This invention has for its object to provide a blood component deposition-preventing agent and a blood coagulation accelerator, which are substantially indifferent to blood coagulation activity and serum chemistry parameters and a plastic blood test ware and a blood test matrix which do not confound measured values. The invention relates to a blood component deposition-preventing agent comprising a random copolymer of a monomer component (a) giving a water-soluble homopolymer and a monomer component (b) giving a water-insoluble homopolymer, a blood coagulation accelerator comprising a substantially blood-insoluble antimicrobial composition comprising a carrier and, as supported thereon, an antimicrobial metal, and a blood test ware or matrix carrying them on its inside wall or surface.

With recent advances in testing techniques, the chemical, immunoserological and hematological examinations of blood have witnessed a remarkable mechanization so that it is by now certain that only if properly prepared samples were provided, such examinations could be carried through in short periods of time. For example, even in the outpatient setting, the doctor would be able to make a diagnosis based on blood examination data, thus contributing much to the diagnosis and therapy of diseases.
As to the pretreatment for hematological examinations using whole blood as a sample, mere admixing of the blood with an anticoagulant, which is not time-consuming, is sufficient so that the sample can be almost immediately set in an analyzer.
However, in biochemical or immunoserological examinations using the serum fraction of blood, it is necessary to coagulate the blood once and, then, separate the serum by centrifugation or the like and the procedure is rather time-consuming. Therefore, in order to reduce the time required for the whole examination procedure from the pretreatment of a sample to the output of test data, mere shortening of the analysis time by mechanization of the analytical procedure is insufficient and it is necessary to shorten the time required for separation of serum.
Meanwhile, glassware has heretofore been used as the blood examination vessel for accommodating the blood to be tested, allowing it to coagulate therein, and separating the serum by centrifugation. However, glassware is vulnerable to mechanical impact and, when it is broken, the test sample that issues out or splashes may cause the examiner to be infected by pathogenic bacteria and, as an additional problem, the necessary blood sampling for reexamination adds to a burden on the patient. For these reasons, plastic vessels have come into popular use in recent years. However, such plastic ware has been found disadvantageous in that the formed elements of the blood (hereinafter referred to as blood components) such as platelets, various blood proteins, and especially the fibrins which are formed in the final stage of the blood coagulation process, are very liable to deposit on the inside wall of the plastic ware and thereby exert untoward effects on examination results. Moreover, as will be described in detail hereinafter, it is common practice to employ a mineral substance or an organic substance, such as ellagic acid, as a blood coagulation accelerator in blood examination ware but such blood coagulation accelerator tends to encourage deposition of said blood components on the vessel wall and the blood components once deposited will not easily be detached from the inside wall of the vessel under the routine conditions of centrifugation such as about 1000 to 1800 G.times.5 minutes. As a result, owing to the high shear force of centrifugation acting on the interface between the inside wall and the clot, the platelets and red blood cells are destroyed and their contents leak out to affect the examination results.
To overcome these disadvantages, Japanese Kokai Publication Sho-58-105063 and Japanese Kokai Publication Sho-58-105064 proposed a method which comprises disposing a blood coagulation accelerator and a nonionic surfactant concomitantly on the inside wall of the ware, for instance. However, with the recent rapid development of high sensitivity techniques in the field of immunoserological examination, analogues of nonionic surfactants are being used as sensitizers on more and more occasions. If the test serum is contaminated with a nonionic surfactant, oversensitizing reactions occur in immunoserologic parameters to present the problem of inaccuracy leading to false positive tests.
On the other hand, for efficient separation of plasma from the blood to be analyzed, there is a protocol involving addition of a blood anticoagulant such as an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid salt or a citrate to the blood sample. In hematological examinations using an anticoagulant, too, the deposition of blood components, particularly platelets, on the plastic surface may be a cause of trouble, although the frequency of the trouble is not high. If platelets stick to the inside wall of blood test ware, the platelet count may show on abnormally low value or confound blood coagulation function values. Moreover, where an emergency chemical examination is required, it is common practice to use a heparin salt which is a kind of anticoagulant but if the deposition of platelets occurs in such cases, various enzymes of platelet origin leak out into the plasma with time so that the related examination parameters tend to show abnormally high values. These events are less frequent as compared with the coagulation of blood and have so far attracted little attention but are now pointed out as a serious problem as an omnibus, accurate and rapid blood examination is demanded.
The above problem of deposition of blood components has been pointed out with reference to plastic blood test ware but recently the adverse influences of the deposition and activation of platelets on examination results have been pointed out for blood examination glassware as well and improvements are being sought just as for plastic ware.
Since plastic ware for blood examination is intrinsically low in the potential to activate blood coagulation XII factor and XI factor, it takes by far a longer time for the blood to coagulate in plastic ware than in glassware and, therefore, plastic ware has so far been of low practical value.
Therefore, attempts have been made to shorten the blood coagulation time by coating the inside wall of blood test ware with a finely divided mineral substance such as glass, kaolin, bentonite, silica, cerite, or the like or a blood coagulation accelerator such as ellagic acid as taught in Japanese Kokai Publication Sho-58-195151 or accommodating in the ware a substantially blood-insoluble and chemically inert nonwoven cloth or plastic sheet matrix on which said finely divided particles have been immobilized as taught in Japanese Kokai Publication Sho-58-105064.
When a blood coagulation-accelerating substance is to be coated on the inside wall of a blood test ware or immobilized on a carrier, a suspension of finely divided particles of such substance either in pure water or in a mixture of alcohol and pure water is prepared and spray-coated on the inner surface of the ware or a carrier material is dipped in such a suspension, dried, cut to size, and accommodated within the blood test ware.
However, such a treating suspension is susceptible to the attack of microorganisms and unless it is properly handled, may cause contamination of a blood sample with microorganisms. Furthermore, when a water-soluble macromolecular compound such as polyvinylpyrrolidone or a modified cellulose is incorporated in said suspension as a binder for said coagulation accelerator powder or a viscosity adjusting agent for the suspension as is generally practiced, the water-soluble macromolecular compound serves as a good nutrient source for microorganisms so that the above-mentioned tendency of the treating suspension to be a microbial contamination risk factor is further encouraged.
As the proliferation of microorganisms progresses, condensation products will be accumulated in the treating suspension to cause troubles such as clogging of the spray nozzle, marked loss of coated surface evenness, and biases in the density of particles immobilized on the carrier in the dipping stage, all of which add up to measurement errors. The risk of microbial contamination is not confined to the current risk associated with degradation of the treating suspension but is a persistent drawback for the shelf-life of the ware unless the method for storage of the ware is wholesome.
Therefore, unless manufactured in a sterile environment, a blood test ware containing a blood coagulation accelerator may have to be sterilized with actinic radiation such as gamma-rays, electron beams, etc. or a chemically reactive gas such as ethylene oxide gas. In any of such procedures the radiation dose or the concentration of the reactive gas, heating temperature, exposure time and other sterilizing conditions must be adjusted according to the contamination status prior to sterilization and, thus, very delicate control is required.
Moreover, where the sterilizing load has been severely contaminated, rugged sterilizing conditions are required so that the load may sustain irreversible modification, deformation, and other damages. Moreover, in the storage after sterilization, the sterility once established will be jeopardized unless the ware is properly packaged.
One of the possible effective approaches to solving the above problems is to impart antimicrobial activity to the very coagulation accelerator. By such a technique, the above-mentioned microbial contamination would be inhibited and even if sterilization be needed, mild sterilizing conditions would be sufficient, with the result that the physical and chemical changes of the load due to sterilization could be prevented or suppressed. Furthermore, the packaging of the blood test ware could be simplified.
As regards antibacterial and antifungal agents which are generally used for prevention of microbial contamination, a large number of compounds inclusive of those for food use are already known and in use. However, the large majority of these antibacterial and antifungal agents are water-soluble and, therefore, if the blood is drawn into a blood test ware in which a blood anticoagulant supplemented with such an antimicrobial agent has been accommodated, the antimicrobial agent may dissolve out into the blood to confound various chemical tests. Moreover, when the antibacterial or antifungal agent is a water-soluble heavy metal salt, it modifies the enzymes associated with blood coagulation and the resulting deactivation of the enzymes prevent coagulation of the blood and make it difficult to achieve the objective such as separation of serum.
Where the specimen to be analyzed is plasma, it is a routine procedure to mix the blood with an anticoagulant and centrifuge the mixture to separate plasma from the solid fraction. Generally speaking, in order to avoid contamination of plasma with substances liberated from formed elements of the blood and other matter and the consequent interference with tests, the plasma obtained by centrifuging blood in the above manner is transferred to a different container and stored. Recently, however, for the purpose of protecting the examiner against infection via the patient's blood, a procedure which does not require a transfer to another ware is demanded. Therefore, the use of a plasma separator comprising a thixotropic fluid as disclosed in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-2-168159 or the use of a separator for provision of a partition between the plasma layer and the solid component layer as taught in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-5-26873 has been recently employed.
However, the inside surface of the plastic ware is hydrophobic and the blood cells and proteins are adsorbed thereon as mentioned above. Particularly platelets are adsorbed with a high affinity and because LDH (lactic dehydrogenase), CPK (creatine kinase), K (potassium), etc. occur at higher levels in platelets than in plasma, these components are released from the platelets adsorbed on the plastic surface and it is inevitable that the values of these test parameters are considerably affected.
Therefore, even if the above-mentioned procedure of providing a partition between the plasma layer and the solid component layer is followed, the gradual release of enzymes and others from the blood cells adsorbed on the inside wall of the ware containing the plasma is unavoidable and interferes with tests. These adverse effects are particularly remarkable when the plasma is stored in the refrigerator for reexamination.
Having overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention has for its primary object to provide a blood component deposition-preventing agent which is capable of inhibiting deposition of blood components effectively without causing the problem of false positive reactions in the immunoserological tests.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a blood coagulation accelerator comprising an antibacterial composition which has its own blood coagulation-accelerating activity and yet substantially does not interfere with blood coagulation activity or confound serum biochemical tests.
The third object of the present invention is to provide a plastic ware and a matrix for blood examination which do not influence test values owing to release of substances from blood cells even when used in tests on plasma.


A system for allowing a player to invoke magic or other special powers in a video game is provided. To activate the magic, the player moves a motion detecting controller in accordance with one or more provided instructions. The outcome of the activation of the magic can be determinate on, for example, speed, accuracy, etc. Controllers in one or both hands may be used, and the instructions can be as simple as single direction gestures and as complex as multi-directional symbols which must be traced in the air. A sequence of any type of instructions may also be provided to instruct the activation of the magic.

Since ancient times, magic has been the stuff of legend and lore within human culture. Found in one form or another in almost every culture, magic brings to mind the invocation and conjuration of the humanly impossible. From ancient tribes where shamans and priests were mystical spiritual leaders thought to have supernatural powers, to modern day illusionists like David Copperfield and Chris Angel, to fictitious literary and movie characters, people have always been fascinated by the abilities or perceived abilities of these masters of the mystic.
A common thread that can be recognized through almost all examples of magic, ancient or modern, is the showmanship that goes hand-in-hand with the spell-caster at work. Whether it is a ritual dance or movements or the waving of hands or a wand, whenever society portrays magic, it is almost always accompanied by some form of gesture.
In the Lord of The Rings movies, we see Gandalf wielding a staff to bring magic to bear against his enemies. In Disney's animated The Sword in the Stone, Merlin is constantly waving his wand about and wreaking all sorts of magical havoc. Even in the Star Wars movies, Jedi, masters of a mystic force surrounding all things, gesture with their hands to move objects and create lightning. One common thread these magic castings share is the use of gesture based spell "summoning." Such gestures help add to the sense that the caster is actually controlling the magic.
Magic, magic spells, and magic systems also play a role in many different video games. From role-playing games (RPGs) to battle-type games, numerous player-controlled characters, enemies, and game-controlled characters (NPCs) wield magic in the form of spells, magic items, and magical abilities.
For example, in a traditional role playing game (RPG), the game character may have the ability to cast spells. To instruct this ability's use, the player may press a key that corresponds to the desired spell. Alternatively, the player may be provided with a list of available spells, and then may use a directional pad or other control element to parse through the list and select a desired spell. Either way, in many RPGs, the spell casting often involves little more than a selection or depression of a single key to trigger a spell.
An alternative form of casting magic spells or using magic abilities is often found in battle-type games, where players engage the computer or other players in one-on-one combat. Typically, in these games, it is not desirable to pause play while a spell is cast or an ability is used, since both sides are actively trying to attack each other as quickly as possible. If game play were paused every time a player used a character ability, this genre's fast-paced, adrenaline pumping aspect would all but vanish.
Due to a desire not to freeze the game while a player selects a desired spell or skill, game developers instead have linked all of the skills and spells to a series of input commands. For example, to shoot a fireball, a player might rotate a directional pad in a half-circle, then sequentially press one or more buttons. If performed successfully, the fireball effect is generated. If performed unsuccessfully, there is no fireball. This allows the game play to continue as spells and abilities are used.
In these types of games, the player often creates a magic effect through use of buttons, joysticks and other controls provided on a controller.
With the advent of video game systems provided with motion sensing controllers, players have an opportunity to immerse themselves in wholly new aspects of their favorite game genres. From swinging a sword (by swinging a controller) to throwing a punch (by punching with a hand holding a controller), lovers of role playing and battle-type games alike can now more fully suspend reality and pretend they are immersed within the game. But, while swinging a sword and throwing a punch are "real" based motions, there is likely no known "standard" motion for calling a lightning storm down on your foes. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementations herein, provide a magic invoking system that allows a player to experience some of these more fantastic game aspects.
An exemplary game is presented herein purely for exemplary purposes, and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. Magic in this exemplary game is associated with nature, the spirit world, and life and death energies. The spells used in the exemplary game play on medieval sensibilities and superstitions about how the world works and the forces that drive it.
Heroes use magic to sway the course of a battle, not just as another weapon. Their spells are mostly large scale events which hinder the enemy or give the caster's own forces an advantage. Heroes could alternatively be given smaller scale, more personal spells, or a combination of both.
In this exemplary implementation, each faction which represents a "side," has a handful of spells which its heroes can use, and it may only be possible to cast the most powerful of these spells once or twice during the course of a typical mission. The focus is on using the right spell at the right time to turn the tide of the battle in your army's favor, rather than directly attacking a specific unit. Any other suitable implementation of a magic system could also be provided. For example, heroes could use numerous spells against individual foes almost perpetually throughout the game.
According to one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, players can activate a magic mode within a game and select a spell to cast. Then, in this exemplary implementation, a series of one or more symbols is displayed on the screen. These symbols indicate patterns that the player, using the motion sensitive controller, is to replicate.
In this exemplary implementation, the symbols are displayed one at a time, and the player either succeeds or fails in the implementation. Failure does not end the sequence. Rather, the next symbol is displayed. Once all symbols have been displayed and attempted, the corresponding spell is cast.
According to this exemplary implementation, the spell is altered based on player successes and failures during input. Additionally, while the player is provided with a limited time during which to enter a symbol, a fast player can complete the symbol before the time expires, and this may also add power to the spell.
Spells can also consist of single symbols, as opposed to a series of symbols, as simple as a single line and as complicated as a designer's imagination. Further, all of the symbols for a spell sequence could be displayed at the same time, or the next symbol could be displayed with the present one, etc. And, spells could fail upon failing a single gesture, or gesture failure could result in other penalties, such as increased magic cost to cast a spell, etc. Massive failure could even cause a spell to backfire on the player. Numerous variations of the magic invoking system presented herein are possible, and all are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, players could also be instructed by a series of directional arrows, showing them in which general directions to move a controller.
In another exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, the player is provided with several different schools of magic from which to choose spells. In this exemplary implementation, all of the spells from a similar school share certain characteristics. For example, air/weather spells may often have swirly gestures associated therewith, reminiscent of air currents. Spells from a school closely associated with technology may all have aspects of or actually be mathematical symbols. Alternatively, each spell may be wholly unique, or share no intended characteristics with other spells (although it is likely that many spells will incidentally share characteristics, regardless of developer intention).
In the exemplary illustrative game presented herein, players are provided with a variety of Factions from which to choose. The various exemplary Factions match up with different Schools of Magic as follows:
FactionMagicArklandWeatherReusmenAnimalGuardian EmpireScienceMalbettDeathIn the disclosed example, each Faction's selection of spells is related to their cultural traits. For example, Arklanders have an affinity to the weather, so their spells are all based around controlling the weather.
According to one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, the player is provided with two motion sensitive controllers, one for each hand. In this exemplary implementation, when a symbol is displayed, it may actually show two patterns, one to be performed with each handheld controller. These patterns could be the same pattern, they could be mirror images of one another, or they could be completely unrelated.
Since it is likely easier to draw two straight line simultaneously than it is to draw a square with one hand while drawing a spiral with another, the more disjoint the connection between the symbols the more powerful the spell may be. Spell power can also be unrelated to the difficulty in casting the spell. For example, certain difficult spells may not be powerful at all, but useful in certain situations, so the player must simply master the difficult spell to successfully overcome an obstacle.
Because the symbols can often contain overlapping lines, in one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation a moving guide is provided to show the player where to move the controller. The guide begins at a start position, and moves along the path of the symbol. The player can then make a motion similar to the path of the guide. Alternatively, the guide can mirror the player's movement, or several guides can be provided, one showing the path, and one mirroring the movement. Or, if it is desired to make the casting more difficult, the guide can be left out of the system.
Another aspect of an exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation is a magic reservoir associated with a game character. In this exemplary implementation, a spell requires a certain amount of power to cast. As each gesture is attempted, a fraction of the cost of the spell is depleted from the magic reservoir. According to this exemplary implementation, the spell can be aborted by the player at any point, but any magic used prior to the abort is forfeited. Players could also suffer different penalties for aborting a spell, or be prohibited from quitting the spell once started. In this exemplary implementation, an equal fraction of the cost is deducted each time, but the power deduction can be done by any suitable means. It could be random, it could be increasing over time, it could be half while casting and half upon actual cast, etc.
Additional aspects of exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementations include:                Slowed time while a player is casting a spell                    Not only animation slows, but also associated audio may slow                        Spell selection overlay once a player enters a mode for casting magic        Spell gestures generally form a pictogram emblematic of the spell being cast        Gathering magic energy represented in the form of some faction related animation—e.g. weather spell-caster may have clouds and lightning gathering around him as he prepares to cast        Different casting animations for successful and unsuccessful gesture completion        Targeting of spells upon completion of casting        Indicia of success and failure                    Visual, audible, tactile, etc.                        Different animations for different levels of spell success        Scaled feedback based on strength of spell—e.g. a poorly cast hurricane might have a soft sound, small controller vibration, etc, while a well cast one might have a howling sound and cause the controller to vibrate furiously.

Methods and apparatus for a video game magic system


A monochromatic image signal is made from a color image signal. Values of brightness of pixels in a color border region of a type where two color regions which are small in brightness difference and large in chromaticity difference are positioned side by side are changed to new values different from those represented by the image signal component for the pixel of the color image signal, and a monochromatic image signal is generated with values of brightness of pixels in the color border region set to the new values and values of brightness of pixels in regions other than the color border region set to those as represented by the image signal components for the pixels of the color image signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for image processing which are applicable to an image display, a copier, a facsimile and the like, and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for image processing in which a color image signal (made up of image signal components representing image data on respective pixels) is converted into a monochromatic (black and white) image signal and a monochromatic image output is obtained on the basis of the monochromatic image signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently as the color scanner becomes less expensive and/or by the advent of a digital camera and the like, it becomes feasible to easily make a color image signal by the use of various image input unit, and accordingly, a chance for the display, copier, facsimile or the like to output a monochromatic image on the basis of a color image signal has been increased.
When a monochromatic image is to be output on the basis of a color image signal, the color image signal has to be once converted to a monochromatic image signal by means of an image processing apparatus as disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6(1994)-59657.
In the method of conversion disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6(1994)-59657, the color image signal is divided into a hue signal, a brightness signal and a chroma signal and a tone value for a pixel is determined taking into account the hue of the pixel in addition to the brightness of the pixel according to gray tables (tone conversion tables) which have been prepared hue by hue taking into account the fact that colors at the same brightness can be viewed different in brightness when hues are different.
For example, when a color image signal component L*in for a pixel is input as shown in FIG. 8A, a monochromatic image signal component L*Rout is output according to a gray table for red LUTR when the hue represented by the color image signal component L*in is red, and a monochromatic image signal component L*Gout is output according to a gray table for green LUTG when the hue represented by the color image signal component L*in is green. As a result, when two regions which are of the same brightness and of different hues exist side by side on a color image, the two regions are expressed different in brightness on a monochromatic image, whereby the difference in hue on a color image can be expressed on a monochromatic image, and information on brightness which can be visually detected on the color image can be preserved on the monochromatic image. That is, halftone image signal components of a color image signal can be clearly expressed by monochromatic image components.
However, the method of conversion disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6(1994)-59657 is disadvantageous in that the monochromatic image signal component L*Gout according to a gray table for green LUTG for a green color image signal component L*Gin and the monochromatic image signal component L*Rout according to a gray table for red LUTR for a red color image signal component L*Rin representing brightness different from that of the green color image signal component L*Gin can become equal to each other as shown in FIG. 8B. That is, pixels which are different from each other in both hue and brightness on a color image can be expressed in the same tone on a monochromatic image, whereby information on a difference in hue between two adjacent regions is lost on a monochromatic image.

Method of and apparatus for image processing


This invention provides novel assays for the detection of dysfunctional HDL. The assays are good diagnostics and/or prognostics for atherosclerosis or other pathologies characterized by an inflammatory response. In certain embodiments the methods involve measurements of heme-related HDL-associated proteins (e.g., haptoglobin, hemopexin, etc.), and/or measurements of the relative distribution of HDL-associated proteins between HDL and the non-lipoprotein fractions of plasma/serum, and/or measurements of the ability of pro-inflammatory HDL to consume nitric oxide, and/or measurement of the ability of HDL to inhibit LDL aggregation.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of large and medium sized arteries, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. Introduction of statins has resulted in a one-third reduction in mortality. Two-thirds of the mortality due to this disease, however, continues despite statin treatment.
Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is a major factor in human atherosclerosis (Witztum and Steinberg (2001) Trends Cardiovasc. Med., 11: 93-102; Witztum and Steinberg (1991) J. Clin. Invest., 88: 1785-1792). Entrapment and oxidation of LDL in the sub-endothelial space, and the subsequent interactions between endothelial cells and monocytes, is a key process in the initiation of atherosclerotic lesion development (Navab et al. (1996) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 16: 831-842; Berliner et al. (1995) Circulation 91: 2488-2496). Minimally modified/oxidized-LDL (MM-LDL) contains biologically active molecules that are capable of inducing endothelial cells to produce inflammatory agents, such as chemokines, adhesion molecules, and growth factors. These inflammatory molecules promote the recruitment and adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial cells Berliner et al. (1995) Circulation 91: 2488-2496). Several biologically active oxidized phospholipids have been identified in MM-LDL and in atherosclerotic lesions of animal models (Watson et al. (1995) J. Clin. Invest., 95: 774-782; Watson et al. (1995) J. Clin. Invest., 96: 2882-2891; Watson et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem., 272: 13597-13607; Watson et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem., 274: 24787-24798; Leitinger et al. (1999) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 19: 1291-1298; Subbanagounder et al. (2000) Free Radic. Biol. Med., 28: 1751-1761). Oxidized-L-α-1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ox-PAPC) and three of its components, 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PGPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-(5,6-epoxyisoprostane E2)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PEIPC) (Watson et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem., 274: 24787-24798; Leitinger et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1999) 96:12010-12015; Subbanagounder et al. (2000) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 20: 2248-2254), induce monocyte binding to endothelial cells and play a major role in the activation of endothelial cells by MM-LDL. Subsequent to the discovery of these molecules, a series of other oxidized phospholipids formed by the oxidation of an unsaturated fatty acid at the sn-2 position of the phospholipid have been identified with similar biologic activities (Berliner and Watson (2005) N. Engl. J. Med., 353: 9-11).
The inverse relationship between HDL and the risk of atherosclerosis is well established. Although there does not appear to be a single explanation for the anti-atherogenic role of HDL, it has become clear that the functional status of HDL, which is largely dependent on its protein components, is an important determinant of coronary heart disease (CHD) (Navab et al. (2001) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 21: 481-488). Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), platelet-activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH), proteinase (elastase-like), phospholipase D, albumin, apoJ and apoA-I are proteins in HDL with anti-atherogenic properties capable of preventing MM-LDL formation. HDL has been shown to have a role in preventing LDL oxidation. HDL was shown to inhibit the mild oxidation of LDL and consequently inhibit the production of the potent monocyte chemoattractant MCP-1 by human artery wall cells.
HDL can exist as an anti-inflammatory molecule or a pro-inflammatory molecule depending on the context and environment. The acute phase reaction (APR) in rabbits and humans can convert HDL from an anti-inflammatory to a pro-inflammatory form, i.e. HDL looses its ability to protect against LDL-induced inflammation and in its pro-inflammatory state HDL actually promotes LDL-induced inflammation. Without being bound to a particular theory, it is believed that, under basal conditions, HDL serves an anti-inflammatory role but during APR there is loss of anti-oxidant enzyme activities, damage to apoA-I, and displacement and/or exchange of proteins associated with HDL resulting in a pro-inflammatory HDL. It has been shown, for example, that an atherogenic diet in mice that are genetically susceptible to atherosclerosis (but not in mice genetically resistant to atherosclerosis) converts HDL from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory (Navab et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 99: 2005-2019). Several studies have since shown the presence and nature of pro-inflammatory HDL in animal models (Castellani et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 100: 464-474, reviewed in Navab et al. (2005) Ann. Med., 37: 173-178).
HDL from C57BL/6J mice (a strain that is genetically susceptible to dietary-induced atherosclerosis) was anti-inflammatory in mice on a chow diet but was pro-inflammatory when the mice were on an atherogenic diet (Shih et al. (1996) J. Clin. Invest., 97: 1630-1639). In contrast, the HDL from atherosclerosis-resistant C3H/HeJ (C3H) mice was anti-inflammatory whether the mice were on a chow or atherogenic diet (Id.). All of the mouse models studied to date that develop atherosclerosis with macrophage-rich lesions have pro-inflammatory HDL. These include C57BL/6J mice on an atherogenic diet (Id.), transgenic mice that overexpress apoA-II on a chow diet (Castellani et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 100: 464-474), PON1 null mice fed an atherogenic diet (Id.), apoE null mice (Navab et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 99: 2005-2019), combined apoE null and PON1 null mice on a chow diet (Castellani et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 100: 464-474), LDL receptor (LDLR) null mice fed a high-fat diet (Navab et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 99: 2005-2019), and transgenic mice that overexpress sPLA2 (Leitinger et al. (1999) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 19: 1291-1298). In genetically distinct mouse models, all of which were hyperlipidemic, but none of which developed atherosclerosis HDL was found to be anti-inflammatory (Navab et al. (2005) Ann. Med., 37: 173-178). On the other hand, seven other mouse models all of which developed atherosclerosis characterized by macrophage-rich lesions had pro-inflammatory HDL (Id.), suggesting that the anti- or pro-inflammatory nature of HDL function is a more sensitive indicator of the presence or absence of atherosclerosis than HDL cholesterol levels. The quality and function of HDL has become an attractive target for emerging new therapies (Castellani et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest., 100: 464-474; Navab et al. (2005) Ann. Med., 37: 173-178; Ridker (2002) Circulation, 105: 2-4; Ansell et al. (2003) Circulation, 108: 2751-2756).
Although a number of proteins and enzyme activities have been associated with HDL, little is known of what particular protein profiles are associated with pro-inflammatory HDL.

Assays to predict atherosclerosis and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein

The Regents of the University of California


A sporting footwear having a front sole (21) and heel (23) with the sole having a primary frictional support (30) and the heel having a secondary frictional support (25) which has substantially less frictional support than the primary frictional support.

Sporting footwear generally is dependent on the purpose and the surface upon which it is to be used. The surfaces can be categorized into three groups being:                An indoor or outdoor flat sport surface such as a stadium floor having smooth even wooden, concrete, carpet or rubber for basketball, indoor cricket, volleyball, table tennis, squash and a range of other indoor sports, ball sports such as tennis; This type of surface needs flat soled shoes that allow grip.        A natural or synthetic grass playing field having a length and substantial give. This type of surface requires protruding stops in order to stop the slide of the person as the ground gives way. This has seen the entire undersurface of the footwear covered by stops to prevent this slippage.        A penetrable natural or synthetic surface such as a running track or a turf cricket pitch. This type of surface requires a long sharp metal spike that penetrates the surface and is arranged to provide substantially forward only motion in an action/reaction approach.
It can be seen therefore that sporting footwear comprises:                i) flat soles;        ii) football or outdoor boots having stops over the entire sole and heel to provide an anti-slip or friction control system; and        iii) sharp spikes located to penetrate specialist surfaces and provide substantially forward only progress.
In sports nowadays, there is a substantial difference in playing football or the like than from 20 years ago. In particular there is a lot more running, but there is a lot more deviation running, rather than merely to run in forward directions, with substantial lateral deviations to provide a path through circuitous or crowded pack or scrum locations requiring quick and effective change of directions. If normal football boots with stops all over the underneath is used then there is little chance of changing direction and a substantial increased risk of damaged feet, ankles, hamstrings or knees.
However such known sports footwear systems do not provide sufficient support and control such that there is provided for use on a natural or synthetic grass playing field a sporting wear that allows any one or more of the following:                Controlled lateral motion;        Ready change of direction;        Allowability for pivotability;        Control in more than a directly forward direction.
There has been progression from using hard spikes in golf shoes to what is referred to as "soft spikes" that are softer compression plastic friction elements rather than long sharp metal spikes. This is so the grip is still there but that penetration and wear and tear on the golf course fairways and greens are minimised. However still the idea is to provide stability when teeing off or playing fairway shots and therefore the soft spikes are located evenly all over a substantially flat continuous planar sole and heel that includes the soft spikes in a general even pattern throughout.
However still there is not shown an approach in sports footwear that allows ready movement in directions other than directly forward.
The present invention seeks to provide sporting footwear, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.


It is required with respect to the production of cement clinker from wet slurry raw materials that are calcined to cement clinker in a drying-rotary pipe furnace, which is preceded by a cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system, after the materials have been processedxe2x80x94to initially mechanically dewater the raw meal slurry up to a moisture of approximately 20% and to subsequently thermally dry the materials up to a residual moisture of approximately 0.5 through 1.0%. It is inventively proposed to carry out this thermal drying in a static cascade-step drier, whereby hot gas from the cyclone heat exchangers, in cross current, is led through the step drier for the drying.

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing cement clinker from wet slurry raw materials that are mechanically dewatered, dried, heated in a cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system, calcined in a calcining step, calcined to cement clinker in a rotary furnace and cooled in a clinker cooler.
A known method of the cement clinker manufacture, the wet method, is characterized in that the utilized wet raw materials are milled together in wet-process rotary tubular mills in order to thus receive a fine grained and intimately mixed raw slurry. Then, this raw slurry is directly calcined to clinker in a wet-process tubular furnace, potentially with chain inserts, or is formed to pellets after a preliminary desiccation, which pellets are subsequently calcined in the rotary tubular furnace.
In the course of time, the drying method, which is thermally more beneficial, has succeeded, whereby raw materials that are milled in a dry fashion are calcined to cement clinker in a rotary tubular furnace with a preceding cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system.
Given the conversion of present wet apparatuses into modern drying apparatuses, it is known to maintain the wet-processing of the raw material and to convert the slurry raw material (raw meal slurry), by means of a mechanical and subsequent thermal dewatering, into a dryness required for feeding the cyclone heat exchanger.
For example, it is known to bring the raw slurry from the wet-grinding mills from its pumpable moisture up to a moisture of approximately 20% via a mechanical dewatering in the form of filter presses, drum filters etc. Then, the received filter cake is thermally dried, with respect to the required residual moisture of preferably 0.5 through 1.0%, in a flight stream drier, for example, which comprises an impact hammer breaker, a rising tube and a separator. Further, it is known to carry out the thermal drying in a drum type drier or in flash driers with throwshovels or in impact driers.
The industrial outlay required for the drying of the filter cake by means of utilizing rotating machine parts is disadvantageous with respect to the cited drying apparatuses, which are actually designed for the mill drying. For example, the impact hammer breaker of the flight stream drier must be dimensioned regarding its power draw such that the hammers are pulled through the material, which is still moist, at the impact hammer breaker bottom even when the drying power is not sufficient.
EP-B-0 650 763 discloses a circulation crushing plant with a high-pressure roller press for the interparticle comminution of the material to be fed and with a static cascade separator that works according to the principle of a cross current separator, which can be operated by means of air and also by means of hot gas when the feed to be crushed is moist, so that the crushing plant is then utilized for the mill drying. It is not known to utilize such a circulation crushing plant or parts thereof with respect to the what is referred to as wetprocess for purposes of manufacturing cement clinker from wet slurry raw materials.
The invention is based on the object of fashioning the thermal drying of the filter cake in terms of the apparatus such that the drying is adapted to the specific properties of the fine grained filter cake and to the objective of the drying of the manufacture of a raw meal that is appropriate for feeding the cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system, whereby the construction and cost outlay is low given the manufacture of cement clinker from wet slurry raw materials.
As a result of the inventionxe2x80x94which dries the fine grained filter cakes that arise during the mechanical preliminary dessication in a static step drier, which is pressurized with hot gas of approximately 340xc2x0 C. through 550xc2x0 C. from the cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system of the rotary tubular furnace, up to a residual moisture of 0.5 through 1.0.%xe2x80x94a raw meal, which is suitable for feeding the cyclone heat exchanger, is produced with simple means concerning the construction and with low operating expenses.
The step drier is equipped with two separating and drying zone limiting walls, which are surrounded by the shaft-shaped housing and which form a separating zone and drying zone between them and which are traversed by hot gas in a cross current, which separating and drying zone limiting walls have baffles that are transversely downwardly slanted in the direction of the discharge opening for separated coarse material that is possibly still moist and that are arranged in a cascade-like manner which could include being slatted, whereby the two baffle walls and therefore the separating and drying zone lying therebetween are obliquely arranged with an angle deviating from the vertical line.
The hot gas that is required for the drying is tapped, with temperatures of approximately 340xc2x0 C. through 550xc2x0 C., at a suitable location from the cyclone heat exchangers of the rotary tubular furnace; this is the reason why the step drier is also designed for these temperatures. The hot gas is laterally introduced into the step drier via a corresponding opening; it initially passes the separating and drying zone of the step drier in the cross current and then leaves the step drier on the other side of the drying zone, for example via an upper opening, and is now loaded with dried raw meal.
The drying in the step drier ensues as follows. The filter cake from the mechanical dewatering, particularly filter press, is supplied via a filter cake conveying device to the admission opening, which is arranged in the upper part of the step drier and which is provided with a mechanical milling device, such as a hasp and is coarsely crushed there. Then, the filter cake pieces arrive at the separating and drying zone of the step drier and come in contact with the hot gas. Due to the suddenly arising vaporization, the filter cake pieces are spread out in all directions and are therefore crushed further. The crushed material, with gravitational force, falls downward via the steps of the step drier, which steps are fashioned in the shape of cascades, and is thereby dried further by means of the hot gas. The thereby received dried fine material-raw meal with a residual moisture of, for example, 0.5 through 1.0% is laterally or, respectively, upwardly outlet in the step drier together with the hot gas and the formed vapors, and is then transported out of the step drier at the upper end of it. In a cyclone pre-separator that follows the step drier, the dried fine material is separated from the hot gas and the formed vapors; the fine material is fed into the cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system via a raw meal conveying device, while the separated gas (hot gas and vapors) is supplied for a dedusting via a fan.
The more coarse raw material portions that are still present after the drying process and that potentially have not yet dried up to the required residual moisture are downwardly transported in the step drier by means of gravitational force and are discharged through a discharge opening. For purposes of keeping an optimally low pressure loss in the step drier, the discharge opening is provided with a lock (such as an air lock), with a double rotary lock, for example. Subsequently, the step drier is fed via conveying devices (for example conveyor belts, bucket chain conveyor) with the coarse material, which is still moist and which is separated from the other material stream, together with fresh material.


Compositions and methods for making and using therapeutic formulations of antimicrobial cationic peptides are provided. The antimicrobial cationic peptide formulations may be used, for example, in the treatment of microorganism-caused infections, which infections may be systemic, such as a septicemia, or may be localized, such as in acne or an implanted or indwelling medical device.

During this century, modern society has been successful in controlling infectious disease by, for example, using vaccines, using drugs (such as antibiotics), and using strict public health measures. These advances have been paralleled by successfully identifying the causative agents of infectious disease, which agents include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Thus, aside from a healthy host immune response, antibiotic therapeutic regimens now represent the primary course of treatment for most infectious diseases in developed countries. In contrast, infectious diseases remain a serious concern for developing countries, due to the lack of adequate sanitation and consequent poor hygiene, and for immunocompromised individuals. However, due to the widespread use of antibiotics, drug-resistance to one or more antibiotics is becoming an increasingly common problem all over the world for controlling a number of previously treatable infectious diseases (e.g., Staphylococcal infections). Accordingly, treatment of nosocomial infections (i.e., those arising in hospitals) and infections related to indwelling medical devices is becoming more difficult because of the intractable nature of infections due to drug-resistant microorganisms, which is a serious and world-wide clinical concern.
A variety of artificial devices to assist in the performance of various physiological functions have been developed to be inserted into the human body for short periods, such as catheters, or to be inserted permanently, such as artificial heart valves; however, the interface between the device and body creates new biological conditions that increase the propensity of infection. For example, catheter-associated infections may have multiple potential sources of contaminants, including contaminants in the infusate that is directly injected, contaminants of the catheter hub where the administration set attaches to the catheter, contaminants carried hematogenously from remote sources of local infection to colonize the catheter, or contaminants of cutaneous origin that invade the percutaneous tract extralumenally at the time the catheter is inserted or in the days following insertion. Available evidence indicates that the majority of catheter-related bacteremias originate from the cutaneous microflora of the insertion site. Given the evidence for the importance of cutaneous microorganisms in the pathogenesis of intravascular device-related infections, measures to reduce colonization of the insertion site are of great importance in the health care industry.
Another clinical indication of importance is nosocomial infections and, in particular, nosocomial pneumonia and nosocomial sinusitis. Contaminated secretions may be aspirated daily in the tracheobronchial tree, which may lead to pneumonia. Additionally, the risk of nosocomial pneumonia is increased after a tracheostomy is performed and during prolonged endotracheal intubation. Sinusitis has been found to be associated with an increased risk of nosocomial pneumonia, presumably due aspiration of contaminated sinovial fluids into the distal airways. Sinusitis typically arises in the hospital setting among mechanically ventilated patients. Recommended treatments for sinusitis of intubated patients, include removal of the tubes or systemic antibiotics. However, once again, the increase in antibiotic-resistant organisms makes the latter treatment, whether preventative or curative, less efficacious.
Yet another clinical indication, although not life-threatening, is the most common skin disease of adolescence and early adulthood, acne vulgaris, or acne as it is generally called. In addition to psychological effects, such as anxiety, depression and withdrawal from society, studies have also shown that acne vulgaris can directly and significantly affects a patient's quality of life. Antibiotic agents have been extensively used for the treatment of acne for several decades; however, there is a growing concern that with the use of antibiotics to treat acne, drug-resistant microorganisms will inevitably emerge.
To address the issue of ever increasing drug-resistant microorganisms, investigations have turned to new classes of antibiotics, such as antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial peptides are found in evolutionarily diverse species including, for example, prokaryotes, plants, insects, and mammals. Antimicrobial peptides may be anionic, but most known antimicrobial peptides are cationic. Multiple families of antimicrobial cationic peptides are known and these peptides encompass a wide variety of structural motifs, yet all of these cationic peptides have similar physicochemical properties. For example, most known antimicrobial cationic peptides are cationic at neutral pH, are generally less than 10 kDa, and are amphipathically "sided" in solution such that hydrophobic side chains are regionalized. Many antimicrobial cationic peptides are known, including defensins, cecropins, melittins, magainins, indolicidins, and protegrins. The advantages of cationic peptides are their ability to kill target cells rapidly, their broad spectrum of activity, and their activity against some of the more serious antibiotic-resistant and clinically relevant pathogens. Most importantly, antimicrobial peptide-resistant microorganisms are relatively difficulty to select in vitro. However, some antimicrobial peptides have been found to be toxic (e.g., bee venom, wasp venom, and scorpion toxin), some have been found to have reduced activity in vivo (due to factors such as high mono- and divalent cation concentrations, polyanions, serum, apolipoprotein A-1, serpins, and proteases, although many peptides are not affected by these factors), and some have been found to be less potent than conventional antibiotics.
Hence, a need exists for identifying modified or derivative antimicrobial peptides with improved activity (and in some cases with reduced toxicity), for formulating such peptides and derivatives thereof for optimal therapeutic use, and for developing therapeutically effective clinical regimens for these cationic peptides. Furthermore, there is a need for formulations that are useful in a variety of clinical indications. The present invention meets such needs, and further provides other related advantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Antimicrobial cationic peptides and formulations thereof


A noise suppressor for suppressing noise in a source speech signal, where a method utilized by the noise suppressor comprises calculating a signal-to-noise ratio in the source speech signal, calculating a background noise estimate for a current frame of the source speech signal based on said current frame and at least one previous frame and in accordance with the signal-to-noise ratio, wherein the calculating the signal-to-noise ratio is carried out independent from the background noise estimate for the current frame, and subtracting the background noise estimate from the source speech signal to produce a noise-reduced speech signal. The method may also comprise calculating an over-subtraction parameter based on the signal-to-noise ratio, calculating a noise-floor parameter based on the signal-to-noise ratio, wherein the subtracting uses the over-subtraction parameter and the noise-floor parameter to produce the noise-reduced speech signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of speech processing. More specifically, the invention is in the field of noise suppression for speech coding and speech recognition.
2. Related Art
Presently there are a number of approaches for reducing background noise (also referred to as "noise suppression") from a source signal. As is known in the art, noise suppression is an important feature for improving the performance of speech coding and/or speech recognition systems. Noise suppression offers a number of benefits, including suppressing the background noise so that the party at the receiving side can hear the caller better, improving speech intelligibility, improving echo cancellation performance, and improving performance of automatic speech recognition ("ASR"), among others.
Spectral subtraction is a known method for noise suppression, and is based on the assumption that a source signal, x(t), is composed of a clean speech signal, s(t), in addition to a noise signal, n(t), that is stationary and uncorrelated with the clean speech signal, as given by:x(t)=s(t)+n(t)  (Equation 1).
The noise subtraction is processed in the frequency domain using the short-time Fourier transform. It is assumed that the noise signal is estimated from a signal portion consisting of pure noise. Then, the short time clean speech spectrum, |Ŝ(m,k)|, can be estimated by subtracting the short-time noise estimate, |{circumflex over (N)}(m,k)|, from the short-time noisy speech spectrum, |X(m,k)|, as given by:|{circumflex over (S)}(m,k)|=|X(m,k)|−|{circumflex over (N)}(m,k)|  (Equation 2).
The noise-reduced speech signal, Ŝ(m,k), is then re-synthesized using the original phase spectrum of the source signal. This simple form of spectral subtraction produces undesired signal distortions, such as "running water" effect and "musical noise," if the noise estimate is either too low or too high. It is possible to eliminate the musical noise by subtracting more than the average noise spectrum. This leads to the Generalized Spectral Subtraction ("GSS") method, which is given by:|{circumflex over (S)}(m,k)|=X(m,k)|−α|{circumflex over (N)}(m,k)|  (Equation 3).
In addition, to avoid negative estimates of speech, the negative magnitudes are sometimes replaced by zeros or by a spectral as given by:|{circumflex over (S)}(m,k)|=max(|X(m,k)|−α|{circumflex over (N)}(m,k)|,β|X(m,k)|)  (Equation 4).
It is possible to suppress unwanted noise effectively with GSS by using a very large value for α; however, the speech sounds will be muffled and intelligibility will be lost. Accordingly, there exists a strong need in the art for a computationally efficient background noise suppressor for speech coding and speech recognition, which suppresses unwanted noise effectively while maintaining reasonable high intelligibility.

Computationally efficient background noise suppressor for speech coding and speech recognition


One embodiment of the invention is a multi-purpose vehicle having a frame, a suspension secured to the frame, four wheels tires secured to the suspension, and handlebars for steering the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a straddle mount seat secured to the frame with seating positions for a driver and a passenger of the vehicle. The seating position for the passenger is located rearward on the vehicle relative to the seating position of the driver. The vehicle also has foot and hand positions for the passenger. Optionally, the vehicle includes a backrest and armrests for the passenger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to four-wheel straddle mount vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a four-wheel vehicle with a straddle mount seat that seats two passengers.
2. Related Art
All terrain vehicles (ATV's) are constructed for use in all kinds of uneven, rough and rocky terrain. Such vehicles have been adapted for transportation, utility and sport purposes. The vehicles generally include a frame that defines an engine compartment, an engine positioned within the engine compartment, a suspension system, a set of wheels secured to the suspension and powered by the engine, a set of handlebars, and a straddle mount seat. Typically, ATV's are designed to have a wheelbase and seat design for a single rider.


An actuator includes a movable member which rotates around a rotation axis, a plurality of connecting members which extend from the movable member through a shaft and are disposed in the vicinity of the outer circumference of the movable member at equal intervals in the plan view as viewed in a thickness direction of the movable member, and a support unit which supports each of the plurality of connecting members. Each of the plurality of connecting members has a driving portion rotatably connected with the support unit, and the shaft connecting the movable member and the driving portion. A first connecting portion that connects the movable member with the shaft and that is disposed opposite to a corresponding second connecting portion that connects the driving portion with the shaft through the movable member so that the movable member is interposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an actuator, an optical scanner, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
It is known that an actuator configured with a torsional oscillator is used as, for example, an optical scanner for a laser printer producing images by optical beam scanning. For example, Japanese laid-open patent application number 2005-181395 (JP-A-2005-181395) discloses one such actuator.
The actuator disclosed in JP-A-2005-181395 contains a frame-shaped support board, a flat-plate-shaped mirror (reflection mirror) disposed inside the support board, and a linear bar-shaped torsion bar connecting the support board and the mirror. According to this structure, the mirror rotates in accordance with the twisting of the torsion bar. Optical beam scanning can be performed by the rotation of the mirror. This type of actuator has been developed as a compact device, but to the contrary, the size of the mirror included in the actuator is increasing.
According to the actuator disclosed in JP-A-2005-181395, assuming that the size of the actuator does not change in a plan view, the length of the torsion bar decreases as the area (diameter) of the mirror increases. In this case, the torsion bar does not easily twist and therefore it is difficult to produce sufficient rotation of the mirror for the light beam scanning.

Actuator, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus


A wireless display panel for an electronic system includes a plurality of light status indicators. Each light status indicator includes a first chamber attached to the wireless display panel and having an excitable gas inside an end of thereof and a second chamber attached to a surface of the electronic system. The first and second chambers being formed of conducting material and corresponding to each other, connecting with each other to form a sealed enclosure when the wireless display panel is connected with the electronic system. Each light status indicator also includes a generator attached to the surface of the electronic system and surrounded by the second chamber, outputting alternating current (AC) power inside the sealed enclosure for wirelessly transmitting AC current to excite the excitable gas, as determined by the electronic system.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to a wireless display panel having light status indicators, and particularly to a wireless display panel having light status indicators capable of wirelessly supplying power to the light status indicators thereby eliminating the use of cables and light pipes, and reducing manufacturing and replacement costs.
2. Description of Background
Many electronic systems, such as computer systems and audio systems include a removable front bezel or display panel for aesthetic purposes. Typically, these removable bezels are plastic parts having little or no electronic functionality. Thus, light status indicators are provided on the front of the computer systems which are covered by the removable bezels.
There are different types of display panels having light status indicators which are used in electronic systems. In one type of display panel, a silicon board is provided on the display panel having light status indicators such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), where cable is required to be fastened to a main system board or other component of the computer system in order to supply power to the silicon board on the display panel. Therefore, the cable is required to be detached from the main system board or display panel before the display panel may be removed from the computer system. One disadvantage associated with this type of display panel is that the cable may be damaged while being removed or installed.
In another type of display panel, LEDs are installed on a main system board and plastic light pipes are provided to transfer light through holes in the display panel from the main system board. There are several disadvantages associated with this type of display panel in that a significant amount of light may be lost if the light pipe is required to transmit light for a long distance, such as 4 inches. Further, it is necessary for the light to be transmitted in a substantially straight line. Thus, if there is not a direct path between the LED and the designated display space on the display panel, then the light pipe cannot be used.

Wireless display panel having light status indicators

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring the environment within a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device includes a body defining a channel for accommodating flow of fluid therethrough. A monitor structure is disposed in the channel of the body in the flow of fluid. The monitor structure changes color and/or dimension in response to various parameters of the fluid having predetermined values.

As is known, microfluidic systems are being used in an increasing number of applications, including biological applications. In order to perform these applications, microfluidic systems must carry out various types of functions such as sample purification, separation and detection. These functions, in turn, require the development of various microfluidic components such as filters, valves and detectors and the incorporation of the components into an integrated microfluidic system.
A typical detector consists of a sensor to test the sample within the microenvironment of a microfluidic device and a display unit to present the results of such test. In order to detect and monitor the environment inside these micron-sized devices, several sensitive methods have been contemplated including conductivity measurement, UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. It can be appreciated that such methods are usually associated with complex instrumentation thereby making fabrication of the corresponding microfluidic systems difficult. In addition, operating such complex instrumentation often requires significant power, and hence, utilization of power sources such as batteries or the like. These power sources may be considerably larger than the microfluidic device itself, rendering the microfluidic system too heavy or too large to be attractive to potential users.
For certain applications like evaluating the purity of water or finding the pH range for a sample of fluid, detecting the existence of a change is more important than the extent of the change. Further, in other applications, the precise quantitative results may not be as important as the rapid detection ability and/or the portability of the system. For example, quickly obtaining the results from a pregnancy or diabetes test may be more important to a user than the precise quantitative results.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus for sensing changes in the micro-environment within a microfluidic device that does not require utilization of power sources such as batteries or the like.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for monitoring the environment within a microfluidic device that quickly detects the change of the environment within the microfluidic device.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for monitoring the environment within a microfluidic device that is simple and inexpensive.
In accordance with the present invention, a microfluidic device is provided for displaying indicia in response to a change in the predetermined parameter of a fluid flowing therethrough. The microfluidic device includes a body member defining a channel accommodating the flow of the fluid therethrough. A monitor structure is proposed in the channel of the body in the flow of fluid. The monitor structure displays a first indicia in response to a predetermined parameter of the fluid having the first value and a second indicia in response to the predetermined parameter of the fluid having a second value.
The monitor structure includes a polymerized mixture. The polymerized mixture includes an immobilized dye which is a first color in response to the predetermined parameter of the fluid having the first value and which is a second color in response to the predetermined value of the fluid having the second value. It is contemplated that the first indicia displayed by the monitor structure is provided by the dye being the first color and the second indicia displayed the monitor structure is provided by the dye being the second color. The dye may be phenolphthalein or congo red.
The mixture may include a hydrogel, a photoinitiator and a cross-linker. It is contemplated that the polymerized mixture have a first dimension in response to the predetermined parameter of the fluid having the first value and a second dimension in response to the predetermined parameter of the fluid having a second value. In such circumstances, the first indicia displayed by the monitor structure is provided by the polymerized mixture being the first dimension and the second indicia displayed by the monitor structure is provided by the polymerized mixture being the second dimension.
The microfluidic device may also include a second monitor structure disposed in the channel of the body in the flow of fluid. The second monitoring structure provides a first indicia in response to a second predetermined parameter of the fluid having a first value and second indicia in response to the second predetermined parameter of the fluid having a second value.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for monitoring an environment within a microfluidic device. The method includes the steps of providing a monitor structure in a channel of the microfluidic device and passing fluid over the monitor structure in the channel. The monitor structure generates a visual display in response to exposure to a parameter of the fluid having a predetermined value.
In order to provide the monitor structure, a dye is immobilized in a polymer matrix. This is provided by mixing the dye in a prepolymer mixture and providing the same as a pregel. The pregel is injected in the channel and polymerized in the channel to form the monitor structure. Thereafter, the channel of the microfluidic device is cleaned.
The pre-polymer mixture includes a hydrogel, photo-initiator and a cross-linker. More specifically, the pre-polymer mixture may 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylic acid (AA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA). The dye may be phenolphthalein or congo red.
The method of the present invention may also include the additional steps of providing a second monitor structure in the microfluidic device and passing fluid over the second monitor structure in the channel. The second monitor structure generates a visual display in response to exposure to the second parameter of the fluid having a predetermined value.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for monitoring the environment within a microfluidic device. The method includes the steps of mixing a dye in a pre-polymer mixture and providing the same as a pregel. The pregel is injected into a channel of the microfluidic device and polymerized therein to form a monitoring structure. The fluid is passed over the monitoring structure in the channel such that the dye changes color in response to the parameter of the fluid having the predetermined value. When the pregel is polymerized within the channel, the dye is immobilized in the polymerized mixture. The dye may be phenolphthalein or congo red. The pre-polymer mixture may include a hydrogel, a photo-initiator and a cross-linker. More specifically, the pre-polymer mixture may include 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylic acid (AA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA).
It is contemplated that the monitor structure change dimension in response to the predetermined value of the second parameter of the fluid. In addition, a second monitor structure may be provided in the channel. Fluid is passed over the second monitor structure such that the second monitor structure changes color in response to a second parameter of the fluid having a predetermined value. The second monitor structure may be fabricated by mixing a second dye in a second pre-polymer mixture and providing the same as a second pregel. The second pregel is injected into the channel of the microfluidic device and polymerized therein so as to form the second monitor structure. After the first and second pregels are polymerized in the channel, the channel of the microfluidic device is cleaned.

Method for monitoring the environment within a microfluidic device


A brittle thermoplastic molded cylindrical hollow hole seal has a top wall and a depending side wall. An annular external rib snap fits to an annular groove in a hole side wall to secure the seal in place. Axially extending angularly shaped in cross section grooves are on the side wall interior and spaced axially extending slots pass through the side wall. The top wall internally has an eight point star shaped set of ridges and troughs whose points terminate at the side wall forming the interior grooves. Reflective aluminum flakes are in the material to provide a spotty finish. The slots, grooves, ridges and troughs form weakening regions causing the seal to shatter in response to an applied local pressure, for example, exerted by a screw driver for use with a screw plugged by the seal. The spotty appearance is difficult to hide when the seal is broken.

Tamper indicating devices for indicating tampering with a screw or the like recessed in a hole are known. One such device comprises a plug which includes a circular cylindrical wall having a transverse wall central between the ends of the cylindrical wall. An annular ridge aligned in the plane of the transverse wall engages an annular groove in the aperture side for retaining the plug in the aperture. This plug requires a tool for breaking and entering the transverse wall and for removing the device. This is undesirable because the plug may be removed and then reinserted into the aperture. The transverse wall, because it is recessed in the aperture is difficult to observe as having been tampered with.


A wheeled cart for facilitating the transportation and delivery of a load of material including an elongated frame having a pair of drive wheels mounted to the forward end of the frame and a pair of caster wheels operatively engaged with and supporting the rear end of the frame. A hopper attached to the upper side of the frame and suitable for carrying and dumping a load. A motive means mounted on the frame adjacent to the forward end of the frame and a drive means connecting the motive means and the drive wheels. A handle is connected to and extends rearwardly and upwardly from the rear of the frame and has control means attached thereto and connected to the motive means for controlling the forward and rearward movement of the cart and for stopping the cart.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motorized carts for the transportation and delivery of a load of material. More particularly, the present invention relates to motorized carts with front wheel drive for moving and dumping heavy loads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of carts and wheelbarrows have for years been found useful for transporting heavy loads. Single wheeled barrows are particularly useful in a variety of settings. Typically, while in use, the wheelbarrow's load is balanced over the wheel. As a result, the user of the wheelbarrow is not required to bear the weight of the entire load. The load, rather, is merely lifted until its weight pivots over the wheel sufficiently to place a substantial amount of the weight on the wheel. While this mechanism is effective for many uses for transporting small but heavy loads, the load may become unbalanced or where the wheelbarrow is moved over soft or rough terrain the heaviness of the load may cause a wheelbarrow to bog down or become difficult to move.
Various attempts to assist the user of wheelbarrows in carrying loads over rough terrain have been made by adding power drives to single wheeled wheelbarrows. One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,172 and another in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,508 wherein there is shown single wheeled wheelbarrows each having a motor located toward the rear of the load carrying bed. A disadvantage of these types of motorized wheelbarrow is that the motor is located to the rear of the wheel resulting in a burden on the user to lift the motor while moving the wheelbarrow from place to place. When the wheelbarrow is dumped over the wheel, the weight of the motor remains a cantilevered burden which must be raised up to a position in which it becomes top-heavy when the load slides out of the hopper or pan, progressively reducing the "ballast" as the wheelbarrow approaches the vertical. Additionally, because the motor is located below the bottom of the wheelbarrow pan it is close to the ground and must be lifted to prevent hitting any projections, such as stones, bricks or other debris which may be in the path of travel.
There have also been proposed motorized wheelbarrows which have a motor located close to the wheel. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,470. These devices also have similar deficiencies of single wheeled vehicles.
There is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,988 a four wheeled load carrier which has a motor located near the rear axle. Because of the difficulty of raising the entire device to dump the load there is provided a separately detachable frame for carrying a load pan or hopper engaged with and hinged to the main frame at the forward end to be tipped forward to unload the pan. The weight of the motor means that an additional frame is needed to support the barrow for dumping. Also of note is U.S. Pat. No. 2,918,133 which discloses a cart having a rear mounted motor the hopper of which is hingedly connected to the frame in a manner to forwardly tilt and dump the load.
It is, therefore, the general object of the present invention to provide a motorized cart for transporting and delivering a load of material from one location to another.
Another object of this invention is to provide a motorized cart in which the load carrying hopper or pan can be moved from a stable position for transporting the load to a position where the load can be dumped without lifting the entire weight of the load and the motive means and in which the cart remains stable during dumping.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a motorized cart having the motive means in a raised location protected from damaging contact with objects projecting from the path of travel such as stones, bricks, stakes and the like.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a motorized cart having a pair of front drive wheels providing stable side to side balance when the cart is moved over uneven terrain or when the load shifts.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of this invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments.


An inlet door system includes a duct, an inlet door, and a plurality of openings. The duct is configured to extend from the auxiliary power unit (APU) to an intake opening formed in an outer surface of an aircraft. The duct includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and a duct sidewall extending between the inlet port and the outlet port. The inlet door includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer peripheral edge between the inner and outer surfaces. The door is rotationally coupled to the duct, and is configured to selectively rotate between a closed position and a plurality of open positions. The openings extend through the inlet door between the inner surface and outer surface, and each opening is disposed adjacent to the outer peripheral edge.

Auxiliary power units ("APU") are used in aircraft to provide electrical power and compressed air to various aircraft systems and components. When an aircraft is on the ground, its main source of electrical power and cabin conditioning comes from the APU. In particular, the APU can power the environmental control systems, air drive hydraulic pumps, and the starters for the engines. When an aircraft is in flight, the APU may provide pneumatic and/or electric power to the aircraft.
Typically, APUs are located in the aft section of the aircraft, at or near the tailcone section and include inlet and exhaust ducting that exit through an opening, or cut-out, in the aircraft fuselage to allow sufficient air flow through to the APU. For aircraft on which APUs operate during flight, an inlet air door is typically provided to protect the APU from foreign object damage when not in use and/or during ground movement, and to maximize airflow into the APU when performance or oil cooling at altitude is required. Thus, when the APU is running, either on the ground or in flight, the inlet air door is in an open position.
During in-flight operations of the APU, there is a low pressure wake formation on the backside of the open inlet door, which can create relatively high drag loads. These high drag loads may also induce undesirable amounts of vibration on the door, which can have deleterious structural impact and may reduce over inlet door lifetime.
Hence, there is a need for an APU inlet door that, when open, does not exhibit undesirably high drag loads and/or does not have undesirable amounts of vibration induced therein and/or improves overall inlet door lifetime. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

Auxiliary power unit inlet door having openings formed therein


A slam-capable rotary latch employs a single rotary jaw that is releasably retained in its latched position by a rotary pawl, with the latch having a pair of spaced housing side plates that sandwich the rotary jaw and the rotary pawl, with the side plates defining aligned first and second U-shaped notches that cooperate with a third U-shaped notch formed in the rotary jaw for concurrently receiving and latchingly retaining within the confines of the first, second and third U-shaped notches a suitably configured strike formation, with housing side plate portions that define a selected one of the first and second U-shaped notches being rigidified and strengthened by the close proximity presence of a flange 1) that is formed integrally with side plate portions that define the selected notch and 2) that extends transversely to bridge between the housing side plates at a location near the first and second U-shaped notches. Improvements include housing side plate formations that aid in positioning, guiding and accommodating movement of relatively movable components, and improved connections formed between non-movable components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in slam-capable rotary latches and locks of the type that form the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,295 and others of the Referenced Parent and Sister Cases. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in a rotary latch of the type that employs a single rotary jaw that is releasably retained in its latched position by a rotary pawl, with the latch having a pair of spaced housing side plates that sandwich the rotary jaw and the rotary pawl, with the side plates defining aligned first and second U-shaped notches that cooperate with a third U-shaped notch formed in the rotary jaw to concurrently receive and latchingly retain within the confines of the first, second and third U-shaped notches a suitably configured strike formation, with housing side plate portions that define a selected one of the first and second U-shaped notches being rigidified and strengthened by the close proximity presence of a flange 1) that is formed integrally with side plate portions that define the selected notch and 2) that extends transversely to bridge between the housing side plates at a location near the first and second U-shaped notches--wherein the improvements include housing side plate formations that aid in positioning, guiding and accommodating movement of relatively movable components, and improved connections formed between non-movable components.
2. Prior Art
Flush mountable, paddle-handle operated latches and locks are known that employ rotary latch bolts, also referred to as "rotary jaws," wherein the jaws are provided with U-shaped strike-receiving notches for latchingly receiving and releasably retaining suitably configured strike formations. Disclosures of latch and/or lock units of this type are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,642 issued Mar. 23, 1982 to John V. Pastva, Jr., entitled PADDLE LOCKS WITH HANDLE DISCONNECT FEATURES; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,412 issued Apr. 17, 1990 to Jye P. Swan et al, entitled VEHICLE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED ROTARY LATCHES; U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,906 issued Jan. 30, 1990 to Lee S. Weinerman et al entitled VEHICLE DOOR LOCK; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,491 issued Dec. 3, 1991 to Lee S. Weinerman et al entitled VEHICLE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM. The disclosures of these four U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference.
The rotary latch and/or lock units that are disclosed in the four patents identified above are of a relatively heavy duty type that often are employed in "personnel restraint applications," typically on doors of passenger compartments of vehicles. These heavy duty units employ pairs of housing-mounted rotary jaws, with the jaws being sandwiched between pairs of housing side plates, and with notches that are formed in each pair of rotary jaws being configured to receive and engage opposite sides of a suitably configured strike formation, typically a cylindrical stem of a striker pin. While both of the housing side plates are provided with U-shaped notches, neither of these notches defines a strike engagement surface that cooperates with a notched rotary jaw to latchingly receive and releasably retain a strike formation. The notches that are formed in the jaws, not the notches that are formed in the housing side plates, receive, engage and latchingly retain suitably configured strike formations.
Lighter duty rotary latch and lock units that employ single rotary jaws also are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,203 issued Jan. 26, 1982 to Edwin W. Davis entitled FLUSH-MOUNTABLE LOCK WITH ACTUATOR DISCONNECT FEATURE discloses 1) the use of a single rotary latch jaw that is nested within and supported by portions of the housing of a flush mountable paddle-handle assembly, and 2) the use of a single U-shaped housing-carried notch that cooperates with the U-shaped notch formed in a rotary jaw to receive and latchingly retain a generally cylindrical strike formation. The disclosure of this fifth prior patent is incorporated herein by reference.
3. The Referenced Cases
Not addressed by the five patents that are identified above is a long-standing need for a relatively light duty rotary latch that employs only a single rotary jaw instead of a pair of rotary jaws, that employs first and second housing side plates that define, respectively, first and second notches that are of generally U-shape, with the first and second U-shaped notches being positioned and aligned for cooperating with a third U-shaped notch that is formed in the single rotary jaw to receive and latchingly retain within the confines of the first, second and third notches a suitably configured strike formation, and with the latch making advantageous use of a transversely extending flange that is formed integrally with one of the first and second housing side plates to rigidify and strengthen housing side plate portions that define a strike-engaging surface of at least one of the aligned first and second U-shaped notches. Features of the inventions of the Referenced Parent and Sister Cases address this need--and also may employ improvement features of the type that are the subject of the present invention.
The Referenced Design Case relates to a design for a Handle and Housing Assembly that may be utilized in conjunction with latches and locks of the type that are disclosed in the Referenced Parent and Sister Cases which also may employ improvement features of the type that are the subject of the present invention.


A heat conduction device is fixed into a radiator (2) and abutted a heat-generating component (42). This radiator (2) has a through-hole (10). The heat conduction device includes a column body (1). One end of the column body (1) is recessed to form a hollow part in order to increase the radiating surface; the other end of the column body (1) is a contact surface (12). The outer surface of the column body (1) is fixed inside the through-hole (10) of the radiator (2), the contact surface (12) is abutted the heat generating component (42); Due to the formation of the hollow part, the radiating surface is increased, the radiating effect is enhanced, and the cost can be decreased greatly due to the simple configuration of the column body (1).

As is generally known, electronic devices include a radiator assembly to cool the heat-generating component mounted on a circuit board located within the electronic device. The radiator assembly includes radiators and heat conduction device. The radiator consists of radiating fins. The heat conduction device is fixed into the radiator and abutted against the heat-generating component.
Conventional heat conduction devices, such as heat pipes and thermal columns, include a heat pipe to provide a capillary structure therein, and the heat pipe orifice is sealed after the working fluid is placed in the heat pipe. The thermal column provides structure therein to realize the radiating effect through the phase change of the working fluid.
In the above conventional heat conduction devices, the radiating surface of the heat pipe or thermal column is only limited to its external wall, thus the radiating degree is limited. Moreover, because of the complexity of the components and the high difficulty of the assembly, the price is very high and the anticipative radiating effect may be affected due to the difficulty of the quality control.
Thus it can be seen that the above conventional heat conduction device described above needs to be improved.