or resistance to erosion or abrasion coupled with corrosion resistance is very desirable, such as when vapor bubbles and/or grit are present. The commercial hard alloys for concentrated sulfuric acid handling have been the two nickel base alloys disclosed by U.S. 2,938,786 and U.S. 2,938,787 as well as the high-nickel, cobalt-bearing, low-iron alloy disclosed by U.S. 3,758,296. These alloys are all quite expensive and very brittle.
In British Pat. No. 1,534,926 a broad range of alloy compositions are suggested but examples are only provided of low-nickel stainless steel alloys, said to have excellent resistance to concentrated sulfuric acid. In particular, Table 3 of that patent discloses alloys of 10-17.6% Cr, 15-20% Ni, 4.6-9% Si, 1-2% Cu and 0.8-1% Mo.
According to the '926 patent, the disclosed alloys, besides an austenitic character, may, under certain circumstances be partly ferritic. The '926 patent teaches that it is preferable to have a silicon content of 6.5-12to give completely satisfactory corrosion resistance and that generally the lower limit is 7% because at higher silicon contents (>11%) silicon-containing intermetallic phases, understood to be primarily silicides, are formed very rapidly at certain temperatures thereby reducing the workability of the steel, that is, the steel becomes very brittle.
While it is stated in the '926 patent that the steel can normally contain a maximum of 0.06% C., it is also taught that the carbon content should usually be lower, as for example a maximum of 0.02%. It is further taught that above 0.02% C. it is desirable that one or more carbide-forming elements as niobium, tantalum, zirconium, titanium or vanadium be added to give a total content of these elements within the range of 0.3-2%.
Thus, it has remained very desirable to enhance abrasion and erosion resistance of high silicon steels for use in hot concentrated sulfuric acid by means other than the precipitation of hard silicides or the partial transformation of the matrix to hard brittle ferritic phase.

Abrasion, erosion and corrosion resistant alloy


A short-term content buffer maintains segments of audio and/or video content and the content segments are identified with segment identifiers which enables management and playback of the content segments. In an embodiment, independent video content segments corresponding to a particular broadcast channel can be identified by associated content segment identifiers and the video content segments can be recorded together to generate a single recording of the content.

Digital video recorders are implemented as client devices to receive video and/or audio content in the form of broadcast and/or interactive television entertainment and information. A digital video recorder includes a hard disk memory so that a viewer can record multiple television programs and other content of interest to the viewer. A digital video recorder also provides a viewer with convenient functionality, such as the ability to pause the broadcast of a television program and return to watch the program, while still in progress, from the point at which it was paused.
To implement this functionality, a digital video recorder includes a pause buffer to record a current broadcast of a paused program, and to playback the broadcast for viewing from the beginning of the pause event when a viewer returns to continue watching the program. A pause buffer is typically configured as a circular, or ring, buffer on the hard disk memory and the amount of time which a television program can be delayed is dependent upon how much storage space is allocated for the pause buffer. When a pause buffer reaches capacity, such as after thirty minutes for example, the content corresponding to the beginning of a pause event will be written over. This example pause buffer is a sliding thirty minute recorder of the most recently displayed content.
Additionally, when a viewer changes from one broadcast channel to another, any content stored in the pause buffer is deleted (commonly referred to as "flushing" the pause buffer). A viewer can only access content maintained in the pause buffer for the duration of time that the viewer watches a particular channel without changing the channel. Further, conventional systems do not enable viewer management of the video content stored in a pause buffer, such as selecting which content in the pause buffer to record, or other viewer-input controls, such as fast-forward, rewind, and the like.
Accordingly, for television-based entertainment and information systems, there is a need for techniques to manage content temporarily stored in a short-term content buffer, such as in a pause buffer in a digital video recording system.

Manage content in a short-term content buffer with content identifiers


The present invention provides improved methods of sealing a bridge plug or the like in a pipe disposed in a well bore. The methods basically include the steps of preparing a hardenable epoxy sealing composition which hardens into a resilient solid mass having a high pipe surface bond strength, placing the epoxy composition into the pipe adjacent to the bridge plug therein and allowing the epoxy composition to harden.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improved methods of sealing bridge plugs in pipes disposed in well bores, and more particularly, to such methods wherein the sealant is highly resilient and has high bond strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mechanical bridge plugs are commonly utilized to provide isolation of a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore having a pipe string such as casing or a liner disposed therein. For example, in perforating casing in the zone and/or in stimulation treatments performed therein after perforations have been formed, a bridge plug is set in the casing above the zone. Because bridge plugs are mechanical and rigid after being set, when a pressure differential is exerted across the plug and the casing expands as a result of the pressure, the seal between the plug and the pipe is often lost which allows the plug to be moved within the pipe by the pressure differential.
Heretofore, in attempts to prevent the loss of seal and movement of a bridge plug, a quantity of a conventional Portland cement slurry has been placed in the pipe adjacent to the bridge plug and allowed to harden. However, when the pressure differential exerted on the bridge plug and the set cement column adjacent thereto reaches a sufficient level, the ability of the cement to maintain a bond to the pipe is overcome and the entire column comprised of bridge plug and set cement is moved in the pipe. This allows fluid to flow around the plug and cement which makes the drill-out of the plug and cement extremely difficult.
Thus, there is a need for improved methods of sealing a bridge plug in a pipe whereby the sealant used hardens into a highly resilient non-permeable mass which has a high pipe surface bond strength and can withstand pipe movements and high pressure differentials without failure.


Imidazopyridine compounds that contain an ether or thioether functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases. Methods of preparing the compounds and intermediates useful in the preparation of the compounds are also disclosed.

The first reliable report on the 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline ring system, Backman et al., J. Org. Chem. 15, 1278–1284 (1950) describes the synthesis of 1-(6-methoxy-8-quinolinyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline for possible use as an antimalarial agent. Subsequently, syntheses of various substituted 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines were reported. For example, Jain et al., J. Med. Chem. 11, pp. 87–92 (1968), synthesized the compound 1-[2-(4-piperidyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline as a possible anticonvulsant and cardiovascular agent. Also, Baranov et al., Chem. Abs. 85, 94362 (1976), have reported several 2-oxoimidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, and Berenyi et al., J. Heterocyclic Chem. 18, 1537–1540 (1981), have reported certain 2-oxoimidazo[4,5-c]quinolines.
Certain 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amines and 1- and 2-substituted derivatives thereof were later found to be useful as antiviral agents, bronchodilators and immunomodulators. These are described in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,338; 4,698,348; 4,929,624; 5,037,986; 5,268,376; 5,346,905; and 5,389,640, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Substituted 1H-imidazopyridine-4-amine compounds useful as immune response modifiers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,446,153; 5,494,916; 5,644,063; 6,525,064; 6,545,016; and 6,545,017. The compounds described in these patents do not have ether substitution at the 1-position. Certain 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amines that have amide, sulfonamide, and urea functionality at the 1-position are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,331,539; 6451,810; and 6,541,485.
Despite these recent discoveries of compounds that are useful as immune response modifiers, there is a continuing need for compounds that have the ability to modulate the immune response, by induction of cytokine biosynthesis or other mechanisms.


The present invention relates to small sample spots for MALDI targets and methods for producing the same. The sample spots are composed of a layer of matrix material and a layer of analyte. In some instances, the samples spots have diameters of no more than 50 micrometers or even smaller. The sample spots are deposited onto a MALDI target substrate using ultrasonic deposition from a nozzle.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry has proven to be a useful analytical tool in the fields of proteomics and genomics. In these fields, MALDI has been used for protein identification and characterization, peptide fingerprinting, and DNA sequencing. Samples that are commonly analyzed using MALDI include peptides, proteins, polymers, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides, tissue samples, and drugs.
Unfortunately, broader applications for MALDI mass spectrometry have been limited by the fact that detection sensitivity is restricted by sample handling and preparation techniques. Many of these limitations stem from the fact that current techniques for preparing sample spots on MALDI targets produce relatively large inhomogeneous sample spots. These large spots require a considerable amount of sample and often waste sample because only a small fraction of the sample spot is actually irradiated for ion generation during MALDI mass spectrometry. In addition, inhomogeneous sample spots may result in highly variable ion signals produced from a single sample spot.
The dried-droplet method is a well-known technique for creating sample spots on a MALDI target. In the dried-droplet method, a mixture of analyte and matrix solution is deposited in small volumes onto a MALDI target where a sample spot is left to dry and crystallize within a few minutes. The resulting sample spots are inhomogeneous spots having a spot size of about 4–5 mm2. Another technique commonly used to deposit sample spots on a MALDI target is electrospray deposition. In this technique, a small amount of matrix-analyte mixture is electrosprayed from a stainless-steel or glass capillary onto a grounded metal sample plate mounted a short distance away from the tip of the capillary. The spot size of sample spots deposited using electrospray deposition is typically about 100 μm or larger in diameter. Quill pen dispensation is another method for depositing sample spots on a MALDI target. Although quill pens have been used to produce sample spots having diameters as small as 75 micrometers using aqueous solutions, these pens are poorly suited for depositing small sample spots for MALDI applications because the saturated crystallized solutions used as matrix materials on a MALDI target tend to crystallize within and clog the quill pen tips.
More recently, attempts have been made to produce MALDI targets having small sample spots using piezoelectric microdispensers. Miliotis et al. have reported a method for producing MALDI targets using a piezoelectric microdispenser to apply sample spots to the target. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 2002, Vol. 16, pp. 117–126. However, even the reduced sample spot sizes achieved with these devices are typically at least 100 μm in diameter, and typically much larger. These larger spot sizes may be attributed to the mechanism of operation of the piezoelectric microdispensers, which relies on a cylindrical piezoelectric element surrounding a capillary to compress and expand the capillary, squeezing fluid from the capillary.
Meier et al. have reported the formation of a MALDI target using ink jet printing technology to deposit sample spots. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 2003, Vol. 17, pp. 2349–2353. The reported spot diameter for the ink jet printed sample spots was about 180–200 micrometers. However, due to problems with ink jet clogging, common MALDI solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform could not be used.
Thus, a need exists for a MALDI target composed of small homogeneous sample spots and methods for producing the same.

Deposition of samples and sample matrix for enhancing the sensitivity of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry


The present invention is directed to a seat and seat suspension assembly comprising a seat mounted to a seat supporting platform and suspension mechanism, the platform and suspension mechanism being rotationally mounted to a base by a pedestal so that the platform, suspension mechanism and seat may rotate through 360 degrees. The pedestal comprises two swivel housings, the first swivel housing being mounted in fixed position on the base and the second swivel housing being rotationally mounted to the first and supporting the suspension mechanism, platform and seat. A suspension spring and damper are associated with the suspension mechanism to enhance the ride characteristics of the seat, with the damper being positioned inside the pedestal and having one end connected to the first swivel housing and the other end connected to the suspension mechanism.

The present invention relates generally to seat equipment and more particularly to a swivel seat and seat suspension assembly for use in off the road vehicles, such as bulldozers, tractors and back hoes.
A variety of seat and seat suspension designs have been adapted to the specialized needs of off the road vehicles. In some of these vehicles, and particularly in the case of back hoes, it is important that the operator have the ability to swivel or rotate in the seat to face either end of the vehicle. It is desirable therefore that the seat has as much rotational capacity as possible, and preferably that it have the functionality to rotate through a full 360 degrees and even the functionality to continue rotation in the same direction through more than 360 degrees. In addition, because the cab or operator compartment may be relatively small, it is also important that the seat and the seat suspension assembly occupy as small an envelope or "footprint" as possible. The need for a compact design extends to the lowermost components of the assembly, so that the operator has sufficient leg and foot room as he or she rotates in the seat from front to back operating positions.
A need therefore exists for a small, compact and simple swivel seat and seat suspension assembly that is capable of a full rotational freedom while still affording the operator with enhanced ride characteristics.