In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetoelectric generator including: a flywheel rotating around an axis of rotation; a plurality of magnets disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the flywheel and rotating together with the flywheel; a stator core disposed radially inside the magnets, the stator core being constituted by stacking a plurality of thin steel sheets and having: an annulus portion; and a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from the annulus portion; and a generating coil configured by winding conducting wire onto the teeth, wherein: a coolant aperture through which a coolant passes is formed on the annulus portion so as to penetrate through the thin steel sheets in a direction of lamination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoelectric generator for generating electric power by electromagnetic induction between a magnet and a generating coil due to rotation of a flywheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known examples of conventional magnetoelectric generators include magnetoelectric generators in which generating coils are installed on teeth of a stator core in which a plurality of thin steel sheets are laminated in order to suppress heat generated by eddy currents, and a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to an inner surface of an outer peripheral edge of a flywheel so as to be spaced away from each other circumferentially are disposed around an outer periphery of the generating coils (See Patent Literature 1, for example).
Patent Literature
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-135382 (Gazette: FIG. 1)
In magnetoelectric generators having the above configuration, heat due to hysteresis loss and eddy current loss is generated in the stator core due to an alternating magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets as the flywheel rotates, increasing temperature in the stator core, and because temperature in the generating coils also increases with temperature increases in the stator core, resistance increases in the generating coils. As a result, temperature in the generating coils also increases due to copper loss, which is proportional to resistance in the generating coils, and one problem has been that generating efficiency is reduced.
An electrically-insulating coating is applied to copper wire used in the generating coils using a polymeric material, and another problem has been that service life and reliability of the generating coils are reduced if the temperature in the generating coils rises and a high-temperature state continues for an extended period of time.
In particular, there has been a tendency toward increased output in magnetoelectric generators In recent years, and frequency has been increased by increasing the number of magnets (magnetic poles), increasing heat generated in the stator core by hysteresis loss and eddy current loss, and also exacerbating the above problems.


Embodiments of the invention relate to automated code coverage measurement and tracking per user story and requirement. An aspect of the invention includes receiving one or more software development requirements. One or more tasks are generated from the one or more software development requirements. A task identifier (ID) is assigned to each of the one or more tasks, and each of the task IDs is assigned to at least one code component. An application is released that includes at least one code components.

This invention relates generally to processing within a computing environment, and more particularly to automated code coverage measurement and tracking per user story and requirement.
The discipline of software testing has long dealt with testing quality questions such as completeness, efficiency, and effectiveness. One of the concepts through which these questions are addressed is the notion of test coverage. Test coverage is a measure of what percentage of something has been tested, where the most common basis for test coverage measurement is the amount of the source code that has been tested. Code coverage measures what percentage of the total source code base has been executed during testing (completeness). Most programming languages have automated tools to measure code coverage. Code coverage determines the efficiency of testing by, for example, enabling the ratio of test costs per test coverage level to be tracked and managed across time. Test coverage additionally enables the comparison of test coverage and defect rates for past releases for given areas of the code base.
The limitations of code coverage are addressed by using alternatives that relate to the "important" code paths as determined by users. These important code paths may include functions, user scenarios, interfaces, commands, use cases, graphical user interface (GUI) panels, etc. Coverage measurement using these as a basis is common, often in parallel with code coverage.

Automated code coverage measurement and tracking per user story and requirement

International Business Machines Corporation


A portable paint booth has a floor, roof and walls made of non-porous materials, at least one door, an air inlet adapted to receive air from a mechanical blower, and an exhaust tube that extends from the booth and comprises at least one orifice disposed at a terminal end of the tube, wherein the terminal end of the tube is disposed above a junction of a wall and the roof when the booth is pressurized. The exhaust tube may be supported by a pole to hold the tube upright and maintain a predetermined height. The terminal end of the tube may be propped open by a support element that extends around a perimeter of the exhaust tube.

Automotive spray-painting is a sensitive process that requires a controlled environment to be safe and effective. Automotive paint is typically transported by a solvent medium, and the solvents can be highly volatile and hazardous to human health when inhaled. Unlike latex paint, automotive paints often undergo catalytic reactions to create a hard finish that is resistant to damage from debris encountered when driving. The hardened finish can also be very difficult to remove and possibly toxic, so overspray from automotive finishes present hazards that are not present in latex or oil-based exterior paints. In addition, automotive finishes are highly sensitive to particulate contamination—even small dust particles can create visible flaws in a painted surface.
In order to address these challenges, automotive painting has conventionally been conducted in highly controlled buildings. Indoor painting spaces can be controlled to manipulate airflow to ensure that painting spaces are well ventilated, dust-free and easily cleaned. For example, some indoor systems have porous floor grates that prevent the accumulation of dust and debris, and can have sophisticated air handling systems to remove fumes and spray particles. These controls have facilitated industrial-scale spray painting with high throughput.
However, it is not always practical to transport vehicles to a static spray booth. In many circumstances, it is challenging to transport a vehicle to a remote location to be painted. Some vehicles are not in an operational state, and in some circumstances multiple vehicles are in a single physical location, so that it is desirable to perform painting at the location of a vehicle instead of moving the vehicle to a stationary painting booth.
Others have attempted to provide an effective portable spray booth. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 20100272915 describes an inflatable structure that can be transported to a job site and erected by inflating tubular struts. However, the structure described by that document is heavy, complex and expensive. Relying on an operating blower as the source of structural support can be problematic when power is unexpectedly terminated. The structure would be bulky and heavy, so it would be difficult to transport and assemble. The inflatable structure is relatively large, which may trigger requirements for a fire suppression system in certain jurisdictions. In addition, the inflatable system implements down-draft airflow—while downdraft airflow is effective for a booth with a porous or grated floor, it can problematically stir up dust and particles on a solid floor, contaminating the painting environment.


An aviary is provided including an aviary cage having a first side, a second side, and a nesting area. The nesting area is positioned between the first side and the second side. A belt extends beneath the nesting area. A grate having a first end and a second end is positioned over the belt. The first end of the grate extends to the first side of the aviary cage, and the second end of the grate extends to the second side of the aviary cage. A first egg conveyor is positioned adjacent the first end of the grate. A second egg conveyor is positioned adjacent the second end of the grate.

Aviary cages are frequently used to house hens for egg production. Generally, the aviary cage includes nesting areas where the eggs are laid. The eggs are then carried from the nesting area to a collection area by an egg conveyor that is positioned adjacent the nesting area. Recently, the need to provide the hens with an area to walk around and peck and scratch has increased dramatically as more farms are producing "cage free" product. "Cage free" indicates that the hens are not confined within cages.
Unfortunately, along with the benefits of being cage free, providing open spaces for the hens also means that the hens are able to defecate in more areas. Hens may also die in the open spaces. Accordingly, it has become difficult to keep some aviaries clean of manure and deceased fowl. This has resulted in increased harmful ammonia contamination within some aviaries. It has also increased the requirements for manual cage cleaning. Some cages utilize belts to carry manure from the cage to a collection area. However, the belts are only capable of receiving manure that is disposed of in the general area of the belt. Because cage free aviaries frequently include vast amounts of open space, not all of the manure within the aviary and the aviary cage can be collected by the belt.
Additionally, the increased open space leads to the likelihood of some eggs being laid outside of the nesting area. These eggs remain unattended until an individual is able to enter the aviary or cage and remove the eggs. As such, many eggs are lost. Moreover, the eggs that are salvaged from the open spaces of the cage may have become contaminated with bacteria due to the length of time they remained in contact with manure. Such eggs may not be sold for human consumption, which results in lower income for the producer.

Aviary cage with manure removal system and method for constructing the same


A protective case having a speaker sound amplification path and an electronic device including at least one speaker device are disclosed. The protective case includes a base surface placed adjacent to at least one side of the electronic device to protect the electronic device, at least one speaker sound amplification path formed in the base surface and having a specific depth including a first location corresponding to a speaker hole of the electronic device to output a speaker sound of the speaker device, and a speaker sound output hole at a second location extended from the speaker sound amplification path and formed to an outer side of the protective case in an open manner, wherein the speaker sound output from the speaker hole is amplified within the speaker sound amplification path and is then output through the speaker sound output hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective case for an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among electronic devices, portable terminals have recently experienced rapid development. The portable terminals tend to employ various additional functions in addition to a basic telephony function. To cope with users' demands, portable terminals having various functions have been launched.
Such a portable terminal has been evolved from initial-stage terminals having various opening forms, for example, a bar-type terminal, a folder-type terminal, a slide-type terminal, etc., to a smart phone which has a typical bar-type form and has a touch input/output pattern with a large screen placed to occupy a greater part of a front side of the terminal.
Such a smart phone includes a basic telephony function and a digital camera module, and in addition thereto, is capable of performing communication through Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) or 3rd Generation (3G), 4th Generation (4G) network, wireless communication with neighboring devices through a Bluetooth module, and communication using Near Field Communication (NFC). In addition, a variety of location information services can be accessed using the smart phone by simultaneously employing a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, or an ambient light sensor, etc. The usage environment of the smart phone can thus be automatically controlled using various communication and location functions.
Meanwhile, the smart phone allows a user to capture a High Definition (HD) video by using a digital camera, to listen to the music by using an MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3) file, and to enjoy a video file by storing the file into an internal memory without an additional encoding process.
Such functions require a speaker device for allowing the user to listen music or sounds. The user can independently listen to a speaker sound by inserting an ear-jack to an ear-jack hole disposed in a particular place of a portable terminal and then by placing an earphone device to an ear of the user. However, typically at least one speaker device is installed in addition to an ear piece for a call so that many people around the user can listen the speaker sound, and it is implemented such that the speaker sound is output through a speaker hole formed in a case frame of the terminal.
For enabling multimedia functions of the smart phone, the speaker device has an important role. It is difficult to output a high-power sound to a more compact-sized speaker device, and there is a challenge to provide two or more stereo or surround speaker sounds by using one speaker device.
However, according to a recent trend of providing various functions at the same time in order to make the device slimmer, lighter, thinner, and simpler, in order to cope with customers' demands, the speaker device applied to the portable terminal must be limited in its size and output. Such limitations of the speaker device cause problems of performance deterioration of the terminal.
Therefore, in order to solve a low-power problem of the speaker device, an additional speaker sound amplification device (so-called a 'speaker dock') can be used. When the portable terminal is placed to an upper portion of the speaker sound amplification device, a speaker sound is output to an outside of the device.
However, since the additional speaker sound amplification device is relatively expensive, it is difficult to purchase the device. Further, since the additional speaker sound amplification device is large enough to place the portable terminal therein, portability is low, and there is a high risk of loss since the user has to carry the speaker sound amplification device in addition to the portable terminal.
Additionally, consumers who purchase a high-priced smart phone use an additional protective case by placing the case to the smart phone to protect an exterior of the smart phone and to maintain a best grip feel. The protective case for the terminal is made of a material such as rubber, silicon, urethane, etc., that can be attached to one side of the terminal or that can entirely cover the terminal except for a display device.
However, the protective case of the portable terminal typically has just the single function of protecting or beatifying the exterior of the portable terminal.

Protective case with speaker sound amplification path


A circuit includes a conduction detector configured to monitor conduction of a body diode of a synchronous rectifier switch relative to a predetermined threshold and to generate a detector output that indicates conduction or non-conduction of the body diode. A window analyzer is configured to generate a timing signal to indicate if the synchronous rectifier switch is turned off prematurely or turned off late relative to an on-time turn off based on the detector output from the conduction detector. A controller is configured to adjust the timing of the synchronous rectifier switch based on whether the timing signal indicates that the synchronous rectifier switch is turned off prematurely or turned off late relative to the on-time turn off.

Synchronous rectification is a technique for improving the efficiency of rectification by replacing diodes with actively controlled switches such as transistors, usually power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). Replacing a diode with an actively controlled switching element such as a MOSFET is at the core of active rectification. The MOSFETs have a constant very low resistance when conducting, known as on-resistance RDS (on). They can be made with an on-resistance as low as about 10 mΩ or even lower. The voltage drop across the MOSFET is then much lower than a diode, which results in a reduction in power loss and a gain in efficiency. At high currents, however, the drop can exceed that of a diode. To accommodate the increase in drop at high currents, several transistors can be placed in parallel, thereby reducing the current through each transistor, or by using a transistor device with more active area.
The control circuitry for active rectification circuits sense the voltage of the input AC and control the transistors to allow current to flow in the correct direction for AC to DC conversion. The timing is important, as timing errors can cause a short circuit as well as reduce the overall efficiency of the power converter.

Automatic timing adjustment for synchronous rectifier circuit


A microscopic device for three-dimensional localization of point-like objects, encompassing a detection optical system that images point-like objects, each in the form of a three-dimensional focus light distribution, into an image space; a color separation apparatus that divides the light into at least two separate light bundles of different wavelength regions; at least two image space detector units , one receiving one light bundle and the other receiving the other light bundle, each detector unit comprising a light-spot-sensing detection surface ; an evaluation unit that ascertains a lateral X-Y position and an axial Z position relative to the sharpness plane in a direction perpendicular to the sharpness plane; at least one Z-position correction value for at least one of the wavelength regions being stored in the evaluation unit, which value indicates a detection optical system longitudinal chromatic aberration in that wavelength region; and the evaluation unit correcting the Z position.

In the recent past, light-microscopy methods have been developed with which, based on a sequential, stochastic localization of individual markers, in particular fluorescent molecules, it is possible to display specimen structures that are smaller than the diffraction-limited resolution limit of classic light microscopes. Such methods are described, for example, in WO 2006/127692 A2; DE 10 2006 021 317 B3; WO 2007/128434 A1, US 2009/0134342 A1; DE 10 2008 024 568 A1; WO 2008/091296 A2; "Sub-diffraction-limit imaging by stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)," Nature Methods 3, 793-796 (2006), M. J. Rust, M. Bates, X. Zhuang; "Resolution of Lambda/10 in fluorescence microscopy using fast single molecule photo-switching," Geisler C. et al, Appl. Phys. A, 88, 223-226 (2007). This new branch of microscopy is also referred to as "localization microscopy." The methods applied are known in the literature, for example, under the designations (F)PALM ((fluorescence) photoactivation localization microscopy), PALMIRA (PALM with independently running acquisition), GSD(IM) (ground state depletion (individual molecule return) microscopy), or (F)STORM ((fluorescence) stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy).
The new methods have in common the fact that the specimen structures to be imaged are prepared with point-like objects, called markers, that possess two distinguishable states, namely a "bright" state and a "dark" state. For example, if fluorescent dyes are used as markers, the bright state is then a fluorescence-capable state and the dark state is a non-fluorescence-capable state.
In preferred embodiments, for example in WO 2008/091296 A2 and WO 2006/127692 A2, photo-switchable or photoactivatable fluorescent molecules are used. Alternatively, as e.g. in DE 10 2006 021 317 B3, inherent dark states of standard fluorescent molecules can be used.
In order for specimen structures to be imaged at a resolution that is higher than the classic resolution limit of the image-producing optical system, a small subset of the markers is then repeatedly transferred into the bright state. The density of the markers constituting this active subset must be selected so that the average spacing between adjacent markers in the bright state and thus the state that can be imaged by light microscopy is greater than the resolution limit of the imaging optical system. The markers constituting the active subset are imaged onto a spatially resolving light detector, e.g. a CCD camera, so that a light distribution of each point-like marker is sensed in the form of a light spot whose size is determined by the resolution limit of the optical system.
A plurality of individual raw-data images are sensed in this manner, in each of which a different active subset is imaged. In an image analysis process, the center-point positions of the light distributions, representing the point-like markers that are in the bright state, are then determined in each individual raw-data image. The center-point positions of the light distributions ascertained from the individual raw-data images are then combined into one overall depiction in the form of an overall image data set. The high-resolution overall image produced by this overall depiction reflects the distribution of the markers.
For a representative reproduction of the specimen structure to be imaged, a sufficiently large number of marker signals must be detected. But because the number of markers in each active subset is limited by the minimum average spacing that must exist between two markers in the bright state, a very large number of individual raw-data images must be sensed in order to image the specimen structure completely. The number of individual raw-data images is typically in a range from 10,000 to 100,000.
In addition to the above-described determination of the lateral position of the markers in the object plane (hereinafter also referred to as the X-Y plane), a position determination in an axial direction (hereinafter also referred to as the Z direction) can also occur. The axial direction here means the direction in the optical axis of the image-producing system, i.e. the principal propagation direction of the light.
Three-dimensional localizations are known from so-called "particle tracking" experiments, such as those described in Kajo et al., 1994, Biophysical Journal, 67, Holtzer et al., 2007, Applied Physics Letters, 90, and Toprak et al., 2007, Nano Letters, 7(7). They have also been utilized already in image-producing methods that are based on the above-described switching and localization of individual molecules. Reference is made here to Huang et al., 2008, Science, 319, and Juette et al., 2008, Nature Methods. Reference regarding the existing art is further made to Bossi et al., 2008, Nano Letters, 8(8), 2463-2468 and to Pavani et al., 2009, PNAS, 106.
Localization of a point-like object in the Z direction can be accomplished in principle by evaluating that change in a light spot sensed on the detection surface of the camera which becomes visible when the point-like object moves out of the sharpness plane or focal plane optically conjugated with the detection surface. A point-like object is to be understood hereinafter as an object whose dimensions are smaller than the diffraction-limited resolution limit of the image-producing system, in particular of the detection objective. In this case the detection objective images an object of this kind into the image space in the form of a three-dimensional focus light distribution. The focus light distribution generates on the detection surface of the camera a light spot that is also referred to in the literature as a "point spread function," abbreviated PSF. If the point-like object is then moved through the focus in the Z direction, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of sharpness, the size and shape of the PSF then change. By analyzing the detected signal corresponding to the sensed light spot in terms of the size and shape of the PSF, inferences can be drawn as to the actual Z position of the object.
In the context of a three-dimensional localization, however, the basic problem exists that the PSF deriving from a point-like object is symmetrically in terms of the detection plane. This means that although the PSF changes when the point-like object is moved out of the sharpness plane, so that the spacing of the object from the plane of sharpness can be determined, the change in the PSF is nevertheless symmetrical on either side of the sharpness plane, so that it is impossible to decide which side of the sharpness plane the point-like object is located on.
Three-dimensional localization of point-like objects becomes even more difficult when so-called multicolor measurements needs to be carried out, in which the specimen is marked with different dyes and the detected signals sensed for these different dyes must be separated. Multicolor measurements are helpful in particular for co-localization of structures, for example proteins, inside a cell. If it is possible to separate the detected signals of the different dyes, a conclusion can then be drawn as to the respective distribution of the dyes and thus of the various structures.
A fundamental problem that occurs in high-resolution localization microscopy in the context of multicolor measurements is the so-called longitudinal chromatic aberration (also called axial chromatic aberration) exhibited to a certain degree by every detection objective. The longitudinal chromatic aberration is understood as an aberration which causes an object that emits light of different colors to be imaged in different image planes as a function of wavelength. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, in which it is assumed that a point-like object 10 is emitting light of two wavelengths (depicted in FIG. 1 respectively as a dashed and a dotted line and labeled 12 and 14). The longitudinal chromatic aberration that occurs in a detection optical system constituted by an objective 16 and a tube lens 18 now causes the focus light distributions generated by the detection optical system for the different wavelengths to be offset from one another in the Z direction. The center points of the mutually offset focus light distributions are labeled 20 and 22 in FIG. 1.
Longitudinal chromatic aberration is caused by the fact that the lens material exhibits dispersions, i.e. possesses different refractive indices for different wavelengths of light. Longitudinal chromatic aberration can be decreased to a certain extent by a skillful lens design. Typical high-performance objectives, for example, possess a longitudinal chromatic aberration of 150 to 200 nm, which means that a blue dye and a red dye that are located in the same plane of sharpness will be imaged with an offset of 150 to 200 nm from one another in the Z direction.
Longitudinal chromatic aberrations in the range recited above are tolerable in conventional microscopy, since the resolutions achievable in the Z direction are in any case only in a range from 600 to 1000 nm. On the other hand, however, very much better resolution values are now being achieved in localization microscopy, based on the detection of individual molecules. Resolutions below 50 nm, for example, are achievable. At such resolutions, a longitudinal chromatic aberration of the magnitude recited above is no longer tolerable.

Microscopic device and method for three-dimensional localization of point-like objects in a specimen


A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductor film on the first insulating film, forming a second insulating film on the first conductor film, forming a first line-and-space pattern by etching the second insulating film and the first conductor film, forming a etched region etched into a second line-and-space pattern perpendicular to the first line-and-space pattern by etching the second insulating film, the first conductor film, the first insulating film, and the semiconductor substrate, burying a third insulating film in the etched region, removing the second insulating film, forming a fourth insulating film on the first conductor film and the third insulating film, forming a second conductor film on the fourth insulating film, and forming a third line-and-space pattern parallel to the first line-and-space pattern by etching the second conductor film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor integrated circuit device and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having stacked gate memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example of the related art, manufacturing steps from the formation of element isolation regions (shallow trench isolations) to the formation of gate lines (word lines) of a memory cell array in a NAND nonvolatile semiconductor memory will be explained below.
FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the well-known sequence from shallow trench isolation formation to word line formation. This sequence shown in FIG. 43 is illustrated in, e.g., FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) of S. Aritome et al., "A 0.67-μm2 SELF-ALIGNED SHALLOW TRENCH ISOLATION CELL (SA-STI CELL) FOR 3V-only 256-Mbit NAND EEPROMS", IEDM, pp. 61-64, 1994.
FIG. 44 is a plan view of the memory cell array formed following the procedure shown in FIG. 43. FIG. 45A is a sectional view taken along a line 45-45 in FIG. 44.
First, as indicated by ST1 in FIG. 43, a tunnel insulating film 5 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 4, and a floating gate (FG) conductor film 6 is deposited on the tunnel insulating film 5.
Then, as indicated by ST2, an element region (AA) mask pattern is formed on the floating gate conductor film 6, and used as an etching mask to dry-etch the floating gate conductor film 6 and semiconductor substrate 4, thereby forming shallow trenches in the semiconductor substrate 4 and separating the floating gate conductor film 6 in the bit line direction at the same time.
As indicated by ST3, an insulator (ST1) 9 is buried in the shallow trenches formed in the semiconductor substrate 4. Subsequently, an interpoly insulating film 10 that insulates floating gates from word lines is formed on the floating gate conductor film 6 and insulator 9. A word line conductor film 11 is deposited on the interpoly insulating film 10.
As indicated by ST4, a word line mask pattern 12 is formed on the word line conductor film 11, and used as an etching mask to dry-etch the word line conductor film 11, interpoly insulating film 10, and floating gate conductor film 6, thereby forming word lines WL and separating the floating gate conductor film 6 in the word line direction at the same time. FIGS. 45B and 45C illustrate this etching process. Note that similar to FIG. 45A, FIGS. 45B and 45C are sectional views taken along the line 45-45 in FIG. 44.
In these sectional views shown in FIGS. 45B and 45C, however, the floating gates 6 and insulating films 9 are actually tapered as shown in FIGS. 46A and 46B for the following reason. That is, due to the characteristics of dry etching for forming the shallow trenches in ST3, this etching progresses while depositing deposition films made of the etching product on the sidewalls. As shown in FIG. 46B, this taper forms, on the semiconductor substrate 4, portions hidden behind the insulating films 9 and interpoly insulating films 10. The floating gates 6 sometimes remain in these hidden portions without being etched. If these residues form, adjacent floating gates 6 shortcircuit. FIG. 47A is a plan view showing an ideal pattern (Design) of the floating gates (FG) 6 on the memory cell array. FIG. 47B is a plan view showing a pattern (Actual) of the floating gates (FG) 6 when the residues form.
If the residues form, as shown in FIG. 47B, the floating gates 6 do not form patterns independent of each other, but insufficiently separate from each other in the word line direction. Consequently, adjacent floating gates 6 connect to each other in the form of a chain along the bit line direction.

Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor integrated circuit device


A guide vane segment for a turbomachine stage that has an inner ring segment (10) and a plurality of guide vanes (20) that are configured on the inner ring segment; a detuning region (V) of the inner ring segment extending in each case from a trailing edge (21) of at least one guide vane (20), in particular of at least 50% of the guide vanes (50), axially toward a leading edge (22) of the guide vane (20) over at most 50% of a width (B) of the inner ring segment (10) and/or at most 5 mm and/or circumferentially on both sides, in each case over at most 25% of a spacing (A) between adjacent guide vanes (20), at and/or in which at least one cavity (112) is configured which contains at least one impulse element (100) with clearance of motion for providing impact contacts.

From the Applicant's own WO 2012/095067 A1, it is known to configure impulse elements on guide vanes of a gas turbine that are provided for contacting the vanes by imparting impacts thereto.
It is hereby possible to realize the Applicant's novel concept for reducing unwanted vibrations that essentially is not based on dissipating friction, but on detuning natural modes and frequencies in response to impacts imparted by the impulse elements. For further details on this detuning concept, the present disclosure also expressly makes reference to the WO 2012/095067 A1 and to the contents thereof.


In a method for operating a computed tomography device for reducing the load on at least one technical component of the computed tomography device during operation of the at least one technical component, as well as a computed tomography device and a data storage medium that implement such a method, for at least one scan parameter of the computed tomography device affecting the at least one technical component an extreme value is defined, the method being an operating mode for the computed tomography device is selected in which the settable value for the at least one scan parameter affecting the at least one technical component is limited to a certain percentage below or above the extreme value for the operation of the at least one technical component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for operating a computed tomography device for reducing the load on at least one technical component of the computed tomography device during operation of the at least one technical component. The invention also relates to a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions for implementing such a method, and a computed tomography device operable according to the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A computed tomography device, in particular a third generation computed tomography device, embodies a number of technical components, which during operation of the computed tomography device are subject to a significant load and are therefore subject to age or wear. The ageing and wear are generally greater or more marked, the closer the respective technical component is operated to its load limit.
Such a technical component is, for example, an x-ray tube of a computed tomography device. The service life of an x-ray tube is influenced significantly by the strength of the tube currents used during operation of the x-ray tube. Major temperature fluctuations are a particular problem, resulting in particular from secondary electrons striking the beam outlet window of the x-ray tube. The temperature here rises in a linear manner with the tube current used. In particular x-ray tubes frequently operated close to or at their maximum permissible tube current therefore age more quickly and often have to be replaced prematurely, thereby incurring not insignificant costs.
Further technical components of the computed tomography device, which during operation at or close to their load limit are subject to increased wear, are bearings for the rotating support of the rotatable part relative to the stationary part of the gantry and slip rings for the transmission of data and/or energy between the rotatable and stationary parts of the gantry of the computed tomography device.
The reason why technical components are operated at their load or performance limit is frequently due to the operation of a computed tomography device that has technical components for cost reasons have a low reserve capacity, with automatic program systems, e.g. automatic dose systems, with which the tube current of the x-ray tube of the computed tomography device is modulated as a function of the rotation angle and therefore of the body cross section of a patient to be irradiated, in order to reduce the dose of x-ray radiation to be applied to a patient whilst still ensuring the best possible image quality. The tube current is reduced, for example for x-ray projections in an anterior-posterior direction, and is increased for x-ray projections in a lateral direction, where beam attenuation is greater. The automatic dose system therefore ensures that the patient is scanned with minimal exposure. In order also to be able to obtain high quality image information from an adipose patient, who generally demonstrates greater beam attenuation than a patient of normal weight, the automatic dose system must frequently increase the tube current so that the x-ray tube with low reserve capacity is operated close to or at its maximum permissible tube current, with the result that it is subject to a significant load and therefore premature ageing.

Computed tomography device and method and data storage medium for operation thereof


A video information processing method is performed by a computer device. The method includes: receiving source video information transmitted by a server, the source video information including a first user identifier (ID) transmitting a source video, a source video ID, and a storage location of the source video corresponding to the source video ID in the server; obtaining special effect information on the source video; generating, according to the storage location, the source video ID, and the special effect information, interaction video information associated with the source video ID, the interaction video information including the source video ID, the storage location, the first user ID, and the special effect information; and uploading the interaction video information to the server for storage, so that the server transmits the interaction video information to a terminal corresponding to the first user ID. Videos transferred based on solutions of embodiments of this application include rich information.

The emergence and rapid development of social applications facilitate communication between people. Content such as texts, pictures, animations, files, or videos may be transferred in real time by using a social application. For example, a first user sends a text or a video to a second user to transfer content the first user wants to express, and the second user receives the content, such as the text or the video, sent by the first user, to implement information transfer between the first user and the second user.
In a current social application, users may interact by using videos. For example, the first user transfers a source video to the second user, and the second user may return a video to the first user after receiving the source video transferred by the first user, to implement information transfer between the first user and the second user by using the videos. That is, information a user wants to express may be transferred to another user by using a video. However, because people have complex emotions and are increasingly demanding more social application functions, during information transfer, a single video can transfer only a quite limited amount of information because of an insufficient amount of video information. That is, information transfer is limited.

Video information processing method, computer equipment and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


A zoom lens assembly for a zoom camera wherein a focal length can be varied with a front move barrel moving forward and backward from a guide barrel by the rotation of a cam barrel installed inside a camera body.. This zoom lens assembly for a zoom camera includes an adhesive cement attached to the outer circumference of the cam barrel and a steel sheet coated on the adhesive cement in order to reduce the thickness of the outer circumference of the cam barrel considerably, and concurrently to improve the mechanical strength greatly; and a shading film and a shading member attached to the outer circumference of a shutter in order to block the external light permeating via the aperture between the front move barrel and the shutter.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens, more particularly to a zoom lens assembly for a zoom camera which heightens mechanical strength and improves shading efficiency between a front move barrel and a shutter.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A zoom lens has an advantage of being capable of varying a focal length successively by adjusting an external ring.
A zoom lens has been used as an exchange lens of a single reflex camera. In recent days, a new kind of camera called a zoom camera has been further developed by mounting a zoom lens on a snapshot type camera.
Generally, a conventional zoom lens assembly for a zoom camera includes a guide barrel which is to be fixed to a camera body, a front move barrel which is telescopically mounted within the guide barrel and a cam barrel which is rotatably mounted about the guide barrel. In addition, the guide barrel is provided with a plurality of linear slots, the rotatable cam barrel is provided with a plurality of spiral slots, and one or more rollers is secured to the front move barrel to project through the linear slots of the guide barrel into the spiral slots of the cam barrel so that upon rotation of the cam barrel, the front move barrel is caused to move into and out of the guide barrel.
In addition, a lens group and a shutter are usually mounted at the front of the front move barrel.
A shading tape has also been coated on the outer circumference of rotatable cam barrel so as to prevent the permeation of light through the overlying slots of the cam barrel and guide barrel.
In order to be able to rotate the cam barrel, a ring gear has been provided at one end of the cam barrel so as to be driven by a suitable motor. Thus, upon activation of the motor, the front move barrel can be moved forward or backward so that the focal length of the lens group can be varied.
Typically, the cam barrel has been made of aluminum since such a material can be readily shaped and is of light weight. However, the mechanical strength of aluminum is weak so that the cam barrel must be made of a relatively large thickness. This, in turn, makes the size of the cam barrel relatively large. Thus, the bulk of the camera is increased and carrying of the zoom lens assembly becomes inconvenient.
Further, since the shutter is assembled in the direction of the axis of the front move barrel, care should be taken to avoid having an aperture between the shutter and the front move barrel through which light may pass.


An air guiding system for a vehicle, particularly a passenger car, that is arranged in a rear area of the vehicle and has at least one central main air guiding element displaceable from a moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position. Lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are displaceable together with the or each central main air guiding element. The lateral auxiliary air guiding elements can be rotated like a folding knife with respect to the or each central main air guiding element in order to change them from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out operative position.

The present invention relates to an air guiding system for a vehicle, particularly a passenger car, which is arranged in a rear area of the vehicle and comprises at least one central main air guiding element, which can be displaced from a moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position, lateral auxiliary air guiding elements being displaceable together with the or each central main air guiding element.
DE 30 19 150 A1 discloses an air guiding system that is arranged for a vehicle arranged in an upper rear area of the vehicle and has an air guiding element that can be displaced from an inoperative position, in which it is integrated in the shaping of the rear area flush with the surface, into a moved-out operative position. The air guiding element is constructed as an aerofoil which, by way of an operating device, can be displaced or changed from the inoperative position into the operative position and vice-versa.
DE 43 05 090 A1 also discloses a vehicle air guiding system arranged in a rear area of the vehicle and having an air guiding element that can be displaced from an inoperative position into a moved-out operative position. The air guiding element is formed by a rear spoiler arranged in a recessed receiving device of the vehicle body and displaced by an operating device from the inoperative position to the operative position and vice-versa.
By way of the air guiding systems disclosed in the aforementioned DE 30 19 150 A1 and DE 43 05 090 A1, the rear axle output coefficient (cah-value) of the motor vehicle can be increased while the drag coefficient (cw-value) remains the same or is improved, these known air guiding elements each having the same transverse dimension in the inoperative position and in the operative position.
Not yet published DE 10 2005 030 203, discloses an air guiding system for a vehicle, which comprises a central main air guiding element as well as two lateral auxiliary air guiding elements. By virtue of the auxiliary air guiding elements, the transverse dimension of the air guiding system can be enlarged in the operative position and particularly the rear axle output coefficient can be further increased. The adjusting movement of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements with respect to the central main air guiding element takes place when the main air guiding element is displaced from the inoperative position into the operative position. The adjustment of the auxiliary air guiding elements with respect to the main air guiding element therefore takes place after, and uncoupled, from the displacement of the main air guiding element.
An object of the present invention is to create a novel vehicle air guiding system in which the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements can be rotated like a folding knife with respect to the or each central main air guiding element in order to change them from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out operative position.
According to an advantageous further development of the invention, the adjustment of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is coupled to the displacement of the or each central main air guiding element during its change or their change from the inoperative position into the operative position and vice versa such that the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements isochronously or simultaneously with the displacement of the or each central main air guiding element with respect to the or each main air guiding element can be changed from the inoperative into the operative position or from the operative position into the inoperative position. In this case, the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are rotated like a folding knife with respect to the or each central main air guiding element. Within a very short time and in a simple manner, the transverse dimension of the air guiding system can thereby be adapted.
Preferably, the central main air guiding element can be translatorily displaced by two telescopic operating devices from the moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position and vice-versa. Each of the telescopic operating devices includes a tube fixed to the vehicle body, in which a tube is guided which is fixed to the main air guiding element. Each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is disposed on the tube of a telescopic operating device fixed to the main air guiding element, and each tube fixed to the main air guiding element during its translatory movement with respect to the tube fixed to the vehicle body of the respective telescopic operating device is rotatable relative to the tube fixed to the vehicle body about its longitudinal axis, in order to rotate the auxiliary air guiding elements with respect to the main air guiding element.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


The proposed method and devices provide for an effective improvement of the blood flow in the vessels of a human's extremities due to generation of an ante-grade pressure wave of blood synchronized with phases of the cardiac cycle with the help of compression impulses. The devices provide an improved accuracy of the time and amplitude characteristics of the compression impulses and functioning in modes of generation both the ante-grade wave and external counter-pulsation.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system and vessels of the limbs, including obliterating atherosclerosis, endarteritis, and diabetic angiopathy are the forms of severe pathology; their treatment commonly is limited to administration of various pharmacological agents (Charles F. Carey etc. "The Washington manual of medical therapeutics"). Non-medicamentous management of the diseases and devices used for this are also known. The methods are based on rhythmic pneumatic compression of the vessels of an affected extremity synchronized with the cardiac activity, so called "syncardiac" massage. As an example, the "Syncardon" device and similar appliances include an ECG registration system and a cuff which should be put to a limb; the cuff is attached to a pneumatic system for achieving compression with air waves of a variable pressure synchronized with ECG signals (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,402, Benjamin et al., Jul. 3, 1978; SU712085, Khapilov et al., Jan. 30, 1980; SU986421, Solovyev et al., Jul. 1, 1983).
There is a method of treatment for vascular diseases of the lower extremities consisting of ECG monitoring of the patient and generating sequences of the pressure impulses within a compression element placed over the affected extremity, where the impulses of the pressure are synchronized with QRS-complex parameters of the ECG (see patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,079, Dillon, Jul. 5, 1996). Impulse parameters of the pressure and its duration are chosen in order that the impulse is generated with a delay in relation to QRS-complex, and the descending part of the impulse is finished prior to initiation of the systole of the QRS-complex. The device includes an ECG analyzer connected to a computer which is attached to the driving point of the control and indication unit a driving output of which is attached to a compression element via gas distribution device and a source of the compressed air. The compression element provides loading along all the extremity from the foot up to the knee. A disadvantage of the method is the limited functional capacity which prevents selectivity of the impact that doesn't allow creating an effective antegrade wave of the blood pressure. It is known about the use of independently managed compressive cuffs which are usually placed to proximal and distal parts of an affected extremity for creation of the antegrade wave of the blood pressure, but this method is used without synchronization with QRS-complexes (RU2253429 C1, Amosov et al., Oct. 6, 2005) that reduces the efficacy of such an impact.
There is a device for performing external counterpulsation which is synchronized with the cardiac rhythm (RU2135216 C1, Vasomedical Inc, Aug. 27, 1999). This device contains a source of a compressed gas, e.g. an air compressor with the maximum pressure up to 0.2 MPa, a positive pressure receiver, a negative pressure receiver, and gas-distributing components attached to compression cuffs. The device also contains a control unit for duration of filling/emptying of the cuffs, an analyzer of the ECG, ABP, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) parameters, and a unit of visualization of the measured and managed parameters.
There is a device containing a source of the compressed air connected via a receiver to a limiter of pressure and gas-distribution units which are connected with occlusive compression cuffs placed on the patient's body and supplied by pressure sensors, a unit for measurements of the cardiovascular system parameters connected to a control and indication unit (RU2282465 C2, Sudarev et al., Aug. 27, 2006). The main disadvantage of the device is a need of the use of a high-pressure compressor that increases considerably power consumption and mass-dimensional characteristics of the device.
A device (WO2007008201 (A1), Pickett et al., Jan. 18, 2007), contains a source of compressed air, a positive pressure receiver, gas-distributing units connected to compression cuffs, a source of the high pressure (minicompressor) controlling the valves of a gas-distributing unit; a valve assuring pressure release from the receiver. The device also contains a pressure sensor, a control unit for valves of the gas-distributing unit, an analyzer of the ECG, and a visualization unit of the parameters measured and managed. However, it is not capable of separate managing the pressure impulse magnitude in the compression cuffs that is rational in case of any changes of patient's physiological parameters.

Method and devices providing impact on cardiovascular system


In order to achieve a consistently good image quality, an X-ray device has an X-ray source in the form of an X-ray radiator (1) and an X-ray detector (2) with a precisely defined mutual arrangement, and a subsystem (5-7; 10-11) for detecting any deviation between the actual mutual arrangement and the precise mutual arrangement of X-ray source and X-ray detector (2). Optical detection of deviations is preferably provided.

In the case of X-ray apparatuses such as these, it is critically important that an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, in particular a digital X-ray detector, are arranged as exactly as possible relative to one another, in order to ensure the same high image quality all the time. Inter alia, the exact relative arrangement ensures uniformly centered illumination of the X-ray detector by an X-ray beam produced by the X-ray source, uniform dosage distribution of the X-ray beam on the X-ray detector, dazzle control that is symmetrical with respect to the X-ray detector, and alignment, accurately centered with respect to a focus of the X-ray source, of a scattered beam grid attached to the X-ray detector. In general, in an X-ray system, after installation at its intended location, the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector are aligned relative to one another once such that any discrepancies in the instantaneous relative arrangement from an exact relative arrangement are within a tolerance value defined for the X-ray apparatus. This situation is referred to in the following text as the necessary relative arrangement.
Over the course of time, loss of adjustment can occur in an X-ray apparatus, leading to the discrepancy in the positioning of the X-ray emitter relative to the X-ray detector going considerably beyond the tolerance values, with the image quality deteriorating as a result of this. Furthermore, even in applications which require major tilting of the X-ray emitter and of the X-ray detector, it is possible for mechanical holders such as telescopic holders to be severely loaded by the masses of the components, such that the permissible tolerance values for the discrepancies are exceeded.
So-called "locating pins" are known for X-ray detectors, pins which are attached directly to the a-Si or a-Se plate of the X-ray detector, which can be aligned by means of matching holes incorporated in a holder for the X-ray detector so as to prevent any major discrepancy from the original position. Furthermore, X-ray apparatuses are also known in which the X-ray detector is held in its position by means of a spring mechanism.


A method is provided for more efficiently transmitting data from a server computer to a client computer over a communications network, the nodes of which are capable of providing two classes of transmission quality. Data is transmitted using the high priority class until a local cache at the client computer is filled to a certain upper threshold, at which point the data is transmitted using the low priority class. If the local cache at the client computer subsequently reaches a lower threshold then the transmitted reverts to the use of the high priority class. The communications network may be connection-based (e.g. ATM) or connection-less (e.g. the Internet).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of communicating data from a server computer to a client computer.
2. Related Art
The Quality of Service (QoS) provided by operators of communications networks and systems is very important, especially in sectors for which a reliable, high-speed supply of information is required e.g. banking, share dealing, etc. The increase in the use of multimedia communications over computer networks, for example audio and video streaming, television multicasting and broadcasting, etc. will also increase the difficulty involved in supplying these services with an acceptable QoS to all users due to the high bandwidths required and the real-time nature of the data. While it may be possible to meet the desired QoS targets by increasing network capacity, i.e. increasing the capacity of transmission links and increasing the throughputs of switches and routers, this will necessitate significant capital expenditure and this investment may make the costs of the supplied services prohibitively high. It is clear that there would be significant advantages if services having a given QoS could be supplied without needing to make network investments of such an extensive nature.
One significant example of the levels of network resources required to provide guaranteed QoS levels is demonstrated by connection-based networks and connection-less networks. An example of a connection-based network is the public switched telephone network (PSTN) where a connection is established by the dialling of the required telephone number. An example of a connection-less network is the Internet, where data packets are routed by the network to their destination, the user having no control over the route taken by the individual packets. The drawback of establishing a connection is that, generally, a high price must be paid in order to maintain the connection and thus guarantee delivery of the information, whereas the transmission of a stream of packets in a connection-less manner may fail due to changes in the intermediate network elements, either due to equipment failure or network congestion. Disruption to the stream of packets is a lesser problem if, for example, a text file is being downloaded from a server computer. However, if real-time data, such as video or audio, is to be transmitted then the disruption of a packet stream, so that packets arrive out of order or at a slower rate than is required for data playback, may have serious repercussions. Accordingly, especially with regard to computer communications, there is a desire to attain the quality of service that is provided by connection-based transmission methods, without the additional cost that is incurred by setting up a connection.

Computer communication providing quality of service

British Telecommunications public limited company


An insect cell line has been established and characterized, derived from embryonic tissue (BTI-TN-5B1-4, ATCC CRL 10859) of Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper). The line is susceptible to various baculoviruses, including TnSNPV and AcMNPV, and may be used to replicate such viruses for use as insecticides or otherwise.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cell lines developed from differentiated tissue of insects, including midgut tissue; particularly, to cell lines which are susceptible to baculoviruses and may be used to replicate such viruses.
2. Abbreviations
Abbreviations or definitions used in the disclosure are as follows: AcMNPV, Autographa californica multiply-enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis virus; TnSNPV, Trichoplusia ni singly-enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis virus; MOI, multiplicity of infection; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; MDH, malate dehydrogenase; NPV, nuclear polyhedrosis virus.
3. Description of the Related Art
Insect cell culture has been used broadly in insect virology research since the first insect cell line was established in 1962 (Grace, T.D.C., Establishment of four strains of cells from insect tissue grown in vitro, Nature, 195:788-789). The general use of tissue cell lines for the culture or replication of pathogenic microorganisms is well established, and production of viral insecticides in cell culture has many advantages over their cultivation in vivo ((Weiss, S. A. and J. L. Vaughn, Cell culture methods for large-scale propagation of baculovirus, in "The Biology of Baculoviruses," vol. II "Practical Application for Insect Control" (Granados and Federici, eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.), pp. 63-87 (1986)) and (Granados et al., Production on viral agents in invertebrate cell cultures, in "Biotechnology in Invertebrate Pathology and Cell Culture" (Maranorosch, K., ed., Academic Press, San Diego/N.Y.), pp. 167-181, (1987)). However, specific microorganisms cannot be cultured in all cell lines, even in all cell lines from the same order. Vaughn, in Invertebrate Tissue Culture, Research Applications (Academic Press, N.Y./London, 1976, pp. 295-303) discusses the development of insect cell lines and notes that, for example, cell lines from Heliothis zea are not capable of complete replication of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus obtained from Heliothis zea itself. It should be apparent from the above that the ability of a given cell line to replicate a given microorganism cannot be predicted from results in cell lines of different species or in different lines from the same species.
In recent years, baculovirus expression vectors have been widely used as vectors for foreign gene expression in insect cells (Luckow, V. A. and M. D. Summers, High level expression of nonfused foreign genes with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus expression vectors, Virology, 170:311-39 (1988)). Therefore, insect cell culture has become more important as a potentially attractive system for producing viral insecticides and expressing foreign gene products of interest in the areas of biology, medicine, and agriculture.
In addition, Bacillus thuringiensis, a gram-positive soil bacterium, has been found to produce crystalline inclusions during sporulation, which consists of insecticidal proteins exhibiting a highly specific insecticidal activity (Aronson et al., Bacillus thuringiensis and related insect pathogens, Microbiol. Rev. 50:1-24 (1986)), and many B. thuringiensis strains with different insect hosts have been identified (Burges, H. D., ed., Microbial Control of Pests and Plant Diseases 1970-1980. Academic Press, Inc., London (1981)). The cloning of these insecticidal crystal protein genes and their expression in plant-associated microorganisms or transgenic plants has provided potentially powerful alternative strategies for the protection of crops against insect damage (Hofte and Whiteley, Insecticidal crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis, Microbiol. Rev. 53:242 (1989)). These crystal proteins act on the midgut cells of the insects, binding to specific midgut cell membrane receptors (Hofmann et al., Specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxins is correlated with the presence of high-affinity binding sites in the brush border membrane of target insect midguts, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sc. 85:7844-7848 (1988)), causing the said midgut cells to swell and burst, and the insect stops eating and dies (Hofte and Whiteley, p. 242 (1989)).
Prior to this invention, no cell line had been established from midgut tissue of any insect species, and this hampered studies of the mode of action of these crystal proteins (Hofte and Whiteley, pp. 242-255 (1989)).
Cell lines have been established from other types of tissue from several species of the order Lepidoptera, which includes some of the most significant agricultural pests. Lynn et al. reported lines from embryos and fat body tissue of Lymantria dispar, and from the testes of Heliothis virescens, in 1988. Mitsuhashi established a cell line from fat body tissue of Leucania separata in 1983. Hink established the first such line from Trichoplusia ni, the cabbage looper, in 1970; it was derived from ovarian tissue.
Up to the time of this invention, a midgut cell line of the cabbage looper had not been established. Harrap and Robertson, as early as 1968, indicated that nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) may infect a larger percentage of midgut cells in vivo, than fat body cells in vivo (Harrap, K. A. and J. S. Robertson, A possible infection pathway in the development of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, J. gen. Virol. 3:221-225 (1968)), making a midgut cell line, which may be used to reproduce baculoviruses, even more attractive.
Cell lines from Trichoplusia ni eggs have been established and infected ((Rochford et al., Establishment of a cell line from embryos of the Cabbage Looper, Trichoplusia Ni (Hubner), In Vitro 20: 823-825 (1984)) and (Granados et al , Replication of the Trichoplusia ni Granulosis and Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses in cell cultures, Virology 152: 472-476 (1986))), however, up to the time of this invention, a Trichoplusia ni embryonic cell line which is highly susceptible to numerous baculoviruses and efficiently supports replication of baculoviruses had not been established. Rochford et al. (1984) developed a Trichoplusia ni egg cell line (IPLB-TN-R) that is susceptible to only one of six baculoviruses tested, the Autographa californica multiply-enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). In addition, AcMNPV polyhedra production in the IPLB-TN-R cell line occurs later than desirable (beginning at 18 and 39 hours post infection), indicating an inefficient baculovirus replicating cell line. The BTI-TN-5B1-28 embryonic cell line reported by Granados et al. (1986) is moderately susceptible to infection by AcMNPV and Trichoplusia ni singly-enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis virus (TnSNPV).

Trichoplusia ni cell line which supports replication of baculoviruses

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.


A developer container, which includes a container body having a bottom developer supply hole and two longitudinal sliding grooves at two opposite sides of the bottom developer supply hole, a sliding cover moved with a carrier in and out of the sliding grooves at the container body, and a sealing membrane moved with the sliding cover to close/open the bottom developer supply hole.

The present invention relates to a developer container for use with a developer replenishing device in a copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to such a developer container which has bottom sliding cover means for covering its bottom developer supply hole.
FIG. 1 shows a developer container constructed according to U.S. Pat. Des.404.063 for use with a developer replenishing device in a copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus. This structure of developer container comprises a container body A, a sliding cover B at the bottom side of the container body A, a sheet-like sealing member C moved in and out of the sliding cover B, and a pull handle D at an outer end of the sheet-like sealing member C. The sealing member C has a part adhered to the bottom side wall of the container body A. When installed in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the pull handle D is pulled outwards, enabling the sealing member C and the sliding cover B to be pulled out of the bottom side wall of the container body A, and therefore the bottom developer supply hole at the bottom side of the container body A is opened to let developer be supplied out of the container body A. This structure of developer container is not satisfactory in function because a spacious operation space must be provided inside the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, so that the sealing member C and the sliding cover B can be fully extended out for letting developer be supplied out of the container body A through the bottom developer supply hole at the bottom side of the container body A.

Developer container with sliding cover means


A new DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE FOR A TELEVISION for providing a convenient method of storing, playing back and deleting various signals from a television with a digital storage mechanism. The inventive device includes a television with a digital storage mechanism situated therein which is adapted to tag each continues storage of video and audio signals, or program, in data memory with a unique number for identification purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video cassette recorders and more particularly pertains to a new DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE FOR A TELEVISION for providing a convenient method of storing, playing back and deleting various signals received from a television.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of video cassette recorders is known in the prior art. More specifically, video cassette recorders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art video cassette recorders include U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,476; U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,212; U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,726; U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,501; U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,579; and U.S. Pat. No. Design 357,244.
In these respects, the DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE FOR A TELEVISION according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a convenient method of storing, playing back and deleting various signals received from a television.


In one embodiment, a stateful device receives a packet on a particular interface of a stateful device in a computer network, where the packet includes source identification and destination identification. The source identification and destination identification of the packet may then be swapped and checked against a stateful connection table managed at the stateful device for the particular interface, such that a loop may be detected at the particular interface in response to the swapped source identification and destination identification matching an existing entry in the stateful connection table. In the event there is such a detected loop, the packet (e.g., and any subsequent similar packets) may to be dropped, accordingly.

Most routers today are Layer 3 IP routers that examine the source and destination IP addresses of each packet, look up the destination of the packet in the router's IP routing table, and route that packet on its way toward the destination. In the event that the destination is not listed in the routing table, the router will generally either send the packet to a default route (if it has one) or drop the packet. Routers are usually used to connect a local area network (LAN) to a wide area network (WAN), but can also be used to segment large LANs. During certain network failures, however, a forwarding loop can occur between a router (or other stateful device) and another device.

Detecting and mitigating forwarding loops in stateful network devices


Method for transmitting a sequence of messages in a point-to-point interconnection network comprising message initiating agents, message destination agents and message transmission agents. During a transmission of an indivisible sequence of messages from an initiating agent to a destination agent, an output of a message transmission agent is locked onto an input of the transmission agent, the other inputs of the said transmission agent being able to transmit messages to the other outputs of the said transmission agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for transmitting a sequence of messages in a point-to-point interconnection network.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Interconnection networks are means of transmitting messages between different electronic or data processing agents, or communicating entities. A transmission can be carried out without processing the message or with processing the message. The expression "message transmission" is used in all cases. The expression "processing a message" is understood to be, for example, an analysis of data contained in the message or an addition of data to the message.
A message is, of course, a series of information technology data, that is to say a series of bits or bytes arranged with specific semantics and representing a complete item of atomic information. Each message comprises a message header, which principally comprises the destination address of the message and the size of the message.
These interconnection networks are generally composed of two separate parts which interact, namely a hardware part comprising physical links and a hard-wired or micro-programmed network controller, which executes a low level protocol, and a software part for forming an interface with software functions of higher level.
An ideal interconnection network would certainly be a totally interconnected network, that is to say a network in which each pair of agents is connected by a point-to-point link. This is unrealistic however as it becomes too complicated as soon as there are more than a few dozen agents. It is therefore desirable that the interconnection network can provide all of the communications between agents with a limited number of links per agent.
There are specialized agents for performing a routing or switching or transmission of the messages circulating in the interconnection network.
In a point-to-point interconnection network, an agent's input is connected to at most one message initiating agent, or to at most one message transmission agent.
Interconnection networks comprise transmission devices or routers (or "switches"), an organization of the network providing the link between the routers and the other agents and a routing assembly which provides the circulation of messages within the organization of the network.
A router is an active agent of the interconnection network which receives on input messages coming from one or more agents and which directs or routes each of these messages to its destination agent or to another router respectively. This routing is carried out by means of the address of the destination agent of the message, or target agent, which is present in the header of the message to be routed.
The organization of a network constitutes the physical structure connecting the various nodes or connection points of an interconnection network.
The routing assembly manages the way in which a message is routed or directed from a source agent transmitting the message to a destination agent of the message through routers by following a routing path.
Any agent present in an interconnection network can transmit and/or receive messages. The routing technique determines the way in which the messages are transmitted from the transmission agent, which creates the message, to the destination agent or target agent. For a given interconnection network, there are different routing techniques, for which the objectives are to reduce the end of message latency, or end of message routing delay, of a message from the transmission agent to the destination agent, to increase the overall throughput and to improve the overall reliability of the network. The latency includes all of the waiting times due to the way in which the messages propagate in the network and, more particularly, through the message transmission devices whose task is to route the messages. The throughput is the quantity of computer data that a link of the network can convey per unit time, and can be measured locally on a link of the interconnection network or globally over the whole of the interconnection network. The reliability of a network is important, since the probability of errors grows rapidly with the number of nodes in an interconnection network.
A transmission agent comprises at least one input comprising a storage means organized as queue of messages of the "First In First Out" (FIFO) type and at least one output comprising a message transmission means capable of deciding which message to transmit. Only the first messages of the input queues are visible to the transmission agent.
Many software applications necessitate the accessing of identical data. For example, it is not necessary, when an application modifies an item of data and when another application or the same application necessitates accessing the modified value of that item of data, for it to access it before the end of its modification. Solutions have been developed to ensure this and they are generally based on the concept of a set of atomic actions, or a set of indivisible actions, in other words on a series of actions that cannot be interrupted by other actions.
An atomic transaction of the read-modify-write type is an indivisible sequence consisting of a step of reading data at a particular address of a target agent, followed by a step of actions modifying the data and then by a writing at the initial address of the new values of the modified data. These special transactions prohibit modifications in parallel of the same item of data. It is the hardware part of the system which directly manages these types of transactions. Current atomic transactions of this type are generally increments, decrements, initializations or deletions.
There are also transactions carried out on locked data busses and based on the use of a bus locking signal. This locking signal acts directly on the transmission or switching or decision means of the data bus in such a way that as long as the locking signal is valid, only the transmission agent of that locking message can transmit messages on the data bus and act on data, which guarantees the atomicity of the processing in progress. When the bus is locked, only messages arriving at the input connected to the initiating agent can be transmitted on the output allowing the messages to be transmitted to the destination agent.
In an interconnection network, it is not possible to guarantee, by construction, the atomicity of a complete transaction since a transmission agent can interlace messages coming from several initiating agents and destined for a same destination agent, thus breaking the atomicity of the first transaction in the process of switching or transmission or routing.
In the light of the above, it is also an objective of the invention to guarantee the atomicity of an original sequence of messages from a transmission agent destined for a target agent. In other words, it is a matter of transmitting an indivisible sequence of messages, from an initiating agent to a destination agent, whilst locking only one output onto an input for the transmission agents located in the path of the messages of the indivisible sequence.

System and method for transmitting a sequence of messages in an interconnection network


A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter is disclosed. The carrier tube assembly includes an elongate tube, a medical catheter, and a plug. At least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter is positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube such that the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter. The plug is inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube, hermetically sealing the distal end of the elongate tube. Thus, a hermetically sealed environment is established within the elongate tube. The plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent to absorb moisture and/or oxygen in the hermetically sealed environment.

Medical devices, such as catheters, are conventionally packaged in a sterilized package such as a pouch or a tray. Some medical devices include coatings, the integrity of which may be adversely affected by exposure to elevated levels of temperature, light, moisture, and/or oxygen. For example, levels of oxygen and/or moisture found in the sealed pouch or tray may negatively impact the functionality and/or performance of the coating.
There is a need to provide alternative packaging assemblies for providing a medical device, such as a catheter, in a sterilized environment and/or reducing the level of oxygen and/or moisture within the sealed environment surrounding the medical device.

Carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical device


A control method of a switching circuit, a control circuit of the switching circuit, and the switching circuit are provided. The switching circuit includes an inductor or a transformer. An operational amplification is performed on an output feedback voltage and a first reference voltage of the switching circuit to obtain a compensation voltage. The compensation voltage controls an on-time of a main switch of the switching circuit. When the current of the inductor or the transformer drops to a threshold, after a time, the main switch is switched from off to on, and the output feedback voltage controls the time. When the output feedback voltage is higher than a first threshold voltage, the compensation voltage is pulled down. When the output feedback voltage is lower than a second threshold voltage, the compensation voltage is pulled up.

In the switching power supply, especially in the switching power supply using alternating current (AC) input with power factor correction, the input is rectified, which causes the system to generate a secondary line frequency ripple. Therefore, in the compensation circuit of the switching power supply using AC input, the speed of compensation is lower than half a line cycle. Although the system can eventually stabilize, the response is relatively slow. When the switching power supply adopting AC input works in a discontinuous conduction mode, in the prior art, the frequency is reduced according to the compensation voltage. The compensation voltage, however, changes slowly, so that the adjustment process of prior systems under the light load is very long, the output voltage fluctuates sharply during the adjustment process, and the response time is long. Since the speed of the compensation voltage is lower than half a line cycle, the response speed of frequency reduction is also lower than half a line cycle in the discontinuous conduction mode. Therefore, in order to solve the problems of the control of the switching power supply using AC input, it is desirable to achieve the stability of the system in the switching power supply adopting the AC input while accelerating the response of the system to the output voltage.

Control method of switching circuit, control circuit of switching circuit, and switching circuit


A composite film and vacuum skin package for packaging a product such as a fresh red meat is disclosed. The composite film is thermoformed and sealed under vacuum to a support member to completely enclose a product which is positioned on the support member. The composite film is a gas-permeable film weakly bonded to a gas-impermeable film, permitting the gas-impermeable film to be peeled from the package while leaving the gas-permeable film intact so that the fresh red meat product can bloom from a purplish color to a desirable red color upon exposure to oxygen. A peel initiation mechanism which is a grippable film sealed along an edge of the gas-impermeable film is provided.

This invention generally relates to thermoformable barrier films and to vacuum skin packages which can be made therefrom. More particularly, the invention relates to vacuum skin packaging utilizing multilayer gas barrier films comprising a peelable gas-impermeable (i.e., barrier) film adhered to a gas-permeable film, and a peel mechanism for easily removing the gas-impermeable film from the gas-permeable film.
Skin packaging can be classified as a vacuum forming process for thermoformable polymeric films. The product on a supporting member serves as the mold for the thermoformable film which is formed about the product by means of differential air pressure. The term "vacuum skin packaging" (hereinafter "VSP") as used herein indicates that the product is packaged under vacuum and the space containing the product is evacuated from gases. It is therefore desirable that the film formed around the product and for the support member to each present a barrier to oxygen, air, and other gases detrimental to the shelf or storage life of a product such as a food product.
Skin packaging is described in many references, including French Patent No. 1,258,357, French Patent No. 1,286,018, Australian Patent No. 3,491,504, U.S. Pat. No. RE 30,009, U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,642, U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,092, U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,849, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,672, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,731, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,735. The disclosures of each of the foregoing references is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Typically, skin packaging provides just a barrier film that upon removal from the package leaves the product exposed to atmosphere, which is sufficient for applications such as bulk meat cutting and repackaging. It is desirable in other applications to provide a composite packaging film comprising both a gas-permeable (i.e., non-barrier) film and a peelable gas-impermeable film so that upon removal of the peelable gas-impermeable film the product is still selectively protected by the gas-permeable film. This permits a product such as a fresh red meat to be protected by the gas-permeable film but allows the meat to "bloom" from a purplish color to a customer-preferred reddish color upon exposure to oxygen.
One problem with all such peelable composite films is the difficulty of initiating the peel. Although, generally, the gas-impermeable film will peel easily from the gas-permeable film after initiation of the peel, actually beginning the peeling process can be difficult. Without some peel initiation mechanism in place, the person attempting to peel the gas-impermeable film from the gas-permeable film must flick at the package edge with his thumb or fingers and, often, packages are damaged when further measures become necessary. Thus, providing an acceptable peel initiation mechanism has become an important aspect of designing any package which employs a peelable composite film.
One example of a prior art peel initiation mechanism is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,735, referenced above. During the process of making a vacuum skin package, a tab is placed on, but not adhered to, the lower support web, extending along one edge. When the upper composite film web is formed around the product contained on the lower web, it welds to the upper surface of the tab. When the tab is pulled, the gas-permeable film, which is more strongly bonded to the lower web than to the gas-impermeable film, ruptures at or near the tab and the gas-impermeable film is peeled therefrom. However, during the package forming process it is difficult to automate the precise placement of the tab and after peeling of the gas-impermeable film from the gas-permeable film the torn edge of the gas-permeable film is noticeable, detracting from the desired neat appearance of the package.
An alternative prior art peel initiation mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,731, also referenced above. A label having a non-sealable upper surface is adhered to the lower web, extending along one edge. When the upper composite film web is formed around the product contained on the lower web, it does not adhere to the upper surface of the label. A series of perforations are formed through the upper and lower webs adjacent to the label. When the upper web is pulled from the label the perforations provide a point of rupture for the gas-permeable film which is more strongly bonded to the lower web than to the gas-impermeable film, and the gas-impermeable film is peeled therefrom. However, as above, during the package forming process it is difficult to automate the precise placement of the label and after peeling of the gas-impermeable film from the gas-permeable film the torn edge of the gas-permeable film is noticeable, detracting from the desired neat appearance of the package.
It is therefore desirable to provide a peel mechanism for use with peelable composite packaging films without these disadvantages.

Peel mechanism for peelable barrier film for vacuum skin packages and the like


The invention is related to compounds, being useful in treating psychosis, of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen, lower-alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl;. R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are the same or different lower-alkyl; PA1 R.sup.3 is hydrogen or lower-alkyl; PA1 m is two or three; PA1 n is an integer from zero to three; and PA1 R.sup.5 is hydrogen, lower-alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 -monocyclic cycloalkyl, allyl, or propargyl;. or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to novel penta and tetrasubstituted piperidines, to compositions containing the same, to the method of use thereof in the treatment of central nervous system disorders, and to processes for their preparation.
A number of know antipsychotic drugs are disclosed in the art which have been shown to share a selective, high affinity for sigma receptors, which are sites where psychotomimetic opiates, such as (+)-pentazocine and N-allylnormetazocine, act. It has been suggested that the antipsychotic behavioral profile of these antipsychotic drugs can be attributed to their role as competitive antagonists of sigma receptor binding and that a systematic screen for drugs that block sigma receptors may provide a valuable strategy for identifying novel antipsychotic agents. Additionally, it has been shown that the relative potencies of these agents studied in vivo correspond well with their relative binding affinities obtained in vitro. See, for example, Synder and Largent, J. Neuropsychiatry 1989, 1(1), 7-15; Largent, et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1988, 155, 345-347; Deutsch, et al., Clinical Neuropharmacology 1988, 11(2), 105-119; Tayler, et al., Drug Development Research 1987, 11, 65-70; Ferris, et al., Life Sciences 1986, 38(25), 2329-2337; and Su, et al., Neuroscience Letters 1986, 71, 224-228.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
Welcher, U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,267, issued Mar. 4, 1969, discloses 2,3-dimethyl-3-piperidinepropanamine ##STR2## as a fungicide and pesticide.
Loew, et al., Endog. Exog. Opiate Agonists and Antagonists, E. L. Way, editor, Pergamon:Elmsford, New York 1980, pp 39-42, disclose 1-R.sub.1 -2,3,4,4-tetramethylpiperidines of general formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is 3-furanylmethyl, 2-furanylmethyl, 2-propenyl, cyclopropylmethyl, phenylethyl, methyl and hydrogen without an indication of utility.
Langer, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,266, issued Jun. 11, 1991, disclose compounds of the formula: ##STR4## wherein: R.sup.1 denotes a halogen atom or a hydroxy group;
R.sup.2 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and PA1 R.sup.3 denotes a hydrogen or halogen atom. PA1 R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are the same or different lower-alkyl; PA1 R.sup.3 is hydrogen or lower-alkyl; PA1 m is two or three; PA1 n is an integer from zero to three; and PA1 R.sup.5 is hydrogen, lower-alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, or propargyl; PA1 R.sup.1, m, n, and R.sup.5 are as defined above; R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are methyl; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl; and R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, allyl, or propargyl. PA1 R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl; PA1 R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are methyl; PA1 R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl; PA1 m is two or three; PA1 n is zero or one; and PA1 R.sup.5 is hydrogen, methyl, cyclopropyl, allyl or propargyl.
The compounds are said to be useful in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Gray and Cheng, European Patent Application 455195, published Nov. 6, 1991, disclose a series of ethanobicyclic amine derivatives which are said to be useful in the treatment of CNS disorders such as psychotic disorders, convulsions, dystonia and cerebral ischemia.
Cain, et al., European Patent Application 449187, published Oct. 2, 1991, disclose a series of disubstituted piperidine ether derivatives which are said to be useful in treating physiological or drug induced psychosis or dyskinesia in mammals or fungal disease in plants. Glennon, et al., J. Med. Chem. 1991, 34, 3360-3365, disclose a series of novel 4-phenylpiperidine derivatives which are stated to bind with high affinity to sigma receptors.

Penta and tetrasubstituted piperidines and compositions and method of treating psychosis