Organopolysiloxane powder is prepared from an organopolysiloxane solution by admitting the organopolysiloxane solution into a planetary-screw mixer and agitating the solution at a sufficient temperature to allow a low-boiling liquid component to evaporate from the solution, thereby separating the low-boiling liquid component from the solution.

Organopolysiloxane powder has been used as resin modifiers and paint additives and is expected to find wider applications as elastomer reinforcements and cosmetic additives. Organopolysiloxanes are solid in pure form. The organopolysiloxanes, which are insoluble in solvents, for example, have a three-dimensional molecular structure with a high degree of polymerization, generally form with organic solvents a slurry in which they are dispersed in liquid as solids. If the solvent is water, solid organopolysiloxanes are afloat on water due to their water repellency.
Organopolysiloxane powder is prepared from such organopolysiloxanes by several conventional methods including a method of separating and collecting organopolysiloxane solids by filtration or centrifugal separation, followed by drying and a hot air drying method of directly drying organopolysiloxane solids through spray dryers and similar dryers. All the conventional well-known methods for preparing organopolysiloxane powder rely on drying. More specifically, Japanese Patent Application Kokai (JP-A) No. 13813/1985 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,390 discloses hydrolysis of a methyltrialkoxysilane in ammoniacal aqueous solution for condensation, followed by water washing and drying. Japanese Patent Publication (JP-B) No. 27579/1991 discloses condensation of a silane with a polysiloxane in an aromatic heterocyclic compound solvent followed by collection, washing and drying.
However, where organopolysiloxanes which are solid in pure form are dissolved in a solvent to form a solution in which no solids exist, typically when the solvent is the reaction medium which is used in synthesizing the organopolysiloxanes, the organopolysiloxanes cannot be separated by conventional means such as filtration and centrifugal separation. Organopolysiloxane powder is no longer obtained.
Even in this case, organopolysiloxane powder can be yielded evaporating and removing a low-boiling liquid component or solvent from the organopolysiloxane solution. The use of hot air dryers such as spray dryers provides a continuous operation which limits the residence time of the organopolysiloxane solution within the dryer, often failing to fully remove the low-boiling liquid component.
Batchwise operation can also be employed for evaporation. Evaporation in a container free of an agitator requires a long time because as solids precipitate, solid aggregates will grow, leading to a lowering of heat transfer. Full removal of a low-boiling liquid component is not expectable because the component can be retained in such solid aggregates. At the end of operation, the organopolysiloxane which is now solid cannot be discharged from the container.
Problems will arise even when evaporation is done while agitating the organopolysiloxane solution. Conventional commonly used agitating tanks equipped with paddle or anchor impellers allow some zones to stagnate as solids precipitate, allowing solid aggregates to grow in the stagnant zones as in the previous case. This results in a lowering of heat transfer, a longer time of operation, insufficient removal of low-boiling liquid component, and difficulty to empty the tank of the solidified organopolysiloxane. Additionally, when the solution reaches a semi-solid state immediately before solidification in the course of solvent evaporation, the rotating shaft experiences increased loads. Then a powerful motor must be used for agitation and the impeller must also be thick and rigid enough to withstand the loads.
It is then proposed to use helical ribbon impellers which have been conventionally used for mixing of high viscosity liquid and powder. Since the mixing tank associated with the helical ribbon impeller is of the same shape as the conventional agitating tanks, most of the above-mentioned problems remain unsolved.
The loads on the impeller can be reduced by using conical blenders or V-shaped blenders in which the tank itself rotates. These blenders, however, are of large size, require an increased cost for installation, and are rather inadequate for heating, evaporating and purposes.
Therefore, in a situation where organopolysiloxane solids are dissolved in a low-boiling liquid component or solvent to form a solution, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing organopolysiloxane powder from the organopolysiloxane solution within a relatively short time and with a relatively reduced motive power, the resulting organopolysiloxane powder being characterized by full removal of the low-boiling liquid component and easy discharge from the tank.

Method for preparing organopolysiloxane powder


A system for the multichannel reproduction of sound in which a plurality of loudspeakers connectable to a surround sound processor is disclosed. Circuits for adapting the processor to provide left and right side output signals are also disclosed. Left and right side dual loudspeakers are disclosed wherein each dual loudspeaker contains two independent drivers, one facing the front and the other the rear of the listening area, the front-facing drivers being connectable to the left and right side output signals and the rear-facing drivers being connectable to the corresponding left and right rear output signals of the processor. The dual loudspeakers operate in a first mode to produce a dipole sound radiation pattern whenever the signals are applied in antiphase to the front-facing and rear-facing drivers thereof, thereby producing a diffuse sound field, and operate in a second mode to produce a hemispherical, omnidirectional sound pattern when the signals are applied to the respective drivers in phase, thereby producing a focused sound field with good localization characteristics. An operation mode-switching circuit implements the desired mode selectable by the user.

Surround sound processing, in general, is a technique wherein a stereophonic pair of signals from a source such as prerecorded audio or live transmissions of audio signals, with or without video, is processed to yield a set of signals for the purpose of feeding several loudspeakers placed around the listening area, so as to give an impression of spatially surrounding the listener with the sounds, particularly any ambience, and/or broadening the sound field to wrap around the listener.
Typically, the signals are generated by surround sound processors, which may be of many types, and the source signals may either incorporate positional encoding by means of specific phase differences and amplitude ratios, or may be unencoded. Surround sound processors may be divided into two main classes, fixed matrix or passive, and variable matrix or active types.
In the former, the various loudspeaker feed signals are derived by judicious mixing or matrixing of the pair of stereophonic signals in different proportions and different relative phases, with zaatrixing coefficients which remain fixed in time, and have no relationship to the instantaneous signal information content.
In the latter, in addition to generating a fixed matrix for each loudspeaker feed, a number of control signals are derived from the input signal pair according to the relative amplitudes and phases of these signals, and a number of cancellation signals are generated by means of variable gain elements whose gains are controlled by the various control signals, the cancellation signals being applied to the loudspeaker feed matrix so as to reduce crosstalk between the loudspeaker feed signals and increase separation of the predominant sound in the direction in which it is desired to be heard. Thus the signals are processed with a variable matrix, which is responsive to the signal information content.
Surround processors of the variable matrix type described have been the subject of several inventions by Fosgate, specifically including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,059 and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 533,091 entitled "Surround Processor".
The proper placement and types of loudspeakers for such surround sound processors have not usually been well defined, although in general the array of loudspeakers is assumed to be placed in specific positions relative to the listener--usually at least four loudspeakers are placed in a square or rectangular array, one at each corner, with the listener at or near the center of the array, and additional speakers may be placed in the central positions of the front, rear or sides of the rectangle. Other speakers for special purposes, such as subwoofers for deep bass, may also be positioned to surround the listener in some such way, if desired.
Some newer surround sound systems, such as that known as "Ambisonics" due to Gerzon, have attempted to control the sound field by such means as a "layout" control which is adjusted to suit the approximate size and shape of the rectangular array of four loudspeakers or various other possible arrangements, e.g. of six loudspeakers. The Lucasfilm, Ltd. THX system also specifies an array of loudspeakers having certain characteristics and placed in a certain arrangement in the listening room. Reference is made to the specification for the THX Home Theater Surround prepared by Lucasfilm, Ltd., for example.
In the latter system, intended for the reproduction of surround-encoded movie sound tracks, the proprietors intend that the surround sound effects be diffused in the rear of the room, this being achieved by several methods in combination, including the provision of rear loudspeakers having dipole radiation characteristics such that the rearward radiation lobe thereof is out of phase with the frontward radiation lobe in the midrange and upper frequencies. However, for widely spread surround sound presentation of music from a stereophonic source, for example, it is desirable that the sound field around the sides and rear of the room remain focused and in phase, so that imaging of sounds is good all around the room.
Accordingly, there is a need for the development of surround sound systems capable of generating a set of signals for application to an array such as to meet the general THX specifications, as well as being switchable to other modes for presentation of musical or other stereophonic or monophonic program material as desired by the listener, so as to give either a more focused or a more diffused spatial sound field. There is further a need for the provision of appropriate types of loudspeaker arrangements for use in conjunction with such surround processor systems.


The device comprises a holder (10), which has a bottom (11) with a sealing element (17) for sealing off the air supply opening to a bubble generator of print head (2) and, at the top, an arm (15) with a passage bore (16). A spike (23) serves for boring or piercing an opening (28) to the ink reservoir in a cover area (5) of the print head (2). An ink reservoir (27) is inserted with a hollow needle into the created opening (28). The reservoir (27) has in a bore (32) of lid (31) a cone (33). A closing element (22) serves for closing an air supply opening (6) of a lung of the print head (2).

The present invention relates to the art of filling ink jet cartridges and will be described with particular reference thereto.
A refill device for an ink jet print head is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,877. The device has a holder for insertion of the print head with snap-elements to hold the jet plate and an air supply opening to a bubble generator of the print head against respective sealing platelets for tight-fitting contact. After installation of the print head, a sealing support is put in place, which seals an air supply opening in the lid. A hollow needle support is placed on the holder, which impresses, with a hollow needle, a ball in a charging opening of the print head in the ink reservoir space. The other end of the hollow needle is pointed. On it is placed an ink reservoir which is sealed with an elastomer stopper. Its lid is removed so that the ink flows into the storage space. After removal of the hollow needle support, the charging opening is closed and the print head removed from the holder. This prior device requires a charging opening in the lid of the print head which is closed by means of a pressed-in ball. However, not all print heads of this type have a pre-formed charging opening.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved apparatus and method for refilling an ink jet cartridge which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.


A bag adapted to be changed from a predetermined larger size into a predetermined smaller size and vice versa, has a front, rear side and bottom panels and readily disengageable fasteners in predetermined positions on the panels so that by folding the panels, the smaller size bag can be realized by engaging the readily disconnectable fasteners.

Bags of various sizes are known in the art which, for the most part, are of a predetermined fixed size. However, it is desirable in many instances to have a bag which can be used either in a larger size or in a smaller size. If one is to shop or pack only a limited number and/or amounts of goods, it is more convenient to have a bag of smaller size. By contrast, if the bag is to hold a large amount of items, a bag of larger size is desirable which can be readily changed back to the smaller size as the need arises.
An expandable bag is particularly useful with a so-called "LOAD LLAMA".TM. bicycle rack mounted over the rear wheel of a bicycle which has an adjustable support area for goods to be carried on the bicycle rack. The so-called "LOAD LLAMA".TM. bicycle rack, which is commercially available, incorporates the adjusting features of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,149 and 5,222,639 as well as additional features described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,676. As disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,676, the rotatable and axially extendable L-shaped support arms can be axially adjusted between an axially fully retracted position providing a minimum width support area position on the rack and an axially maximum extended position providing a maximum width support area position on the rack by limiting the maximum extension of the support arms in the axial direction thereof.

Expandable bag, especially for bicycle racks


A collector plate (14) is connected to an output terminal (16). The collector plate (14) is made such that heat capacity per unit area of a neighboring region (14A) thereof, which is near to a portion where the output terminal (16) is connected, is different to the heat capacity per unit area of other regions (14B, 14C). More specifically, the other regions (14B, 14C) are formed such that the heat capacity per unit area thereof is smaller than that of the neighboring region (14A).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fuel cell stack formed from a plurality of stacked unit cells, and more particularly to a technology that favorably enables the fuel cell stack to be started up more easily at extremely low temperatures below freezing point.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell is formed with a layered construction in which an electrolyte membrane, such as a solid polymer membrane, is sandwiched between respective electrodes and separators provided on each side of the electrolyte membrane. Normally, a plurality of single unit cells with the above construction are stacked and used as a fuel cell stack. Such a fuel cell stack, as for example disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 06-060904 and 07-282835, includes respective collector plates provided at each end of the cell units in a stacking direction thereof. The current generated by each cell is drawn from respective output terminal connected to the collector plates.
However, in the case of a vehicle fuel cell stack used in an electric car or the like, the temperature of the unit cells may potentially drop below freezing point in some usage environments, such as in cold regions. At the cathode of each unit cell, a chemical reaction takes places in which water is generated from hydrogen ions that pass through the electrolyte membrane and oxygen within the oxidation gas. However, when the fuel cell stack is started up below freezing point, the generated water freezes and becomes ice, which obstructs the supply of oxygen to the cathode. As a result, there is a reduction in the voltage of the unit cells. However, heat of reaction is generated at the same time as the water in the above described chemical reaction. Accordingly, if the temperature of the unit cells is raised to above freezing point by this heat of reaction, the ice melts and the supply of oxygen to the cathode is restored.
However, the end unit cells positioned to the outer sides of the fuel cell stack are deprived of a substantial amount of heat by the respective collector plates that have large heat capacity and high thermal conductivity. Accordingly, the temperature rise of these end unit cells is slow as compared to the other unit cells. As a result, even if the other unit cells in the fuel cell stack are generating electricity normally, it is possible that the end unit cells will receive insufficient oxygen due to delayed melting of the ice, which in turn may cause the voltage of the end unit cells to be reduced. It is possible that this reduced voltage of the end unit cells will cause the overall output of the fuel cell stack to be reduced as well. Furthermore, if an abnormal chemical reaction is to occur within the end unit cells in this state, it is possible that (a) the structural material of the end unit cells may be exhausted from the fuel cell stack, or (b) that deterioration of the end unit cells may take place.
Various methods for rapidly increasing the temperature of the end unit cells when the fuel cell stack is started up at low temperature can be suggested such as reducing the plate thickness of the collector plates so as to reduce their heat capacity and inhibit heat radiation from the end unit cells. However, simply reducing the plate thickness of the collector plates in this way is liable to cause an increase in electrical resistance when current is drawn, which may in turn cause battery performance to be impaired by a substantial increase in power loss.
The invention has been conceived of in light of the previously described problems, and aims to provide a solution thereto. It is an object of the invention to provide a fuel cell stack that enables the temperature of end unit cells thereof to be increased rapidly when the fuel cell stack is started up at low temperature, without having any detrimental impact upon battery performance during normal operation.


Described is a method for predicting multiple components' content in a case that rare earth ions with and without color feature coexist, and relates to component content prediction in rare earth extraction process. It is difficult to quickly/accurately detect component's content in rare earth extraction process. Because of relatively large difference between images' color features of CePr/Nd mixed solution with colorless Ce ions and Pr/Nd solution, detecting content method of single rare earth element based on color feature is no longer applicable. The method includes: first searching for H and S components with maximum correlation with component content in HSI color space; establishing ELM based multi-component content soft measurement model using H and S component first-order moment as input; and for uncertainty of initial weight and ELM (extreme learning machine) model's threshold, optimizing model parameters using genetic algorithm GA to optimize ELM model for component content prediction higher precision.

Rare earth is composed of 17 elements such as lanthanide elements, scandium, and yttrium, and exists in a form of intergrown ore. Rare earth elements are purified mainly by using a cascade extraction separation technology. In a rare earth cascade extraction process, some rare earth ions have special color features that are closely related to content of rare earth components. For color features of praseodymium ions and neodymium ions in an extraction and production process of praseodymium/neodymium, some scholars adopt a machine vision technology to implement soft measurement of component content in an actual production process, and have developed a machine vision based system for rapidly detecting content of rare earth components and applied the system to the rare earth extraction industry. However, all these processes are conducted by using a rare earth extraction solution with feature colors of ions as a research object, and but not involve the content detection of rare earth mixed solution under the coexistence of rare earth ions with and without characteristic colors. However, a large part of extraction and production processes of rare earth separation enterprises are conducted in a case that rare earth ions with a characteristic color and rare earth ions without a characteristic color coexist. Currently, a cerium praseodymium/neodymium rare earth mixed solution in which rare earth ions with a characteristic color and rare earth ions without a characteristic color coexist belongs to such case. In addition, to study and implement content detection of multiple components of a rare earth mixed solution in which rare earth ions with a characteristic color and rare earth ions without a characteristic color coexist is of great practical significance to automatic control of a rare earth extraction and separation process.

Method and system for predicting content of multiple components in rare earth extraction process


A method is provided including identifying a target portion of a patient corresponding to a portion of interest of the patient to be scanned with a nuclear medicine scanning technique. The method also includes applying an uptake increasing technique to at least one of the target portion or an application portion of the patient other than the target portion. The uptake increasing technique is configured to increase uptake of a radiopharmaceutical to the target portion of the patient relative to portions of the patient other than the target portion. Also, the method includes administering the radiopharmaceutical to the patient temporally proximate to the applying an uptake increasing technique.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to nuclear medicine (NM) imaging systems and techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET).
NM imaging is generally based on measurement of radiopharmaceutical distribution in a patient's body. A radiopharmaceutical, for example, may be injected into the blood vessels of a patient and be physiologically distributed via blood flow in the entire body of the patient. Generally, the radiopharmaceutical uptake in imaged organs is time limited, and the complete uptake from circulated blood may take from a few seconds to several hours, depending on the pharmaceutical used.
The image quality of the imaged organs is directly proportional to the absolute radio-activity uptake value (or volume concentration) in the imaged organ or tissue. The higher the absolute radio-activity uptake, the better the image quality of the imaged organ or tissue. Image quality may also increased by longer imaging time. However, prolonging the imaging time may cause patient discomfort and reduce throughput of the imaging facility, as well as increase risk of blurring due to patient motion. The absolute radio-activity uptake in imaged organs or tissue is conventionally controlled by injection dose (in terms of absolute volume and/or radio-activity concentration) for the given radiopharmaceutical used. The injection dose of radio-activity is distributed inside the patient body and causes radiation exposure to the patient's organs and tissue until the radiopharmaceutical is reduced to negligible activity, for example, due to physical causes (e.g., half-life or deterioration of the radionuclide) and physiological causes (e.g., wash-out via excretion from the patient body). Generally, the higher the injection dose of radio-activity, the higher the total effective radiation dose of the imaged patient. However, because the radiation dose is administered or distributed to the entire patient body and because only a portion of the patient is imaged, the patient is subjected to higher radiation doses than would otherwise be necessary if radiation were limited to the organ(s) or tissue to be imaged.

Systems and methods for forced non-uniform radiopharmaceutical uptake


A golf dart game played upon a circular playing field having a playing field center and having a plurality of hole wedges extending from the playing field center. The hole wedges are divided into sections which include hazard sections and desired sections. Hole indicia numbered one through eighteen is located adjacent to each of the hole wedges, so that each hole wedge is assigned a distinct sequential hole number. The game is played in rounds, wherein each round is associated within a particular hole wedge, known as the current hole wedge. The player throws three darts per round, and aims them at the desired sections in the current hole wedge. Points are accumulated by landing darts on the desired sections. Points may be deducted when darts land on hazard sections or outside the current hole wedge. Points from all rounds are tabulated to determine a winner.

The invention relates to a dartboard golf game. More particularly, the invention relates to a game which is played upon a dartboard, in which the dartboard is arranged and the rules are made so as to capture the spirit of the game of golf.
Golf is perhaps one of the most sought after sports. More people dream about playing golf than actually play golf. People who are fascinated by golf are either constantly wishing they had the time to play, had the money to play, or had the skill to play. Even people who seek to engage in the game of golf must first spend considerable time and effort to simply develop their swing, before they can even play the game.
In recent years, computer golf games have preyed upon the desire of the non-golfer to play the game. They are also targeted at the golfer who would rather be at the golf course, but must settle for the computer. Computer golf games have been developed which realistically depict the golf course with photo-realistic three dimensional images. They realistically illustrate a digitized golfer taking a swing, and the ball traveling down the fairway, obeying all the laws of physics and influenced by a simulated wind. However realistic the game is depicted on the computer screen, it requires very little skill of any kind to play. Human interaction is limited to selecting a club, and pressing a few keys to initiate the swing. Thus, computerized golf is more about learning the peculiarities of the program, and then making mental decisions about how to achieve the best results, than about developing any sort of physical skill.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,743 discloses a golfing dart game apparatus in which an aerial view of an 18 hole golf course is depicted. Because of the small space attributed to each hole, it seems extremely difficult to play, and would probably be quite frustrating for the beginner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,807 to Barkley discloses a dart board which simulates a golf course. Barkley depicts a nine hole golf course.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,073 to Dooley discloses a golf photography dart board game, in which different images of a golf course are projected onto a screen at which the player throws darts. Dooley is quite complicated, and would be cost prohibitive to manufacture.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A disc package for retaining a disc includes a retention panel having a first surface in substantial contact with a face of the disc when the disc is inserted within the package, and a cover panel which is contiguous with the retention panel and which shares with the retention panel a common edge. The common edge includes a fold line about which the cover panel is folded so as to be substantially superposed with the retention panel. The disc package also includes a disc retainment section positioned proximate a second edge of the retention panel and overlaying at least a portion of the first surface of the retention panel. At least a portion of the disc retainment section is attached to the first surface of the retention panel to enable at least a portion of the disc to be positioned between the retention panel and the engagement section to retain the disc in the disc package.

The present invention relates to a package, such as a holder or mailer for securely storing and transporting a compact disc (CD), computer floppy disc and the like, without scratching or marring the playing surface of the disc and for permitting the rapid insertion and removal of the disc.
Devices for retaining a compact disc or a computer floppy disc have traditionally been constructed at least partially of plastic, and to include paperboard sleeves which obscure all or a significant portion of the disc label. These conventional compact disc holders have the drawback of not being capable of being manufactured substantially entirely by a machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,918 to Dobias et al. recognized the need for a compact disc holder which exposes the non-playing surface of the disc while the disc is in the holder. Dobias et al. further recognized the need to construct the disc holder of recyclable materials (for example, paperboard) rather than plastic, and to automate the fabrication process to reduce the manual labor involved in manufacturing and the corresponding production cost.
As a proposed solution, Dobias et al. disclose a folded container constructed from a single, unitary sheet that includes a panel having two sloped surfaces each with an elliptical cutout. The elliptical cutouts are shaped so that the larger of two arcs of each ellipse is of a sufficient height and size to permit a compact disc to easily drop through at the top of the arc, which is also at the top of the sloped surface, while the descending portion of the same arc decreases in size to snap in to lock the disc in place. The smaller of the two arcs of each ellipse is sufficient to support the disc along its edge without touching a face of the disc. As a result, the panel locks the disc at four points along its outer edge.
It is desirable to form a compact disc holder starting from a single, unitary sheet of paperboard which is initially flat and then folded in a particular manner to permit full view of the disc label while the package is open, and which does not pinch the disc at four points along its outer edge, and which prevents the disc from inadvertently popping out of its retention position.
The present invention overcomes the described drawbacks and provides a new and unique holder for compact and computer discs which can be made of paperboard or similar materials using conventional folding equipment such as that used in carton making, and manufactured in an economically environmentally friendly manner (that is, with a reduced amount of material).
In accordance with one form of the present invention, the disc package for retaining a disc includes a retention panel defining a plane having first and second surfaces wherein the first surface of the retention panel is in substantial contact with a face of the disc when the disc is inserted within the disc package. The disc package also includes a cover panel contiguous with the retention panel and sharing with the retention panel a common edge corresponding to a first edge of the retention panel. The common edge has a fold line for folding the cover panel into substantial superposition with the retention panel to cover at least a portion of the disc retained in the disc package. The disc package also includes disc retainment section positioned proximate a second edge of the retention panel opposite the first edge and superposed with respect to a portion of the first surface of the retention panel. At least a portion of the disc retainment section is unattached to the first surface of the retention panel to enable at least a portion of the disc to be positioned between the retention panel and the disc retainment section.
In accordance with another form of a present invention, the disc package for retaining a disc includes a retention panel defining a plane having first and second surfaces wherein the first surface is in substantial contact with a face of the disc when the disc is inserted within the disc package. The disc package also includes a first folded sidewall section extending from a first side of the retention panel and having a first contour edge substantially conforming to the periphery of the disc. The disc package also includes a second folded sidewall section extending from a second side of the retention panel and having a second contour edge substantially conforming to the periphery of the disc. The disc package further includes a third folded sidewall section extending from a third side of the retention panel and having at least a portion thereof which is unattached to the first surface of the retention panel to enable at least a portion of the disc to be interposed between the retention panel and the third folded sidewall section.
A preferred form of the compact disc holder, as well as other embodiments, objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.


An apparatus to extract electromagnetically susceptible fluids and electromagnetically susceptible particles from a subterranean well having a shaft or tube extending from the surface to a fluid-containing formation and a mechanism to deliver the fluids and particles to the surface from the fluid-containing formation. The apparatus includes at least one electromagnetical coil within the shaft or tube. A direct current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil to generate a electromagnetic field in the fluid-containing formation. The magnetically susceptible fluids and particles are attracted toward the shaft tube through use of the electromagnetic field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus to extract residual hydrocarbon oil that is trapped in the formations of underground reservoirs.
2. Prior Art
While North American reservoirs still hold a third of a trillion barrels of hydrocarbon oil, the easier-to-produce oil in North America is almost gone even with current advanced reservoir-enhancement capabilities. Most of what remains is oil which resists extraction. The challenge is to overcome the Earth's natural resistant forces that are immobilizing the hydrocarbon oil and to realign the forces acting on the oil while it is in the earth and thus make it easier to extract from the reservoir.
The Earth's geomagnetic field; its plasma and colloid state; its minerals and rocks; formation waters, residual oil, and reservoir characteristics--all of these mechanical and physical properties act and react to electric and magnetic forces which tend to hold residual oil captive.


A narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic device includes: a light source unit that includes a fluorescent lamp of planar structure that is the ultraviolet light source for emitting narrow-band UV-B; a power supply for causing the fluorescent lamp to emit light; and a control unit for controlling the light emission of the fluorescent lamp.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic device that is effective in the treatment of such conditions as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and leukoderma, and more particularly to the configuration of a light source that includes a fluorescent lamp, i.e., the ultraviolet light source for emitting narrow-band UV-B.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Ultraviolet light can be defined as electromagnetic waves within the range of wavelengths that includes as its upper limit wavelengths of 360–400 nm, which is shortest wavelengths of visible light and as its lower limit wavelengths of 1 nm. Ultraviolet light can be divided according to wavelength into a long wavelength band UV-A, a middle-wavelength band UV-B, and a short wavelength band UV-C. Ultraviolet light has a sterilizing effect and is known for its use in the treatment of skin disorders. In particular, ultraviolet light having an extremely narrow wavelength of 311±2 nm in the middle-wavelength band is referred to as narrow-band UV-B. This narrow-band UV-B has a therapeutic effect against psoriasis that surpasses that of UV-B (broadband UV-B) that includes other wavelengths and can achieve a therapeutic effect of the same level as UV-A. In addition, narrow-band UV-B has a lower carcinogenic effect than broadband UV-B or UV-A, and in contrast with treatment that employs UV-A, causes no constitutional symptom side effects such as nausea or disorders of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. The results of research to date have clearly shown that narrow-band UV-B has these excellent properties, and in recent years, treatments of skin disorders that use narrow-band UV-B have become common in many countries including the United States. Greater detail is provided in a paper by Akimichi Morita in "Clinical Dermatology," Vol. 56, No. 5 (2002 Supplement) pages 106–111 (Apr. 10, 2002) published by Igaku Shoin.
Narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic devices require an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 311±2 nm. As described in the above-described document, a fluorescent lamp (TL01) has been developed by Philips Holland as such an ultraviolet light source. This lamp is a straight-tube mercury-excited fluorescent ultraviolet lamp, and when used as the ultraviolet light source of a narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic device, a plurality (10 in the example described in the above-referenced document) of lamps is arranged in parallel as the light source.
Typically, a phototherapeutic device requires that the intensity of the therapeutic light irradiated upon an affected area be uniform. This requirement arises due to the importance of avoiding a situation in which a particular area of affected areas that are simultaneously irradiated by light fails to receive the therapeutic effect due to insufficient irradiation, while other areas are subject to side effects due to excessive irradiation. This requirement is particularly important in a therapeutic device that uses light rays such as ultraviolet light having high energy.
Thus, in a narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic device of the prior art that employs straight-tube ultraviolet fluorescent lamps, a plurality of fluorescent lamps are arranged in parallel within a plane to produce a planar light source in which the intensity of irradiated light is uniform. However, when the light source and treated area are close, it was impossible to avoid a situation in which the intensity of irradiation alternates regularly between strong and weak on the irradiated surface.
Distancing the light source from the treated area is a simple and effective method of dealing with this problem, and phototherapeutic devices of the prior art therefore normally irradiate the treated area from a distance. However, distancing the light source from the treated area also decreases the intensity of irradiation on the treated area. In particular, the UV-B ultraviolet light that is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and leukoderma is greatly attenuated in the air, and this attenuation drastically reduces the therapeutic effect and greatly extends the treatment time. Thus, the arrangement of a plurality of straight-tube fluorescent lamps was necessary to compensate for the reduction in the intensity of irradiation of the treated area in narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic devices of the prior art. The intensity of emission of the light source was raised by using a plurality of fluorescent lamps.
For these reasons, a narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic device of the prior art employing straight-tube fluorescent lamps could not avoid the necessity for a large light source and a lowered intensity of irradiation in the treated area. In addition, extra procedures such as masking areas other than the treated area were required to avoid the unnecessary exposure of healthy skin and the attendant serious, cancer-producing side effects. As a result, narrow-band UV-B phototherapeutic devices of the prior art have come to be mainly used in treatments that permit the extended treatment time that is necessary to compensate for the reduced intensity of irradiation of ultraviolet light and that also involve irradiation of ultraviolet light over a wide range, such as in the treatment of the entire body, the feet, the hands and the head. Even in such cases, however, patients must endure extended treatment time, the discomfort of remaining in the same position for an extended period of time during treatment, the inability to do anything else during treatment, and the great restrictions on daily routine.


A method of reducing the volume of a processing tank by only filtering processing solution when it is either drawn into the tank and circulation system or when it is returned to the supply container.

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing photographic material. In particular the invention relates to a method of reducing the volume of low volume processors.
The processing of photosensitive material such as photographic film involves a series of steps such as developing, bleaching, fixing, washing and drying. In this process a continuous web of film or cut sheet of film is sequentially conveyed through a series of stations or tanks, with each one containing a different processing solution appropriate to the process step at that stage.
A large photofinishing apparatus utilises rack and tank configurations that contain approximately 100 liters of each processing solution. A smaller photofinishing apparatus such as a minilab may have tanks which contain less than 10 liters of processing solution. However these tanks have generally been replaced by low volume thin tanks in which the material to be processed passes through a narrow processing channel. Such a processing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,658. This document discloses a low volume photographic material processing apparatus that utilises a narrow substantially horizontal processing channel. The channel has an upturned entrance and exit to contain the processing solution within the channel. The processing apparatus will contain a smaller volume of processing solution than was previously used in regular sized processing tanks.
However it is desirable to still further reduce the volume of the entire processing unit, including the circulation system for transferring solution from a reservoir to the processing channel and back again. This reduces the energy input to heat the solution and the time required for the processing.
It is an aim of the invention to reduce the volume of a processing unit. This has been done by removing the filter from the main circulation lines.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for processing photographic material comprising a processing chamber through which the material to be processed passes, said chamber having an inlet for processing solution and an outlet for processing solution, a circulation system connecting the inlet and the outlet outside of the chamber, a buffer reservoir of processing solution for supplying processing solution to the circulation system and means for circulating the processing solution through the chamber and circulation system, filter means for filtering the processing solution being located external to the circulation system such that the solution is filtered only on entry to or exit from the circulation system.
Preferably the filter is located within the reservoir.
The invention further provides a method of processing photographic material comprising the steps of providing a processing chamber and associated circulation system with a small volume of processing solution from a reservoir of processing solution, passing the photographic material through the processing chamber, circulating the processing solution through the chamber and the system, and returning the solution to the reservoir, the processing solution being filtered as it is provided to the circulation system and/or on exit therefrom.
The apparatus of the invention allows simple flush cleaning of the processing chamber. This reduces contamination of the processing chamber by previously used solutions. The solution may be cleaned before processing or after processing depending on the position of the filter within the system. If the filter is located within the solution supply cartridge particles will settle to the bottom, extending the life of the filter. Such an embodiment also reduces the maintenance required. Furthermore, the operator never has to handle a wet filter. The apparatus saves energy by reducing the heating requirement.
The invention can be applied with advantage to multi-stage processes such as photographic processing including developing, fixing, bleaching, washing, etc.
The invention is applicable to any process for colour film, colour paper, reversal film, reversal paper, black and white film or paper.


This apparatus consist of three devices. The first device is latex free radiolucent small diameter piece of tubing with a small diameter opening in its center. The wire that is protruding from the patient is run through the small diameter opening. The tubing is long enough to fully cover the sharp ends of the wire. When the tubing has been placed over the wire, it is looped in a loose loop and held to the skin by a rectangle latex free adhesive bandage which has no adhesive in its center. The third device is used when the patient is waiting for surgery and the needle and wire are left in the breast. At this point an adjustable height cup is placed over the wire. The adjustable height cup has four tabs extending from its bottom which are used to hold the cup in place on the body over the wire.

In performing either Mammography or Ultrasound Guided Breast Needle Localization, a needle is placed in the breast to guide the surgeon to the correct area for biopsy. This needle has a thin wire through its center. The doctor can choose to leave both the needle and wire in the patient's breast, or remove the needle, leaving only the wire to guide the surgeon.
If only a wire is left in the breast for surgery, the wire is then later followed by the surgeon to remove the area of abnormality. The exposed ends of the wires are sharp and can hurt the patient or others. Also, if the wires are moved or bumped it can cause pain to the patient. The wire also has the chance to be accidentally displaced. One of the objectives of the invention is to develop a system that will protect the patient and others from harm due to the wires, and greatly minimize the chance of accidental displacement. If the wire is displaced, the biopsy may not be performed in the correct area of the breast.
Currently, the general practice with the wire is to attempt to cover the exposed sharp end of the wire with gauzes. Then the wires are placed against a patient's skin and held down with several pieces of tape.
This causes several problems. Gauze is not very effective in covering the exposed ends of the wires. The problem with securing the wires with gauze and tape are the possibility of accidental displacement, skin irritation from the tape and the exposed wire injuring the patient.
The inventor has produced a unique solution to solve this problem.
The features that make applicant's solution possible are that she uses a small diameter tube that is radiolucent and latex free to cover the wire. Then, to hold the wire in place the tubing is loosely looped and secured against the body with a rectangular shaped latex free adhesive bandage with a non-adhesive center. The weight and size of the tubing allows it to be looped and fit securely against the body. When held in place with the rectangular shaped latex free adhesive bandage, there is less chance of accidental displacement and eliminates the chance of the sharp end of the wire injuring the patient or others.
If the doctor chooses to leave both the needle and the wire guide in the breast, it is still necessary to cover the wire and needle. In the prior art the needles and wires are usually covered with a Dixie cup. There are several problems with this procedure. The first problem is that the needles/wires come in different lengths. Thus, the size of a Dixie cup does not properly fit all the sizes of the wires/needles. Secondly, the Dixie cups are not sanitary. Thirdly, it is difficult to securely tape the Dixie cup over the wires. Usually the tape does not adequately secure the needle and wire and individuals may be allergic to the tape or adhesive used. To solve this problem the applicant has invented a cylindrical cup like device whose height can be adjusted.
The cylindrical cup like device comes with four tabs that have adhesive on their bottom side for attaching the adjustable height cylindrical cup like device to the body.

Patient safety and wellbeing device for covering wires and needles used in mammography or ultrasound guided needle localization


A seating unit includes: a frame having arms on opposing sides thereof, the frame located in a first position relative to an underlying surface that supports the seating unit; a backrest; a seat; and a reclining mechanism attached to the frame, backrest and seat. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links, the links configured and arranged to move the backrest and seat between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and in a first location relative to the frame and the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being smaller than the first angle, and the seat is in a second location relative to the frame that is forwardly of the first location. The reclining mechanism includes a cam unit having a generally arcuate bearing surface in contact with a contact surface, wherein movement of the backrest to the reclined position rolls the bearing surface on the contact surface, thereby driving the backrest and seat forward.

Recliner chairs and other reclining seating units have proven to be popular with consumers. These seating units typically move from an upright position, in which the backrest is generally upright, to one or more reclined positions, in which the backrest pivots to be less upright. The movement of the seating unit between the upright and reclined positions is typically controlled by a pair of matching reclining mechanisms that are attached to the seat, backrest and base of the chair.
One particularly popular reclining chair is the so-called "wall-proximity" chair. In a conventional reclining chair, as the backrest moves to the reclined position, the tipper end of the backrest moves rearwardly relative to the base of the chair. As a result, typically the chair cannot be positioned such that the backrest is adjacent a wall, as the reclining backrest would strike the wall and thereby be prevented from fully reclining. A wall-proximity" reclining chair includes some type of mechanism (typically either a linkage or a set of wheels that roll on a track) that move the seat of the chair forward relative to the base to provide additional room for the backrest to recline. Exemplary wall-proximity chairs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,663 to Cycowicz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,977 to Rogers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,778 to Rogers, U.S. Pat No.4,805,960 to Tacker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,710 to Wiecek, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,930 to LaPointe et al., the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties. A typical wall-proximity chair in an upright position can be placed with the backrest within 3 to 4 inches of an adjacent wall.
One potential shortcoming of wall-proximity chairs is that the wall-proximity mechanism or wheel/rail system is typically somewhat complex, with multiple interconnected intricate parts. As such, production of these mechanisms can be relatively expensive. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive wall-proximity mechanism.

Reclining seating unit with wall-proximity capability


This invention provides metal oxide particles surface-treated with a hydrophobicity-imparting agent, methods of making such, and toner compositions comprising the same.

Hydrophobic metal oxide particles possess physical properties that are useful in a number of applications requiring a high degree of dispersibility. Some hydrophobic metal oxide particles have physical properties that are desirable for use in toner compositions.
Untreated metal oxide particles are hydrophilic due to the presence of polar groups, such as hydroxyl groups (—OH), on the surface of the untreated silica particles. By treating hydrophilic metal oxide particles, the hydrophilic nature of the particles can be reduced, thereby imparting varying degrees of hydrophobicity to the particles.
Many different methods are known for treating the surface of metal oxide particles. However, the direct treatment of an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is often inefficient or difficult to achieve. Thus, there remains a desire for additional treated metal oxide particles, especially those that are useful for modifying the charge of toner particles, and for additional methods of preparing such hydrophobic metal oxide particles, especially methods that can be used to prepare hydrophobic metal oxide particles directly from an aqueous dispersion of the metal oxide particles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A magnetic resonance apparatus which acquires navigator signals generated from a navigator region including a first portion and a second portion, the navigator signals acquired using a coil having a plurality of channels, is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a scan unit configured to execute a first navigator sequence for acquiring first navigator signals generated from the navigator region, a profile generating unit configured to generate first profiles each including position information on the first portion for every channel, a determining unit configured to determine correlations between the first profiles and a template, and a selecting unit configured to select each channel used to acquire the position information on the first portion based on the correlations.

The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance apparatus which acquires navigator signals generated from a navigator region including body-moving portions, using a coil having a plurality of channels, and a method for acquiring navigator signals generated from the navigator region.
There has been known a body movement correction technology using navigator echoes. The body movement correction technology is effective in reducing artifacts caused by respiration, for example. When, however, the navigator echoes are acquired from the boundary between the liver and the lung, there is a case where body movement information cannot be acquired due to unnecessary signals of subcutaneous fat and the like.
To cope with the foregoing problem, there has been known a technology which acquires navigator echoes using a multicoil having a plurality of channels and selects a channel less susceptible to signals of subcutaneous fat and the like out of the channels (See, for example, Brau et al. "Evaluation of Coil Selection Algorithms for Body Navigators" ISMRM, 2012, 3407).
In Brau et al. "Evaluation of Coil Selection Algorithms for Body Navigators" ISMRM, 2012, 3407, each channel is selected using a template TI shown in FIG. 25. In the template TI, a signal value in an SI direction of a navigator region is a profile having ideal values. In the template TI (hereinafter may be called "ideal template"), the horizontal axis indicates a position i in the SI direction of the navigator region, and the vertical axis indicates a signal value Wi. A resolution in the SI direction of the ideal template TI is expressed in "res". When res=256, for example, the resolution in the SI direction of the ideal template TI becomes 256 pixels. The ideal template TI can be generated by referring to data of plurality of profiles obtained from a plurality of healthy human bodies. In Brau et al. "Evaluation of Coil Selection Algorithms for Body Navigators" ISMRM, 2012, 3407, the ideal template TI shown in FIG. 25 is prepared, correlation coefficients between the ideal template TI and profiles obtained from respective channels are calculated. Then, channels less susceptible to the signals of the subcutaneous fat and the like are selected out of the plural channels, based on the correlation coefficients.
In the method of Brau et al. "Evaluation of Coil Selection Algorithms for Body Navigators" ISMRM, 2012, 3407, however, there is a case where the optimal channels cannot be selected when a signal in a lung region is large. There has therefore been a demand for a technology capable of selecting the optimal channels even when the signal in the lung region is large.

Magnetic resonance apparatus and method for acquiring navigator signals


Production of a stem cell enriched cell composition using essentially non-toxic methodology comprising contacting a cell mixture with a cell-permeable, fluorescent non-polar compound that reacts upon contact with intracellular enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase or phosphokinase found substantially exclusively in stem cells so as to form a biocompatible fluorescent product that is polar and non-permeable to the membrane of the stem cells, and isolating the cells containing the marker by fluorescent cell sorting.

All the cells circulating in the blood are descendants of a very small number of pluripotent stem cells. These ancestral cells, which comprise less than 0.01 percent of the nucleated cells in the bone marrow, are capable of restoring normal hematopoiesis in individuals in need of reconstitution of their bone marrow. The pluripotent stem cell has the unique capacity for self-renewal and the potential for growth and differentiation along granulocytic, monocytic, erythroid, megakaryocytic, and lymphoid lineages. Some stem cells divide and give rise to progeny that lose their ability to differentiate along multiple pathways and become committed to a specific hematopoietic lineage. These committed progenitor cells continue to proliferate and differentiate into morphologically identifiable precursor cells which then undergo terminal maturation, thereby developing highly specialized functions and lose their ability to proliferate. Techniques have been developed which support the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro. Using these techniques, hematopoietic colonies of mixed and single lineages have been identified and characterized with respect to the factors required for their growth.
Mammalian blood cells provide for an extraordinarily diverse range of activities. The blood cells are divided into several lineages based on function. The lymphoid lineage, comprising B cells and T cells, provides for the production of antibodies, regulation of the cellular immune system, detection of foreign agents in the blood, detection of cells foreign to the host, and the like. The myeloid lineage, which includes monocytes, granulocytes, megakaryocytes, as well as other cells, monitors for the presence of foreign bodies in the blood stream, provides protection against neoplastic cells, scavenges foreign materials in the blood stream, produces platelets, and the like. The erythroid lineage provides the red blood cells, which act as oxygen carriers.
As noted above, the stem cell population constitutes only a small percentage of the total number of leukocytes in bone marrow. At the present time it is not known how many of the markers associated with differentiated cells are also present on the stem cell. One marker which has been indicated as present on stem cells, CD34, is also found on a significant number of lineage-committed progenitors. Another marker that provides for some enrichment of progenitor activity is Class II HLA (particularly a conserved DR epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody designated J1-43). However, these markers are found on numerous lineage-committed hematopoietic cells. In particular, B cells (CD19+) and myeloid cells (CD33+) make up 80-90% of the CD34+ population. Moreover, a combination of CD 3, 8, 10, 15, 19, 20 and 33 will mark .ltoreq.90% of all CD34+ cells. Therefore, in view of the small proportion of the total number of cells in the bone marrow which are stem cells, the uncertainty of the markers associated with stem cells, as distinct from more differentiated cells, and the general inability to conduct a definitive biological assay for human stem cells, the identification and purification of stem cells has been elusive.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is an enzyme responsible for oxidizing intracellular aldehydes and plays an important role in metabolism of ethanol, vitamin A, and cyclophosphamide. Substrates for these enzymes include acetaldehyde and biogenic amines produced during catecholamine catabolism. Further, ALDH appears to be a crucial step in the conversion of vitamin A to its active metabolite, retinoic acid (J. Labrecque, et al, Biochem Cell Biol, 71:85, 1993; A. Yoshida, el al., Enzyme, 46:239, 1992). Of the four ALDH isozymes identified (A. Yoshida, et al., Enzyme, 46:239, 1992), liver cytosolic ALDH appears to be the specific isozyme involved in metabolism of vitamin A (J. Labrecque, et al., Biochem Cell Biol, 71:85, 1993; A. Yoshida, et al., Enzyme, 46:239, 1992) and cyclophosphamide resistance (J. E. Russo et al., Cancer Res 48:2963, 1988). Both hematopoietic progenitors and intestinal crypt stem cells display high levels of cytosolic ALDH, and are accordingly relatively resistant to cyclophosphamide. Although all hematopoietic progenitors are known to express relatively high levels of cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase, both mouse and human HSC appear to express significantly higher levels than less primitive hematopoietic progenitors. Primitive hematopoietic progenitors are more resistant to 4HC than are later progenitors, and this appears to result in large part from their high expression of cytosolic ALDH rather than from their non-cycling status. However, there is no difference in the sensitivity to 4HC analogues of primitive hematopoietic progenitors that are not inactivated by aldehyde dehydrogenase (E. A. Sahovic et al., Cancer Res, 48:1223, 1988).
Increased AND-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, Enzyme Commission 188.8.131.52) activity has been identified as a mechanism of antitumor drug resistance to the alkylating agent cyclosphosphamide (CPA). CPA, a nitrogen mustard derivative incorporating an oxazaphosphorine, is a prodrug, requiring activation by the cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxidase system to produce 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4HC). A spontaneous beta elimination from aldophosphamide liberates the active DNA alkylating agent, phosphoramide mustard, plus acrolein.
CPA is currently used clinically in the treatment of a diverse group of solid and hematologic malignancies, and is a key component of the cytoreductive regimens prior to bone marrow transplantation. A major factor in the success of CPA has been the high therapeutic index observed (Mullins and Colvin, Cancer Chemother Repts, 59:411, 1975). This high therapeutic index is due in part to a "sparing" effect that CPA exerts on normal hematopoietic stem cells (Fried, et al., Cancer Research, 37:1205, 1977) and intestinal crypt stem cells. While damage to these rapidly proliferating stem cell renewal systems is the dose-limiting toxicity of other alkylating agents, these tissues are not profoundly effected by CPA. The diminished toxicity is specific for CPA (and its activated congeners) among alkylating agents. Thus, elevated ALDH levels have been postulated as a mechanism for the relative resistance of bone marrow and intestinal stem cells to CPA. In vivo studies in mice have shown that a cytosolic ALDH isozyme found in murine tumor tissue is responsible for conferring cyclophosphamide resistance (J. E. Russo et al., Enzymology and Molecular Biology of Carbonyl Metabolism, 2:65-79, 1989).
Elevated levels of ALDH have been best characterized as a mechanism of cellular resistance to CPA in the L1210 murine lymphocytic leukemia model (DeWys, 1973), in which a 200-fold higher cytosolic ALDH activity was measured in the cell line resistant to CPA (L1210/CPA) compared to the sensitive, wild-type line.
By definition human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are progenitor cells and are pluripotent in that they have the ability to repopulate lymphohematopoietic lineages on a long-term basis. The isolation of human HSC remains a goal particularly difficult to achieve, since prior to the present invention no single cell characteristic has been found specific for HSC which could be used to prepare an enriched cellular composition. Therefore, the isolation and/or identification of HSC suitable for re-introduction into a host requires an eventual in vivo approach, yet prior art techniques for HSC detection, namely measurement of substrate oxidation in whole cell lysates (J. E. Russo et al., Cancer Res 48:2963, 1988; J. E. Russo et al., Enzymology and Molecular Biology of Carbonyl Metabolism 2:65-79, 1989) or reaction of fixed cells with antibodies (M. B. Kastan et al., Blood 75:1947, 1990; J. E. Russo et al., Enzymology and Molecular Biology of Carbonyl Metabolism 2:65-79, 1989) are lethal to the cells being studied. By the same token, the applicability of animal models has been limited because analogues of many well-characterized HSC markers have not been identified in other species (G. J. Spangrude et al., Science, 241:58, 1988; C. T. Jordan, et al., Cell, 61:953, 1990). Thus, there is a need for a stem cell enriched composition which is produced using essentially non-toxic methodology thereby allowing safe and effective reconstitution of a host in need of such therapy. The present invention answers this need.

Methods for identification or purification of cells containing an enzymatic intracellular marker

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine


A method for automatically measuring the complexity of a technical illustration for prospective users involves converting (50, 52, 54) the technical illustration into compressed data and measuring (60, 66, 70, 72, 74, 78, 80, 82, 86, 88, 92, 94, 96) conversion of the technical illustration into compressed data, to obtain a performance value (94) corresponding to the complexity of the technical illustration (10). This process includes, for example, the step of processing (50, 52, 54) a technical illustration with image-processing software that processes the technical illustration (10). The process further includes embedding measurement operations (60, 66, 70, 72, 74, 78, 80, 82, 86, 88, 92, 94, 96) at predetermined locations in the software to evaluate a selected task performed by the software during the processing (50, 52, 54) of the illustration. The measurements obtained are used to calculate a performance value (94) indicative of the performance of the software in processing the illustration (10). The performance value is utilized to produce a complexity value (96) representative of the visual complexity level of the technical illustration (10).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for determining the complexity of illustrations to be displayed and, more particularly, to a method for automatically indexing the complexity of technical illustrations for prospective users by measuring the performance of software which processes the illustrations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to effectively operate and maintain any complex equipment system, system personnel must have ready access to usable technical data, in either hard-copy or on-line form, which adequately describes both the operation of the overall system and the operation of the individual pieces of equipment forming the system. The technical data relied on by prospective users, such as system operators and personnel assigned to maintain the system equipment, is normally provided by system designers or authors in the form of one or more technical manuals. It can be appreciated that since in many cases the equipment itself is extremely complex, these manuals must necessarily include both a textual description of the equipment operating and maintenance features, and one or more pictures, drawings or schematics of the equipment which accompany the text. These pictures, drawings or schematics are referred to as "technical illustrations."
Since the technical illustration is, in most cases, critical to an overall understanding of the textual material, and provides essential visual data for training, operation, maintenance or repair of system equipment, the technical illustration must be presented by the author in a format which is both easily understood and readily usable by prospective users.
Recognizing the importance of readily understandable and usable technical illustrations, the author is faced with a choice when preparing the illustration. The author recognizes that the cost of developing readily understandable illustrations is tradable, within limits, against the fact that inexpensive but partially or totally incomprehensible illustrations necessarily result in added costs due to ineffective system operation and unnecessary maintenance costs due to lack of illustration clarity. Thus, the author strives to prepare technical illustrations which, in and of themselves, are readily understandable by the intended user. In addition, the author recognizes that well-designed technical illustrations are also indispensable to the effective use of the textual documents which accompany the illustrations.
Although the need for technical illustrations which may be readily understood is well recognized by the illustration author, it is sometimes difficult for the author to determine a minimum complexity level required of a technical illustration to effectively convey sufficient information to the intended user group. From the viewpoint of the illustration author, the level of illustration complexity is important since complexity affects illustration costs and production time. A corollary of this is that productive utilization of technical illustrations becomes more feasible as the illustrations become optimally informative and the numbers of illustrations required to convey sufficient information are reduced.
From the viewpoint of the illustration user, the complexity of the technical illustration is a function of the inherent complexity of the equipment pictured in the illustration, coupled with the level of detail included. Illustration complexity is significantly influenced by other variables, such as task difficulty, spatial organization of a given set of details, and the level of user sophistication in the task at hand.
For the illustration author, determining the level of prospective user sophistication is critical to a determination of the complexity or amount of detail to be presented in the illustration. On the one hand, novice users benefit from more detail, redundancy and primitive expression than do expert users. Conversely, the performance of an expert may actually be degraded, and a novice may be delayed in becoming an expert, if the only available format for a given set of technical data in illustration form encourages rote imitation without a higher-level understanding of the underlying principles of function or operation of the equipment depicted.
Since system designers or authors frequently do not have the resources or time to create different sets of technical illustrations for different prospective user groups, it can be seen that selecting an optimum technical illustration complexity level for all possible user groups is indeed a difficult task.
Therefore, there is a need for a method for automatically determining and indexing the complexity level of a technical illustration which may be utilized by system authors during preparation and storage of the illustration for future printing. The method should provide an overall index of the complexity of the illustration to permit the author to tailor the illustration to its intended user group. It should be possible to implement the method either during the formation of the technical illustration, or after the illustration has been completed. In addition, it should be possible to implement the method independently of the actual production of the illustration.

Method for automatically indexing the complexity of technical illustrations for prospective users


An image processing apparatus for transmitting input image data to another image processing apparatus and causing the other image processing apparatus to process the image data. The image processing apparatus transmits a request to acquire first restriction information about a user in using the image processing apparatus in accordance with input of authentication information to specify the user. A request to acquire second restriction information about the user in using the other image processing apparatus is transmitted in accordance with the input. The user's login to the image processing apparatus is completed in accordance with acquisition of the first restriction information regardless of acquisition of the second restriction information.

An image processing apparatus such as a printer or a multi-function peripheral installed in an office or the like is used by a plurality of users. The image processing apparatus to be used by a plurality of users provides various functions, and it is possible to restrict usable functions for each user of the image processing apparatus. In this case, the image processing apparatus authenticates a user who has logged in to it and specifies functions usable by the user. Such an image processing apparatus can restrict, for example, use of color printing for a certain user and restrict use of the FAX function for another user.
On the other hand, an image processing system is recently used in which a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network execute one job cooperatively. For example, a scanner connected to a network reads image data and transmits it to a printer on the network so that the printer can print it. In this case, the scanner and printer connected to the network execute one copy job cooperatively.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330668 describes a technique of causing a host computer to which a user has logged in to determine his/her authority for use of each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses on a network and present usable image processing apparatuses and usable functions to him/her.
When a user is going to log in to one of the image processing apparatuses on the network, the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330668 poses the following problem. That is, the user needs a long time until log in to a specific image processing apparatus because the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330668 allows log in after acquiring the user restriction information of the remaining image processing apparatuses on the network. If the number of image processing apparatuses on the network increases, the information amount to be processed increases, and the problem becomes more serious.
To solve this problem, the following method is usable. In logging in to a specific image processing apparatus, the restriction of use information of only that image processing apparatus is acquired. To use another image processing apparatus for the above-described cooperative processing, the restriction of use information of the other image processing apparatus is acquired each time. In this method, however, every time the user uses another image processing apparatus, there is a wait time. This degrades the usability for the user in using another image processing apparatus.

Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and program


Provided is a method of forming a pattern, ensuring excellent exposure latitude (EL) and focus latitude (depth of focus DOF). The method of forming a pattern includes (A) forming a film from a resist composition, the resist composition, (B) exposing the film to light, and (C) developing the exposed film using a developer containing an organic solvent, thereby forming a negative pattern. The resist composition contains (a) a resin that is configured to decompose when acted on by an acid and ΔSP thereof represented by formula (1) below is 2.5 (MPa)1/2 or above, (b) a compound that is composed to generate an acid when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, and (c) a solvent.ΔSP=SPF−SPI  (1)

Since the emergence of the resist for a KrF excimer laser (248 nm), it has been of common practice to employ a pattern forming method in which chemical amplification is utilized in order to compensate for any sensitivity decrease caused by light absorption. For example in a positive chemical amplification method, first, a photoacid generator contained in exposed areas is decomposed by light irradiation to thereby generate an acid. Then, in the stage of, for example, the bake after the exposure (Post-Exposure Bake: PEB), the generated acid exerts a catalytic action so that the alkali-insoluble group contained in the photosensitive composition is converted to an alkali-soluble group. Thereafter, development is carried out using, for example, an alkali solution. Thus, the exposed areas are removed to obtain a desired pattern.
For use in the above method, various alkali developers have been proposed. For example, an aqueous alkali developer containing 2.38 mass % TMAH (aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide) is generally used.
The wavelength shortening of the exposure light source and the realization of high numerical apertures (high NA) for projector lenses have been advanced in order to cope with the miniaturization of semiconductor elements. To now, an exposure unit using an ArF excimer laser of 193 nm wavelength as a light source has been developed. Further, a method in which the space between a projector lens and a sample is filled with a liquid of high refractive index (hereinafter also referred to as an "immersion liquid"), namely liquid-immersion method has been proposed as a technology for enhancing the resolving power. Still further, an EUV lithography in which exposure is carried out using an ultraviolet of further shorter wavelength (13.5 nm) has been proposed.
However, the current situation is that it is extremely difficult to discover an appropriate combination of resist composition, developer, rinse liquid, etc., required for the formation of a pattern realizing comprehensively excellent performance. In particular, in accordance with the decrease of the resolved line width of resists, there is a demand for an enhancement of line pattern roughness performance and an enhancement of pattern dimension in-plane uniformity.
In this current situation, in recent years, various formulations have been proposed as a positive resist composition (see, for example, patent references 1 to 4). Moreover, the development of negative resist compositions for use in the pattern formation by alkali development is progressing (see, for example, patent references 5 to 8). These reflect the situation in which in the production of semiconductor elements and the like, while there is a demand for the formation of a pattern with various configurations, such as a line, a trench and a hole, there exist patterns whose formation is difficult with the use of current positive resists.
In recent years, also, a pattern forming method using a negative developer, namely, a developer containing an organic solvent is being exploited (see, for example, patent references 9 to 11). For example, patent reference 11 discloses a pattern forming method comprising the operations of applying onto a substrate a positive resist composition that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, increases its solubility in a positive developer and decreases its solubility in a negative developer, exposing the applied resist composition and developing the exposed resist composition using a negative developer. This method realizes the stable formation of a high-precision fine pattern.
However, as for development performed using a developer containing an organic solvent, there is still a demand for further enhancements of exposure latitude (EL) and focus latitude (depth of focus DOF).

Pattern forming method and resist composition


There is described an oil control ring idealized for internal combustion engines and formed by a ferrous body less than 2.0 millimeters high, which comprises two external contact surfaces where each surface contains a first and a second end ridges, two slanted faces where each slanted face contains a third end, a peripheral cross section facing the cylinder wall and an internal circular section facing the side of the piston, where each contact surface has a height (h) between the first and the second end ridges of up to 0.15 millimeters and the angle of the slanted face is comprised between 8 and 12 degrees and also by the peripheral cross section is solid, without the presence of cracks, holes and/or other kinds of oil drainage areas. The ring permits an improved distribution of the contact pressure of the combination and, therefore, a better conformability of the ring with the cylinder wall.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention refers to an oil control ring formed by a ferrous body up to 2.0 millimeters high, idealized for internal combustion engines and which permits an improved distribution of contact pressure and consequently oil scraping, given the association of its constructive design and elastic characteristics of its material base and/or of the assistance of the elastic expansion elements, thus providing better conformability of the ring with the cylinder wall.
2. Description of Related Art
The internal combustion engines are energy transforming mechanisms used by the vast majority of automotive vehicles, and basically comprise two main parts: one or more cylinder heads and the engine block. At the base of the cylinder head(s) are located the combustion chambers (in diesel engines in general the combustion chambers are heads of the pistons) and in the block are located the cylinders and the crankshaft combination. The rotary assembly is comprised of piston(s), rod(s) and the crankshaft.
The engine converts the energy produced by the combustion of the mixture (fuel and air) in the combustion chambers into mechanical energy capable of generating movement to the wheels.
As the driving force needed to move the automobile comes from the burning of the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, and in order to ensure a homogenous combustion and without burning oil and also to avoid the excess passage of gases from the cylinder to the carter, it is necessary to use rings to ensure good sealing of the gap existing between the piston and the cylinder wall.
Normally, three rings are used, of which two are compression rings and one an oil ring. The compression rings are to prevent the combustion gases from entering the carter and the oil ring is to scrape the excess oil from the cylinder wall and return it to the carter.
Another important function of the rings is to act as heat transmission bridge from the piston to the cylinder wall/casing where the heat dissipates through the cooling system.
The oil rings may be comprised by one, two or three pieces, the two latter types being most commonly used in internal combustion engines. As main characteristics, the one-piece ring uses the elastic properties inherent to the material base in order to meet the expansion force requested for the application, whereas the two-piece ring basically comprises a body and an elastic element and the three-piece ring basically comprises a support body and two ring segments to serve the same purpose.
Currently, the oil rings found in the state of the art have cracks or holes distributed along the peripheral cross section of the body. The function of these cracks or holes is to drain off the excess oil accumulated between the two outer work faces of the ring and increase its flexibility by reducing the firmness of the cross section that contains the cracks, providing greater conformability of the part/combination in relation to the cylinder wall.
However, today, spurred by the drive for greater energy efficiency, engine design trends have moved towards the manufacture of smaller engines, with the reduction of losses in power by friction. To accompany these developments, the height of oil rings have become ever reduced, as well as smaller loads and/or expansion force.
Furthermore, with the trends of reducing attrition in the working of the engine, it is possible to maintain an appropriate contact pressure on the interface ring/cylinder, reducing the ring contact area, even under the actuation of reduced expansion loads. Yet, difficulties in manufacturing, handling of parts and even a potential breakage in the work are some obstacles that must be overcome in projects that are designed to reduce the contact area of the oil control rings.
The ring defined in Brazilian patent application PI 9202268 is designed to solve the problem of reducing the contact area using pear-shaped contact surface profiles.
In contrast, the object of patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,594 is designed to solve the above-mentioned problem by using a stepped contact surface profile, in the form of steps.
In any case, the design changes associated to this trend of de-creasing height and load, as proposed in the state of the art, may also bring with them other undesirable effects, such as the difference in flexibility between the regions having cracks or not along the cross section of the ring thus enabling a variation of contact pressure applied to the cylinder wall that may generate an insufficient or unequal contact between the ring and the cylinder wall and even the elastic element in relation to the ring in the case of two-piece rings.
North American patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,271 describes a combined oil ring, without holes or cracks in the cross section, with an I-shaped body and which uses a rectangular or trapezoidal expander with lower axial height and still capable of achieving high pressure levels, using the removal of the oil drainage areas to enable the construction of the proposed design. Japanese patent application JP 2007170455 describes a two-part oil ring that has reduced spacing of the peripheral cross section (0.6 millimeters or less), where the elimination of the oil drainage areas permits greater constructive firmness of the ring.
Document US2004/021270 refers to a two piece oil control ring comprising a ring body formed into a generally "M" or "I" shaped section with an annular groove on an inside surface of the ring body and a coiled expander attached in the annular groove of the ring body for resiliently urging the ring body toward an inner wall of a cylinder.
The ring body is made of stainless steel that contains chromium of 3.0 to 13.0 weight % with the outer and inner circumferential surfaces covered with nitrided layers. Circular ratio of an outer edge length to an inner edge length in the cross section of the ring body is in a range between 1.08 and 1.32 to keep precise peripheral circularity of the ring body so that the nitrided layers survive lapping of the ring body.
Such patent application, however, does not reveal some important characteristics of the present oil control ring, like at least one contact surface flat, substantially parallel to the cylinder wall and formed by a removal of approximately 25 μm of a triangular end, or the slanted faces of upper and lower rails positioned facing each other.
Document JP 2005 291003 refers to a an odd-form wire rod with a groove with a width of 2 millimeters or less and with a thickness of 2 millimeters or less which can mold an oil ring suitable for a small-sized internal combustion engine. The odd-form wire rod with the groove is characterized in that the width of the rail part sliding surface is not reduced because of grinding processing which makes the surface that is in contact with a ring groove of the piston parallel. The clearance between the extended base lines of the surfaces on both sides which become the surfaces that come into contact with the ring groove of the piston and the outer corner part of the rail part is made not less than 0.08 millimeters each.
This patent application also does not reveal some important characteristics of the present oil control ring, like at least one contact surface flat, substantially parallel to the cylinder wall and formed by a removal of approximately 25 μm of a triangular end, or the slanted faces of upper and lower rails positioned facing each other.
Hence, it is noted that there has not yet been developed an oil control ring that has a maximum thickness of up to 2.0 millimeters and with the peripheral cross section solid, that is, that has no holes or cracks for the oil flow, in order to solve the difficulties of conformation of the ring surfaces in relation to the cylinder wall and/or of the ring in relation to the elastic element if such is used, also being capable of maintaining suitable levels of contact pressure, even under low load due to the use of a profile that provides reduced contact of the ring with the cylinder interface.

Oil control ring with ferrous body less than 2.0 millimeters high for internal combustion engines


Disclosed is a handwriting recognition system with a plurality of input modes, including a storage unit, a touch screen display unit, and a processing unit. The storage unit stores character fonts; each of the character fonts corresponds to at least one of the input modes. The touch screen display unit includes an input panel having at least two input areas located thereon; each of the areas inputs data in one of the input modes. The processing unit judges an input set of touch signals to recognize a character input by handwriting in one of the input modes, according to a position on which one of the input areas, which position corresponds to at least one of the set of touch signals. The character is represented by the set of touch signals. A handwriting recognition method applicable to an electronic apparatus with a plurality of input modes is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a multiple-input handwriting recognition system and measure thereof, in particular with respect to different input areas collate with different input modes so as to provide a multiple-input handwriting recognition system and measure thereof in an interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to the touch tester, the current touch panels generally comprise capacitive, resistive, electromagnetic, pressure, conductive, surface acoustic wave, ultrasonic, optical and so on and so forth. The common types, resistive and capacitive touch panels are mainly applicable to the consumer electronics, such as laptop, tablet, and personal digital assistant and so on, and the usage thereof is to move on the touch panel through a stylus or fingers so as to input characters by handwriting or simulate the click of mouse.
As far as the existing handwriting input modes are concerned, in case the user desires to input characters in different languages, such as English and Chinese, the switch between the input modes are inevitable. This does not only result in inconvenience, but also waste time. As a result, the inventor invented a handwriting input mode, which recognizes the characters input by the user through different input modes. However, the way the technology actives the different input modes in the meantime to conduct judging the character fonts does not only need a complex algorithm, but also result in lower recognition rate in recognizing different languages, such as Chinese character font, English character font and symbol font.

Multiple-input handwriting recognition system and measure thereof

INVENTEC APPLIANCES (PUDONG) CORPORATION

INVENTEC APPLIANCES (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.


A gas turbine engine for mounting under a wing of an aircraft has a propulsor that rotates on a first axis, and an engine core including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section, with the turbine section being closer to the propulsor than the compressor section. The engine core is aerodynamically connected to the propulsor and has a second axis. A nacelle is positioned around the propulsor and engine core. The nacelle is attached to the wing of the aircraft. A downstream end of the nacelle has at least one pivoting door with an actuation mechanism to pivot the door between a stowed position and a horizontal deployed position in which the door inhibits a flow to provide a thrust reverse of the flow.

This application relates generally to a gas turbine engine for an aircraft, and more specifically, to the inclusion of a thrust reverser at a rear end of a gas turbine engine mounted under an aircraft wing.
Gas turbine engines typically include a fan delivering air into a compressor section and also outwardly of the compressor as bypass air. Air from the compressor section passes into a combustor, is mixed with fuel, and ignited. Products of this combustion pass downstream over turbine rotors, driving them to rotate.
In typical gas turbine engines, the fan is positioned axially at a forward end of an engine, and a compressor section is attached downstream thereto. A combustor section and turbine section are located downstream of the compressor section in axial alignment so that the compressor section is nearer the fan than the combustor section or turbine section. In a reverse flow gas turbine engine, the turbine section is adjacent the fan, and the combustor section is at an inner end of the turbine section, with the compressor positioned farthest from the fan.
A thrust reverser is utilized once an aircraft carrying the gas turbine engine has landed, and acts to create a reverse force to slow the aircraft.
One concept that has been proposed in gas turbine engines is a thrust reverser provided by pivoting shell halves at the rear of the turbine section. Such thrust reversers were generally utilized in prior gas turbine engines which used little, or no, bypass air. That is, the thrust reverser only blocked only the turbine flow. For bypass engines, a second thrust reverser is typically present in the nacelle to block the bypass flow adjacent the fan exit.
In addition, various types of thrust reversers have been incorporated into more modern gas turbine engines which do have a large fan providing bypass air as propulsion, and in addition to the air passing through the compressor. However, this standard type of gas turbine engine generally had an engine core that extended beyond the end of the nozzle, such that the shell halves could not pivot inwardly to a thrust reverse position.

Reverse core engine thrust reverser for under wing