DNA constructs are provided which code for at least the extreme C-terminal amino acids of the rsaA protein of Caulobacter crescentus fused with heterologous polypeptides. Baterial cells containing, or which express the DNA constructs and secrete the resulting protein are also provided. Chimeric proteins including the C-terminal amino acids of the rsaA protein are provided, including chimeric proteins comprising antigenic epitopes of the Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus.

Bacterial surface proteins have been used as carriers for foreign (heterologous) polypeptides (particularly in Salmonella and E. coli) for various purposes, including the development of live vaccines. In some instances, the heterologous material is expressed as a fusion product with a surface protein of the bacterium. Generally, the use of such surface proteins as a vehicle for expression and/or presentation of heterologous polypeptides has been limited by the characteristics of a particular surface protein. The lipopolysaccharide layer of a bacterium, which tends to stimulate a strong immune response, covers the integral outer membrane proteins of the organism and potentially affects efficient presentation of a cloned epitope. Where the surface protein is functional (for example, as part of a filamentous portion of a bacterial cell surface) there will be limited opportunities to express a fusion product and still retain the surface protein's function. Generally, the organisms that have been used for these purposes have been chosen because of the advantages presented in respect of the organism's relationship to its host.
Many genera of bacteria assemble layers composed of repetitive, regularly aligned, proteinaceous sub-units on the outer surface of the cell. These layers are essentially two-dimensional paracrystalline arrays, and being the outer molecular layer of the organism, directly interface with the environment. Such layers are commonly known as S-layers and are found on members of every taxonomic group of walled bacteria including: Archaebacteria; Chlamydia; Cyanobacteria; Acinetobacter; Bacillus; Aguaspirrillum; Caulobacter; Clostridium; Chromatium. Typically, an S-layer will be composed of an intricate, geometric array of at least one major protein having a repetitive regular structure. In many cases, such as in Caulobacter, the S-layer protein is synthesized by the cell in large quantities and the S-layer completely envelopes the cell and thus appears to be a protective layer.
Caulobacter are natural inhabitants of most soil and freshwater environments and may persist in waste water treatment systems and effluents. The bacteria alternate between a stalked cell that is attached to a surface, and an adhesive motile dispersal cell that searches to find a new surface upon which to stick and convert to a stalked cell. The bacteria attach tenaciously to nearly all surfaces and do so without producing the extracelluar enzymes or polysaccharide "slimes" that are characteristic of most other surface attached bacteria. They have simple requirements for growth. The organism is ubiquitous in the environment and has been isolated from oligotrophic to mesotrophic situations. Caulobacters are known for their ability to tolerate low nutrient level stresses, for example, low phosphate levels. This nutrient can be limiting in many leachate waste streams, especially those with high levels of iron or calcium.
The S-layer of Caulobacter crescentus has been well characterised. Nearly all freshwater isolates of Caulobacter elaborate an S-layer visibly indistinguishable from the S-layer produced by Caulobacter crescentus strains CB2 and CB15. The S-layer proteins from these strains have approximately 100,000 m.w. The protein has been characterized both structurally and chemically. It is composed of ring-like structures spaced at 22 nm intervals arranged in a hexagonal manner on the outer membrane. The S-layer is bound to the bacterial surface and may be removed by low pH treatment or by treatment with a calcium chelator such as EDTA.
The S-layer proteins of different strains of Caulobacter have significant similarity. Thus a cloned S-layer protein gene of one Caulobacter strain is useful to retrieve the corresponding genes in other Caulobacter strains (see: Walker, S. G., et al. 1992). Isolation and Comparison of the Paracrystalline Surface Layer Proteins of Freshwater Caulobacters. J. Bacteriol. 174: 1783-1792; and, MacRae, J. O. and, J. Smit. 1991. "Characterization of Caulobacters Isolated from Wastewater Treatment Systems. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 57: 751-758).
Expression, secretion and optionally, presentation, of a heterologous polypeptide as a fusion product with the S-layer protein of Caulobacter provides advantages not previously seen in systems using organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella where fusion products of other kinds of surface proteins have been expressed. All known Caulobacter strains are believed to be harmless and are nearly ubiquitous in aquatic environments. In contrast, many Salmonella and E. coli strains are pathogens. Consequently, expression and secretion of a heterologous polypeptide using Caulobacter as a vehicle will have the advantage that the expression system will be stable in a variety of outdoor environments and may not present problems associated with the use of a pathogenic organism. Furthermore, Caulobacter are natural biofilm forming species and may be adapted for use in fixed biofilm bioreactors. The quantity of S-layer protein that is synthesized and is secreted by Caulobacter is high, reaching 12% of the cell protein. The unique characteristics of the repetitive, two-dimensional S-layer would also make such bacteria ideal for use as an expression system, or as a presentation surface for heterologous polypeptides. This is desirable in a live vaccine to maximize presentation of the antigen or antigenic epitope. In addition, use of such a presentation surface to achieve maximal exposure of a desired polypeptide to the environment results in such bacteria being particularly suited for use in bioreactors or as carriers for the polypeptide in aqueous or terrestrial outdoor environments.

Expression and secretion of heterologous polypeptides from caulobacter


There is provided a method for producing an active material for a nonaqueous secondary battery, including firing an adherend in which a compound containing an element A (at least one element selected from among B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn, Mg and transition metal elements) is adhered to a particle surface of a material capable of being doped and dedoped with lithium ions, in a water-containing atmosphere so that weight increasing rate of the adherend is in a range of 0.1% by weight or more and 5.0% by weight or less, and firing the adherend.

A nonaqueous secondary battery such as a lithium secondary battery has already been put to practical use as a source of electric energy for portable telephones, notebook computers and the like, and additionally has attempted to be applied in medium- and large-sized uses such as automobile use and electric power storage use.
A nonaqueous secondary battery has been demanded, which offers a small decrease in electric capacity in the case of repeating charge and discharge, that is, excellent cyclability. Also, a lithium secondary battery has large electric capacity though it is small in size, so that it has been demanded that safety in the case of exterior short circuit and interior short circuit be improved; a method for producing an active material has been demanded, which allows such a nonaqueous secondary battery excellent in cyclability and high in safety.
Then, a method for producing a positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous secondary battery has been proposed, such that the surface of lithium-containing complex oxide containing nickel is subject to a coating treatment with a compound having any of Mg, Si, Ti, Al, V, Co, K, Ca, Na and B (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-28265). However, a nonaqueous secondary battery produced by using the obtained positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous secondary battery is insufficient in cyclability as well as safety.

Active material for nonaqueous secondary battery and method for producing same


In a wireless communication system, a method and system for extending Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) operations for enhanced security are provided. In an AES encryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with an initial modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a final modifier after a final processing round. The output of a MixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding round modifier. In an AES decryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with a decoded final modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a decoded initial modifier after a final processing round. The input of an InvMixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding decoded round modifier.

In secured data transmission systems or cryptosystems, the use of standardized encryption algorithms provides a common platform from which compatible system components may be developed and/or deployed. Current encryption standards include the Data Encryption Standard (DES) and the Triple DES or 3DES. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) specified 3DES to provide more secure encryption than that achieved by DES given of the vulnerability of the latter to the use of more powerful computers. The use of 3DES was viewed as a temporary solution and on Nov. 26, 2001, NIST introduced the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 197, with the purpose of providing a longer term platform for the development of more secure cryptosystems. The AES specifies a FIPS-approved cryptographic algorithm, based on the Rijndael algorithm, that may be utilized to protect electronic data.
The AES algorithm is a symmetric block cipher that is capable of encrypting plaintext information into ciphertext and also decrypting ciphertext information into plaintext or descrambled information. The AES algorithm may use cryptographic or cipher keys of 128, 192, or 256 bits to encrypt and decrypt blocks of data. The length of the cipher key sequence is referred to as the key length, K. Input and output data blocks in the AES algorithm each consists of sequences of 128 bits. The length of the data blocks is referred to as the block length. In addition, the AES specification provides that the AES algorithm may be implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. The specification, however, does not provide a specific implementation, instead, the implementation may be based on several factors, for example, the environment, application, and technology being used.
In some instances, the security capabilities provided by the AES encryption/decryption standard may not be sufficient to accommodate the requirements of cryptosystems when utilized under certain conditions and/or certain applications. In these cases, an already taxed digital signal processor (DSP), system processor, or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) may not be easily, or cost-effectively, adapted to accommodate the demands imposed by the application and/or conditions for which the secured data transmission system is intended.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for extending advanced encryption standard (AES) operations for enhanced security


The torsional rigidity of a wind turbine blade affects the twist response of the blade induced by bending moments within the blade. By including regions having a lower modulus of rigidity than the remainder of the blade shell, the torsional rigidity of the blade shell can be decreased, and the twist response thereby increased. In blades having a single shear web, this twist response may be more pronounced. The regions of low modulus may comprise additional shell panels, or thick regions of low modulus joining material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed generally to wind turbine blade design.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wind turbine blades are comprised of shells and other structural components which may be thickest near the base, or root, of the blade. The thickness of these components causes the blade roots to be very resistant to twisting when torsion is applied at the root. In certain wind turbine blades, blade performance can be improved when twisting of the blade is induced via aerodynamically generated bending moments, with larger amounts of twist being desirable in some embodiments. The amount of twist that can be induced is partially dependent on the shear stiffness of the blade at various locations along the length of the blade. If the rigidity of portions of the blade is reduced, particularly at portions of the blade located closer to the root, the sweep response of the blade may be increased.

Shell structure of wind turbine blade having regions of low shear modulus


An antenna element 1 is installed at a glass part 5 of a vehicle 4. The antennal element 1 has a ground part 3 and a radiating element 2. A metallic part side ground part 3b of the ground part 3 is overlapped with a metallic part 6 of the vehicle 4, while a glass part side ground part 3a of the ground part 3 and the radiating element 2 are not overlapped with the metallic part 6. The ground part 3 is installed such that a ratio of the area of the glass part side ground part 3a to be overlapped with the glass part 5 to the area of the metallic part side ground part 3b to be overlapped with the metallic part 6 is from 1:5 to 1:10.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glass antenna device for a vehicle, in more particular, to a glass antenna device for a vehicle having stable operating characteristics.
2. Related Art
A glass antenna device for a vehicle, in which an antenna element is installed on a window glass of a vehicle, has been conventionally known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-109811 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-36446 disclose conventional glass antennas for a vehicle.
Further, in the glass antenna device for a vehicle in which the antenna element is installed on the window glass of the vehicle, it has been known to form the antenna element by conductor lines disposed in a lattice shape in order to improve invisibility and perceptibility of the antenna element on the window glass. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-142984 discloses such a kind of the glass antenna device for a vehicle.
The glass antenna device for a vehicle is mainly installed in a vicinity of a boundary between the window glass and a body frame, that is in general a corner of the window glass, since the glass antenna device for a vehicle is requested that a field of view of an operator or a crew will not be disturbed. On the other hand, the glass antenna device for a vehicle is demanded to have the stable operating characteristics without being affected by electrical influences due to outside members such as the body frame.


The invention relates to a system and a method for the detection of the wear state of machine parts which are subject to mechanical wear, by means of an electronic transmitting/receiving device (38) and at least one transponder device (36), which is embedded in the machine part (16) and sends back an acknowledgement signal in response to a transmitted signal which is transmitted by the transmitting/receiving device (38), in which case the reaching of a predetermined wear value can be indicated by the destruction of the transponder device (36) and by the lack of the acknowledgement signal associated with this. The invention is based on the discovery that the arrangement of a transponder device at a specific position which is a measure of a predetermined wear state means that the operational readiness of the transponder device, on the one hand, is indicated in advance by its signal return, and the reaching of the predetermined wear value is indicated by its destruction.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for the detection of the wear state of machine parts which are subject to mechanical wear, by means of an electronic transmitting/receiving device and at least one transponder device which is embedded in the machine part and sends back an acknowledgement signal in response to a transmitted signal which is transmitted by the transmitting/receiving device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many technical fields relating to heavy machine construction make use of machine parts which are subject to the influence of large forces during operation, and are thus continuously subject to high wear. By way of example, in the field of waste separation and reprocessing and mining machines, large feed or processing apparatuses such as drills or worm feeds are used, which are subject to relatively rapid wear, in which case the wear state and/or the reaching of a wear limit must be indicated reliably in order that the worn machine part can be replaced in good time.
DE 102 27 677 discloses a method for wire-free monitoring of the state of a machine part that is subject to wear by means of transponders, with an electrical conductor track structure being proposed which is worn together with the machine part, and with this conductor track structure being connected to a transponder and sending a response signal as a function of the state of the conductor track structure. This arrangement is not suitable for use for machine parts subject to major mechanical wear.
DE 198 40 081 discloses a system for monitoring the wear state of a layer, in which a transponder is provided underneath the layer and an electromagnetically shielding layer is embedded in the layer that is subject to wear and prevents signals from being interchanged between the transmitting/receiving device and the transponder, so that a signal interchange such as this is possible after the destruction of this layer, and this indicates the destruction state.
One disadvantage of this system is that the failure of the transponder before the destruction of the shielding layer is not indicated, because this does not receive and cannot transmit any signal, with the possible consequence that, in a situation such as this, the detection device assumes that the layer is still intact with the shielding layer embedded in it, while the layer has possibly already been totally destroyed.

Wear detection by transponder destruction

Meri Entsorgungstechnik fur die Papierindustrie GmbH


Provided is a fiber ring laser capable of obtaining a back-up laser light and standard light having a wavelength continuously tuned in a single mode with equal spacing of 12.5 GHz, 25 GHz, 50 GHz or 100 GHz recommended by ITU-T Recommendation G. 692 & G. 694.1 in a C-band and an L-band using a fiber tunable etalon filter, an air gap etalon filter and a saturable absorber in an optical fiber laser resonator having a serial ring shape using a C-band optical amplifier and an L-band optical amplifier. The fiber ring laser can generate laser light having a wavelength tuned by more than 70 nm, excellent output power flatness and a source spontaneous emission ratio of more than 70 dB in 361 channels with equal spacing of 25 GHz by applying a bias voltage to a voltage-operated piezoelectric element of a tunable etalon filter. A single longitudinal mode operation of the fiber ring laser can be obtained by using a saturable absorber serving as a narrow-bandwidth filter.

Lights having different wavelengths are propagated without interfering with each other. Thus, when signals are loaded in different wavelengths and transmitted through a single optical fiber, they are transferred through the optical fiber without interfering with each other. This transmission method is called wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Information transmission capacity of optical fibers can be remarkably increased when the wavelength division multiplexing is used.
A dense wavelength division multiplexing technique is expected to be widely used in optical telecommunications for the purpose of commercial services. However, the dense wavelength division multiplexing technique increases the number of channels to thereby result in a formation of a network having a complicated structure. Furthermore, a light source having a stabilized wavelength recommended by ITU-T is required in order to design and operate a more flexible network.
Accordingly, International telecommunications Union (ITU) recommends the utilization of a light source having a channel frequency with equal spacing of 12.5 GHz, 25 GHz, 50 GHz or 100 GHz adjacent to 193.1 THz in order to use the dense wavelength division multiplexing. Recently, a variety of wavelength tunable lasers including a vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, an external cavity laser diode, a distributed feedback laser diode and a distributed Bragg reflector laser diode have been commercially developed and used in dense wavelength division multiplexing systems.
A wavelength tunable laser and a fiber laser should be designed such that their operating wavelengths correspond to a wavelength (frequency) recommended by ITU-T. The wavelength tunable laser and fiber laser are widely used as a light source in wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems to effectively maintain the dense wavelength division multiplexing systems at a low cost.
An optical fiber laser developed as an application light source for testing elements at a high speed is attractive more than a semiconductor laser when applied to the dense wavelength division multiplexing systems because the optical fiber laser has a wide wavelength tunable range having excellent wavelength selectivity through a short wavelength band (S-band) of 1460 through 1530nm, a conventional band (C-band) and a long wave band (L-band) of 1530 through 1625 nm and a single mode operation.
TABLE 1TuningTuningLaserITU gridAuthorMechanismRangeLinewidthChannelsPapersM. Horowitzintracavitya few nm~kHz Electronics(C-band)Letters (1994)Y. ChengFBGa few nm0.95kHz Optics Letters(C-band)(1995)Y. SongFBG40 nm1kHz PTL (2001)(C-band)N. J. C. LibatiqueFBG, etalon50 GHz (8 Ch.)10KHz Opticsfilter(C-band)Express (2002)H. ChenTBF70 nm~kHz PTL (2003)(C + L-band)F. FarokhroozSagnac loop32 nm40kHz OFC (2004)filters(C-band)
Table 1 represents examples of fiber ring lasers using a saturable absorber, which have been studied and developed. All these fiber ring lasers are operated in a single mode. However, the fiber ring lasers restrict wavelength tunable ranges or do not operate to have a frequency separation recommended by ITU-T.

Discretely ITU-T channel grid wavelength tunable single longitudinal mode erbium-doped fiber ring laser

Korea Research Institute of Standard And Science


A method and system for maximizing radiated power from a linear array of acoustic projectors. In one case, the method realizes omni-directional acoustic beam patterns from a linear array of acoustic projectors contained within an acoustically-impervious enclosure with an acoustically transparent aperture. In another case, the method realizes an efficient set of beams for a conventional horizontal projector array or a similar acoustic projector array, which may be within an acoustically transparent enclosure. Drive signals are determined by finding a mutual impedance matrix that characterizes the interdependence of the acoustic projectors and solving an eigenvalue problem for the mutual impedance matrix. One of the eigenvalues is selected on the basis that it maximizes radiated power, and the corresponding eigenvectors are used to derive the corresponding drive signals.

The design of a cost-effective, low-frequency, high power, high efficiency, omnidirectional acoustic projector remains a challenge due to conflicting constraints. For a given cavitation pressure threshold, high power requires a large radiation area while omni-directionality typically requires a projector with a dimension smaller than the third of a wavelength. Accordingly, there is a need for an acoustic projector design that addresses these conflicting requirements.
To achieve omni-directionality, current acoustic projectors (particularly for maritime uses) employ a large, heavy, towed projector, such as a free flooded ring (FFR). Due to the low resonant frequency of operation, despite being approximately up to a meter in diameter, the FFR appears as a point source and produces a substantially omni-directional wave. To achieve longer range, the acoustic projector needs to be driven with a high power signal, but the size and weight of the projector and the localized power intensity (because of the danger of cavitation at the face of the diaphragm) impose limits on the ability to increase the power of the drive signal.
Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures to denote similar components.

Acoustic projector having synchronized acoustic radiators


An ECU connected to an image sensor includes a face position and face feature point detection unit that detects the feature points of the face of the driver, a red-eye detection unit that detects the red eye with template matching using a red-eye template, an eye opening degree calculation unit that calculates the degree of eye opening, a relative eye opening degree calculation unit that calculates the relative degree of eye opening which is 0% in an eye-closed state and is 100% in an eye-open state, and a red-eye template update unit that generates a red-eye template on the basis of the relative degree of eye opening and updates a red-eye template used for the next template matching with the generated red-eye template.

In the related art, the face image of the driver is captured by a camera which is fixed to a steering column of the vehicle, the position of the black eye of the driver is detected from the captured image, and the line of sight of the driver is detected, in order to avoid the crash of the vehicle.
However, a red-eye phenomenon occurs, for example, at night where the amount of light outside the vehicle is small. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the red eye of the driver from image information in order to detect the line of sight of the driver at night where the amount of light outside the vehicle is small.
In the related art, the red eye has been detected by template matching using a red-eye template (for example, see Patent Literature 1).


A mileage display system includes a control unit operatively connected to an ignition switch of a motorcycle that obtains the accumulated mileage by accumulating a pulse signal produced according to running of the motorcycle. The control unit records odometer data in an EEPROM. The control unit also reads the odometer data recorded in the EEPROM when the ignition switch is operated. If the odometer data exceeds the maximum value to be displayed on an odometer (for example, 99999), the control unit displays on the odometer for a predetermined period of time a numeric value of digits of higher order than the predetermined number of display digits of the odometer data. The mileage display system displays an accurate, accumulated distance traveled or accumulated mileage, after the mileage overflows by exceeding a maximum display value as established by a predetermined number of display digits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mileage display system for a vehicle which is capable of displaying an accumulated distance traveled by a vehicle, or an accumulated mileage, using a predetermined number of display digits on a display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mileage display system for displaying the accumulated mileage by accumulating a pulse signal generated according to running of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Background Art
Electronic mileage display systems have a maximum display value that is established by the predetermined number of display digits. Conventionally, a mileage display system for a vehicle automatically restarts from zero when the mileage overflows by exceeding the maximum display value. In such instances, accurate mileage is thus unknown. This is inconvenient when evaluating a used vehicle for purchase, or when determining appropriate timing of parts replacement and or other maintenance matters.
The mileage display system commonly found in motorcycles has a fewer number of display digits than that found in four-wheel motor vehicles. For example, only five digits are displayed. If the motorcycles are heavily used, however, a mileage display overflow can occur. In some countries, motorcycles are used for business purposes such as providing bike taxies and may also be used for other special purposes. In such cases, the mileage display overflow is more likely to occur. Nonetheless, such applications of the motorcycles account for a very small percentage of the total number of motorcycles in operation. It is therefore highly unreasonable to modify the display by increasing the number of displayed digits of the accumulated mileage.
In view of the foregoing, an accumulating device or an integrator is proposed for use in mileage displays. Such a device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 11-118509. In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 11-118509, the integrator operates on either one of the following modes: specifically, a first integration mode, in which, when an overflow occurs, subsequent integration is suspended; and a second integration mode, in which, when an overflow occurs, only low-order digits of the mileage are displayed, flashing off and on.
In the first integration mode of the integrator described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 11-118509, a function as the mileage display system is lost in order to suspend integration following the overflow. In the second integration mode, the low-order digits of the mileage are displayed, continuously flashing off and on. This makes the display unnecessarily prominent, thus obstructing a view of a rider. In addition, the simple blink display does not provide the number of overflows that have so far occurred.
In view of the foregoing problems in the conventional art, the object of the present invention is to provide a mileage display system which, after the mileage overflows by exceeding the maximum display value as established by a predetermined number of display digits, is capable of simply displaying an accurate, accumulated distance traveled or accumulated mileage.

Odometer system and method for a vehicle


A protective element for textile lashing or fixing devices for lifting, fixing or lashing objects, comprises a protective layer which is intended for arrangement between the lashing or fixing device and the respective object. The protective element allows the advantages of known protective elements to be used, but at the same time ensures improved force transmission. The intention is also to provide a lashing or fixing device which can apply the forces required for lifting, fixing or lashing an object with more uniform loading across its length. This is achieved in that the protective layer is formed from a textile backing fabric which carries a textile material at least on its surface associated with the lashing or fixing device, the textile material, owing to its shaping, its arrangement and/or its material properties, in the state abutting the lashing or fixing device having different sliding properties to the backing fabric.

The relevant lashing or fixing means can, for example, be cables, belts or straps which are subject to a tensile force to hold, lift or transport the respective object. Fixing means are used in this case to produce the connection between the load and the lifting or pulling device for example when lifting or moving loads. Lashing means on the other hand are required to secure articles. Lashing means are thus used in particular for load-securing on vehicles.
Irrespective of whether it is used with a lashing means or a fixing means the protective element in each case has the function of preventing damage to the respective lashing or fixing means in the region of the edges or other shaped elements at which the lashing or fixing means are diverted. High surface pressures occur in these regions which in turn lead to high frictional forces and entail the risk of sharp edges of the respective object cutting into the lashing or fixing means.
To protect against instances of damage of this type a protective element with a protective layer is in each case positioned between the respective lashing or fixing means and the relevant object in the region of the deflection points, so the lashing or fixing means no longer directly touches the object but rests on the protective layer. The protective layer itself does not absorb any hold or fixing forces in the process, so it may be optimally formed solely with respect to its protective function. Damage to the lashing or fixing means, which may otherwise occur as a consequence of the unavoidable relative movements between lashing or fixing means and the object during tensioning of the lashing or fixing means or during transportation, may thus be prevented.
An example of a protective element of the type mentioned above is described in EP 1 103 652 A1. The lashing or fixing means disclosed there is surrounded in its sling region by the, in this case, tubular protective element, the width of which allows the lashing or fixing means to be freely pushed through the protective element. Comparable protective tubes are used in round slings to protect the carrier material, on the inside, of the respective lashing or fixing means against cuts and abrasion.
In practice the fact that the protective elements effectively guarantee the protection of the lashing or fixing means against abrasive wear but that during use the friction between the load-bearing lashing or fixing means and the protective element is very high at the deflection points has been found to be a problem in protective elements of the type described above. The consequence of this is that the forces absorbed or applied by the lashing or fixing means are not uniformly passed from one deflection point to the next, rather severe load jumps occur at the deflection points in the lashing or fixing means.
These load jumps are due to the fact that, despite the presence of a protective element, the lashing or fixing means may slide only poorly in the region of the deflection points.
When lifting objects the deficient sliding properties in the region of the deflection points lead to very uneven loading of the different sections of the respectively used lashing or fixing means. This can lead to the item that is to be lifted in each case jerkily changing its position in the respective lifting equipment if the effect of the weight increases so greatly that the obstruction acting beforehand in the region of the deflection points as a result of friction is suddenly overcome.
The non-uniformity of force transmission that is established in the region of the deflection points has been found to be particularly problematical, however, in lashing straps which are subjected to high tension forces in order to hold loads.
According to standard EN12195-1, which describes and regulates the use of lashing straps, a high tensioning loss is assumed in the case of deflection points. The relevant standard states that a loss of 50% of the tensioning between the side of the lashing strap, where the respectively used tensioning device is applied, and the opposing side of the lashed load must be reckoned with. This means that with a standardised tensioning force (called STF) applied to the tensioning device only half the value may be expected for the opposing side of the load. Practical experience has shown that the loss in tensioning between the two sides of the load can even be much higher (up to 80%). To keep the respective load secure on either side the lashing belt must therefore be tensioned with a particularly high force to ensure that sufficiently high forces are acting even downstream of the deflection points to guarantee secure retention of the load.
An attempt has been made to improve the uniformity of the loading of lashing or fixing means by using guides that are made from plastics materials or other materials with improved sliding properties for the lashing or fixing means instead of the textile protective elements in the region of the critical deflection points. One drawback in this case however is that guides of this type are usually dimensionally stable and consequently are suitable only for one specific application in each case.
Starting from the above-described prior art the object underlying the invention was to provide a protective element of the type described in the introduction which allows the advantages of the known protective elements based on a textile material to be used, but at the same time ensures improved force transmission in the region of the deflection points. A lashing or fixing means should also be provided which can apply the forces required to lift, fix or lash an object with more uniform loading over its length.
With respect to a protective element for textile lashing or fixing means for lifting, fixing or lashing objects, with a protective layer which is intended for arrangement between the lashing or fixing means and the respective object the above-disclosed object has been achieved according to the invention in that the protective layer is formed from a textile backing fabric which carries a textile material at least on its surface associated with the lashing or fixing means, the textile material, owing to its shaping, its arrangement and/or its material properties, in the state abutting the lashing or fixing means having different sliding properties to the backing fabric.
The invention combines the advantages of a protective element made from a textile woven, namely the ability to be applied to any desired shapes owing to the flexibility peculiar to the woven, with the advantages of guide elements which have improved sliding properties as a result of their material properties or shaping.
This is achieved according to the invention in that two actively connected textile elements are combined with each other. The backing fabric outwardly protects the lashing or fixing material from abrasive or cutting stress and simultaneously provides on its surface associated with the lashing or fixing means a structure through which a textile material that improves the sliding properties is securely positioned.
The improvement in the sliding properties attained through the textile material carried by the backing fabric can be brought about in that the material has shaping by means of which the respectively effective friction surface is minimised. There is thus lower friction overall between lashing or fixing means and protective element with a high protective action that is unchanged. The same effect can be achieved by way of a suitable arrangement of the textile material on the backing fabric. Finally the material properties of the textile material may also be selected such that, in particular in combination with the material of the respective lashing or fixing means, minimised friction and therefore facilitated sliding of the lashing or fixing means on the protective layer of the protective element is ensured.
The invention thus provides a protective element that reduces the friction at the deflection points of the lashing or fixing means to a minimum and ensures more uniform distribution of loading of the respective lashing or fixing means.
The above-stated object has therefore been achieved in relation to the lashing or fixing means in that lashing or fixing means of this type are provided with a protective element according to the invention.
The invention proves to be particularly advantageous if the protective element according to the invention is used on a fixing element which is used as a lashing belt for securing loads. The invention allows the user to pass the required tension force in the lashing belt to the deflection edges with minimised losses and thus implement efficient lashing. Tests have shown that when using protective elements constructed according to the invention the tension force losses that occur as a result of friction at the deflections of the lashing belt may be limited to values which are significantly below the losses achieved with conventional protective elements (up to 20%).
A particularly secure retention of the protective element on the respective lashing or fixing means may be ensured in that the protective element is tubular and in that the textile material carried by the backing fabric extends at least over a longitudinal section of the inner side of the protective element. Curing use the protective element constructed in such a way is aligned on the lashing or fixing means in such a way that the longitudinal section provided with the additional textile material comes to rest on the respective object.
Tubular protective elements according to the invention have the further advantage that they may be produced in a weaving technology-related manner and protect the lashing or fixing means across its total extent. Depending on the production means available it may be expedient in this connection for the textile material carried by the backing material to be arranged over the entire inner surface of the protective element. This also has the advantage that independently of how it comes to rest on the respective object the protective element provides an optimum sliding property. Optimised material utilisation results on the other hand if the arrangement of the textile material is limited to the region of the backing fabric which regularly abuts the relevant object when the lashing or fixing means is properly used.
The versatility of a protective element according to the invention may be improved in that it may be fastened to the respective lashing or fixing means in such a way that it is freely displaceable in the protective element.
According to a particularly robust and, with respect to the production engineering-related effort, advantageous configuration of the invention the textile material carried by the backing fabric is securely woven with the backing fabric. A protective element of this type may be produced in one operation and ensures a lastingly secure connection between the backing fabric and the textile material carried by it.
In principle the textile material carried by the backing fabric can be made from the same fibres as the backing fabric. This can be particularly sufficient if the improvement in the sliding property according to the invention is attained solely by a surface structure being created with the aid of the additional textile material on the backing fabric, of which surface structure the effective surface that abuts the lashing or fixing means is minimized with respect to friction.
A surface structure of this type is given for example if the textile material carried by the backing fabric forms elevations. In this case the protective element then comes into direct contact with the lashing or fixing means only in the region of the free peaks of the elevations. Particularly good sliding properties may be achieved with the formation of such elevations if the material carried by the backing fabric forms ribs extending in the longitudinal direction of the protective layer. These may also be produced particularly simply in terms of weaving technology. However it is also conceivable to produce a rhomboidal or comparable structure with narrow, web-like elevations on the backing fabric from the textile material carried by it, which structures also lead to a minimised friction surface and therefore reduced instances of friction.
In the case of particularly high loadings of the protective element, as occur for example when lashing sharp-edged objects, such as containers or boxes, to the loading area of a vehicle, the life and effectiveness of protective elements according to the invention may also be further increased in that the textile material carried by the backing fabric is made from high-strength fibres. It can be advantageous in this case to use a mixture of fibres as the textile material, of which mixture individual components are combined with each other in such a way that optimum properties with respect to friction behavior and strength are achieved. A textile material which is twisted can be used for this purpose.
Particularly good sliding properties result if the textile material carried by the backing fabric has a smoother surface than the backing fabric.
To ensure that constantly correct positioning of the protective elements according to the invention can be implemented even under harsh conditions of use, a marking can be woven into the backing fabric which indicates the position of the textile material carried by the backing fabric.
With particularly severe instances of abrasive loading of the outer surfaces of the protective element it may be expedient to apply an additional coating to these outer surfaces. If the protective element is placed around sharp edges the protective element should be combined with an additional cutting protector.
The protective element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is tubular. It comprises a backing fabric 2 woven to give a tube which forms the outer layer of the protective element 1 and is produced from textile fibres which are particularly abrasion-resistant and also reliably withstand instances of high abrasive loading, as occur during lashing of sharp-edged objects.
The protective element 1 defines an interior 3 which has an approximately rectangular form in cross-section. The height of the interior 3 is larger by a slight oversize than the thickness of the lashing means 4, for the protection of which the protective element 1 is used. The width of the interior 3 is also larger by an oversize than the width of the lashing means 4. The protective element S can thus be freely pushed over the lashing means 4 in the unloaded state.
The lashing means 4 is a flat and wide conventional lashing strap in this case, as is typically used to lash a load, not shown here, for example a skip or a comparably bulky container, to the loading area of a vehicle. The protective element 1 is placed with its one wide side 1a onto one of the edges of the load (not shown). This wide side 1a then forms the protective layer via which the lashing means 4 is directly protected against abrasive or cutting stress.
In the case of the protective element 1 the backing fabric 2 carries on the inner surface, associated with the interior 3, of the wide side 1a forming the protective layer ribs 5 that protrude into the interior 3 and extend in the longitudinal direction L of the protective element 1. The ribs 5 are formed by a textile material which is securely woven to the backing fabric 2.
High-strength fibres with a particularly smooch surface constitute the textile material forming the ribs 5. High-strength fibres of this type are supplied for example under the product name "Dyneema" by DSM Dynema BV, Heerlen, The Netherlands, or under the name "Vectran" by Celanese Acetate LLC, Charlotte, N.C., U.S.A. The material characteristics of these fibres are matched to the outer material of the lashing means 4 in such a way that the lashing means 4 can still slide on the ribs 5 with minimized friction even if there is high surface pressure between the ribs 5 and the outer surface 4a of lashing means 4 resting thereon in the tensioned state.
The backing fabric 3 can be made for example from polyester, polyamide or polypropylene.
To indicate to the user of the lashing means 4 provided with the protective element 1 which of the two wide sides 1a, 1b of the protective element 1 should be associated with the load to be fastened and which should be located on the outside in the lashed state, corresponding writing 6 is woven into the wide side 1b that is not provided with ribs.
FIG. 3 to 6 show various possibilities of how the textile material improving the sliding properties can be joined to the respective backing fabric G in such a way that the desired minimisation of friction between the respective lashing means A and the respective protective element S is achieved.
For this purpose in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a high-strength fibre H has been woven in a manner known per se into the backing fabric G in the side, facing the load L indicated in this figure, of the tubular protective element S as a weft thread in addition to the weft thread, made from an abrasion-resistant textile fibre, of the backing fabric G in such a way that the fibres H form ribs Ri, Ra that extend in the longitudinal direction of the protective element.
The inner ribs Ri stand on the inner surface of the wide side 1a of the protective element 1 which is associated with the interior of the protective element receiving the lashing means A, while the ribs Ra rise on the outer surface, associated with the load L, of the same wide side 1a of the protective element S. The fibres H carried by the backing fabric G and securely woven therewith thus on the one hand form linear sliding surfaces on the inner surface of the protective element 1, on which sliding surfaces the lashing means A can slide with reduced friction in the longitudinal direction of the protective element S, and on the other hand the ribs Ra formed on the outer side of the protective element S hand protect the protective element S from damage even in instances of high loading.
The protective element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has for example a structure like the tubular protective element S shown in FIG. 4.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 inner ribs Ri and outer ribs Ra are formed exactly as in the embodiment described above and shown in FIG. 3 on the wide side of the protective element S forming the protective layer by high-strength fibres H woven with the backing fabric G. Writing is also woven in fibres F of a different color into the backing fabric G on the opposing wide side of the slit element S, the writing indicating the position of the side of the protective element S without ribs that is to be arranged on the outside during use.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a distinction between the wide side associated with the load L and provided with ribs Ri, Ra and the wide side of the tubular protective element S that is to be arranged on the outside is not necessary. In this case ribs Ri, Ra are formed over the entire extent of the protective element S on the inner and outer sides thereof by the high-strength fibres H having been woven into the backing fabric G over the entire extent of the protective element S.
FIG. 6 finally shows an embodiment of a protective element S in which, corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the wide side, which is located on the outside during use, of the tubular protective element S is distinguished by writing woven into the backing fabric G by means of colored fibres F. Ribs Ri are also formed on the inner side of the wide side, associated with the load L, of the protective element by high-strength fibres H woven into the backing fabric G, on which ribs the lashing means A may slide. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 4 the high-strength fibres H have however been guided in such a way during weaving of this protective element S that no ribs are produced on the side of the protective element S associated with the load L. Instead the fibres H at this location lie flat in the backing fabric G. The protective element S shown in FIG. 6 can thus rest on the load L with a maximum supporting surface and thus provide optimised protection in particular against abrasive loading. To additionally improve the abrasion-resistance of the outer surface of the protective element S abutting the load L a protective layer K made from a resilient, abrasion-resistant plastics material is applied to this outer surface.

Protective element for textile lashing or fixing means, and lashing or fixing means provided with one such protective element


A graphical password authentication method is based on sketches drawn by user. The method extracts a template edge orientation pattern from an initial sketch of the user and an input edge orientation pattern from an input sketch of the user, compares the similarity between the two edge orientation patterns, and makes an authentication decision based on the similarity. The edge orientations are quantized, and each edge orientation pattern includes a set of quantized orientation patterns each corresponding to one of the quantized edge orientations. The number of quantized edge orientations, as well as other parameters such as the dimension of the final orientation patterns and acceptance threshold, can be optimized either globally or user-specifically.

Traditional knowledge-based authentication mechanisms, such as Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and text-based passwords, have a known weakness. While the security can be enhanced by creating a longer password, the password becomes more difficult to remember. Studies have shown that users as a result tend to pick shorter and more predictable passwords.
To address this problem in traditional knowledge-based authentication, graphical password schemes have been proposed. A range of different mechanisms have been suggested to exploit the power of graphical password authentication. The study of graphical passwords is strongly motivated by the assumption that images and/or pictures are easier to recall for humans than traditional text-based passwords. This assumption is supported by several cognitive psychology studies. The studies explore human visual memory space and show that pictures tend to be remembered far better and for longer than words. This is called the picture superiority effect. Researchers have conducted user studies on retention of pictures in graphical passwords and showed that this effect also holds true for graphical passwords even when multiple passwords are to be remembered.
Graphical passwords can be clustered into three categories: "cognometric", "locimetric", and "drawmetric". The cognometric systems are based on the user's visual recognition of target images embedded amongst a set of distracter images. A user is asked to select a sequence of images from a larger set of images. Later, the user is required to identify the pre-selected images in order to be authenticated. The use of artist-drawn images, computer-generated abstract images and photographs has been explored in this approach. The photographs have been found the most effective for memory. The major drawback of cognometric systems is that it takes longer to create a password and longer to login than text-based passwords.
The locimetric systems are based on the method of loci (mnemonic) and cued recall. In this scheme, a user is requested to click on pre-selected areas of an image in a predefined order. This approach is considered more convenient than pure recall-based passwords. However, user studies showed that there is a tendency for the password to be predictable with obvious points in the picture being chosen. Moreover, users have weak tolerance for clicking accurate points on the image. It also takes longer for users to learn the password and to input their passwords than the text-based password.
The drawmetric systems require users to draw a figure on a canvas. A well-known system in this category is "Draw-a-Secret (DAS)", in which a user is asked to draw a simple picture on a 2D grid. The positions of the grids and the order of the strokes are stored for later comparison. If the user's drawing touches the same grids in the same order, the user is authenticated. However, the approach has not been met with success. The user study show that users may be able to remember how their drawings looked, but they tend to be unable to recreate it accurately in the correct grids, or with the correct sequence of strokes.
It is thus desirable to explore new authentication schemes to take fuller advantage of graphical password authentication schemes without suffering too many of the existing shortcomings.


An electrosurgical handpiece comprises a handle and a nose piece for threaded engagement with the handle, together with a collet member which cooperates with the handle and nose piece for removably receiving and locking multiple-sized electrosurgical electrodes to the handle. To simplify assembly, the collet end is press-fitted into a bore in the handle. For this purpose, the collet must be constituted of an electrically conductive metal that also has sufficient elasticity that it will tend to return to its unstressed condition. Preferably, the press-fitted collet end is provided with knurls or grooves to ease the press-fitting operation and prevent collet movement with respect to the handle. Preferably, the collet front end is provided with spaced jaws surrounding a single coaxial bore that is able to accommodate two-different sized shanks of electrosurgical electrodes.

Electrosurgery is a common procedure for dentists, doctors, and veternarians. Electrosurgical unipolar handpieces are commercially available that will accommodate a wide variety of electrode shapes and sizes, such as needles, blades, scalpels, balls and wire loops. The conventional unipolar handpiece, such as that available from Ellman International, Inc. of Hewlett, N.Y., comprises an elongated electrically-insulating handle with a central bore and having at a first end an externally threaded part for threadingly engaging an internal thread on an electrically-insulating nose piece also fitted with a central bore. A generally cylindrical metal collet seats in the handle bore at the first end and a collet front portion projects forward from the handle. The collet comprises at its front portion flexible jaws formed by a tapered slitted front with a bore sized to receive the shaft or shank of a conventional electrosurgical electrode, and the nose piece has on its interior a matching tapered portion configured such that, when the nose piece is rotated clockwise (CW) while threadingly engaged to the handle, its tapered interior surface engages and gradually closes down the collet jaws so that the electrode, when inserted into the collet bore, is tightly held by the metal collet and a good electrical connection is made to the collet. The back end of the collet is connected to a wire which connects to a conventional electrosurgical instrument supplying electrosurgical currents which, when activated, via a switch on the handpiece or a foot switch or a switch on the instrument, supplies electrosurgical currents to the collet and via the collet to the electrosurgical electrode. When the dentist or doctor desires to change the shape, size or length of the electrode, it is necessary to loosen the nose piece to unlock the collet, remove the existing electrode, and substitute a new electrode.
Reference is made to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,812 which describes a handpiece of the type described above provided with a built-in structure which locks the nosepiece to the handle preventing accidental detachment, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
These types of known handpieces can cause certain difficulties. These difficulties include that the collet can only accommodate a single sized electrode shank. However, the most common electrodes come in two standard-sized shanks, 1/16 or 3/32 inches. Hence, when the surgeon desires to change electrodes, and the new electrode has a different sized shank from the previous electrode, the surgeon must remove the nosepiece during the procedure, remove the collet for the previous electrode and replace with a new collet that can accommodate the shank of the new electrode. This is cumbersome and time consuming, and has the further disadvantage in that it involves a certain effort to remove the nosepiece from the handpiece when the nosepiece makes use of the locking feature described and claimed in the referenced patent.
Another disadvantage of the known handpieces derive from their fabrication or assembly procedure during manufacture of the handpiece. The metal collet, typically of brass so as to be electrically conductive, must be fixed to the handle, typically of an insulating plastic such as Delrin, so that it does not turn or move during the surgical procedure. This is currently accomplished by gluing the back end of the collet, after the electrical cable has been soldered to it, into the bore at the front end of the handle. The gluing step, which takes at least several hours due to the dissimilar materials, requires that the glued parts remain immobile while the glue dries and permanently sets. This significantly slows the assembly procedure and increases the manufacturing cost.

Electrosurgical handpiece with multiple electrode collet


A switching technique allows multiple interconnect bus devices to be connected to a single bus segment, even if the interconnect bus protocol only allows a one of the interconnect devices to be connected at any time. Each of the interconnect devices is connected to the interconnect bus segment with a switch, such that the interconnect device is electrically isolated from the interconnect bus segment when the switch is open. An interconnect sourcing agent connected to the interconnect bus segment controls the switches, closing the switch for one of the interconnect devices when a transaction is destined for that interconnect device, opening all of the other switches so that only one device is connected to the bus at any time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to interconnect busses of computer systems and in particular to dynamically connecting multiple devices to an interconnect bus such that only a single one of the multiple devices is connected to the interconnect bus at any time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many computer systems use interconnect busses for multiple types of traffic. In addition, other embedded digital systems use interconnect busses for connecting devices in the embedded digital system.
Typical interconnect busses that share a common clock will naturally experience a reduction in electrical loading, a restriction in layout, or both as the shared common clock frequency increases. Fewer numbers of faster devices than slower devices can be connected to a given bus segment. For example, an interconnect bus running according to the PCI-X specification can support four devices running at 66 MHz, two at 100 MHz, and only a single device running at 133 MHz on any given bus segment.
Such a limitation may impose costs on system designers. Servers and other computer systems typically have a number of slots for interconnect devices. Limiting a bus segment to a single interconnect device means that each slot typically has its own sourcing bridge/host bridge per slot, increasing total system costs. In addition, the requirement for multiple bridges imposes additional space costs. Allowing a system designer an option to increase the electrical loading on a bus segment without adversely affecting performance, such as slowing device speeds, thereby reducing bandwidth, would be desirable.

Point-to-point electrical loading for a multi-drop bus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A device for controlling the operation of power excavators includes a control lever which is handled simply by one hand, which is different from the prior art systems having multiple control levers necessarily handled by both hands. The control lever consists of a plurality of links which are jointed together in such a way that the intuitive handling directions of the links are identified with the actual moving directions of the actuators. The control lever thus adds significant convenience for the operator when operating the actuators of the excavator. An excavator with the above control device can be easily and effectively operated by an unskilled operator even for delicate work such as a land finishing work or loading work, both of which tasks are generally known in the art to require a highly-skilled operator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a device for controlling the operation of power excavators and, more particularly, to an improvement in such a device for easily controlling both the turning motion of a turret relative to a travelling part of a power excavator and the rotating motions of the working members, such as the boom, arm and bucket of the excavator, during the operation of the excavator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, power excavators are representative construction vehicles, which are preferably used for digging. A conventional crawler-type power excavator is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the crawler-type power excavator has a travelling part 1 and a turret 2. The turret 2 is mounted rotatably to the top of the travelling part 1 with a swing unit 3 interposed between the travelling part 1 and turret 2. Due to the above swing unit 3, the turret 2 can be turned in opposite directions relative to the travelling part 1. The above swing unit 3 includes a swing motor as an actuator.
The turret 2 is equipped with a control cap 4, a drive unit and various elements associated with the drive unit. The excavator also includes a plurality of working members, that is, a boom 5, arm 6 and bucket 7 which are jointed together.
The above boom 5 is jointed to the front of the turret 2, so that the boom 5 can be rotated up and down relative to the turret 2. The above arm 6 is jointed to the tip of the boom 5, so that the arm 6 can be rotated in and out relative to the boom 5. The above bucket 7 is jointed to the tip of the arm 6, so that the bucket 7 can be rotated in and out relative to the arm 6. At the joints between the working members 5, 6 and 7, a plurality of cylinder actuators 8, 9 and 10 are provided for moving the working members 5, 6 and 7.
In order to control the operation of the boom 5, arm 6, bucket 7 and swing unit 3, two control levers 11a and 11b which are shown in FIG. 2 are typically provided in the left and right sections in front of the operator's seat inside the control cap. The left control lever 11a controls the operation of both the swing unit 3 and the arm 6. That is, when the left control lever 11a is pushed leftward or rightward, the swing unit 3 along with the turret 2 is turned in either direction relative to the travelling part 1. When the left control lever 11a is pushed forward or backward, the arm 6 is rotated in or out relative to the tip of the boom 5.
Meanwhile, the right control lever 11b controls the operation of both the boom 5 and the bucket 7. That is, when the right control lever 11b is pushed leftward or rightward, the bucket 7 is rotated in or out relative to the tip of the arm 6. When the right control lever 11b is pushed forward or backward, the boom 6 is rotated up or down relative to the turret 2.
While performing the desired work such as a land finishing or loading work, the operator of the above power excavator must individually or collectively handle the control levers 11a and 11b in order to appropriately control the rotating motions of the boom 5, arm 6 and bucket 7 and control the turning motion of the turret 2 relative to the travelling part 1.
However, the above control levers 11a and 11b are inconvenient to the operator because the operator must use both hands in order to collectively handle the levers 11a and 11b. In addition, the intuitive handling directions of the levers 11a and 11b are not identified with the actual moving directions of the associated working members 5, 6 and 7 and the swing unit 3. Therefore, it is very difficult to use the control levers 11a and 11b. That means that a power excavator must be operated by a highly-skilled operator, particularly when the excavator performs delicate work, such as a land finishing or loading work.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Hei. 2-197627 discloses "a control lever for power excavators". In the above Japanese control lever, an additional control means 71 (see the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 8, accompanied by the cited reference) is provided on the top of a typical control lever 31 (see the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 8, accompanied by the cited reference), so that the boom, arm, bucket and swing unit of a power excavator can be operated by using the control lever that has the additional control means.
However, in the above Japanese control lever, the intuitive handling directions of the lever with the additional control means are not identified with the actual moving directions of the boom, arm, bucket and swing unit. In this regard, the intuitive handling of the lever may cause a safety accident of the power excavator during the operation of the excavator. Another problem of the above Japanese control lever resides in that the operator must be highly skilled in order to perform the operation of the lever.

Device for controlling the operation of power excavators


Described is using context information obtained from entity mentions in likely relevant documents to extract entity mentions from documents that are ambiguous with respect to their relevance to a domain. A list of entities is input into an entity extraction mechanism, which processes a large collection of documents to determine data (counts) corresponding to frequency of entity mentions. Infrequently mentioned entities are specific entities, while frequently mentioned entities are non-specific (generic or ambiguous) entities. The context surrounding mentions of the specific entities is processed to obtain interesting context terms (words, phrases or both) for the domain. The interesting context terms are then compared against the contexts of non-specific entity mentions to determine whether each non-specific entity mention is relevant to the domain. A result set containing only relevant documents or relevant mentions collection is output.

Given a large collection of documents, there are various applications that benefit from having a relatively small subset of these documents filtered and identified in an appropriate way, or to extract certain entity information (e.g., words or phrases) from only relevant documents, or both. By way of example, consider that the collection to be processed comprises the large number of documents on the web, on the order of billions. An example entity extraction task may be to identify mentions of book titles within the web pages, given a prepared list of the desired book titles.
The task of extracting entities is difficult when some of the entities in the provided list have a significant overlap with entities in other domains or with the underlying language of the documents or both. For example, consider the movie "seven" (ignoring uppercase versus lowercase) among a list of movie titles to extract. There are many documents that contain the term "seven" that have nothing to do with the movie, e.g., there are seven days in a week, the distance to a location is seven miles, and so on. This overlap makes it very difficult to disambiguate relevant ("true") mentions of such entities with respect to the domain from irrelevant ("false") mentions.
Further, there is generally very limited domain-based information in terms of available training data, or in terms of available classifiers for entity extraction tasks or both. In general this is because there is a significant variety of such entity lists for which extraction is desired, and differing entity domains over which extraction may be performed, each domain having to have a classifier trained with knowledge of the specific domain. Indeed, such data may be entirely absent for an entity list or domain. By way of example, there may not be a classifier available for an entity list comprising romantic movies. Even if one exists, running such a classifier over such a large document collection may not be practical as a classifier tends to have large amount of performance overhead.
Another difficulty arises from the large size of the underlying document collection, which limits the time that can be spent on each document for extraction purposes. The large size of the document collection makes it impractical to identify all mentions of entities over the entire document collection as an intermediate step, followed by a subsequent step that removes false mentions. This is even worse in the presence of entities that overlap with the underlying language of the document, e.g., materializing mentions of "man" over web pages can lead to millions of web page URLs in which only a small fraction of the pages refer to a movie named "man."

Using context to extract entities from a document collection


The (R) and (S) enantiomers of a compound of formula I

The new compounds according to this invention are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Several structural classes of HDAC inhibitors have been identified and are reviewed in Marks, P. A., et al., J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 92 (2000) 1210–1216. More specifically, WO 98/55449, U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,108, WO 01/38322, WO 01/70675, and WO 02/22577 report alkanoyl, alkylenyl, alkenylenyl, benzyl, and cinnamyl hydroxamates with HDAC inhibitory activity.
Transcriptional regulation is a major event in cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Transcriptional activation of a set of genes determines cell destination and for this reason transcription is tightly regulated by a variety of factors. One of its regulatory mechanisms involved in the process is an alteration in the tertiary structure of DNA, which affects transcription by modulating the accessibility of transcription factors to their target DNA segments. Nucleosomal integrity is regulated by the acetylation status of the core histones. In a hypoacetylated state, nucleosomes are tightly compacted and thus are nonpermissive for transcription. On the other hand, nucleosomes are relaxed by acetylation of the core histones, with the result being permissiveness to transcription. The acetylation status of the histones is governed by the balance of the activities of histone acetyl transferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). Recently, HDAC inhibitors have been found to arrest growth and apoptosis in several types of cancer cells, including colon cancer, T-cell lymphoma, and erythroleukemic cells. Given that apoptosis is a crucial factor for cancer progression, HDAC inhibitors are promising reagents for cancer therapy as effective inducers of apoptosis (Koyama, Y., et al., Blood 96 (2000) 1490–1495).

Abstract: are novel antiproliferative therapeutic agents. These compounds have HDAC inhibitor activity and are useful in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are methods of making and using compounds of formula (I), as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of formula (I).


A dual active clamp (DAC) converter comprising two active-clamp, zero-voltage switching (ZVS) converters for converting electrical power from an input source to an output load is described. The two active-clamp ZVS converters are coupled in parallel to one another at their respective inputs and outputs, and are operated in a manner which reduces the overall input and output ripple currents of the DAC converter, which reduces the EMI emissions of the DAC converter. Each of the active-clamp ZVS converters achieves zero-voltage switching on its primary switch means, which also improves EMI emissions. Each active-clamp ZVS converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding being coupled to the output load and the primary switch means being coupled between the primary winding and a voltage source, and an active clamp circuit comprising a series combination of a storage capacitor and a first switch means. The active clamp is coupled to the transformer to capture energy released from the transformer at specific times, which is then used to reset the transformer's core and to create a zero voltage switching condition across the primary switch means. A second switch means is connected in series with the secondary winding of the transformer and is operated to prevent the loading effects of the secondary from interrupting the creation of the zero-voltage switching condition.

The forward converter is a common circuit topology used to transform electric energy from a source at a given potential to a destination load at a different potential. Typically, the forward converter requires fewer components than other converter topologies and is smaller and lighter. The standard forward converter comprises a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a third winding. The primary winding is coupled to a source of power, usually DC power, via a primary switch and the secondary winding is coupled to a load via two commutating diodes. The primary switch generally comprises a semiconductor switching device such as a field-effect transistor (FET) or a bipolar-junction transistor (BJT). When the primary winding is energized by the closing of the primary switch, energy is immediately transferred to the secondary winding, hence the name forward converter. The third winding is coupled to the power source via a rectifying diode and serves to reset the ferromagnetic core of the transformer when the primary switch is opened. The transformer's third winding provides a current path for discharging the transformer's magnetizing current, which is created when the primary winding is energized.
The standard forward converter is particularly well suited for low and medium power-conversion applications. However, it is not as efficient as other topologies in converting power, particularly in low power applications. The following factors contribute to the lower efficiency of the forward converter.
First, the core-reset operation in the forward converter using the third winding is not as efficient as other core-reset operations in other converter topologies. The rectifier in series with the third winding causes an amount of power dissipation and, more importantly, the addition of a third winding to the transformer increases the transformer's dimensions and thereby reduces the transformer efficiency by increasing the core losses, the resistance of each winding, and the self inductance of each winding.
Second, the forward converter only uses the first quadrant of the transformer's core B-H characteristic, leaving the third quadrant unused. As a result, the size of the transformer must be increased to enlarge the operating range of the first quadrant at the expense of higher core losses and higher winding resistances.
Third, the power dissipation in the primary switch when it is switched on (a turn-on event) is greater than the power dissipation in comparable switches in other topologies. The power dissipation in a switch during a switching event depends upon the product of the voltage across the switch and the current through the switch. In a forward converter, the voltage difference across the primary switch changes from a value equal to the input voltage of the power source to a value near zero when the switch is closed. Additionally, the primary current begins immediately since the forward converter provides current to the secondary winding immediately upon energizing the primary winding. The high input voltage and the instantaneous current flow in the primary switch leads to a high power dissipation loss in the primary switch. The power dissipation losses during switching events become more significant as the switching frequency of the forward converter is increased, as is done to improve the conversion efficiency of the converter's transformer. The direct power dissipation losses become more significant as the switching frequency increases because the duration of each switching event comprises a larger fraction of each switching cycle duration as the switching frequency increases.
The above first and second factors have been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,146 issued to Vinciarelli. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,146, the third winding is eliminated and replaced by a series combination of a storage capacitor and an auxiliary switch coupled across either the primary or secondary winding. The auxiliary switch is operated counter to the primary switch, i.e., the auxiliary switch is open when the primary switch is closed and closed when the primary switch is open. When the primary switch is open, the storage capacitor and auxiliary switch operate to capture and store the transformer's magnetizing current, which was built up when the primary winding was energized, and then to return the magnetizing current to the transformer in a manner which resets the transformer's core. The elimination of the third winding addresses the first above efficiency factor. Additionally, the returning of the magnetizing current to the transformer creates a condition where the first and third quadrants of the transformer core's B-H characteristic are utilized, thereby addressing the second above efficiency factor. This converter is often referred to as an active clamp forward converter because the series combination of the auxiliary switch and storage capacitor acts as a voltage clamp which is actively (i.e., selectively) coupled to the transformer's windings.
The third efficiency factor, however, is not addressed by the prior art. In this respect, the present invention provides improvements to the basic forward-converter topology by reducing the power dissipation during switching events, thereby increasing the power-conversion efficiency of the basic forward-converter topology.
Another drawback of the standard forward converter, as well as the active-clamp forward converter, is the problem of excessive "switching noise" on its input current line. This noise on the input current is primarily due to the "chopping" of the primary circuit current. The ripple noise has thus far prevented the use of the standard forward converter and active clamp forward converter in low noise applications, such as 48 VDC-to-5 VDC supplies for telephone exchange equipment. These ripple currents tend to create high-frequency electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can disturb the operation of nearby digital and communication equipment. Many countries are increasingly regulating the amount of EMI that can be generated by power supplies, forcing power supply manufactures to seek more complex, and often more expensive, power supply designs. The forward converter and active-clamp forward converter arts have attempted to correct the switching noise problem by incorporating large filtering capacitors at the inputs of these converters. However, this greatly increases the size of the converters, and somewhat decreases the efficiency of the converters since a large ripple current is caused to flow through the equivalent series resistance (esr) of the input filter capacitors. The present invention is also directed towards reducing this switching noise, and to do so while maintaining a compact converter size and high efficiency.
Presently, there is a great need for a compact, low noise, and highly efficient power converter, which is currently not being provided by the forward converter and active clamp forward converter topologies due to the above-described problems.

Dual active clamp, zero voltage switching power converter


An awning assembly for the front portion of a recreational vehicle. The awning assembly in a closed position provides an aerodynamic profile for the front portion of the recreational vehicle, so that a front wall can be arranged to allow more efficient use of the interior. In one embodiment, the front wall is vertical so that the front portion of the interior has a full ceiling height. The awning assembly in an open position helps to block out external elements, so that the front wall can be used more efficiently. In one embodiment, the front wall includes a window, and the awning assembly provides a shade for that window while allowing an occupant to look outside towards the front of recreational vehicle. Various structures and methods for implementing the awning assembly to the front portion of the recreational vehicle are disclosed.

1. Field
The present teachings relate to recreational vehicles and, in particular, to an awning for recreational trailers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recreational vehicle (RV) typically includes a housing mounted on top of a chassis. Also mounted to the chassis is one or more axles with wheels attached thereon so as to allow rolling of the RV. The RV can be either pulled by a towing vehicle, or be self propelled. Towed RVs can include a tent trailer, a trailer, and a fifth-wheel trailer.
Many RVs have an awning that can be deployed when at rest so as to provide a cover from sun and rain. A typical conventional awning is positioned along the side of the RV such that when deployed, provides a cover from the sun and rain so as to enhance the use of the RV. Conventional awnings can be retracted close to the side of the RV, and when retracted, conventional awnings generally do any other function. Thus, there is a continuing need to improve the manner in which awnings are implemented on RVs.

Side mounted awning assembly for recreational vehicles


The present invention discloses a wheel structure and a kayak using the same, relating to the field of ships. The wheel structure mainly comprises wheel bodies, a shaft and a support rod, wherein the connecting piece is arranged at one end of the support rod opposite to the wheel body, a bidirectional ratchet wheel mechanism is arranged between the shaft and the support rod, the bidirectional ratchet wheel mechanism can selectively control the shaft through adjustment, to make same rotate only in one direction, and then achieve the purpose of controlling the rotation direction of the wheels; the wheel structure is mounted on the kayak, when being loaded, the kayak is effortlessly pushed under the action of wheels, and the rotation direction of the wheels is limited by the bidirectional ratchet mechanism so that the wheels can only roll towards the vehicle, therefore, the pushing person does not need to powerfully offset the retreating force of the wheels, that is, it is easier and effortless to push the kayak to be loaded.

With the improvement of the living standard, more and more people like the water sports, i.e. kayaking. However, in order to transport a kayak to a designated water area to enter water, there is often a need to load the kayak on a vehicle for transport. At present, it is often very difficult to push the kayak onto the vehicle roof manually when loading, and it is very expensive if the kayak is loaded by means of a professional tool, which may increase extra costs.

Wheel structure and kayak using the same


A lower torso support has first and second front panels that are attachable to each other and independently moveable with respect to the side portions of the support. The front panels can be any suitable dimensions. However, slipper shapes are deemed to be the most useful, with front panels preferably at least 15 cm long and at least 6 cm tall at their tallest point. In preferred embodiments the front panels are readily attachable to and detachable from the side portions in a wide variety of superior to inferior and medial to lateral positions. At present the preferred mechanism for making those connections is a hook and loop mechanism, which has the advantage of also allowing the front panels to be angled with respect to the side portions in any suitable orientation.

The added abdominal weight attending mid to late pregnancy, obesity, ascites, and various other conditions can produce significant lumbar back strain. In some cases a standard lumbar brace can provide significant assistance to the wearer, but in other cases (such as pregnancy) the ordinary lumbar braces are much too compressive on the peritoneum.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,648 to Turner (March 1992) shows one type of pregnancy support, in which a fabric encircles the torso, but remains open about the abdominal region so as not to compress the abdomen. This and all other referenced patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. While providing some measure of back support, devices such as that disclosed in the '648 patent do little or nothing to support the abdomen, or transfer abdominal weight onto the hips.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,175 to Loren Working (Jun. 6, 2000) teaches a supports designed specifically for pregnant women. That support provides a continuous carrier about the wearer's lower torso, with a front portion that is shorter (from bottom to top) than the sides and back, so that the front portion supports the extended lower abdomen substantially from below the extended abdomen. This arrangement provides needed support without excessive compression of the abdomen. The '175 patent also teaches a removable apron band that is said to facilitate installation and proper positioning of the front (natal support) portion.
Unfortunately, supports according to the '175 patent are not readily adjustable. One problem is that the back and side portions of the support are fixedly coupled to the front portion. Whether in pregnancy or other conditions, abdominal distension may occur high or low relative to the lumbar spine, and the positioning and extent of the distension commonly varies over time. The result is that proper fitting of the back and side portions of the support is often inconsistent with proper fitting of the front portion, and visa versa. It is possible to resolve that problem by producing a large number of different sizes, but that solution adds considerably to the manufacturing and stocking costs, as well as requiring a wearer to purchase multiple supports.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,639 to Marcus (October 1991) teaches a torso support comprising a back pad, side pads, and upper and lower front straps. The '639 device is advantageous in that the front straps are positioned above and below the most fully distended portion of the abdomen, but still cannot be positioned independently of the positioning of the back and side pads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,192 to Burke (August 1990) provides a support undergarment with an abdominal support sling that connects to a dorsal panel. The nature of the connection is such that the sling could pivot to some extent, and therefore be positioned somewhat higher or lower on the abdomen as needed. Unfortunately, the mechanics is such that the weight carried by the sling passes through the pivot, so that the weight may well be improperly carried in all but the default position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,268 to Maddux et al. (December 1985) provides front and back belts that connect at hook and loop type fasteners at the sides of the wearer. The connection in this instance provides some measure of independence in positioning between the front and back belts. There is an additional problem here with respect to use of the belts. The contemplated belts are substantially the same thickness across their entire lengths. If they are narrow enough to connect conveniently at the sides, then the belts are probably too narrow to comfortably support much abdominal weight. If they are wide enough to comfortably support additional considerable abdominal weight, then they would be cumbersome across the back, and in their connections to one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,149 to Castiglia (August 1978) provides a tall partially encircling, substantially rigid back brace portion, and a front portion that attaches to hook and loop fasteners on the front ends of the back portion. This device could be manipulated to provide higher or lower support as needed, but the use of a single front piece greatly limits the possible combinations.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a lower torso support in which the abdominal support portion is independently positionable relative to the back portion.

Lumbar support with supplemental abdominal support panels


A device for keeping liquids separate in a pipe, especially for use in a petroleum well, where the device comprises a diaphragm, which in its operative position and through use of pretensioned slats is stretched across the cross section of the pipe, and where each of the two end portions of the slats is connected to a boss, respectively, in a manner such that each the slats forms an outward bow relative to the common axis of the bosses, when in the neutral position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention regards a device, hereinafter termed a diaphragm bow, designed to segregate or separate liquids in a pipe, as is normally done during cementation work in a petroleum well, where use is often made of liquids having different density, and where mixing of the liquids would cause the cementation to be totally or partially unsuccessful.
2. Description of Related Art.
A petroleum well in which a casting operation is to be carried out will ordinarily contain drill fluid. When the grouting compound, which is slightly more viscous and has a higher density than drill fluid, is introduced at the desired location in the well, there is a considerable risk that the grouting compound may sink into the drill fluid and as a result end up in the wrong place in the well. Another danger is that it will be diluted by the drill fluid, and therefore not form a satisfactory casting.
This situation is well known to personnel working in this area, and several methods have been used to overcome the problem.
According to prior art, a relatively high viscosity liquid is during casting work in wells first pumped down to a location immediately below the location of the casting. The highly viscous liquid forms a very sluggish plug that will prevent the grouting compound subsequently pumped into the well from moving downwards and mixing with the highly viscous liquid or the drill fluid located underneath. In addition to being relatively costly, the method has proven not to work satisfactorily.
When cementing in a liner, a bridge plug may be used. However bridge plugs are not suitable for most of the cementation work that is relevant for a petroleum well.
It is also known to arrange an inflatable plug at the casting location. Inflatable plugs have a much greater field of application than bridge plugs, but have large physical dimensions and are therefore difficult to transport to the site by means of e.g. helicopter. Plugs of this type are relatively costly.
A liquid separating means is described in Norwegian patent 303649, comprising two sets of slats, where each set of slats is fixed to separate bosses connected to a common mandrel. Each set of slats distributed along the periphery of the device, and which at their free end portions are braced against e.g. a pipe wall, are provided with a cloth at these free end portions. The cloth is designed to cover the cross section of a pipe, thereby preventing liquids above and below the device from mixing. The device according to NO 303649 must be adapted to each casting operation and introduced into the well while arranged in the end portion of a lead-in pipe.
For all of the above mentioned methods, with the exception of the case of using a high viscosity liquid, the lead-in pipe must be lowered into the well just to position the liquid separating device. Often, the running in is delayed due to limitations in the pumping capacity.


Provided herein are protective spout covers adapted to couple to the universal dispensing spout of a food pouch, such as a baby food pouch. The protective spout covers may be formed from a flexible elastomer and may grip the spout securely via one or more gripping lips adapted to engage a corresponding groove on the universal spout. When so coupled, the protective spout cover may cushion the spout to protect the user's mouth and lips from injury. The protective spout cover also may include a food regulating valve that may control the flow of food from the pouch. The protective spout cover also may include a cap member to keep the protective spout cover clean when not in use, a gripping ring to facilitate use of the cap, and may have a size and durometer hardness sufficient to prevent the device from being a choking hazard.

Many baby food products now offer blended meals in a relatively flexible pouch. For busy families, this is a convenient method for providing healthy, creative flavor combinations ideal for young developing palates. However, the universal dispensing spout used with such baby food products may be problematic for various reasons. For instance, the universal dispensing spout features a wide diameter, intended for "easy-flow" of the food products contained therein. However, young children have limited motor skills and typically cannot manipulate pressure on the pouch accurately enough to avoid spilling its contents. Additionally, accidentally dropping the pouch may cause spills, creating messes and wasting necessary calories, nutrients, and money.
The universal dispensing spout also features a rigid structure with sharp corners, which structure is necessary for the food-filling process and to ensure the safety of the pouch contents. However, the target age group for pouch foods is curious, and often teething, and therefore they naturally love to feel, taste, and chew on the pouch spout, in addition to the pouch contents. Biting the spout can be tremendously painful for infants and young children, causing lacerations to their tongue, gums, or lips. Such injuries are discouraging for both baby and parent because transitioning to real food from milk or formula should be a positive milestone, not a painful one.

Protective spout cover with food regulating valve