This invention provides a fusion molecule comprising a DNA sequence encoding a thioredoxin-like protein fused to the DNA sequence encoding a selected heterologous peptide or protein. The peptide or protein may be fused to the amino terminus of the thioredoxin-like molecule, the carboxyl terminus of the thioredoxin-like molecule, or within the thioredoxin-like molecule, for example at the active-site loop of said molecule. Expression of this fusion molecule under the control of a regulatory sequence capable of directing its expression in a desired host cell, produces high levels of stable and soluble fusion protein. The fusion protein, located in the bacterial cytoplasm, may be selectively released from the cell by osmotic shock or freeze/thaw procedures. It may be optionally cleaved to liberate the soluble, correctly folded heterologous protein from the thioredoxin-like portion.

Many peptides and proteins can be produced via recombinant means in a variety of expression systems, e.g., various strains of bacterial, fungal, mammalian or insect cells. However, when bacteria are used as host cells for heterologous gene expression, several problems frequently occur.
For example, heterologous genes encoding small peptides are often poorly expressed in bacteria. Because of their size, most small peptides are unable to adopt stable, soluble conformations and are subject to intracellular degradation by proteases and peptidases present in the host cell. Those small peptides which do manage to accumulate when directly expressed in E. coli or other bacterial hosts are usually found in the insoluble or "inclusion body" fraction, an occurrence which renders them almost useless for screening purposes in biological or biochemical assays.
Moreover, even if small peptides are not produced in inclusion bodies, the production of small peptides by recombinant means as candidates for new drugs or enzyme inhibitors encounters further problems. Even small linear peptides can adopt an enormous number of potential structures due to their degrees of conformational freedom. Thus a small peptide can have the `desired` amino-acid sequence and yet have very low activity in an assay because the `active` peptide conformation is only one of the many alternative structures adopted in free solution. This presents another difficulty encountered in producing small heterologous peptides recombinantly for effective research and therapeutic use.
Inclusion body formation is also frequently observed when the genes for heterologous proteins are expressed in bacterial cells. These inclusion bodies usually require further manipulations in order to solubilize and refold the heterologous protein, with conditions determined empirically and with uncertainty in each case.
If these additional procedures are not successful, little to no protein retaining bioactivity can be recovered from the host cells. Moreover, these additional processes are often technically difficult and prohibitively expensive for practical production of recombinant proteins for therapeutic, diagnostic or other research uses.
To overcome these problems, the art has employed certain peptides or proteins as fusion "partners" with a desired heterologous peptide or protein to enable the recombinant expression and/or secretion of small peptides or larger proteins as fusion proteins in bacterial expression systems. Among such fusion partners are included lacz and trpE fusion proteins, maltose-binding protein fusions, and glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins [See, generally, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 2, suppl. 10, publ. John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., pp. 16.4.1-16.8.1 (1990); and Smith et al, gene, 67:31-40 (1988)). As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,536 describes the fusion of a bacterial flagellin protein to a desired protein to enable the production of a heterologous gene in a bacterial cell and its secretion into the culture medium as a fusion protein.
However, often fusions of desired peptides or proteins to other proteins (i.e., as fusion partners) at the amino- or carboxyl- termini of these fusion partner proteins have other potential disadvantages. Experience in E. coli has shown that a crucial factor in obtaining high levels of gene expression is the efficiency of translational initiation. Translational initiation in E. coli is very sensitive to the nucleotide sequence surrounding the initiating methionine codon of the desired heterologous peptide or protein sequence, although the rules governing this phenomenon are not clear. For this reason, fusions of sequences at the amino-terminus of many fusion partner proteins affects expression levels in an unpredictable manner. In addition there are numerous amino- and carboxypeptidases in E. coli which degrade amino- or carboxyl-terminal peptide extensions to fusion partner proteins so that a number of the known fusion partners have a low success rate for producing stable fusion proteins.
The purification of proteins produced by recombinant expression systems is often a serious challenge. There is a continuing requirement for new and easier methods to produce homogeneous preparations of recombinant proteins, and yet a number of the fusion partners currently used in the art possess no inherent properties that would facilitate the purification process. Therefore, in the art of recombinant expression systems, there remains a need for new compositions and processes for the production and purification of stable, soluble peptides and proteins for use in research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Peptide and protein fusions to thioredoxin and thioredoxin-like molecules


A method and computer system for tracking kernel resource usage is disclosed that tracks kernel resources allocated to user processes called from the user level of the operating system. A tag of the user processes is generated, which allows a way to identify the user processes and associate allocated kernel resources to the user process. As a result, the user processes can be charged for kernel resources.

Operating systems ("OSs") are generally divided into two levels of operations, specifically a user level and a kernel level. To distinguish the processes of the user level and the kernel level, a process called from the user level will be referred to as a "user process," and a process called from the kernel level will be referred as a "kernel process." A user process generally relates to a user-related process, such as editing a document using an editor (e.g., Microsoft Word®), while a kernel process relates to an OS-related process, such as a driver. Both the kernel process and the user process periodically request kernel resources, such as kernel pool memory or kernel pool resource. The current Windows® operating system provides a way to tag a driver that has been allocated kernel resources. The tag information can then be used to track kernel resource usage between different kernel processes. Moreover, in the Windows® operating system, although the Windows Performance, Logging, and Task Manager services track resource usage from a user process, these services do not provide any information about the usage of the kernel pool resources by the user processes. This is so due to the non-availability of mechanisms to gather information about user process usage of the kernel pool resources.

Method and system for tracking kernel resource usage


Uretdione-functional polyaddition compounds of the formula: ##STR1## where: ##STR2## R.sup.1 is R or linear, branched or cyclic alkylene radicals of 2-16 carbon atoms,. R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different hydrocarbon radicals of 1-14 carbon atoms,. R.sup.4 is R.sup.2 or a group ##STR3##

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polyaddition compounds which are uretdione-functional (i.e. contain uretdione groups) and have free, partially or fully blocked isocyanate groups, to a process for their preparation, and to the use of the polyaddition compounds in the preparation of polyurethane powder coatings having a matt surface.

Uretdione-functional polyaddition compounds, a process for their preparation, and their use


A method of generating an electrical discharge in a high pressure gas contained in a sealed enclosure. The method includes driving a helical coil resonator at an RF frequency to generate an RF electric-magnetic field sufficient to generate an electrical discharge in the high pressure gas. The electrical discharge produces an emission spectrum that may be spectroscopically analyzed to determine the composition and impurity content of the gas.

Metal halide and other high intensity discharge (HID) lamps have found widespread acceptance for lighting large area indoor and outdoor spaces. In the manufacture of HID lamps, it is often desirable to provide a controlled atmosphere for many of the components of the lamp to prevent premature failure of the components and thereby prolong the operating life of the lamp. For example, the exposure of the arc tube of an HID lamp to small amounts of oxygen during lamp operation will significantly degrade the components leading to lamp failure, thus shortening the operating life of the lamp. Further by way of example, the exposure of the arc tube to hydrogen may lead to diffusion of hydrogen into the arc tube leading to high starting and re-ignition voltages, and ultimately reduced life expectancy of the lamp. To prevent the exposure of such components to damaging atmospheres, it is well known to provide a controlled atmosphere for the components by enveloping the components in a desired atmosphere contained within an outer lamp jacket. Typically, the outer jacket of an HID lamp is filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen.
In view of the deleterious effects of the presence of impurities, it is desirable to nondestructively analyze the composition and impurity content of the gaseous atmosphere contained within the lamp outer jackets. Gas analysis by emission spectroscopy is well known in analyzing the composition and impurity content of gaseous atmospheres at low pressures (<about 0.1 atm). However, the gaseous atmosphere contained within an outer jacket of an HID lamp is typically at relatively high pressure (about 0.1–2.0 atm). There remains a need for nondestructive gas analysis by emission spectroscopy in high pressure gaseous atmospheres.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate the deficiencies of the prior art and to provide a novel system and method for nondestructive high pressure gas analysis.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel system and method for generating a discharge in a high pressure gas.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel system and method for creating a stable electrical discharge in a high pressure gas contained in a sealed enclosure, so that the composition and impurity content of the gas can be spectroscopically analyzed without destroying the enclosure.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel system and method for emission spectroscopy of gaseous atmospheres.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel system and method for nondestructive analysis of HID lamps.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

System and method for generating a discharge in high pressure gases


A computing system that facilitates decoding a spherical harmonics (SH) representation of a three-dimensional sound signal to a binaural sound signal is described herein. The computing system generates a binaural sound signal based upon the SH representation, a tapering window function that is selected based on an SH encoding order of the SH representation, and a coloration compensation filter that incorporates the tapering window function. The computing system causes the binaural sound signal to be played over at least two speakers.

Spatial sound scenes refer to audio scenes in which sound is reproduced (or appears to be reproduced) by a sound system in three dimensions. A spatial sound scene covers sounds produced by sound sources not only in a horizontal plane of ears of a listener, but also sounds produced by sound sources that are above and below the ears of the listener, as well as surface reflections off the horizontal plane, for example from the floor or ceiling. In comparison to stereo sound scenes and traditional planar-based surround sounds scenes, spatial sound scenes provide a more realistic auditory experience to the listener.
Three-dimensional sound signals representing spatial sound scenes may be encoded in different formats. One format is an object-based representation. In the object-based representation, a description of sound sources in a sound system that is to reproduce the spatial sound scene is required, as well as locations of the sound sources in the sound system with respect to a listener. In the object-based representation, a rendering cost of reproducing the spatial sound scene scales with a number of sound sources in a sound system that reproduces the spatial sound scene.
Another format for encoding three-dimensional sound signals is a spherical harmonics (SH) representation (also referred to as Ambisonics). An SH representation represents a spatial sound scene in terms of SH coefficients. Unlike object-based representations, the SH representation describes a spatial sound scene in a manner that is independent of a number of sound sources present in the scene as well as a sound system that reproduces the spatial sound scene. Thus, a rendering cost of reproducing the SH representation does not scale with a number of sound sources present in the spatial sound scene, but rather scales with an SH encoding order of the SH representation. A defining feature of spatial sound scenes is their spatial bandwidth, which is a measure of the spatial diversity and acuity of sources in the scene. Complex natural or virtual scenes may have high spatial bandwidth. One way to quantify spatial bandwidth is via the number of SH coefficients required to encode the spatial sound scene. Higher SH encoding orders utilize a relatively greater number of SH coefficients, thus leading to a relatively more accurate reproduction of the spatial sound scene with high spatial bandwidth, but higher SH encoding orders require more computational resources and data rates to decode. In contrast, lower SH encoding orders utilize relatively fewer SH coefficients, thus leading to a relatively less accurate reproduction of the spatial sound scene with high spatial bandwidth, but lower SH encoding orders require less computational resources and data rates to decode. By way of example, a number of SH coefficients of a first SH representation of SH encoding order two is greater than a number of SH coefficients of a second SH representation of SH encoding order one, and hence the first SH representation includes relatively less inaccuracies when reproduced over a sound system and the second SH representation includes relatively more inaccuracies when reproduced over a sound system. In practice, higher order SH coefficients are often truncated from the SH representation of a spatial sound scene with high spatial bandwidth in order to account for limited computational resources; however, this negatively affects quality of the spatial sound scene by introducing spatial and spectral inaccuracies.
Spatial sound scenes encoded in an SH representation are often reproduced binaurally over headphones, either by way of simulating an array of virtual speakers or by decoding the SH representation directly to binaural sound signals via SH encoded head-related transfer function (HRTF) filters. HRTF filters have high spatial bandwidth, that is, they require a large number of SH coefficients for accurate SH representation. Binaural audio refers to an audio reproduction that allows a listener to localize sound sources in three dimensions (e.g., sound sources in front of the listener, sound sources behind the listener, sound sources to the left of the listener, sound sources to the right of the listener, sound sources above the listener, sound sources below the listener, etc.).
Converting an SH representation to a binaural sound signal introduces various inaccuracies to the binaural sound signal (e.g., due to truncation of higher order SH coefficients of the spatial sound scene or the HRTF filters). The inaccuracies may include average spectral coloration which affects the timbre of the binaural sound signal. The inaccuracies may also include angle-dependent spectral coloration, which introduces inaccuracies based upon an angle of the binaural sound signal with respect to the listener. The inaccuracies may further include left-right confusion in a reproduction whereby sounds that are meant to be reproduced as coming from the left of the listener are perceived by the listener as coming from the right of the listener (and vice versa). The inaccuracies may also include front-back confusion in a reproduction whereby sounds that are meant to be reproduced as coming from the front of the listener are perceived by the listener as coming from the back of the listener (and vice versa). The inaccuracies may additionally include inconsistent reproduction of moving sounds with respect to the listener.

Computing system for binaural ambisonics decoding


Corner pumping method and gain module for high power slab laser are disclosed. In one embodiment, said method comprises directing a pump light from one or more pump light sources each consisting of a high power diode array and its coupling system into a laser slab through prior cut slab corners of said laser slab without restriction to the incident angle or the polarization state of the pump light, wherein said laser slab includes an undoped circumambient portion and one or more doped central portions; propagating said pump light within the laser slab by total internal reflection (TIR), wherein said pump light firstly pass said undoped circumambient portion, secondly pass said doped central portion, thirdly pass said undoped circumambient portion again, and fourthly take inner reflection at the surface of said undoped circumambient portion, and by repeating these steps, achieve multi-pass absorption; and substantially absorbing the pump light during propagating. In another embodiment, said gain module comprises a laser slab formed by solid state laser material, said laser slab including an undoped circumambient portion and one or more doped central portions and prior cut slab corners with corner faces; and one or more pump source providing a pump light; wherein said pump light is directed into said laser slab through said slab corners of said laser slab, propagated within said laser slab and substantially absorbed during propagation; and wherein said laser slab outputs an amplified laser beam.

Gain medium with rod or slab geometries are commonly used for high power solid-state laser. In general, slab geometry has advantages over rod geometry. For example, material for the slab is selected to have a relatively high index of refraction. The slab is cooled with a cooling medium having a relatively low index of refraction. This change in the index of refraction at the slab coolant interface results in incident light beams directed to one end face of the slab being totally internally reflected through the slab in a zigzag manner. The zigzag optical path averages the primary thermal gradient in the thickness direction, and reduces thermal lensing effect. In addition, the rectilinear cross section of the slab makes stress-induced birefringence much lower. Examples of solid-state lasers utilizing such zigzag amplifiers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,730,324, 4,852,109, 5,305,345, 6,094,297 and 6,134,258.
In order to excite the laser slab to a relatively high-energy meta-stable state, various pumping methods have been developed for slab lasers, such as side pumping, end pumping, and edge pumping. For side-pumping geometry, the pumping sources are configured such that the light from the pumping source is directed along a lateral face of the slab in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slab, to obtain uniform pump power distribution in the slab. Examples of optical amplifiers with such configuration are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,127,827, 4,852,109, 5,271,031, 5,305,345, 5,646,773 and 5,651,021. Unfortunately, such configurations limit the absorption length of the pumping light to just a few millimeters. When such side pump configurations are used with lasers or optical amplifiers which use a solid-state laser material with relatively low absorption coefficient, such as Yb doped materials, it causes low absorption efficiency, and thus the overall efficiency are reduced. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,297, a novel end-pumped zigzag slab laser which has relatively long absorption length is invented, but the disadvantage of this invention is that, with such configuration, power scaling is difficult because one can not couple more pump power into the slab while maintaining the slab thickness not too large for the reason of effective cooling. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,258, a transverse-pumped configuration is invented in order to increase absorption length by using width of the slab instead of thickness to absorb pump light. Unfortunately, for high power laser using quasi-three-level lasing material, such as Yb doped materials, the doping concentration must be low in order to decrease laser threshold, therefore, absorption is not sufficient while utilizing such transverse-pumped configuration due to relatively low absorption coefficient.

Corner-pumping method and gain module for high power slab laser


Two cam pins of the variable magnification lens group and the aberration correction lens group are guided by two side walls of one cam groove. Thus, two cam grooves can deal with three movable lens groups, and there is no need to provide three cam grooves. Consequently, the cam cylinder can be short, and thereby the zoom lens apparatus can be compact. A spring applies force to the two cam pins to separate from one another, so that the cam pins can be pressed against the side walls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a zoom lens apparatus, and more particularly to a zoom lens apparatus which is provided with a variable magnification lens group, an aberration correction lens group and a focus correction lens group.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional zoom lens apparatus zooms an image by means of two movable lens groups including a variable magnification lens group and a focus correction lens group. The zooming performance has been recently improved by three movable lens groups further including an aberration correction lens group.
A cam cylinder (a cam member) is rotatably arranged on the lens barrel of the above-mentioned zoom lens apparatus. Three cam grooves are formed on the cam cylinder, and each cam groove is engaged with a cam pin (follower) provided in each movable lens group. The cam pins stick out through the cam grooves, and engage with straight grooves formed on a fixed cylinder, which is arranged on the periphery of the cam cylinder. Thus, when the cam cylinder is rotated, the variable magnification lens group, the aberration correction lens group and the focus correction lens group separately move both forward and backward along the optical axis due to the operation of the cam pins, the cam grooves and the straight grooves.
The conventional zoom lens apparatus, however, is provided with three cam grooves, which are formed on the cam cylinder, and thus, the cam cylinder is long and the zoom lens apparatus is large in size.

Zoom lens apparatus with shared cam groove


A wiper blade for endless conveyor belts has three basic components or features which improves blade performance over the prior art. These components include:. 1. a multiradius side profile having a concavity defining the torsion resistance point, PA1 2. a thicker base section, and PA1 3. a high profile metal mounting insert.. These three components act together to substantially reduce the bending moments associated with wiper blade operation and provide an improved structural profile with a high moment of inertia and shorter effective column length. These structural improvements allow the use of softer and more wear-resistant elastic polymers without the risk of blade buckling. The multiradius concave side profiles allow the use of a short thin blade tip profile which transitions to the thicker, ridged base profile. The bending moment generated by the operational forces is now resisted primarily at the transition point of the two profiles, e.g. at the point of maximum concavity on the side opposite the conveyor and head pulley facing side of the blade. This effectively reduces the offset or eccentricity of loading up to 50% over the prior art and, thereby, reduces the bending moment to up to 50%. This reduces the tendency of the blade tip to curl downward towards the mounting base and buckle.

Gordon U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,589, depicted in FIG. 3, is directed to a conveyor belt cleaning system and discloses a belt wiper 3W which consists essentially a narrow flat base 3B with two constant radius arcs AL and AR starting at each corner of the narrow base 3B and meeting at a point forming the blade tip or scraper edge 3SE. These previous blades were attached to tensioning frames by a metal insert 3MI which has a short profile and cast within the elastic polymer blade body. Blade sidewall AL is concave towards the belt conveyor and the head pulley, and the other blade sidewall AR is convex away from the belt conveyor and head pulley.
This design produces a relatively long and narrow profile of limited structure rigidity (low moment of inertia and a long effective column length). Operational forces on this type of blade design produce relatively large bending moments which are resisted by the short profile metal mounting insert. Blades of this profile resist operational forces by the tip deflecting downward toward the base. The offset of the blade tip relative to the mounting insert produces this large bending moment when coupled with deflecting force at the tip (eccentrically loaded member).
The consequences of this profile design are that harder, less wear-resistant polymers should be used to compensate for the lack of structural rigidity and large bending moments. In severe cases, these conditions have caused a large number of blade failures in the field due to buckling, as the blade tips "curl under" when obstructions are encountered.


The present disclosure relates to a polyethylene composition comprising copolymers of ethylene with 1-alkenes, or mixtures of ethylene homopolymers and said copolymers of ethylene with 1-alkenes, wherein the polyethylene composition has a molar mass distribution width (MWD) Mw/Mn of from 7 to 15, a density of from 0.942 to 0.954 g/cm3, a weight average molar mass Mw of from 20,000 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol, a MIE of from 1.0 to 3.0 g/10 min, a MIF of from 100 to 200 g/10 min, and a ratio MIF/MIE of from 40 to 50.

Injection molding is a molding technique suitable for molding small to large objects. A mold is generated in dedicated injection molding machines comprising a rotating screw in a barrel. The mold is injected continuously or with a mold buffer by means of pressure.
If the injectable object is large and complicated in shape, the pressure has to be very high in order to completely fill the cavity. Often several hot runners are used to overcome the high pressure level and to generate an even temperature profile while injecting polyethylene, in order to minimize the warpage of the injected large, hollow objects.
Examples of polyethylene for injection molding, particularly suited for preparing screw closures, are disclosed in WIPO Pat. App. Pub. No. WO2005103096.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


This invention provides a method for measuring an antigen concentration in a sample, which comprises: preparing VH-domain polypeptide and VL-domain polypeptide of an antibody specific to the antigen; labeling one of the polypeptides with a reporter molecule to form labeled polypeptides, and immobilizing the other polypeptides onto solid-phase to form immobilized polypeptides; contacting the antigen-containing sample and the labeled polypeptides with the solid-phase; and measuring the reporter molecule of the labeled polypeptides bound to the immobilized polypeptides. The present invention permits simpler and quicker sandwich ELISA for measurements of an antigen concentration in high sensitivity.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring antigen concentration in a sample. It relates more specifically to a new method for making more simple and highly sensitive measurements of antigen concentration by employing intramolecular interactions between components of antibody (immunoglobulin). This method can be utilized as, for example, a sandwich ELISA method, and is useful for clinical diagnosis of the concentrations of various antigens in biological samples (blood, urine and body fluid). It is also applicable to the specific detection of all other sorts of substances, both natural and unnatural, recognizable as an antigen, and can be used as research and industrial sensors.

Method for measuring antigen concentration


Powered and steerable telescoping conveyors. The telescoping conveyors have an infeed section and a discharge section. The discharge section can be telescoped beneath the infeed section in a retracted position. In an extended position, containers can be conveyed over first and second conveying structures that are located on the infeed and discharge sections, respectfully. The conveying structures can include wheels, rollers, or belts. A power module can move the discharge section between the extended and retracted positions. The power module can be located at various positions along the conveyor, including at a discharge end of the discharge section. A steering assembly can be provided to orient the discharge section with respect to the infeed section. The steering assembly can include two wheels, each wheel having its own independent wheel-steering axis. A power module can be associated with each of the independent wheels. The conveyor can be provided with guide rails and guide pins to align the discharge and infeed sections. There can be a bumper bar to brake the conveyor if the conveyor contacts an immovable object. The entire conveyor can be portable.

Telescoping conveyors are conventionally used to convey items such as containers of product in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other locations. Typically, a warehouse floor has a fixed conveyor distribution system that conveys containers within the warehouse. The warehouse typically has docking stations that trucks can access to load or unload containers. Several docking stations are typically located adjacent to one another along at least one edge of the warehouse floor. The fixed conveyor distribution system and the docking station are typically separated from one another by a distance. The distance is usually too great to manually transport containers across. A telescoping conveyor can be used to convey containers to and from the fixed conveyor distribution system within the warehouse and the truck parked at the docking station. Telescoping conveyor use is not limited to warehouses that service trucks, but can include any situation where items need to be conveyed from one place to another.
It is sometimes desirable to move the conveyor to accommodate the truck's location and to direct the stream of containers to particular portions inside the truck being filled. Conveyors are typically very heavy and difficult to move, however, and workers can experience overexertion, strain, or injury as a result of improper efforts to move the conveyor. In some conveyors, a motor or other power unit can be employed to assist the workers in telescoping the sections of the conveyor, and in some embodiments a steering assembly can be employed to help direct the location of the conveyor.
Telescoping conveyors in the prior art are disclosed in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,308 to Parks et al., which discloses a telescoping conveyor with a single wheel-steering axis and a power module located at an infeed section of the conveyor. Because the power module in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,308 is located at the infeed section, the conveyor has decreased traction and cannot adequately overcome ramps or lowered gates that typically extend from the rear of a truck. Also, the steering assembly has the disadvantage of a limited turning radius, which presents an opportunity for the conveyor to tip over. The conveyor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,416 to Bonnet also has a steering assembly with a single wheel-turning axis with the same disadvantages as are present in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,308 to Parks et al.

Telescoping conveyor with powered and steerable discharge section


The present invention relates to a composition comprising two or more anti-irritants, each having at least about 7.2% oxygen content. In a separate embodiment, the composition may be defined to include a skin conditioning agent, a skin protectant agent, and an anti-irritant agent, each having an oxygen content of at least about 7.2%. The invention further comprises methods of treating and preventing skin conditions by applying the composition to the skin, and then optionally washing the skin.

A large population of people suffer from various inflammatory skin conditions including acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, various seborrheas, eczema, psoriasis, various mite infestations, various scabies infestations, other inflammatory skin conditions, and the clinical symptoms thereof, just to name a few examples. These skin disorders are accompanied by increased irritation and may also cause an increase in the presence of microorganisms. In this specification, irritation is defined as a condition of redness, itching, burning, pain and/or discomfort of the skin, and may include inflammation, soreness, or irritability of the skin. These clinical symptoms can be painful, bothersome, and have a negative effect on the quality of life of the patient. Thus, treatment is often necessary. Each skin condition may affect a different layer or layers of the skin. For example, mild acne involves inflammation of the upper part of the pilosebaceous follicle while mite infestation involves inflammation which may be due to the excretions of mites in one or more of the stratum corneum, epidermal tissue, and the pilosebaceous follicle. When treating these conditions, it is important for the appropriate agents to reach the appropriate layer of skin in order for the treatment to be effective. A skin treatment composition that can reach various layers of the skin, thereby effectively treating skin problems, is needed.
Another problem associated with various skin disorders is the negative side effects associated with the pharmaceutically active ingredients. Treatment with pharmaceutically active ingredients may aggravate and inflame the skin causing dryness, flaking, cracking and peeling. These side effects are especially problematic in individuals with sensitive skin. These negative side effects may have an effect on patient compliance. Individuals who suffer severe side effects may fail to follow the prescribed treatment schedule or may even discontinue treatment altogether. Thus, a composition is needed to help treat and lessen the effects associated with pharmaceutically active ingredients.


A thermoplastic molding compositions comprising thermoplastic polycarbonate and an additive amount of an aluminum compound is disclosed. The aluminum compound is characterized by its particle size and the composition is characterized by its improved anti-static properties.

Thermoplastic moulding compositions, in particular those which comprise homo- and/or copolymers of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, polycarbonates and polyesters, are known from a large number of publications. This particularly applies to the use of ABS polymers. Reference is made to the following documents merely by way of example: DE-A-19616, WO 97/40092, EP-A-728811, EP-A-315868 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,285), EP-A 0174493 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,658), U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,675, JA 59202240, EP-A 0363608 (=U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,394), EP-A 0767204, EP-A 0611798, WO 96/27600 and EP-A 0754.
The thermoplastic moulding compositions described in this prior art are still in need of improvement in their mechanical properties. This particularly applies to the use of these moulding compositions in safety-relevant components, e.g. in the motor vehicle industry, where high requirements are imposed on elongation at break, ESC properties, notched impact strength, heat distortion point and processability.
The antistatic action of the known moulding compositions also still requires improvement.

Polycarbonate moulding materials with anti-static properties


Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating optimized host placement of data payload in a cloud-based storage network. In aspects, a user can maintain a user premise network including servers, clients, local area networks, data stores, and/or other network assets. An administrator or other user of the premise network may wish to extract data from the premise network and transfer that data payload to a set of host storage clouds to leverage cost, redundancy, consolidation, or other cloud advantages. The placement tool can evaluate potential target cloud-based data stores based on various or multiple parameters for the hosting features offered by different cloud providers. The tool can generate a determination of the target host or hosts which can provide the best-matched or optimized data hosting facilities or services for the user's data payload in the cloud. The selected target(s) can be based on cost, capacity, security, compatibility, or other parameters or specifications, which can be user-specified or user-weighted.

The advent of cloud-based computing architectures has opened new possibilities for the rapid and scalable deployment of virtual Web stores, media outlets, social networking sites, and many other on-line sites or services. In general, a cloud-based architecture deploys a set of hosted resources such as processors, operating systems, software and other components that can be combined together to form virtual machines. A user or customer can request the instantiation of a virtual machine or set of machines from those resources from a central server or cloud management system to perform intended tasks, services, or applications. For example, a user may wish to set up and instantiate a virtual server from the cloud to create a storefront to market products or services on a temporary basis, for instance, to sell tickets to or merchandise for an upcoming sports or musical performance. The user can subscribe to the set of resources needed to build and run the set of instantiated virtual machines on a comparatively short-term basis, such as hours or days, for their intended application.
Typically, when a user utilizes a cloud, the user must track the software applications executed in the cloud and/or processes instantiated in the cloud. For example, the user must track the cloud processes to ensure that the correct cloud processes have been instantiated, that the cloud processes are functioning properly and/or efficiently, that the cloud is providing sufficient resources to the cloud processes, and so forth. Due in part to the user's requirements and overall usage of the cloud, the user may have many applications and/or processes instantiated in a cloud at any given instant, and the user's deployment of virtual machines, software, and other resources can change dynamically over time. In cases, the user may also utilize multiple independent clouds to support the user's cloud deployment. That user may further instantiate and use multiple applications or other software or services inside or across multiple of those cloud boundaries, and those resources may be used or consumed by multiple or differing end-user groups in those different cloud networks.
In terms of data deployment and migration to the cloud, in cases, an administrator or other user may wish to consider transporting a set of data from a premise-based network into cloud-hosted storage, for instance to leverage the cost, consolidation, management tools, and/or other features or advantages of the cloud. In an unmodified or unaided cloud storage platform, relatively large-scale storage resources may be available for users wishing to upload their data assets into the cloud, but without any special or enhanced set of connections into the host storage clouds. In the case of relatively large-scale premise data stores, such as those maintained, merely for instance, by hospitals, government agencies, financial institutions, or other entities, the amount of data that needs to be transported may be in the range of terabytes, petabytes, or more. In the case of those comparatively large-scale data installations, an attempt to migrate the data over public Internet connections, such as packet-switched TCP/IP (transfer control protocol/Internet protocol) or FTP (file transfer protocol) connections, the delivery of the data payload could require days or weeks of time. For many organizations, that type of transfer delay may be impractical or impossible. In addition, the relatively narrow-bandwidth connections available over the public Internet may not be secure, and for sensitive data or applications, the use of such connections may also not be a valid or practical option. Narrow-bandwidth connections into a host storage cloud may also not allow for data management services such as error correction, in-flight encryption, or other security or management options.
Moreover, in some cloud-based storage networks, after completion of the transport and mounting of the data payload of interest to an intermediate distribution service, there may be multiple potential target hosts to which the data payload may be moved and hosted. In aspects, without any additional decision logic or hosting or management tools, the user could be forced to manually review all available target storage clouds, and manually inspect or consider those potential hosting sites to determine which cloud or clouds may meet their criteria of interest, and ultimately select a cloud or clouds they wish to host their data payload.
It may be desirable to provide systems and methods for generating an optimized host placement of a data payload in a cloud-based storage network, in which the interrogation, matching, rating and selection of one or more host storage clouds can be conducted on an automatic or optimized basis, in which all available cloud storage options can be discovered and evaluated against a users set of selected storage criteria or parameters using placement tools and logic, to select or identify an optimized or best-available set of host storage clouds in which to place the users desired data payload.

Generating optimized host placement of data payload in cloud-based storage network


An object is examined by detecting properties of the object at different times within a space formed by spatial frequencies. This is done such that temporally consecutive recordings are made in overlapping regions of the spatial frequency space and also in regions of the spatial frequency space that differ from one another.

Examinations of the spatial frequency space find widespread use in many technological fields. Since momentum spaces correspond to spatial frequency spaces, the term spatial frequency space also includes momentum spaces. The designation spatial frequency space serves to clarify that the invention also relates to methods in which no momentum transfer takes place.
A known problem in recoding spatial frequency spaces is that, when a high spatial resolution is combined with a high spatial frequency resolution, a very long measuring time is needed.
The keyhole process is a known procedure for solving this problem. In this process, a high-resolution image is acquired by acquiring the entire spatial frequency space at least at one point in time. In one or more further measuring steps, a central area of the spatial frequency space is recorded, which determines the contrast of the reconstructed image. Subsequently, the high-resolution image is joined mathematically to the image or images recorded of the central areas of the spatial frequency space in such a way that, even for another point in time or for other points in time, an image having a high-resolution effect is acquired with a contrast that corresponds to the point in time of the recording.
This known method entails the drawback that contrast changes between consecutive measurements can only be ascertained if they have a sufficiently large spatial extension.
This drawback is especially detrimental when functional parameters are to be acquired.
Thus, for example, in functional magnetic resonance imaging, there is a need for parameters that influence nuclear magnetic resonance signals to be acquired with the highest possible spatial resolution
The invention relates especially to an imaging process for examining substances in which, by means of indirect nuclear spin interaction, a precession of nuclear spins with an additional phase angle relative to an already present precession is generated in an external magnetic field so that a transversal magnetization fans out perpendicular to the external magnetic field and so that a relaxation of the transversal magnetization with a relaxation time T2 is generated.
Magnetic resonance imaging allows the various physiological parameters to be ascertained. Examples of this are the acquisition of regional cerebral blood volumes (rCBV) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).
With known perfusion experiments, examinations are carried out subsequent to an intravenous injection of a contrast agent, for example, a gadolinium chelate such as Gd-DTPA or Gd-BOPTA.

Keyhole echo-planar imaging with double (T1 and T2*) contrast (DC-EPIC)


A computer-implemented method for authentication is provided. The method includes displaying, on a display device and while in a locked state, a set of color wheels, each color wheel having a plurality of segments with each segment being a different color. User input is received via an input device on the set of color wheels. The user input is converted to a string. The string is communicated to an authentication server. In response to communicating the string, a response is received from the authentication server and the response is processed.

The present disclosure relates to computing device security, and more specifically, to authentication for computing device security.
Many digital devices require a personal identification number (PIN) to unlock. Often a user will select a PIN based on a number that is well known to the user. For example, users may choose PINs based on birthdays, anniversaries, addresses, or other numerical data that may be publicly known and tested by an unauthorized accessor.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Methods and systems for reconfiguring an aperture of an optical inspection system are presented. A programmable aperture system includes a two dimensional array of mechanical pixels that selectively block light passing through the aperture. An array of linear guiding elements is aligned parallel to one another, and each row of mechanical pixels is supported by a corresponding linear guiding element. Each mechanical pixel is configured to slide along the corresponding linear guiding element when pushed by an actuator subsystem. The actuator subsystem repositions one or more of the mechanical pixel elements to change the shape of the aperture. The actuator subsystem is configured to selectively engage one or more mechanical pixel elements and translate the one or more mechanical pixel elements along corresponding linear guiding elements to a new position.

Semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices are typically fabricated by a sequence of processing steps applied to a specimen. The various features and multiple structural levels of the semiconductor devices are formed by these processing steps. For example, lithography among others is one semiconductor fabrication process that involves generating a pattern on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Optical inspection processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield. Optical inspection techniques offer the potential for high throughput without the risk of sample destruction.
Optical apertures with differing shapes and sizes are employed to manipulate illumination and imaging properties in optical systems. In particular, optical aperture shape and size may be tuned to increase the measurement signal to noise ratio for a specific wafer pattern, defect of interest, etc.
In some examples, an iris mechanism with adjustable blades, e.g., a traditional camera shutter mechanism, is employed as an adjustable aperture mechanism. The aperture size is varied by moving the blades between an open position and a closed position. Although the size of the aperture is fully adjustable, the shape of the aperture is determined by the size, and is limited to an approximately circular shape that scales in size as the blades move between the open and closed positions.
In some other examples, a rotating wheel including multiple apertures is selectively positioned such that a desired aperture shape is positioned in an optical beam path. However, the number of aperture shapes and sizes is limited by the number of predetermined apertures available on a particular wheel.
In some other examples a linear slider mechanism includes multiple apertures selectively positioned such that a desired aperture shape is positioned in an optical beam path. Again, the number of aperture shapes and sizes is limited by the number of predetermined apertures available on a particular linear slider. In some examples, a tape drive mechanism positions a desired aperture shape printed on a thin tape. The tape is positioned by rotating reels on both ends of the tape. Similarly, the number of shapes that can be presented by the tape drive mechanism is limited by the number of predetermined apertures available on the particular tape.
Liquid crystal arrays may be employed as programmable aperture mechanisms. However, liquid crystal arrays suffer from a number of practical limitations. Firstly, liquid crystal array pixels are not fully transmissive when programmed in a transmissive mode. This leads to excessive light loss. This is particularly costly in the context of a modern inspection system. Secondly, liquid crystal array pixels are not fully occluding in a blocking mode. This leads to excessive light leakage that is detrimental in a modern optical inspection system. Moreover, liquid crystal arrays may also induce stray light, scattered light, and optical aberrations that further degrade optical inspection performance. Furthermore, liquid crystal arrays may also suffer from limited lifetime when exposed to short wavelength light, particularly at high power densities.
Tilt mirror arrays may also be employed as programmable aperture mechanisms. However, tilt mirror arrays also suffer from light loss and optical artifacts such as stray light, scattered light, and optical aberrations that limit optical inspection system performance.
In some examples, aperture patterns have been exposed and developed on photofilm. However, photofilm systems, are not completely transmissive and completely occlusive, leading to undesirable light loss and light leakage. Moreover, exposure and development of photofilms is costly and time consuming, and the resulting films have a low damage threshold. Photofilm systems may also cause contamination of other elements of UV, DUV, and VUV light systems commonly employed in modern inspection systems.
In some other examples, aperture patterns have been applied onto transmissive substrates by inkjet printing. However, inkjet printing systems are not completely transmissive and completely occlusive, leading to undesirable light loss and light leakage. Moreover, inkjet systems require either a consumable substrate or a substrate that must be recleaned, leading to cost and throughput issues. Printed substrates may also cause contamination of other elements of UV, DUV, and VUV light systems commonly employed in modern inspection systems.
In some other examples, Fourier filters (e.g., a plurality of metal bars with adjustable spacing) have also been employed as flexible optical apertures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,168, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes an example of a Fourier filter. However, Fourier filters allow for very few shapes and are typically employed for the limited purpose of blocking diffraction patterns.
In some other examples, a microshutter array, such as the array of microelectromechanical shutters employed as part of the James-Webb space telescope, may also be employed as a programmable aperture mechanism. However, microshutter arrays may suffer from excessive light loss in a transmissive mode due to the array structure. In addition, the arrays structure may induce stray light effects. Moreover, microshutter arrays are complex devices that give rise to cost and reliability issues.
As described hereinbefore, previous flexible optical aperture systems have several disadvantages such as optical transmission losses, incomplete optical blocking, stray light, optical aberrations, limited shape flexibility or spatial resolution, low damage threshold, and incompatibility with short wavelength light. Thus, methods and systems for improved programmable aperture mechanisms operable in modern optical inspection tools are desired.


An auto and truck window pillow comprising a fabric sleeve defining a cavity, the fabric sleeve comprising a first face comprising a planar fabric protruding perpendicular to the first face and parallel to a long axis of the cavity and a second face comprising an opening parallel to the long axis of the cavity, filler material positioned within the cavity, and a first fastener comprising a track body adapted to attach to an auto or truck window and the planar fabric, whereby a dog can rest its chin on the window pillow.

Pet ownership has been on the rise in the United States for the past two decades. There is an increasing demand for specialized products for pets, including dogs, ranging from diets, supplements, to comfort pet products and pet services. Pet owners are continuously looking for ways to pamper their pets, such as with pet furniture, pet beds, pet strollers, pet clothes, and other types of pet comfort products. Pet comfort products make pets happier, healthier, and more secure.


A printed circuit board on which multiple component-dedicated alignment line indicators including parallel lines may be used to facilitate the evaluation and segregation process during the production of printed circuit board assemblies based on the alignment characteristics of mounted disk drive electrical components with respect to these parallel lines. Each electrical component defines a perimeter with edges defining a first and second lateral distances and corners defining a diagonal distance. The alignment line indicators include first and second inner line segments spaced apart a first inner spacing at least the first lateral distance and less than the diagonal distance. The alignment line indicators include third and fourth inner line segments spaced apart at least the second lateral distance and less than the diagonal distance. The alignment line indicators include first and second outer line segments spaced apart more than the first inner spacing and less than the diagonal distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to disk drives, and in particular to a disk drive printed circuit board with component-dedicated alignment line indicators including inner and outer line segments and method of producing a printed circuit board assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The typical hard disk drive includes a head disk assembly (HDA) and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) attached to a disk drive base of the HDA. The head disk assembly includes at least one magnetic disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and a head stack assembly (HSA). The spindle motor includes a spindle motor hub that is rotatably attached to the disk drive base. The hub has an outer hub flange that supports a lowermost one of the disks. Additional disks may be stacked and separated with annular disk spacers that are disposed about the hub. The head stack assembly has an actuator assembly having at least one transducer head, typically several, for reading and writing data from and to the disk. The printed circuit board assembly includes a servo control system in the form of a disk controller for generating servo control signals mounted to a printed circuit board. The head stack assembly is controllably positioned in response to the generated servo control signals from the disk controller. In so doing, the attached heads are moved relative to tracks disposed upon the disk.
The head stack assembly includes an actuator assembly, at least one head gimbal assembly, and a flex circuit cable assembly. A conventional "rotary" or "swing-type" actuator assembly typically includes an actuator having an actuator body. The actuator body is configured to rotate on a pivot assembly between limited positions about an axis of rotation. A coil support extends from one side of the actuator body. A coil is supported by the coil support and is configured to interact with one or more permanent magnets to form a voice coil motor. One or more actuator arms extend from an opposite side of the actuator body.
A head gimbal assembly includes a transducer head, typically a magneto-resistive ("MR") head, which is distally attached to each of the actuator arms. To facilitate rotational movement of the actuator, the actuator assembly further includes the actuator body that has a bore and a pivot bearing cartridge engaged within the bore. Each magnetic disk includes opposing disk surfaces. Data may be recorded on a single surface or both along data annular regions. As such, the head stack assembly may be pivoted such that each transducer head is disposed adjacent the various data annular regions from adjacent the outer diameter to the inner diameter of each disk.
As can be appreciated, the reading and writing of data as facilitated by the controlled movement and positioning of the transducer heads is of critical importance. Various vibrations and forces, such as physical shock events, are of high interest. It may be desirable to precisely place some electrical components, such as sensors, on a printed circuit board. In this regard, the orientation accuracy of such components may be critical to their performance. Accelerometers mounted upon a printed circuit board may be used to determine rotational acceleration by computations involving differences between outputs of such accelerometers. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a printed circuit board design and methodology for the alignment of components upon a printed circuit board in comparison to the prior art.

Disk drive printed circuit board with component-dedicated alignment line indicators including inner and outer line segments


A swivel work machine comprises: a travel device; a swivel base provided on the travel device; a swivel base provided in the front of the travel device; a dozer provided to the travel device; a swing control; a dozer control; a tilt control member provided to the dozer control, an actuation of the tilt control member causing the dozer to be pivoted about the tilt pivot shaft; a controller having a swing control mode in which an actuation of the swing control causes the implement to be pivoted laterally, and an angle control mode in which an actuation of the swing control causes the dozer to be pivoted about the angle pivot shaft; and a mode change-over portion for switching a control mode of the controller between the swing control mode and the angle control mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a swivel work machine, such as construction or civil-engineering machinery such as a backhoe, equipped with a dozer device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exist swivel work machines, such as a backhoe, that are equipped with a dozer device and that are provided with a swivel base on a travel device, an implement arranged in a front part of the swivel base such that the implement can pivot laterally, and a swing cylinder for laterally swinging the implement. Such swivel work machine has the dozer device at the front part of the travel device. The dozer device is provided with a pivot support supported to the travel device to be vertically pivotable, a blade supported to a front end side of the pivot support to be pivotable about an angle pivot shaft extending in a vertical direction, and also about a tilt pivot shaft extending in a fore-and-aft direction, and a dozer cylinder for pivoting the pivot support vertically, an angle cylinder for pivoting the blade about the angle pivot shaft as well as a tilt cylinder for pivoting the blade about the tilt pivot shaft. A dozer lever is provided, and the dozer cylinder is extended and retracted to effect vertical pivoting of the pivot support in correlation with an actuation of the dozer lever. (See for example, JP-A-2005-207195, JP-A-2000-240093, and JP-A-8-270017.)
Among this kind of conventional swivel work machines is a machine that has a dozer lever provided with a button switch and that is configured to extend and retract the dozer cylinder to pivot the pivot support vertically by operating the dozer lever in the fore-and-aft direction, and configured to extend and retract the tilt cylinder to pivot the blade vertically about the tilt pivot shaft by pivoting the dozer lever laterally without depressing the button switch, and to extend and retract the angle cylinder to pivot the blade laterally about the angle pivot shaft by pivoting the dozer lever laterally with the button switch depressed (see for example, JP-A-2005-207195). There are also conventional swivel work machines in which a tilting and an angular pivoting of the blade is selected by an operation switch provided in the control area. There are also machines in which a control knob of the blade lever for causing vertical pivoting of the swing support has an electric 4-way switch for selecting between angular pivoting and tilting operations of the blade, and which are configured such that the output signals from the switches when depressed are sent to an electromagnetic valve located in a hydraulic circuit for switching between the angle cylinder and the tilt cylinder and to an electromagnetic valve for switching between an extension and retraction of the selected valve also located in the hydraulic circuit, to effect lateral angular pivoting and lateral tilting of the blade (See JP-A-2000-240093, JP-A-8-270017).


A workflow system that automates work processes. The workflow system uses an open architecture to support multiple platforms and includes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enabling applications to communicate with a workflow engine. The workflow system supports Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) databases and allows routing of any kind of work (forms, images, executables). In addition, its flexible architecture is designed to facilitate changes to a workflow dynamically and to support integration with an existing infrastructure.

A major concern of businesses or any other group of people working together on a joint project is the efficient achievement of the goal of the project. In achieving this goal, many different tasks are performed by a variety of individuals within the group. Many of these tasks may only be performed after one or more other tasks are completed. Further, there is usually much communication between individuals or groups in the course of completing a task or in connection with indicating that a task has been completed. The various tasks necessary to complete the overall project or achieve an overall goal and the overall interrelationship between these tasks are called a work process.
Change is a common occurrence with automated process solutions, particularly because processes involve people. Developing anything beyond a simple automated process solution using traditional workflow products can prove to be a most challenging task for even the most experienced automation expert. Long and complicated development cycles are commonplace with complex automated solutions, and once created, can be extremely difficult to modify as the process evolves.
Current workflow technologies with their proprietary systems and dated architecture are no longer suitable to accommodate the changes in people, procedures, and resources that comprise a typical business process. Moreover, most existing workflow products cannot keep pace with the speed at which technology advances. The Internet, Information Technology (IT) infrastructures, and supporting workflow-related applications continuously evolve, enabling process automation to make giant strides, but only if the workflow application can accommodate these advances. Consequently, analysts and developers need a workflow solution that can change faster and more easily than a process can evolve, while harnessing the power of technological advancements.
Workflow is a relatively new concept which evolved out of an effort to automate business processes by developing specialized applications which incorporated the logic for the flow of work for a given process. The shortcoming of this approach is that any time a process changes, the entire application has to be updated resulting in a maintenance nightmare. Workflow was introduced to address this problem by encapsulating all aspects of a process. This includes process-defining information such as rules, routing paths, activities, data, etc. More importantly, it includes the automation of the management of this information. An application which supports workflow could then implement any workflow without requiring intimate knowledge of the workflow process itself.
Workflow systems were created to automate work processes. The history of workflow solutions has taken two general paths: (1) primitive framework, and (2) complete solutions with many limitations. The primitive framework approach provided a minimal skeleton, that is, code which was common to workflow systems, but not suited to any particular system. The primitive framework was difficult to deploy because it required creating a large amount of code to get the workflow system running for any particular application. On the other hand, the complete-solution-with-many-limitations approach included a large amount of code geared towards solving a particular application. However, the complete-solution approach did not apply to a variety of applications. A complete-solution workflow system was geared towards a particular Document Management System ((DMS)), Directory Services (DS) and DataBase system (DE). If any element of the workflow system was changed, a reworking of the workflow system was required. Consequently, continual maintenance was required whenever there was a change in a workflow element (including updates to a workflow element). For example, if a the (DMS) was changed to another (DMS), it required code changes in the workflow system. Thus, the complete-solution approach was inflexible and not readily adaptable to changes to applications.

Abstract: The workflow system links software components to enable participants to work on shared data and ensures that business processes follows predetermined rules. Each task in the process is regulated such that the appropriate people have access to the appropriate data and are instructed to perform the task at the appropriate time.

Abstract: A developer can use a workflow system provided client to get an application up and running relatively quickly. The workflow system provides adapters which enables quick deployment and element flexibility. Adapters have a fixed interface which allows the Document Management System ((DMS)), Directory Services (DS) and DataBase system (DB) to be changed independent of the application in contrast to other workflow systems which tie the application directly to the (DMS), DS, and DB. The adapters allow developers to attach clients of varying types and magnitude and allows developers to mix and match application elements to better serve their application. Thus, the workflow system is not tied to any proprietary (DMS), DS, or DB.


An apparatus for producing a textile product generally includes a feeding section for providing a starting material to facilitate producing a textile product derived from the starting material; a drafting section operably coupled to the feeding section for gripping, pulling, stretching and breaking at least one strand of the starting material into at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product; and a spinning section operably coupled to the drafting section for winding and twisting the at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product onto a removable receiving member to form the textile product; the feeding section, the drafting section, and the spinning section are configured to form the textile product in a continuous operation.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or relevant, to the presently described or claimed invention, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly identified is prior art or a reference that may be used in evaluating patentability.
Over the course of time there has been disclosed many different types of apparatus for facilitating the formation of yarn. For example, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,353 by Roland et al. which describes an apparatus for pot spinning of yarn that generally comprised a spinning pot rotatable about a spinning axis for formation of a yarn cake on an inner circumferential surface of the spinning pot, a tubular yarn guide having an exit mouth for delivering a yarn into the spinning pot in the form of a traveling extent of the yarn revolving about the axis of the spinning pot, and means for monitoring deviations in the delivery of the yarn, the monitoring means including means for detecting a duration of revolution of the traveling yarn extent at the mouth of the yarn guide tube.
More particularly by referring to the drawings and detailed description of the Roland et al. patent, there is disclosed a condensing zone which is followed by a pot spinning station. There is a multiplicity of pot spinning stations mounted along a pot rail which contains the drive for the respective pots. However, each pot spinning station has a spinning pot. In this regard, the spinning pot rotates about its center axis to spin and twist the condensed and compacted network of fiber from the condensing zone and form a yarn. The yarn passes through a tubular yarn guide which extend into the spinning pot and emerges from an exit mouth to form yarn extent. When the spinning pot rotates, the yarn extent extends laterally toward and revolves in the direction of rotation of the spinning pot under the centrifugal influence of the rotating spinning pot. Accordingly, the yarn is thereby applied and joined to a yarn cake. It is also disclosed that during the spinning operation, the yarn guide moves up and down and then the yarn cake forms progressively on an inner circumferential wall of the spinning pot 81.
Another type of apparatus for facilitating the formation of yarn is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,872 by Olbrich. The Olbrich patent describes an apparatus for making a compacted yarn that generally comprises a drafting frame for drafting a fiber strand to produce a fiber ribbon; means along a path of the fiber strand in the drafting frame and including a surface formed with a perforation to which a suction can be applied for compacting the fiber ribbon; a suction device is connected to the perforation for evacuating a suction air stream through the perforation to form from the fiber ribbon a transversely compacted strand of fibers; means for imparting a twist to the compacted strand; means for monitoring the suction air stream at at least one location for generating an indication of a monitored parameter of the suction air stream falling below a threshold valve; and means for outputting a signal in response to such an indication which signal can be used for shutdown or for altering personnel. This apparatus thus results in the elimination of the reduction in yarn quality which can occur when the compaction system becomes blocked by lint, fiber accumulation or the like.
More particularly, by referring to the drawings and the detailed description of the Olbrich patent there is disclosed a fiber condensing zone equipped with a compact spinning device is provided in the downstream of a second pair of rollers. In the condensing zone a stretched and broken network of fiber is drawn together toward the center thereof and then is condensed or compacted. The condensing zone is provided with a suction device with a perforated belt guided around an upper roller of an intake roller pair. The perforations in the belt include a row of small orifices disposed one by one, extending in a row in the travel direction of the network of fibers. The perforated belt passes around a belt cage and the perforated belt is driven. A belt cage is connected by a suction pipe to a suction generating device to form a suction unit. Through the suction unit, a suction air stream is generated which serves to condense and compact the network fiber toward the center thereof. After the condensed and compacted network of fiber leaves an intake pair of rollers, a twist can be imparted to it through the operation of a ring-spinning station or pot spinning station. An upper roller can be mounted on a weight arm so that it can weigh against a lower roller and so that it can be driven.
In another embodiment in the Olbrich patent an upper roller is mounted together with a lower roller on a separable compact spinning device. The compact spinning device in this embodiment is equipped with a perforated belt and a total suction unit. The lower roller is driven by a drive roller, and then it drives the upper roller to rotate simultaneously. The compact sinning device is mounted into a condensing zone to condense and compact the stretched and broken network of fiber from a second pair of rollers.
In yet another embodiment in the Olbrich patent a condensing device generally comprises a drum roller. The drum roller is provided with a row of orifices along a center line. The drum roller is thus a perforated suction drum roller. When the network of fiber from a second pair of rollers passes through, the drum roller rotates against it on two counter rollers to condense and compact it. The suction stream is applied through a suction pipe to the drum roller. After the condensed and compacted network of fiber leave the drum roller, a twist can impart to it through the operation of ring-spinning station or pot spinning station.
In the Olbrich patent, all of the disclosed embodiments of compact spinning devices have the same feature of condensing or compacting the network of fibers with a surface formed with perforations and applying suction to the perforations by evacuating a suction air stream through the perforations to form a condensed and compacted network of fibers.
Turning now to developing a better understanding of the present invention, it can be noted that a fire retardant is a substance that helps to delay or prevent combustion. See Horrocks, A. R., Fire Retardant Materials (2001). Fire retardant clothing, for example, is widely used to protect persons who are exposed to fire, particularly suddenly occurring and fast burning conflagrations. These include persons in diverse fields such as race car drivers, military personnel and fire fighters, each of which may be exposed to deadly fires and extremely dangerous incendiary conditions without notice. For such persons, the primary line of defense against severe burns and even death is the protective clothing worn over some or all of the body.
Materials such as carbon-based fiber materials and aramid fiber materials have been used to form fire retardant materials for the manufacture of clothing. Carbon-based fibers are typically in the form of long bundles of linked graphite plates that form a crystal structure lying parallel to the fiber axis. Carbon fibers, which especially refer to carbon-based fiber materials with higher carbon content about 95% carbon, are anisotropic and their elastic modulus is higher in the direction of the axis than it is in other directions. In other words, the individual fibers can withstand pulling, i.e., they can stretch before breaking, in the axial direction to a greater extent than they can withstand bending at an angle to the axis or lateral stretching. Most carbon fiber materials are made from thousands of individual filaments and include thousands of fibers.
Carbon fiber materials have advantageous mechanical, physical and chemical properties. In addition to being nonflammable, they are light, stiff and strong. The strength of a carbon fiber is comparable to that of steels and the stiffness of carbon fibers is generally greater than metal, ceramic or polymer-based materials. Carbon fibers have other desirable properties such as excellent corrosion and fatigue resistance and dimensional stability. Carbon fibers and their composites are therefore well suited for applications in which chemical inertness, strength, stiffness, lightness, and fatigue resistance are important requirements. For example, in the aerospace and defense industries, materials made of carbon fibers have been increasingly used both in the interior of aircrafts as flame resistant materials and as critical structural components to increase fuel efficiency and enhance structural strength.
Carbon-based fiber materials with lower carbon content about 55-68% carbon may be advantageously combined with further materials to form yarns, fabrics or other products that exhibit the advantageous qualities of both the carbon-based fiber materials and the further material. The carbon-based fibers may be combined with other materials at the yarn level to form a yarn having characteristics of both carbon-based fiber and the other additive material. Such may be a blended yarn. Carbon-based fibers may also be formed into a fabric that is used in conjunction with other fabrics to impart the desired combination of characteristics.
Carbon-based fibers may be produced from a variety of precursor materials. Among these precursor materials are polyacrylonitrile (PAN), petroleum or coal tar pitch and certain phenolic fibers. Cellulosic fibers such as rayon and cotton may also be used as additives. Different precursor materials produce carbon-based fibers with different morphologies and different specific characteristics. PAN-based carbon-based fiber materials exhibit superior tensile strength, are comparatively low in cost, and are well suited for use in the construction of consumer goods such as sporting goods and high-performance apparel.
Various methods are known for producing carbon-based fibers from various precursor materials. Such methods include pyrolytic processes and pyrolysis. It is well established that the mechanical properties of carbon-based fibers are improved by increasing their crystallinity and the molecular order within the fiber. One way to increase crystallinity and structural order is through a process of stabilization and carbonization through tension. One common pyrolysis reaction is an oxidative stabilization process in which a precursor fiber is treated at about 200-300.degree. Centigrade under tension in an oxidizing environment. During the process, oxygen, nitrogen and/or hydrogen is removed from the fiber, resulting in an increase of carbon content in the fiber. In addition to preventing fiber shrinkage, the tension applied during this process maintains the molecular orientation and order of the fiber, which in turn increases the tensile strength of the stabilized fiber.
During pyrolysis of PAN, the oxidation and stabilization induces intramolecular cyclization of the oriented molecules with the release of most of the hydrogen and part of the nitrogen from the fibers. The resulting PAN polymers are called "oxidized PAN" and oxidized PAN typically has a carbon content of about 55-68% and a density of about 1.30 to 1.50 g/cm.sup.3. Oxidized PAN fibers have several advantages as flame resistant materials. Oxidized PAN fibers exhibit excellent heat insulation properties and low thermal conductivity. Oxidized PAN fibers also have a high limiting oxygen index (LOI), typically between 40-60% oxygen making them more flame resistant than many other organic fibers. Moreover, textiles that include strands of oxidized PAN fibers, unlike other flame resistant organic fibers, retain their appearance and textile characteristics after open flame exposure. Oxidized PAN fibers are electrically nonconductive and function as effective electrical insulators even after exposure to heat and open flames. Oxidized PAN fibers also exhibit excellent chemical resistance to organic solvents and most acids and bases. Moreover, oxidized PAN fiber strands are softer, more pliable and malleable than strands of pure carbon fibers. As such, oxidized PAN fiber strands are well suited for use in heat resistant thermal insulations and textiles for high technology applications, either alone or as part of a composite material, and have been used in composite fire blocking fabrics for seating in the aerospace and automobile industries and in the manufacture of composite fire retardant and protective clothing for people exposed to the danger of an open flame.
Currently, there are at least three types of oxidized PAN materials available commercially: staple fibers, large filament tow materials, and small filament tow materials. In using these materials in the production of composite industrial and consumer products, the staple fibers and large filament tow materials are often spun into yarn using complex, multi-step processes that commonly include, for example, the addition of strengthening fibers to the carbon-based fiber material, or the addition of laminate coatings to fabrics that they are used to prepare.
For staple fibers, relatively short natural or synthetic fibers, the first step in the production of yarn is "carding", in which the fibers are opened and combed over cylinders that contain extremely fine wires or aligned teeth. The fibers are then aligned in one direction to form a large loosely assembled but not twisted continuous strands of fibers known as "sliver". Several strands of sliver are then drawn multiple times onto drawing frames to further align the fibers to improve uniformity as well as to reduce the diameter of the sliver. The drawn sliver is then fed into a roving frame to produce "roving" by further reducing the diameter and imparting a slight false twist. Finally, the roving is fed into a spinning (i.e., winding and/or twisting) frame where it is spun into yarn.
For large filament tow, the first step is different, and consists of a stretch-breaking process in which the large tow is broken into multiple fragments and aligned into sliver. The sliver is then further processed as described above. These processes are laborious, inefficient and costly, require as many as 6 or 8-12 separate steps and often require the use of more than one type of apparatus.
It would be desirable to provide an economical process for converting oxidized PAN materials into yarn using a reduced and minimum number of operations. It would also be desirable to produce an economical process for converting other starting material into yarn using a reduced and minimum number of operations. It would be particularly advantageous to provide a single process that could be used to convert various different materials into yarn. It would be further desirable to provide a process for converting oxidized PAN materials or other starting materials into yarn using a single apparatus. It would be further desirable to provide a process and apparatus for converting multiple starting materials into yarn simultaneously and in particular to produce a blended yarn by combining the multiple starting materials. It would be further desirable to provide a process and apparatus for converting one or multiple starting materials and one or multiple yarns into a twisted yarn simultaneously and in particular to produce a core yarn by combining and twisting one or multiple cohesive elongated network of fibers of starting materials and one or multiple yarns.
Oxidized PAN materials provide superior fire retardant and heat resistant qualities, i.e., a high LOI and superior Thermal Protective Performance, TPP, but when they are formed according to conventional methods, the strands formed from oxidized PAN fibers are typically brittle, weak and prone to abrasion and cutting. Yarns formed from pure oxidized PAN using conventional methods exhibit undesirably low cut resistance, abrasion resistance and tensile strength and do not include sufficient tensile strength to be knit or woven into fabrics. As such, fabrics made from oxidized PAN fiber strands using conventional methods typically include the fire retardant and heat resistant oxidized PAN strands in combination with one or more high strength or strengthening filaments/fibers. Aramid fiber is an example of such a strengthening filament. The strengthening, filaments/fibers in combination with the oxidized PAN produces a fibrous blend having improved tensile strength, cut resistance and durability but the additives, i.e., the strengthening fibers, compromise the flame retarding and heat resisting properties of the fabric.
It would be desirable to produce a yarn and textile and other materials that are composed entirely of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers or carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers yet exhibit sufficient tensile strength to be knittable. It would also be desirable to manufacture an intermediate product that may be used to produce such yarns and textile and other materials. It would also be desirable to combine such an intermediate product to produce blended yarns or textiles.

Fire retardant compositions and methods and apparatuses for making the same


A formable mouthguard with teeth (10) having a mouthguard (12) which comprises a mouthguard outer side (12O) attached to a mouthguard inner side (12I) by a mouthguard bottom (12B) which has an open mouthguard bottom right end (12BR) and an open mouthguard bottom left end (12BL). An upper jaw (14) positioned on an outer surface of the mouthguard outer side (12O). The upperjaw (14) has an upper jaw gum (14A) interspersed with a plurality of upperjaw teeth (14B).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a formable mouthguard. More particularly, the present invention relates to a formable mouthguard with teeth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mouthguards are used frequently in many sports. They primarily serve the purpose :of protecting a user""s teeth upon impact.
Numerous innovations for a mouthguard have been provided in the prior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,546, invented by, Trampe, titled, Prosthetic denture and method of making same, a prosthetic denture is disclosed. The denture includes an assembly of hard acrylic teeth bonded to a xe2x80x9csemi-hardxe2x80x9d acrylic basemember. The base member is formulated from an acrylic polymer blend to yield preselected characteristics including hardness and thermal deformability so that fitting adjustments to conform to the wearer and to insure occlusive harmony can be accomplished with facility.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,291, invented by, Albert, et al., titled, Cosmetic accessory device for teeth, a cosmetic accessory device for teeth that simulates the appearance of an assemblage of teeth and gum. The device includes agum portion and a tooth portion shaped and dimensioned to cover the user""s upper or lower front teeth. The device is made oaf nontoxic, nonirritating, tasteless, odorless, resilient, easily cleaned and chemically stable material that does not stick to natural teeth, gums, or most dental work. In use, the device is held in place by custom-fitted inner projections that match the spaces between the user""s own front teeth and (optionally) a shelf extending just across the front teeth. Unlike typical conventional novelty dental devices, the natural teeth and gums are not completely covered, so the device is comfortable to wear and does not interfere with natural speech or bite closure.
In U.S. Pat. No. D382,965, invented by, Wagner, titled, Mouthguard, an ornamental design for a mouthguard, as shown and described.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,198, invented by, Hazen, titled, Denture covering existing teeth and gums, a device which includes two separate impression-molded all gum and cap-cup encasements (upper and lower arches) withveneered artificial teeth mounted to the encasement walls. The veneered encasements comprise the completed all gum and cap-cup dental device. The completed cap-cup encasements cover the upper and lower arches of full sets of natural teeth and gums.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,880, invented by, Levitt, titled, Athletic mouthguard, an athletic mouthguard adapted for use by athletes and other persons engaged in physical activities which might result inocclusal or craniofacial stress. In one embodiment, the athletic mouthguard is a unitary structure which comprises a mouthpiece and an elongated strap adapted for attachment to the face mask of a helmet or the like. The mouthpiece, which is designed for use over the upper set of teeth of. the wearer, includes an inner peripheral wall, an outer peripheral wall, and a connecting wall,the inner surfaces of which define a channel. The occlusal surface of the channel is more narrow in the anterior region and becomes more broad as one moves posteriorly so as to accommodate the non-uniform widths of the various teeth. In addition,the occlusal surface of the channel becomes progressively more concavely-shaped as one moves posteriorly from the firstbicuspid tooth to accommodate the increasing convexity of the posterior teeth. The buccal surface of the channel is shaped to a pair of retention bars, which serve to retain the mouthpiece against the upper set of teeth. The inner peripheral wall and theouter peripheral wall of the mouthpiece curve and taper in the vestibule and palatal areas to conform to the shape of the upperjaw. The connecting wall is thicker in the posterior regions than in the anterior regions so that an upwardly directed blow is delivered more to the posterior teeth than to the anterior teeth.
In: U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,770, invented by, Holland, titled, Theatrical accessory, a blood dripping fang theatrical accessory is disclosed. Controlled dripping of simulated blood from discharge ports of a bladder of the accessory may be effected by the user. The accessory has a hollow backed thin, flexible rubber-like shellsimulating the appearance of an assemblage of fangs, teeth and gum. A bladder having a main body and a pair of tubular bodybranches is mounted on the back of the shell with its tubular body branches nested in the hollow backs of the fangs, the tubularbody branches having apertures adjacent the tips of the fangs remote from the main body. Resilient material couples the bladderbranches to the fangs. The accessory may be held in the mouth of the user with the fang portions projecting therefrom. The bladder portion is engageable by part of the tongue of the user which may compress the bladder to discharge simulated blood from the apertures adjacent the fang tips and interrupt or terminate such discharge by stopping further compression or by decompression of the bladder.
The aforementioned patents differ from the present invention because the patented inventions fail to describe and/or claim one or more of the following features: thermoformable athletic mouthguard having an inner and outer side and bottom, mouthguard having a natural gum color to simulate the appearance of the user""s real gums, and 3-Dimensional teeth manufactured from thermoformable material positioned within the outer side.
Numerous innovations for a mouthguard have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
The present invention relates to a formable mouthguard. More particularly, the present invention relates to a formable mouthguard with teeth.
The types of problems encountered in the prior art are the mouthguards are plain looking and not intimidating to opponents.
In the prior art, unsuccessful attempts to solve this problem were attempted namely: colored mouthguards. However, the problem was solved by the present invention because it incorporated 3-Dimensional teeth and gum.
Innovations within the prior art are rapidly being exploited in the field of sports.
The present invention went contrary to the teaching of the art which describes and claims clear or colored thermoformable mouthguards.
The present invention solved a long felt need for a mouthguard capable of intimidating opponents.
A synergistic effect was produced utilizing the present invention due to the following facts and results from experimentation: the intimidation factor increased winnings of teams utilizing the invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a formable mouthguard with teeth having a mouthguard and upper jaw.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide the mouthguard having a mouthguard outer side, mouthguard inner side, mouthguard bottom, mouthguard bottom right end, and mouthguard bottom left end.
In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in the upper jaw having a upper jaw gum and upper jaw teeth.
The novel features which are considered characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.
10xe2x80x94formable mouthguard with teeth (10)
12xe2x80x94mouthguard (12)
12Oxe2x80x94mouthguard outer side (12O)
12Ixe2x80x94mouthguard inner side (12I)
12Bxe2x80x94mouthguard bottom (12B)
12BRxe2x80x94mouthguard bottom right end (12BR)
12BLxe2x80x94mouthguard bottom left end (12BL)
14xe2x80x94upperjaw(14)
14Axe2x80x94upper jaw gum (14A)
14Bxe2x80x94upper jaw teeth (14B)


An optically active cyanohydrin represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein each of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom or an amino-protecting group, and the configurations relating to the carbon atoms at the *2-position and *3-position are as follows: in the case of the carbon atom at the *2-position being in R-configuration, the carbon atom at the *3-position is in S-configuration, and in the case of the carbon atom at the *2-position being in S-configuration, the carbon atom at the *3-position is in R-configuration, can be efficiently produced by crystallizing one of the optically active cyanohydrins while treating a mixture of cyanohydrin diastereomers in the presence of an amine and an organic solvent to change the configuration relating to the carbon atom at the 2-position and thereby cause isomerization.

As a process for synthesizing an optically active AHPBN selectively, there is the process described in Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 29, p. 3295, 1988.
This process, however, is disadvantageous in that the selective synthesis of the optically active AHPBN requires expensive reagents and a reaction condition of a very low temperature of -20.degree. C. or lower. Therefore, this process is not industrially suitable. On the other hand, a process comprising reacting an N-protected-L-phenylalaninal with sodium hydrogensulfite and potassium cyanide (EP-A-211580) can be practiced at ordinary temperature. This process, however, is poor in selectivity for an optically active reaction product, and no method for industrially easy separation of only the optically active reaction product has been known. Therefore, it can give the optically active reaction product only in low yield, and it is unavoidably expensive as a process for obtaining the optically active reaction product.

Process for producing optically active cyanohydrins