Compositions useful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and for bone and fracture repair. Slow-releasing calcium phosphate-based materials are disclosed, incorporating Mg, Zn, F and carbonate, which will promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption and thus be agents for the cited uses.

Osteoporosis is a progressive and debilitating metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass (bone loss) and structural deterioration (thinning of the cortical bone and disorganization of the trabecular bone) leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures especially of the hip (femoral head), spine (vertebrae) and the wrist. Osteoporosis is a 'silent' disease because related bone loss occurs without symptoms until the individual suffers a bone fracture. Worldwide, the number of hip fractures due to osteoporosis was projected to rise from 1.7 million in 1990 to 6.3 million by 2050. In the U.K., it was estimated that the National Health Service cost associated with osteoporosis is over L600 million ($1.02 billion) per year in 1991 and projected to increase considerably. In Japan, estimated number of hip fracture in 1998 was about 90,000/year with associated hospital cost of about $120 million per year. In the U.S., osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures/year including: 300,000 hip fractures and approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 200,000 wrist fractures and 300,000 fractures in ribs and other sites. 12% to 20% of patients with hip fracture die within a year after the fracture, usually from complications related to either the fracture or surgery. In 2001, the estimated health care cost (hospitals and nursing homes) related to osteoporosis and associated fractures were $17 billion ($47 million/day!) and projected to increase to $30 to $40 billion annually in the next decade.
Bone tissue consists of two types: cortical (or compact bone) and trabecular (or spongy bone), differing in architecture, properties and function. The cortical bone provides mechanical strength and protective functions while cancellous or trabecular bone provides the metabolic functions. Two major processes are responsible for the development and maintenance of the bone tissue: bone formation (bone build-up) and bone resorption (bone modeling). During skeletal development in humans (birth to adulthood), the rate of bone formation is much greater than the rate of bone resorption until maximum bone mass (peak bone mass) is reached (at about age 35 for cortical bone and earlier for trabecular bone). After the peak bone mass is reached, the bone turnover per year is about 25% in trabecular bone and 3% in cortical bone. A bone remodeling process (bone turnover) in which the rates of bone formation and bone resorption are equal in the same site maintains the skeletal mass in adulthood. When these two processes are in equilibrium or are "coupled", there is no net gain or loss in bone mass. It is believed that the bone loss associated with primary type of osteoporosis results from the uncoupling of these two processes; with the rate of bone formation being much lower than the rate of resorption. A secondary type of osteoporosis is observed after prolonged immobilization and prolonged periods of bed rest or under glucocorticoid treatment for pulmonary disorders. In such conditions the mechanism of bone loss include both increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation. Reduction in bone formation leads to inadequate bone replacement during remodeling and to gradual bone loss resulting in the thinning of the cortical bone and reduction in cancellous bone formation.
Two major bone cells are involved: osteoblasts for bone formation and osteoclasts for bone resorption. Bone formation is reflected in osteoblast activities involving matrix (collagen, protein, DNA) formation and mineralization. Bone resorption is determined by the rate of osteoclast recruitment and the intensity of osteoclast activity manifested by the appearance of resorption pits. Most conditions leading to osteoporosis (including estrogen deficiency, hyperparathyroidism and hyperthyroidism) are associated with increased osteoclastic bone resorption and the inability of the bone formation process to keep up with the resorption process.
Bone is a composite of about 25 wt % biopolymer (organic matrix), 70 wt % mineral or inorganic phase, and 5 wt % water. The organic matrix is principally (about 95%) of Type I collagen with non-collageneous proteins. Osteoporosis is characterized by bone loss, decreased bone strength, lower bone density, poorer bone quality (e.g., porous cortical bone), thinning cortical bone and disorganized trabecular bone. Bone loss is often a predictor of future fracture risk.
In bone resorption, dissolution of the bone mineral occurs before the degradation of the collagen fibers. The rate of osteoclastic destruction of mineralized tissues was observed to be inversely proportional to bone mineral density. The bone mineral or inorganic component of bone is a calcium phosphate idealized as a calcium hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2. However, comprehensive studies on synthetic and biologic apatites demonstrate convincingly that biologic apatites (mineral phases of enamel, dentin, cementum and bone) are apatites containing minor constituents (carbonate and magnesium) and are more accurately described as carbonate hydroxyapatite, approximated by the formula, (Ca,Na,Mg)10(PO4,HPO4,CO3)6(OH)2. Changes in the composition of the apatite affect its lattice parameters, morphology, crystallinity (reflecting crystal size and/or perfection) and dissolution properties. For example, Mg-for-Ca or CO3-for-PO4 substitution decreases crystallinity (crystal size) and increases solubility while F-for-OH substitution increases crystal size and decreases the solubility of synthetic apatites.
Osteoporotic bones from patients have been reported to have lower magnesium (Mg) and carbonate (CO3) concentrations. Along with decreased Mg and CO3 contents, larger bone apatite crystals (based on infrared spectroscopic measurements of 'crystallinity index') were reported in bones from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and alcoholic osteoporosis. Smaller bone apatite crystals were observed in bones of rats fed excess Mg while bone apatite crystals increased in size in bones from Mg-deficient rats. Enamel crystals of rats injected with Mg were smaller than those of the controls. On the other hand, bone apatite crystals from rats drinking high levels of fluoride (F) were larger and less soluble. Increase in width of bone apatite crystals were also observed in the bones of F-treated rabbits. Larger enamel apatite crystals in rat's teeth were observed after F administration.
Although there is still no known cure for osteoporosis, some medications have been approved by the FDA for postmenopausal women to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis. These include biphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax) and Risedrnate (Actonel), Calcitonin (e.g., Miacalcin), estrogen (e.g., Climara, Estrace, Estraderm, Estratab, Ogen, Orto-Es, Viovlle, Premarin, etc) and hormones (estrogens and progestins (e.g., Activella, FemJHrt, Premphase, Prempro, etc); and selective estrogen receptor modulators, SERMs such as ralozifene (Evista). Sodium fluoride (NaF) treatment is pending approval. Treatments under investigation include parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D metabolites, other biphosphonates, and SERMs. These therapeutic agents, except F therapy, are described as anti-resorptive agents because they principally target bone resorption. These therapeutic agents are associated with some serious side effects.
Fluoride therapy. The effect of fluoridated water on lowering the incidence of dental caries is well documented and has been the basis of fluoridation of oral care products (e.g., dentifrices, mouthrinses, topical gels, post-natal tablets). Reports on effect of fluoridated water on the prevalence of osteoporosis have been contradictory and inconclusive. Currently, experimental fluoride compounds recommended for osteoporosis therapy include sodium fluoride (NaF), monosodiumfluorophosphate, MFP, (Na2PO3F) and slow release preparation of NaF (SR—NaF). There is general agreement that F stimulates bone formation directly without the need for prior bone resorption and that it is this uncoupling of resorption and formation that makes this element so effective in increasing bone mass.
Calcium (Ca). The bone mineral can best be described as a carbonate hydroxyapatite, approximated by the formula: (Ca,Na,Mg)10(PO4,CO3,HPO4)6 (OH,Cl)2 containing about 40% calcium. Calcium is stored in bone in the process of mineralizing newly deposited tissue and it is withdrawn from bone only by resorption of old bone tissue. The biological fluids are metastable with respect to apatite, maintaining the integrity of the bone and tooth mineral (apatite). Ca deficiency in the diet induces osteoporosis in rats. Ca supplementation is strongly recommended for optimum bone health. Ca supplementation has been reported to reduce cortical bone loss during the first 5 years of menopause and produce a sustained reduction in the rate of total body bone loss at least 3 years after menopause. However, by itself, Ca supplementation does not appear to slow the rapid loss of trabecular bone during the first few years of menopause nor does it prevent the menopause-related lumbar bone loss. A study on spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women supplemented with Ca and trace minerals (zinc, manganese and copper) showed that bone loss was arrested by intake of Ca plus trace minerals while no difference was observed between the placebo group or group receiving Ca alone.
Magnesium (Mg). Magnesium (Mg) is an important element in biological systems. 50% to 60% of Mg in the body is associated with the bone mineral. The rest of the Mg in the body is intracellular, a required co-factor in more than 300 enzyme systems. Mg is critical for cellular functions that include oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, DNA transcription and protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Mg deficient diet in rats was shown to have impaired bone growth (reduction in bone formation and bone volume), decreased bone strength and increased fragility. These and other animal studies implicate Mg deficient diet as a possible risk factor for osteoporosis. In humans, Mg deficiency in the diet was also associated with osteoporosis. Mg therapy was reported to increase bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Other studies suggest that Mg supplementation suppresses bone turnover rates in young adult males. On the cellular level, in vitro, an isolated report indicates that Mg directly stimulated osteoblast proliferation.
On the bone apatite crystal level, Mg and CO3 content were lower in osteoporotic compared to normal human bone and bone with decreased Mg had larger apatite crystals. Also, bone and enamel apatite crystals were smaller in rats fed with Mg supplement while bone apatite crystals in Mg deficient rats were larger than those in control. Such observations are consistent with the effect of Mg on the formation of synthetic apatites: promoting the formation of apatite with low crystallinity and higher solubility. At higher solution Mg/Ca, Mg-substituted tricalcium phosphate (b-TCMP or Mg-TCP) or amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) forms at the expense of apatite.
Zinc (Zn). Zn is an essential trace element in the activity of more than 300 enzymes and affects basic processes of cell division, differentiation, and development and is required in collagen biosynthesis and in the biosynthesis and repair of DNA, in matrix and protein synthesis and plays an important role in bone metabolism and growth. It is the most abundant trace metal in bone mineral, being present at a concentration of up to 300 ppm. Zn deficiency in rats was shown to result in a 45% reduction in cancellous bone mass and to a deterioration of trabecular bone architecture, with fewer and thinner trabeculae and therefore may be considered as a risk factor in the development of osteoporosis. In vivo, Zn was shown to stimulate bone formation in weanling rats and in aged rats.
On the cellular level in vitro, Zn has been shown to have a stimulatory effect on bone formation and an inhibitory or biphasic effect on osteoclastic bone resorption. Studies on Zn-releasing compounds such as b-alanyl-L-histadanato zinc and Zn-TCP demonstrated that Zn promoted greater bone formation in vitro and was effective in increasing bone density or in preventing bone loss in vivo.
On the crystal level in synthetic systems, the presence of Zn causes the formation of apatite with low crystallinity, promoting the formation of Zn-substituted β-TCP or even amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), depending on the solution Zn/Ca molar ratio. Both Mg and Zn were shown to inhibit the growth of apatite.
The relevant literature suggests that Mg or Zn separately may have beneficial effects on bone matrix but may cause the formation of bone apatite with low crystallnity (small crystal size). On the other hand, F may improve crystallinity (larger crystal size) and reduce solubility of bone apatite, but may cause impaired or abnormal mineralization. Separately, Mg, Zn and F ions have been associated with promotion of bone formation and/or inhibition of osteoclastic activity (resorption)—but to the best of applicant's knowledge have not in the past been considered in combination.

Calcium phosphate-based materials containing zinc, magnesium, fluoride and carbonate


A display device is provide with a main screen, first and second CRTs, and holder mechanism. The first CRT is disposed within a housing of the display device and faces in a vertical direction. The second CRT faces in a horizontal direction and is movable between an operative position where it projects from a rear portion of the housing and an accommodated position where it is accommodated within the housing. The second CRT is held in the operative position by the holder mechanism. The first and second CRTs are arranged so that an image from the first CRT is displayed on the main screen in non-overlapping juxtaposition to an image from the second CRT. The display device thus constructed is capable of displaying on the main screen a sound wide picture which provides a dynamic atmosphere, and the depth thereof is substantially reduced, thereby facilitating transportation thereof even through narrow space.

This invention relates to a computerized visual game machine in which images are projected from two or more image generator units to produce and display a wide picture on a screen.
Recently, there have been proposed computerized visual game machine (hereinafter referred to as "TV game machine") capable of displaying such a picture produced by combining a plurality of images as to provide players with a dynamic atmosphere with a lot of presence, using a plurality of CRTs and mirrors. The TV game machines of this type are disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-25678 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-219881. However, in these TV game machines, if CRTs are arranged in contact with one another in a transverse direction of the screen, joining lines appear in a produced picture. As a result, the dynamic atmosphere the picture provides is subdued. In view of this, the conventional TV game machines have adopted the following construction. One CRT (hereinafter referred to as a first CRT) is arranged with facing upward in a lower portion of a main body is the TV game machine. A half reflector mirror is disposed above the first CRT with inclined forward, and thereby an image produced by the first CRT is reflected by the half reflector mirror and transmitted forward. Further, a second CRT is arranged in a position offset sideways relative to the first CRT and behind the half reflector mirror. Images produced by thus arranged CRTs are combined as one picture on the screen.
In the above TV game machine, since the second CRT is arranged behind the half reflector mirror, it inevitably projects rearward from a rear surface of the machine main body. Accordingly, the depth of the TV game machine becomes larger by the projected amount. This makes difficult transportation of the TV game machine to an amusement parlor or the like through narrow space and increases the undesired likelihood that the expensive second CRT is struck against obstacles and damaged during transportation thereof.
Particularly in the recent years, there have been proposed large-sized TV game machines with which a plurality of players can simultaneously play a game. Most of these large-sized TV game machines cannot be at present installed into the game parlor with completely assembled. It is of urgent necessity to overcome this problem.

Wide display with two CRTs arranged to form a non-overlapping juxtaposed image with one CRT movable from an accommodated position to an operative position


A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head gimbal assembly (HGA) protects the associated HAMR heating source from unwanted contact, such as from contact with an adjacent HAMR laser in response to a shock event. The HGA is configured such that the distance between the flexure and the top of a load beam flange is greater than the height of a submount associated with the heating source, and the height of the submount may also be greater than the height of the heating source, thus protecting against contact between adjacent heating sources.

A hard-disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device that is housed in a protective enclosure and stores digitally encoded data on one or more circular disks having magnetic surfaces. When an HDD is in operation, each magnetic-recording disk is rapidly rotated by a spindle system. Data is read from and written to a magnetic-recording disk using a read/write head that is positioned over a specific location of a disk by an actuator. A read/write head uses a magnetic field to read data from and write data to the surface of a magnetic-recording disk. Write heads make use of the electricity flowing through a coil, which produces a magnetic field. Electrical pulses are sent to the write head, with different patterns of positive and negative currents. The current in the coil of the write head induces a magnetic field across the gap between the head and the magnetic disk, which in turn magnetizes a small area on the recording medium.
Increasing areal density (a measure of the quantity of information bits that can be stored on a given area of disk surface) is one of the ever-present goals of hard disk drive design evolution, and has led to the necessary development and implementation of various means for reducing the disk area needed to record a bit of information. It has been recognized that one significant challenge with minimizing bit size is based on the limitations imposed by the superparamagnetic effect whereby, in sufficiently small nanoparticles, the magnetization can randomly flip direction under the influence of thermal fluctuations.
Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) [which may also be referred to as energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) or thermal-assisted magnetic recording (TAR)] is a known technology that magnetically records data on high-stability media using, for example, laser thermal assistance to first heat the media material. HAMR takes advantage of high-stability, high coercivity magnetic compounds, such as iron platinum alloy, which can store single bits in a much smaller area without being limited by the same superparamagnetic effect that limits the current technology used in hard disk drive storage. However, at some capacity point the bit size is so small and the coercivity correspondingly so high that the magnetic field used for writing data cannot be made strong enough to permanently affect the data and data can no longer be written to the disk. HAMR solves this problem by temporarily and locally changing the coercivity of the magnetic storage medium by raising the temperature above the Curie temperature, at which the medium effectively loses coercivity and a realistically achievable magnetic write field can write data to the medium.
One approach to HAMR designs is to utilize a semiconductor laser system to heat the media to lower its coercivity, whereby the optical energy is transported from the laser to the slider ABS via a waveguide and is concentrated to a nanometer-sized spot utilizing a near field transducer (NFT). More detailed information about the structure and functionality of a thermally assisted magnetic write head employing an NFT can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,351,151 to Katine et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
The performance of a HAMR system is largely affected by the performance of the associated laser. Therefore, inhibiting the degradation of the laser power over time is desirable for optimal performance of such a system. Furthermore, head gimbal assembly (HGA) components such as a flexure and a load beam and the HAMR laser module interact with each other in an environment having very limited mechanical clearances. HDD customers typically mandate meeting stringent performance requirements, including operational shock (or "op-shock") requirements, which generally relate to an HDD's operational resistance to, or operational tolerance of, a shock event. Thus the limited mechanical clearances associated with the HGA pose a challenge to meeting such requirements.
Any approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Laser-integrated head gimbal assembly having laser contact protection


A modular, scalable and expandable (MSE) rack-based information handling system (RIHS) includes: a rack assembly having a frame that defines: a front bay chassis with height, depth and width dimensions that enable insertion of a plurality of different sizes of IT gear; and a rear bay that accommodates power and cooling components to support operation of the different sizes of IT gear. The power and cooling for the IT gear are provided from the rear bay and are separate from and independent of the IT gear installed within the front bay chassis. The rack assembly further includes a power and management chassis in which is inserted a power and management module having power and management components located thereon to provide rack-level power and management. A modular configuration of fan modules are inserted within fan receptacles within the rear bay to provide block level cooling of adjacent blocks of IT gear.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to information handling systems and in particular to modular, scalable and expandable rack-based information handling systems and design.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continue to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes, thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Rack-based information handling systems enable larger scale systems to be deployed in a single structure, referred to in the industry as a rack. These racks can hold a plurality of individual servers or server nodes (generally, "IT gear"), which can be fully functional units. These individual units function as self-managed systems and are thus each equipped with individual cooling and power controls and localized system management, independent of other systems within the rack. These IT gear are also designed to fit within the specific rack configuration, and are thus typically of a standard width and depth dimension to fit within the rack structure. Also, depending on the particular rack, the IT gear are design with a standard uniform height that is determined solely by the pre-determined singular height of IT gear the specific rack is design to have inserted therein.

Modular, scalable, expandable, rack-based information handling system


A CD-ROM has an obscurable section wherein exists a photosensitive mask material layer or constituent operative to alter the optical properties of areas subjected to prolonged exposure to the CD-ROM read laser radiation. Digital information stored on a CD-ROM is made accessible by use of a password, which is generated from user machine unique information, and which is written on the CD-ROM via selective exposure of the CD-ROM to the radiation used to read the CD-ROM.

CD-ROM discs are capable of storing large quantities of digital information. This information may be program, database, image, music, video, desktop publishing, or other information susceptible to digital storage. The information is generally stored by physical pits and lands situated along a spiral track that is several miles long. The physical pits may be made optically or by direct physical manipulation, but are readable only optically. That a memory is optically readable means herein that the memory is readable through the use of a laser or other light source.
There are generally two alternate methods that may be used to manufacture CD-ROM's with specific information on them. The first of these is "glass mastering", which begins with creation of a first copy of the disc which will be used to create a series of positive and negative copies, which will then be used to press identical copies of the first disc. This method, with possibly only a few exceptions, does not allow for the placement of unique information on any one copy. "CD-R" is an alternative writing process, wherein a layer of organic dye allows the CD-R disc to have a unique set of data recorded on it by a CD-R recorder. Copies made by the CD-R method need not be identical. Rather, each may contain certain unique information. Whichever method is used, each copy of the disc is generally coated with a reflective coating and a clear protective layer after being encoded with information.
In FIG. 1, there is shown a sectional side view of a prior art disc, taken along a radius of the disc. The data on the disc is represented by the structure 2 imprinted on the disc. As mentioned, the structure 2 representing the data is generally covered by a clear protective coating 4, after being covered by a thin reflective layer which is not depicted in the figures for simplicity. Generally, the information stored on a CD-ROM is read by directing a low-power laser (typically solid-state or HeNe) at the portion of the spiral track containing the information to be read, along the direction 6. Because the pits reflect light differently than the plains or lands between pits, a photodiode or other photosensitive receiver 8 exposed to the reflected light will detect a series of light and dark reflections as the disc spins, which can be converted to a series of 1's and 0's. These 1's and 0's are a digital representation of the information stored on the disc. Generally, to ensure that the pits and lands pass the laser and receptor 8 at the same rate regardless of location, the disc turns at a lower angular velocity as sectors farther from the center are read.
As a high-density storage medium, CD-ROM technology involves the use of channel codes to retrieve the information stored on the disc. Typically, the channel code used is eight-to-fourteen modulation, a method that relies on transitions to signal ones, and the absence of transitions to signal zeros. Because of this high density and resulting high storage capacity, CD-ROM technology has emerged as a superior alternative to floppy disc technology for marketing large application programs or other memory intensive data. Furthermore, the fact that they are an optical rather than magnetic medium makes CD-ROM's impervious to influences that would corrupt a floppy disc. Even the laser that is typically used by a user machine to read a CD-ROM disc is incapable of damaging or writing on the disc. Hence the moniker, ROM or Read Only Memory.
In the past, the inability of user machines to write on CD-ROM's has caused CD-ROM's to be difficult to secure. Once one user had acquired a disc, there was no way to avoid the dissemination of the information on the disc to other users. In light of this problem with CD-ROM's, certain security measures have developed. In one prior art scheme, a CD-ROM is packaged with a companion floppy disc, which is magnetically readable and writeable by the user computer, to be used along with the CD-ROM to access the information on the CD-ROM. The floppy, which contains information necessary to the use of the CD, is copy-protected. However, the security provided by this scheme is compromised by the widespread availability of means to defeat copy protection on floppy discs.
Methods of copy-protecting a CD itself include the method and apparatus claimed by Kikinis as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,639. The invention of Kikinis involves the use of a high-powered laser to damage the physical structure of the disc, in selected areas, to create a password. Drawbacks to this method are readily apparent; the programming of the password onto the disc requires a higher power laser than that used by the user computer. Thus there is no way, using this method, for the information on the disc to indicate whether the disc has been used already. Consequently, although the disc may be copy-protected, it is not protected from use by more than one user computer.
To overcome the drawbacks evident in the prior art, it is desirable to provide an optically readable memory that prevents unauthorized use. For example, it is desirable to provide a CD-ROM that is capable of changing in response to an authorized use in order to block subsequent unauthorized use. To this end, according to an embodiment, the optically readable memory of the present invention is adapted to be permanently altered by a finite number of read cycles, so that a vanishing code located on the disc, usable to access the disc, becomes unreadable. Alternatively, in an embodiment of the invention, the user machine may alter the optically readable memory by writing rather than obscuring security information.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for securely associating an optically readable memory with a user machine


A subset of markup elements used in an electronically published document can be defined as being, "significant." For example, all titled elements may be called significant elements. The structure of the document defined by only the significant elements can be determined in the same manner as the structure of the document defined by all markup elements. For example titled elements define a table of contents. A first representation of the document structure defined by all of the markup elements may be used in combination with a second representation of the document structure defined by only the significant elements to control selection of portions of the document such that previous and subsequent portions can be selected and rendered in a consistent and intuitive manner. In particular, given a selected leaf element in the second representation, elements adjacent to the selected leaf element may be selected and rendered according to a relationship of these elements, as defined in the first representation, to both the selected leaf element and to other significant elements in the second representation.

Electronic publication of documents, using non-paper media for transmission and storage, has become increasingly common. Electronically published documents are generally viewed by computer, and are preferably rendered or displayed on a computer screen or other output device in a formatted form. The DYNATEXT system, a computer system available from Electronic Book Technologies of Providence, R.I., is a system which is particularly useful for this purpose for very large documents.
Electronically published documents are increasingly being made available using a general markup language. A markup language provides indications of structure of the document, but excludes streams of graphic display instructions which are typically found in formatted documents. Markup languages are more portable between a variety of different machines that may use different graphic display commands. A commonly used markup language is the Standardized General Markup language (SGML), an ISO standard.
Client-server computer systems for electronically publishing documents have also become increasingly available. Such a system typically includes one computer system (the server) on which documents are stored so that other computer systems (the clients) can access the information. The server and client communicate via messages conforming to a communication protocol sent over a communication channel such as a computer network. The server responds to messages from clients and processes requests to transmit a requested document.
An example of a client-server computer system for retrieval of electronically published documents that use a markup language is the World Wide Web (WWW) on the Internet. The WWW is a "web" of interconnected documents that are located in various sites on a global computer network. The WWW is also described in "The World-Wide Web." by T. Berners-Lee, R. Cailliau, A. Luotonen, H. F. Nielsen, and A. Secret, Communications of the ACM, 37 (8), pp. 76-82, August 1994, and in "World Wide Web: The Information Universe." by T. Berners-Lee, et al., in Electronic Networking: Research, Applications and Policy, Vol. 1, No. 2, Meckler, Westport, Conn., Spring 1992.
Documents that are published on the WWW typically are written in the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), such as described in Hypertext Markup Language Specification--2.01 by T. Berners-Lee and D. Connolly, Internet Draft Document, Oct. 14. 1994, and in "World Wide Web & HTML," by Douglas C. McArthur, in Dr. Dobbs Journal, December 1994, pp. 18-20, 22, 24, 26 and 86. HTML documents stored as such are generally static, that is, the contents do not change over time unless the publisher modifies the document.
HTML is a markup language used for writing hypertext documents. HTML documents are SGML documents that conform to a particular Document Type Definition (DTD). An HTML document includes a hierarchical set of markup elements, where most elements have a start tag, followed by content, followed by an end tag. The content is a combination of text and nested markup elements. Tags are enclosed in angle brackets (`<` and `>`) and indicate how the document is structured and how to display the document, as well as destinations and labels for hypertext links. There are tags for markup elements such as titles, headers, text attributes such as bold and italic, lists, paragraph boundaries, links to other documents or other parts of the same document, in-line graphic images, and many other features.
Each document available on the WWW has one or more identifiers called a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). These identifiers are described in more detail in Universal Resource Identifiers for the World Wide Web, T. Berners-Lee, submitted as an Internet Request for Comments (RFC), as yet unnumbered. A URI allows any object on the Internet to be referred to by name or address, such as in a hypertext link in an HTML document. There are two types of URIs: a Universal Resource Name (URN) and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URN references an object by name within a given name space. The Internet community has not yet defined the syntax of URNS. A URL references an object by defining, a location and/or an access algorithm using network protocols. An example URL is "http://www.ebt.com" A URL, has the syntax "scheme://host:port/path?selector" where "scheme" identifies the access protocol (such as HTTP, FTP or GOPHER); "host" is the Internet domain name of the machine that supports the protocol; "port" is an optional the transfer control protocol (TCP) port number of the appropriate server (if different from the default); "path" is an identification of the object; and "selector" contains optional parameters.
A site on a network which electronically publishes documents on the WWW documents is called a "Web site" and runs a "Web servers" which is a computer program that allows a computer on the network to make documents available via the WWW. The documents are often hypertext documents in the HTML language, but may be other types of documents. Several Web server software packages exist, such as the Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics) server or the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) server. Web servers have been implemented for several different platforms including the Sun Sparc 11 workstation running the Unix operating system, and personal computers with the Intel Pentium processor running the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system and the Microsoft Windows operating environment. The Web server also has a standard interface for running external programs, called the Common Gateway Interface (CGI). A gateway is a program that handles incoming information requests and returns the appropriate document or generates a document dynamically. For example, a gateway might receive queries, look up the answer in an SQL database, and translate the response into a page of HTML so that the server can send the result to the client. A gateway program may be written in a language such as "C" or in a scripting language such as Practical Extraction and Report Language (Perl) or Tcl or one of the Unix operating system shell languages. Perl is described in more detail in Programming Perl, by Larry Wall and Randal L. Schwartz, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Sebastopol, Calif., USA, 1992. The CGI standard specifics how the script or application receives input and parameters, and specifies how any output should be formatted and returned to the server.
A user (typically using a machine other than the machine used by the Web server) accesses documents published on the WWW runs a client program called a "Web browser." The Web browser allows the user to retrieve and display documents from Web servers. Some of the popular Web browser programs are: the Navigator browser from NetScape Communications, Corp., of Mountain View, Calif.; the Mosaic browser from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA); the WinWeb browser, from Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corp. of Austin, Tex.; and the InternetWorks browser, from Booklink Technology, of Needham, Mass. Browsers exist for many platforms, including personal computers with the Intel Pentium processor running the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system and the Microsoft Windows environment, and Apple Macintosh personal computers.
The Web server and the Web browser communicate using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) message protocol and the underlying TCP/IP data transport protocol of the computer network. HTTP is described in Hypertext Transfer Protocol--HTTP/1.0 by T. Berners-Lee, R. T. Fielding, H. Frystyk Nielsen, Internet Draft Document, Dec. 19, 1994, and is currently in the standardization process. In HTTP, the Web browser establishes a connection to a Web server and sends an HTTP request message to the server. In response to an HTTP request message, the Web server checks for authorization, performs any requested action and returns an HTTP response message containing an HTML document resulting from the requested action, or an error message. For instance, to retrieve a static document, a Web browser sends an HTTP request message to the indicated Web server, requesting a document by its URL. The Web server then retrieves the document and returns it in an HTTP response message to the Web browser. If the document has hypertext links, then the user may again select a link to request that a new document be retrieved and displayed. As another example, if a user completes in a form requesting a database search, the Web browser sends an HTTP request message to the Web server including the name of the database to be searched and the search parameters and the URL of the search script. The Web server calls a program or script, passing in the search parameters. The program examines the parameters and attempts to answer the query, perhaps by sending a query to a database interface. When the program receives the results of the query, it constructs an HTML document that is returned to the Web server, which then sends it to the Web browser in an HTTP response message.
Interaction between Web browsers and Web servers has a number of drawbacks. First, when a document is retrieved from a server by a client, the client typically must load the entire document into the client's memory. There is no protocol which allows access only a portion of a document. To provide acceptable performance, publishers to maintain a large document as a collection of small document fragments, typically less than a few tens of printed pages equivalent in length. Such collections of small document fragments lead to document management problems.
Another restriction of the Web is that the destination of a link is typically an entire document file identified by its URL. There is no protocol for linking to targets that are a portion of a document. Although bookmarks may be used which are in the form of "http://x.com/doc.html#chap4", using such a URL causes the whole document "doc.html" to be loaded and causes the client browser to scroll to the portion labeled "chap4". Since, in practice, URLs point to entire documents, the protocol effectively requires transfer of an entire document when requested. The use of whole documents in the current implementation of the World Wide Web requires end users to wade through irrelevant information after invoking a hyperlink unless publishers commit to managing reusable information in many little files.
One difficulty with maintaining several small documents is that an electronic document without reference to a paper-based medium may not have clearly definable portions. Although documents prepared using, a descriptive markup language have a structure defined by the markup, such markup defines segments which generally have variable sizes. They may be as small as one word or as large as several printed pages.
When a publisher provides many small documents, a user may want to view related documents which could be considered as occurring prior to or after the document being viewed. In current systems designed for Web servers either on a global or a local computer network, where the document is already divided into predetermined segments, the publisher typically inserts a hypertext link, in the form of a graphic or text for example, in each document to refer to the previous or next document related to the document. Such a publication system however places an unnecessary document management burden on the publisher.
In systems like the DYNATEXT publishing system, a predetermined amount of data is selected from within a document and is viewed by the user. Such a system may read files from a CD-ROM or from an electronic document stored on a file server on a LAN. If a previous or subsequent document fragment is requested, another predetermined amount of data is prepared, or the system scrolls through previous and subsequent portions of the electronic document. However, a sequence of requests for previous segments and then following segments may not produce the same result all of the time in DYNATEXT.
Accordingly, it is a general aim of the invention to provide a mechanism for accessing only a portion of a large electronically published document, and to automatically determine what portion of the document to select as a previous portion or a next portion without maintaining separate data files of each portion of the document.

Generation of chunks of a long document for an electronic book system


A method and system for estimating the time to completion of a task being executed on a multitasking workstation potentially subject to the commencement or termination of one or more other tasks. Value arises where the task subject to estimation requires upon its completion the intervention of the workstation user, such as by the physical act of switching diskettes. When the task to be completed is relatively time consuming, such as occurs with the transfer of compressed data from a diskette to a hard disk, the calculation of a complex spreadsheet, the compilation of a lengthy program, or the generation of elaborate graphics, the user of the workstation is particularly interested in knowing about when the task will be completed. With the advent of multitasking workstations and operating systems, a singular static estimation is substantially meaningless. The estimate determination must recognize and compensate for the fact that the central processing unit is a resource which is shared by multiple tasks. As tasks commence or terminate, the estimated time to completion varies for the task having the user's immediate interest. The method and system use task size, task execution rate and elapsed time to dynamically estimate the time to completion. The user is notified accordingly.

The present invention relates generally to methods and system for determining the progress of an operation being executed on a workstation. More particularly, the invention is directed to methods and systems for estimating the time to complete a task executing on a multitasking workstation.
Efficient utilization of workstations and workstation users is an important consideration when selecting software and hardware. Efficiency of use is particularly important when the workstation hardware and operating system are the subject of a premium cost to provide a multitasking environment, namely one which has the resources to concurrently execute multiple programs. In such context it becomes vital to provide the workstation user with information regarding the progress of a program or task which requires periodic user intervention. For example, if the user must make a decision and convey that as a control input to the workstation, or the user must physically interact with the workstation such as by replacing a diskette or a tape, efficiency is affected by the timeliness of the user/operator action.
A representative example of a common problem occurs when a large application or operating system program distributed over multiple diskettes is to be loaded one diskette at a time onto a workstation. The loading of files from each diskette is a time intensive undertaking and typically varies from diskette to diskette. The conclusion of each diskette loading cycle is conventionally indicated by a single "beep" sound. The user must either wait at the workstation for the conclusion signal or have the workstation remain idle between the conclusion of a diskette load and the next visit. The non-productive user time for interaction with a single workstation is more an aggravation than a major problem, but when the wasted time is multiplied by the numerous business application workstations subject to such loading, whether performed by individual users or by a network administrator, the time wasted is significant.
One approach to giving the user some information about the status of the task is to depict by text or graphics the fact that the task is still in progress, in contrast to a single concluding beep signal. Representative examples of such prior art approaches are the clock icons and hour glass icons generated on video display screens of workstations to show the continuity of the task. More recent refinements for keeping the user aware of the progress include graphical or icon depictions of tasks shown only in proportion to the extent completed. A representative example of such is the depiction of a diskette icon shown in a fractional relation to the number of files read from the diskette.
These approaches are lacking in two respects. First, they do not provide the information in a form which allows the user the greatest flexibility. For example, the user would prefer to know the time left before a diskette load operation is completed rather than the fact that half the diskette has been loaded already. Foremost, the measures do not take into account instantaneous changes in the computational or transmission workload of the limiting workstation resource. This issue is particularly important for the new multitasking workstations where ongoing tasks can commence or conclude during the execution of the task in question, such as the aforementioned diskette load operation. If a task ends, the diskette load operation can accelerate significantly. Similarly, if one or more tasks commences during the diskette load task, the speed of the diskette load, and elapsed time to completion, can change dramatically. Thus, a dynamic estimate of the time to completion is particularly important in a multitasking, and even more so in a multitasking and multiuser, workstation environment.
Known techniques, such as those associated with calculating the time remaining in the play of an optical disk or magnetic tape based upon prior measures of track count or tape length, neither compensate for nor operate in the context of an environment using a shared signal processor. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,682 for representative teaching of estimating the time to completion.

Time to completion determination in a multitasking workstation

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a server that can perform a visual search using at least one rectified image. A method implemented at a server includes storing a plurality of images with the server, receiving at least one rectified image having at least one potential object of interest from a computing device for a visual search, and extracting descriptors representing features of the at least one rectified image. The extracted descriptors of the at least one rectified image are designed to be invariant to rotation, scale, and lighting without needing to be invariant to perspective or affine distortion.

Users are accessing different services such as a visual search service from a wide range of different computing devices (e.g., both mobile devices and non-mobile devices). For example, these different computing devices include home computers, work computers, mobile phones, mobile device, tablets, etc. Visual search has become a popular service. Users upload images to a server, which matches the images against other images stored in its database and eventually returns information about the uploaded images. The algorithms that match the query images against the database images are typically designed such that they can handle a certain amount of warping (i.e., translation, scale, rotation, and perspective effects). Also, these methods can detect objects in pictures that contain additional, irrelevant details (i.e., clutter). However, even though the algorithms are able to cope with these difficulties, the algorithms require more time and processing resources for coping with these difficulties. The irrelevant clutter in the camera image not only makes it harder for the server to find the object of interest, it also increases the size of the image that is sent to the server.

Performing a visual search using a rectified image


An adsorbent having high adsorption characteristics and high heat conductivity, which comprises a heat conductive sheet and at least one adsorbing sheet provided on at least one surface of the heat conductive sheet in contact therewith and which can perform a removal or supply of a heat through the heat conductive sheet to improve the adsorption or desorption efficiency, and an assembly comprising at least two adsorbents arranged in layers so as to form spaces between the adjacent adsorbents.

The present invention relates to an adsorbent having an excellent adsorptivity and a high heat conductivity, and more particularly to an adsorbent comprising a sheet containing adsorbing agent and a heat conductive sheet.
Adsorbents composed of adsorbing sheets utilizing adsorbing agents are known. Conventional adsorbents cannot efficiently perform a heat removal in adsorption operation and a heat supply in desorption operation. Therefore, difficulties are encountered in conducting an adsorption treatment, particularly when substances to be adsorbed are present in high concentrations, or in conducting a desorption operation for desorbing the adsorbed substances from the adsorbents, particularly when a desorbing gas is supplied at a low linear velocity. That is to say, break through is easy to occur in adsorption treatment, because the temperature of an adsorbing agent included in the adsorbent rises due to the heat of adsorption, so the adsorptivity is lowered. On the other hand, in case of desorption operation, the temperature of the adsorbing agent remarkably drops due to heat removal by desorption, so the desorption characteristics are lowered.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adsorbent having a high adsorptivity and a high heat conductivity.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sheet-like adsorbent having a high adsorptivity and a high heat conductivity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adsorbent assembly comprising a plurality of sheet-like adsorbents, from which the heat of adsorption can be efficiently removed and to which a heat can be efficiently supplied so as to be able to efficiently conduct a desorption operation.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.


An apparatus and method for controlling the emitted color of visible light according to the current communication state in a visible light communication (VLC) device. The method includes storing one or more communication states and emitting colors that are correspondingly matched to the one or more communication states to indicate each of the various communication states. The VLC also checks, which can be based upon selection of a VLC mode, the current communication state and an emits a color that corresponds to the current communication state and emits the checked color of light to provide a visible light signal that indicates communication status to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of controlling emitting colors of a visible light emitting diode (LED). More particularly, the present invention relates to controlling the emitted colors according to a current communication state in a visible light communication (VLC) device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the improved technological performance and reduced cost of light emitting diodes (LEDs) in recent years, such LEDs have rapidly proliferated in the fields of specialized lighting, such as lights used in portable devices, displays, automobiles, traffic lights, sign boards, etc., and so on. In particular, LEDs are also becoming increasingly popular for use as camera flashes, as well as portable flashes for mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), backlight units for LCDs, and other applications. More recently, due to radio frequency (RF) band depletion, and the collision probability of different wireless communication technologies, as well as the emergence of ultra high-speed ubiquitous communication environments in a 4 G wireless technology, concerns about the optical wireless communication technology being used in a complementary system along with RF communication technology has increased. Thus, the research and development of optical wireless communication technology using LEDs is being extensively conducted by a number of companies and research institutions.
There have been a number of studies of peripheral interfaces enabling communication from one device to another using an infrared data association (IrDA) module mounted on portable devices such as a mobile phone or PDA, a small-sized home appliance such as a digital camera or MP3 player, and so on. Due to such studies, a variety of products associated with such peripheral interfaces have been developed and commercialized. The optical wireless communication technology including infrared communication offers several advantages such as non-congestion between different devices, ensured communication security, low implementation cost, and so on, which is an improvement over radio frequency (RF) communications such as Bluetooth or ZigBee. In order to implement optical communication, LEDs can be advantageously used instead of IrDa modules because of technological merits and better cost effectiveness, when compared with IrDA modules.
One of the advantages of visible light communication using a visible LED as a peripheral interface is that an LED module which is pre-mounted on a mobile terminal or PDA can be utilized without the need to install additional modules. In addition, the use of the LED module facilitates pointing between transceiver modules or devices., Additionally, a more aesthetic appearance is presented by the LED module, and when compared to IR communication, has been shown to have better results capturing a consumer's attention.
Visible light communication in general normally employs data communication schemes using blinking light signals and/or different colors light signals to facilitate the communication. That is to say, communication between visible light communication devices is performed via at least one of blinking or color control of light signals.
With reference to FIG. 1, a visible light communication (VLC) device 100 transmits desired data to a counterpart VLC device 102 through a visible light signal (referred to as 110 in FIG. 1) by driving a visible LED. The VLC device 102, which employs a camera to serve as a receiver for receiving a visible light signal, analyzes visible light signals received through the camera and communicates with the VLC device 100.
One of the drawbacks of communication between VLC devices is that a user has difficulty in directly checking the current communication state of the device, for example, to monitor items such as establishment of a communication link, progress of data communication, or receive feedback about the stability of the communication link established depending on position or angle between mobile terminals.
In addition, with regard to conventional VLC technology, light of the same color as that emitted during data transmission is emitted from an LED of the VLC device, even during an initialization procedure such as detection of VLC devices, negotiation after the detection, and the like. Furthermore, even when a communication link established between the two VLC devices is disconnected in the course of data transmission, a user cannot identify the disconnection.

Apparatus and method of controlling emitting color of visible light according to a current communication state in a VLC device


Methods for delivering potentially therapeutic or prophylactic protein and peptide agents to mammalian cells are provided. The agents are delivered by mutant trypanosomatid protozoa that have been genetically manipulated to code for such protein or peptide agents. The mutant protozoa additionally lack certain enzymes within the heme biosynthetic pathway, making the mutants susceptible to porphyria and eventual lysis.

Proteins and peptides have the potential to be valuable prophylactic and therapeutic agents in humans and other animal subjects. However, because proteins and peptides are larger and more complex than conventional organic and inorganic drug molecules, the formulation and delivery of such agents present unique problems. In this regard, potentially beneficial protein and peptide drugs typically require the maintenance of their conformational integrity in order to be efficacious with regard to their desired biological properties against the intended targets. A protein's conformation can be altered by any of the numerous protein degradation pathways present in the body.
While there have been extensive and ongoing research efforts focused on novel ways to successfully deliver protein and peptide drugs to their intended targets, effective delivery techniques for these agents have not been perfected.
The present invention relates to the design and development of new types of biological carriers for efficient delivery of medically useful peptides and proteins. These carriers are designed for time-controllable, rapid and tissue-targeted release of the reagents. The strategies to acquire these properties are to construct the carriers from heme biosynthesis deficient trypanosome mutants (Sah et al, 2002). They are transgenically modified, making them responsive to external signals to induce accumulation of porphyrins. The porphyric state mediates cytolysis of the mutant "carriers," thereby releasing pharmaceutically useful proteins over-expressed by them via pre-transfection with relevant genes of interest. The inherent tissue-specific infection of trypanosomes is exploited for targeting.
Porphyrins are metabolic intermediates in the biosynthesis pathway of heme (Sassa and Nagai 1996). Heme is an indispensable component required for respiration to produce energy in all aerobic organisms, including humans. All porphyrin intermediates formed in this pathway, i.e. uroporphrynogen I, uroporphyrinogen III, coproporphyrinogen III, protoporphyrinogen IX, and protoporphyrin IX are also inherently cytotoxic, especially on exposure to UV irradiation. This results in the generation of free radicals due to photosensitivity of porphyrins. Abnormal accumulation of porphyrins has been reported to result from a dysfunctional heme biosynthesis pathway, leading to human diseases known as "porphyria." (Sassa 2000). Porphyric individuals suffer from photophobia, tissue necrosis, organ failure and other related systemic disorders. There are different forms of human porphyria, caused by the accumulation of different porphyrin species, resulting from genetic defects of different porphyrin metabolizing enzyme as well as their inhibition by environmental poisons, such as lead.
Application of porphyrins or their precursor, delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) alone is considered to have therapeutic potentials against microbial infection and tumors, especially when this is followed by UV irradiation (Wainwright 1998; Friesen et al. 2002). These procedures have been shown to kill certain pathogenic microorganisms and, more recently, tumor cells in "photodynamic therapy." In the latter cases, porphyrins are either administered exogenously or induced endogenously within the tumor cells using ALA, the product of ALA-synthase (ALAS)—the first of the eight enzymes in the heme biosynthesis pathway of mammals. The porphyric state generated by either way is non-targeted and transient, and the level of porphyrin accumulation is relatively low. This is due to the substrate "flow-through" and/or feedback and allosteric inhibition in the presence of a complete heme biosynthesis pathway in all aerobic organisms.
Numerous biological carriers of microbial origin have been constructed to deliver drugs and vaccines for potential medical applications (Mollenkopf et al. 2001; Edgeworth et al 2002). Induction of porphyria in microbial carriers for self-destruction presents itself as a potential strategy to achieve simultaneous elimination of the carrier and effective drug release. The feasibility of this strategy is significantly enhanced by using appropriate microorganisms as the carriers with the following inherent and/or genetically modifiable properties: (1) high producer of porphyrins in response to external signals to develop porphyria for time-controllable and rapid cylolysis; (2) mammalian cell, tissue or organ affinity for site-specific "homing" delivery; and (3) ease of in vitro cultivation and transfection of these microbial carriers with available plasmids or other vectors to express foreign genes. The microorganisms with these properties include trypanosomatid protozoa, such as Leishmania spp.
The present invention exploits the virtual absence of heme biosynthesis pathway in trypanosomes to identify or construct their genetic mutants for time-controllable induction of an intense and sustained porphyric state, making it possible to consider their use for targeted release of pharmaceutically important peptides and/or proteins. This is the unique aspect of the present invention.
There has been no similar concept and methodology developed previously with this group of organisms for such applications. The closest materials generated previously are suicidal mutants of Leishmania, but they were constructed not with genes in the heme pathway, but by negative selections for virulence gene knockouts (Titus et al. 1995; Alexander et al. 1998; Gourley et al. 2001; Papadopoulou et al. 2002) or by reverse genetics using widely publicized schemes, e.g., transfection with thymidine kinase gene for responsiveness to ganciclovir as the trigger (LeBowitz et al. 1992). These suicidal mutants also incorporate no time-controllable elements, as designed in the present invention.
Other materials peripherally related to the constructs of the present invention are knockout mutants of individual genes encoding porphyrin metabolizing enzymes in single cell organisms, e.g., algae, yeasts (Kurlandzka et al. 1991; Glerum et al. 1996) and Chlamydomonas (Wang et al. 1975). These mutants have been used for isolation of specific porphyrin species, but have not been considered for use as drug delivery vehicles. Creation of an additional mutation in these engineered or natural mutants for an ALAS negative phenotype is theoretically possible to render them conditional to exogenous ALA for developing porphyria. Such mutant living organisms, are not mammalian cell-, tissue- or organ-specific. Remotely relevant are single experimental steps used in photodynamic therapy of tumors, i.e., ALA induction of these cells to develop a transient porphyric state (Abels et al. 1997; Gibson et. At 1999) and direct administration of porphyrins (Afonso et al. 1990) or other chromogens followed by UV irradiation (Spikes and Bommer 1993) or laser phototherapy (Castro et al. 1996). The aim of photodynamic therapy in these schemes is to use porphyrins for treatment, but not drug delivery as is intended in the present invention.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science


An actuation device sensitive to the flow of electricity from an electrical conductor from a source of electricity into an appliance. The appliance, upon being electrically activated, is to receive a flow of a fluid from a supply pipe. The actuation device to be connected to a valve mounted in conjunction with the supply pipe with this valve being movable from a closed position to an open position upon electricity being supplied to the appliance.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus which controls the flow of a plurality of sources of a liquid to an appliance in response to electrical activation of the appliance.
2) Description of Prior Art
The subject matter of the present invention will be discussed in relation to a conventional clothes washing machine that can be mounted either within a house or a commercial establishment.
The conventional washing machine includes an electrically operated timer mechanism which when activated causes the washing machine to operate through a duty cycle and then be shut off. The washing machine is to be supplied a source of hot water and a source of cold water. The supply of the water is conducted through hoses that connect between the washing machine and supply pipes mounted near the location of the washing machine. It is to be understood that the subject matter of this invention could be utilized in conjunction with any appliance which is electrically activated and is designed to receive one or more sources of a liquid or gas.
A conventional clothes washing machine utilizes two flexible hoses with one hose being connected to a cold water supply and the remaining hose being connected to a hot water supply. These hoses normally are continually subjected to water line pressure. It is advocated that faucets connecting to the hoses be turned to the off position when the washing machine is not being operated. However, most individuals do not turn the faucets to the off position during non-operation of their washing machine, but leave the faucets on which causes the water line pressure to be continually subjected to the hoses.
Within the home, most washing machines are located generally within the garage or in the interior portion of the house. If a flexible hose ruptures and leakage occurs, it does not take long for a substantial amount of water to flow within the residence or garage which will result in flooding of a portion, or all, of the residence or garage. The problem is particularly acute if the people that reside at the residence are away from the residence for a period of time, such as being on vacation. There is a need to utilize an automatic water flow apparatus in conjunction with the washing machine so that when the washing machine is manually activated to start its duty cycle, it is only then that the hot and cold water will be supplied to the washing machine. When the washing machine is turned off, the water is not supplied to the flexible hoses, thereby eliminating any possibility of flooding.


Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for indicating aircraft height relative to an obstruction in a terrain awareness warning system. The method includes receiving data indicative of geographic features of an obstruction, lateral distance of the geographic feature from an aircraft, height and flight path of the aircraft, calculating a projected height of the aircraft at the location of the obstruction using the data, generating a result signal, and displaying a colored indication on a display screen based on the result signal. The apparatus includes inputs for signals from instruments measuring height, flight path, and location of an aircraft, as well as an input for an instrument providing information about geographic features of terrain surrounding the aircraft. The apparatus includes a means for employing the signals to calculate an effective height of the aircraft relative to the terrain, and a screen display for graphically displaying the results of the calculation.

The present invention relates to avionics, and more particularly to altitude displays and terrain awareness warning systems.
A conventional altitude display for a terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) for a given aircraft provides a pilot with a visual display of the terrain having an altitude higher than the aircraft, as well as the terrain within some distance, usually 2000xe2x80x2, below an aircraft.
Referring to prior art FIG. 1, an environment is shown in which a conventional altitude display could be important. In situation I, an aircraft 12 is flying at an altitude X along a direction vector 16. In situation II, an aircraft 12xe2x80x2 is flying at an altitude Xxe2x80x2 along a direction vector 16xe2x80x2. In situation III, an aircraft 12xe2x80x3 is flying at an altitude Xxe2x80x3 along a direction vector 16xe2x80x3. Finally, in situation IV, an aircraft 12xe2x80x2xe2x80x3 is flying at an altitude Xxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 along a direction vector 16xe2x80x2xe2x80x3. The aircrafts 12, 12xe2x80x2, 12xe2x80x3, and 12xe2x80x2xe2x80x3are flying with direction vectors 16, 16xe2x80x2, 16xe2x80x3, 16xe2x80x2xe2x80x3, respectively, such that an obstruction 14 having height Y is within a forward arc, centered on the respective direction vector, as monitored by the conventional altitude display aboard each respective aircraft.
Starting by considering situation IV, a conventional altitude display would typically give a visual signal as the height Y of the obstruction 14 is greater than the altitude Xxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 of the aircraft 12xe2x80x2xe2x80x3. In other words, Xxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 xe2x89xa6Y. An audible alert may be given as well if suitable criteria regarding time-to-impact of the terrain feature are also met. In all cases, the height Y and altitude Xxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 may be measured by radio height, altitude above sea level, or other means, and preferably the same type of measurement, is employed for both distances. The visual signal in this situation would typically be a red area, such as a spot or square, on a cockpit display. The term xe2x80x98REDxe2x80x99 is shown in the figure to denote the range of operation which would result in a red area being displayed. The red area would be indicated to be at a range Z and at a bearing corresponding to the direction of the obstruction 14 relative to the centerline of the aircraft 12xe2x80x2xe2x80x3.
In situation III, a conventional altitude display would also typically give a red visual signal as the height Y of the obstruction 14 is within a predetermined elevation buffer xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d and within a predetermined time-to-impact from the altitude Xxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 of the aircraft 12xe2x80x3. This elevation buffer D is typically 700xe2x80x2 or 1000xe2x80x2 during enroute navigation, and the alert would be given if Xxe2x80x3xe2x88x92Yxe2x89xa6D. As before, the red area would be indicated to be at a range Z and at a bearing corresponding to the direction of the obstruction 14 relative to the centerline of the aircraft 12xe2x80x3. Also as before, an audible signal may also be given if certain criteria are met.
In situation II, a conventional altitude display would typically just display a visual signal as the altitude Xxe2x80x2 of the aircraft 12xe2x80x2 is greater, than the predetermined elevation buffer D from the height Y of the obstruction 14, by a first distance d1. In other words, Xxe2x80x2xe2x88x92Yxe2x89xa7D+d1. d1 is also typically 1000xe2x80x2. The aircraft 12xe2x80x2 would not be considered to be completely free of the obstruction 14, however, and for this reason the visual signal would be of a cautionary nature. The visual signal would typically be a yellow area, such as a spot or square, on the cockpit display. As such, xe2x80x98YELLOWxe2x80x99 indicates this range. As with the red areas, the yellow area would be indicated to be at a range Z and at a bearing corresponding to the direction of the obstruction 14 relative to the centerline of the aircraft 12xe2x80x2.
Finally, in situation I, a conventional altitude display would typically just display a visual signal as the altitude Xxe2x80x2 of the aircraft 12xe2x80x2 is greater than the height Y of the obstruction 14 by not only the elevation buffer D and the first distance d1, but also by a second distance d2. In other words, Xxe2x80x2xe2x88x92Yxe2x89xa7D+d1+d2. d2 is again typically 1000xe2x80x2. The aircraft 12 would be considered to be mostly free of the obstruction 14, however, and for this reason the visual signal would typically be a green area, such as a spot or square, on the cockpit display. Again, xe2x80x98GREENxe2x80x99 indicates this range. As with the red and yellow areas, the green area would be indicated to be at a range Z and at a bearing corresponding to the direction of the obstruction 14 relative to the centerline of the aircraft 12.
At higher aircraft altitudes, no colored area, or a black area, would be indicated. Here, xe2x80x98NONExe2x80x99 is shown in the figure to denote this range.
Such altitude displays are clearly useful for warning pilots of impending dangerous terrain. However, such systems fail to account for important factors such as the actual flight path of the aircraft. As a result, their accuracy may be less than desired. For example, if an aircraft is climbing, the above described prior art altitude display may report a red area where one is not warranted. In the same way, if an aircraft is high but descending, the above-described prior art altitude display may display a green area where a red area is warranted.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art noted above.
In one aspect, the invention is directed towards a method for providing an indication of aircraft height relative to an obstruction in a terrain awareness warning system. The method includes steps of receiving a first datum indicative of a geographic feature of an obstruction, receiving a second datum indicative of a lateral distance of the geographic feature from an aircraft, receiving a third datum indicative of a height of the aircraft, receiving a fourth datum indicative of a flight path of the aircraft, calculating a projected height of the aircraft at the location of the obstruction using the first through fourth data, generating a result signal based on the projected height and the first datum, and displaying a colored indication on a display screen based on the generated result signal.
Implementations of the method may include one or more of the following. The first datum may be a height of the obstruction. The colored indication may be a colored area on a display screen having a color such as red, yellow, green, or black. The elevation buffer may be zero. The receiving a fourth datum may further include resolving the flight path of the aircraft into components including a lateral flight path and a vertical flight path. The method may further include: calculating a flight path angle of the aircraft from the received fourth datum, calculating an effective altitude of the aircraft by adding to the third datum a value equal to the second datum multiplied by the tangent of the flight path angle, generating a first alert signal if the effective altitude is less than the sum of the first datum and a elevation buffer, sounding an audible alarm with the first alert signal, displaying a first colored indication at a display location corresponding to the second datum as the first alert signal, generating a second alert signal if the effective altitude is greater than the sum of the first datum and a elevation buffer but less than a sum of the first datum, the elevation buffer, and a first distance, or displaying a second colored indication at a display location corresponding to the second datum as the second alert signal.
In another aspect, the invention is directed towards a computer program, stored in a machine-readable format, for a terrain awareness warning system. The program causes a computer to: receive a first datum indicative of a geographic feature of an obstruction; receive a second datum indicative of a lateral distance of the geographic feature from an aircraft; receive a third datum indicative of a height of the aircraft; receive a fourth datum indicative of a flight path of the aircraft; calculate a projected height of the aircraft at the location of the obstruction using the first through fourth data; and generate a result signal based on the projected height and the first datum.
In yet another aspect, the invention is directed towards an apparatus for providing an indication of aircraft height relative to an obstruction in a terrain awareness warning system. The apparatus includes a first input for a first signal from an instrument measuring a height of an aircraft, a second input for a second signal from an instrument measuring a location of the aircraft, a third input for a third signal from an instrument providing information about geographic features of terrain surrounding the aircraft, and a fourth input for a fourth signal from an instrument measuring a flight path of the aircraft. The apparatus includes means for employing the signals from the first through fourth inputs to calculate an effective height of the aircraft relative to at least the third input, and a screen display for graphically displaying the results of the calculation.
Implementations of the apparatus may include one or more of the following. The instrument measuring height and location of the aircraft may include an altimeter. The instrument providing information about geographic features of terrain surrounding the aircraft, as well as the instrument measuring a flight path of the aircraft, may be aids to navigation, such as a global positioning system unit. The apparatus may further include a conventional TAWS altitude display and means to toggle the screen display between the conventional TAWS altitude display and the screen display for graphically displaying the results of the calculation. The first through fourth inputs may form at least a portion of a parallel data bus or a serial data stream.
In a further aspect, the invention is directed towards a method of performing terrain awareness warning for an aircraft. The method includes steps of collecting data about terrain features in the vicinity of an aircraft, collecting data of the lateral distance and bearing of the terrain features from the aircraft, collecting data of the height and flight path of the aircraft, calculating a projected height of the aircraft at the location of each of the terrain features based on the collected data of the height and flight path of the aircraft, and generating result signals based on the projected height, the collected data of terrain features, and the bearing of the terrain features. The method further includes displaying colored indications on a display screen, with respect to bearing, based on the generated result signals.
In still a further aspect, the invention is directed towards a method for providing an indication of lateral aircraft position relative to an obstruction in a terrain awareness warning system. The method includes steps of receiving a first datum indicative of the bearing of an obstruction relative to an aircraft, receiving a second datum indicative of a lateral distance of the obstruction from the aircraft, and receiving third data indicative of a flight path of the aircraft. The method further includes steps of calculating a projected flight path of the aircraft relative to the obstruction using the first through third data and determining a distance between the projected flight path and the obstruction at a series of points along the projected flight path. The method includes steps of generating a result signal based on the determined distance, and displaying a colored indication on a display screen based on the generated result signal with respect to the bearing.
Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. The invention allows for more accurate terrain displays, giving the pilot a more reliable indicator of the relative danger of forward terrain. The invention provides this increased accuracy in part by taking into account factors, such as the flight path angle of the aircraft, when calculating and displaying alerts. As a result, false warnings are eliminated and dangerous situations that would not have been noticed by prior systems are avoided.
Other advantages will be apparent from the description that follows, including the figures and the claims.

Method and apparatus for predictive altitude display