Methods of providing an image of the gastrointestinal region of a patient and diagnosing the presence of any tumorous tissue in that region using contrast media comprising a combination of at least one polyphosphorylated aliphatic or polyphosphorylated alicyclic compound and at least one paramagnetic ion, wherein the aliphatic and alicyclic compounds comprise at least five carbon atoms, is described. Also described are diagnostic kits for gastrointestinal imaging which include the subject contrast media.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a relatively new diagnostic imaging technique which employs a magnetic field, field gradients and radiofrequency energy to excite protons and thereby make an image of the mobile protons in water and fat. MRI has found many applications in imaging the central nervous system, but abdominal applications have lagged seriously behind. One reason that abdominal MRI has not been utilized more extensively has been the absence of a suitable MRI contrast agent for the gastrointestinal tract. Computed tomography (CT) is used more commonly for abdominal imaging in part because suitable contrast agents, chiefly barium and iodine compounds, are available for use in such imaging.
MRI contrast agents primarily act by affecting T1 or T2 relaxation of water protons. Contrast agents generally shorten T1 and/or T2. When contrast agents shorten T1, this increases signal intensity on T1 weighted images. When contrast agents shorten T2, this decreases signal intensity particularly on T2 weighted pulse sequences. To date several prototype gastrointestinal MRI contrast agents have been developed to assist abdominal MRI, but none of these have been altogether satisfactory.
For example, iron oxides which are strong T2 relaxation agents have been used as negative gastrointestinal MRI contrast agents to decrease signal intensity in the gastrointestinal tract. These agents, which predominantly affect T2, have the disadvantages of magnetic susceptibility artifacts which occurs as a result of the drastic effects on local magnetic homogeneity (magnetic susceptibility) caused by these agents. Magnetic susceptibility artifacts make it difficult to assess the bowel wall, bowel mesentery and adjacent structures.
The paramagnetic MRI contrast agent gadolinium-DTPA has also been tested as a positive gastrointestinal MRI contrast agent to increase signal intensity on T1 weighted images, but this agent has the drawback that decomplexation and release of free gadolinium ion may occur in the gastrointestinal tract which can be quite toxic. Furthermore, gadolinium-DTPA is relatively expensive.
Ferric iron has also been experimented with as an oral gastrointestinal MRI contrast agent. Ferric iron has been administered in the form of ferric ammonium citrate wherein the paramagnetic Fe.sup.+3 iron relaxes the water in bowel to make the bowel bright on T1 weighted images. Ferric ammonium citrate is quite inexpensive but the resultant gastrointestinal MRI contrast agent has been suboptimally useful. To obtain reasonable contrast enhancement, a relatively high dose of ferric iron is required, and some of this iron is absorbed as it passes down the gastrointestinal tract. Absorption of the iron creates two problems. First, absorption of the iron may cause problems with iron toxicity and iron overload. Second, as the iron is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, the concentration of the contrast agent decreases and the degree of contrast enhancement is much less in the distal bowel.
The ideal contrast agent for the gastrointestinal tract would affect both T1 and T2, causing the tract lumen to appear bright on T1 weighted images and dark on T2 weighted images. Tumors and other pathologic tissues generally have a long T1 and a long T2, which is to say that these pathologic tissues appear dark on T1 weighted images and bright on T2 weighted images. If the lumen could be filled with contrast material which appeared bright on T1 weighted images and dark on T2 weighted images, it would then be easy to differentiate a normal gastrointestinal tract from any adjacent abnormal tissues. The ideal contrast agent would also serve to minimize any toxicity problems, and be relatively inexpensive.
The need is great for new gastrointestinal MRI contrast agents, having some or all of the aforementioned qualities. The present invention is directed to achieving this important end.

Phosphorylated materials as contrast agents for use in magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal region


Disclosed herein is a method of using megestrol acetate. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a user that megestrol acetate is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme. In another embodiment, the method comprises obtaining megestrol acetate from a container associated with published material providing information is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme. Also disclosed are articles of manufacture comprising a container containing a dosage form of megestrol acetate, wherein the container is associated with published material informing that megestrol acetate is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme, a method of treatment, and a method of manufacturing a megestrol acetate product.

This application relates to megestrol acetate products for therapeutic purposes, and in particular to improved methods of use of megestrol acetate.
Megestrol acetate, also known as 17 α-acetyloxy-6-methylpregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione, is a synthetic progestin with progestational effects similar to those of progesterone. It is used in a variety of situations including treatment of breast cancer, contraception, and hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women. It is also used in abortion, endometriosis, and menstrual disorders. Additionally, megestrol acetate is frequently prescribed as an appetite enhancer for patients in a wasting state, such as HIV wasting, cancer wasting, or anorexia. In combination with ethynyl estradiol it acts as an oral contraceptive. It is also administered to subjects after castration.
Megestrol acetate is currently supplied in the United States as oral tablets and oral suspensions. Oral tablets contain 20 mg or 40 mg megestrol acetate. Inactive ingredients are acacia, calcium phosphate, FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake, lactose, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide colloidal, and starch. Oral suspensions contain 40 mg or 125 mg micronized megestrol acetate per milliliter. Inactive ingredients include alcohol (max 0.06% v/v from flavor), artificial lime flavor, citric acid monohydrate, docusate sodium, glycerin, natural and artificial lemon flavor, purified water, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate dihydrate, sucrose and xanthan gum.
Megestrol acetate oral tablets are specifically indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced carcinoma of the breast or endometrium (i.e., recurrent, inoperable, or metastatic disease). Additionally, the megestrol acetate oral suspension is indicated for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or an unexplained, significant weight loss in patients with a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Megestrol acetate is also disclosed for treating sex steroid dependent cancers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,053).
While the precise mechanism by which megestrol acetate produces its antineoplastic effects against endometrial carcinoma is unknown at the present time, inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophin production and resultant decrease in estrogen secretion may be factors. There is evidence to suggest a local effect as a result of the marked changes brought about by the direct instillation of progestational agents into the endometrial cavity. The antineoplastic action of megestrol acetate on carcinoma of the breast is effected by modifying the action of other steroid hormones and by exerting a direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. In metastatic cancer, hormone receptors may be present in some tissues but not others. The receptor mechanism is a cyclic process whereby estrogen produced by the ovaries enters the target cell, forms a complex with cytoplasmic receptor and is transported into the cell nucleus. There it induces gene transcription and leads to the alteration of normal cell functions. Pharmacologic doses of megestrol acetate not only decrease the number of hormone-dependent human breast cancer cells but also is capable of modifying and abolishing the stimulatory effects of estrogen on these cells. It has been suggested that progestins may inhibit in one of two ways: by interfering with either the stability, availability, or turnover of the estrogen receptor complex in its interaction with genes or in conjunction with the progestin receptor complex, by interacting directly with the genome to turn off specific estrogen-responsive genes.
Several investigators have reported on the appetite enhancing property of megestrol acetate and its possible use in cachexia. The precise mechanism by which megestrol acetate produces effects in anorexia and cachexia is unknown at the present time.
One of the most important groups of Phase I metabolic enzymes are the cytochrome p450 monooxygenase system enzymes. The cytochrome p450 enzymes are a highly diverse superfamily of enzymes. NADPH is required as a coenzyme and oxygen is used as a substrate. Each enzyme is termed an isoform or isozyme since each derives from a different gene.
Many members of the cytochrome p450 family are known to metabolize active agents in humans. Active agent interactions associated with metabolism by cytochrome p450 isoforms generally result from enzyme inhibition or enzyme induction. Enzyme inhibition often involves competition between two active agents for the substrate-binding site of the enzyme, although other mechanisms for inhibition exist. Enzyme induction occurs when an active agent activates an enzyme or stimulates the synthesis of more enzyme protein, enhancing the enzyme's metabolizing capacity.
Cytochrome p450 isozymes identified as important in active agent metabolism are CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4. Examples of cytochrome p450 enzymes known to be involved in active agent interactions are the CYP3A subfamily, which is involved in many clinically significant active agent interactions, including those involving non-sedating antihistamines and cisapride, and CYP2D6, which is responsible for the metabolism of many psychotherapeutic agents, such as thioridazine. CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 enzyme are involved in active agent interactions involving theophylline. CYP2C9, CYP1A2, and CYP2C19 are involved in active agent interactions involving warfarin. Phenyloin and fosphenyloin are metabolized by CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4.
Additionally, several cytochrome p450 isozymes are known to be genetically polymorphic, leading to altered substrate metabolizing ability in some individuals. Allelic variants of CYP2D6 are the best characterized, with many resulting in an enzyme with reduced, or no, catalytic activity. Gene duplication also occurs. As a result, four phenotypic subpopulations of metabolizers of CYP2D6 substrates exist: poor (PM), intermediate (IM), extensive (EM), and ultrarapid (UM). The genetic polymorphisms vary depending on the population in question. For example, Caucasian populations contain a large percentage of individuals who are poor metabolizers, due to a deficiency in CYP2D6—perhaps 5-10% of the population, while only 1-2% of Asians are PMs. CYP2C9, which catalyzes the metabolism of a number of commonly used active agents, including that of warfarin and phenyloin, is also polymorphic. The two most common CYP2C9 allelic variants have reduced activity (5-12%) compared to the wild-type enzyme. Genetic polymorphism also occurs in CYP2C19, for which at least 8 allelic variants have been identified that result in catalytically inactive protein. About 3% of Caucasians are poor metabolizers of active agents metabolized by CYP2C19, while 13-23% of Asians are poor metabolizers of active agents metabolized by CYP2C19. Allelic variants of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 have also been identified as affecting enzyme activity. At least one inactive CYP2A6 variant occurs in Caucasians at a frequency of 1-3%, resulting in a PM phenotype. A whole gene deletion has been identified in a Japanese population, with an allelic frequency of 21%; homozygotes in this mutation show a PM phenotype. For CYP2B6, about 3-4% of Caucasians have a polymorphism producing a PM phenotype.
Active agent interactions present a health risk to patients and a medical challenge for all medical care workers. Various studies of adverse reactions from exposure to active agents have found that 6.5-23% of the adverse reactions result from active agent interactions. Unfortunately, each year a number of deaths occur as the direct result of patients taking a new prescription pharmaceutical product in combination with their existing medication regimen. By understanding the unique functions and characteristics of Phase I and Phase II metabolic enzymes, such as the cytochrome p450 enzyme superfamily, medical care workers such as physicians and pharmacists may better avoid or safely manage active agent interactions and may better anticipate or explain an individual's response to a particular therapeutic regimen.
There accordingly remains a need in the art for improved methods for the administration and use of megestrol acetate, in particular methods that take into account the effects of megestrol acetate metabolism by cytochrome P450 isozymes.

Megestrol acetate products, method of manufacture, and method of use


A method of doping a semiconductor body is provided herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor body is exposed to an activated hydrogen gas for a predetermined time period and temperature. The activated hydrogen gas that is configured to react with a surface of a semiconductor body. The activated hydrogen gas breaks existing bonds in the substrate (e.g., silicon-silicon bonds), thereby forming a reactive layer comprising weakened (e.g., silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) bonds, silanol (Si—OH) bonds) and/or dangling bonds (e.g., dangling silicon bonds). The dangling bonds, in addition to the easily broken weakened bonds, comprise reactive sites that extend into one or more surfaces of the semiconductor body. A reactant (e.g., n-type dopant, p-type dopant) may then be introduced to contact the reactive layer of the semiconductor body. The reactant chemically bonds to reactive sites comprised within the reactive layer, thereby resulting in a doped layer within the semiconductor body comprising the reactant.

Modern day semiconductor devices are typically formed by changing the electrical characteristics of a semiconductor material (e.g., a silicon substrate) through implanting dopants into the bulk of the material. By changing the type and/or concentration of implanted dopants (e.g., n-type dopants, p-type dopants) the current conduction characteristics of a device can be changed. Current conduction occurs by forming free charge carriers (e.g., electrons, holes) in the bulk of the semiconductor material. Through doping the material with impurity dopant atoms (e.g., phosphorus or boron) the number of free charge carriers can be greatly increased resulting in different current conduction characteristics. Semiconductors containing an excess of holes are called p-type devices and semiconductors containing an excess of electrons are called n-type devices.
For example, the simplest semiconductor device is a p-n junction diode comprising a semiconductor surface having two regions, with different dopant types, abutted together (e.g., a p-type material in contact with an n-type material) at a junction. When an electric potential is applied across the junction of the device (i.e., an electric field is present in the bulk of the device) charge carriers (e.g., electrons) freely flow from one region (e.g., the n-type region) to the other region (e.g., the p-type region), where they recombine with opposite charge carriers (e.g., holes) and form a depletion region in the vicinity of the junction.
More complex device topologies, having more sophisticated geometries, may also be formed based upon the basic idea of semiconductor doping. These more complex devices may be formed to provide devices that meet the needs of the modern computing industry.


A thin-film solar cell module of a see-through structure has a plurality of integrated thin-film solar cell segments, each having a rectangular surface, provided on at least a portion of a surface region of a light-transmitting substrate having a rectangular surface and are spaced apart from each other. Adjacent solar cell segments are spaced apart at substantially regular intervals, with their long sides extending parallel to each other. Those portions of the substrate, which lie between the solar cell segments, are exposed, defining light-transmitting windows. A transparent sealing resin fills the gaps between the adjacent solar cell segments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin-film solar cell module of see-through type.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, see-through type, thin-film solar cell modules are manufactured in the following manner. First, a transparent front electrode, an amorphous silicon photovoltaic unit and a rear metal electrode are formed on a glass substrate in the order mentioned. Then, a number of through holes and grooves are made in the rear metal electrode and photovoltaic unit. A see-through type, solar cell module having the above-described structure generates electric power when light is applied to the transparent front. At the same time the module generates power, the light passes through the through holes. Therefore, the module reliably acquires see-through property at the entire surface.
To make through holes in the rear metal electrode and photovoltaic unit, however, a two-step etching process must be performed (usually, wet-etching on the rear metal electrode, and dry etching on the photovoltaic unit). Consequently, the process of manufacturing the module is complicated.

Thin-film solar cell module of see-through type


An actuator assembly that uses a fluctuating operational pressure generated by an injector oil pump to actuate an EGR valve is disclosed. The operational pressure is used to operate the actuator assembly without being adversely affected by the fluctuating nature of the operational pressure. The actuator assembly includes an actuator housing defining a chamber and an actuator oil inlet. The actuator oil inlet is in fluid communication with the pump outlet. The actuator assembly further includes a slider located within the chamber. The slider is positionable between a first slider position and a second slider position. The slider isolates the actuator oil inlet from the chamber when the slider is located in the first slider position. The actuator oil inlet is in fluid communication with the chamber when the slider is located in the second slider position. The actuator assembly still further includes a movement assembly for moving the slider between a first slider position and a second slider position. The fluctuating operational pressure moves the actuator piston from the first piston position to the second piston position when the slider is located in the second slider position. A method of actuating a valve in an engine assembly is also disclosed.

During operation of an internal combustion engine, it is desirable to control the formation and emission of certain gases, such as the oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x). One method of achieving this result is the use of EGR which is a process whereby exhaust gases are selectively routed from the exhaust manifold or manifolds to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. The use of EGR reduces the amount of NO.sub.x produced during operation of the internal combustion engine. In particular, NO.sub.x is produced when nitrogen and oxygen are combined at high temperatures associated with combustion. The presence of chemically inert gases, such as those gases found in the exhaust of the engine, inhibits nitrogen atoms from bonding with oxygen atoms thereby reducing NO.sub.x production.
An EGR system requires a valve assembly that selectively advances exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. Typical automotive EGR valves are actuated using the engine's vacuum system. A drawback to using these types of EGR valves in heavy machinery, such as construction equipment, is that many types of heavy machinery do not have suitable vacuum systems similar to those found in automobiles.
Another drawback in EGR valves found in automobiles is that these types of EGR valves produce a limited force. Engines used in heavy machinery can be several times larger than engines used in automobiles. Hence, the force required to open an EGR valve in an internal combustion engine used in heavy machinery is much greater than the force required to open an EGR valve in an automobile.
However, some types of heavy machinery have fuel injectors which utilize a hydraulic fluid to inject fuel into the combustion chamber. In particular, engine oil is pumped to a high pressure, typically 600 to 3000 psi by an injector oil pump. The pressurized oil drives a piston that forces fuel from the fuel injector to the combustion chamber. The high pressure volume generated by the injector oil pump exceeds the volume required to operate the fuel injector during certain engine operating conditions thereby leaving adequate surplus oil volume to actuate an EGR valve.
A drawback with using pressure that has been supplied by the injector oil pump is that this pressure varies considerably. In particular, the engine control module is configured so that changing engine operating conditions cause the injector oil pump to generate varying output oil pressure to meet the needs of the fuel injector. Thus, the pressure output from the injector oil pump is non-uniform.
What is needed therefore is an apparatus and method for selectively routing EGR gases which overcome one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Actuator which uses fluctuating pressure from an oil pump that powers a hydraulically actuated fuel injector


An apparatus and method for treating wastewater are provided. The method for treating wastewater includes: a pre-treatment step of removing impurities contained in high concentration wastewater and crushing the impurities using a crusher; a first aerobic treatment step of supplying wastewater containing organic acids to a first aerobic tank and injecting air to the first aerobic tank to be aerobically treated; an anaerobic treatment step of supplying the wastewater, from which excess organic acids are removed by the aerobic treatment, to an anaerobic tank to be anaerobically treated; a degassing step of supplying the wastewater treated in the aerobic and anaerobic treatment steps to a degassing tank to remove air and gas; and a post-treatment step of precipitating the wastewater aerobically treated using a solid-liquid separation tank, a pressure floatation tank or a precipitation tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for treating wastewater and, more particularly, to a method for effectively treating wastewater of high concentration by sequentially performing an aerobic treatment and an anaerobic treatment, and an apparatus therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, while high concentration wastewater can be completely treated by an aerobic treatment, an anaerobic digestion process has been further used to increase the utility of methane gas.
However, the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion is very low due to various problems such as a pH decrease and an inflow of irregular pollutant loads caused as organic pollutants of the high concentration wastewater are degraded at high rates. Especially, in case of the Korean Peninsula, since the components and degradation degrees of food waste, livestock waste, sewage sludge, etc. containing organic components of high concentration are diversified and the four seasons are clear, the load changes and the temperature load changes may be shown variously. Accordingly, specific reactors and an arrangement of such reactors are required to adapt readily to such circumstances.
A typical method for meeting with the above requirements is an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB).
However, the UASB has shown limitations in the efficiency due to some problems in a mixing process, a supply of microorganisms, an increase in size of an apparatus, an approach to a plug flow reactor (PFR), an approach to a rapid oxidation, and the like.
The most significant problem of existing anaerobic treatments is the wastewater treatment after the anaerobic treatment. Since the wastewater contains high concentration organic pollutants and ammonia, it is very difficult to appropriately treat the wastewater using the existing aerobic treatment method. That is, since the concentration of organic pollutants is very high and the organic pollutants are non-degradable, the treatment period is usually long and an ammonia stripping process by increasing pH is required, thus resulting in high cost in the post-treatment.

Apparatus and method for treating wastewater


The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising copepods, such as marine Calanus species, process for the production thereof and use of said compositions in the prevention and/or treatment of ectoparasite infestations in animals. Further the invention relates to methods for prevention and/or treatment of ectoparasite infestations in aquatic animals, particularly fish.

Ectoparasites and particularly salmon lice infest salmonids such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) and trout (Salmo trutta) in seawater, and have caused substantial economic losses in the fish farming industry in Norway, Scotland, Canada and Chile. The estimated annual losses in recent years are in the order of one billion Norwegian krone (NOK) for the salmon farming industry in Norway alone. In addition, with the expansion of the fish farming industry and the inevitable increased abundance of salmon lice in the marine environment, sea-lice infestations are being regarded as an escalating threat also to wild fish stocks. There are also reasons for being concerned about the environmental impacts of the pesticides currently used against salmon-lice, a concern creating negative attitudes in the society to the salmon farming industry. Accordingly, sea-lice infestations is not merely a severe economic problem to the fish farming industry itself, it has created reasons for grave concern about the implications it may have for coastal ecosystems and the communities where fish farming is being conducted.
Anti-parasitic drugs such as organophosphates (trichlorvos, dichlorvos and azamethiphos) and permethrins (cypermethrin and deltamethrin) have been used to bath-treat sea-lice infested salmon. Other treatments include use of chitin synthesis inhibitors such a diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron and more recently the anti-parasitic drug emamectin benzoate, administered in the feed. Due to the inevitable process of resistance development against chemically synthesized pesticides, these compounds will most probably gradually lose their antiparasitic efficacy. It is generally accepted that such chemotherapeutic treatments are not satisfactory, both with regard to environmental acceptability and from an efficacy point of view. Hence, alternative treatments and prevention strategies are urgently needed. (M. Costello 2006. Trends in Parasitology, Vol. 22 No. 10, 475-483).
The use of hydrogen-peroxide against sea-lice is a notable idea tried out in practice for some years. Hydrogen peroxide will be split by catalase and cause formation of oxygen bubbles inside the sea-lice. Due to the increased buoyancy caused by these bubbles, the sea-lice will be forced to detach from the skin and float to the water surface. The method is very stressful for the fish, however, and hydrogen peroxide does not kill the lice—they may settle again. Due to practical difficulties and variable efficacy results, the method is not in widespread use.
Wrasse is a predator fish biologically specialized to feed on salmon-lice they pick off salmon skin. The use in practice of this biological principle is an attractive and ecologically sound method of sea-lice control in salmon farms, tried out in Norway during the last 10-15 years. However, there are notable limitations to large-scale implementation of the method. The wrasse fish used so far do not survive winter conditions in salmon farms, the size of the predator fish population must be adjusted according to the size of the growing salmon, and the biggest salmon swim too fast for the smaller size wrasse fishes to succeed in picking lice.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,727 disclose a process for stimulating the immune system of aquatic animals of the class Osteichthyes and subphylum Crustacea comprising administering an effective amount of a yeast cell wall glucan composed of glucopyranose units linked by predominantly beta-1,3 glucosidic bonds, having at least one branch therefrom of glucopyranose units linked by beta-1,6 glycosidic bonds. Additionally the invention provides a process for enhancing the effect of vaccines by administering an effective amount of the described yeast cell wall glucan along with vaccine antigens. Further this invention also provides a process of obtaining a glucan particularly effective for stimulating the immune system of aquatic animals of the class Osteichthyes and subphylum Crustacea.
Most attention in recent years has been paid to mobilizing immune mechanisms to render the fish more resistant to lice infestation. Two principles have been in focus, the first is to enhance innate immune mechanisms by known immune stimulants such as beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, the second is to mobilize adaptive immunity in the fish by injecting vaccines comprising unique antigens present in the particular sea-lice strains infesting farmed salmon. Both strategies are promising, but the use of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan is apparently closer to being implemented in commercial scale than the vaccination strategy, as commented on below.
When added to salmon feed, MACROGUARD® (an immune modulating beta-1,3/1,6-glucan) induces notable protection against salmon-lice infestation (Fish Farming International, July 2004, Vol. 34, No. 7, page 3), most likely by enhancing innate immune mechanisms in the skin and mucosa of the fish. Such mechanisms may include mucous immunoglobulins, lysozyme, complement factors and immune cells that guard tissue surfaces and attack intruding parasites. It is well known among those skilled in the art that beta-1,3/1,6-glucan triggers defence reactions by interacting with Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and with the highly specific beta-1,3/1,6-glucan receptor designated dectin. Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan is one out of many microbial structures recognized by so-called Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) present in immune cells of fish and higher animals. The PRRs that recognize the beta-1,3/1,6-glucan structure have during evolution been involved in dealing with fungal intruders and in eliciting an adequate response to such infections. But activation of the PRRs specific for beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, although specifically "designed" by Nature to cope with fungal infections, also give rise to enhanced protection against virus and bacteria—and against parasites. There are at least 9 different TLRs on immune cells, designed to recognize and respond to 9 different unique bacterial and viral structures (Aderem A and RJ Ulevitch. Toll-like receptors in the induction of the innate immune response. Nature 2000; 406:782-787). However, no specific TLR for parasite structures has hitherto been found.
The fact that only one commercial vaccine exists against an ectoparasite (the cattle tick vaccine) is a reflection of the underlying difficulties associated with successful parasite protection by the adaptive immune system. The commercial tick vaccine comprises a concealed antigen that induces the production of antibodies interfering with the ticks' ability to digest blood. A corresponding strategy has been followed in Norway in research-based attempts to develop a salmon-lice vaccine. It has been demonstrated that vaccination with a concealed antigen from salmon lice induces production of antibodies that end up in the digestive organ of blood sucking salmon-lice, Challenge experiments with salmon-lice of the same type as that used in the vaccine formulation (antigens present in female salmon lice), have demonstrated that these antibodies indeed have a protective effect. The results are therefore promising, although the vaccination projects using purified salmon-lice specific antigens are still at a research stage. When new vaccine candidates targeting vital functions in sea-lice have been found, it remains to produce such vaccines commercially. If such vaccines are to be based on concealed antigens present in salmon-lice, it will take time to develop them because molecular biological screening of genes coding for the most promising targets needs to be carried out first. While waiting for the eventual great break-through in parasite vaccine development, every attempt should be made to combine principles that contribute to reducing the salmon louse problem in the fish farming industry.

Bioactive copepod-compositions, processes for the production thereof, and use thereof to prevent or treat hosts infested by phylogenetically similar ectoparasites


A microscopic lens, of size approximately 1 micron is used for its optical characteristics.

Spherical polymer microspheres can be mass produced with extraordinary precision and low cost. Many uses for these microspheres have been developed that rely on the specific binding of a microsphere to a target, and the labelling of the polymer microsphere with various dyes or magnetic material.
Spherical glass lenses greater than 1 mm in diameter are used for coupling light into or out of fibers as well as for relaying images across a short distance.
The present application describes new optical applications of spherical polymer microspheres less than 10 microns in diameter.


A magnetic tape (1) characterized by having a backcoating layer (5) which comprises a binder and fine particles having been dispersed in the binder and being capable of irreversibly changing in color on oxidation reaction, and has a sufficient number of microvoids of sufficient size to supply sufficient oxygen to cause the oxidation reaction.

The recent expanding scale of the computer network and the importance of security for data management have been increasing the demand for magnetic tape having an increased recording capacity for use as a medium for data backup. Approaches to high recording capacity are divided into improvement on recording density and extension of the tape length.
Since the tape length that can be put in a tape cartridge as wound is the upper limit of the recording capacity, extension of the tape length for increasing the recording capacity cannot be achieved but by reducing the tape thickness. Therefore, an increase in recording capacity attained by this approach is of necessity limited. With respect to the method of increasing a recording density, it is known that magnetic tape has a lower recording density than a hard disc drive. Serpentine type magnetic tape particularly has a low recording density, which is due to the low track density. On the other hand helical scan type magnetic tape is known to have a higher track density than the serpentine type magnetic tape. This is because the magnetic tape of helical scan type uses a servo tracking system called automatic track finding (ATF).
A servo tracking system has also been adopted to serpentine type magnetic tape to improve the track density. Methods that have been proposed as such a servo tracking system include an embedded servo system, in which servo signals are written on the same track as the data track on the magnetic recording surface, and a system in which a track exclusive to servo signals is provided on the magnetic recording surface. Japanese Patent Publication No. 82626/95 proposes a tracking system particularly useful where the pitch of data tracks is as small as several tens of microns, in which a dedicated track for servo information is provided on the magnetic recording surface, and a plurality of servo signal reproduction heads are used to read the servo signals for tracking. According to this technique, however, the number of servo signal reproduction heads must be increased as the number of tracks increases. In order to avoid this, the servo track should be increased. Like this, conventional servo tracking systems use the same side of magnetic tape as used for data recording, which results in reduction of the data recording area. This problem is conspicuous in the servo tracking system of Japanese Patent Publn. No. 82626/95 when a track density is as high as about 30 tpmm (tracks per mm) or even more.


To provide a new progressive multifocal lens having eyesight corrective power and astigmatism corrective power in the same refracting interface by forming an eyeball-side refracting interface 2 or an object-side refracting interface 3 into a curved surface denoted by a combined refracting interface 14+15 composed of an original progressive refracting interface 14 set only to exhibit a desired eyesight corrective characteristic and an original toric surface 15 set only to exhibit a desired astigmatism corrective characteristic with a combination expression denoted by combination expression (1) or (2).

Progressive multifocal lenses include two visual fields of different refractive powers and a visual field with progressively varying refractive power therebetween, in which the visual fields have no boundary therebetween, which has good appearance, and which provides visual fields of different refractive powers with a single lens. Accordingly, the progressive multifocal lenses are often used as eyeglass lenses having the power of correcting eyesight such as farsightedness. FIG. 11(a) shows a general structure of a conventional progressive multifocal lens which is commonly used as an eyeglass lens. The progressive multifocal lens 100 has a distance portion 11 serving as a visual field for viewing a far object at the upper part and a near portion 12 serving as a visual field with a power different from that of the distance portion 11 for viewing a near object below the distance portion 11. The distance portion 11 and the near portion 12 are smoothly communicated with each other through a progressive portion 13 serving as a visual field having a refractive power that varies continuously for viewing the intermediate object between a long distance and a short distance. As shown in FIG. 11(b), it is necessary for a single-plate lens used for eyeglasses to provide all functions required for eyeglasses such as vertex power that corresponds to the degree of user's eyes, cylindrical power for correcting astigmatism, addition power for correcting farsightedness, and prismatic power for correcting heterophoria with two refracting interfaces of an eyeball-side refracting interface 2 and a target object-side refracting interface 3. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11(b), in a conventional progressive multifocal lens 100a, a progressive refracting interface 14 having refractive power that varies continuously because of the distance portion 11, the near portion 12, and the progressive portion 13 is formed in the object-side refracting interface 3 and the eyeball-side refracting interface 2 is used as an astigmatism-correcting toric surface 15 etc. In contrast to the conventional progressive multifocal lens 100a, in order to provide a progressive multifocal lens in which the blurring or distortion of an image due to the variation in magnification of the distance portion 11 and the near portion 12 of the progressive multifocal lens is improved, the applicant has developed a so-called internal progressive multifocal lens 100b having a progressive refracting interface on the eyeball-side refracting interface 2 in view of the arrangement of the progressive refracting interface of the magnification factor of the progressive multifocal lens. The invention is described in WO 97/19382. The internal progressive multifocal lens 100b described in WO 97/19382 can reduce the difference in magnification between the distance portion and the near portion, thereby greatly reducing the resulting blurring and distortion. Since the internal progressive multifocal lens 100b has the progressive refracting interface 14 in the eyeball-side refracting interface 2, the astigmatism-correcting toric surface 15 can be combined to the eyeball-side refracting interface 2. The internal progressive multifocal lens 100b which has an eyesight corrective characteristic and an astigmatism corrective characteristic in the eyeball-side refracting interface 2 can reduce the difference in magnification between the distance portion and the near portion to a necessary minimum, having little image blurring and distortion, and being capable of correcting astigmatism, thereby providing a more comfortable visual field to users with astigmatism. The progressive multifocal lens 100b of which eyeball-side refracting interface 2 is given the eyesight corrective characteristic and the astigmatism corrective characteristic can be designed by a designing method including a first step of obtaining a progressive refracting interface (hereinafter, referred to as an original progressive refracting interface) only in order that the eyeball-side refracting interface exhibits a desired eyesight corrective characteristic, a second step of obtaining a toric surface (hereinafter, referred to as an original toric surface) only in order that the eyeball-side refracting interface exhibits a desired astigmatism corrective characteristic, and a third step of obtaining the eyeball-side refracting interface of the progressive multifocal lens from the original progressive refracting interface and the original toric surface. The above-described WO 97/19382 proposes a combination expression by which the original progressive refracting interface and the original toric surface are integrated with each other in the third step.
The progressive multifocal lens 100b in which the progressive refracting interface 14 and the toric surface 15 are combined in the eyeball-side refracting interface 2 with the combination expression proposed in WO 97/19382 is not subjected to interference with eyesight corrective power for correcting astigmatism almost all the region of a principal fixation line 16 and ensures astigmatism remarkably stably, as in the conventional progressive multifocal lens 100a.
The toric surface is defined as a surface that has the maximum power in a certain meridian plane and the minimum power in a meridian plane perpendicular to that and has different curvature radii in planes intersecting at right angles. However, the meridian plane with the maximum power and the meridian plane with the minimum power are in circular arc shape in cross section and the shape of the curve therebetween is not particularly determined. Briefly, the kinds of the shape of the toric surface are limitless. Although the combination expression proposed in WO 97/19382 has the advantage of relatively easy calculation, it only combines the toric surface with the assumption that the curvature in the x-axis direction and the curvature in the y-axis direction are each fixed.
Accordingly, providing another combination expression that expresses the shape of the toric surface will provide a combined refracting interface composed of the progressive refracting interface and the toric surface which has more excellent astigmatism corrective power.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a new progressive multifocal lens having eyesight corrective power and astigmatism corrective power in the same refracting interface by providing a new combination expression for combining a progressive refracting interface and a toric surface.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for designing such a progressive multifocal lens.

Progressive multifocal lens and method of designing the same


A dispersion composition suitable for a magnetic display which comprises 10 to 30 wt % of magnetic particles having a particle diameter of 10 to 150 .mu.m, 0.01 to 0.5 wt % of an antistatic agent, 1 to 10% by weight of an organic thickening agent, 0.1 to 10% by weight of a colorant and a balance of an organic dispersing medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispersion composition for a magnetic display which can display and erase a sharp record by magnetism.
2. Description of Related Art
A dispersion composition for a magnetic display is generally known. Such a dispersion composition typically utilizes a magnetic force to cause the migration of magnetic particles and to thereby accomplish a display. Known dispersion compositions generally comprise: magnetic particles, a dispersing medium, a thickening agent, and if necessary, a colorant.
A recording is formed by employing a writing panel including a front substrate containing the dispersion composition and a head or the like provided with a magnetic pen or an electromagnet. In forming the recording, the magnetic particles are attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic pen or the electromagnet and migrate from a back substrate of the writing panel. A display is formed by the difference between the color of the dispersion and the color of the magnetic powder or particles. In addition, when a magnetic force is produced from the back substrate by a magnetic eraser, the magnetic particles attracted toward the front substrate are pulled toward the back substrate, so that the displayed record can be erased.
In general, a dispersion composition for a magnetic display can be used in a writing plate or the like in which the dispersed magnetic particles are attracted by a magnetic pen to display letters or patterns as they are recorded. For example, the dispersion compositions for magnetic displays have been used in various fields of toys, writing implements and the like. They are usually used under circumstances of daily life at variable temperatures and variable humidity levels rather than under constant environmental conditions.
In conventional dispersion compositions for magnetic displays, a vinyl chloride sheet or a polyester sheet is generally used as the substrate of a display panel as described above. During weather conditions exhibiting low temperatures and dry air, static electricity is easily generated; thus, an electrification phenomenon takes place. Further, under substantially any temperature and humidity condition, when a magnetic pen used with a magnetic display is moved to depict letters or patterns, the front substrate or the back substrate builds up charge due to the generation of the static electricity by the movement of the magnetic particles and collisions between the magnetic particles. Thus, static electricity is also generated by the friction between the magnetic tip of the magnetic pen and the surface of the front substrate, or by the friction between the magnetic eraser and the surface of the back substrate. In addition, when the magnetic pen is held manually, static electricity is also generated by the friction between the surface of the front substrate of the dispersion composition and the operator's hand.
When an electric charge is built up as described above, the magnetic particles become adsorbed on the front substrate or the back substrate, so that the display portion of the panel for magnetic display becomes soiled. Thus, the contrast between written lines and unwritten portions deteriorates. Moreover, when an erasure of written lines is attempted, an erasure defect occurs such that the written lines cannot be completely erased. Furthermore, since the dispersion system of the thickening agent and the colorant is broken down by electrostatic attraction, the magnetic particles sediment and phase separation occurs; thus the durability of the magnetic dispersion composition deteriorates and the sharpness of the letters or the patterns is consequently lost.
In order to solve these problems, various techniques have been suggested. For example, an antistatic agent can be applied onto the surface of the front substrate. Alternately, an antistatic synthetic resin film can be integrally mounted on the surface of the front substrate so that discharging is promptly accomplished through the antistatic synthetic resin film to prevent charge build up when static electricity is generated.

Dispersion composition for magnetic display


A body mount assembly for reducing vibration between a vehicle body and a frame includes a radial isolator bushing including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve coaxial with the inner sleeve and having an elastomeric isolation member disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. A bottom retainer is positioned below a first end of the radial isolator bushing. An upper retainer is positioned above a second end of the radial isolator bushing. A flange bracket includes an axial sleeve portion coaxially surrounding the radial isolator bushing and a plate portion extending from an end of the axial sleeve portion and including mounting apertures adapted for mounting the flange bracket to the vehicle frame. A vertical isolator is disposed between the upper retainer and the flange bracket.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Shock absorbing body mounts are well known in the automotive industry for securing and supporting the body of a vehicle to its frame. A body mount joint must isolate the vibration from the frame to the body or vice versa. By isolate, it is meant that the magnitude of a vibrational force exerted by the frame through the joint upon the body will be reduced as a result of the passage of the vibrational force through the body mount.

Body mount assembly with combined shear and compression style components


The present invention involves an exhaust gas catalyst and method of manufacturing same. The invention provides for a cost-effective material which lowers the cold-start emissions from the exhaust of vehicles. The invention is a passive system which accelerates the light-off temperature of catalyst in a cost-effective fashion. The invention includes a method of manufacturing an exhaust gas catalyst capable of lowering cold-start emissions including the steps of providing an oxide mixture having praseodymium and cerium, doping about 0–10% weight zirconium and about 0–10% weight yttrium to the oxide mixture, adding about 0–2% weight metal including palladium, platinum, or rhodium to the oxide mixture, mixing gamma aluminum to the oxide mixture for washcoating and washcoating the oxide mixture onto a monolithic substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing an exhaust gas catalyst capable of lowering cold-start emissions.
2. Background Art
The need to lower vehicle exhaust emissions continues to create challenges, especially in the wake of stringent environmental regulations. The need to lower cold-start emissions is at the heart of most emissions reduction strategy, since cold-start emissions account for a significant portion of exhaust emissions from any given vehicle. During startup, hydrocarbons can be passed through the exhaust system before the catalyst can heat up and convert the hydrocarbons to more desirable gases. Although a large portion of hydrocarbons are reduced, an amount of hydrocarbons and other undesirable gases may be allowed to pass through the exhaust system without reduction thereof.
One solution to the cold-start emission problem is providing a material that is able to give off oxygen to the catalyst during startup conditions such that the "light-off" temperature of the catalyst is accelerated. The light-off temperature is the temperature at which the catalyst reacts with hydrocarbons and other exhaust gases to reduce these gases, which are undesirable, to more desirable gases such as carbon dioxide. Oxygen, when fed to the catalyst, creates an exothermic reaction to the catalyst, resulting in increased temperature which allows the catalyst to reach the light-off temperature more quickly.
Currently, palladium is used with a cerium-zirconium mixed oxide support, an aluminum oxide support, or a mixture thereof to give off oxygen at startup conditions (low temperature), in order to accelerate light-off of the catalyst. However, palladium is an extremely expensive material which typically contributes to approximately 95% of the total cost of the catalyst. Recent studies have thus focused on methods and materials to reduce the consumption of palladium while providing an effective means for accelerating the light-off temperature of the catalyst.
The use of additional hardware has also been proposed to solve the cold-start problem. In some cases, the additional hardware allows the exhaust system catalyst to be heated directly in order to accelerate light-off of the catalyst. For example, an electrically heated catalyst may be used where the catalyst is heated directly by an electric heater. Prior to startup, current is run through the heater via the vehicle battery, and the heat produced accelerates light-off of the catalyst and, in turn, lowers the cold-start emissions.
Another example of an active approach is to allow fuel to combust near the catalyst to quickly raise the temperature thereof. This is accomplished by running lines and having an ignition system disposed on the vehicle. Generally, systems that incorporate additional hardware, such as the examples mentioned above, result in high costs for implementation.
Thus, what is needed is a cost effective solution to the cold-start emissions problem.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Exhaust gas catalyst and method of manufacturing same


In a mobile network system composed of a mobile network with a mobile router and a terminal interconnected, and of a home agent, when the mobile router connects to an external network, the mobile router informs the home agent of path information to the mobile network including the mobile router. Receiving the path information, the home agent inquires the mobile router in the home network whether or not the mobile router connects to the mobile network informed. Then, the home agent advertises path information to this mobile network only when the mobile router connecting to the mobile network does not exist. Accordingly, the home agent can rapidly switch to an optimum path to the external network.

Conventionally, a technique for providing mobile communication of the entire network composed of a movable terminal group and a router has been examined in IETF NEMO-WG.
NEMO (Network Mobility) described in the document Network Mobility (NEMO) Basic Support Protocol (written by Vijay Devarapalli et al., RFC3963) is a technique that implements data communication in a network (referred to as "mobile network" hereinafter) composed of a movable terminal group, and of a mobile router connecting to an external network such as the Internet, by means of the mobile network and a home agent that manages the position of the mobile network.
FIG. 10 illustrates a conventional mobile network system disclosed in the document.
In FIG. 10, terminal 6 connects to mobile network 3 managed by mobile router (MR) 5 and mobile router (MR) 4. Mobile router 5 connects to home network 2 managed by home agent (HA) 10 and to global network 1 such as the Internet through home gateway (HGW) 8. Mobile router (MR) 4 connects to global network 1 through access router (AR) 9.
A description is made for path control in such a mobile network system using FIG. 11.
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating path control in a conventional mobile network system.
In FIG. 11, when the power to mobile router 4, 5 turns on, mobile router 4 connects to access router (AR) 9, and mobile router 5 connects to home network (HNW) 2 (step S1).
It is assumed that mobile router 4 is a mobile phone, and mobile router 5 is a PDA having a wireless LAN interface, for example. In this case, mobile phone (MR4) connects to a base station (AR9) placed out of home even if the user is at home, not directly connecting to home network 2 at home. The PDA (MR5) connects to home network 2 through a wireless LAN interface.
In this way, some mobile routers results in connecting to home network 2, and the others not connecting even in the same home.
That is, mobile router 4 creates a care-of address (referred to as "CoA" hereinafter) to perform position entry in home agent 10 (step S2) in order to connect to an external network other than home network 2. Mobile router 4 informs home agent 10 of the network prefix (referred to as "MNP3" hereinafter) of network 3 simultaneously with the position entry.
Having acquired a path addressed to MNP3 via mobile router 4, home agent 10 starts path advertisement for informing the acquisition (step S3). Mobile router 5 as well has a path addressed to MNP3, and thus advertises the path addressed to MNP3 to home network 2 (step S4). The information on the path addressed to MNP3 advertised by this mobile router 5 is assumed to be metric=1. The metric generally indicates the number of hops to a destination, where a path with a smaller metric is selected more preferentially.
The above information enables home gateway 8 to learn a relay destination to which a packet addressed to MNP3 is to be transferred.
Here, home gateway 8 determines a next hop as a path addressed to MNP3 to be mobile router 5 (step S5). Accordingly, home gateway 8 transmits data addressed to terminal 6 to mobile router 5 (step S10).
Next, when the user moves to a location with an access point for a wireless LAN after going out of home carrying a PDA (MR5), the PDA (MR5) connects to access router 9 for the wireless LAN (step S6). Then, the PDA (MR5) creates a CoA to perform position entry in home agent 10 (step S7).
Receiving a notice from mobile router 5, home agent 10 periodically advertises path information same as that advertised in step S3, to the home network (step S8). However, a packet for advertising a path is generally sent out at time intervals of several tens of seconds to prevent the communication traffic load from increasing. Accordingly, home gateway 8 tries transmitting a packet with mobile router 5 as a relay destination even if home gateway 8 ceases receiving a path advertising packet from mobile router 5 (step s11).
After that, home gateway 8 updates the path table on the basis of path information from home agent 10 and selects home agent 10 as a new relay destination to MNP3 (step S9). Consequently, data destined for terminal 6 is delivered through mobile router 4 via home agent 10 (step S12).
In this way, the user can communicates with a terminal and the like on the Internet from terminal 6 by connecting to the home network through mobile router 5 while at home, and via a mobile phone (MR4) outdoors.
However, in step S5, if home gateway 8 receives a path advertisement packet from home agent 10 (step S3) earlier than that from mobile router 5 (step S4), home gateway 8 results in selecting home agent 10 as a relay destination for a packet addressed to MNP3 because both metrics are '1'.
In this case, a packet from terminal 7 addressed to terminal 6 is more efficiently sent from home gateway 8 to terminal 6 via mobile router 5 because a packet merely flows through the home network. However, home gateway 8 results in selecting a redundant path that passes through home agent 10 and mobile router 4.
In step S6, when the user leaves home and his/her carrying PDA (mobile router 5) connects to access router 9, home gateway 8 does not updates a path table for several tens of seconds even if home agent 10 is newly advertising a path. Accordingly, a packet addressed to terminal 6 during this period does not reach terminal 6 but disappears.


A multi-channel light detection and ranging system includes a plurality of active channels, each comprising a photosensitive element arranged to be exposed to light and an analog front end circuit arranged for receiving a signal from the photosensitive element. A compensation channel comprises a compensation element and an analog front end circuit arranged for receiving signals from the compensation capacitor. A processing unit arranged for receiving signals from the active channels and the compensation channel, deriving at a compensation signal from the signal received from the compensation channel, and compensating for the crosstalk interference and/or the interference common to the analog front end circuits of the active channels, using the compensation signal.

LIDAR (derived from 'light radar') systems are well known in the art. The term LIDAR system is used as an acronym of light detection and ranging system. Such systems are designed to perform a distance measurement to a target object by directing an incident light beam to that target and detecting the reflected light beam. The distance to the target may be calculated based on a time of flight measurement of the incident light beam and the reflected light beam. LIDAR systems can be used in a variety of adaptive driver assistance (ADAS) applications like emergency breaking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring; LIDAR system can be one of the key sensing components in autonomous driving systems to aid vehicle navigation. It is to be noted, however, that also applications like distance measurement instrumentation, 3D mapping, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, automation, security surveillance make use of LIDAR systems.
LIDAR can in principal use any light wavelength, for example ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared or infrared light to image objects. The wavelengths used vary depending on the application specifications and the availability of (low-cost) optical components like light sources and photodetectors. The sensor records the light amplitude beginning from the time when the pulse is emitted and the amplitude versus time signal is used to find the reflected pulse shapes located in the scene.
LIDAR systems with a multitude of parallel light detection channels have been proposed. The signals from the photodiodes are received in an analog front end block where they are converted into signals which can be processed for eventually determining the distance to the target object. A typical example of the analog front end block is a transimpedance amplifier converting photodiode electrical current signal into a voltage signal.
FIG. 1 shows a LIDAR system 100 comprising an array of photodiodes 102 and a block 101 wherein signals received from the array of photodiodes are received and processed. An illumination source 107 emits light pulses or modulated light into the scene that in the example of FIG. 1 comprises a high reflective object 104 and a low reflective object 106. In the shown example the scene is projected on the photosensitive elements 102 in the LIDAR system via a lens 103. The received signals are then converted and processed in block 101. This typically comprises an amplification, analog-to-digital conversion, low-pass filtering and pulse detection (e.g. by applying curve fitting or correlation). Eventually the distance is determined by multiplying half the round trip time with the speed of light.
In such a multi-channel LIDAR system with arrayed detection diodes there can be significant crosstalk interference from one channel (aggressor) to another (victim). A common problem in semiconductor photodiode arrays is crosstalk where inductive, resistive or capacitive coupling leads to interference pulses on the victim channels. For example, the interference pulse may be of a derivative shape. As will be explained more in detail later in the description, further crosstalk can be introduced by the analog front-end present which is a part of block 101 in FIG. 1.
Due to interference that has occurred ghost objects 105 (FIG. 1) may be observed from the signals reflected from objects 104 and 106. This interference leads to increased probability of false detections or missed detections compromising accurate rendering of the scene and constituting a serious problem for safety critical applications.
Prior attempts to solve the crosstalk problems have relied on an algorithmic approach of taking the derivatives or first-differences of samples digitally. Although it may be possible to compensate for simple idealized interference patterns, this approach cannot easily resolve complicated non-linear or random interference cases when, for example, pulses from multiple different objects within the channel's field of view merge, forming an arbitrarily shaped reflection signal. Attempting to solve these problems algorithmically can lead to extreme complexity which may not successfully track changing process, voltage and temperature (PVT) conditions.
Differential signal chain architectures have been investigated also, but their feasibility is often restricted to fully isolated diodes and is complicated by the fact that diodes often use a much higher bias voltage than what is allowed in standard mixed-signal CMOS processes.
Hence, there is a need for dealing with crosstalk in a multi-channel LIDAR system.


A scroll blade of a scroll fluid machine is formed of eutectic graphite cast iron in whose structure the average value of the largest eutectic shell is not more than one fourth of the height of a lap of the scroll blade. The scroll blade material thus formed will facilitate increasing working precision and reducing the number of working steps.

In recent years, there is a growing demand for a method of producing scroll fluid machines which method improves working precision and reduces the period of time required for working.
FIG. 6 illustrates a scroll compressor which is one kind of scroll fluid machine. A scroll blade 11 of the scroll compressor is generally formed of cast iron or steel to obtain a required strength, and is formed mainly by cutting (machining) through an end mill etc., to meet a required precision. In many cases, scroll blades are formed by using spheroidal graphite cast iron and by cutting through an end mill used for as the finish-working thereof.
Since a scroll blade has a complicated shape as shown in FIG. 3 and must be formed with a high precision, it usually takes a very long time to work it, e.g., cut it by means of an end mill. Therefore, in order to reduce the production costs of a scroll fluid machine, it is necessary to produce scroll blade with a low cost.
To reduce the period of time required to form a scroll blade, it is necessary to increase the cutting rate of a working such as that of an end mill. The cutting rate can be increased by increasing the cutting amount per rotation of the tool and/or by increasing the rotational speed of the tool.
Since increasing of the cutting amount per rotation of a tool such as an end mill generally causes reduction of working precision, the cutting amount per rotation cannot be substantially increased in the production of scroll blades, which requires a high working precision. Therefore, in the production process of scroll blades, the rotational speed of a cutting tool such as an end mill must be increased in order to reduce the period of time and the number of steps necessary to form a scroll blade. However, if a cutting tool is used at an increased rotational speed, the service life of the tool is reduced, which means an increase in the period of time and the number of steps due to the exchange of cutting tools during production of scroll blades, resulting in a low productivity. In practice, an appropriate balance between the working precision and the time necessary to produce a scroll blade is sought to reduce the production costs of the scroll blade.
Similarly, in a case where castings are used to form scroll blades, the period of time and the number of steps necessary to work-finish a scroll blade are significant and, therefore, productivity is low. In general, a well-balanced working regarding all of the working precision, the period of working time and the volume to be machining-removed is important to reduce the production costs of a scroll blade.

Scroll fluid machine and producing method for the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for providing a bone cerclage according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, wrapping suture around a bone, tensioning the suture to tighten the suture relative to the bone, and securing the suture to the bone.

This disclosure relates to a method and system for providing a bone cerclage.
Cerclages are used to maintain the relative position of fractured bone fragments to promote healing. While cerclages can be used relative to any fractured bone, they are commonly used to promote healing of femoral fractures. Femoral fractures are sometimes caused, for example, by traumatic injuries or as the result of an orthopedic procedure such as a hip replacement. A cerclage is used to fix fractured bone fragments relative to one another, which, again, promotes healing.
Known cerclages include materials such as cable (i.e., wire) or fabric, and are provided by wrapping the cable or fabric around a fractured bone a single time. After wrapping, the cable or fabric is then locked into place relative to the bone, such as with a plug or clip.

Method and system for providing a suture wrap cerclage


A sheet supplying apparatus which has a feed roller rotated in a sheet feed direction, a retard roller capable of being urged against the feed roller and adapted to separate sheets one by one between the retard roller and the feed roller, a first drive transmitting mechanism capable of transmitting or interrupting a driving force from a drive source to the feed roller and the retard roller, a second drive transmitting mechanism for transmitting a rotation of the feed roller to the retard roller, and a convey roller disposed downstream of the feed roller in the sheet feed direction for receiving and conveying the sheet fed out by the feed roller and which is rotated by transmitting the driving force of the first drive transmitting mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet supplying apparatus for separating and supplying sheets one by one to an image forming portion regarding originals set in an original reading apparatus.
The sheet may be a cut sheet such as a transfer sheet, photosensitive sheet, a heat-sensitive sheet, an electrostatic recording sheet, a print sheet, an original, a card or an envelope supplied to an office equipment or other sheet using apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a printing apparatus, a facsimile and the like. The sheet is not limited to a paper sheet.
2. Related Background Art
Conventional control effected in a copying operation for copying an original in a copying machine using an electrophotographic apparatus will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
When originals are set at a reading portion by an operator and a copy start button is depressed, a recording motor Ml is driven on the basis of a signal from a CPU provided on a DC controller base plate. After a predetermined time period is elapsed, when a signal for effecting the supplying of a recording sheet is transmitted from the CPU to a recording portion, sheet supply clutches (CL1, CL4) are turned ON to rotate a sheet supply roller 206, thereby supplying the recording sheet from a sheet supply portion. Thereafter, sheet supply roller release solenoids (SL1, SL2) are turned ON to separate the sheet supply roller 206 from the recording sheet.
The fed recording sheets are separated one by one by a convey roller 207 and a separation roller 208, and the separated recording sheet is sent to a convey path. When a predetermined time period is elapsed after the sheet supply clutches (CL1, CL4) are turned ON, vertical path roller drive clutches (CL2, CL3) are turned ON, with the result that the recording sheet is conveyed by vertical path rollers 209 set to permit conveyance of a small size sheet. Even after the recording sheet reaches the vertical path rollers (next stage convey means) 209, since the sheet supply clutches (CL1, CL4) are still being turned ON, the separation roller 208 is rotated in the same direction as the convey roller 207, thereby preventing recording sheets other than an uppermost recording sheet from entering into a nip between the convey roller 207 and the separation roller 208.
When a predetermined time period is elapsed after the vertical path roller drive clutches (CL2, CL3) are turned ON, a pre-regist roller drive clutch (CL9) is turned ON, with the result that the recording sheet is sent to a pair of regist rollers 211 by a pair of rotating pre-regist rollers 210. A sensor (not shown) is disposed in front of the pair of pre-regist rollers 210 so that, if the recording sheet does not reach the sensor within a predetermined time period, it is judged that a jam condition occurs. When a predetermined time period is elapsed after the recording sheet reaches the pair of pre-regist rollers 210, the sheet supply clutches (CL1, CL4) are turned OFF.
The recording sheet conveyed to the regist rollers 211 abut against a nip of the regist rollers 211 (which are now stopped since a regist roller drive clutch (CL8) is turned OFF), thereby forming a loop in the sheet to correct the skew-feed of the recording sheet. Thereafter, the recording sheet is held by the regist rollers 211. A motor of an optical system starts to be driven by ON/OFF of the regist rollers 211, so that the original is exposed by an original exposure lamp 212 and light reflected from the original is illuminated onto a CCD portion 214 through mirrors 213. By controlling ON/OFF of a laser 215 on the basis of the image information of the original read by the CCD portion 214, a dot pattern image is formed on a photosensitive drum 216. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 216 is visualized by a developing portion 217 of the recording portion with toner as a toner image.
The regist rollers are driven so that an image tip end of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 216 coincides with a tip end of the recording sheet, and the image on the photosensitive drum 216 is transferred onto the recording sheet by a transfer charger 218. The toner image rested on the recording sheet is conveyed to a fixing portion 220 by a convey portion 219 without applying vibration to the recording sheet. In the fixing portion, heat and pressure are applied to the recording sheet, thereby fixing the toner image to the sheet as a permanent image. The recording sheet on which the image information was copied is discharged onto a discharge tray (removably attached to the copying machine) through a discharge portion 221.
In the above-mentioned conventional technique, it is required to continuously apply electric power to the electromagnetic clutches, thereby increasing the power consumption. Further, since the retard roller is rotated for a long time, the durability is worsened due to wear and the like. The sensors and the like are required to detect the position of the recording sheet in order to control the electromagnetic clutches, thereby making the construction complicated. Further, since the electromagnetic clutches must be controlled on the basis of signals from the sensors, the control becomes complicated.


An optical tap comprises a transparent acrylic block (1) having a single V-shaped recess (2) into which an optical fibre (3) is urged by a member (4). The resulting kink in the fibre (3) enables light to couple between the core of the fibre and the block (1) from what is substantially a point source defined by a tight curve of short arcuate length at the kink.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical tap for coupling light into, or out of an optical fibre.
2. Related Art
In optical communications, the radiation used is not necessarily in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and so the words `optical` and `light` when used in this specification are not to be interpreted as implying any limitation to the visible spectrum. For example, the wavelengths preferred for transmission through silica optical fibres are in the infra red region, because the loss minima of silica fibres occur at 1.3 and 1.5 microns.
In many `in field` situations, it is necessary for an engineer to sample the signals that are being transmitted along an optical fibre, or to transmit signals to, for example, a telephone exchange. This may be for maintenance or testing purposes, or so that the engineer can receive and transmit communications.
The specification of our published patent application W088/07689 describes an optical tap that can be temporarily attached to an optical fibre, the fibre being bent, and the tap collecting light that couples out due to the local perturbation caused by the bend. With the arrangement described in that specification, the level of light that is coupled out exhibits a non-linear wavelength dependence. Moreover, a large proportion (98-99% of total core power), escapes from the core along optical paths nearly tangential to the fibre bend so this type of tap has a low coupling efficiency, and can only be used as an intrusive device. The reason for the high optical loss is that leakage occurs over the entire length of the bend, and continues for some distance afterwards, as fibre cladding modes formed by the presence of the bend eventually radiate out of the fibre.

Optical tap having a v-shaped recess within the range of from 152.degree. t o .degree.

British Telecommunications Public Limited Company


Disclosed herein are methods of diagnosing and treating a malignant adrenocortical tumor, including adrenocortical carcinoma. In some examples, methods of diagnosing a malignant adrenocortical tumor include detecting expression of at least one microRNA (miR) gene product, such as miR-100, miR-125b, miR-195, miR-483-3p, miR-483-5p and IGF2 mRNA in a sample obtained from the subject with an adrenocortical tumor and comparing expression of at least one of these miR gene products and IGF2 mRNA in the sample obtained from the subject to a control. Altered expression of at least one of the miR gene products and IGF2 mRNA, such as a decrease in miR-100, miR-125b or miR-195 or an increase in miR-483-3p, miR-483-5p, and an increase in IGF2 mRNA, in the sample obtained from the subject compared to the control indicates a malignant adrenocortical tumor.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy of the adrenal cortex. This cancer affects 1 to 2 people per million per year and accounts for 0.02-0.2% of all cancer deaths. Approximately half of all patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis resulting in an average five-year survival of less than 10%. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the initiation and pathophysiology of ACC and a lack of effective therapies to treat this disease.
Benign adrenocortical tumors are a much more common occurrence with approximately 5% of people over 50 years old having at least one adrenal mass. These tumors often share many imaging characteristics with their ACC counterparts and therefore determining if a tumor is benign or malignant is not always straightforward. Metastatic disease or local invasion is the only absolute indicator of malignancy. Masses without these features are assessed preoperatively based on size, and imaging characteristics, although the findings of these studies often are unable to definitively categorize the tumor as benign or malignant. After resection, tumor pathology is assessed based on several histologic criteria including cell morphology, cellular proliferation, and tumor invasiveness (Weiss criteria). However for some tumors, with some suspicious features, a definitive diagnosis may not be possible. Accurate diagnosis is critical since the prognosis, follow up, and therapeutic strategy for ACC is much different than that for a benign tumor. Therefore, there is a need for better diagnostic tools for assessing adrenocortical tumors, preoperatively and as an adjunct to routine histopathology.

Diagnosis and treatment of adrenocortical tumors using human microRNA-483

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A multilayer glass ceramic substrate having a plurality of conductor layers each laminated through a glass ceramic layer. The glass ceramic layer has a composition comprising of alumina, borosilicate magnesium glass and cordierite crystal produced by chemical reaction between alumina and borosilicate magnesium glass. The content of alumina is 12 to 59.6 wt %, the content of borosilicate magnesium glass is 18 to 69.6 wt %, the content of the cordierite crystal is 1 to 50 wt % and the sum of components is 100 wt %. The multilayer glass ceramic substrate shows improved mechanical strength.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer glass ceramic substrate used for high density implementation of LSI elements and more specifically to a multilayer glass ceramic substrate which can be sintered at low temperatures and to a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Development of semiconductor technology require down-sizing and high-speed of electronics devices and systems. In fact, as the semiconductor elements are integrated into VLSI and ULSI of high density, very high density and fine-processing are required in the implementation technique for assembling the elements. In particular, it is requested to increase the wiring density of the substrate on which semiconductor elements are implemented so as to comply with finer pattering and higher operation speed and to lower the dielectric constant of substrate materials.
Alumina multilayer substrate has been used widely. This substrate is produced by a thick film printed multilayer technique or a green sheet lamination technique. The latter technique is more advantageous so as to satisfy requirement of high-density integration. In the green sheet lamination technique, a plurality of thin ceramic green sheets each on which wiring lines are printed are laminated before integrated, so that it is easy to increase the wiring layers to a desired number and hence the wiring density can be increased comparing to the thick film printed multilayer technique.
Alumina ceramic, however, has such a demerit that sintering must be carried out above 1,500.degree. C. which require to use, as wiring conductor, Mo, W metal having a relatively high electric resistance and hence it is difficult to realize fine wiring. Still more, the dielectric constant of alumina is about 10 which is too high for high-speed operation of signals.
Recently, ceramic materials which can be sintered at relatively lower temperatures have been developed so that low resistance conductors such as Au, Ag--Pd, Ag or Cu can be used. For example, a composite material consisting of alumina and borosilicate lead glass can be sintered at a low temperature below 1,000.degree. C. to produce a multilayer substrate in which Au, Ag--Pd or Ag can be used as a wiring conductor. However, in this composite material, it is difficult to use wiring of Cu which is a base metal because the composite material contains lead and hence sintering can not be carried out in a reduction atmosphere. Still more, the electric constant of this composite material can not be lowered below 7.5.
Glass ceramic material using borosilicate glass is also know. This glass ceramic material can be sintered at a temperature lower than 1,000.degree. C. in a reduction atmosphere and has lower dielectric constant of about 5.5, so that a multilayered structure having wiring lines of Cu can be realized simultaneously at the sintering of glass ceramic. Known glass ceramic material, however, possess very poor mechanical strength because no crystallization occur by the sintering.
The mechanical strength is a very important factor of the substrate. In fact, in the case of a multi-chip implementation substrate on which a large number of semiconductor elements are implemented, the substrate size increases and input/output terminals or pins are connected at different levels, if the he mechanical strength of the substrate is poor, problems of breakage of the substrate, junction failure or the like occur in assembly stage and on a product.
An object of the present invention is to resolve the problems of conventional implementation substrate and to provide a multilayer glass ceramic substrate which can be sintered at a low temperature below 1,000.degree. C. in neutral and reduction atmosphere in addition to oxidation atmosphere and which has a low dielectric constant and improved mechanical strength.
The multilayer glass ceramic substrate according to the present invention can be used as an implementation substrate for high-density fine-wiring and high speed, since low resistance metals such as Au, Ag, Cu, Ag--Pd or the like can be used as wiring conductor.

Multilayer glass ceramic substrate and process for producing the same


A golf club that produces a smoother stroke, does not attempt to turn in the golfer's hands, and provides superior feedback to the golfer comprises a putter head, a shaft, and a grip. The putter head comprises an elongated body having a toe end, a heel end, a fore side including a ball striking face, an aft side opposite said fore side, a sole, and a top side. A longitudinal axis runs heel to toe parallel with the ball striking face. The head includes two chambers that increase the proportion of heel and toe mass relative to the center mass and decrease the transverse cross sectional area of head material and thereby increase vibration up an attached shaft upon ball impact. The chambers each exit the top side in a transverse slot. The transverse slots are approximately a ball width apart and equal distance on each side of the center of mass of said head. The entire putter is balanced so as to be more stable in a golfer's hands. A neutrally balanced putter has no moment about the shaft axis. A face balanced putter has weight distribution such that, when the putter may freely rotate about the shaft axis, the putter will come to rest with the head longitudinal axis level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a golf club for putting on a green and more particularly to a putter specifically balanced for more controlled hitting. The putter includes a putterhead, a shaft portion attached to the putterhead including a grip attached to the upper end of the shaft.
2. Background of the Invention
A golfer requires more accuracy when putting on the green than at any other time during the game because, during putting, the target is a hole approximately four and one half inches in diameter. To achieve this accuracy, a golfer must use a club so constructed as to provide maximum resistance to putter rotation during the stroke and at moment of impact.
To this end, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a golf putter that has a zero rotation point within the striking face at the sweet spot when the striking face makes contact with the golf ball.
Another principal object if to provide a golf putter that does not promote a tendency to open or close at anytime during the golfer's putting stroke.
Also, the feedback that a golfer receives while moving a golf putter and while striking a ball is very important.
It is desirable to have a putter head that transfers a greater amount of feedback vibration up the shaft to the golfer.
It is desirable to have a putter head with a better indicator for alignment to the ball.


A method for treating a facet pain in a subject by providing an effective amount of therapeutic agent in manner that by a biological repair effect on the facet is produced as compared to a temporary anti-inflammatory effect.

Lower back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder of industrialized society and the most common cause of disability in persons younger than 45 years. Given that 90% of adults experience lower back pain sometime in their life, this is the most costly of all medical diagnoses when time off from work, long-term disability, and medical and legal expenses are taken into account.
The lumbosacral facet joint is believed to be the source of pain in 15-40% of patients with chronic lower back pain and it is well known that facet pain is the etiology for most cases of mechanical lower back pain. The facet joints (posterior zygo-apophyseal joints) are diarthrodial joints with a synovial lining, the surfaces of which are covered with hyaline cartilage, which is susceptible to arthritic changes and arthropathies. Like any synovial joint, degeneration, inflammation, and injury can lead to pain with joint motion, causing restriction of motion secondary to pain, and thus deconditioning.
The articular cartilaginous surfaces found within the facet joint can degenerate due to mechanical or biological factors and cause pain as with other joint osteoarthritis. For example, a patient may suffer from arthritic facet joints, severe facet joint tropism or otherwise deformed facet joints, facet joint injuries, etc. There is currently a lack of suitable intervention procedures for facet joint disorders. Facet blocks with anesthetic and cortisone, facet denervation procedures, radiofrequency ablation of the nerve supply to the joint, or even spinal fusions have been recommended. In the early stages of degeneration, pain may be controlled by blocking the medial branch of the lumbar facet joints providing temporary relief of pain.
Percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy is a method of denaturing the nerves that innervate the facet joint through coagulation, thus conferring temporary relief of pain. Once the axons regenerate, pain often returns. The therapeutic benefit of this procedure remains controversial.
Facetectomy, or the removal of the facet joints, may provide some relief, but significantly decreases the stiffness of the spinal column (i.e., hypermobility) in all planes of motion: flexion and extension, lateral bending, and rotation. Furthermore, problems with the facet joints can also complicate treatments associated with other portions of the spine.
Intra-articular facet joint injection with corticosteroids and a local anesthetic is one of the interventional procedures performed. The long-term benefit of intra-articular injection remains controversial. Accordingly, there is a need for a facet joint treatment that addresses these concerns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,918 to McKay et.al., discloses fusion implants for promoting bone growth in intervertebral disc space. Collagen soaked Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP's) is disclosed as a carrier in the implanted device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,899 to Schwartz et.al., discloses a bio-absorbable cartilage repair system for regenerating damaged or destroyed cartilage using hyaluronic acid.
US Patent Application 2005-00025765 to DiMauro et.al., discloses administration of therapeutic inhibitors specific to the pro-inflammatory molecules to inflamed joints. Preferably growth factors such as BMP's were delivered after the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory molecules had taken effect. Accordingly, Dimauro does not teach a procedure involving directly administering a therapeutic agent to obtain a biological repair effect.
US Patent Application 2004-0228901 to Frieu et.al., discloses injection of collagen to a synovial joint including a facet joint. US Patent Application 2004-059418 to McKay et.al., discloses treating degenerating synovial joints and facet joints.
Given the above, it is desirable to have a lasting treatment for facet pain rather than providing temporary relief.


Certain embodiments of the invention relate to increasing the functionality of a transfemoral prosthetic device. In one embodiment, the transfemoral prosthetic device is configured such that the prosthetic knee maintains a load consistent with a healthy knee walking on level ground, while the prosthetic ankle adjusts for the incline or decline. In certain embodiments, adjustments, such as a toe lift function, are automatically performed after about three strides of the transfemoral prosthetic device user and/or when each of the strides has a stride speed of at least about 0.55 meters/second.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to prosthetic and orthotic limbs in general and, in addition, to systems and methods for configuring, synchronizing, and optimizing the adaptive control systems of prosthetic and orthotic devices on a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Millions of individuals worldwide rely on prosthetic and/or orthotic devices to compensate for disabilities, such as amputation or debilitation, and to assist in the rehabilitation of injured limbs. Orthotic devices include external apparatuses used to support, align, prevent, protect, correct deformities of, or improve the function of movable parts of the body. Prosthetic devices include apparatuses used as artificial substitutes for a missing body part, such as an arm or leg.
The number of disabled persons and amputees is increasing each year as the average age of individuals increases, as does the prevalence of debilitating diseases such as diabetes. As a result, the need for prosthetic and orthotic devices is also increasing. Conventional orthoses are often used to support a joint, such as an ankle or a knee, of an individual, and movement of the orthosis is generally based solely on the energy expenditure of the user. Some conventional prostheses are equipped with basic controllers that artificially mobilize the joints without any interaction from the amputee and are capable of generating only basic motions. Such basic controllers do not take into consideration the dynamic conditions of the working environment. The passive nature of these conventional prosthetic and orthotic devices typically leads to movement instability, high energy expenditure on the part of the disabled person or amputee, gait deviations and other short- and long-term negative effects. This is especially true for leg orthoses and prostheses.
Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as are attached to a human limb, have benefited from advances in electronics. Electronically controlled prosthetic or orthotic devices, which may be generally referred to as "mechatronic" devices, for example, prosthetic ankles or knees, can provide safer and more natural movement to patients who are equipped with such systems. However, advances in electronics appear to have outpaced the advances in control systems. Thus, control systems for prosthetic systems can benefit from intelligent architectures.
Further, the proliferation of electronic control systems for prosthetic and orthotic systems has created a need for systems and methods of synchronizing multiple devices which are worn by a single patient, e.g., a prosthetic knee and a prosthetic ankle. Operating in isolation from each other, multiple control systems may fail to provide the patient with stable, coordinated movement. In addition, independent configuration of multiple prosthetic devices can be inconvenient. Thus, it is desirable to have systems and methods of configuration, communication, and synchronization between such control systems. Further, it is desirable to have systems and methods of adding, replacing, or augmenting portions of the software in such control systems.

Transfemoral prosthetic systems and methods for operating the same