An information transmission method capable of reproducing the atmosphere of a concert hall or a live performance hall, wherein bio-information of a speaker, player, actor or conductor, who serves as a source of speech, sounds or music and/or bio-information of a performer included within an image are multiplexed with respect to information of speech or music and/or information of the image for transmission thereof. At the receiving side, sense stimulation based on the bio-information is provided to the viewer, or information of speech or music and/or information of the image are controlled on the basis of the bio-information to thereby reproduce presence or live appeal.

Hitherto, there have been performed methods to record information of music or image at classic concert or jazzing live performance, etc. onto recording medium such as CD (Compact Disc) or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc., or to perform transmission of such music or image information by a method such as broadcast, etc.
Even if information obtained by reproducing information of music or image recorded on the CD or DVD is viewed, or even if live broadcasting program of live performance is viewed, reproduction in such viewing form is far from live appeal which has been actually viewed at the concert hall or the live hall. It is considered that the atmosphere of the concert hall or the live hall is not directly transmitted to viewers for reproduction information and/or viewers for broadcasting program.
For this reason, even if, e.g., the technology of the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-57672 is used to detect, as bio-information (bioinformation), feeling with respect to reproduction information or broadcasting program of viewer of the reproduction information or viewer of the broadcasting program to control the reproduction information or the broadcasting information on the basis of the detection output, it is impossible to reproduce the atmosphere of the concert hall or the live hall. The reason thereof is that viewer of reproduction information and/or viewer of broadcasting program do not exist at the concert hall or the live hall.
As stated above, hitherto, even if live sound recording is performed, or live program is broadcasted, it was impossible to transmit the atmosphere of the concert hall or live hall at the time of reproduction of the live sound recording or to viewers of the live program.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information transmission method and device, information recording or reproduction method and device, and recording medium


A runner for use as retrofit in existing Francis turbine water path includes a set of nine profiles covering crown (hub) to skirt (band) area is to produce power efficently at deteriorated head condition of site. Each of the nine profiles is made of two curves, namely pressure and suction curves, meeting at two ends denoted as leading and trailing edge points. The runner exhibits better performance at specific speed value (ns,m) from 83 to 98, than the existing runner.

Conventionally the reaction hydraulic turbine consists of spiral casing (or scroll case), stay vane, guide vane, runner and draft tube in that order. Runner also known as impeller is the only rotating passage. Mixed flow hydraulic turbine where the runner inlet flow is radial and runner exit flow is predominantly axial in direction is known as Francis turbine. The runner which is characterized by a large number of blades (usually 11–19), equally spaced circumferentially around the turbine axis; converts hydraulic energy (water head) into mechanical energy. It is called reaction turbine by definition if the pressure drop across the runner alone is more than 60% of the pressure drop occurring across the total water path (spiral casing to draft tube). Francis turbines with various kind of water path are used in practice for a range of specific speed ns, m=70–400 and head range H=50–500 m; or alternatively for a range of unit discharge q11=150–1350 liter/second, and unit speed n11=40–130 rpm. The hydraulic efficiency η (or eta) for prototype runner is expected to be in the range of 90–95%. A runner is designed to be site specific i.e. for a limited range of unit discharge q11: design unit discharge +−100 liters per second (lps) and fixed unit speed n11 based on runner diameter (D or d1), machine speed (n) rpm and rated head H (m); to provide efficient and cavitation free characteristics. The characteristic dimensions are defined as:    Unit speed; n11=(n*D)/√H    Unit discharge; q11=q/(D2√H)    Specific speed; ns,m=n √Pkw/H5/4     Hydraulic efficiency; eta or η=1000*Pkw/(rho*g*q*H)
Where q is discharge in lps (liter/second), Pkw is power developed (in KW) by the turbine, rho (998.2) and g (9.81) are water density and acceleration due to gravity.
A typical turbine characteristics are plotted as shown in FIG. 1A of the accompanying drawings showing efficiency iso-contours e1, e2 . . . optimum guide vane openings a1, a2 . . . as function of unit discharge q11 and unit speed n11. Note:    Guide vane openings: a1<a2<a3<a4 . . .    Hydraulic efficiency (eta); e1>e2>e3>e4 . . .For a unit design speed, say n11,d a turbine is designed to deliver q11,d at operative point 'O' (FIG. 1a). Usually the turbine is expected to operate around print 'O' within q11,d±100 lps efficiently. With the years of operation, the head deteriorates significantly, hence operating point shift to lesser efficient location say R. The point R is at higher discharge and at slightly higher n11 at lower efficiency point, resulting into lesser turbine power. New hydro power plant needs huge investment hence designer seeks for renovation and modernization of existing plant with minimum investment. Retrofitting runner is an obvious cost-effective first choice. The aim of the invention is to develop a new runner which has got optimum efficiency near new operating point R (FIG. 1B), and suit existing water path and retaining stationary components of hydraulic paths (viz. Spiral casing, guide vane, draft tube and stay vane).
George E. Hecker & Willem Jansen have described turbine having 2 or more runner blades each having a Cork Screw configuration (U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,242; Dec. 7, 1999). One wicket gate configuration for hydraulic turbine is proposed by A Gokhman (U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,384; Aug. 15, 1995). David G. Homes et. al has proposed blade configuration for Francis runner for improved cavitation-free performance (U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,757; Oct. 30, 1984). Benno Buchelt has proposed a blade for Kaplan turbine (U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,297, Dec. 28, 1999). The reported work by Kurokawa et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,285 B1; Apr. 17, 2001) and Strycek et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,841; Jun. 22, 1976) concerning the design of centrifugal blower, fan and pump for flow discharge as output. They are not meant for turbine application where power is output. The work by Billdal et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,716; Oct. 24, 2000) proposed impeller for turbine with leaning of leading and trailing edges with respect to hub and shroud, respectively, in the direction of rotation. Harada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,610 B1; Jan. 15, 2002) propose impeller for discharge as output with secondary flow loss reduction as goal by providing leaned blade. Nishikawa (U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,810; Jun. 23, 1981) proposes blade for fan application. Centrifugal compressor for discharge as output is proposed by Seleznev et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,872; Aug. 10, 1976). Swearingen (U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,775; Oct. 5, 1971) is for impeller to work with flow motion in gaseous medium entrained with liquid and solid particles. Kugel (U.S. Pat. No. 2,042,064; May 26, 1936), Kaplan (U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,653; Sep. 23, 1924) and Konda M. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,969; Apr. 29, 1969) deal with various constructional features of runners for centrifugal flow machines. The present invention relates to design of new runner blade consisting of blade profiles with reduced plan angle for retrofit work to existing mixed flow machines Francis turbine) water paths, to suit deteriorated head.

Runner blade for low specific speed Francis turbine


A dual-view image display device includes a signal input module, a video processing module, a dual-view processing module and a display module, and the video processing module includes a nonlinear processing module. A dual-view image display method includes: inputting a video signal having a frame image that is split into two first images, processing the video signal to obtain the two first images, horizontally or vertically splitting each of the two first images into areas, nonlinearly enlarging each of the areas, and interpolating pixels to each of the enlarged areas to obtain two fullscreen second images. The nonlinear enlargement is used to allow the enlarged images generated during the dual-view image display to be robust to distortion, resulting in better image quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dual-view image display device and a dual-view image display method used for the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a dual-view image display device that displays two images in fullscreen on a single screen and a dual-view image display method used for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, there is an image display device for providing a function of a dual-view image display by splitting a frame image that occupies a screen entirely (i.e. so-called fullscreen image) into two images and then displaying the two split images in fullscreen on the screen to offer two individuals to watch respective split images in fullscreen at the same time without interference with each other. For example, Chinese Patent Application No. 201010281122.4 entitled "Synchronous-display-based dual-view display method used for single screen," No. 201010281121.X entitled "Asynchronous-display-based dual-view display method used for single screen," No. 201110304235.6 entitled "Dual-view display device and implementing method thereof," No. 201110204383.0 entitled "2D and 3D compatible eyeglasses and receiving method of the same," and No. 201110200673.8 entitled "2D and 3D compatible receiving device and receiving method of the same" disclose respective techniques to realize to display two split images in fullscreen on a single screen for two individuals to watch respective split images in fullscreen at the same time without interference with each other.
The size of each of the two split images is half the size of the frame image (i.e. the fullscreen image) owing to the fact that the frame image is split into the two split images. It is usually the case that the frame image is horizontally split into the two split images, or is vertically split into the two split images. When it proceeds to display the two split images in fullscreen, it needs to enlarge the two split images and usually linearly enlarges them. However, when it proceeds to linearly enlarge the two split images, severe image distortion will occur due to the disproportion between the aspect ratio of the frame image and the aspect ratio of the enlarged split image, resulting in poor image quality.

Dual-view image display device and dual-view image display method used for the same with nonlinear enlargement for obtaining fullscreen images

TPV Display Technology (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.


A floating vessel having a hull, at least one thruster tube, at least one water moving device and at least one power supply in the thruster tube. At least one appendage partially surrounds the thruster tube and encircles the thruster tube from 30 percent to 40. A plurality of supports secures the at least one appendage to the hull. At least one fairing plate is installed between a tangent of the appendage and the hull for following a circumference of the thruster tube and encircling the thruster tube from 30 percent to 40 percent, wherein the fairing plate is configured to transition water flow from the hull over the appendage and into the thruster tube to reduce water turbulent flow across an opening of the thruster tube.

A need exists for a floating vessel with improved thrust capacity in bow and stern thrusters while simultaneously reducing vibration in the bow and stern thrusters.
A further need exists for a dual fuel floating vessel, such as a ship, with improved gas line traps.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

Floating vessel with appendages for reduced vibration and increased thruster capacity


A technique for determining skin sodium content using bioimpedance spectroscopy includes applying a current at a predetermined frequency to skin of a subject, measuring a voltage across the skin of the subject produced by the current, determining a resistance across the skin of the subject at the predetermined frequency using the measured voltage, and determining skin sodium content using the measured voltage.

Research has shown that the sodium (Na+) content of skin, rather than serum sodium, is associated with systolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass (LVM) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. LVM may thus be an important indicator for use in predicting CKD patient outcomes. Moreover, skin sodium content may be a predictor of outcomes or health attributes in non-CKD patients, such as hypertensive and diabetic patients, among others.
Typically, measurement of skin sodium is performed by sodium-magnetic resonance imaging (i.e., 23Na-MRI). And, for example, it has been shown that skin sodium measured with sodium-magnetic resonance imaging differed significantly between healthy and hypertensive subjects. While relatively well-established, sodium-magnetic resonance imaging can suffer from several shortcoming, such as: (i) patients having medical contraindications to an MRI, (ii) being performed only on specific and limited region(s) of a patient (e.g., the calf), (c) having limited availability, (d) and having excessive costs. For example, because of the relative limited availability, a patient may have to travel to a properly equipped medical center for sodium-magnetic resonance imaging, and few such medical centers may exist, which can present a logistical challenge for patients.
There thus remains a need for improved skin sodium detection and measurement techniques, e.g., that can overcome some of the challenges of sodium-magnetic resonance imaging.

Skin sodium measurement using bioimpedance


A method for reducing operating noise of a refrigerator comprises of steps of detecting an exterior temperature of the refrigerator, comparing the detected the exterior temperature with a reference temperature, if the detected exterior temperature is less than or equal to the reference temperature, periodically detecting exterior light levels, determining whether or not an absolute value of the difference between two successive exterior light levels is more than or equal to a reference light level for measuring a variation of the exterior light levels with time, if the absolute value is more than or equal to the first reference light level, deciding whether or not the former is more than the latter, wherein, if the former is less than or equal to the latter, operating the refrigerator in a normal operation mode, and if the former is more than the latter, increasing by a predetermined temperature a first driving reference temperature for driving a first fan for a refrigerator compartment and a second driving reference temperature for driving a compressor and a second fan for a freezer compartment, respectively, and operating the refrigerator at a reduced noise level.

As is well known, a refrigerator performs a cooling or freezing function through a cooling system thereof. Usually, the cooling system includes three essential elements, namely, an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser. In operation, the compressor compresses a low temperature and low pressure refrigerant gas from the evaporator into a high temperature and high pressure refrigerant gas and the condenser condenses the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor to a high temperature and high pressure refrigerant liquid. The high temperature and high pressure refrigerant liquid is changed into a low temperature and low pressure refrigerant liquid through an expansion valve, and then flows into the evaporator. The low temperature and low pressure refrigerant liquid absorbs heat from an air around the evaporator, thereby cooling the air. In order to efficiently cool the air to thereby increase the cooling efficiency, one or two fans are usually employed in the refrigerator.
In the refrigerator employing one fan, the operating rates of the fan and the compressor are determined on the basis of the interior temperature of the refrigerator compartment, whereas in the refrigerator employing two fans, those of each of the fans and the compressor are determined by the interior temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively.
Such refrigerators, however, have a shortcoming in that there is no difference between nighttime and daytime in the level of operating noise produced by the fans and the compressor which constitute the principle sources of refrigerator operating noise, since the refrigerator is incapable of distinguishing whether or not it is nighttime or daytime.

Method for reducing operating noise of a refrigerator


A structural member (38, 40) is designed to have a first portion having a first composite layup, a second portion having a second composite layup, and at least one center portion having at least a third composite layup such that it can flex near a desired point of the structural member. The structural member may be used as a chain stay (26) in a bicycle frame (10). The chain stays are designed to have a geometry that will allow for flexing or bending at or in the vicinity of a desired point. They may be pre-loaded for flex in both a positive and negative direction. The chain stays are designed having a varying cross sectional area. The bending or flexing location of the chain stays has a narrower height from the side view than the ends of the chain stay allowing the chain stay to flex. Additionally, the bending or flexing location has a wider width from the top view than the ends of the chain stay for additional torsional and lateral stiffness.

Conventional bicycle frames use tubes joined into closed frameworks to interconnect the components (front fork/handlebar assembly, seat, crankset, rear wheel) and transmit the loads therebetween. The tubes also keep the components in spacial relation to one another, i.e., they maintain the components in relative proximity.
The traditional bicycle frame includes a top tube, a relatively short head tube, a seat tube, a down tube, a bottom bracket, a pair of chain stay tubes, a pair of dropouts, and a pair of seat stays. The top tube connects at its front end to the top of the head tube, and extends backward to the top of the seat tube. The down tube connects at the front end to the bottom of the head tube and extends downwardly and rearwardly to the bottom bracket where the seat tube and the down tube are connected. The pair of chain stay tubes extend rearwardly from the bottom of the seat tube to the dropouts. The chain stay tubes are generally connected to a bottom bracket at the base of the seat tube. The pair of seat stays connect directly or indirectly to the top of the seat tube. The seat stays extend backward from the seat tube to the dropouts. The seat stays generally include two seat stay tubes that converge from the dropouts toward the seat tube. The dropouts support the rear wheel axle. This conventional frame design is called the "diamond" frame, because when viewed from the side, the top tube, down tube, chain stay tubes, and seat stays enclose a diamond-shaped space.
The rear portion of conventional rigid frames are made up of a pair of generally horizontal chain stay tubes that are welded at their front ends to the bottom bracket and are adapted to receive the rear wheel axle near their rear ends. A pair of seat stays are welded at their upper ends near the top of the seat tube and are welded near the ends of the chain stay tubes at their lower ends. The seat tube, chain stay tubes, and seat stays form a rigid generally triangular configuration, with the rear wheel carried at the rear apex.
Such frames are used for both road bikes and mountain bikes. The terrain on which a bike is used dictates the load requirements for the bike and the performance characteristics of the components. For example, since mountain bikes are used on rough terrain and often are ridden over roots and jumps, they must be more durable than road bikes, which encounter relatively smooth surfaces. Further, the conventional rigid arrangement is unsatisfactory for comfort and optimum performance on rough terrain. Thus, provision of a pivoting spring suspension for the rear wheel is desirable on a bicycle to be used on rough terrain, such as mountain bikes, cross-country bikes or trail bikes.
Some prior art bicycles have rear shock absorbing assemblies in which the rear axle pivots about a single elevated pivot point when subjected to a shock force. This generally results in the rear wheel axle moving upwardly in an arc rather than moving vertically upward in a substantially linear fashion.
To accommodate a rear suspension, some bicycles have a rear suspension linkage system, including an upper link to which the seat stays are pivotally attached at an upper end adjacent the seat tube, while the chain stay tubes are pivotally attached to the bottom bracket at a forward end and a rear pivot axis adjacent the hub of the rear wheel at a back end. The lower end of the seat stays are pivotally attached to the back end of the chain stay tubes. Typically, a shock absorber is located at the upper end of the seat stay, such that the shock absorber is rigidly connected to the seat stay at one end with the other end being pivotally attached to the seat tube. These linkage systems have several drawbacks in that they are mechanically complicated, require a large number of parts, and add unwanted weight. Therefore, a need exists for a rear suspension that uses less complicated and light weight linkage systems.
Other rear suspensions for "soft-tail" designs of bicycles use the flex of chain stay tubes for suspension; however, they bend along the length of the chain stay tubes. When chain stay tubes flex over their entire length, it is difficult to dictate the performance characteristics of the rear suspension. This can be accomplished, however, by isolating the specific location where the chain stay tubes bend. Therefore, a need exists for a chain stay tube that pivots around a specific point.


A radiation imaging control apparatus configured to control a radiation imaging operation using a radiation generation apparatus in which a radiation generation condition is adjustable by a manual operation includes a setting unit configured to set the radiation generation condition for the radiation imaging operation, a transmission unit configured to transmit the radiation generation condition to the radiation generation apparatus, and a transmission control unit configured to limit transmission of the radiation generation condition by the transmission unit in a case where a radiation imaging operation belonging to the same group as that of the radiation imaging operation is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation imaging control apparatus configured to reduce an operator's load for adjusting protocol information so as to be suitable for a patient for every imaging operation when performing a plurality of radiation imaging operations, and a method for controlling the radiation imaging control apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a digital X-ray system has become widespread, which irradiates a flat panel detector (FPD) with X rays from an X-ray generation apparatus, reads the X rays transmitted through a patient using the FPD, and transmits an image to an X-ray imaging control apparatus from the FPD to provide an X-ray imaging image to an operator.
In conventional techniques discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-200062, 2005-110844, and 2006-218142, an X-ray imaging control apparatus transmits protocol information including a radiation generation condition such as intensity of X rays irradiated from an X-ray generation apparatus and an irradiation time to an X-ray generation apparatus previous to an X-ray imaging operation, to arrange the protocol information between the X-ray generation apparatus and an FPD using the protocol information previously set in the X-ray imaging control apparatus.
An operator changes the protocol information in the X-ray generation apparatus, and the X-ray generation apparatus notifies the protocol information to the X-ray imaging control apparatus, which can change the protocol information between the X-ray generation apparatus and the FPD.
When the operator changes the protocol information, the operator finely adjusts the protocol information in consideration of the body type, imaging target region, and target region direction of an imaging patient subjected to the X-ray imaging operation, and performs the X-ray imaging operation using the protocol information suitable for the patient.
However, when the operator transmits the protocol information previously set in the X-ray imaging control apparatus for every X-ray imaging operation to the X-ray generation apparatus previous to the X-ray imaging operation as described above, a reset function acts in a general X-ray imaging apparatus, and a numerical value adjusted by the operator for a first imaging operation is reset for a second imaging operation. Therefore, even when the protocol information in the first imaging operation is the same as that in the second imaging operation, the operator is required to re-perform adjustment.

Radiation imaging control apparatus and method for controlling the same


A thermo-reversible thermoplastic pharmaceutical composition, comprising a botulinum toxin and a biocompatible poloxamer which provides thermoreversibility to the composition and additionally stabilizes the botulinum toxin, is described. The pharmaceutical composition can be administered to a patient as a liquid, and gels after administration into a sustained release drug delivery system from which the biologically active botulinum toxin is released over a multi-day period thereby localizing the drug as a depot and controlling release to enhance the therapeutic effect per dose.

The present invention relates to thermosensitive, thermo-reversible pharmaceutical compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to sustained release, gelable (thermosensitive) botulinum toxin pharmaceutical compositions formulated with a poloxamer.
A pharmaceutical composition is a formulation which contains at least one active ingredient (such as a botulinum toxin) as well as, for example, one or more excipients, buffers, carriers, stabilizers, preservatives and/or bulking agents, and is suitable for administration to a patient to achieve a desired diagnostic result or therapeutic effect. The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein have diagnostic, therapeutic, cosmetic and/or research utility.
For storage stability and convenience of handling, a pharmaceutical composition can be formulated as a lyophilized (i.e. freeze dried) or vacuum dried powder which can be reconstituted with a suitable fluid, such as saline or water, prior to administration to a patient. Alternately, the pharmaceutical composition can be formulated as a ready to use aqueous solution or suspension. A pharmaceutical composition can contain a proteinaceous active ingredient. Unfortunately, a protein active ingredient can be very difficult to stabilize (i.e. maintained in a state where loss of biological activity is minimized), resulting therefore in a loss of protein and/or loss of protein activity during the formulation, reconstitution (if required) and during the period of storage prior to use of a protein containing pharmaceutical composition. Stability problems can occur because of protein denaturation, degradation, dimerization, and/or polymerization. Various excipients, such as albumin and gelatin have been used with differing degrees of success to try and stabilize a protein active ingredient present in a pharmaceutical composition. Additionally, cryoprotectants such as alcohols have been used to reduce protein denaturation under the freezing conditions of lyophilization.
Thermosensitive pharmaceutical compositions, which form in-situ gels, are known. See eg U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,201. Poloxamers are nontoxic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO). Certain poloxamers exhibit reversible thermal gelation. Thus a solution of a protein and a poloxamer prepared at low temperatures and injected will form a gel as it warms to body temperature. Subsequently the protein is slowly released from the gel. A gelable, thermo-reversible formulation comprising poloxamer 407 at a 22 wt % concentration has been prepared with the model protein drugs α-chymotrypsin and lactate dehydrogenase. Stratton L., et al., Drug delivery matrix containing native protein precipitates suspended in a poloxamer gel, J Pharm Sci 86(9); 1006-1010, September 1996. Formulations of certain adhesive proteins and poloxamer 127 have been made. Huang K., et al., Synthesis and characterization of self assembling block copolymers containing adhesive moieties, Polymer Preprints 2001, 42(2), 147-148. Additionally, poloxamer 188 and poloxamer 407 have been used an excipients in protein drug pharmaceutical compositions. Jeong B., et al., Thermosensitive sol-gel reversible hydrogels, Adv Drug Del Rev, 54(1); 37-51, Jan. 17, 2002. Published patent application WO 2007/041664 discloses use a pharmaceutical composition comprising a botulinum toxin and a poloxamer 188.
Botulinum toxins have been used for various therapeutic and cosmetic purposes including treating cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus, spasticity, headache, hyperhidrosis, overactive bladder, rhinitis, bruxism, enlarged prostate, achalasia, anismus, sphincter of Oddi malfunction, acne, tremors, juvenile cerebral palsy, and facial wrinkles.
Commercially available botulinum toxin containing pharmaceutical compositions include BOTOX® (Botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex with human serum albumin and sodium chloride) available from Allergan, Inc., of Irvine, Calif. in 100 unit vials as a lyophilized powder to be reconstituted with 0.9% sodium chloride before use), DYSPORT® (Clostridium botulinum type A toxin haemagglutinin complex with human serum albumin and lactose in the formulation), available from Ipsen Limited, Berkshire, U.K. as a powder to be reconstituted with 0.9% sodium chloride before use), and MYOBLOC™ (an injectable solution comprising botulinum toxin type B, human serum albumin, sodium succinate, and sodium chloride at about pH 5.6, available from Solstice Neurosciences, Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.).
Botulinum toxin is a large protein for incorporation into a pharmaceutical formulation (the molecular weight of the botulinum toxin type A complex is 900 kD) and is inherently fragile and labile. The size of the toxin complex makes it much more friable and labile than smaller, less complex proteins, thereby compounding the formulation and handling difficulties if botulinum toxin stability is to be maintained. Hence, a botulinum toxin stabilizer must be able to interact with the toxin in a manner which does not denature, fragment or otherwise detoxify the toxin molecule or cause disassociation of the non-toxin proteins present in the toxin complex.
As the most lethal known biological product, exceptional safety, precision, and accuracy are called for at all steps of the formulation of a botulinum toxin containing pharmaceutical composition. Thus, a botulinum toxin stabilizer should not itself be toxic or difficult to handle so as to not exacerbate the already extremely stringent botulinum toxin containing pharmaceutical composition formulation requirements.
Since botulinum toxin was the first microbial toxin to be approved (by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1989) for injection for the treatment of human disease, specific protocols had to be developed and approved for the culturing, bulk production, formulation into a pharmaceutical and use of botulinum toxin. Important considerations are toxin purity and dose for injection. The production by culturing and the purification must be carried out so that the toxin is not exposed to any substance that might contaminate the final product in even trace amounts and cause undue reactions in the patient. These restrictions require culturing in simplified medium without the use of animal meat products and purification by procedures not involving synthetic solvents or resins. Preparation of toxin using enzymes, various exchangers, such as those present in chromatography columns and synthetic solvents, can introduce contaminants and are therefore excluded from preferred formulation steps. Furthermore, botulinum toxin type A is readily denatured at temperatures above 40 degrees Centigrade, loses toxicity when bubbles form at the air/liquid interface and denatures in the presence of nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
Particular difficulties exist to stabilize botulinum toxin type A, because type A consists of a toxin molecule of about 150 kD in noncovalent association with nontoxin proteins weighing about 750 kD. The nontoxin proteins are believed to preserve or help stabilize the secondary and tertiary structures upon which toxicity is dependant. Procedures or protocols applicable to the stabilization of nonproteins or to relatively smaller proteins are not applicable to the problems inherent with stabilization of the botulinum toxin complexes, such as the 900 kD botulinum toxin type A complex. Thus while from pH 3.5 to 6.8 the type A toxin and non toxin proteins are bound together noncovalently, under slightly alkaline conditions (pH>7.1) the very labile about 150 kD neurotoxic component of a botulinum toxin is released from the botulinum toxin complex. Xeomin™ is the trade name for a neurotoxic component botulinum toxin type A pharmaceutical composition available from Merz Pharmaceuticals (Frankfurt, Germany).
In some instances botulinum toxins, when used as therapeutic drugs, are known to migrate from the site of injection at various rates and distances, sometimes resulting in loss of effect at the desired muscle.
Solid botulinum toxin implants are known. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,306,423; 6,312,708, for a discussion of exemplary solid implants and applications. Additionally formulation of a botulinum toxin in a viscous carrier such as a hyaluronic acid is known; U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 11/954,629, and 11/954,602, filed Dec. 12, 2007.
What is needed is a biocompatible, gelable (thermoplastic) pharmaceutical composition comprising a stabilized botulinum toxin so that the composition can be administered as a liquid yet forms a sustained release gel upon administration; thereby localizing the effect and controlling release of the toxin to enhance the effect per dose.

Sustained release poloxamer containing pharmaceutical compositions


A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching position for keeping the latch body closed, and a release position to allow the case to be opened. The actuator is pivotable toward and away from a nominal actuator position in which a panel of the actuator assumes a predetermined alignment with the latch body. A torsion spring biases the trigger toward the latching position, and through trigger/actuator contact biases the actuator into the nominal position. The trigger can move toward the release position while the actuator is held in the nominal position, to maintain the selected alignment for a more natural, intuitive latching mechanism closure.

The present invention relates to container latching mechanisms, and more particularly to latching mechanisms with triggers operable alternatively to securely maintain latch closure, and to quickly and conveniently release a latch.
Latching mechanisms are used to provide releasable closure to a wide variety of items including doors, windows, vehicle doors and tailgates, and containers of all types. Of most interest to the present invention are latches, typically of the single throw type, used to releasably close luggage, transport cases and carrying cases. Such latching mechanisms typically include a primary latch body pivotally mounted to one section of the case, e.g. the lid, to pivot into and out of container closing position in which the latch body engages a lip, flange or other coupling feature of a second section of the case. Such cases often are required to provide tight closure, even waterproof closure in some instances, yet are opened and closed frequently during normal usage, so that simple and intuitive opening and closing of the latches is of primary importance.
To this end, latching mechanisms often include a latch trigger or other feature mounted to the primary latch body, to assist in maintaining the latching body closed securely when desired, and operable by hand to effect a quick and convenient release of the latch body for opening the case. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,381 (Parker et al.) discloses a double throw latching mechanism including a first elongated body pivotally mounted to a case and including a hook element for engaging a mating formation on another part of the case. A second elongated body is pivotally mounted to the first, to bear against the case and force the hook element out a closure position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,309 (Gaydos et al.) is directed to a latching apparatus in which a release button is pivotally mounted to a latch, which in turn is pivotally mounted to the top half of a container while a bottom portion of the latch can engage a lower half of the container to maintain closure. The release button includes a locking arm, and is spring biased to keep the locking arm engaged with a boss of the container lower half. Pressing the release button pivots the locking arm away from the boss.
A U.S. application (Sanderson, Publication No. US 2006/0042897) concerns a trigger latch assembly including a latch cover pivotally mounted to the cover of a transport case. A latch trigger is mounted pivotally to the latch cover, and includes an engagement member positioned to engage the bottom portion of the transport case. The latch trigger is spring biased into a closed position, but is rotatable against the spring force to release the latch.
Although suitable for their intended purposes, the foregoing latching mechanisms have their shortcomings. The double throw mechanism in Parker is unduly complex, although it provides a mechanical advantage for a latch opening. The Gaydos device requires counter-intuitive simultaneous pushing of a button toward the case while pulling the latch away from the case. The Sanderson latch requires positioning the thumb and fingers on opposite sides of the latch cover and latch trigger to squeeze these components towards each other, a difficult task for individuals having larger hands or wearing gloves.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to one or more of the following objects:                to provide a container latching mechanism capable of exerting significant container closure force, yet releasable by pulling a closed latch away from the container;        to provide a latching mechanism in which container closure is achieved simply by pushing the latch toward the container when the container is closed;        to provide a latching mechanism with an actuating component selectively operable on a latch trigger to open the latch, while allowing independent movement of the trigger during latch closure; and        to provide a simpler and more reliable latching device.

Latching mechanism with trigger actuator


A method of interconnecting integrated circuit chips to a substrate during the assembly of a multi-chip module. Instead of forming an electrical and physical bond by reflowing solder bumps attached to the pads of the chips and the substrate, as in flip-chip bonding, thin pads of specially selected dissimilar metals placed on the chips and substrate are connected by a solid-state diffusion bonding process. In one embodiment, the I/O pads on a chip are formed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are aligned and placed into physical contact with corresponding metal pads or metal layered pads on a substrate, where the metal is capable of being diffusion bonded to aluminum. The combination of chip(s) and substrate are then heated in a controlled atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause solid-state diffusion bonding to occur.

Multi-chip modules (MCM) are substrates on which more than one integrated circuit chip is mounted. The substrate (e.g., a chip carrier) typically includes bonding pads for the chip, where the pads may be connected by a set of conductive lines to contact pads for a package or to other bonding pads on the substrate. The conductive lines thus form an interconnect network or I/O path for multiple elements mounted on a common substrate. Although there are other methods for electrically connecting an integrated circuit chip or other component to a substrate, the most commonly used ones are termed flip-chip bonding, wire bonding, and tape automated bonding (TAB).
In flip-chip (or solder bump) bonding, solder bumps are placed on the I/O pads of a chip and reflowed to form a bond with the chip pads. The chip is placed on a holder in a face-up position, flipped over (i.e., face-down) and aligned with the corresponding conductive bonding pads on the substrate. The chip pads and substrate pads are then brought into physical contact. The solder is reflowed by application of heat, causing the bumps to fuse with the bonding pads and provide both an electrical and structural connection between the chip's I/O pads and the substrate. In wire bonding processes, the chips are attached to the substrate in a face-up position and thin gold or aluminum wires are then connected between the I/O pads of the chip and the bonding pads of the substrate. The wires are connected to the two sets of pads by means of a thermocompression, thermosonic, or ultrasonic welding operation. In TAB bonding, the chips are attached to the substrate in a face-up position and the I/O pads of the chips are then bonded to metal pads on a polyimide film tape by either reflowing or thermocompression/ultrasonic bonding metal and/or solder bumps placed on the tape.
Each of the described methods for interconnecting chips to a substrate has its associated advantages and disadvantages. Flip-chip methods provide the highest density of I/O interconnects and therefore the capability of producing the smallest MCMs. The I/O connections may be made at the periphery of the chip or in its interior. The flip-chip bonds provide a good electrical connection, but the solder joints generally exhibit poor heat dissipation capability (low thermal conductivity). Another disadvantage is that the integrity of the solder joint between the pads can be reduced by thermally induced metal fatigue (differential thermal expansion between the components), and by corrosion caused by trapped solder flux or contaminants. Shorting between closely spaced bumps can occur when the solder is reflowed. In addition, because the solder must be heated to a sufficient temperature to cause it to reflow, flip-chip bonding may not be suited for use with some temperature sensitive components (i.e., components which are damaged, or have their electrical characteristics unacceptably altered when heated to solder reflow temperatures).
Wire bonding is a mature technology, however, the wires used in wire bonding are purposefully made very thin, thereby limiting the power they can transfer without failure. In addition, the lead inductance and resistance of the wires result in a degradation of the electrical performance of the interconnects. Wire bond connections have a larger footprint than flip-chip interconnects, and thus require a comparatively larger substrate than flip-chip bonded MCMs. The wires also form a relatively long signal propagation path compared to other interconnect methods. In addition, embrittlement of the interconnections as a result of the formation of intermettalics can cause a failure of the bonds (e.g., this is a problem between gold wirebonds and aluminum pads).
TAB interconnections offer the benefits of a smaller bonding pad and pitch than wire bonding. However, like wire bonding, TAB is limited to the interconnection of chips having perimeter I/O pads. This typically results in a lower overall I/O density than can be obtained using flip-chip technologies. TAB interconnects also generally have a higher capacitance and greater parasitic inductance than do flip-chip bonds. Finally, because TAB assembly usually requires different tooling for each chip design, TAB is a relatively expensive bonding method.
What is desired is a method for interconnecting integrated circuit chips to a substrate which overcomes some of the disadvantages of presently available methods, while retaining many of the benefits of those methods. It is particularly desired to have a method for interconnecting chips to a substrate which has the benefits of flip-chip bonding, without the drawbacks of that method.


The fish food composition includes pea meal, corn meal, soy bean meal, corn oil, and fish meal. The fish food composition can include less than 17% by weight fish meal and between about 2.0% and 4.0% by weight pea meal. The fish food composition can also include carboxymethyl cellulose and a vitamin and mineral mix.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to aquaculture, and particularly to a fish food composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
While food fed to fish typically include synthetic ingredients, pure protein extracts, and/or artificial hormones, natural ingredients in a fish diet are preferred because they are ecofriendly, cost-effective, and are not associated with side effects. One component of many fish food compositions has been fish meal. Fish meal has been a very important ingredient in fish food because of its nutrient profile. Fish meal includes a complete essential amino acid profile, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and omega 3 fatty acids. As fish meal is primarily made from fish or fish parts, however, preparing fish meal is costly.
Thus, a fish food composition solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


In a method for monitoring of partial discharges in an electric power transformer (1) under normal operating conditions, the magnetic field at a high-voltage bushing (2) on the power transformer is sensed with an inductive sensor (6) comprising at least one coil (6a, 6b) arranged at the bushing, and the electric field at the bushing is sensed with a capacitive sensor (5). The output signals from said sensors are supplied to a signal processing unit (3) in which each one of the output signals is filtered in a separate bandpass filter (101, 102), whereupon the filtered output signals from said sensors are multiplied by each other. An output signal (PDI) from the signal processing unit is formed in dependence on the result of said multiplication for the purpose of detecting internal partial discharges in the transformer.

Voids or other defects in an insulation material may give rise to non-homogeneous electric fields in the material. In that connection, the field strength may become so high that a local discharge, a partial discharge, in the material occurs. A general description of these phenomena is given, for example, in E. Kuffel, W. S. Zaengl: High Voltage Engineering, Pergamon Press, 1984.
Conventionally, partial discharges are measured using a capacitive decoupling from the object to be measured and a detector unit, for example a bridge or a fast digital converter and a computer. In IEC Publication 270: "Partial Discharge Measurements", 1981, 2nd edition, normalized methods for such measurements and for calibration of the measurement equipment are discussed.
Measurement of partial discharges using inductive sensors based on Rogowski coils is described in Proceedings of the 1987 International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, vol. 2, paper No. 42.02, H. Borsi, M. Hartje: "Application of Rogowski coils for Partial Discharge (PD), decoupling and noise suppression".
The occurrence of partial discharges in a high-voltage apparatus is often an indication that a fault is developing.
A power transformer is usually a critical component in a power network. An extensive fault in the transformer may cause long interruptions and expensive repairs. It is therefore desirable to discover states which may lead to faults as early as possible. A power transformer is often equipped with a capacitive test tap at its high-voltage bushings, which may be utilized as a capacitive decoupler. It is therefore also possible to carry out a conventional measurement of partial discharges under normal operating conditions.
A problem that arises during a measurement in a transformer station compared with a measurement in a test chamber environment are the disturbances that are generated by surrounding apparatus and connections. To cope with these external disturbances, different solutions have been proposed and tried, for example PRPDA and pattern recognition using neural networks. See, for example, descriptions in IEE Proc.-Science Measurement and Technology, vol. 142, No. 1, January 1995, pp. 22-28, B. A. Fruth, D. W. Gross: "Partial discharge signal generation transmission and acquisition", and in IEE Proc.-Science Measurement and Technology, vol. 142, No. 1, January 1995, pp. 69-74, H. Borsi, E. Gockenbach, D. Wenzel: "Separation of partial discharges from pulse-shaped noise signals with the help of neural networks". Both methods described in these publications are based on learning typical signal patterns. In an analysis according to the PRPDA method, data is collected over a certain period of time, whereupon the pattern for these data is compared with patterns for known types of discharges. Neural networks are taught to recognize the wave shape for certain specific types of discharges. For both of these methods, the decoupling of the partial discharges is carried out in a conventional manner.

Monitoring of internal partial discharges in a power transformer


A system includes a plurality of integrated circuits for propagating data between at least one central processing unit and another component of the system. The plurality of integrated circuits are configured for proximity I/O communication. The plurality of integrated circuits is configured such that data propagation through the plurality of integrated circuits is unaffected by a rotation of at least one of the plurality of integrated circuits by 90 degrees.

A typical computer system includes several components that are collectively used by a user to perform various functions such as, for example, preparing and generating a document with a word processor application. With the computer system, the user may input data to a computing portion using peripheral devices such as a keyboard or a mouse. Data may also be provided to the computing portion using data storage media, e.g., a floppy disk or a CD-ROM. The computing portion, using memory and other internal components, processes both internal data and data provided to the computing portion by the user to generate data requested by the user. The generated data may be provided to the user via, for example, a display device or a printer.
The computing portion of a computer system typically includes various components such as, for example, a power supply, disk drives, and the electrical circuitry required to perform the necessary and requested operations of the computer system. The computing portion may contain a plurality of circuit boards on which various circuit components are implemented. For example, a computing portion designed to have enhanced sound reproducing capabilities may have a circuit board dedicated to implementing circuitry that specifically operates to process data associated with the reproduction of sound.
On a circuit board, a clock provides a reference of time to various integrated circuit (IC) packages that are connected onto the circuit board. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the integrated circuit packages may be used to house and support various types of integrated circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessors, and digital logic chips). The integrated circuit packages communicate with one another, i.e., pass data, using wires or traces of conductive material (e.g., copper or gold) embedded in the circuit board.

Network chip design for grid communication


A memory access operand of an instruction that accesses memory may be treated as a transaction atomic access. The processor may execute one or more processor state setting instructions, causing state information to be set in the processor. Upon executing a transaction policy override instruction, the default conflict detection policy is overridden for one or more subsequent memory accessing instructions.

The number of central processing unit (CPU) cores on a chip and the number of CPU cores connected to a shared memory continues to grow significantly to support growing workload capacity demand. The increasing number of CPUs cooperating to process the same workloads puts a significant burden on software scalability; for example, shared queues or data-structures protected by traditional semaphores become hot spots and lead to sub-linear n-way scaling curves. Traditionally this has been countered by implementing finer-grained locking in software, and with lower latency/higher bandwidth interconnects in hardware. Implementing fine-grained locking to improve software scalability can be very complicated and error-prone, and at today's CPU frequencies, the latencies of hardware interconnects are limited by the physical dimension of the chips and systems, and by the speed of light.
Implementations of hardware Transactional Memory (HTM, or in this discussion, simply TM) have been introduced, wherein a group of instructions—called a transaction—operate in an atomic manner on a data structure in memory, as viewed by other central processing units (CPUs) and the I/O subsystem (atomic operation is also known as "block concurrent" or "serialized" in other literature). The transaction executes optimistically without obtaining a lock, but may need to abort and retry the transaction execution if an operation, of the executing transaction, on a memory location conflicts with anther operation on the same memory location. Previously, software transactional memory implementations have been proposed to support software Transactional Memory (TM). However, hardware TM can provide improved performance aspects and ease of use over software TM.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No 2004/0044850 titled "Method and apparatus for the synchronization of distributed caches" filed 2002 Aug. 28 and incorporated by reference herein teaches a method and apparatus for the synchronization of distributed caches. More particularly, the present embodiment to cache memory systems and more particularly to a hierarchical caching protocol suitable for use with distributed caches, including use within a caching input/output (I/O) hub.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,297 titled "Partial cache line write transactions in a computing system with a write back cache" filed 1994 Mar. 24 and incorporated by reference herein teaches a computing system is presented which includes a memory, an input/output adapter and a processor. The processor includes a write back cache in which dirty data may be stored. When performing a coherent write from the input/output adapter to the memory, a block of data is written from the input/output adapter to a memory location within the memory. The block of data contains less data than a full cache line in the write back cache. The write back cache is searched to determine whether the write back cache contains data for the memory location. When the search determines that the write back cache contains data for the memory location a full cache line which contains the data for the memory location is purged.

Transactional processing based upon run-time conditions

International Business Machines Corporation


In a bipolar transistor and the manufacturing method thereof, the bipolar transistor includes a first conductive well, an emitter impurity layer formed in the center of the well, a base impurity layer formed in the form of completely surrounding the emitter impurity layer, and a first conductive high-concentration collector impurity layer having an annular shape along the edge of the well, and maintaining a constant interval from the base impurity layer. The first conductive layer formed to be parallel with the high-concentration collector impurity layer is connected therewith through a contact hole, and is connected with the collector electrode through another contact hole. Owing to a simple manufacturing process, the processing time and cost can be reduced. Also, parasitic bipolar transistors are not generated nor is increased collector resistance produced, thereby increasing reliability.

The present invention relates to a BiCMOS device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a bipolar transistor by which a problem of lowered reliability is solved, and a manufacturing method thereof.
A BiCMOS technique, which attains high speed operation and low current consumption by incorporating a bipolar transistor and a MOS transistor into one chip in order to take advantage of benefits of each device, has been widely adopted in the semiconductor memory field. Several methods for manufacturing various types of bipolar transistors have been proposed for a BiCMOS manufacturing technique to optimize the function of the bipolar and MOS transistors. Here, typical structures include a selectively ion-implanted collector (SIC) and a base electrode surround emitter transistor (BEST). In particular, a high-concentration buried layer fabrication process and an epitaxial process are essential for manufacturing a high-performance bipolar transistor.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a BiCMOS structure manufactured by a first conventional method, in which an epitaxial process is performed to form the bipolar and MOS transistors and a high-concentration buried layer is formed in the lower portions of the respective devices, for reducing the surface resistance of a collector and for efficient inter-device insulation. In FIG. 1, a periphery circuit region includes a bipolar transistor and a PMOS transistor, and an SRAM cell region includes an NMOS and a high-resistance polysilicon layer.
In the above constitution, N-type high-concentration buried layer 3 and P-type buried layer 5 are selectively formed in the vicinity of the surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and an epitaxial layer (epi) is formed thereon. An N-well 7 is formed within the epitaxial layer over the N-type high-concentration buried layer 3, and a P-well 9 is formed within the epitaxial layer over the P-type buried layer 5. The bipolar transistor and the PMOS transistor are formed within N-well 7 so as to be insulated from each other, and an NMOS transistor is formed within P-well 9. The bipolar transistor comprises a collector impurity layer having N-well 7 and high-concentration collector impurity layer 11, base impurity layer 13, and emitter impurity layer 15. Here, the high-concentration collector impurity layer 11 is formed to be connected with N-type high-concentration buried layer 3. The PMOS transistor is composed of a P-type source/drain region 17 and a gate electrode 25, and the NMOS transistor is composed of an N-type source/drain regions 19 and a gate electrode 26. High-resistance polysilicon layer 29 of the SRAM cell is connected with one portion of source/drain region 19 of the NMOS transistor. Emitter impurity layer 15 and the other portion of the source/drain region 19 are connected with electrodes 35 and 43 via pad layers 23 and 31, respectively. Collector electrode 33 of the bipolar transistor is connected with high-concentration collector impurity layer 11. A base electrode 37 is connected with base impurity layer 13. Source/drain electrodes 39 of the PMOS transistor are respectively connected with source/drain regions 17. Also, reference numeral 21 denotes a field oxide layer, and reference numerals 27 and 45 denote insulation layers.
The BiCMOS manufactured by the first conventional method must undergo successive procedures of selectively forming high-concentration buried layer 3 and buried layer 5 on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, growing an epitaxial layer of 1.about.2.mu.m on the whole surface thereof, forming an N-well or P-well in the epitaxial layer, and forming a bipolar transistor and MOS transistors within the well.
When comparing the conventional CMOS manufacturing process and the aforementioned BiCMOS manufacturing process, the latter is more difficult (i.e., more complicated) than the conventional one which is performed by merely forming a MOS transistor within an N-well or P-well formed in the substrate, in that it necessitates the further steps of forming a high-concentration buried layer and an epitaxial layer. Particularly, the epitaxial layer forming process requires a high-precision technique, which is time-consuming and costly.
In order to abate the above complexity and, in doing so, save processing time and cost, there is a BiCMOS manufacturing technique which eliminates the heretofore essential processes of forming a high-concentration buried layer and epitaxial layer. Here, a bipolar transistor and a MOS transistor are formed in a well which is formed in a substrate.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a bipolar transistor manufactured by a second conventional method for forming a BiCMOS structure, in which a well is formed in a semiconductor substrate and then a bipolar transistor is formed within the well. Unlike the first conventional method by which, after forming an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate, a well is formed in the epitaxial layer and active devices are formed within the well. In FIG. 2, only the bipolar transistor of a BiCMOS is shown because this is where the most severe reduction in performance occurs when the high-concentration buried layer and epitaxial layer are not formed. (Although not shown, it is assumed that MOS transistors are formed around the bipolar transistor.)
Referring to FIG. 2, after forming N-well 52 and P-well 54 by selectively injecting impurity ions into a semiconductor substrate 50, a field oxide layer 62 is formed on the surface of the substrate by selective thermal oxidation. Subsequently, high concentration N-impurities are injected into a predetermined region, to form high-concentration collector impurity layer 56. Thereafter, high concentration P-type impurities are selectively injected to form a high concentration P-impurity layer 64 and base impurity layer 58 for an ohmic contact. Next, the impurities of a pad layer 70, on which an impurity-doped polysilicon and silicide are deposited, diffuse into the semiconductor substrate, thereby forming an emitter impurity layer 60. Then, electrodes 72, 74, 76 and 78 are formed by a conventional method.
According to the second conventional bipolar transistor manufacturing method, as the processes for forming the high-concentration buried layer and epitaxial layer are omitted, the overall manufacturing process is simplified, thereby reducing the processing time and cost. However, the following characteristic deterioration of the bipolar transistor typically becomes noticeable.
First, the influence of parasitic bipolar transistors becomes prominent, which affects the operation of a BiCMOS logic gate. As shown in FIG. 2, a PNP parasitic bipolar transistor is composed of a base impurity layer 58 of the bipolar transistor, N-well 52, and P-impurity layer 64 formed on P-well 54.
Secondly, collector resistance is increased, thereby lowering the operational speed of a device. Since the current passing through emitter impurity layer 60 and base impurity layer 58 flows unidirectionally by the voltage applied to collector electrode 72, i.e., from base impurity layer 58 to high-concentration collector impurity layer 56, the resistance of the path along which the current flows becomes relatively high.

Method of making bipolar transistor having reduced resistance


A control and monitoring system is adapted to collect parameter data from networked devices, and to display representations of the system or monitored data in a number of selectable languages on a monitoring station. Textual labels for the representations are stored in a system database. Component and system data may also be stored in the database for use in identifying and monitoring the components. The language used for the labels is selectable by a user via a menu, and the corresponding entries in the database are used in building the representations. The language may thus be changed in real time without interrupting the monitoring and control functions of the components or the monitoring station.

The present invention relates generally to the field of control and monitoring systems, such as systems employed in industrial automation applications. The invention relates more particularly to a technique for allowing representations or presentations of monitored or controlled devices and systems in a variety of languages which are selected and displayed in real time along with the monitored or controlled parameter data.
A wide variety of systems are available for control and monitoring functions, particularly in industrial settings. Such systems may include components which regulate the application of electrical power to loads, such electric motors. In a motor control center, for example, circuit protection devices, component protection devices, drives, starters, relays, disconnects, and so forth are interconnected to carryout desired industrial processes. The processes may be defined by pre-established routines, and may rely upon sensed parameters and operator-induced command inputs, all of which are transmitted through a data network.
Limited integration of automated control and monitoring has been provided in systems of this type. In many applications, no overall system monitoring functions are available. Where limited system monitoring is offered, specialized software is often provided which is adapted for the specific installation of the system. Even where relatively standard software can be employed for automated systems, textual labels, explanatory notes, and the like are most often provided in a single language, with the software itself being offered in specific, individualized and discrete products for specific language markets.
There is need, however, for a technique which would facilitate adaptation of control and monitoring system software for a variety of languages. There is a particular need, at present, for a technique which would allow the same software package to be sold and used in different language markets without the need to specifically adapt the software for those markets. There is also a need for a technique which would allow control or monitoring software to display system data in any of a variety of languages, and to change the display language in real time without reloading the software or maintaining several different language software packages.

Multilinguistic industrial control and monitoring system


A fluid transfer system for an oil drilling rig which generally includes a portable housing container which includes a pump, a manifold, an air compressor and a pressure washer. The manifold will generally include three inlets, with a first inlet connected to a drilling rig, a second inlet connected to a first storage tank such as a water tank, and the third inlet connected to a second storage tank such as an invert tank. The pump is connected to the manifold to transfer mixed fluids back out the drilling rig. The air compressor is linked to the manifold flow blowing out the fluid conduits prior to transfer of the container or to prevent spillage. The pressure washer may be used to clean various components at the drilling site. The present invention is fully portable such that it may easily be packed up and transferred between multiple drilling sites for use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a transfer manifold housing and more specifically it relates to a fluid transfer system for an oil drilling rig which may be efficiently packed up and moved between oil drilling sites.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Recent oil discoveries both domestically and internationally, coupled with the increasing demand for fossil fuels, have dramatically increased the drilling for oil throughout the world in recent years. For example, a recent large oil find in North Dakota has created an oil boom in the region, with a large number of oil drilling sites being established to harvest oil therefrom.
With the establishment of multiple oil drilling sites within a localized geographical region, it has become even more necessary to efficiently transfer equipment and materials therebetween to maximize oil production. In the past, permanent or semi-permanent structures have been constructed to aid in production of such oil. However, these structures have not been easily transportable between oil sites, thus requiring duplication of efforts or lost time drilling.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved fluid transfer system for an oil drilling rig which may be efficiently packed up and moved between oil drilling sites.

Fluid transfer system for an oil drilling rig


A system, method and computer program product are provided for adaptive network data monitoring. In use, network data may be monitored utilizing at least one threshold. Then, it is automatically detected whether there is a change in the network. If a change in the network is detected, the at least one threshold is automatically modified based on the change.

Numerous tools have been developed to aid in network management involving capacity planning, fault management, network monitoring, and performance measurement. One example of such tools is the network analyzer.
In general, a "network analyzer" is a program that monitors and analyzes network traffic, detecting bottlenecks and problems. Using this information, a network manager can keep traffic flowing efficiently. A network analyzer may also be used to capture data being transmitted on a network. The term "network analyzer" may further be used to describe a program that analyzes data other than network traffic. For example, a database can be analyzed for certain kinds of duplication. One example of a network analyzer is the SNIFFER® device manufactured by NETWORK ASSOCIATES, INC®.
During use of such network analyzers, users often can monitor network utilization, error rate, application response time, and/or numerous other parameters associated with network traffic and use. To facilitate this analysis, network analyzers often utilize static thresholds for applying to the foregoing parameters to bring a problem to the attention of a user. When, for example, a threshold is surpassed or met, an alert may be generated to prompt user action or further analysis and/or investigation.
Unfortunately, such thresholds are static in that they are applied independent of changes in the network. In other words, the thresholds are set independent of a status or configuration of the network. Thus, when one of the parameters changes in a detrimental manner to prompt an alert based on a threshold, it is assumed that this indicates a problem in a network requiring troubleshooting, etc. Unfortunately, this assumption leads to numerous false alerts. For example, if the threshold is met only due to a component being added, removed, or altered; the user is nevertheless prompted to further analyze or investigate the situation. Resources are thus wasted due to these false alerts.
There is thus a need for techniques of preventing changes in a network from prompting false alerts during network analysis.

Network adaptive baseline monitoring system and method


The invention provides a method for judging whether cancer cells are present or not in a sample, comprising a obtaining step of obtaining values related to an expression level of a caner marker gene and a housekeeping gene; a first comparing step of comparing the value related to the expression level of the cancer marker gene with a first threshold value; a normalizing step of normalizing the value related to the expression level of the cancer marker gene based on the value related to the expression level of the housekeeping gene; a second comparing step of comparing the normalized value with a second threshold value; and a judging step of judging whether cancer cells are present or not in the sample based on comparison results obtained in the first and second comparing steps, as well as an apparatus for judging whether cancer cells are present or not.

Examination of the presence or absence of cancer cells in a sample collected from a patient can be an indicator for judging cancer metastasis in a tissue or organ from which the sample was collected. For judging the presence or absence of cancer cells in a sample, histological cytodiagnosis such as Papanicolaou staining has conventionally been used. In this method, however, there are problems such as a difference in diagnostic result due to the experience of a person who makes the diagnosis, necessity for a long time in examination, and the like.
Accordingly, studies on molecular pathological diagnosis of cancer by LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification method) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) have been extensively conducted. Pathological molecular diagnosis can be carried out by detecting a cancer marker gene contained in a tissues and cell (for example, an mRNA of a protein expressed specifically in a cancer cell (hereinafter, also referred to simply as cancer marker)). For example, mRNAs of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are known to be effective as cancer marker genes for judging lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. An mRNA of CEA is also known to be effective as a cancer marker for judging metastasis of stomach cancer. These cancer markers are molecules recognized to be significantly different in expression level between a normal sample and a sample containing cancer cells metastasizing to it.
A judgment result of the presence or absence of cancer cells, obtained on the basis of the expression level of a cancer marker, can serve as an indicator for a physician for example to make a diagnosis for metastasis of cancer cells to a specific tissue in a patient.
Conventionally, when such molecular examination is conducted, the expression level of a cancer marker to be analyzed is subjected to conversion (normalization) to the expression level thereof per cell because the number of cells varies from sample to sample. Then, the normalized expression level of the cancer marker in a sample is compared with a threshold value, thereby judging the presence or absence of cancer cells. Specifically, the expression level of a cancer marker gene is divided by the expression level of a housekeeping gene (that is, a gene estimated to be expressed at a constant level in many tissues and cells), thereby normalizing the expression level of the cancer marker gene with the expression level of the housekeeping gene (M. Inokuchi et al., British Journal of Cancer (2003) 89, 1750-1756).
U.S. Publication No. 2007264635 describes a method of obtaining information for prediction of cancer relapse, which comprises amplification reaction of a predetermined gene by PCR and measurement of its amplification product. More specifically, this publication discloses judgment of stomach cancer relapse by normalizing a measurement result with β-actin in Example 4 and judgment of relapse without normalization in Example 5, respectively.

Method and apparatus for judging the presence or absence of cancer cell


A system and method for observability, dashboard, alerting and pro-active action framework for card authorizations application are disclosed. A receiver receives a payment authorization request message having a predefined first format via a communication protocol TCPIP socket including an application process called socket manager corresponding to a card transaction. A processor operatively connected to the processor via a communication network collects application data from the message in connection with the card transaction; aggregates and stores the application data onto a dynamically allocated shared memory; reads the aggregated application data from the shared memory; stores the application data in an individual transient data queue attached to the socket manager; converts, in response to reading, the predefined first format of the payment authorization request message to a predefined second format suitable for publishing onto a desired messaging platform; and publishes the converted message onto the desired messaging platform.

The developments described in this section are known to the inventors. However, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the developments described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section, or that those developments are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Conventional credit card system of an organization may traditionally run on legacy mainframe system. When a customer makes a purchase whether on a terminal or online, an authorization request may be sent to the organization via VISA/MasterCard to the organization to approve or decline the purchase. An authorization system (i.e., a sophisticated rule engine) running on the mainframe system may perform credit and fraud check and then may decide to approve or decline the request.
This authorization system proves to be a very critical system for a credit card as it controls the customer purchase experience. For example, a legitimate request should always be approved, whereas a bank may need to make sure that fraud requests are declined. Thus, this authorization system may need to be available twenty four hours a day and may also provide 100% response time within SLA (service-level agreement) of less than, for example, 50 milliseconds.
As a result, a robust application monitoring system is needed to check the constant health of the application and get notified and alerted when there is any system issue. In addition, there should be a process for automated failover and recovery.
However, the conventional credit card system being a legacy mainframe system, there is no out-of-box such application monitoring system available. Neither there is any product available in market place that can integrate with the application to provide the required application health and automation needed.

System and method for observability, dashboard, alerting and pro-active action mechanism


A plurality of angle portions 2c of the fins on an upstream side and those on a downstream side of an air flow are provided so as to be substantially symmetrical with each other. Due to this, bending forces are continuously exerted on a thin plate-like fin material in a direction where the bending deformation of the fin material is cancelled, during the fin forming process. Accordingly, when the angle portions 2c are formed it can be prevented in advance that the fin material 11 is deformed in a state where the repeated deformations of the fin material 11 are accumulated in the same direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger and, in particular, to a heat exchanger effectively applied to an air conditioner.
More specially, it relates to a heat exchanger and a heat transfer member, for improving the heat-exchanging performance thereof by producing a turbulent air-flow flowing through a heat-exchanging member thereof, which are preferably applied to, for example, a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional heat exchanger, fins have slit pieces, which are segments of the fins and are arranged in a staggered manner in the air flow direction, and the upstream sides, in the air flow, of the slit pieces are bent at around 90 degrees to form bend potions. Due to the bend portions, the air flow around the fins is disturbed so that the thickness of the temperature boundary layer around the fins is prevented from increasing in order to increase the heat transfer coefficient between the fins and air (for example, refer to Patent document 1).
Another heat exchanger has a plurality of pin-shaped (needle-shaped) fins arranged in an air flow and, thereby, the heat exchanging ability of the heat exchanger is improved.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-83591
In the invention disclosed in Patent document 1, slit pieces are formed by cutting and raising parts of a thin plate-shaped fin and bend portion are formed by bending upward the front ends (font edges) of the slit pieces, at around 90 degrees. In this configuration, the above-mentioned bend portions have disadvantages, in the manufacturing thereof, as described below.
That is, as in the invention disclosed in Patent document 1, all bend portions are formed by bending the front ends of the slit pieces, the bending force in the same direction is continuously exerted on the thin plate-shaped fin material and, therefore, while the bend portions are formed the fin material is deformed in a state where the repeated deformations of the fin material are accumulated in the same direction, in other words, the fin material is bent in a transverse direction of the fin material, that is, the air flow direction.
The slit pieces should be regularly arranged at a constant pitch but, as described above, in the invention disclosed in Patent document 1 the fin material is likely to be deformed in a state where the repeated deformations of the fin material are accumulated in the same direction, that is, the fin material is bent in a transverse direction of the fin material, that is, the air flow direction. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the variation of the pitches between the slit pieces. When the variation of the pitches between the slit pieces is increased, the heat transfer coefficient between the fins and air is decreased and, therefore, the desired heat exchanging ability of the fins is unlikely to be obtained.
In a heat exchanger having a plurality of pin-shaped (needles-shaped) fins arranged in the air flow, the weight of the heat exchanger is increased by arranging the fins, that is, a plurality of pins, and the productivity of the fins is deteriorated by arranging a plurality of pins on the heat exchanger. Therefore, it is difficult to realize the mass production thereof.
If a plurality of the pins are formed by cutting the areas between two pins, much material to be scrapped, during cutting, is produced and, therefore, the material is not effectively used. As a result, it is also difficult to realize the mass production thereof.

Heat exchanger and heat transferring member with symmetrical angle portions


An add-on apparatus for feeding container plants. The apparatus contains a battery-powered pump which is designed to pump feeding solution out of a user-supplied container. The apparatus also contains a moisture sensor which is embedded by the user in the growth medium of the plant. This sensor controls the operation of the pump. On the condition of low moisture level, indicative of the need to feed, the pump operates for a controlled duration thus delivering a controlled amount of feeding solution to the plant.

Plants growing in containers require frequent watering at varying time intervals, the duration of which depends on the rate of absorption and evaporation. Special containers are commercially available which provide moisture for a prolonged time and reduce the need for frequent watering. This type of containers are comprised of two compartments, one contains a growth medium that supports the plant and the other contains water or a water solution of fertilizer. Solution from the latter compartment is drawn into the growth medium of the first compartment by the capillary action of a wick which is made in contact with both the solution and the growth medium. Alternatively, in a similar type the two compartments are constructed to share a common wall, part or all of this common wall is made of a porous material that allows a slow flow of solution from the compartment that contains it into the compartment sustaining the plant.
In the continued discussion references are made to the following sources and U.S. patents:
SUNSET magazine (vol.182) page 183, February 1989. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,146: Dodge PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 2,611,643: Higgins PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,799: Keller et al. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,575: Rohling PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,712: Benesch PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,982: Holmes PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,972: Freitus
An article that appeared in Sunset magazine points out that double compartment containers of the type described above have major drawbacks. One of those is the lack of control of the amount of moisture around the root ball of the plant in the growth compartment: the root ball becomes saturated with water and damage to the plant results. Another drawback is the growth of roots close to, and into the wick or the porous wall. As a result the flow of water to the plant is gradually reduced, requiring periodical removal of the plant for root trimming. The article also points out the availability of an improved variation on the dual compartment systems: an additional moisture sensor. The same type of sensor is also described by Rohling. In this type of system the compartment that contains the solution is made fully enclosed. Inflow of air to the portion of it above the solution level is allowed through a flexible tube. This tube is connected on its opposite end to a moisture sensor which is inserted into the growth medium. As long as the sensor is moist it shuts off the flow of air into the solution compartment thereby shutting off the flow of solution into the growth compartment. When the moisture level in the growth medium falls, the sensor drys up and allows air to enter the compartment which contains the solution and in turn allows solution to flow into the growth compartment. The solution then spreads throughout the growth medium eventually reaches and moistens the sensor which shuts off the flow. Positioning the sensor at different locations within the growth medium relative to the location at which solution enters the growth compartment allows control of the amount of solution delivered to the growth medium.
Freitus describes a self contained plant growth system comprised of separate compartments for the growth medium and the feeding solution. Solution is pumped out of the solution compartment by an electrically powered pump and delivered to the growth medium. A moisture detector is inserted in the growth medium and communicates with the pump electrical circuit. When the moisture level in the growth medium falls below a preset level the sensor sends a signal to activate the pump. Consequently, solution enters the growth medium via a supply tube that extends from the pump towards a location above the growth medium. Solution falls freely from the opening of the tube down to the growth medium below at some distance from the location where the sensor is inserted. The solution is being absorbed by the growth medium. The resulted increase in moisture is then detected by the moisture sensor which in turn sends a signal to stop the pump. Adjusting the amount of solution delivered to the growth compartment in the Rohling and in the Freitus systems is difficult because it involves a trial and error effort to establish the proper location of the sensor.
For the automatic feeding of plants that are planted in common containers, i.e. containers with a single compartment that supports the plant and its growth medium, add-on provisions were devised. One provision is to supply water from the regular water supply line via a timer operated valve. Alternatively, the valve can be connected to an elevated container which contains water or fertilizer solution thus making use of the gravitational force. The timer is programmed to open the valve periodically and for a preset duration. The selection of proper timer settings for optimal feeding is difficult. With this method over-feeding or under-feeding are likely and damage to the plant results. Provisions which make use of a constant flow of water are also in use: plant containers are placed on an absorptive mat which is kept soaked by the constant feed of water. Excess of water is allowed to drain off. Water enters the containers via holes on the bottom. In this method over-feeding and a resulting damage to plants is very likely. As was made clear in the prior discussion, solution flow controlled by a moisture sensing device is essential for reliable operation.
Keller et al. suggest a system that exploit the difference is gross weight of the container and its contents between the properly moistened condition and the dryer, yet sufficiently moist condition, for determining moisture level. The plant container is placed on a platform which is a part of a weight sensing mechanism. A valve which is mechanically controlled by this mechanism opens the supply of solution to the container when its weight drops below a presettable level and shuts it off when the container weight reaches a higher presettable level. The main drawback of this method stems from the fact that most plants gain in weight at a significant rate. Consequently, the amount of feed is gradually reduced and proper moisture cannot be maintained. Another drawback of these systems is their limited ability to accommodate containers of arbitrary size and weight. Also their complexity and cost precludes them from wide use.
Benesch suggests a system which include a moisture sensor for flow control that exploits the property of wood to expand when moist and contract when dry. This expansion and contraction is used to activate a valve that controls the flow of water or feeding solution to the growth medium. This system shares the same disadvantage as those suggested by Rohling and by Freitus because the amount of solution delivered depends on the time it takes for the moisture to spread and wet the sensor element thus making it difficult to set up.
Dodge, Higgins and Holmes separately suggest systems that exploit the change in the electrical resistance between a set of two conductive electrodes embedded in the growth medium for sensing the moisture level of that medium. Since determination of the resistance requires flow of electric current through the growth medium, the current must be low enough as to prevent excessive chemical decomposition within the growth medium due to electrolysis. And since the changes of this current are used to control an electrically actuated flow valve, current amplification is required. Dodge uses electromechanical relays as amplifiers. Higgins and Holmes use electronic valves in combination with electromechanical relays. In addition, Holmes added a controllable timer which in response to a signal from the moisture sensing circuit opens the flow of feeding solution to the growth medium and shuts it off after a preselected time. This facilitates the prevention of over-feeding.
The main objective of the invention is to provide an inexpensive add-on provision for the automatic feeding of potted plants that are normally being fed manually. In particular this invention will be of help to those who plan to be absent from their home or office for many months and wish to provide continuous and cost effective care for their house or office plants during their absence.
In light of the prior discussion of prior art the following specific goals of the invention should now be clear:
a. To deliver water or plant nutrient solution out of an arbitrary container selected and provided by the user. PA0 b. To initiate feeding only when the moisture level in the growth medium falls bellow a predetermined level. PA0 c. To deliver a controllable amount of plant nutrient solution at each feeding cycle. PA0 d. To be self powered and portable. PA0 e. To be of a ready to use integral construction thus avoiding the need by the user to assemble mechanical parts or to connect electric wires. PA0 f. To provide a cost effective feeding for even the least expensive potted plant.
The above objectives are achieved by constructing an apparatus consisting of a motor-driven pump, a flexible tube for the delivery of solution from the pump to the plant container, a stake assembly to facilitate anchoring of the tube and a set of two moisture sensing electrodes to the growth medium, and electric battery which supplies power to the motor via an electronic switching circuit which responds to the signal from the moisture sensing electrodes. The user selects a container, fills it with water or nutrient solution and places it next to the potted plant. Then he inserts the stake assembly into the growth medium and inserts the pump into the container. The operation of the apparatus starts automatically thereafter.

Apparatus for automatic feeding of container plants


A belt structure includes a first housing, a second housing, a third housing and a belt. The two ends of the belt are respectively connected to the first housing and the third housing, which can be buckled together quickly. The second housing and the first housing are connected, so that a mechanism for fine tuning the belt can be formed through the gear, the driving element and the resisting element in the first and the second housing, thereby a belt structure with fast buckling capability and fine tuning function can be achieved.

As first aid, a pressing belt is used to tighten against a human body, for example, during an injury, when the damaged limb might need to be tightened to stop bleeding. When any part of human body has a bleeding cut, it is called an external hemorrhage, such as, an incised wound on the wrist, an abrasion on the face or the lower leg, or a laceration of the arm. The bleeding causes the loss of blood and also the red blood cells, so that the oxygenation function of the human body will be reduced, and if the bleeding becomes very serious or out of control, it might cause shock, even death. Therefore, stopping bleeding undoubtedly is the most important step when processing the injury in an accident. Generally, hemostasis methods may include pressure hemostasis, limb lift hemostasis, and pressure point hemostasis, and the tourniquet hemostasis is the last line of defense for limb hemostasis. The belt used for tourniquet hemostasis should be self-operating, quickly assembled, easily stored and obtained, conveniently adjusting the level of tightness, having a time alarm, combining multiple belts, and be inexpensive.
R.O.C. Patent Publication No. M256148 entitled "Improved tourniquet structure" disposes nylon fasteners located at the inner and outer sides of two ends of an elastic belt to form a tourniquet. However, when adjusting the level of tightness, this kind of tourniquet needs to be loosed first and re-bind again, so that it is inconvenient. Another disclosure is R.O.C Patent Publication No. M254201 entitled "Buckled tourniquet", in which the tourniquet is an elastic belt with a saw plastic plate and a saw shrink box mounted thereon and is fixed through the engagement between the saw plastic plate and the saw shrink box. However, the adjustment of length is still inconvenient and the engagement might also be released by hitting. Therefore, these conventional disclosures still have the drawbacks of unstable engagement structure, uneasily adjusted length and lacking fine tuning capability.