An apparatus, program product and method utilize distributed coordinating members to distribute member-specific state data to subscribing members in a distributed computing system. Member-specific state data is associated with different subjects, and coordinating members are configured to manage state data associated with particular subjects such that a reporting member that needs to report member-specific state data associated with a particular subject forwards that state data to a coordinating member associated with that subject. Once received, the coordinating member then distributes the member-specific state data to any members that have subscribed to receive state data associated with that subject.

Distributed computing systems have found application in a number of different computing environments, particularly those requiring high performance and/or high availability and fault tolerance. In a distributed computing system, multiple computers connected by a network are permitted to communicate and/or share workload. Distributed computing systems support practically all types of computing models, including peer-to-peer and client-server computing.
One particular type of distributed computing system is referred to as a clustered computing system. "Clustering" generally refers to a computer system organization where multiple computers, or nodes, are networked together to cooperatively perform computer tasks. An important aspect of a computer cluster is that all of the nodes in the cluster present a single system image—that is, from the perspective of a client or user, the nodes in a cluster appear collectively as a single computer, or entity. In a client-server computing model, for example, the nodes of a cluster collectively appear as a single server to any clients that attempt to access the cluster.
Clustering is often used in relatively large multi-user computing systems where high performance and reliability are of concern. For example, clustering may be used to provide redundancy, or fault tolerance, so that, should any node in a cluster fail, the operations previously performed by that node will be handled by other nodes in the cluster. Clustering is also used to increase overall performance, since multiple nodes can often handle a larger number of tasks in parallel than a single computer otherwise could. Often, load balancing can also be used to ensure that tasks are distributed fairly among nodes to prevent individual nodes from becoming overloaded and therefore maximize overall system performance. One specific application of clustering, for example, is in providing multi-user access to a shared resource such as a database or a storage device, since multiple nodes can handle a comparatively large number of user access requests, and since the shared resource is typically still available to users even upon the failure of any given node in the cluster.
An important feature often required in clusters as well as other distributed computing systems is the distribution of state data among the various computing devices participating in the system. In a clustered computing system, for example, each node or member typically has locally-generated data that contributes to the overall "state" of the cluster. Much of this state data is specific to the member, but can be utilized by other members (which may include other nodes of the cluster and/or any clients that attempt to access the cluster).
The member-specific state data may related to practically any information that contributes to the overall state of the distributed computing system. For example, the state data may be performance-related, e.g., in terms of current processing throughput, load level, communications throughput. The state data may also be configuration- or capability-related, e.g., in terms of available services, available connections, endpoint configuration data, supported protocols.
In some instances, member-specific state data may be relatively static, and may not change significantly over time. Other member-specific state data may be relatively dynamic, and may only be interesting or useful as long as the member is active in the system. For example, performance-related member-specific state data may be used by a load balancing algorithm to determine the relative workloads of multiple nodes in a cluster, and thus enable tasks to be routed to individual nodes to efficiently balance the overall workload among the nodes.
Timely and reliable distribution of member-specific state data is often required to ensure reliable operation of a distributed computing system. Traditionally, such distribution has been handled by collecting the member-specific state data in a central location, e.g., in a single computing device in a distributed computing system. Individual members report their respective member-specific state data to the single computing system, and members that desire to receive such state data are permitted to "subscribe" to receive such state data. Changes to the state data reported by a particular member are then automatically distributed to any members that are subscribed to receive such changes. The single computing device that distributes the state data is then required to monitor all of the other members, and to update any state data and subscriptions if any of the members fail and become inaccessible.
The use of a single computing device, however, represents a single point of failure, which is often undesirable, particularly in high availability environments. In addition, a single computing device may present a scaling problem as the amount of state shared increases.
As such, a significant need has existed for a more reliable and scalable manner of managing and distributing member-specific state data among multiple members in a distributed computing system.

Subscription-based management and distribution of member-specific state data in a distributed computing system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of immobilizing a low pressure spool assembly including maintaining a body of the locking tool in the annular gas path, attaching a securing portion of the body across an aperture defined through an annular wall delimiting the gas path; positioning a stop connected to the body of the locking tool into a rotary path of a given one of the sets of blades of the low pressure spool assembly; and rotating the high pressure spool assembly thereby biasing a blade of the given set of blades of the low pressure spool assembly against the stop, thereby immobilizing the low pressure spool assembly. A locking tool and a method of performing engine maintenance are also provided.

To prevent premature corrosion of the engine components due to the salt contamination, routine desalination washes are usually required, particularly for aircrafts operated or stored close to salt water. Most available wash equipment is designed for engine performance recovery, requiring equipment that is designed to direct a predefined flow rate of cleaning fluid into the core of the engine with the engine running.
Some devices for cleaning a gas turbine engine include several nozzles to be able to clean the blades of the fan and to allow the liquid to penetrate through the fan blades and reach the compressor. Such devices may be costly and the procedure may be labour-intensive.

Method of immobilizing low pressure spool and locking tool therefore


A fitness bar can house free-moving weights. The movement and speed of the weights can be controlled by a flow impeder.

Individuals with problem areas such as a weak core, poor balance, lack of flexibility and muscle tone can benefit from regular exercise. In particular, such individuals can strengthen their core and improve balance, flexibility and muscle tone through weight training.
Exercise equipment varies greatly in shape, size, complexity and purpose. For example, dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells have been used for years by people to build strength and muscle. Various numbers of exercises can also be used in connection with even the simple piece of equipment like a jump rope or dumbbell.
It has also been appreciated that dynamic workouts that train the body through a full range of motion can benefit from a simple weighted. More beneficially, however, the bar can have moving parts in it, which may further activate and engage muscles to accommodate for the moving parts. For example, the moving parts cause shifts in weight that the user will have to expend energy in order to maintain a grip on the bar or maintain balance.
It is contemplated, however, that moving weights, if too aggressive, can cause damage to the body due to sudden jerking or impact. Therefore, it may be beneficial to have a bar with moving weights but where the movements of the weights are controlled (e.g., not shifting too abruptly from one end to another), to minimize impact and physical harm.

Fitness bar with motion internal weights


Compounds of the formula:

TGF-β denotes a family of proteins, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3, which are pleiotropic modulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, wound healing, extracellular matrix production and immunosuppression. Other members of this superfamily include activins, inhibins, bone morphogenetic proteins, growth and differentiation factors and Müllerian inhibiting substance.
TGF-β1 transduces signals through two highly conserved single transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, the type I (ALK5) and type II TGF-β receptors. Upon ligand induced oligomerization, the type II receptor hyperphosphorylates serine/threonine residues in the GS region of the ALK5, which leads to activation of the ALK5 by creating a binding site for Smad proteins. The activated ALK5 in turn phosphorylates Smad2 and Smad3 proteins at the C-terminal SSXS-motif thereby causing their dissociation from the receptor and heteromeric complex formation with Smad4. Smad complexes translocate to the nucleus, assemble with specific DNA-binding co-factors and co-modulators to finally activate transcription of extracellular matrix components and inhibitors of matrix-degrading proteases.
Activins transduce signals in a manner similar to TGF-β. Activins bind to serine/thereonine kinase, the activin type II receptor (ActRIIB), and the activated type II receptor hyperphosphorylates serine/threonine residues in the GS region of the ALK4. The activated ALK4 in turn phosphorylates Smad2 and Smad3. The consequent formation of a hetero-Smad complex with Smad4 results in the activin-induced regulation of gene transcription.
Numerous experimental animal studies demonstrate an association between glomerular expression of TGF-β and fibrosis, including the Thy-1 rat model of proliferative glomerulonephritis, anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in rabbits, and the 5/6 nephrectomy rat model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, as has been reviewed recently (e.g., Bitzer, M. et al., Kidney Blood Press. Res. 21:1-12 (1998)). Neutralizing antibody to TGF-β improves glomerular histology in the Thy-1 nephritis model (e.g., Border, W. A. et al., Nature 346: 371-374 (1990)).
Hyperglycemic conditions increase TGF-β mRNA and protein synthesis in both murine proximal tubule cells and human mesangial cells (e.g., Wahab, N. A. et al., Biochem. J. 316:985-992 (1996); Rocco, M. V. et al., Kidney Int. 41: 107-114 (1992)). Diabetic patients with early kidney disease show increased accumulation of TGF-β mRNA and protein within the glomerulus (e.g., Yoshioka, K. et al., Lab. Invest. 68: 154-163 (1993)). In kidneys with chronic renal interstitial fibrosis, the hallmarks are thickened tubular basement membranes and an expanded interstitial compartment, with interstitial fibrosis characterized by an increase in collagens I, III, V, VII, and fibronectin (e.g., Eddy, A. A., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 7: 2495-2508 (1996)).
TGF-β gene expression and protein production are increased in a variety of animal models of pulmonary fibrosis including bleomycin, silica, asbestos, and radiation (e.g., Phan, S. H. and Kunkel, S. L., Exp. Lung Res. 18: 29-43 (1992); Williams, A. O. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 142: 1831-1840 (1993); Rube, C. E. et al., Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 47: 1033-1042 (2000)). Coincident increase in TGF-β1 protein and collagen gene expression in adjacent tissue slices from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is observed in human pulmonary fibrotic disease (e.g., Broekelmann, T. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:6642-6646 (1991)). Increased TGF-β production has been documented in patients with sarcoidosis, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and radiation-induced fibrosis (e.g., Khalil, N. et al., Am. J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol. 14:131-138 (1996); Jagirdar, J. et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 105:1197-1203 (1997)). Anti-TGF-β antibodies and TGF-β-soluble receptors could partially inhibit fibrosis in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis rodent models (e.g., Giri, S. N. et al., Thorax 48: 959-966 (1993); Wang, Q. et al., Thorax 54: 805-812 (1999)). Tobacco smoke has been implicated as one of the most important factors that can cause small airway disease followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (e.g., Wright, J. M. et al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 146: 240-262 (1992)). COPD is a slowly progressive and irreversible disorder characterized by the functional abnormality of airway obstruction. TGF-β has been hypothesized to be involved in airway remodeling found in chronic airway inflammatory disorders such as COPD (e.g., Takizawa, H. Int. J. Mol. Med. 1: 367-378 (1998); Ning, W. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:14895-14900 (2004)).
Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the major source of extracellular matrix proteins in hepatic fibrosis. Extracellular matrix production by activated hepatic stellate cells is markedly increased through the action of TGF-β1 (e.g., Friedman, S. L., Prog. Liver Dis. 14: 101-130 (1996); Pietrangelo, A., Semin. Liver Dis. 16:13-30 (1996)). Transgenic mice that overexpress TGF-β1 in the liver develop hepatic fibrosis as well as extrahepatic pathologies such as renal fibrosis (e.g., Sanderson, N. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:2572-2576 (1995)).
TGF-β1 and its receptors are overexpressed in injured blood vessels and in fibroproliferative vascular lesions leading to overproduction of extracellular matrix (e.g., Saltis, J. et al., Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 23: 193-200 (1996); McCaffrey, T. A. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 96: 2667-2675 (1995)).
Anti-TGF-β antibodies reduce scar formation and improve the cytoarchitecture of the neodermis in rats (e.g., Shah, M., J. Cell. Sci. 108: 985-1002 (1995)), improve healing of corneal wounds in rabbits (e.g., Moller-Pedersen, T., Curr. Eye Res. 17:736-747 (1998)), and accelerate wound healing of gastric ulcers in rats (e.g., Ernst, H., Gut 39: 172-175 (1996)).
Radiation fibrosis is a frequent sequel of therapeutic or accidental radiation overexposure in normal human tissues. TGF-β1 plays a central role in the initiation, development, and persistence of radiation fibrosis, as has been reviewed recently (e.g., Martin, M. et al., Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 47:277-290 (2000)).
Organ transplantation is complicated in many instances by chronic rejection and for some organs such as the kidney, it is the major forms of graft loss. In human patients, chronic rejection of lung and kidney transplants is associated with increased expression of TGF-β within the tissue (e.g., El-Gamel, A. et al., Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. 13: 424-430 (1998); Shihab, F. S. et al., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 6:286-294 (1995)).
TGF-β is implicated in peritoneal adhesions (e.g., Saed, G. M. et al., Wound Repair Regeneration 7: 504-510 (1999)). The peritoneal and sub-dermal fibrotic adhesions could be prevented by inhibitors of ALK5 and/or ALK4.
The tumor cells and the stromal cells within the tumors in late stages of various cancers generally overexpress TGF-β. This leads to stimulation of angiogenesis and cell motility, suppression of the immune system, and increased interaction of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix (e.g., Hojo, M. et al., Nature 397: 530-534 (1999)). Consequently, the tumor cells become more invasive and metastasize to distant organs (e.g., Maehara, Y. et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 17: 607-614 (1999); Picon, A. et al., Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 7:497-504 (1998)).
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the major physiological inhibitor of both tissue-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Elevated levels of PAI-1 are associated with thrombosis and vascular disease, suggesting that high plasma PAI-1 may promote a hypercoagulable state by disrupting the natural balance between fibrinolysis and coagulation (e.g., Vaughan, D. E., J. Invest. Med. 46: 370-376 (1998)). It is known that TGF-β stimulates the expression of PAI-1 (e.g., Dennler, S. et al., EMBO J. 17: 3091-3100 (1998)). Accordingly, inhibition of the production of PAI-1 with an inhibitor of the TGF-β signaling pathway could produce a novel fibrinolytic therapy.
Activin signaling and overexpression of activin is linked to pathological disorders that involve extracellular matrix accumulation and fibrosis (e.g., Matsuse, T. et al., Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 13:17-24 (1995); Inoue, S. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 205:441-48 (1994); Matsuse, T. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 148:707-713 (1996); De Bleser et al., Hepatology 26:905-912 (1997); Pawlowski, J. E., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 100:639-648 (1997); Sugiyama, M. et al., Gastroenterology 114:550-558 (1998); Munz, B. et al., EMBO J. 18:5205-5215 (1999)), inflammatory responses (e.g., Rosendahl, A. et al., Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 25:60-68 (2001), cachexia or wasting (Matzuk, M. M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acd. Sci. USA 91:8817-8821 (1994); Coerver, K. A. et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 10:534-543 (1996); Cipriano, S. C. et al., Endocrinology 141:2319-2327 (2000)), diseases or pathological responses in the central nervous system (e.g., Logan, A. et al., Eur. J. Neurosci. 11:2367-2374 (1999); Logan, A. et al., Exp. Neurol. 159:504-510 (1999); Masliah, E. et al., Neurochem. Int. 39:393-400 (2001); De Groot, C. J. A. et al., J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 58:174-187 (1999); John, G. R. et al., Nat. Med. 8:1115-1121 (2002)) and hypertension (e.g., Dahly, A. J. et al., Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 283: R757-767 (2002)). Studies have shown that TGF-β and activin can act synergistically to induce extracellular matrix production (e.g., Sugiyama, M. et al., Gastroenterology 114;550-558 (1998)).
Therefore, it becomes evident that inhibition of ALK5 and/or ALK4 phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 by the preferred compounds of this invention could treat and prevent disorders involving these signaling pathways.
WO 00/61576 and US 2003/0149277 A1 disclose triarylimidazole derivatives and their use as ALK5 inhibitors. WO 01/62756 A1 discloses pyridinylimidazole derivatives and their use as ALK5 inhibitors. WO 02/055077 A1 discloses use of imidazolyl cyclic acetal derivatives as ALK5 inhibitors. And, also, WO 03/087304 A2 discloses tri-substituted heteroaryls and their use as ALK5 and/or ALK4 inhibitors.

2-pyridyl substituted imidazoles as ALK5 and/or ALK4 inhibitors

Abstract: Compounds of the formula:

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, A1 and A2 are as defined herein, which are used advantageously in inhibiting the TGF-β and/or activin signaling pathway in mammals.

EWHA University Industry Collaboration Foundation


A separable two-component drinking system comprising an upper component with a tapering side wall and a cylindrical lower axial extension, the side wall and the lower extension having a common central axis; and a lower component with a generally annular lateral extension and an upper aperture for the receipt of the axial extension during use, the lower component and the upper component sharing the same common central axis when coupled for use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a separable two-component drinking system and more particularly pertains to facilitating the separation, stacking and storing of pluralities of components of drinking vessels such as yards of ale.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of drinking vessels of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, drinking vessels of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of stacking drinking vessels by conventional methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,207 to Breslow discloses a game apparatus. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,569 to Bolte discloses drinking vessels.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe separable two-component drinking system that allows facilitating the separation, stacking and storing of pluralities of components of drinking vessels such as yards of ale.
In this respect, the separable two-component drinking system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of facilitating the separation, stacking and storing of pluralities of components of drinking vessels such as yards of ale.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved separable two-component drinking system which can be used for facilitating the separation, stacking and storing of pluralities of components of drinking vessels such as yards of ale. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A method of fabricating a carbon allotrope is disclosed. The method includes forming an intermediate carbon template from a carbon feedstock; and creating a pressure and temperature in the carbon template suitable for fabrication of the carbon allotrope from the intermediate carbon template. The pressure and temperature may be created from a shockwave resulting from collapse of a bubble formed during a bubble cavitation process.

The present disclosure relates generally to carbon allotrope fabrication and, more particularly, to a method for forming high strength carbon allotropes from common carbon materials.
New carbon allotrope families have been discovered. These new carbon families may include amorphous-carbon, M-carbon, C8-carbon, W-carbon, T-carbon, and Z-carbon, for example. These new allotropes have hardness comparable to the hardness of diamond as well as distinguishing energy bandgap energies. Current methods of forming these carbon allotropes from graphite or fullerene or carbon nanotubes require high pressures and high temperatures.

Method for fabricating carbon allotropes


Disclosed are methods and systems for generating digital fantasy sports memorabilia including: providing a digital fantasy sports memorabilia signor with a digital fantasy sports photograph, a digital fantasy sports jersey, or a combination thereof; receiving at least one of an electronic signature or an electronic written message from the fantasy sports digital memorabilia signor to be embedded in the digital fantasy sports photograph, the digital fantasy sports jersey, or the combination thereof; embedding the at least one of an electronic signature or an electronic written message from the digital fantasy sports memorabilia signor into the digital fantasy sports photograph, the digital fantasy sports jersey, or a combination thereof to form the generated digital fantasy sports memorabilia; sending the generated digital fantasy sports memorabilia including the electronic signature and the electronic written message to a verification service to verify authenticity of the electronic signature and electronic written message in the generated digital fantasy sports memorabilia; and delivering the generated fantasy sports memorabilia to a digital fantasy sports receiver.

Celebrities and/or athletes attempt to monetize their "fame" (e.g., their talent, access, status, attention, etc.) in a variety of ways. These ways can include the creation of content, such as signed memorabilia, etc. Markets for celebrity memorabilia, e.g., signed sports equipment, autographed cards, jerseys, pictures, etc., have developed over the years. However, despite the availability of companies that evaluate and certify memorabilia, an ever-present danger of fraud still exists. Such memorabilia fraud can discourage fans from purchasing celebrity memorabilia.
In light of the above, there exists a need for an effective and low-maintenance system and method to ensure authenticity of celebrity memorabilia.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for replaying a voice message and displaying a signed digital photograph contemporaneously


A sealing structure permits easy fitting of the insertion member into the reception member and that prevents damage to the insertion member and the reception member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sealing structure using an O-ring for preventing fluid leakage.
2. Description of the Invention
Various sealing structures have been developed to prevent leakage of hydrogen from a hydrogen tank (storage body) mounted in a fuel cell vehicle that stores high pressure hydrogen inside or prevent leakage of oil from a section of a hydraulically-operated apparatus which makes reciprocating movement.
For example, the hydrogen tank has a cylindrical outer shape and has an end provided with a cylindrical connector portion (reception member) for a valve body (insertion member) to be inserted in. The connector portion has an inner circumferential surface with an inner threaded portion formed therein. The valve body has an outer circumferential surface with an outer threaded portion formed thereon. When the connector portion is fitted into the valve body by engaging those portions with each other, an annular accommodation region is formed for accommodating an O-ring to prevent leakage of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank. Further, in some cases, a back-up ring or rings are fitted inside the accommodation region to prevent damage to the O-ring caused by the O-ring being caught in a clearance between the connector portion and the valve body.
Japanese Patent No. 3543617 discloses a sealing device including a shaft (insertion member), a shaft hole (reception member), a sealing ring (O-ring), a back-up ring. An annular attachment groove is formed in either one of the shaft and the shaft hole with the sealing ring and the back-up ring fitted in the attachment groove. When a pressure is applied to the attachment groove from a higher pressure side, there is a clearance between an inner wall face, on a lower pressure side, of the attachment groove and a surface, on the lower pressure side, of the back-up ring. According to the sealing device of Japanese Patent No. 3543617, it is possible to prevent damage to the sealing ring and thereby favorably maintain sealing performances.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-161983 discloses a sealing device including a shaft (insertion member) and a housing (reception member) coaxially fitted with each other, two back-up rings, and a sealing ring (O-ring) sandwiched between the two back-up rings. The sealing ring and the back-up rings are fitted inside an annular attachment groove formed in either one of the shaft and the housing. Each back-up ring has a taper formed to come in total contact with and abut on each of tapers formed at both end portions of the attachment groove. According to the sealing device of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-161983, it is possible to convert a pressure in the axial direction applied to each of the back-up rings into a radially outward force and a radially inward force to allow the back-up rings to fill in a clearance between the shaft and the housing and thereby prevent the O-ring from being caught in the clearance and being damaged.
In the sealing devices of Japanese Patent No. 3543617 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-161983, however, the annular attachment groove is formed only in either one of the insertion member and the reception member. Accordingly, there arises a problem that the insertion member and the reception member might collide with each other to be damaged when the insertion member is inserted into the reception member.
For example, in the sealing device (sealing structure) of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-161983, as shown in FIG. 7A, a shaft (insertion member) 8 has an annular attachment groove 13. An O-ring 10 and two back-up rings 11, 12 are fitted into the annular attachment groove 13 and then the shaft 8 is inserted into a housing (reception member) 9.
In general, the outer diameter of the shaft 8 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 9 in cross section in consideration of ease of fitting of the shaft 8 into the housing 9 and manufacturing errors. However, it is difficult to insert the shaft 8 into the housing 9 with the central axes of the shaft 8 and the housing 9 in complete alignment to prevent the collision of the shaft 8 with the housing 9.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the shaft 8 of the sealing device is fitted into the housing 9, there is a high risk of the collision of the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 8 with the inner circumferential surface S of the housing 9, resulting in damage to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 8 and to the inner circumferential surface S of the housing 9, that is, damage to a portion of the inner circumferential surface S of the housing 9 that corresponds to an accommodation region FI for accommodating an O-ring 10. This will cause the problem of insufficient sealing of the clearance by the O-ring 10, resulting in fluid leakage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing structure that permits easy fitting of the insertion member into the reception member and that prevents damage to the insertion member and the reception member.

Abstract: The insertion member includes a first larger-diameter columnar portion, a first smaller-diameter columnar portion, and a first step portion.

Abstract: The reception member includes a second larger-diameter cylindrical portion, a second smaller-diameter cylindrical portion, and a second step portion.

Abstract: An accommodation region for accommodating an O-ring is defined by an outer circumferential surface of the first smaller-diameter columnar portion, an outer surface of the first step portion, an inner circumferential surface of the second larger-diameter cylindrical portion, and an inner surface of the second step portion.


A personal digital assistant (PDA) detects its position by a two-axis acceleration sensor provided therein. While the PDA is within a communicable range where the PDA can communicate with the printer, a position of the PDA, which is located at time when the position of the PDA is detected, is recorded as an origin point and the origin point is periodically updated to the detected position. When the PDA moves to a position (current position) through a position which is out of the communicable range of the printer, guidance information for guiding the PDA into the communicable range of the printer is created based on a relative positional relationship between the current position and the origin point, which is recorded immediately before the PDA moves to a position out of the communicable range, and then the guidance information is displayed on the PDA.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method for guiding a wireless communication device into a communicable range where the wireless communication device can achieve data communication with a communication target, and a wireless communication device that creates information used to place the wireless communication device back within the communicable range when the wireless communication device moves to a position out of the communicable range, using the above-described method.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, Bluetooth® wireless technology is becoming widely used as a wireless communication system for enabling short-range wireless data communication between various devices. For example, wireless data communication is implemented between stationary electronic devices, such as desktop personal computers, printers and scanners, between portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and notebook computers, or between the above-described stationary electronic devices and the above-described portable electronic devices.
The Bluetooth® wireless technology can carry out communication within a relatively short range (approximately between 10 to 100 meters in one-to-one communication) at low power consumption and a middle speed (approximately 1 Mbps). Further, the Bluetooth® wireless technology achieves downsizing of a communication module and excellent connectability between devices, especially between devices of different types.
Accordingly, the Bluetooth® wireless technology has been applied to various devices, mainly mobile terminals, such as cellular phones and PDAs, and is becoming increasingly common as one of the future mainstream wireless data communication systems. Because the Bluetooth® wireless technology achieves data communication at low power consumption and a downsized communication module, the communicable range in a one-to-one communication is as short as approximately 10 to 100 meters. Therefore, it often and easily happens that a Bluetooth® equipped terminal moves to a position out of the communicable range while carrying out the wireless communication with the other Bluetooth® equipped terminal.
There have been various methods for placing a wireless communication terminal back within a communicable range of a communication target when the wireless communication terminal moves to a position out of the communicable range of a communication target, in wireless communication technology other than the Bluetooth®. Those methods have been put into practical use. For example, there has been known a method such that, in wireless communication between a base station and a terminal, a distance between the terminal and the base station and a direction toward the base station from the terminal are displayed on a display of the terminal by detecting an electric field strength of radio waves from the base station.
However, it is difficult to implement the conventional guiding system using the electric field strength in the Bluetooth® wireless communication system. Under the present circumstances, manufacturers, who manufacture Bluetooth® wireless communication devices, purchase RF modules, baseband modules, firmware ROMs (which are recently integrated into a one-chip), and protocol stack software for controlling the modules, and create various applications by using the protocol stack API (application program interface) to control Bluetooth® modules.
The protocol stack is standardized in its detail. The protocol stack offers a means for controlling a power of radio waves of a device to control a lower module by an application or to obtain data from the lower module. However, the protocol stack does not include a means for controlling other controls and obtaining other data. Accordingly, information as to the electric field strength cannot be obtained by controlling the Bluetooth® module via an application layer. Accordingly, the conventional guiding method using the electric field strength cannot be applied to the Bluetooth® wireless system.

Method for guiding wireless communication device into communicable range and wireless communication device


A low-profile motor includes a rotor yoke having a rotor magnet on its inner or outer surface and being rotationally supported on a motor base via a shaft, and a stator core constituted of a plurality of T-shaped winding parts each having an end opposed to the rotor magnet. On the motor base formed with a hole for supporting the rotor yoke via the shaft, the plurality of T-shaped winding parts are cut like tongues along the radial direction of the hole, and the T-shaped winding parts are each bent such that their ends are opposed to the rotor magnet. Thus, it is possible to readily form the T-shaped winding parts, eliminate the need for mounting the T-shaped winding parts, and reduce the number of parts and steps. This technique enables it to efficiently form an inexpensive low-profile motor for a magnetic disk unit and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a conventional low-profile motor used for a magnetic disk unit or the like, a rotator unit A is configured such that a rotor yoke 2 is fixed to a shaft 1 and a rotor magnet 3 are attached to the inner surface of the rotor yoke 2. A bearing unit B is constituted of a radial bearing 4 for supporting the shaft 1 in the radial direction and a thrust bearing 5 for supporting the shaft 1 in the axial direction. The bearing unit B is fit and fixed into a hole 7a of a cylindrical motor mounting part 7 which is formed on a motor base 6, the inner edge of a stator core 8 is bonded and fixed to a step 7b on the outer surface of the motor mounting part 7, and ends 9a of a plurality of T-shaped winding parts 9 of the stator core 8 are opposed to the rotor magnets 3, respectively. With this configuration, by energizing windings 10 on the T-shaped winding parts 9, a magnetic field is generated on the stator core 8, the rotor magnets 3 are excited, and a running torque can be generated on the rotor yoke 2.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the stator core 8, the T-shaped winding parts 9 extend radially from a ring part fit onto the motor mounting part 7 and the arc-shaped ends 9a of the T-shaped winding parts 9 are arranged in the circumferential direction. Conventionally, the stator core 8 is formed of a stack of stator plates. The stacking step and the step of mounting the stator core 8 on the motor mounting part are complicated and time consuming.
The present invention is devised to solve the problem and has as its object the provision of a low-profile motor in which a stator core can be readily formed and mounted.


An arithmetic operation unit receives a request to update a first data group during restoration using first history information and generates second history information indicating a history of updates. The arithmetic operation unit predicts a time taken until completion of restoration using the second history information on the basis of an amount of the second history information. The arithmetic operation unit compares the predicted time with a threshold and limits at least part of updates of the first data group during the restoration using the second history information on the basis of the comparison result.

At present, the information processing apparatus, such as a computer, is used in various kinds of data processing. In the system for managing data, there is a case where a copy of data stored in a storage device is also stored in another storage device. In this case, even if one of the storage devices fails, it is possible to continue processing using the data stored in the other storage device. For example, there is a system which makes a database redundant by storing the database having the same contents in a plurality of storage devices and by synchronizing each database.
In this system, if one of the storage devices fails, it is no longer possible to use the database stored in this storage device, and therefore, the system is operated by the single database. In this case, if the single database is no longer available because of a failure etc., it is no longer possible to continue data processing. Because of this, it is considered to restore the contents of the database during suspension of use to the contents at the same time point as that of the database in use and to resume the synchronized operation. The restoration method of a database includes methods as follows.
For example, the database is restored by acquiring a transaction log storing a history of updates of the database in use and by performing the transaction log again on the database to be restored after complete suspension of the use of the database in use. Further, for example, there is also proposed a restoration method not using the transaction log. In this proposal, when a first database system is referred to or updated, the record that is referred to or updated is duplicated in a second database system to be restored, and thus, the database of the second database system is restored (for example, see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-262068).
As described above, there is a case where a second data group stored in a second storage device is restored using history information indicating the history of updates of a first data group (e.g., database) stored in a first storage device. At this time, it is considered to restore the second data group while receiving updates of the first data group. However, in this case, there is a problem of a possibility that the time taken until completion of the restoration of the second data group is increased.
For example, if the first data group is updated during restoration of the second data group using the history information up to a first time point, history information corresponding to a difference between the data at the first time point and the data at a second time point (first difference) may be generated. Consequently, after restoration of the second data group up to the first time point, the second data group is restored up to the second time point using the first difference. Then, there may be generated history information corresponding to a difference between the data at the second time point and the data at a third time point (second difference) during the restoration. In other words, until there is no longer a difference in history information, a new difference is applied sequentially.
However, a large amount of updates may be generated during application of the first difference. These updates are stored in the second difference. If the second difference includes a large amount of updates, the application time of the second difference becomes long. Consequently, the amount of updates of the first data group may also increase within the application time of the second difference. Because of this, there is further a possibility that the application time of the next difference (third difference) also becomes long. If this is repeated and the application time of each difference becomes long, it takes time until completion of restoration of the second data group. If the operation using the single data group becomes long, the possibility is increased that it is no longer possible to continue processing at the time of occurrence of a failure etc.

Information processing system and data update control method


An olefin oligomerization catalyst comprises at least one oxide selected from alumina and silica.cndot.alumina having a sulfate ion supported thereon. The amount of the sulfate ion contained in the catalyst is desirably in the range of 0.3 to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the alumina and/or silica.cndot.alumina and the sulfate ion. The olefin oligomerization catalyst can be readily prepared by bringing a sulfuric acid aqueous solution or an ammonium sulfate aqueous solution into contact with at least one compound selected from alumina, silica alumina and their precursors, followed by drying and calcining. Further, an olefin oligomerization catalyst comprises at least one oxide selected from alumina and silica.cndot.alumina on which a transition metal oxide is further supported in addition to the sulfate ion. By the use of the catalyst, a lower olefin produced in, for example, a petroleum refining process can be converted into an oligomer of high value added.

As solid catalysts for olefin oligomerization, there are known solid acid catalysts, such as solid phosphoric acid, silica alumina and zeolite, and catalysts wherein a transition metal is supported on silica, alumina, silica.cndot.alumina or active carbon (see: "Industrial Catalyst Reaction I", Catalyst Course Vol. 8, 1985, published by Kodansha, "Catalyst Reaction (3), Polymerization", Catalyst Industrial Course Vol. 8, 1977, published by Chijinshokan).
Examples of olefin oligomerization processes using catalysts having alumina or silica alumina as a carrier include: a process using a catalyst wherein nickel sulfide is supported on a carrier of silica, alumina or silica.cndot.alumina, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3489/1974; a process using a catalyst wherein nickel oxide and cobalt sulfate and/or magnesium sulfate are supported on alumina, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 30044/1975; a process using a nickel oxide-aluminum phosphate catalyst containing a small amount of alumina, silica or silica.cndot.alumina, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 30046/1975; and a process using a catalyst obtained by allowing a carrier of alumina, silica or silica.cndot.alumina to support thereon a nickel compound capable of being converted into nickel oxide by calcining and any of nitrate, sulfate and halide of a metal selected from Ca, Mg, Cd, Co, Zn, Al, Fe, Zr and Mn, or sulfate or halide of Ni, followed by calcining at 300.degree. to 700.degree. C., as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 85506/1973.
Further, there have been proposed the following processes: an olefin oligomerization process using a catalyst wherein Ni.sup.2+ cation is introduced into silica.cndot.alumina by means of cation exchange, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 143830/1985; and a C.sub.2-6 olefin oligomerization process using a catalyst obtained by treating a supported composition wherein an oxide of a transition metal (M) selected from Ni, Co, Cr and Pd is supported on an acid oxide (e.g., alumina, silica.cndot.alumina, zeolite, diatomaceous earth, silica.cndot.titania and silica.cndot.magnesia), with a halogen-containing alkylaluminum compound, the atomic ratio of Al derived from the aluminum compound to the transition metal M (Al/M) being 0.5 to 10, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 151136/1986.
Furthermore, there are known other olefin oligomerization processes, such as a process in which a C.sub.4-10 olefin-containing raw material is brought into contact with amorphous silica.cndot.alumina having an alumina content of 10 to 50% by weight, a surface area of 50 to 600 m.sup.2 /g and a mean pore diameter of 10 to 100 .ANG. under the reaction conditions of a temperature of 150.degree. to 400.degree. C. and a pressure of 30 to 100 kg/cm.sup.2 -G, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 434/1993; a process in which a C.sub.4-10 olefin-containing raw material is brought into contact with a catalyst having 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of a rare earth metal supported on amorphous silica.cndot.alumina, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 39412/1994; and a process in which a material containing a C.sub.4 olefin of normal structure as its main component is subjected to a reaction by the use of a nickel oxide support type catalyst obtained by impregnating silica.cndot.alumina, which has been preliminarily heat treated at not lower than 600.degree. C., with a nickel salt solution to allow the silica.cndot.alumina to support 3 to 15% by weight (in terms of Ni) of nickel oxide, under the reaction conditions of a temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C., a pressure of 20 to 100 kg/cm.sup.2 -G and LHSV of 0.1 to 5.0 hr.sup.-1, to obtain a C.sub.8 olefin having a degree of branching of not higher than 1.5, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 287227/1994.
These conventional catalysts, however, are not always satisfactory in oligomerization of an olefin due to their poor selectivity of dimerization and low activity. In addition, when an olefin oligomer is used, for example, as material for a phthalic acid plasticizer to be blended with polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, the olefin oligomer is desired to have a low degree of branching, i.e., few side chains. The above conventional process, however, are not always successful in obtaining a desired olefin oligomer having a sufficiently low degree of branching.

Olefin oligomerization catalyst, process for preparing the same, and olefin oligomerization process using the same


A post-processing apparatus that is set beside an image forming apparatus and applies staple processing to sheets subjected to image formation and folds the sheets to manufacture a booklet includes a hooking control mechanism that is provided on the opposite side of center folding rollers across a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle in a stapler direction to prevent a bent staple from hooking on an edge of an anvil.

1. Field of the Related Art
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs staple processing, the sheet post-processing apparatus including a hooking control mechanism that prevents a staple from hooking on an edge of an anvil.
2. Description of the Related Art
A post-processing apparatus that is set beside an image forming apparatus, applies staple processing to sheets subjected to image formation, and folds the sheets to manufacture a booklet has been developed (e.g., JP-A-2005-22175).
This post-processing apparatus ties up sheets subjected to image formation in a sheet bundle including a predetermined number of sheets, aligns the sheets to staple the sheet bundle in the center of the sheets, and folds the sheet bundle by letting the sheet bundle to pass between a pair of center folding rollers to manufacture a booklet.
In the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus, there is a problem in that, in conveying the sheet bundle to the center folding rollers after the staple processing, a staple hooks on an edge of an anvil to prevent smooth conveyance. There is also a problem in that the sheets are scratched because the sheets are conveyed in contact with the edge of the anvil.


Radiation-curable compositions, and methods of making the same, for providing a wide variety of substrates with a durable, colored coating or colorant are disclosed. The color is at least in part provided by chromophore molecules that are covalently bonded to other components within the radiation-curable composition. A telecommunication element having a durable color identifying polymeric coating thereon is also disclosed. The telecommunication element comprises an elongated communication transmission medium, such as an optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon, and a radiation-cured polymeric coating having an identifying color applied on at least a portion of the transmission medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to colored, radiation-curable compositions for use in a wide variety of applications, including colored, radiation-curable coating compositions for telecommunications elements, such as optical fibers and optical fiber ribbons, and colored, radiation-curable ink compositions for other applications, such as textile, electronics, and printing applications. More particularly, the present invention relates to colored, radiation-curable compositions for producing a cured, colored coating on a substrate, such as a telecommunications element, the cured compositions having an identifying color provided by chromophore-containing compounds that are covalently bonded to other components within the cured composition.
2. Description of Related Art
For many years now, optical fibers have been used as a reliable transmission medium in telecommunications cables. Typically, an optical fiber comprises a core, a cladding and one or more coatings applied over the cladding.
One purpose of the coatings is to protect the surface of the optical fiber from mechanical scratches and abrasions typically caused by subsequent handling and use. Another purpose of the coatings is to protect the glass from exposure to moisture. The coating or coatings may also have some influence over the fiber's optical characteristics because the coatings are physically responsive to external mechanical forces and temperature. The coating compositions applied to the optical fiber are typically liquid, radiation-curable compositions. Typically, the coating compositions are cured on the optical fiber by exposing the coating composition to ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation or ionizing radiation for a predetermined period of time deemed suitable for effective curing.
Telecommunications cables containing optical fibers come in a variety of configurations. In some cables, the optical fibers are held loosely inside a buffer tube. In other cables, the optical fibers are arranged in a planar array to form an optical fiber ribbon. The planar array is typically encapsulated by one or more radiation-curable matrix material layers. The radiation-curable matrix layers are cured by exposing the matrix material to ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation, ionizing radiation or infrared radiation for a predetermined period of time deemed suitable for effective curing.
In a telecommunications cable containing multiple optical fibers, the optical fibers may be distinguished from each other by the use of a color coating layer which has been applied over a coated optical fiber. Colors in the color coating layer are usually obtained by dispersing colored pigment particles in a suitable liquid carrier and applying the liquid carrier over the coating. Alternatively, the optical fibers may be distinguished from each other by the use of a so-called colored primary coating, which is a colored coating applied directly onto an optical fiber.
Unfortunately, the use of pigment particles to provide color in color coatings for optical fibers has presented manufacturing and performance problems. For example, the pigment particles and the liquid carrier tend to gradually separate into two distinct phases. As a result, pigmented color coatings have a relatively short shelf life.
In addition, the phase separation in a pigmented coloring system is further complicated by the concurrent agglomeration of pigment particles. Undesirably, the presence of pigment particle agglomerates in a color coating on a coated optical fiber can induce micro-bending which results in transmission losses.
Typically, a relatively high concentration of pigment material is required to achieve an opaque or translucent ultraviolet radiation-curable color coating. Unfortunately, the required high concentration inhibits the transmission of incident ultraviolet radiation which is necessary to cure the color coating material because the pigments refract, reflect and scatter the incident radiation. The inhibition of the ultraviolet radiation results in a reduction in processing speed of the optical fiber along a manufacturing line and thereby increases production costs. Also, the slow cure speed of pigmented color coatings causes the processing and the cure of these materials to be sensitive to minor changes in the thickness of the color coatings.
The use of dyes to provide color in color coatings has been considered as an alternative to pigment-based color coatings. Dyes have the advantage over pigments of faster curing because the dyes do not scatter the curing radiation, although some dyes may absorb light which could slow curing. Dyes, however, are generally not preferred because they diffuse (bleed) out into common cable filling compounds resulting in a color loss. In an effort to reduce the bleeding, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,643 teaches the use of a polymeric dye in a color coating. The polymeric dyes are macromolecular chromophore-containing molecules that become entrapped in the cross-linked coating network. While the entrapment results in a slowing of the bleeding process, the dyes nevertheless still bleed. Over time, even with the entrapped polymeric dyes, the color imparted to the fibers is likely to be lost and if the color is lost from the fibers, then identification of each of the fibers becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming in the field during fiber-splicing.
The color imparted to the fibers will be lost over time if the dyes themselves lack stability. In particular, the dyes should have sufficient thermal stability and light fastness to impart the desired color for an extended period of time.
If a telecommunications cable has many optical fiber ribbons, it is generally desirable to distinguish one optical fiber ribbon from another by coloring each of the optical fiber ribbons. Typically, color in a colored optical fiber ribbon is obtained in the same way as color is obtained in a color-coated optical fiber. The optical fiber ribbon matrix composition is either provided with pigments or a polymer dye is used. The same problems mentioned above with respect to colored optical fibers apply to colored optical fiber ribbons.
It is desirable to provide a composition that can provide a durable cured color coating that can be used for color coding a telecommunications element, such as an optical fiber, where the coating has the ability to withstand the conditions in a typical operational environment that such elements are typically found. It would also be desirable to provide a composition that can provide a durable cured ink, dye, coating, colorant, etc. that can be used for substrates in other fields, such as textiles, electronics, or printing, where the ink, dye, coating, colorant, etc. has the ability to withstand the conditions in a typical operational environment that such substrates are typically found. The present invention provides such a composition.


A dickey with head cover is disclosed. The dickey with head cover includes a hat capable of covering at least a portion of the wearer's head, and a dickey. The hat releasably attaches to the dickey. The dickey includes a shoulder yoke portion attached to the dickey to form an integral torso covering. The invention may also be used where the head cover is attached to a gaiter. The invention may also relate to attaching a gaiter to a head cover.

In cold weather climates, it is a frequent desire of persons exposed to frigid temperatures to have some form of face and neck protection when outdoors. One of the most common garments used to offer such protection is the traditional scarf, which can be tied in place about the person's neck and can then be adjusted over the face as desired by the wearer. Scarves suffer from a variety of drawbacks such as being difficult for children to tie as well as the potential for coming untied, thus eliminating their protection during use.
In light of the deficiencies of scarves, dickeys have been developed for use in cold weather situations. The traditional dickey is a tubular garment designed to fit over the wearer's head and reside around the wearer's neck. With the dickey's tubular design, no tying is required and the dickey cannot be removed except by the wearer deliberately sliding the dickey over their head. The dickey typically has a width allowing it to be rolled or "scrunched" up so that it resides only on the neck area, or alternatively, the dickey can be stretched to cover the face area below the eyes in addition to the neck area.
While dickeys overcome many of the disadvantages associated with the traditional scarves, dickeys do not provide additional benefits such as head coverage, jacket collar coverage or seamless transitions between the head and torso that hunting enthusiasts find beneficial in pursuing their sport.
Due to these concerns, a number of dickey designs incorporating head protection means, have been suggested. Examples of such designs include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,686,258 to Schlesinger; U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,868 to Snow; U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,380 to Epstein; U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,996 to Kirby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,517 to Ferguson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,230 to Sivret et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,800 to Anderson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,838 to Sontag; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,206 to MacDonald et al.; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,800 to Anderson describes a multi-functional hat where the hat has a tubular fabric body. The hat portion of the multi-functional hat takes on the form of a hood with a face opening in the front of the head covering.
A number of the above-identified patents also include a hood structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,517 to Ferguson et al. describes a scarf garment that is attached to the lower part of a hood shaped hat.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,686,258 to Schlesinger describes a stocking cap structure wherein a zipper along the band of the stocking cap is unzipped and the lower portion of the band extends under the chin, covering part of the neck. The chin and area under the chin may be covered by the band, but the neck area, in general, is not covered.
Although dickeys are known in the art, there is still a need for coverage additional to the dickey such as head coverage, jacket collar coverage or seamless transitions between the head and torso.


An improved seat belt latchplate having a plurality or ribs in a web-guiding slot for resisting, roping and twisting of a seat belt webbing.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a seat belt latchplate for resisting roping and twisting of seat belt webbing.
2. Discussion
Modern seat belt systems having adjustable latchplates generally employ one of two different types of latchplates. In one type of latchplate, web-guiding slots for receiving a seat belt webbing are defined parallel to one another and possibly in the same plane so that the webbing, when threaded therethrough, frictionally holds the latchplate in place at a desired point along the webbing.
Another type of device, a "free-falling latchplate," has one or more web-guiding slots through which the webbing is threaded, so the latchplate can slide generally with relatively lower frictional resistance as compared with the aforenoted latchplate. A button or other suitable member is commonly attached to the webbing to stop the latchplate from moving past a certain point along the webbing.
It has been observed that occasional roping or twisting of the webbing will occur within a web-guiding slot. FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate an example of such a phenomena in an exemplary prior art latchplate. In FIGS. 2 and 4, a seat belt latchplate A includes a first portion B having a tongue C, and a second portion D having a first web-guiding slot E and a second web-guiding slot F. A webbing G (shown twisted) is threaded through the first and second web-guiding slots E and F.
The employment of a single projection in a wall defining a web-guiding slot, opposed by two projections, has been employed in the art.


Disclosed is a nano-scaled graphene article comprising a non-woven aggregate of nano-scaled graphene platelets wherein each of the platelets comprises a graphene sheet or multiple graphene sheets and the platelets have a thickness no greater than 100 nm (preferably smaller than 10 nm) and platelets contact other platelets to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. The article has an exceptional thermal conductivity (typically greater than 500 Wm−1K−1) and excellent electrical conductivity (typically greater than 1,000 S/cm). Thin-film articles of the present invention can be used for thermal management in micro-electronic devices and for current-dissipating on an aircraft skin against lightning strikes.

Carbon is known to have four unique crystalline structures, including diamond, graphite, fullerene and carbon nano-tubes. The carbon nano-tube (CNT) refers to a tubular structure grown with a single wall or multi-wall, which can be conceptually obtained by rolling up a graphene sheet or several graphene sheets to form a concentric hollow structure. A graphene sheet is composed of carbon atoms occupying a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice. Carbon nano-tubes have a diameter on the order of a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. Carbon nano-tubes can function as either a conductor or a semiconductor, depending on the rolled shape and the diameter of the tubes. Its longitudinal, hollow structure imparts unique mechanical, electrical and chemical properties to the material. Carbon nano-tubes are believed to have great potential for use in field emission devices, hydrogen fuel storage, rechargeable battery electrodes, and composite reinforcements.
However, CNTs are extremely expensive due to the low yield and low production and purification rates commonly associated with all of the current CNT preparation processes. The high material costs have significantly hindered the widespread application of CNTs. Rather than trying to discover much lower-cost processes for nano-tubes, we have worked diligently to develop alternative nano-scaled carbon materials that exhibit comparable properties, but can be produced in larger quantities and at much lower costs. This development work has led to the discovery of processes for producing individual nano-scaled graphite planes (individual graphene sheets) and stacks of multiple nano-scaled graphene sheets, which are collectively called "nano-scaled graphene plates (NGPs)." Our invented processes include, as examples, (1) B. Z. Jang and W. C. Huang, "Nano-scaled Graphene Plates," U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,258 (Jul. 4, 2006)]; (2) B. Z. Jang, et al. "Process for Producing Nano-scaled Graphene Plates," U.S. patent pending, Ser. No. 10/858,814 (Jun. 3, 2004); and (3) Bor Z. Jang, Aruna Zhamu, and Jiusheng Guo, "Process for Producing Nano-scaled Platelets and Nanocomposites," US Pat. Pending, Ser. No. 11/509,424 (Aug. 25, 2006). NGPs could provide unique opportunities for solid state scientists to study the structures and properties of nano carbon materials. The structures of these materials may be best visualized by making a longitudinal scission on the single-wall or multi-wall of a nano-tube along its tube axis direction and then flattening up the resulting sheet or plate (FIG. 2). Studies on the structure-property relationship in isolated NGPs could provide insight into the properties of a fullerene structure or nano-tube. Furthermore, these nano materials could potentially become cost-effective substitutes for carbon nano-tubes or other types of nano-rods for various scientific and engineering applications.
For instance, the following researchers have pointed out the great potential of using NGPs as a new microelectronic device substrate material or a functional material:    1. K. S. Novoselov, et al., "Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films," Science 306 (2004) 666-669.    2. H. B. Heersche, et al., "Bipolar Supercurrent in Graphene," Nature, 446 (March 2007) 56-59.    3. Y. Zhang, Y-W, Tan, H. L. Stormer and P. Kim, "Experimental Observation of the Quantum Hall Effect and Berry's Phase in Graphene," Nature, 438 (2005) 201-204.    4. Y. Zhang, J. P. Small, M. E. Amori, and P. Kim, "Electric Field Modulation of Galvanomagnetic Properties of Mesoscopic Graphite," Phys. Rev. Lett., 94 (2005) 176803.    5. C. Berger, et al., "Ultrathin Epitaxial Graphite: Two-dimensional Electron Gas Properties and a Route toward Graphene-based Nanoelectronics," J. Phys. Chem. B 108 (2004) 19912-19916.    6. G. H. Chen, W. Weng, D. Wu, C. Wu, J. Lu, P. Wang, X. Chen, "Preparation and Characterization of Graphite Nanosheets from Ultrasonic Powdering Technique," Carbon, 42 (2004) 753-759.    7. H. Fukushima and L. T. Drzal, "Graphite Nanoplatelets As Reinforcements for Polymers: Structural and Electrical Properties," Proc. Of the 17th Annual Conf. of the Am. Soc. For Composites, Purdue University, (2003).    8. H. Fukushima, S. H. Lee, and L. T. Drzal, "Graphite Platelet/Nylon Nanocomposites," Proc. of SPE ANTEC (2004) 1441-1445.    9. W. Zheng, et al, "Transport Behavior of PMMA/Expanded Graphite Nanocomposites," Polymer, 73 (2002) 6767-6773.    10. A. Yasmin and I. M. Daniel, "Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Graphite Platelet/Epoxy Composites," Polymer, 45 (2004) 8211-8219.
The NGP material can be used as a nano-scaled reinforcement for a matrix material to obtain a nanocomposite. Advantages of nano-scaled reinforcements in a matrix material include: (1) when nano-scaled fillers are finely dispersed in a polymer matrix, the tremendously high surface area could contribute to polymer chain confinement effects, possibly leading to a higher glass transition temperature, stiffness and strength; (2) nano-scaled fillers provide an extraordinarily zigzagging, tortuous diffusion path that results in enhanced barrier or resistance against permeation of moisture, oxygen, other gases, and liquid chemical agents. Such a tortuous structure also serves as an effective strain energy dissipation mechanism associated with micro-crack propagation in a brittle matrix such as ceramic, glass, or carbon; (3) nano-scaled fillers can also enhance the electrical and thermal conductivities in a polymer, ceramic or glass matrix; and (4) carbon-based nano-scaled fillers have excellent thermal protection properties and, if incorporated in a matrix material, could potentially eliminate the need for a thermal protective layer, for instance, in rocket motor applications.
It may be noted that exfoliated graphite flakes (EGFs) are typically obtained by intercalating natural graphite flakes with strong acids to obtain a graphite intercalation compound (GIC). With a sudden exposure to a temperature in the range of 800-1050° C., the GIC expands by a factor of 30-300 to form a "worm," which is a collection of exfoliated, but largely unseparated graphite flakes. These EGFs are often re-compressed to obtain flexible graphite sheets that typically have a thickness in the range of 0.125 mm (125 μm)-0.5 mm (500 μm).
It may be further noted that EGFs, if fully separated from one another and having a thickness smaller than 100 nm, are considered as nano-scaled graphene platelets (NGPs). It has been recently recognized by researchers in the field of composites that thin, presumably separated EGFs with an extremely high aspect ratio (length/thickness ratio>100˜1000), lead to a lower percolation threshold (typically 1-4% by weight EGF) for forming an electron-conducting path as compared to a threshold of typically 5-20% for other types of graphite particles. However, at these threshold EGF loadings, the electrical conductivity of the resulting composite, typically in the range of 10−5-10−1 S/cm, is still too low to be used for many engineering applications. For instance, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has set forth a target bulk conductivity of 100 S/cm for composite-based fuel cell bipolar plates.
Conventional EGF composites typically contain many substantially unseparated graphite flakes, many of which are thicker than 100 nm. These composites with a high EGF loading either can not be formed into thin composite plate, can not be molded with mass production techniques, or are simply not processable into useful products. Although one would expect the electrical conductivity of an EGF composite to become higher if the EGF loading is greater (e.g., >20% by weight), no composite containing more than 20% by weight of well-dispersed, fully separated EG flakes has hitherto been reported. A need exists for a cost-effective method of preparing EGF/polymer composites with a high EGF loading.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly conductive, thin-film article comprising NGPs or fully separated EGFs wherein the article has a thickness thinner than 50 μm, but could be as thin as 0.1 μm. The thermal conductivity of the thin-film article is greater than 500 W/mK and, in many cases, greater than 1,000 W/mK.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a thin-film article, preferably in a non-woven mat form, comprising NGPs or fully separated EGFs wherein individual platelets or flakes have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a highly conductive thin-film article comprising NGPs or fully separated EGFs wherein the in-plane thermal conductivity is greater than 500 W/mK and in plane electrical conductivity is greater than 1,000 S/cm.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a composite comprising fully separated graphite platelets that are smaller than 100 nm in thickness (preferably smaller than 10 nm) and wherein the weight fraction of platelets is no less than 75%, preferably no less than 85%.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a composite comprising at least 75% by weight of fully separated graphite platelets wherein the composite has an electrical conductivity greater than 200 S/cm, preferably greater than 500 S/cm.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide a composite comprising at least 75% by weight of fully separated graphite platelets wherein the composite has a thermal conductivity greater than 400 W/mK, preferably greater than 1,000 W/mK.

Nano-scaled graphene plate films and articles


The present invention relates to a bovine beta-casein gene targeting vector comprising (1) a first region having a length of 5 to 12 kb which is homologous to the promoter and its flanking nucleic acid sequences of bovine beta-casein gene, and comprising exon 1, intron 1, and exon 2 of bovine beta-casein gene; (2) a region for cloning a nucleic acid coding for desired proteins; (3) a region for coding a positive selection marker; (4) a second region having a length of 2.8 to 3.5 kb which is homologous to the nucleic acid sequences of bovine beta-casein gene, and comprising exon 5, 6, 7 and 8, and intron 5, 6 and 7 of bovine beta-casein gene; wherein the nucleic acid segment corresponding to the first region is located upstream to the nucleic acid segment corresponding to the second region in the 5′-3′ arrangement of beta-casein gene. The present invention also relates to method producing the transgenic cattle which is bovine beta-casein gene-targeted with a gene coding a desired protein using the said vector and obtaining a large scale of a desired protein from the milk of the said transgenic cattle.

Our continuous efforts in animal genomics to identify genes and their functions have made it possible to generate transgenic animals. Transgenic animals have been created great commercial value in industries such as biomedicine and agriculture. Various techniques such as microinjection, viral transfection, sperm vector, application of embryonic stem (ES) cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SNCT) have also been developed to prepare transgenic animals or so called genetically-modified animals.
The microinjection method, which injects a DNA molecule into the male or female pronucleus of fertilized eggs (Harbers et al., Nature., 293(5833); 540-2, 1981; Brinster et al., Cell., 27; 223-231, 1981; Gordon et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA., 77(12); 7380-7384; Costantini et al., Nature., 294(5836); 92-94), has been widely employed to produce transgenic animals (Hammer et al., Nature., 315(6021); 680-683, 1985; van Berkel et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 20(5); 484-487, 2002; Damak et al., Biotechnology (NY), 14(2); 185-186, 1996). However, the efficiency of this technique in the production of transgenic animals is very low in that only 2-3% of the injected eggs give rise to transgenic offspring (Clark et al., Transgenic Res., 9; 263-275, 2000). The production of transgenic animals using the microinjection method is also a labor-intensive and costly procedure requiring large numbers of animals and facilities (Brink et al., Theriogenology, 53; 139-148, 2000). Another disadvantage of this technique is that it cannot control the integration sites and the copy numbers of the inserted genes. The resulting random integration sometimes leads to a low or nonspecific expression of the transgenes. It was further reported that the unregulated expression of certain transgenes sometimes cause lethality in the embryonic development (Wei et al., Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol., 37; 119-141, 1997).
The retrovirus-mediated method is also widely used in order to genetically manipulate animals (Soriano et al., Genes Dev., 1(4); 366-375, 1987; Hirata et al., Cloning Stem Cells., 6(1); 31-36, 2004). Under this technique, the desired gene sequences are introduced into the animal genomes by using virus-mediated vectors. Although viral transformation is more efficient than pronuclear injection, random insertion of the foreign genes and mosaicism are entailed due to multiple integrations (Piedrahita et al., Theriogenology, 53(1); 105-116, 2000). Additionally, the maximum size of the introduced genes is usually limited to approximately 7 kb and there is concerning of the potential interference caused by virally encoded proteins (Wei et al., Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol., 37; 119-141, 1997; Yanez et al., Gene Ther., 5(2); 149-159, 1998).
To circumvent the problems referred to above, a gene targeting technique that can insert or remove a DNA segment at a specific location was developed. The gene targeting technique was first applied to the mouse embryonic stem cells to study gene function. Mouse embryonic stem cells are now being used to introduce predetermined genetic modifications into embryos. A number of specific gene-targeted mice have been produced through the manipulation of mouse embryonic stem cells using the technique(Brandon et al., Curr Biol., 5(6); 625-634, 1995; Capecchi et al., Science, 244(4910); 1288-1292, 1989; Thompson et al., Cell, 56(2); 313-321, 1989; Hamanaka et al., Hum Mol. Genet., 9(3); 353-361, 2000; Thomas et al, Cell, 51(3); 503-512, 1987; te Riele et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA, 89(11); 5182-5132, 1992; Mansour et al., Nature, 336(6197), 348-352, 1988; Luo et al., Oncogene, 20(3); 320-328, 2001). The extension of this gene targeting method to other mammalian species, particularly livestock, could bring numerous biomedical benefits such as mass production of pharmaceutical proteins and animal disease models.
Until now, most recombinant therapeutic proteins have been produced by cell culture systems, which use cells such as yeast, bacteria or animal cells. However, it is difficult to produce proteins in large scale using cell culture systems because of the limited capacity and high cost. Furthermore, for some proteins, additional steps are required to introduce proper posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation, γ-carboxylation, hydroxylation and so on (Houdebine et al., Transgenic Res., 9(4-5); 305-320, 2000; Lubo et al., Transgenic Res., 9(4-5); 301-304, 2000).
Animal bioreactors that produce valuable or therapeutic proteins have been evaluated as efficient and cost-effective expression systems. In particular, the large-scale production of therapeutic recombinant proteins from transgenic animals is much more cost-effective compared to the cell culture system (van Berkel et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 20(5); 484-487, 2002). Recombinant proteins produced in animal milk were known to be post-translationally modified in a way very similar to the human counterpart proteins (Edmunds et al., Blood, 91(12); 4561-4571, 1998; Velander et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA., 89(24); 12003-12007, 1992; van Berkel et al, Nat. Biotechnol., 20(5); 484-487, 2002).
Cow's milk is composed of approximately 88% water, 3.3% protein and the remaining carbohydrates and fat. The caseins, comprising 80% milk protein, are divided into four groups, alpha S1, alpha S2, beta and kappa casein. Beta casein is the most abundant protein in milk and is expressed in a concentration of 10 mg/ml in bovine milk (Brophy et al., Nat. Biotechnology., 21(2); 157-162, 2003).
The somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique is more efficient way to make transgenic animals compared to the microinjection method because almost all of the cloned animals derived from transformed somatic cells are transgenic. animals (Brink et al., Theriogenology, 53; 139-148, 2000). It is also possible to predetermine the sex of animals and create a genetically homogeneous herd in order to produce a uniform product (Lubo et al., Transgenic Res., 9(4-5); 301-304, 2000; van Berkel et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 20(5); 484-487, 2002).
Until now, ES cells and vector constructs for targeting a specific gene have been considered as prerequisite elements to generate gene-targeted animals. However, there is a limitation in the use of ES cells from large livestocks, although some studies have developed ES-like cells in pig and cattle (Doetschman et al., Dev Biol., 127(1); 224-227, 1988; Stice et al., Biol Reprod., 54(1); 100-110, 1996; Sukoyan et al., Mol Reprod Dev., 36(2); 148-158, 1993; Iannaccone et al., Dev Biol., 163(1); 288-292, 1994; Pain et al., Development, 122(8); 2339-2348, 1996; Thomson et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA., 92(17); 7844-7848, 1995; Wheeler et al., Reprod Fertil Dev., 6(5); 563-568, 1994).
Instead, the use of normal somatic cells as nuclear donor cells has been suggested as an efficient and practical method to produce transgenic cattle (Brophy et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 21(2); 157-162, 2003; Cibelli et al., Science, 280(5367); 1256-1258, 1998; Campbell et al., Nature, 380(6569); 64-66, 1996; Wilmut et al., Experientia, 47(9); 905-912, 1997; Denning et al., Cloning stem cells, 3(4); 221-231, 2001), suggesting the possibility that somatic cells instead of embryonic stem cells can be used for targeting specific genes.
With the application of SCNT technique, promoter regions of milk protein genes have been used to direct the expression of recombinant protein in the milk of transgenic large animals (Schnieke et al. Science, 278(5346); 2130-2133, 1997; Baguisi et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 17(5); 456-461, 1999; Brophy et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 21(2); 157-162, 2003). However, the use of this technique in farm animals is still not practical unless the problems of low expression and/or ectopic expression due to the random insertion of genes are solved. The ectopic expression of foreign protein causes early embryonic lethality and is particularly severe in nervous system, as most nervous system structures develop in late embryonic and early postnatal stages (Gao et al., Neurochem Res., 24(9); 1181-1188, 1999). To eliminate or reduce these side-effects, a new method that allows the foreign protein to be expressed only during the lactation period and strictly in the mammary gland have been invented (Houdebine et al., Transgenic Res., 9(4-5); 305-320, 2000). Gene-targeting, known as the introduction of site-specific modification into a genome by homologous recombination event, is a powerful tool for tissue-specific expression of recombinant proteins (Muller et al., Mech Dev., 82(1-2); 3-21, 1999; Clark et al., J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia., 3(3); 337-350, 1998).
The generation of a first knock-in ovine has opened the door to make it possible to produce therapeutic foreign protein-targeted large animals (McCreath et al., Nature, 405(6790); 1066-1069, 2000). The COLT-2 targeting vector which has homology regions for COL1A1 gene that is highly expressed in fibroblasts was developed, allowing the promoter-trap enrichment of gene-targeting events. AATC2 transgene comprised of human al-antitrypsin (AAT) complementary DNA within an ovine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) expression vector was designed to direct expression in the mammary gland, having separate transcription unit. The amount of AAT secreted from targeted lambs was 37-fold more than that from the sheep with multiple and random integration of the genes (McCreath et al., Nature, 405(6790); 1066-1069, 2000). Thus, gene targeting is now regarded to be the most powerful method to produce large amount of therapeutic protein. However, the application of the promoter-trap targeting vector is limited to transcriptionally active genes in the somatic cells. In general, transcriptionally active genes are more amendable to gene targeting than silent genes because they have a higher frequency of homologous recombination (Kuroiwa et al., Nat. Genet., 36(7); 775-780, 2004).
Milk proteins are expressed in a tissue-specific manner in the mammary gland. An over-expression of foreign protein is possible without causing lethality in embryonic or post-natal development by manipulating a gene coding of the milk proteins. Among such proteins, beta-casein would be one of the best candidates since it is expressed abundantly. The bovine beta-casein exists as a single copy gene in total genome and is not known to be expressed in the somatic cells except for those in the mammary gland. The targeting of foreign genes into the beta-casein gene, which is not expressed in the normal somatic cells, cannot be carried out by vectors utilizing the promoter trap.
Based on this background, the present inventors have created targeting vector cassettes specific for the bovine beta-casein gene, vectors inserted with a foreign gene using the said cassettes, bovine somatic cell introduced with the said vector, and nuclear-transferred embryo with the said bovine cell. The present inventors found that the foreign gene was correctly targeted to the beta-casein gene of bovine genomic DNA and confirmed the targeting events with the said vector were highly efficient. Therefore, the present inventors have been completed transgenic cattle which could produce a large scale of desired therapeutic protein using the said bovine beta-casein gene targeting vector cassette.

Cattle beta-casein gene targeting vector using homologous recombination

Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology


In a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing for sheets after image formation such as sorting or stapling of the sheets, when the sheets are subjected to processing in a processing tray, after the sheets are discharged to the waiting tray, a paddle operation is started to drop the sheets to the processing tray. When the paddle is in a position where the paddle does not come into contact with the sheets on the processing tray, the rotation of the paddle is stopped once to prevent the paddle from interfering with the sheets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and, more particularly, to a sheet processing apparatus having a sheet buffer function.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in some image forming apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus is set adjacent to a paper discharge unit of an image forming apparatus main body in order to perform finishing for sheets after image formation such as sorting of the sheets or stapling the sheets.
The sheet processing apparatus has plural means for conveying a sheet, which is conveyed from the image forming apparatus, to a paper discharge tray and discharging the sheet. The means are roughly divided into a conveying path for not performing the finishing and a conveying path for performing the finishing. When the finishing is not performed, the sheet is conveyed through the conveying path for not performing the finishing and directly discharged onto the paper discharge tray. When the finishing is performed, the sheet is conveyed to a processing tray through the conveying path for performing the finishing, which is branched from the conveying path for not performing the finishing, and stacked. When a set number of sheets are stacked, the sheets are aligned on the processing tray and subjected to the finishing.
There is known a sheet processing apparatus including a paddle that drops and aligns a sheet discharged onto a processing tray. For example, the sheet processing apparatus starts driving of the paddle before a leading end of a sheet to be discharged comes into contact with stacked sheets on the processing tray, stops the driving of the paddle immediately before a trailing end of the sheet exits a conveyance path, drives the paddle again after the trailing end of the sheet reaches a position where the sheet is not kicked out by the driving of the paddle, and aligns the sheet to a predetermined position of the processing tray (JP-A-11-301912).


A polarization maintaining optical fiber has a core extending along a longitudinal axis, where the core includes a rare earth and a first index of refraction. A cladding is disposed about the core and has a first thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) and a second index of refraction that is less than the first index of refraction. The fiber can include a pair of longitudinally extending members, and each of the members can have a TCE that is different than the first TCE of the cladding. The pair can be spaced apart by a distance di. A second cladding can be disposed about the first cladding, and the second cladding can have a third index of refraction that is less than the second index of refraction. The fiber can have a fundamental mode having a mode field diameter (MFD). The core can be a multimode core having a diameter dc that is greater than or equal to 15 microns, the numerical aperture of the core relative to the first cladding can be less than or equal to 0.12, the ratio di/MFD can be greater than 3, and the fiber can provide a beat length of less than 3 mm, where the beat length is measured at a wavelength of 633 nm.

Rare earth (e.g., elements having atomic numbers 57–71) doped optical fibers are known in the art to be useful in fiber amplifiers and lasers. In particular, Yb-doped fibers offer high output powers and excellent conversion efficiencies over a broad range of wavelengths (˜975 to ˜1200 nm). See, for example, R. Paschotta, J. Nilsson, A. C. Tropper and D. C. Hanna, "Ytterbium doped fiber amplifiers", IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 33(7), 1049–1056, 1997. In addition, unlike erbium doped amplifiers, complications such as excited state absorption and concentration quenching are avoided in Yb-doped fiber lasers and amplifiers. As a result, a high concentration of Yb ions can be incorporated while maintaining good conversion efficiencies. These attributes of Yb-doped fibers, along with the advent of double-clad fiber (DCF) technology, have resulted in substantial interest in high-power lasers and amplifiers for various applications. See, for example, L. Zenteno, "High-power double-clad fiber lasers", Journal of Lightwave Technology, 11(9), 1435–1446, 1993. Yb-doped double-clad fibers are finding current and potential applications in military and aerospace, materials processing, printing and marking, spectroscopy, telecommunications, etc. See, for example, Paschotta et al. and Zenteno as referenced above, J. Noda, K. Okamoto and Y. Sasaki, "Polarization maintaining fibers and their applications", Journal of Lightwave Technology, 4(8), 1071–1089, 1986, and J. P. Koplow, L. Goldberg, R. P. Moeller and D. A. V. Kliner, "Polarization-maintaining, double-clad fiber amplifier employing externally applied stress-induced birefringence", Obtics Letters, 25(6), 387–389, 2000.
For many high-power laser and amplifier applications, operation under stable linear polarization is desirable. See Noda et al. and Koplow et al. as above. High-power amplifier (or laser) architectures are based on coherently combining the output of several DC fiber amplifiers. With the growing need for output powers of greater than 100 kW continuous wave (CW) for military and aerospace application and several kW outputs for industrial applications, there has been an increasing demand for polarization-maintaining double clad fibers (PM-DCF). Different approaches are known for obtaining PM operation using non-PM fibers. See, for example, Koplow et al. as above and I. N. Duling III and R. D. Esman, "Single-polarisation fibre amplifier", Electronics Letters, 28(12), 1126–1128, 1992. However, these approaches have their limitations and the preferred technology is to use a PM-DCF. While passive polarization maintaining fibers have been commercially available for several years, active PM fibers have not been available until recently. See, for example, K. Tajima, "Er3+-doped single-polarisation optical fibres," Electronics Letters, 26(18), 1498–1499, 1990 and D. A. V. Kliner, J. P. Koplow, L. Goldberg, A. L. G. Carter and J. A. Digweed, "Polarization-maintaining amplifier employing double-clad bow-tie fiber", Obtics Letters, 26(4), 184–186, 2001. Kliner et al. were the first to report a polarization maintaining, Yb-doped, double-clad fiber amplifier employing a bow-tie fiber. Although a bow-tie type PM-DCF is acceptable for proof of concept and research and development, it has substantial limitations in terms of preform manufacturability, uniformity and scalability.
Single mode, Yb-doped, double-clad fibers lend themselves well to applications requiring compact lasers with diffraction-limited output. However, the scalability of output powers can be limited by amplified spontaneous emission and nonlinear processes such as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). These limitations can be overcome by using low numerical aperture (NA) single mode fibers with large mode areas (LMA). The low NA of the core limits the capture of the spontaneous emission by the core while the large mode area increases the threshold for SRS and SBS. In a second approach, multimode (MM) rare earth doped fibers can be used and the higher order modes suppressed by deploying the fiber in a specific coiled configuration (J. P. Koplow, D. A. V. Kliner and L. Goldberg, "Single-mode operation of a coiled multimode fiber amplifier", Obtics Letters, 25(7), 442–444, 2000), optimizing launch conditions of the seed beam (M. E. Fermann, "Single-mode excitation of multimode fibers with ultra-short pulses," Obtics Letters, 23(1), 52–54, 1998 and O. G. Okhotnikov and J. M. Sousa, "Flared single-transverse-mode fibre amplifier", Electronics Letters, 35(12), 1011–1013, 1999), designing fibers with specific refractive index and dopant profiles (H. L. Offerhaus, N. G. Broderick, D. J. Richardson, R. Sammut, J. Caplen and L. Dong, "High-energy single-transverse-mode Q-switched fiber laser based on a multimode large-mode-area erbium-doped fiber", Obtics Letters, 23(21), 1683–1685, 1998), and using specific cavity configurations (U. Greibner and H. Schonnagel, "Laser operation with nearly diffraction-limited output from a Yb-YAG multimode channel waveguide", Obtics Letters, 24(11), 750–752, 1999). The use of a MM fiber in single mode operation provides similar advantages as the LMA fibers.

Multimode polarization maintaining double clad fiber


A method for authentication, by a host device, of a storage device having a plurality of unit storage areas comprises acquiring information on the distribution of locations of defect referenceive areas to be used for uniquely identifying the storage device, sampling the unit storage areas of the storage device, identifying the distribution of locations of physically defective areas among the sampled areas, determining the similarity between the acquired distribution of locations and the identified distribution of location, and authenticating the storage device according to the result of the determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an authentication method and apparatus for identifying a target device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for authenticating a storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As technologies such as Digital Rights Management (DRM), copy protection, and the like have been required to secure content, a technology to authenticate a storage device including a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) device, such as a Solid State Disk (SSD) and a flash memory card, and the like has been required. That is, a technology that encrypts content and verifies suitability of hardware (H/W) of the storage device has been required.
Although the DRM technology, a Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) technology for a Secure Digital (SD) card, an Advanced Access Content System (AACS) for a Blue-ray disc provide a device authentication method based on a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) or a cryptographic technology, it is difficult to prevent cloning the storage device.
Conventionally, there has been a technology that inserts a watermark or a fingerprint into a chip of H/W while the chip is designed, to identify H/W in which a problem occurs. However, the technology traces security piracy after the problem occurs, fails to prevent the cloning in advance, is inefficient in mass production, and is difficult to be used as a method of verifying suitability of the device at the time of transaction.

Method for authenticating a storage device, machine-readable storage medium, and host device


Technologies for establishing and utilizing a decentralized cloud infrastructure using a plurality of mobile computing devices include broadcasting for the formation of the decentralized cloud computing and storage infrastructure and establishing wireless communications between the plurality of mobile computing devices. The plurality of mobile computing devices self-organize and cooperate with one another to establish a structured decentralized cloud infrastructure to expose and sharing resources, services, and/or applications for ad hoc or socially-driven decentralized, cloud computing purposes.

Numerous systems exist today to decentralize computing services. For example, there exist social networks, gaming networks, peer-to-peer networking, ad hoc, and mesh network systems, which have found value in local or close proximity settings in which a network can be formed between devices without stationary infrastructure (e.g., servers and routers). Each of those systems, however, is typically very limited in size and scope. Additionally, the provisioning of network services may be limited or simply unavailable.
Cloud computing permits computing resources to be shared with remote, and oftentimes dispersed, computing devices. Additionally, infrastructure as a service (IaaS) permits a cloud provider to offer users access to various cloud resources via virtual machines and a virtual cloud infrastructure. However, cloud computing environments are pre-established and not generated ad hoc.

Ad hoc decentralized cloud infrastructure