A roadway expansion joint apparatus comprises at least one finger joint that extends across an expansion gap. Each finger joint comprises a base plate, a finger unit, a pivot and a cantilever support. The finger unit comprises a body and at least one unsupported finger extending longitudinally from a distal end of the body. The pivot pivotally couples the finger unit to the base plate about a vertical pivot axis. The cantilever support is located at or between the pivot and a proximal end of the finger unit; the cantilever support allows pivoting of the finger unit relative to the base plate about a vertical pivot axis and impedes pivoting of the finger unit relative to the base plate about a horizontal axis, thereby cantilevering the finger joint to the base plate at the cantilever support.

An expansion finger joint system known in the art typically comprises a pair of finger joints that face each other across an expansion gap of a bridge or other roadway components, each with longitudinally protruding fingers that intermesh across the expansion gap. The intermeshing fingers support vehicles that cross the expansion gap, yet allow the expansion gap to change e.g. due to a change in temperature. Known expansion finger joint systems are typically designed to accommodate a full range of movement of the bridge or roadway either in expansion or contraction while supporting traffic across the expansion gap. When the gap is at its largest, the opposing fingers move apart from each other but are prevented by the design length of the fingers from forming a continuous transverse gap between finger tips. When the gap is at its narrowest the fingers move towards each other but never fully engage such that there always remains a small gap between the male end of a finger on one side of the joint gap and its opposite female end of the finger on the other side of the expansion gap.
Prior art finger joint systems which have fingers rigidly attached to both sides of the joints cannot accommodate any or very little differential lateral movements and rotations about a vertical axis of the bridge. When these lateral movements and rotations occur, the fingers encounter each other and either jam up or break resulting in adverse effects to the bridge.
Some prior art finger joint systems have been proposed which provide finger joints that are rotatable about a vertical axis, thereby accommodating the movements and rotations of the bridge. These prior art joints remain structurally stable by being supported on both sides of the expansion gap. The finger tips rest and slide on the steel plates as the gap increases and decreases. However, these joints would be structurally unstable if support from either side of the gap was removed. Supporting the fingers on both sides of the expansion gap requires sliding surfaces which are exposed to debris, dirt and road grime and consequently susceptible to wear and tear. In addition unmaintained finger gaps jammed with debris and dirt will also result in limitation in joint performance and movement capacity. Examples of such prior art finger joint systems are: CA 3,014,382, JP 2018-119287 and KR 10-1951734.
It is therefore desirable to provide a solution to at least some of the existing challenges faced by prior art devices. In particular, it is desirable to provide an expansion finger joint apparatus that can support traffic across an expansion joint gap while accommodating an unrestricted range of deck movements including lateral, longitudinal, vertical and rotational about both the vertical and horizontal axes whilst not needing any support of the finger tips.

Cantilevered expansion finger joint apparatus


A low noise amplifier in an integrated circuit, the circuit having a digital portion and an analog portion on a common substrate, the digital portion having at least one clocking frequency, includes an input configured to receive a signal at a tuned frequency and an output circuit. The output circuit is configurable to operate in either a single-ended mode or a pseudo differential-ended mode, wherein the output circuit is configured in the pseudo differential-ended mode when the tuned frequency is substantially similar to the at least one clocking frequency or one of its harmonics and otherwise configured in the single-ended mode.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to radio frequency (RF) circuitry and, more particularly, to System-on-a-Chip (SOC) circuitry.
2. Description of Related Art
There are a number of instances where it is beneficial to combine both analog circuitry and digital circuitry in an integrated circuit design. One approach is commonly known as System-in-a-Package (SIP) design and another common approach is known as System-on-a Chip (SOC) design. While both approaches have their own benefits and difficulties, one particular benefit of the SoC approach is that a common substrate may be used for both the analog and digital circuitry. However, using the same substrate for both types of circuitry raises some issues that must be overcome.
One useful analog circuit that may be implemented within an SoC approach is a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) that receives radio frequency signals and provides them to further downstream digital circuitry. It has been observed, however, that an LNA can be susceptible to noise generated by the digital circuitry sharing the substrate on which both circuits are formed and it is desirable to reduce the effect such noise has on the operation of the LNA.
Two characteristics of an LNA that can be used to measure its performance are its sensitivity and its power consumption. One approach to suppress noise generated by digital circuitry is to use a fully differential-ended circuit so that complementary signals are generated and used within the LNA. While this approach does improve receiver sensitivity, it dramatically increases power consumption as well.
An opposite approach is to utilize a single-ended LNA design. This approach reduces the power consumption of the LNA but also increases its susceptibility to certain types of noise.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an LNA design with low power consumption characteristics but that also suppress noise, especially in an environment such as SoC circuitry.

Receiver dynamically switching to pseudo differential mode for SOC spur reduction


A drainage hag system for urinary collection comprises a urinary drainage bag (14) comprising a first inlet (16) and an inlet valve for regulating a flow of urine from a catheter (12) into the urinary drainage bog (14) via the first inlet, an outlet (22) and an outlet valve (24) for regulating a flow of urine (20) out of the urinary drainage bag (14). The drainage bug system further comprises a receptacle bag (26) of a foil or sheet material for emptying the urinary drainage bag (14) and comprising a receptacle compartment (28) for storing urine, and a connector for providing a connection between the receptacle bag (26) and the urinary drainage hag (14). The connector provides a second inlet constituting a receptacle inlet to the receptacle compartment (28) when connected to the receptacle hag (26) such that urine can flow into the receptacle compartment (28).

The present invention relates to a method and a receptacle bag for emptying a urinary drainage bag and a drainage bag system for urinary collection.
In urinary catheterization, a latex, polyurethane, or silicone tube known as a urinary catheter is inserted into a patient's bladder via the urethra, or via suprapubic catheterization. Alternatively, the catheterization may also take place with placement of a urisheath (condom type catheter). Catheterization allows the patient's urine to drain freely from the bladder for collection, measuring of volume, monitoring, and analysis. In a closed urinary drainage system, the catheter extends to a urinary drainage bag where its end is coupled to an inlet of a collecting compartment of the urinary drainage bag for collecting the urine in the collecting compartment of the urinary drainage bag.
The urinary drainage bag can typically hold between 0.5 liter to 5 liters of urine. When the urinary drainage bag is full, or emptied for other reasons, it is in a first alternative example replaced by a new and empty urinary drainage bag by removing the catheter from the inlet of the filled urinary drainage bag and placing the catheter on an inlet of the new urinary drainage bag.
In a second alternative example the urinary drainage bag comprises an outlet through which urine in the compartment of the urinary drainage bag can flow out of. An outlet valve regulates flow of urine out through the outlet. In the second alternative example the urinary drainage bag is emptied by having the outlet valve in an open state. In the second alternative example urine can also be taken from the urinary drainage bag for testing, for measuring of volume and analysis.
Examples of catheter systems and urinary drainage bags are described in the below patent applications and patents to which reference is made and which are hereby incorporated in the present application by reference. The references comprise: WO16008493, WO15067270, WO06110695, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,116,139, 5,531,726 WO02094128, U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,152, and WO9739705.

Method and a receptacle bag for emptying a urinary bag


A traction battery cell assembly including a battery cell and a cell case is provided. The cell case defines a cavity sized for receiving the battery cell and includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of support chambers disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. Each of the support chambers defines a polygon having multiple sides. The sides are arranged with one another to define an agent cavity to house neutralizing agent. The plurality of support chambers is arranged with the inner wall and the outer wall such that an impact to one of the walls causes a puncture to one of the sides of the support chambers releasing the neutralizing agent. Each of the support chambers may include five or more sides and adjacent sides may define an angle therebetween greater than ninety degrees.

In vehicle traction battery assemblies, battery cell structures may experience a variety of thermal and mechanical conditions throughout the structure's lifetime which may result in issues for the battery cell structure. For example, structural limitations of current pouch cases and metal cases do not necessarily accommodate for electrode expansion or damage as a result of vehicle impacts.

Vehicle high voltage battery cell assembly


A live steam locomotive carrier/portable steaming bay for a miniature train which would include a flat base portion of sufficient width and length to accommodate a standard miniature sized steam locomotive; a pair of parallel slots formed in the base portion from one end to the second end, for allowing the wheels of the locomotive to be placed into the slots so that the locomotive may be rolled along the length of the base portion; a peg member insertable into ports on both the first and second ends of the slot so that after the locomotive is in place the locomotive cannot inadvertently roll off of the first or second ends of the base portion; a pair of handle members extending upward from the base portion and each pair of handle members including a transverse portion for grasping by a person to carry the base portion in a substantial horizontal position with the steam locomotive thereupon; an indexing groove on at least one end of the base portion so that when the base portion is placed at the end of a track siding and the end portion is indexed onto a peg on the siding, the rail head of the siding lines up with the slots in the base portion; and adjusting screws on each corner of the base portion for raising or lowering the end portions of the base portion to accommodate the height of the rail head of the siding, so that once that is complete, the peg members are removed and the miniature steam locomotive is allowed to roll uninterrupted between the slotted base portion and the rail head of the siding so that the locomotive may then be placed into use.

1. Field of the Invention
The apparatus of the present invention relates to miniature trains. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which can function as a miniature steam locomotive carrier or a portable steaming bay, so that when the bay is properly positioned adjacent a siding, the portable live steam engine may roll from the bay onto the siding tracks thus avoiding any hand manipulation of the steam engine in placement onto a siding.
2. General Background of the Invention
In the art of miniature trains, one of the more interesting miniature train assemblies includes the use of a live steam locomotive as part of the miniature train assembly. Such a locomotive is usually fed with coal or other fuel such as alcohol or butane, and is fired up so that the engine produces steam, as does a regular locomotive, and the live steam engine is then utilized to pull the miniature train around a particular track assembly. One of the problems that may be confronted in such a situation is that because of the delicate nature of a live steam locomotive, the person who is operating the locomotive must spend a great deal of time in getting the steam engine fired up properly, so that it can then be utilized on the track assembly. Usually the firing up of a miniature live steam locomotive is undertaken away from the track, so as to avoid the locomotive from interruption of any use of the track while it is being fired up. Although there are sidings which feed into the main track, one would not necessarily want to use the siding to fire up the locomotive since the sidings are utilized for the most part in allowing other train assemblies to move off of the main track while other assemblies move onto the track.
Therefore, the owners of miniature live steam locomotives have found various ways to move the locomotive from the point at which it has been fired up onto the siding so that it then may be utilized on the main track. As one can expect, this is a delicate matter in view of the fact that the locomotive, because it is a live steam locomotive, is often quite hot and unreceptive to being moved easily from one point to the next. Furthermore, manipulating a locomotive by one's hands may result in inadvertent dropping of the locomotive or damaging of the locomotive should one have to quickly release the locomotive due to heat or the like. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system where a live steam locomotive may be fired up and then moved onto an area adjacent a track siding so that the locomotive may then be moved onto the siding and be put in use.

Locomotive carrier/portable steaming bay apparatus


A system, method, and computer program product for distributed monitoring of local thresholds at each of a number of monitoring nodes and initiating communication only after the locally observed data exceeds the local threshold. Both static thresholds and adaptive thresholds are considered. In the static case, a combination of two alternate strategies for considering thresholds minimizes communication overhead. In the adaptive case, local thresholds are adjusted based on the observed distributions of updated information in the distributed monitoring system. Both approaches yield significant savings over the naïve approach of performing processing at a centralized location.

Monitoring is an issue of primary concern in current and next-generation network systems. The objective of sensor networks is to monitor their surroundings for a variety of important applications, such as atmospheric conditions, wildlife behavior, and troop movements, among others. Monitoring in data networks is critical not only for accounting and for management, but also for detecting anomalies and attacks. Such monitoring applications are inherently continuous and distributed and usually introduce a significant communication overhead.
Consequently, there is a pressing need to identify the fundamental problem of thresholded counts and to address this problem by setting local thresholds at each monitoring node and initiating communication only after the locally observed data exceeds these local thresholds.

Communication-efficient distributed monitoring of thresholded counts


A system for remote meter viewing and reporting. The system comprises a remote camera located at the meter. The remote camera is coupled to a central computer through a communications channel. In response to a command from the central computer, the camera scans the meter face, i.e. readings on the dials, and stores an image in memory. The scanned image is transmitted to the central computer. The central computer includes software for analyzing the scanned image in determining the consumption of electricity, for example, by comparing the current readings on the dials with the readings on the dials taken at the last billing cycle. The processed image is then used to generate a billing statement which is sent to the household consumer using conventional post. In another aspect, the billing statement generated by the system includes scanned images of the past and current meter readings. The system according to the present invention is suitable for public utilities, such as gas, electricity, water companies and leasing companies who lease office equipment to companies situated in remote locations, which equipment is fitted with meters which record their use, i.e. copying machines, printers, etc. where it is desirable to determine the quantities of copies made, thus enabling the timely scheduling of visits of company service representatives to perform ongoing maintenance, thereby helping to ensure minimal down-time and optimal equipment performance.

Modern households are powered by electricity, gas and water. The household receives electricity from the electrical company, in many cases a public utility. Similarly, natural gas is supplied by a gas provider, and water is supplied by the water commission.
The consumption of electricity, gas and water is measured by meters which have been installed at the customer's house. The electricity meter measures the amount of electricity, i.e. power, used by the household and the consumption of electrical power is indicated by readings on the meter. The electrical meter typically comprises a number of dial meters which show the power consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh). In order to bill the consumer, it is necessary for the electrical utility to obtain a power consumption reading from the meter. Since the meter is located at the household, an employee from the power utility must physically visit the house to take the readings from the meter. Therefore, before the electrical utility can issue bills to its customers, the electrical meters at each house must be manually read. It will be appreciated that this represents a significant expenditure of manual effort. The situation is further exacerbated by the inaccessibility of some meters, e.g. located inside the basement of the house, and the unavailability for reading during normal working hours when the occupants of the house are at work. Return visits only increase the cost and length of time from the meter reading to issuance of a statement. Moreover, the profitability of an electrical utility is becoming increasingly dependent on the cost-effective provision of services and this means billing its customers at regular intervals.
In an attempt to overcome the problem of inaccessible meters, some power utilities have offered a "one-time" subsidy to householders to encourage them to relocate their electricity meters from inside the premises to outside, where they can be read by the utilities employees at their convenience. However, in most cases, the subsidy is far less than the actual cost for relocating the meter and results in an out-of-pocket expenditure for the consumer. Consequently, such an approach has not met with overwhelming success, and the problem of reading inaccessible meters remains.
In another attempt to provide billings at regular and frequent intervals, electrical power utilities have resorted to other techniques. One method involves estimating power consumption for a household based on past usage patterns. The consumer is billed based on an estimate, an every few months, for example six months, the meter is manually inspected and the actual power consumption is determined. Although such an approach is effective to reduce the number of on-site visits required by utility employees, it may be less than satisfactory from the viewpoint of the power utility or the consumer. For example, if the estimated power consumption is less than the actual power consumption, then the power utility is not collecting all the revenue it is owed. Similarly, if the estimate is overly conservative, then the consumer is paying for electricity which is not being used, which is not desirable from the consumer point of view and leads to the impression of over-billing.
Another method used by some electrical utilities in an attempt to reduce the number of on-site meter inspections involves sending out printed cards which resemble the meter face. The consumer is then obliged to fill in the cards according to meter position on each of the dials. Once again, while such an approach is effective in reducing the need to send out utility staff to read the meters, it does have shortcomings. Firstly, reliance on a consumer to accurately transpose the meter readings to the printed card introduces an element of error. Secondly, the unscrupulous consumer who understands the meter readings can transcribe inaccurate fraudulent meter readings. Although such fraud would eventually be uncovered by a routine meter check, it does lead to short term losses for the electrical utility and the need to send out a utility employee. The printed card method also introduces a further delay in obtaining meter readings which must be processed before billing statements can be generated and sent out to the consumers.
In an attempt to overcome these shortcomings, various automated systems (referred to as "smart meters") have been developed. Known smart meters are sold under various names such as for example, Power Stat.TM., Nertec.TM., Hexagram.TM. and Data Star.TM.. Such systems vary in price from approximately $220 for the Hexagram.TM. meter to $3000 for the Data Star.TM. meter. Such meters can provide an adequate solution (albeit an expensive one) to the problem of on-site meter reading, however they are usually subject to strict government regulations. In the eyes of regulatory bodies, such smart meters are perceived as having an inherent deficiency--the potential to report a false or incorrect reading relative to the actual reading on the meter. In Canada, for example, the Federal government has mandated that meter reading produced by such smart meters (i.e. non-intrusive reporting technology) be visually audited at least once a year, as a check to confirm that the "smart meters" are reporting power consumption accurately. It will be appreciated that such additional audit readings represent a significant additional expense for the utilities, without providing any reciprocal benefit.
A further disadvantage experienced with the smart meters from the standpoint of a public electrical utility is that the existing meters in the premises have already been amortized by the property owner, and replacement units for conventional analog meters are typically less than $100, therefore upgrading residential sites with smart meter represents a significant capital expenditure, and the end consumer would be reluctant to pay for the expenditure, thereby putting the financial burden on the electrical utility. Moreover, the staff at the utilities are fully trained to maintain, test and certify the existing meters. If a new smart meter is introduced, the utilities are faced with the prospect of trying to pass on the cost for personnel training, and the sophisticated calibrating and testing equipment which would be required, in addition to the high initial capital cost.
It will be appreciated that the profitability of a power utility depends in large part on billing customers on a timely fashion and collecting payments on a regular basis. Given that the business community usually extends credit for thirty days, if there was an economically viable method available for invoicing consumer at 15- or 30-day, rather than 60-day intervals, significant revenues could be captured earlier in the billing cycle by the power utilities.
Electricity generation is no longer a "natural monopoly", as more fuel efficient technologies are being introduced. Economic competition has forced industry to realize just how important electricity prices are in creating or destroying competitive advantage. The proposed restructuring of the North America (U.S.) Electric Utility industry will likely involve deregulation, which in turn, will enable consumers to buy power from any broker or supplier, not just their local monopoly utility.
Restructuring will mean new markets for electric companies, distributors, equipment manufacturers including the cable and telecommunications industries, new freedom for businesses to buy in an open market, and new opportunities for other industries. To capitalize on these opportunities, electric power companies are planning to dramatically boost customer service and market imaginative new products such as real-time pricing.
The ability of consumers to choose their energy suppliers and take advantage of an open market, real-time pricing, etc., will be enhanced if their electric meters can be accessible for reading at any time, thus permitting the accurate recording in real time of power consumed up to the (pre-determined) moment of cessation of power provided by one supplier, prior to commencing to consume power provided by a new supplier. While meters continue to be read visually on a premises-by-premises basis, the option of reading the meter at any time is unavailable at an acceptable cost.
Thus, there remains a need for a meter which can be scanned or read at any time and from a remote location, by the public utility or a billing agent of the utility. Such a meter preferably is available for reading without the need for on-site inspection and verification, and is accessible from a remote location at any time or on demand.

System for remote meter viewing and reporting


The invention is directed to a method of in vivo selection for genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells from nonmodified hematopoietic cells in a subject. Ibis goal is accomplished by introducing mutant dihydrofolate reductase genes into hematopoietic progenitor cells and then administering to a subject harboring the resultant transformed cells an antifolate and a nucleoside transport inhibitor. The invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding mutant dihydrofolate reductase genes and to hematopoietic cells transformed with such mutant genes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to selection of hematopoietic cells. Specifically, this invention relates to selection of hematopoietic progenitor and hematopoietic stem cells using a mutant dihydrofolate reductase in combination with a nucleoside transport inhibitor and an antifolate.
2. Background Art
Retroviral-mediated gene transfer is a potential therapeutic strategy for a number of diseases that affect the hematopoietic system. (Karisson S. xe2x80x9cTreatment of genetic defects in hematopoietic cell function by gene transfer.xe2x80x9d Blood 78:2481 (1991)). The early hematopoietic cells including hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are desirable targets for gene therapy. The hematopoietic stem cell is especially desirable for gene therapy because it can contribute progeny to all hematopoietic lineages and can support hematopoiesis throughout the lifetime of an animal. Despite these attractive features, primate HSCs remain relatively refractory to genetic modification. Although retroviral vectors provide one of the best methods for HSC transduction, recent clinical trials have shown that current protocols result in very low levels of HSC gene transfer. (Dunbar et al. xe2x80x9cRetrovirally marked CD34-enriched peripheral blood and bone marrow cells contribute to long-term engraft ment after autologous transplantation.xe2x80x9d Blood 85:3048 (1995) and Brenner et al. xe2x80x9cGene marking to determine whether autologous marrow infusion restores long-term haemopoiesis in cancer patients.xe2x80x9d Lancet 342:1134 (1993)) Because the overall proportion of modified cells ranges from 10 to 0.01% after hematopoietic reconstitution, there are insufficient numbers of modified cells to be therapeutically effective. Thus, gene transfer is currently not a feasible treatment option for many diseases such as hemoglobinopathies, AIDS, chronic granulomatous disease, and cancer.
Because of the problem of low numbers of modified cells after hematopoietic reconstitution, selection of primitive HSCs is required for significant enrichment of modified cells. Selection of more differentiated cells would allow only a transient enrichment of modified cells due to the limited self-renewal capacity of these more mature cells.
One means of selecting modified cells that has been the focus of intense investigation involves dihydrofolate reductase. Dihydrofolate reductase is a ubiquitous cellular enzyme that catalyzes the generation of tetrahydrofolate, a necessary cofactor for purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. Antifolate drugs such as methotrexate (MTX) are powerful inhibitors of DNA synthesis by virtue of their strong binding to the active site of DHFR. The discovery that single amino acid substitutions in the active site of DHFR could disrupt drug binding and thereby confer antifolate resistance (Simonsen et al. xe2x80x9cIsolation and expression of an altered mouse dihydrofolate reductase cDNA.xe2x80x9d Proc. Anti. Acad. Sci. U S A 80:2495 (1983)) raised the possibility that mutant DHFRs could potentially be used as drug resistance genes.
Mutant DHFR genes were the first drug resistance genes to be transferred to primary hematopoietic cells. Despite the theoretical advantages for using DHFR as an in vivo selectable marker, and the potential protection of hematopoiesis conferred by DHPR variants, evidence for in vivo selection has been equivocal using this experimental system. In MTX-treated mice containing the murine L22R (leucine to arginine substitution at codon 22) variant of DHFR, there appeared to be an enrichment of vector-transduced CFU-S cells following MTX treatment. (Corey et al. xe2x80x9cSerial transplantation of methotrexate-resistant bone marrow: protection of murine recipients from drug toxicity by progeny of transduced stem cells.xe2x80x9d Blood 75:337 (1990)) However, when Southern blot analysis was done to confirm an enrichment of vector-modified cells in myeloid tissue, no such enrichment could be documented. The authors suggested that more prolonged MTX exposure may be required for in vivo selection of DHFR-modified immature hematopoietic cells, thus implying that cell cycle status may play a significant role in antifolate resistance. In analogous experiments done using a human DHFR variant, only a 2-fold increase in vector-expressing myeloid progenitor cells was seen following MTX treatment. (Zhao et al. xe2x80x9cLong-term protection of recipient mice from lethal doses of methotrexate by marrow infected with a double-copy vector retrovirus containing a mutant dihydrofolate reductase.xe2x80x9d Cancer Gene Therapy 1:27 (1994)) Hence, the authors conclude from this study that a modest level of in vivo selection of DHFR-modified progenitors can be accomplished utilizing MTX alone. However, several important controls were omitted from these experiments, such as the percentage of MTX resistant progenitors from DHFR mice that were not treated with MTX, so that even this modest level of selection remains unconvincing.
Another study reports that human myeloid progenitor cells transduced with a vector expressing a human DHFR variant were selected and expanded in vitro in MTX-containing cultures. (Flasshove et al. xe2x80x9cEx vivo expansion and selection of human CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells after introduction of a mutated dihydrofolate reductase cDNA via retroviral gene transfer.xe2x80x9d Blood 85:566 (1995)) Vector-expressing progenitor cells were amplified two-fold using this approach. However, this approach was in vitro. Further, it is not clear if transduced hematopoietic stem cells could be amplified using this method.
Consistent with these disappointing results, recent findings demonstrate that hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors are highly resistant to antifolates. (Blau et al. xe2x80x9cCytokine prestimulation as a strategy for in vivo selection: resistance of hemopoietic progenitors to folate analogs.xe2x80x9d Stem Cell Gene Therapy: Biology and Techniques. Sep. 28-Oct. 1 (1995)) These findings lead the authors to conclude that antifolates are poorly suited for the in vivo selection of transduced hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. (Blau et al.).
The present invention overcomes these problems by disclosing a method which allows for effective elimination of unmodified hematopoietic cells which do not contain a transferred DHFR. The method thereby allows the modified hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells containing a modified DHFR to form a large proportion of the hematopoietic cells after reconstitution. To accomplish this result, the present method utilizes a nucleoside transport inhibitor to sensitize the non-modified hematopoietic cells to the antifolate. This invention, therefore, solves the problems identified by Blau et al. using a completely different approach.
xe2x80x9cThe use of nucleoside transport inhibitors has previously been proposed to potentiate the sensitivity of tumors to a variety of antifolates, including PALA, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and acivicin, and potentially make these more effective by blocking the salvage of exogenous nucleosides. However, this use has produced perplexing results. It has been well demonstrated in cultured cell lines that exogenously added nucleosides can reverse the toxicity of these drugs and that nucleoside transport inhibitors such as NBMPR and dipyridamole can restore toxicity. (Marina et al. xe2x80x9cEffect of nucleoside transport inhibitors on thymidine salvage and the toxicity of nucleoside analogs in mouse bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells.xe2x80x9d Cancer Communications 3:367 (1991)) However, in vivo studies with mice have shown either no antitumor effect of the transport inhibitor, no potentiation of the antitumor effect, or an increased somatic toxicity with little change in the therapeutic index. In addition, clinical phase I and II studies combining dipyridamole with acivicin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, or PALA have revealed only limited responses.xe2x80x9d
Thus, this invention utilizes for the first time nucleoside transport inhibitors to select against unmodified hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells to provide an effective means to utilize gene therapy to treat many diseases of hematopoietic cells.
In accordance with the purpose(s) of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, provides a method of in vivo selection for genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells from nonmodified hematopoietic cells in a subject comprising genetically modifying hematopoietic progenitor cells by introducing into the cells a nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a mutant dihydrofolate reductase which, when expressed, can confer antifolate resistance, administering to the subject the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells, administering to the subject an antifolate in an amount which inhibits the growth of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, wherein the inhibition of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells by the antifolate can be offset in vivo by nucleoside salvage, and administering to the subject a suitable nucleoside transport inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent the offset of the inhibitory effect of the antifolate in the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, whereby the combination of the antifolate and the nucleoside transport inhibitor selects in vivo for the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells.
The invention further provides a method of in vivo selection for hematopoietic progenitor cells genetically modified to contain and express a nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding an antifolate resistant dihydrofolate reductase from nonmodified hematopoietic cells in a subject comprising administering to the subject the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells, administering to the subject an antifolate in an amount which inhibits the growth of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, wherein the inhibition of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells by the antifolate can be offset in vivo by nucleoside salvage, and administering to the subject a suitable nucleoside transport inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent the offset of the inhibitory effect of the antifolate in the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, whereby the combination of the antifolate and the nucleoside transport inhibitor selects in vivo for the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of in vitro selection for genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells from nonmodified hematopoietic cells comprising genetically modifying hematopoietic progenitor cells by introducing into the cells a nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a mutant dihydrofolate reductase which when expressed can confer antifolate resistance, administering to hematopoietic cells comprising the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells and nonmodified hematopoietic cells an antifolate in an amount which inhibits the growth of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, wherein the inhibition of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells by the antifolate can be offset by nucleoside salvage, and administering to the hematopoietic cells a suitable nucleoside transport inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent the offset of the inhibitory effect of the antifolate in the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, whereby the combination of the antifolate and the nucleoside transport inhibitor selects in vitro for the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of in vitro selecting for genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells containing and expressing a nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding an antifolate resistant dihydrofolate reductase from nonmodified hematopoietic cells comprising administering to hematopoietic cells comprising genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells and nonmodified hematopoietic cells an antifolate in an amount which inhibits the growth of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, wherein the inhibition of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells by the antifolate can be offset by nucleoside salvage, and administering to the hematopoietic cells a suitable nucleoside transport inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent the offset of the inhibitory effect of the antifolate in the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, whereby the combination of the antifolate and the nucleoside transport inhibitor selects in vitro for the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of in vivo selection for genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells from nonmodified hematopoietic cells in a subject comprising, genetically modifying hematopoietic progenitor cells in the subject by introducing into the cells a nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a mutant dihydrofolate reductase which when expressed can confer antifolate resistance, administering to the subject an antifolate in an amount which inhibits the growth of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, wherein the inhibition of the nonmodified hematopoietic cells by the antifolate can be offset in vivo by nucleoside salvage, and administering to the subject a suitable nucleoside transport inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent the offset of the inhibitory effect of the antifolate in the nonmodified hematopoietic cells, whereby the combination of the antifolate and the nucleoside transport inhibitor selects in vivo for the genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells.
These selection methods are applicable to not only hematopoietic progenitor cells, but to hematopoietic stem cells as well. Additionally, the nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a dihydrofolate reductase which is relatively resistant to an antifolate can further comprise a heterologous gene. Using a nucleic acid further comprising a heterologous gene, the methods of the present invention can be used in gene therapy procedures.
The present invention further provides nucleic acids encoding mutant dihydrofolate reductases and cells expressing those nucleic acids.

In vivo selection of primitive hematopoietic cells


A liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film-forming composition includes (A) a polymer that includes a structural unit (I) shown by the following formula (1), and (S) a solvent. R1 in the formula (1) represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. The polymer (A) preferably further includes a structural unit (II) that includes a sulfo group. The polymer (A) preferably further includes a structural unit (III) shown by the following formula (3). R2 in the formula (3) represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. R3 represents a linear or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a monovalent alicyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, provided that at least one hydrogen atom of the hydrocarbon group or the alicyclic group is substituted with a fluorine atom.

A semiconductor device production process or the like utilizes a stepping or step-and-scan projection aligner that transfers the pattern of a reticle (photomask) to each shot area of a wafer via a projection optical system, a photoresist film being formed on the wafer. The resolution of the projection optical system included in the projection aligner increases as the exposure wavelength decreases and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases. Therefore, a shorter exposure wavelength has been used for the projection aligner along with miniaturization of integrated circuits, and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system has been increased.
The depth of focus is also important for exposure. The resolution R and the depth of focus δ are defined by the following expressions. The depth of focus δ increases while obtaining an identical resolution R when using radiation having a shorter wavelength.R=k1·λ/NA δ=k2·λ/NA2 where, λ is the exposure wavelength, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection optical system, and k1 and k2 are process coefficients.
A projection aligner has been normally designed so that the wafer placement space is filled with air or nitrogen. The resolution R and the depth of focus δ are shown by the following expressions when the space between the wafer and the lens of the projection aligner is filled with a medium having a refractive index of n.R=k1·(λ/n)/NA λ=k2·nλ/NA2
For example, when using water as the medium of an ArF process (the refractive index n of light having a wavelength of 193 nm in water is 1.44), the resolution R is 69.4% and the depth of focus is 144% as compared with the case of using air or nitrogen as the medium. An exposure method that utilizes such a medium is referred to as liquid immersion lithography. Liquid immersion lithography makes it possible to transfer a finer pattern using radiation having a shorter wavelength (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 11-176727).
When using water as the medium for liquid immersion lithography, water may permeate the photoresist film formed on the wafer when the photoresist film and the lens of the projection aligner come in contact with water, so that the resolution of the photoresist film may decrease. Moreover, the components of the photoresist composition may be eluted into water, and may contaminate the surface of the lens of the projection aligner.
Therefore, a liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film (protective film) may be formed on the photoresist film in order to isolate the photoresist film from the medium (e.g., water). It is normally desired that the liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film exhibits sufficient transmittance at the wavelength of radiation, can be formed on the photoresist film without being intermixed with the photoresist film, is not eluted into the medium (e.g., water) (i.e., is stable), and is not easily dissolved in the developer (e.g., alkaline solution) (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2005-264131, Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2006-64711, and Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2008-139789).
When using a scan-type liquid immersion lithography system, the immersion medium may not follow the movement of the lens, so that watermark defects (i.e., waterdrops remain on the exposed photoresist film) may occur. This may make it difficult to increase the scan speed, so that the production efficiency may decrease. A liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film-forming composition that contains a polymer that exhibits high water repellency (hydrophobicity) has been known (WO08/047,678). However, since a liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film that exhibits high hydrophobicity exhibits low solubility in the developer, bridge defects (i.e., the lines of a line-and-space pattern are connected in the top area) may occur due to undissolved residues of the liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film.

Liquid immersion lithography upper-layer film-forming composition and photoresist pattern-forming method


There is provided an electrically and chemically stable liquid crystalline compound which exhibits a significantly large value of De and a high voltage holding ratio. The compound is a phenyldioxane derivative represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R represents a C1-C20 alkyl group; each of n1 and n2 represents 0 or 1; each of Q.sub.1 through Q.sub.6 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom, provided that Q.sub.3 is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom when n2 is 0, and that at least one of Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.3 is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom when n2 is 1; each of Za and Zb represents a single bond, --COO--, or --CF.sub.2 O--; Zc represents a single bond or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; Y represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-C5 halogenated alkyl group in which one or more non-adjacent methylene groups may be replaced by oxygen atoms or sulfur atoms; and each of the elements that constitute the compound may comprise isotopes of the element. The compound also exhibits excellent compatibility with previously known liquid crystalline compounds, and is advantageously used for low voltage driving of liquid crystal displays for TFTs. There are also provided liquid crystal compositions comprising the compound, as well as liquid crystal display elements constructed of the compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystalline compounds and liquid crystal compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to phenyldioxane derivatives, which are liquid crystalline compounds suitable for use as components of liquid crystal compositions, inter alia liquid crystal compositions for TFT (thin film transistor) liquid crystal display elements, as well as to liquid crystal compositions containing the compounds, and to liquid crystal display elements formed through use of the liquid crystal compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display elements utilize the optical anisotropy and the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal substances. Based on their display modes, liquid crystal display elements are classified into various types such as TN (twisted nematic) mode, DS (dynamic scattering) mode, guest-host mode, DAP (deformation of vertical aligned phases) mode, and STN (super-twisted nematic) mode. Liquid crystal materials suitable for these types of liquid crystal display elements have different characteristics. Recently, liquid crystal display elements are required to have improved display quality, resulting in increased demand for active-matrix-mode display elements such as a TFT (thin film transistor) liquid crystal display element.
Liquid crystal materials used for these display elements must be stable against moisture, air, heat, light, etc. Further, they must exhibit liquid crystal phases within as broad a temperature range as possible, around room temperature; must have a low viscosity, good compatibility, a large dielectric anisotropy value (.DELTA..epsilon.), and an optimal birefringence value (.DELTA.n); and must exhibit a high voltage holding ratio. Especially, liquid crystal materials used for TFT liquid crystal display elements must have a high voltage holding ratio. However, at the present, no single compound satisfies all of the above-mentioned requirements. Therefore, liquid crystal compositions that are obtained by mixing several kinds of liquid crystalline and non-liquid crystalline compounds are currently used.
Recently, there has arisen a demand to drive TFT liquid crystal display elements at low voltage. This in turn demands liquid crystalline compounds and liquid crystal compositions which have a higher .DELTA..epsilon. as compared to conventional liquid crystal materials (hereinafter, the term "liquid crystalline compounds" is used as a term which encompasses compounds having liquid crystal phases and compounds that have liquid crystal phases even when mixed with other liquid crystals). Therefore, active efforts have been carried out to develop a liquid crystal material having a large .DELTA..epsilon. while maintaining a high voltage holding ratio. Conventionally, as a liquid crystal material exhibiting a high voltage holding ratio, a fluorine-containing compound such as a compound expressed by the following formula (10) is generally known (Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 1-04496). ##STR2##
The compound of formula (10) has a higher specific resistance than do liquid crystalline compounds having a cyano group, and thus, it is mainly used for a component of liquid crystal compositions for TFT liquid crystal display elements. However, since the extrapolated .DELTA..epsilon. of the compound is as small as 8.7, the compound cannot be used as a liquid crystal material for low voltage drive, such as 2.5 V drive, which is currently demanded.
The above-mentioned extrapolated .DELTA..epsilon. is a value calculated from the .DELTA..epsilon. of a composition containing a base liquid-crystal having a nematic phase and the formula (10) compound dissolved therein, the .DELTA..epsilon. of the base liquid crystal, and the mixture ratio of the compound with respect to the composition. The extrapolated .DELTA..epsilon. substantially reflects the .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (10) compound (in the following descriptions, .DELTA..epsilon. used in relation to compounds has the same meaning).
As a liquid crystal material having a .DELTA..epsilon. larger than that of the above-mentioned compound of formula (10), a trifluorophenyl derivative expressed by the following formula (11) is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2-233626). ##STR3##
The .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (11) compound is 11.7, which is greater than the .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (10) compound. However, this compound also cannot satisfy the market needs for low voltage drive, for the same reason as described above.
Moreover, a trifluoromethylphenyl derivative expressed by the following formula (12) and a trifluoromethoxyphenyl derivative expressed by the following formula (13) are known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. (kokai) No. 4-506361). ##STR4##
Since the .DELTA..epsilon.s of these compounds are not sufficiently large (for example, the .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (13) compound is 8.7 (IDY (The Institute of Television Engineers of Japan Techninal Report) 95), these compounds cannot satisfy the market needs for low voltage drive, for the same reason as described above.
There is also known a tricyclic compound expressed by the following formula (14) which corresponds to the above-mentioned formula (13) compound but having two fluorine atoms substituted at lateral positions of the central benzene ring (IDY (The Institute of Television Engineers of Japan Techninal Report) 95). ##STR5##
The .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (14) compound is 13.0, which is 4.3 greater than the .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (13) compound. However, this compound also cannot satisfy the market needs for low voltage drive, for the same reason as described above.
Also, a dioxane derivative expressed by the following formula (15) is known as a compound having a large .DELTA..epsilon. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. (kokai) No. 2-233626). ##STR6##
The .DELTA..epsilon. of the formula (15) compound is as large as about 15. However, the .DELTA..epsilon. of this compound is not sufficiently large to lower the drive voltage of TFT liquid crystal display elements to a required level. Also, since the voltage holding ratio of the compound at 100.degree. C. is as low as 89%, the mixture ratio of the compound cannot be increased for the preparation of a liquid crystal composition for TFT liquid crystal display elements. Accordingly, there have been strong demand for a compound that can solve the above-described problems.
Lastly, a dioxane derivative expressed by the following formula (16) which resembles the compound (15) is also known. However, the .DELTA..epsilon. of this compound has been found to be as small as 9.0 (Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 64-2114). ##STR7##

Phenyldioxane derivatives, liquid crystal compositions, and liquid crystal display elements


An electrical connector (1) for mounting to a circuit board (5) includes an insulative housing (2), a number of electrical terminals (3) and a conductive outer shield (4). The insulative housing has a mating face (20), a mounting face (22) opposite to the mating face and a number of passageways (24) extending through the mating face and the mounting face. The electrical terminals are received in the passageways. The conductive outer shield encloses the insulative housing and has a pair of grounding tabs (46) partly inserted into the circuit board and partly cooperating with the insulative housing to be supported by the circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector which has a reduced height above a circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computers, especially notebook computers, are becoming increasingly compact nowadays, so the entire space within a personal computer enclosure must be efficiently used, which becomes one of the most important design considerations for electrical connectors mounted on a circuit board in the personal computer enclosure.
Miniature DIN (mini DIN) connectors are often provided for connecting mainframes to keyboards or mice of the personal computers. When the mini DIN connectors are adapted to be used for notebook computers, insulative housings and conductive outer shields of the mini DIN connectors are always in cylindrical configurations for compactness considerations. In addition, the cylindrical mini DIN connector is often mounted to a circuit board with a front lower portion thereof located below a bottom face of the circuit board for further reducing the height thereof above a top face of the circuit board.
The cylindrical mini DIN connector is supported by the circuit board on a rear portion thereof and a front portion of the cylindrical mini DIN connector is often at the risk of downwardly moving with respect to the circuit board after long-term insertion or plugging of a complementary electrical connector, since there is no retention between the front portion of the cylindrical mini DIN connector and the circuit board, which puts the electrical connection between electrical terminals of the cylindrical mini DIN connector and the circuit board in the danger of breaking out.
Some methods have already been proposed to improve the retention between the cylindrical mini DIN connector and the circuit board, including enlarging an engaging area of the insulative housing so as to be secured on the circuit board. However, enlarging the engaging area unavoidably enlarges also the volume of the whole cylindrical mini DIN connector and increases the space occupied by the cylindrical mini DIN connector on the circuit board.
Therefore, an improved electrical connector is desired to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.
A major object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which has a reduced height above a circuit board and which is reliably mounted on the circuit board.
An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of electrical terminals and a conductive outer shield. The insulative housing is generally cylindrical and comprises a generally circular mating face, a generally circular mounting face opposite to the mating face and a plurality of passageways extending through the mating and the mounting faces. The electrical terminals are received in the passageways. The conductive outer shield encloses the insulative housing and comprises a pair of grounding tabs cooperating with the insulative housing to support the electrical connector on a circuit board while the electrical connector is partly located below the circuit board.

Shielded electrical connector having reduced height above circuit board


An input signal reading circuit includes an up-down counter receiving an input signal and a sampling clock to count up the samplig clock when the input signal is at a high level and to count down the sampling clock when the input signal is at a low level. The up-down counter outputs an underflow signal when a count value of the up-down counter becomes zero. A comparator compares the count value of the up-down counter with a reference value held in a register, to generate a coincidence signal when the count value of the up-down counter becomes coincident with the reference value. A RS flipflop is set by the coincidence signal to bring the read-out signal into a high level, and is reset by the underflow signal to bring the read-out signal into a low level.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an input signal reading circuit, and more specifically to an input signal reading circuit for stably reading a noisy input signal with a small amount of delay and a high degree of fidelity.
2. Description of related art
Japanese Patent Application Pre-examination Publication No. JP-A-57-087232 (the content of the which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application, and also an English abstract of JP-A-57-087232 is available from the Japanese Patent Office and the content of the English abstract of JP-A-57-087232 is also incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application) discloses one typical prior art input signal reading circuit, which will be now described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of the prior art input signal reading circuit disclosed in JP-A-57-087232, and FIG. 2 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the prior art input signal reading circuit disclosed in JP-A-57-087232.
As shown in FIG. 1, the prior art input signal reading circuit disclosed in JP-A-57-087232 includes an integral counter, namely, an up counter 5 for sample-counting an input signal S.sub.1, and a timing pulse generator 6 for generating a sampling clock and a read timing pulse S.sub.8. The up counter 5 is controlled by the input signal S.sub.1 to count the sampling clock only when the input signal S.sub.1 is at a high level, and to output a signal S.sub.7 of a high level when a count value of the up counter 5 is equal to or larger than a predetermined constant value (threshold value) preset in the up counter itself. When the count value of the up counter 5 is smaller than the predetermined constant value, namely, when the count value of the up counter 5 has not yet reached the predetermined constant value, the up counter 5 outputs the signal S.sub.7 of a low level. When the read timing pulse S.sub.8 is generated by the timing pulse generator 6, the up counter 5 is reset or cleared, to re-start a count-up from an initial value. On the other hand, a D-type flipflop 7 latches the signal S.sub.7 at each time the read timing pulse S.sub.8 is generated, and a Q output of the D-type flipflop 7 is outputted as a read-out output signal S.sub.9 of the input signal S.sub.1.
Thus, by appropriately selecting the frequency of the sampling clock and a period of the read timing pulse S.sub.8, a noise contained in the input signal S.sub.1 is removed as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 2.
As seen from the timing chart of FIG. 2, the prior art input signal reading circuit is constructed to detect, in synchronism with the read timing pulse S.sub.8, whether or not the count value of the up counter 5 reaches the predetermined constant value, namely, whether or not the up counter 7 outputs the output signal S.sub.7 of the high level. Furthermore, the up counter 5 is reset in synchronism with the read timing pulse S.sub.8, namely, at the period of the read timing pulse S.sub.8. Therefore, although the count value of the up counter 5 has already reached the predetermined constant value, the high level output signal of the up counter 5 is not detected unless the read timing pulse S.sub.8 is outputted In addition, since advancement of the counting is delayed by the low level noise, if the count value of the up counter 5 does not reach the predetermined constant value until the read timing pulse S.sub.8 is outputted, the count value of the up counter 5 is reset, so that the high level output signal of the up counter 5 is not detected. As a result, the detection timing is significantly delayed, as shown in a left half of FIG. 2, and in extreme case, although a high level input signal is received, it is not possible to detect the input signal, as shown in a right half of FIG. 2.

Input signal reading circuit having a small delay and a high fidelity


Methods and apparatus relating to generic host-based controller latency are described. In one embodiment, latency information, corresponding to one or more devices, is detected from a host controller that controls access to the one or more devices. Detection of the latency information is performed in response to one or more transactions that are initiated by the host controller. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.

As mobile computing devices become more common place, one major goal of system designers is to reduce power consumption, e.g., to allow for longer battery life, less heat generation, etc. However, when it comes to power consumption reduction in various components of a computer system, system designers have to generally rely on information obtained from predefined standards that govern timing of operations for such components to ensure correctness. Accordingly, whether or not a component is capable of entering a lower power consumption state and still maintain correctness may directly depend on whether a standard (e.g., relating to timing requirements) has already been predefined for that component.
Furthermore, while energy efficiency is important for today's small form factor mobile computing devices, energy efficiency is also important for larger systems, in part, as higher power consumption may increase heat generation. Excessive heat may damage components of a computer system. Further, the higher power utilization may increase battery consumption, e.g., in mobile computing devices, which in turn reduces the amount of time a mobile device may be operated prior to recharging. The additional power consumption may additionally require usage of larger batteries that may weigh more. Heavier batteries reduce the portability or usability of a mobile computing device.

Generic host-based controller latency method and appartus


An oven includes a front door, a pivotable product support platform, and a back opening. There is a ramp connected to the back of the oven at the back opening, so that, when the platform pivots downwardly to eject product from the oven, the product slides down the platform and onto the ramp. The oven includes a control system, including a timer, which controls a solenoid that causes the platform to drop down when it is time to remove the product from the oven.

The present invention pertains to ovens, and, in particular, to an oven which automatically dispenses food at a predetermined time.
In fast food restaurants, there is a constant striving to efficiently prepare food that is wholesome and appealing, using workers who are not highly skilled. When preparing biscuits and other oven-cooked foods, the workers typically put the food in the oven, set a cook time and temperature, and wait for a signal to remove the food. When the worker receives the signal, he must stop what he is doing, open the oven door, and remove the food. If he does not open the door at the correct time, the product may be overcooked or undercooked.


Security of wireless networks is improved by rejecting traffic from a wireless device located outside a defined spatial boundary. The device's spatial position with respect to the boundary is determined using directional antenna arrays on a plurality of measurement points, and calculating where the vectors intersect. Having thus determined a device's location, access to a wireless network can be denied if the device is outside a predetermined spatial boundary. Or, the device's location inside or outside of the spatial boundary can be used for monitoring a changeable location of one or more client devices in a wireless network, for example as a theft detection or theft deterrent mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to security of computer networks, and deals more particularly with methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business whereby access to a wireless network is controlled based on a device's presence within a spatial boundary. The disclosed techniques may also be used for determining whether devices remain within a spatial boundary.
2. Description of the Related Art
"WiFi" (for "wireless fidelity") or "Wi-Fi"® is the label commonly applied to devices following the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ("IEEE") 802.11b specification. This abbreviation is taken from the logo of an industry interoperability group (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc., or "WECA", also known as the Wi-Fi Alliance) that certifies compliant products. ("Wi-Fi" is a registered trademark of Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc.) WiFi technology allows a raw wireless data transmission rate of approximately 11 Mbps at indoor distances from several dozen to several hundred feet, and outdoor distances of several to tens of miles using an unlicensed portion of the 2.4 GHz band in 14 overlapped channels.
While two modes of operation are possible, namely peer-to-peer and network, most WiFi installations use the network form where an "access point" serves as a hub bridging client adapters to one another and to a wired network, often using Network Address Translation ("NAT") technology. See FIG. 1, where this configuration is illustrated. When a client wants to join a network hosted by an access point, it must first synchronize with that network by performing the following synchronization protocol steps. First, to establish initial communications, it either listens for a "beacon" sent periodically by the access point or sends a "probe" and awaits a response. Next, the client undergoes an authentication process with the access point. If that is successful, the client proceeds to an association process which sets up a logical session over which higher-layer protocols and data may flow. At any point thereafter, either the access point or the client may terminate the association, shutting down further data communications. After the association is terminated, no further data communication can occur until the aforementioned synchronization protocol is repeated to join the network anew.
The world of WiFi is no longer confined to expensive-gadget-happy geeks, but is being embraced by everyday people who love the convenience of being mobile. Mass production has made access points and client adapters so inexpensive that WiFi is being widely used for networking in many places, including homes and small offices, replacing the high-cost special wiring of the past and allowing folks to easily move their computing workspace on a moment-to-moment whim. As the majority of users purchasing commodity-priced WiFi gear are non-technical, they have no insight to the underlying technology nor do they understand the side effects of its use.
Unfortunately, WiFi has also attracted the hacker fringe, who view its deployment as an invitation to steal access to the Internet and/or locally-available services. The poor security which has been identified in WiFi's standard protocols (see, for example, "Wireless networks wide open to hackers" by Robert Lemos, which may be found on the Internet at http://news.com.com/2100-1001-269853.html?tag=bplst ), coupled with cheap ways to intercept the radio signals miles outside the nominal 300 foot service radius (see "Antenna on the Cheap" by Rob Flickenger, located on the Internet at http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448) has opened the barn door to even the lowly budget-strapped high school "script kiddy". With this trend, new terms for wireless hacking have emerged, such as "War Driving" and "Warchalking". War driving is the activity of locating WiFi networks that can easily be tapped from a laptop in a car. (See "WAR DRIVING" by Sandra Kay Miller, located on the Internet at http://www.infosecuritymag.com/articles/november01/technology_wardriving.shtml, for an article on this topic.). Warchalking is the practice of marking the presence of WiFi networks (for example, on the side of a building where a WiFi network is detected by a "war driver", or on the sidewalk in front of the building) so they are easy to locate without a device such as the $6.45 "Pringles" can antenna (described in the above-mentioned "Antenna on the Cheap" article) used by the war drivers.
What is needed is a way of improving security in WiFi networks to prevent intrusion by unauthorized devices. The solution must be easy to set up, even in a home environment, and must not require changes to the WiFi standards or to existing client device adapters.

Monitoring changeable locations of client devices in wireless networks

International Business Machines Corporation


An outline font dictionary contains outline font data indicative of outlines of characters to be drawn by a drawing output device such as a display device or a printing device. Each of the outlines is divided into a plurality of outline sections which are defined by a plurality of element structures, respectively, formed from the outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary. When the outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary is indicative of continuous outline sections each forming a rectilinear segment, a polygonal line element structure is formed from the read out outline font data. Based on the polygonal line element structure, the continuous outline sections each forming the rectilinear segment are drawn as a polygonal line by the drawing output device. When, on the other hand, the outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary is indicative of a outline section forming a curved segment, a plurality of approximate points positioned on the curved segment are specified. Based on the specified approximate points, there is formed a polygonal line element structure on the basis of which the outline section is drawn as a polygonal line by the drawing output device. As a consequence, the element structures used to draw the characters are reduced in number when the outlines of the characters includes the continuous rectilinear segments or a curved segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing outline font data indicative of outlines of characters and, more particularly to the improvement in forming element structures based on the outline font data and used for drawing of the characters on a display screen or a paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the use of word processors and computers such as a personal computers executing a word processing application has grown and developed remarkably. Such word processors or computers make it possible to create a presentable document with ease and, as a consequence, not only formal documents such as contracts exchanged between corporations but also personal documents such as letters privately exchanged are created in general with the aid of the word processor or computer.
In creating a manuscript, a writer can draw characters of favorite size and design and cause the characters to reflect the writer's personality with ease. On the other hand, when creating a document with the aid of an outmoded word processor or personal computer, the writer can hardly cause the characters to reflect the writer's personality because of the fact that such a word processor or personal computer provides only a few character sets of predetermined size and design for the writer. The recent growth and development of the computer technology, however, enables the word processor or personal computer to provide a wide variety of character sets for the writer.
The sets of characters drawn through the word processor or computer are generally called "fonts" and are classified into bit map font groups and outline font groups in accordance with their own data structure and data processing technique. The fonts are stored in a storage device such as a hard disk or ROM (Read-only Memory).
Each of the characters of a bit map font is represented by plural bunches of dots each corresponding to each of picture elements provided for a drawing output device such as a display device or printing device and, accordingly, the finesse of the bit map font depends upon the resolution of the drawing output device. Provided that bit map font data of appropriate character sizes is stored in the storage device of the word processor or personal computer, fine characters can be drawn extremely quickly by the drawing output device or printing device on a screen or on paper. The reason for this is that the process of displaying or printing out the bit map font requires no complicated calculation by the drawing output device or computer. If, however, the character is enlarged with respect to the original character size and displayed or printed out, the outlines of the characters become jagged. This means that the characters have reduced drawing quality and, as a consequence, that the bit map font is unsuitable to change the character size.
On the other hand, the outline font is suitable to change the character size and has been frequently used in recent years. In general, each of the characters of the outline font is formed by drawing the outlines of the character and painting regions surrounded by the outlines. If, therefore, the, character is enlarged with respect to the original character size and displayed or printed out, the outlines of the characters are prevented from becoming jagged. Data indicative of the outline font are contained in a outline font dictionary stored in the storage device. The characters of the outline font are drawn by a display or printing device after the outline font data is processed in a manner described as follows.
FIG. 1 shows in part an example of the outline font dictionary containing the outline font data and stored in a storage device. The outline font dictionary is formed on the assumption that each of the outlines of the characters is divided into a plurality of outline sections which are drawn in turn to form the outline in a dictionary coordinate system of the outline font dictionary. The dictionary coordinate system is defined by x-axis and y-axis intersecting each other at a right angle and extending horizontally and vertically, respectively. The outline font dictionary partly shown in FIG. 1 comprises drawing data groups DG1 to DG7 on the basis of which an outline shown in FIG. 2 is drawn in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG1 comprises a drawing point movement operator indicating that a drawing point provided for the dictionary coordinate system is moved from the origin to a destination point in the dictionary coordinate system without drawing, and a coordinate data set representative of an absolute x-coordinate and an absolute y-coordinate, i.e., coordinates (0, 100) of the destination point in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG2 comprises a rectilinear segment drawing operator of an absolute coordinate type indicating the drawing point is moved on a slanted straight line from the current point to a destination point in the dictionary coordinate system to draw a slantindicular rectilinear segment, and a coordinate data set representative of absolute coordinates (100, 200) of the destination point in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG3 comprises a horizontal rectilinear segment drawing operator of an absolute coordinate type indicating that the drawing point is horizontally moved on a straight line from the current point to a destination point in the dictionary coordinate system to draw a horizontal rectilinear segment, and a coordinate data set representative of absolute x-coordinate (150) of the destination point in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG4 comprises a vertical rectilinear segment drawing operator of a relative coordinate type indicating that the drawing point is vertically moved on a straight line from the current point to a destination point to draw a vertical rectilinear segment, and a coordinate data set representative of relative y-coordinate (-200) of the destination point with respect to the current point in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG5 comprises a horizontal rectilinear segment drawing operator of a relative coordinate type indicating that the drawing point is horizontally moved on a straight line from the current point to a destination point to draw a horizontal rectilinear segment, and a coordinate data set representative of relative x-coordinate (-50) of the destination point in the dictionary coordinate system. The drawing data group DG6 comprises a curved segment drawing operator indicating that the drawing point is moved on a curved line from the current point to a destination point to draw a curved segment, and three coordinated data sets representative of absolute coordinates (50, 0), (0, 50) and (0, 100) of three control points, respectively, which define the curved segment in cooperation with the current point. The drawing data group DG7 comprises an outline data ending operator indicating the ending of an outline partly forming the outlines of the character.
On the basis of the drawing data groups DG1 through DG7 shown in FIG. 1, there is drawn an outline which forms part of a character and consists of rectilinear segments LS2-LS5 and a curved segment CS6 shown in FIG. 2. Firstly, based on the drawing data group DG1, the drawing point is vertically moved straight from the origin of the coordinates (0, 0) to a first destination point D1 of the coordinates (0, 100) without drawing. Based on the drawing data group DG 2, the drawing point is moved on a slanted straight line from the first point D1 of the coordinates (0, 100) to a second point D2 of the coordinates (100, 200) to draw a slantindicular rectilinear segment LS2. Based on the drawing data group DG3, the drawing point is horizontally moved on a straight line from the second point D2 of the coordinates (100, 200) to a third point D3 of the coordinates (150, 200) to draw a horizontal rectilinear segment LS3. Based on the drawing data group DG4, the drawing point is vertically moved on a straight line from the third point D3 of the coordinates (150, 200) to a fourth point D4 of the coordinates (150, 0) to draw a vertical rectilinear segment LS4. Based on the drawing data group DG5, the drawing point is horizontally moved on a straight line from the fourth point DG4 of the coordinates (150, 0) to a fifth point D5 of the coordinates (100, 0) to draw a horizontal rectilinear segment LS5. Based on the drawing data group DG6, the drawing point is moved on a curved line from the fifth point D5 of the coordinates (100, 0) to the first point D1 of the coordinates (100, 0) to draw a curved segment CS6. A series of drawing operations set forth above is terminated by the drawing data group DG7 and, thus, the outline of the character is completed. It should be kept in mind that the outline shown in FIG. 2 represents a simple figure and has been selected in order to simplify the description. The outline is not included in the outline of a character actually put to use. As will be understood from the foregoing description and FIGS. 1 and 2, the divided outline sections are defined by the drawing data groups DG2 through DG6, respectively. The curved segment based on the drawing data group DG6 is a so-called Bezier cubic curve which is a cubic spline approximation to a set of four control points. In FIG. 2, the four control points correspond to points D5, D61, D62 and D63(=D1), respectively. The curved segment passes through the points D5 and D63 and has a shape that is specified by the position of the points D61 and D62 with respect to the points D5 and D63.
In practical drawing operation, after the outline font data are read out from the outline font dictionary, the read outline font data are processed as described below and stored in a storage device for a short time. The outline font is drawn in accordance with the processed data read out from the storage device. The processing technique will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3-6. A conventional outline font data processing system is shown in FIG. 3 as comprising a path constructing unit 100, a font drawing unit 150 and a common storage unit 140 referred to by the path constructing unit 100 and the font drawing unit 150 without discrimination.
The path constructing unit 100 comprises a dispatching unit 101, drawing point movement data processing unit 102, a rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 103, a horizontal rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 104, a vertical rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 105, a curved segment drawing data processing unit 106 and an outline ending data processing unit 107. Upon receiving an instruction to draw a character from a control unit 120, the path constructing unit 100 reads out outline font data corresponding to the character from an outline font dictionary 130. The outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary 130 are judged as to the operator type by the dispatching unit 101. If the read outline font data is of a drawing point movement operator type, the read out outline font data are transferred to the drawing point movement data processing unit 102. If the data is of a rectilinear segment drawing operator type; the read out outline font data are transferred to the rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 103. If the data is of a horizontal rectilinear segment drawing operator type, the read out outline font data are transferred to the horizontal rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 104. If the data is of a vertical rectilinear segment drawing operator type, the read out outline font data are transferred to the vertical rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 105. If the data is of a curved segment drawing operator type, the read out outline font data are transferred to the curved segment drawing data processing unit 106. If the data is of an outline data ending operator type, the read out outline font data are transferred to the outline ending data processing unit 107. In the data processing units 102-107, element structures are formed in accordance with the transferred outline font data and stored in a memory area previously reserved on the common storage unit 140. The element structures thus formed are connected in serial, thereby to construct a graphic path. Each of the element structures comprises a pointer indicative of a location of the following element structure, element type data representative of an element type of each of the element structures, a coordinate data set indicative of coordinates of a destination point in a drawing coordinate system provided for the drawing output device such as a display or printing device.
When drawing data groups A, B and C are read out by the path constructing unit 100 from the outline font dictionary 130 shown in FIG. 3, the drawing data group A is transferred to the drawing point movement data processing unit 102. On the other hand, the drawing data groups B and C are transferred to the rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 103. The drawing point movement data processing unit 102 processes the drawing data group A to form a drawing point movement element structure A' shown in FIG. 3, while the rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 103 processes the drawing data groups B and C to form rectilinear segment element structures B' and C' shown in FIG. 3, respectively.
The process of forming the rectilinear segment element structure B' will be described, by way of example, hereinafter. The procedure by the rectilinear segment drawing data processing unit 103 is shown in FIG. 4 as comprising three steps. In the first step, the coordinates (x2, y2) of the drawing data group B in the dictionary coordinate system are mapped onto the drawing output device coordinate system, so that coordinates (x'2, y'2) in the drawing output device coordinate system can be obtained. At the second step, a memory area on the common storage unit 140 is reserved for the rectilinear segment element structure B' and, afterwards, the rectilinear segment element structure B' is formed and stored in the reserved memory area. The element type data of the rectilinear segment element structure B' are set as indicating a rectilinear segment. The obtained coordinates (x'2, y'2) are substituted for coordinates (x, y) of the coordinate data set of the rectilinear segment element structure B'. At the third step, the rectilinear segment element structure B' is connected to the graphic path by substituting the address of the rectilinear segment element structure B' for the pointer of the drawing point movement element structure A'. The drawing point movement element structure A' and the rectilinear segment element structure C' are formed in a similar manner. The element type data of the drawing point movement element structure A' are set as indicating the movement of the drawing point. The coordinates (x'1, y'1) of the drawing movement element structure A' and the coordinates (x'3, y'3) of the rectilinear segment element structure C' are obtained by mapping the coordinates (x1, y1) of the drawing data group A and the coordinates (x3, y3) of the drawing data group C onto the drawing output device coordinate system, respectively. The horizontal and vertical rectilinear segment drawing data processing units 104 and 105 also process the outline font data in a similar manner.
On the other hand, another data processing technique applied to the curved segment drawing data processing unit 106 differs from the foregoing technique in specifying a plurality of approximate points positioned on and approximately defining a curved segment before an element structure forming step. As described above, the curved segment is Bezier cubic curve defined by the four control points including the current drawing point and, for this reason, the drawing data group indicative of the curved segment and contained in the outline font dictionary comprises three coordinate data sets respectively having coordinates of the three control points in the dictionary coordinate system.
The processing technique used by the curved segment drawing data processing unit 106 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 5.
When the drawing data group indicative of the curved segment are read out by the path constructing unit 100 from the outline font dictionary 130, the coordinates of three points included in the read out drawing data group are mapped onto the drawing output device coordinate system in a step P1, thereby obtaining three coordinate data sets indicative of the three control points in the drawing output device coordinate system. At this time, the coordinates of four control points to be used for defining the curved segment in the drawing output device coordinate system are obtained because of the fact that coordinates of the current drawing point are identical with coordinates contained in the latest one of the previously formed element structures. The step P1 is followed by a step P2 in which coordinates of an approximate point following the current drawing point are specified. The step P2 proceeds to a step P3 to determine whether or not the specification of approximate points was completed. If the answer in the step P3 is in the negative "NO", the step P3 proceeds to a step P4 in which a memory area is reserved for a rectilinear segment element structure on the common storage unit 140. In a step P5, a first rectilinear segment element structure K shown in FIG. 6 are formed and stored in the reserved memory area of the common storage unit 140. The rectilinear segment element structure K indicates that the drawing point is moved on a straight line from the current point to the specified approximate point to draw a rectilinear segment approximately forming the curved segment in part. The element structure K is so constructed as to include coordinates (x'1, y'1) defining the first approximate point in the drawing output device coordinate system. The step P5 is followed by a step P6 to substitute the address of the rectilinear segment element structure K for a pointer of a previously formed element structure (not shown) and, as a consequence, the rectilinear segment element structure K is connected to a previously formed graphic path. The steps P2 through P6 are repeated until the rectilinear segment element structures respectively based on all the approximate points have been formed and connected to the graphic path. The graphic path thus constructed is shown in FIG. 6 as comprising the second and third rectilinear segment element structures L and M which indicate that a rectilinear segment is drawn so as to extend rectilinearly from the first approximate point to the second approximate point, and that a rectilinear segment is draw so as to extend rectilinearly from the second approximate point to the third approximate point, respectively.
The element structures thus formed by path constructing unit 100 collectively define the outlines of the character designated by the control unit 120 in the drawing coordinate system. When the control unit 120 sends a paint operator to the font drawing unit 150 by way of the path constructing unit 100, the font drawing unit 150 reads out the graphic path from the common storage unit 140 and then instructs the drawing output device to draw the character designated by the control unit 120, thereby displaying the character on a screen or printing the character on a paper.
Drawbacks are, however, encountered in the step of forming the element structures indicating the continuous rectilinear segments, adapted for such a prior art outline data processing system. One of the drawbacks is that the numbers of memory area reservations for the rectilinear segment element structures is increased when the outline is divided into numerous continuous rectilinear segments in part. The reason for this is that the rectilinear segment element structures are equal in number to the continuous rectilinear segments. The same reason results in another drawback in that the total size of the reserved memory areas are increased. A further drawback is that the font drawing unit takes a long time to draw the continuous rectilinear segments inasmuch as the font drawing unit is required to read out the numerous rectilinear segment element structures in order to draw the continuous rectilinear segments.
Likewise, drawbacks are encountered in the step of forming the element structures indicating a curved segment, adapted for such a prior art outline data processing system. One of the drawbacks is that the number of memory area reservations for the rectilinear segment element structures is increased because of the fact that the curved segment is approximately drawn by numerous short rectilinear segments to be indicated by the rectilinear segment element structures. The same reason results in another drawback in that the total size of the reserved memory areas is increased. A further drawback is that the font drawing unit must take long time out to draw the curved segment inasmuch as the font drawing unit is required to read out the numerous rectilinear segment element structures in order to draw the curved segment.

Method and apparatus for drawing characters which draws curved segments based on approximate points


According to various embodiments of the disclosure techniques for generating outgoing messages are disclosed. The technique includes receiving a request to generate an outgoing message for a recipient and retrieving one or more recipient preferences of the recipient from a recipient preferences database. The one or more recipient preferences relate to customization of messages that are to be delivered to the recipient. The technique further includes retrieving a message template from a plurality of message templates stored in a message template database based on the request and the one or more recipient preferences. The technique also includes generating the outgoing message based on the retrieved message template and the one or more recipient preferences, and providing the outgoing message to the recipient.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Many computer applications allow users to generate messages to send to one or more recipients. Many of these applications utilize message templates to generate the messages that are sent to the recipients. For example, a calendar application may allow a sender to invite a plurality of recipients to an event. The sender can designate a particular time, a particular place, and/or a particular event type, e.g., meeting or party. Based on this information and a message template corresponding to an "event invite," the calendar application can generate an outgoing message inviting the recipients to the event. The outgoing messages that are generated, however, are generated according to the settings of the application or based on the sender's preferences or practices.

Techniques for generating outgoing messages based on language, internationalization, and localization preferences of the recipient