A hair brightening process and aqueous hair brightening compositions therefor are disclosed effective for removing discolorations from hair which is undesirably discolored due to chemical processes and environmental exposure or natural aging to provide a substantially more natural tone. The hair brightening compositions of the invention comprise certain hair brightening activating salts and organic colorants as active brightening ingredients which surprisingly remove discoloration without imparting an unnatural tone to the hair. The inventive hair brightening compositions provide a significant improvement over conventional prior-art hydrogen peroxide-based hair brightening compositions in effectiveness, are less damaging to the hair, and more varied in their useful product forms. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods for alkali relaxing and brightening hair, especially naturally gray hair, and single-use kits comprising the inventive hair brightener compositions.

The growing demand for new hairstyles has shaped a lucrative industry for salons and hair stylists. Further, the ability to change the appearance of one's hair through chemical processes is important to both men and women. More specifically, it is important for both men and women to be able to chemically relax or to permanently wave the hair so that they may keep up with the rapidly changing hair style fashion in the hair industry. In some instances, such chemical processes, and alkali hair relaxers in particular, have the undesirable and very noticeable effect of discoloring of the natural underlying color of hair, particularly naturally blonde and gray hair. In addition, environmental effects, such as exposure to sun or smoke and like pollutants, may also cause discolorations. Also, in many individuals, the natural color of the hair may discolor with age or illness and develop an undesirable tone even without chemical processing or environmental exposure.
In general, the discoloration of natural gray and natural blonde hair due to natural processes, environmental exposure, and chemical alkaline waving or relaxing processes is a visually observable undesirable yellowish tone on the white unpigmented fibers, although other tonal alterations are observed, such as brassiness. Discolored hair fibers also appear dull, drab and lackluster, whereas in non-discolored hair, the natural underlying tone of the hair fibers provides a desirable natural bright tone with highlights to the hair. For purposes of this invention, the term "discolorations" and grammatical variations thereof with reference to hair means discolorations such as described herein including, but not limited to, yellow, brown, blue and purple tones, brassiness and dullness.
Alkali hair relaxing compositions may employ strongly alkaline relaxing agents such as inorganic alkali metal hydroxides such as, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide or oxides thereof capable of forming hydroxides in water; or relatively strong organic bases such as, but not limited to, guanidine, guanidine hydroxide or quaternary ammonium hydroxide. These chemicals are highly caustic with a pH of above approximately 12, and at such high alkalinity alkali relaxers may undesirably alter and discolor the natural tone of human hair, especially noticeable on naturally white hair fibers. Other non-alkaline relaxing compositions may also cause discoloration of the hair.
Alkali hair relaxers containing sodium hydroxide are especially popular and are commonly known as lye-type relaxers. Some lye-type hair relaxers have included keratin-disulfide reducing agents in an attempt to limit the amount of discoloration that occurs during alkali relaxing. For example, compositions with available sulfhydyrol groups, such as dimercaptoadipic acid or cysteine, have been included in the relaxer creme. However, these products do not work as well as needed and are thus limited in use, for example, as part of a relaxing process.
Waving compositions effect a substantially lasting transformation of straight hair into waved hair. Often, such waving systems utilize reducing agents comprised of thiols, including, but not limited to, thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, cysteine, thioglycerol, thioglycolic hydroxide, thioglycolamide and glycerol monothioglycolate. These waving composition are alkaline and typically have a high pH above 8 to about 10. Such alkaline waving compositions also may undesireably alter and discolor the natural tone of human hair. In addition, non-thiol waving compositions may also cause discoloration of the hair.
Thus, there is a need and desire for a composition and process to brighten the tone of alkali relaxed and waved hair which has become discolored to restore a more natural appearance. One commercially available hair brightening system uses hydrogen peroxide as a hair brightening agent. Although this system successfully brightens the tone of discolored hair, hydrogen peroxide produces undesirable side effects which include a significant decrease in the tensile strength of the hair, making the hair more susceptible to chemical or combing damage, resulting in hair with a frizzy and damaged appearance, an increase in the risk of irritation or burning of the scalp or skin, an increase in risk of chemical damage to the hair upon later chemical processing, and bleaching of the natural underlying color of the pigmented hair of individuals with brown, red or black hair.
Other approaches used to brighten hair, generally natural gray or white hair, include applying a temporary or semi-permanent hair coloring, usually applied as a violet or blue rinse to mask the underlying discoloration. However, since such color rinses are typically applied and left on the hair, such rinses can produce further visually unsatisfactory tones, such as unnatural purples and blues, and can leave an undesirable dull coating on the hair.
Thus, conventional hydrogen peroxide-based brightening systems suffer from the disadvantages of reduction in tensile strength of the hair, structural damage to the hair, irritation or burning to the scalp, and color rinses unsatisfactorily color the hair.
Accordingly, there is still an ongoing need for a hair brightening composition that overcomes hair discoloration problems resulting from the use of alkaline chemical processing products or environmental exposures, which minimizes apparent damage to the hair and minimizes loss of tensile strength of the hair. There is also a need and desire for easy-to-use improved compositions which brighten the hair that can be employed during waving or relaxing hair processes which brighten the hair.
The inventive hair brightening system answers that need. Further the inventive hair brightening system and methods for brightening hair can be used as an adjunct to an alkali relaxing process.


In one embodiment, a method includes: retrieving data relevant to a first screen of an electronic program guide; generating a graphical user interface using the retrieved data, in which: a first node identifies the first screen; second nodes identify second screens accessed after the first screen, each of the second nodes being positioned to one side of the first node; the first node is connected to each of the second nodes by connectors, each of the connectors pointing towards each of the second nodes and having a width proportional to a volume of navigation flow received by each of the second nodes from the first node; wherein at least one node comprises a visual indication indicating an average time spent by the users on an identified screen of the electronic program guide; and rendering the generated graphical user interface on a display screen of the computing device.

In the television industry, data visualization tools and applications enable television business operators to easily view data relevant to their subscribers, broadcast media contents, etc. Data visualization applications typically comprise a user interface—including dashboards, metrics, navigation flow diagrams, etc.—enabling a television operator to see and understand how an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is navigated by end users. The increasing complexity of EPGs has challenged designers of user interfaces for data visualization applications. For example, a common challenge has been to design and implement user interfaces that provide an appropriate balance of information, usability, intuitiveness, control, and functionality, thus promoting a quality user experience.

Visual representation of navigation flows within a user interface


A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.

The present invention relates to transparent films applied to touch sensitive screens for impact and/or scratch protection.
Electronic devices such as the IPHONE smart phone have a touch sensitive screen by which the user may operate the electronic device. The touch sensitive screen displays electronic buttons and search boxes that the user can select by touch. These touch sensitive screens are very large and subject to cracking and scratching during normal use by the user as well as when the electronic device is dropped. The resulting damage may be costly to repair and may require replacement of the entire electronic device or phone. Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost device that will cushion and absorb an impact that could break or scratch the glass face of the electronic device and yet not interfere with the functionality and sensitivity of the touch screen or the quality of the image displayed on the screen.
Prior art films do exist that are adhered to the touch sensitive screen. Unfortunately, these protective films leave unsightly air bubbles between the transparent protective film and the transparent glass of the electronic device. Moreover, these films provide no impact absorption protection to the glass face.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved protective film for touch sensitive screens.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method for multicast transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual exchange network including interconnected nodes is embedded within a network. A sender is disposed in communication with a root node and receivers are disposed in communication with a set of edge nodes. The sender publishes a packetized data stream to which the receivers subscribe. The packetized data stream is promulgated by implicit signaling through optimum virtual exchange network connections from the sender through the virtual exchange network to the receivers. The interconnected nodes, responsive to receiving the published packetized data stream, are adapted to multicast N instances of the published packetized data stream to N recipients selected from the group consisting of receivers and other of the interconnected nodes.

Most high-level network protocols, such as ISO Transport Protocols, TCP, or UDP, only provide unicast transmission services. That is, nodes of the network only have the ability to send to one other node at a time. This inherently point-to-point transmission service must perform replicated unicasts to send multiple copies of the transmission data in turn to each destination.
On the other hand, multicast transmission services provide an efficient way of disseminating data from a single sender to multiple receivers. Instead of sending a separate copy of the data to each individual recipient, the sender just sends a single copy which is delivered to all of the receivers. Reliable, fault tolerant existing multicast solutions, however, utilize hardware level implementations which naturally restrict portability and limit the deployability of the multicast transmission services. These hardware level solutions, which include server-based and router-based solutions, are not economically scalable and are difficult to administer for supporting multicast and broadcast applications. There is a significant need for a software-based solution that is simple to use and administer, economically scalable, portable over a wide variety of operating environments, and designed with features to support broad communication services, enabling point-to-point, multicast, and broadcast services.

System and method for multicast transmission


Systems and methods for determining an instant messaging (IM) status of a user wearing a smart watch are disclosed. A computing device includes: a processor; a memory; and sensors including at least one biometric sensor, at least one location sensor, and at least one orientation sensor. The memory stores a status application that is executed by the processor and is configured to: obtain real time data from at least one of the sensors; determine an instant messaging (IM) status based on the real time data; and transmit the IM status to a server for providing to other IM users.

The present invention relates generally to wearable computing devices and, more particularly, to instant messaging status reporting based on smart watch activity.
Instant Messaging (IM) systems, such as Facebook® Messenger, Skype®, and WhatsApp®, and corporate IM systems, allow users to set a status indicating their availability. IM status can be set in two ways: automated or manual. An automated status is set automatically by the IM system. Values such as "Active", "Away" are determined by user activity (e.g., whether the user has moved their mouse, opened the app, etc., within a given period of time). Values such as "In a Meeting" are set by integrating with resources such as a user's calendar. A manual status is set manually by the user.
The primary purpose of IM status is to inform message senders of the availability of the message recipient. It allows message senders to answer questions such as "is this a good time to send a message to this person?" and "how likely is it I will receive a response from this person right now?" Oftentimes the IM status assigned to a given user is a poor indicator of their true availability. A person with an IM status of "Active" might actually be busy performing other tasks. A person with a status of "Away" might quickly become active when they receive a message notification. Using only user activity and integration with resources such as calendars is insufficient for accurate IM status reporting.
Current IM status reporting is notoriously inaccurate as it uses only a few unreliable factors to determine what a given user is currently doing. This presents a problem to IM message senders, who do not know if potential recipients are truly available or not. With smart watches the problem is worse as the recipient appears to always be online and available, as notifications can always be received and displayed by their smart watch.

Instant messaging status reporting based on smart watch activity

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A new and unique X Mangave plant named ‘Foxy Lady’ characterized by a compact mound of short, broad, fleshy, heavily-glaucous leaves with centers of silvery-colored with lavender undertones, developing irregular smoky-purple spots and stripes in high ultraviolet light exposure. The variegated creamy-white margin develops spots of purplish-pink and contrasts with the orangish brown sharp tip of the teeth and short, sharp, terminal spines. ‘Foxy Lady’ is suitable for the garden landscape or as a potted plant around the garden or in the home.

The present invention relates to the new and distinct X Mangave hybrid plant, x Mangave 'Foxy Lady' discovered by the inventor at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA as a whole plant mutation found in a batch of tissue culture propagated plantlets of x Mangave 'Silver Fox' U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,642. The mutation was discovered on Feb. 18, 2018. Through trials at the same nursery the plant was originally assigned the code 18-SP-MANG-640 until ultimately assigned the new cultivar name. The new plant has been successfully asexually propagated initially by division at the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. Removal of basal offshoots and sterile shoot tip tissue culture have been found to produce stable and identical plants that maintain all the unique characteristics of the original plant.


A surface emitting laser (SEL) with an integrated absorber. A lower mirror and an output coupler define a laser cavity of the SEL. A monolithic gain structure positioned in the laser cavity includes a gain region and an absorber, wherein a saturation fluence of the absorber is less than a saturation fluence of the gain region.

1. Field of Invention
The field of invention relates generally to lasers and, more specifically but not exclusively, relates to a surface emitting laser with an integrated absorber.
2. Background Information
Semiconductor lasers have a variety of applications including communication systems and consumer electronics. Generally, semiconductor lasers may be categorized as edge-emitting lasers or surface emitting lasers (SELs). Edge-emitting lasers emit radiation parallel to the semiconductor wafer surface while SELs emit radiation perpendicular to the semiconductor wafer surface. Excitation of the gain region of semiconductor lasers may be through optical pumping or electrical pumping.
Two common types of SELs are vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL). Referring to FIG. 1A, a VCSEL 100 is shown. A gain region 106 is sandwiched between mirror 104 and mirror 108. Such mirrors include distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors. Mirrors 104 and 108 define a laser cavity 112. Laser output 110 is emitted from the mirror 108 perpendicular to the gain region 106.
FIG. 1B shows a VECSEL 150. Mirror 158 is mounted externally and positioned above gain region 156. Mirror 154 and 158 define a laser cavity 162. Mirror 154 includes a DBR mirror. Laser output 160 is emitted from mirror 158.
Mode-locked lasers are used to generate narrow optical pulses on a time scale of picoseconds or less. In general, mode locking involves aligning the phases of longitudinal modes of the laser resulting in a periodic train of short pulses in the laser output. FIG. 1C shows a graph 165 of optical power versus time of a mode-locked laser. The repetition rate of the laser output is based on the period between pulses in graph 165. Mode locking may be achieved through active mode-locking or passive mode-locking. Active mode-locking uses frequency modulation or amplitude modulation through externally controlled modulators. Passive mode-locking is achieved through an absorber, which may include a saturable absorber material. The saturable absorber material may be fabricated from semiconductor material. The saturable absorber material may be fixed to a mirror, which may include a DBR mirror, to form a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM).
In a passively mode-locked laser, the desired laser output of short pulses is provided via the absorber. The effect of a saturable absorber in a laser cavity is to favor parts of the circulating radiation with higher intensity over those with lower intensity. After many round-trips, this often leads to the formation of a single short pulse circulating in the cavity. This mechanism is called mode locking because in the frequency domain it corresponds to the creation of a fixed phase relationship between the longitudinal modes of the cavity. The circulating pulse in the laser cavity generates one output pulse each time it hits the output coupler. Thus, a regular pulse train is produced.
FIG. 1D shows a VECSEL 170 with a non-integrated absorber. VECSEL 170 includes a gain region 174 layered on a mirror 172. An output coupler 176 is positioned above the gain region 174. Mirror 172 and output coupler 176 define a laser cavity 178. An optical pump 182 provides the pump energy for VECSEL 170. A semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) 184 provides passive mode-locking of VECSEL 170 and is separate from the gain region 174.
Today's passively mode-locked lasers use gain region and absorber materials that generally exhibit very similar saturation properties, so that rather different mode areas on the gain medium and the saturable absorber are required for mode locking. This is currently not achievable in monolithic structures.

Surface emitting laser with an integrated absorber


As an embodiment of the present invention, a method for supporting a HARQ operation of M2M devices using a HARQ Channel Identifier (ACID) in a wireless access system includes transmitting, at a base station, a second UL A-MAP IE to M2M devices sharing a station identifier (STID) in a subframe in which a second M2M device is to retransmit a UL burst, wherein the second UL A-MAP IE includes resource allocation information for allocating a resource region to a first M2M device and includes a second ACID, receiving the UL burst retransmitted using a first ACID from the second M2M device in the subframe, and receiving a new UL burst transmitted using the second ACID from the first M2M device in the subframe, wherein the first and second M2M devices share the STID, and the first and second ACIDs are different from each other.

A communication environment between devices will be briefly described hereinbelow. Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication refers to communication between electronic devices in the literal sense of the word. In a broad sense, M2M communication means wired or wireless communication between electronic devices or communication between devices controlled by people. Recently, M2M communication generally refers to wireless communication between electronic devices, performed without intervening people. In the early 1990s when the concept of M2M communication was first introduced, M2M communication was recognized as the concept of a remote control, telematics, etc. and a derivative market was very limited. However, as M2M communication has rapidly been developed in the past few years, it has grown as a market receiving attention from the whole world. In particular, M2M communication has exerted an important influence on the field of fleet management in a Point Of Sale (POS) system and a security related application market, remote monitoring of machines or facilities, and smart meter for measuring an operating time of mechanical construction equipment and automatically measuring heat or the used amount of electricity. Future M2M communication will be used for various uses in association with existing mobile communication, wireless high-speed Internet, and low-output communication solution such as Wi-Fi and ZigBee and will be extended up to a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) without being confined to a Business-to-Business (B2B) market any longer.
In M2M communication, all machines equipped with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card are able to transmit and receive data so that they can be remotely managed and controlled. For example, M2M communication technology can be used for numerous machines and equipment such as automobiles, trucks, trains, containers, vending machines, gas tanks, etc., and an application range thereof is very extensive.
Conventionally, it was general to individually manage mobile stations so that one-to-one communication was mainly performed between a base station and a mobile station. Assuming that numerous M2M devices communicate with the base station through one-to-one communication, network overload is expected due to signaling generated between each of the M2M devices and the base station. If M2M communication is rapidly spread and extensively used as described above, an overhead problem may occur due to communication between the M2M devices or between the M2M devices and the base station.
Further, since a human does not participate in operations of M2M devices in an M2M system, an abnormal power outage event may occur in M2M devices. Then the power outage event may also occur in most M2M devices at a location to which the corresponding M2M devices belong.
If a power outage event occurs, the M2M devices should report the power outage event to the base station. For example, M2M devices in an idle state will perform a ranging procedure in order to report the outage event and then collision may occur between the M2M devices. Moreover, the M2M devices in a normal state will perform a bandwidth request procedure to report the power outage event and then there is a high possibility of collision between the M2M devices.
If M2M devices collide with each other, a collision resolution procedure is performed to restore a collision state. Accordingly, upon occurrence of an abnormal power outage event, unnecessary power may be consumed in M2M devices and efficiency of system resources may be deteriorated.

Method and apparatus for supporting HARQ operation using HARQ channel identifier in wireless access system


A method for manufacturing a turbine-engine blade from a preform made from polymerized composite material in a mold comprising a bottom part and a top part, comprising at least one closure step during which the top part of said mold is attached to the bottom part of the mold containing the preform, wherein it comprises, prior to said closure step, at least one insertion substep during which a first end of an immobilization element is inserted in a bottom part of the preform in a substantially transverse direction, and a positioning substep during which a second, opposite end of said element is disposed in a complementary reception cavity emerging in the bottom part of the mold.

A turbine-engine blade conventionally has a root and a vane, the root comprising oblique lateral faces connecting to the vane and intended to form support surfaces in an alveolus for mounting a rotor disc. The blade is generally produced from lightweight materials in order to participate in the lightening of the turbine engine in order to limit the inertia of the rotor of which it forms part.
A turbine-engine blade is also subjected to particularly high stresses at its root, in particular at the bearing surfaces. This is because the forces exerted on the airflow by the vane, in the radially external zone thereof, create high stresses at its attachment zone, that is to say in the root of the blade. This leads to using material that is both lightweight and strong for manufacturing the blade.
One known solution to these stresses consists of using a composite material. Producing a blade by means of a preform formed by weaving fibers is thus known, said fibers being compacted and embedded in a thermosetting resin matrix. The fibers thus provide the function of mechanical reinforcement, the resin matrix providing the strength of the blade.
The document EP-A1-1.526.285, in the name of the applicant, describes a method for manufacturing a preform by weaving fibers in three dimensions, in particular carbon fibers. The preform thus obtained comprises a root part and a vane part, connected by oblique lateral faces intended to form bearing surfaces of the root in an alveolus for mounting a rotor disc. As described in the document EP-A1-1.777.063, also in the name of the applicant, the preform is next disposed in a mold, the cavity of which comprises a root zone and a vane zone, which are connected to each other by oblique lateral faces corresponding to the aforementioned lateral faces of the preform. The relaxing of the fibers after weaving of the preform causes an expansion thereof, also known by the term swelling phenomenon. The preform then has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the part to be produced.
The document EP-A1-1.196.092, in the name of the applicant, also describes a method for manufacturing a specimen blade obtained by impregnating a preform obtained by weaving fibers in three dimensions. This method is similar to the previous ones.
The preform is first of all compacted in a mold comprising a bottom part and a top part. To do this, the preform is disposed in the bottom part of the mold and then the mold is closed by attaching the top part of the mold to the bottom part, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade, and the root of the preform is acted on axially by means of a movable part of the mold that is interposed between the bottom and top parts. The role of this movable part is to oblige the fibers of the root of the preform to be pressed against the oblique faces of the mold.
Then a partial vacuum is produced in the mold and a thermosetting resin is injected into the mold so as to impregnate the entire preform.
The preform and the resin are next heated in order to polymerize—and therefore harden—the resin. The fibers are then held in position by the resin matrix and the whole forms a blade that is both lightweight and rigid. Pressing the fibers of the preform against the oblique lateral faces of the mold allows to limit the hollows at its zones intended to form the bearing surfaces of the root in an alveolus for mounting a rotor disc.
The existence of many hollows causes in fact, after injection of the resin, masses or pockets of resin which, by themselves alone, have low mechanical strengths. The bearing surfaces being zones subjected to high stresses, it is necessary to limit the appearance of such masses or pockets of resin, which is obtained by acting on the root of the preform by means of the movable part of the mold.
However, it has been found that another source of defects lies in the positioning of the fabric preform in the bottom part of the mold.
This is because the positioning of this fabric preform in the injection mold is tricky but essential. However, closing the top part of the mold is liable to apply a force to the preform, which may have a tendency to shift in the mold and to move into a faulty position. Consequently the preform may locally no longer be pressed against the walls of the mold, and thereby the surface of the blade may, after injection of the resin, exhibit masses or pockets of resin corresponding to the zones that have not been occupied by the weaving.
The mechanical strength of these zones is less than what is normally required for such a blade, and for this reason the presence of such masses or pockets of resin must absolutely be avoided.
Unsuitable positioning of the fabric of the preform may be noted only after injection and removal of the part from the mold. No repair procedure is then possible and the part must then be scrapped.
The document US-A1-2010/0288429, which does not relate to the technical field of the disclosure, describes a device for attaching a first layer of fibers in order to assist the winding of several layers of fibers intended to form a cylindrical casing prior to the removal of said attachment device and to the impregnation of the fibers.
The documents WO-A1-2014/147130 and EP-A1-1.433.631, which do not relate to the technical field of the disclosure, each describe devices for clamping a part in a mold, respectively a thermoformable sheet or a decorative element that is to be insert-molded in an injection mold, in order to hold it in said mold. These documents do not relate to parts obtained by the weaving of fibers.

Method for immobilising a preform in a mould


In a method in which a proxy is installed in a mobile telephone, this proxy has the role of simulating a service server to make a client application of the telephone believe that communication has truly been set up with a service server and thus obtain local processing, in the client apparatus, of the maximum number of the requests sent by the client application. Another role of this proxy is to engage in dialog with a network controller server. The network controller server substitutes itself for the client application for the polling and communicates with the proxy for the management of the requests sent by the client application.

1. Field of the Invention
An object of the invention is a method for the optimization of network traffic, and associated implementation devices. The field of the invention is that of telecommunications networks, and of the services accessible through these networks. More particularly, the field of the invention is that of access to services, through networks, by using mobile clients. A mobile client is a smart apparatus capable of implementing a communications program to access one or more telecommunications networks and thus get connected to a server corresponding to a service to which the user of the mobile client subscribes.
It is an aim of the invention to reduce the stream of information received and sent out by the mobile client to access different services to which the user subscribes.
It is another aim of the invention to reduce the RF activity of a mobile client.
Yet another aim of the invention is to reduce the power consumption of a mobile client.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, there are various known methods of trying to resolve these problems. A first method is called the "optimization of routing protocols". A routing protocol, or protocol in general, defines formats for information exchanges between two apparatuses communicating through a network. A protocol defines, in particular, the information to be transmitted through frames or messages. In the prior art, optimizing a protocol means reducing the size of the frames sent. This is actually a rationalizing of the information transmitted. It is then ensured that there is no longer any transmission of information that is redundant or unnecessary the context in which the message or frame is sent.
Another solution implemented is the use of a cache memory. A cache memory is a memory that preserves the trace of the most recent operations performed by the user of the apparatus in which this cache memory is installed. Thus, if the user makes the same request twice, it is no longer necessary to look for the answer to this request on the network, since this answer is already in the cache memory. Such an approach is inappropriate because the response to a request may depend on the instant at which the question is asked. To the extent that the cache memories are not updated so as to limit the net stream, the responses given to identical requests will not always be relevant. This is especially true in electronic messaging applications for example. Indeed a client, or client application, regularly makes interrogations to find out if new messages have arrived. The request is therefore always identical but the answer is not necessarily always the same. This answer therefore cannot be recorded in a cache memory. These periodic interrogations are also called polling.
In a third solution, the stream is reduced by compressing the transmitted data. However, this technique has the effect of maintaining major RF activity as well as network occupancy. Furthermore, it gives rise to additional calculations because the data sent have to be compressed and decompressed. This approach gives a small gain in network compactness but, in this case, there is a loss of autonomy for a mobile client because the compression and decompression operations require a great deal of cycle time for the microprocessor and they therefore consume power.
Thus, none of the three existing solutions in the prior art significantly reduces the network activity of a client, especially that of a mobile client, none of them resolves the problem related to the regular interrogation of a server and, therefore, none of them resolves the problems of power consumption.
The persisting problem therefore, in many network protocols, is that the client periodically sends requests to the server in order to be informed of a modification of the context on the server. This periodic stream of requests is costly in terms of bandwidth and it is an essential goal of the invention to reduce this net stream.

Method for the optimization of network traffic, and associated implementation device


A compound semiconductor single crystal which has an Si concentration of not more than 1.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3 and/or an O concentration of not more than 7.times.10.sup.16 atoms/cm.sup.3 is particularly suitable for use as substrate for epitaxial deposition of a high luminance light-emitting device which emits green light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a compound semiconductor single crystal suitable for use as a substrate for epitaxial deposition of a light emitting device which emits green light, and more particularly to a GaP single crystal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The demand for high luminance GaP green-light light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has increased year after year. However, since luminance reduction is caused by various reasons, a satisfactory solution to the foregoing demand has not been proposed. For example, when a liquid-phase epitaxial layer is deposited on a GaP single crystal substrate to fabricate an epitaxial wafer for a green light LED, a problem occurs in that the luminance at a particular portion of the substrate becomes inadequate.
Through an investigation on the impurity concentration of GaP single crystal substrates involving the inadequate luminance problem and of GaP single crystal substrate free from the inadequate luminance problem, the present inventors have found that a definite correlation exists between the luminance and the concentrations of particular impurities. Based on this finding, the present inventors have completed the present invention.

Light emitting diode having an improved GaP compound substrate for an epitaxial growth layer thereon


A DNA chip for identifying filamentous microorganisms, including a substrate and a plurality of probes, wherein the probe includes SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, complementary sequences thereof, derivatives thereof or combinations thereof. The derivative is 5′ and/or 3′ end of the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 with at least one thymidine residue added or is 5′ and/or 3′ end of the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 with one or two nucleotides added or deleted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to identification of filamentous microorganisms, particularly to the identification of those filamentous microorganisms which cause sludge bulking during waste water treatment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most waste water processing stations use activated sludge technology as their main bio-process. However, due to the nature of industrial waste water, the bio-process itself has some inherent problems, particularly with excess foaming and sludge bulking Sludge bulking is mainly caused by the uncontrolled growth of filamentous microorganisms which result in the structural destruction of the flocs, and in their decrease subsidence. Meanwhile, because identifying filamentous microorganisms that cause sludge bulking is a timely process, filamentous microorganisms are typically not well controlled in waste water treatment resulting in poorer water quality.
Note that by expediently identifying filamentous microorganisms which cause sludge bulking in waste water treatment, prophylaxis can be enhanced. However, in conventional activated sludge systems, the bacteria flora is very complicated and classification of bacteria causing bulking cannot be made by morphology or growth condition. Therefore, conventional identification methods have their shortcomings.
There are mainly two kinds of high throughput identification methods for microorganisms. The first one is immunoassay. Immunoassay utilizes specific antibodies to a microorganism for the identification of that particular microorganism. The second one is through detection of a target gene of the particular microorganism of interest. For example, a specific gene of certain microorganism can be detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or DNA hybridization (Southern blotting). However, PCR can identify only one or a few microorganisms at a time, and multiple primers are needed to identify different microorganisms. For identification of the filamentous microorganisms which causes sludge bulking in waste water treatment, multiplex PCR or serial PCRs is required. However, multiplex PCR has some disadvantages, such as decreased PCR sensitivity (Chang et al., 2001). In addition, performing serial PCRs increases assay complexity, manpower and cost. Therefore, the application of multiplex PCR for the identification of filamentous microorganisms in waste water treatment has been limited.
Bacteria contain both highly conserved and highly variable regions of DNA. Depending on the bacteria of interest and on the region of interest, the DNA for that region will either be highly variable or highly conserved. The length of the 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) of all bacteria is about 1.5 Kb and typically conserved. In comparison with the 16S rDNA, the length of the 23S rRNA is about 3.0 Kb and typically more variable. Different bacteria vary to a large degree in both length and sequence of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer (ITS) region. The length of the 16S-23 S ribosomal intergenic spacer region ranged from 60 to 1529 bp, and it was proposed by Gürtler that the intergenic spacer region can be used as an identification tool of microorganisms (Gürtler and Stanisich, 1996). Except for a few bacteria, the intraspecies sequence similarities of the 16S-23S ribosomal intergenic spacer are high, but interspecies sequence similarities are low. In comparison with the 16S rDNA sequence, wherein the sequencing of the 16S rDNA usually needs to be performed twice, the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region sequence is shorter and only requires one sequencing of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region sequence to obtain the entire sequence. The divergence between interspecies of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region sequence is greater than that of the 16 rDNA, (the similarities of the 16 rDNA between some bacteria can be as much as and even greater than 99%). Accordingly, Kawamura and Patel considered that the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region sequence is helpful for microorganism identification (Kawamura et al., 1995; Patel et al., 1998).
The present invention relates to a new method for identifying filamentous microorganisms which causes sludge bulking in waste water treatment via use of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer sequence. The new method involves amplifying the DNA of target microorganisms using PCR, and then detecting the PCR product by oligonucleotide sequence from the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer sequence which are used as probes on microarrays. Currently, only Kim (Kim et al., 2004) uses a DNA chip having oligonucleotide sequences from the 16S rDNA sequence to detect filamentous microorganisms in activated sludge. Meanwhile, the intergenic spacer region sequence (ITS) has been mainly used to identify bacteria for some pathogens in biology and medicine, such as Entercoccus species (Tung et al., 2006), E. coli (Lin et al., 2005), Granulicatella species (Tung et al., 2006), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Lin et al., 2005), Streptococcus species (Tung et al., 2006), etc. The intergenic spacer region sequence has not been applied for detecting filamentous microorganisms in activated sludge.

Oligonucleotide sequences and DNA chip for identifying filamentous microorganisms and the identification method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An online test platform facilitates automatic scrolling of test materials in a web browser while maintaining a text prompt associated with the test materials. The platform also facilitates development, delivery, and management of educational tests with interactive participation by students, teachers, proctors, and administrators even when some or all of them are remotely located. The platform may include administrator interfaces, test proctor interfaces, and test taker (e.g. student) interfaces to allow each participant to view, navigate, and interact with aspects of the online test platform that are intended to meet their needs.

1. Field
This invention generally relates to computerized testing using a networked platform, such as the Internet, and it more specifically relates to presenting test questions during online testing.
2. Description of Related Art
Computerized testing has advantages over written testing such as efficiency and reduction in paperwork. However, computerized testing systems can be improved to provide a substantially better testing environment for the student with greater control and interactivity by those administering tests.
A need exists for improved computerized testing and testing administration methods and systems.

Systems and methods for a logging and printing function of an online proctoring interface

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company


Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to telecommunications which include transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level, retransmitting a first one of the data groups to the receiver at a second power level lower than the first power level, providing feedback from the receiver relating to the retransmission of the first one of the data groups, and retransmitting a second one of the data groups to the receiver at a third power level different from the second power level, the third power level being a function of the feedback. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to communications systems, and more specifically, to systems and techniques for adaptively controlling the gain of one or more channels in a communications system.
2. Background
Modern communications systems are designed for multiple user access to a common communications medium. Numerous multiple-access techniques are known in the art, such as time division multiple-access (TDMA), frequency division multiple-access (FDMA), space division multiple-access, polarization division multiple-access, code division multiple-access (CDMA), and other similar multi-access techniques. The multiple-access concept is a channel allocation methodology which allows each user to access a common communications medium without interfering with others.
In multi-access communications systems, techniques to reduce mutual interference between multiple users are often utilized to increase user capacity. By way of example, power control techniques are currently employed to limit the transmission power of each user to that necessary to achieve a desired quality of service. This approach ensures that each user transmits only the minimum power necessary, but no higher, thereby making the smallest contribution to the total noise seen by others. However, as user demands for multi-access capability increases, techniques to further reduce the transmission power of each user without compromising the quality of service are needed.


Proposed is an apparatus for assistance in the implantation of a corneal prosthesis in a human eye. The apparatus comprises a laser device for providing focussed, pulsed laser radiation, and a control program for the laser device. The control program is designed, to create an incision figure in the tissue of the eye by means of the laser radiation, this incision figure allowing the corneal prosthesis to be inserted. The incision figure in this case comprises a bed incision located entirely in the depth of the corneal material and an annular incision, which, within the circumferential line of the bed incision, extends from the latter, along its entire annular circumference, as far as the corneal anterior surface. The incision figure further may comprise an auxiliary incision, which extends from a location of the eye surface outside the circumferential line of the bed incision as far the bed incision.

Certain indications (such as, for example, severe opacity, or injuries that heal with possibly severe scar formation) can make it appropriate to replace the affected corneal eye tissue with an artificial implant (prosthesis). Examples of corneal prostheses that can be suitable for such purposes are offered by the firm KeraMed Inc. from Sunnyvale, Calif., under the tradename KeraKlear. As further documentation of examples of corneal prostheses and methods and devices for inserting such prostheses into a human cornea, reference may be made to US 2007/0244559 A1.

Method for producing an incision figure for a corneal prosthesis


A secondary surveillance radar system comprising a including a ground system which observes an observation area where an aircraft equipped with a mode S transponder and an aircraft equipped with an ATCRBS transponder possibly coexist, wherein the ground system comprises includes a transmit processor which transmits to the observation area an all-call interrogation signal specific for mode S including an identification code of the ground system, a receive processor which receives a reply signal to the interrogation signal transmitted by the transmit processor, and a recognition processor which recognizes the reply signal as a processing target when identification information included in the reply signal received by the receive processor coincides with the identification code of the ground system, and wherein the recognition processor recognizes the reply signal as the processing target also when the identification information included in the reply signal received by the receive processor coincides with null information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secondary surveillance radar system comprising an airborne system and a ground system. The airborne system is a system loaded on an aircraft, such as a mode S transponder or an ATCRBS transponder. The ground system transmits an interrogation signal to the airborne system, and flight control is performed in accordance with a reply signal to the interrogation signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A secondary surveillance radar (SSR) system comprises a ground system for transmitting interrogation signals to an aircraft and an airborne system for returning reply signals in reply to the interrogation signals. Conventionally, an ATCRBS (Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System) transponder is used as the airborne system. In addition, in recent years, the number of aircrafts including mode S transponders (SSR mode S) has been increased. A mode S transponder has a function of incorporating various information into reply signals. By virtue of this function, the mode S transponder can transmit a larger amount of information to the ground system. The method of transmitting interrogation signals is variously designed in order that the ground system could acquire both the ATCRBS transponder and the mode S transponder.
In the SSR system, the time period for which interrogation signals are transmitted is divided into all-call time periods and roll-call time periods in units of one sweep time period of a radar. The all-call time period is a time 30 period for acquiring the mode S transponder and the ATCRBS transponder. Especially, an all-call interrogation signal specific for mode S is transmitted to the mode S transponder and an all-call interrogation signal specific for mode A/C is transmitted to the ATCRBS transponder for the all-call time periods in the SSR mode S.
However, in the existing systems, some of the transponders may not be acquired by the ground system even though they actually exist. The reason for this is explained below.
First, when the all-call interrogation signal specific for mode S is transmitted, the mode S transponder receives this interrogation signal, and then returns the reply signal to the ground system. At that moment, the mode S transponder sets an interrogator identifier (II) included in the received all-call interrogation signal into a PI field of the reply signal according to a rule. The interrogator identifier (hereinafter, referred to as "II") is one of the codes (1 to 15) used to identify a Mode S ground system using the multisite protocols. At this time, there may appear a transponder returning a reply in which a value of the PI field is "0". When viewed from the ground system, the II indicated by this reply signal seems different from the II of the ground system itself, so that the ground system excludes this reply signal from processing targets. This causes a serious problem that the transponder which has transmitted the reply signal is not acquired, and that presence of the aircraft equipped with this transponder cannot be recognized by the ground system.
Next, when the all-call interrogation signal specific for mode A/C is transmitted, the reply signal from the ATCRBS transponder is normally returned to the ground system. However, there exist transponders which erroneously recognize a P4 pulse. In this case, since the reply signal is not returned, the ATCRBS transponder is not acquired, and the aircraft is not recognized either. Further, there are also ATCRBS transponders which erroneously recognize the all-call interrogation signal specific for mode S and thus return illegal replies, and this also leads to a serious situation.
It should be noted that a related technique is disclosed on pages 227-233 of "Radar Engineering Revised Edition" written by Takashi Yoshida, and published by the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (1996). This literature discloses a secondary surveillance radar in detail.
As described above, some transponders may not be acquired in the existing secondary surveillance radar system. This causes a serious problem to flight surveillance, and some measures are therefore desired for improvement.

Secondary surveillance radar system, and ground system for use therein


In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a system for treating an intake fluid comprising a contaminant, the system comprising a strainer configured to receive the intake fluid and separate the intake fluid into a first retentate and a strained filtrate; a filtration unit connected to the strainer through a strained fluid connector, the strained fluid connector configured to facilitate transfer of the strained filtrate from the strainer to the filtration unit, wherein the filtration unit is configured to separate the strained filtrate into a second retentate and a filtration unit filtrate; a fixed film biological filter connected to the filtration unit through a filtrate connector, the filtrate connector configured to facilitate transfer of the filtration unit filtrate from the filtration unit to the fixed film biological filter, wherein the fixed film biological filter is configured to reduce a biological oxygen demand of at least one of the filtration unit filtrate and a contaminant concentrating module permeate to form a permeate; and a CCM connected to a first retentate connector and a second retentate connector, the first retentate connector configured to facilitate transfer of the first retentate from the strainer to the CCM, the second retentate connector configured to facilitate transfer of the second retentate from the filtration unit to the CCM, wherein the CCM is configured to separate each of the first retentate and the second retentate into a third retentate and the contaminant concentrating module permeate.

Existing water purification systems produce clean water, but do so at the cost of polluting the environment with their toxic waste byproducts. For example, systems that rely on chemical treatments (e.g., antibiotics) to remove biological contaminants from water eventually expose native biomes to these chemicals once the chemically treated water leaves the system. The residual chemicals (e.g., antibiotics) leak into aquatic ecosystems, disrupting native biomes and leading to a disruption of the ecosystem as a whole.
As another example, some systems employ filtering methods that physically separate contaminants such as sludge and salts from the water being purified. Unfortunately, as the separated contaminants are aggregated, they form large and highly concentrated contaminant sources that are severely toxic. This toxic waste must be disposed of carefully to avoid significantly damaging human and animal life. New systems are needed that transform these toxic waste products into less hazardous and useful byproducts (e.g., fertilizers).
Additionally, many existing purification systems produce and release greenhouse gases such as ammonia into the environment. To avoid further damage to the ozone layer, new systems need to be developed that contain gases produced throughout the purification process and transform them into benign or useful materials.

Systems and methods for a low environmental impact treatment of contaminated fluid


An information processing system comprises a storage and a plurality of information processing apparatuses requesting data input/output from the storage. The information processing apparatus comprises an error detection section, a changeover evaluation section, and a changeover section. The error detection section detects an error occurred on a path according to a result of a data input/output request. The changeover evaluation section detects occurrence of error on a specified number of paths to determine whether or not to change an information processing apparatus connected to the storage even before occurrence of errors on all paths. The changeover section uses a determination result from the changeover evaluation section to change the information processing apparatus which requests data input/output from the logical unit.

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, a control method of the information processing apparatus, and a program. More specifically, the present invention relates to detection of errors in a storage.
In recent years, there is an increase in the amount of data processed in information processing systems. A large-capacity storage needs to ensure input/output performance and reliability comparable to its storage capacity. Some systems have been developed to multiplex a logical path (input/output channel) to the storage and appropriately assign the logical path a data input/output request (I/O request) to the storage.
When an error occurs on the logical path, the I/O path needs to be changed. For this purpose, there is proposed a technology to shorten the time needed to change the I/O path by rewriting a logical disk management table for all nodes (e.g., see JP-A No. 49575/2002).
According to another proposed technology (e.g., see JP-A No. 296311/1999), a counter is provided to store the number of error detections for each part that constitutes the system and can be detached therefrom. Further, there is provided a logic to totally determine the counter values. In this manner, it is made possible to accurately locate faulty portions, exclude them from the system, and continuously operate the system using normal portions.
The above-mentioned prior art changes the server after detecting that all the paths are subject to errors and no I/O process is available after several retries. There has been no consideration about degradation of the throughput during the error detection.

Information processing system and method for path failover


The invention proposes a new aeraulic cooling design for ARINC series 600 computers. Using a network of ducts (N) and holes (HM) on an intermediate plate (M) situated just above the bottom place (B) through which a stream of cool air (AF) is injected into said computer (C), the present invention makes it possible to effectively cool the dissipative areas and the identified hot spots on the electronic modules (E) that it contains.

The ARINC 600 standard provides for avionics computers to be cooled using a current of cool air circulating under the computers. Each computer is allocated a portion of the total flow of this current of cool air, notably according to the power that it dissipates, in order to cool it. This cool air is injected into the computers via a bottom plate, commonly called "bottom cover". This bottom plate is drilled with calibrated holes, each computer having to comply with constraints of head loss introduced on the current of cool air. The calibration of the holes and the range of head loss to be introduced are specified in the ARINC standard. Typically, for a level 2 ARINC computer, the head loss to be introduced must be between 200 pascals and 300 pascals.
Until today, almost no effort has been made to optimize the use of the stream of cool air injected into the onboard computers, notably because the power density dissipated by the electronic modules was not too high and because the constraints relating to the head loss introduced were not very difficult to observe. Currently, the power dissipated by the electronic modules contained in the onboard computers is increasing and their cooling is therefore becoming a matter of prime importance. Furthermore, the head loss constraints are also becoming more difficult to support, the tolerance range falling from 100 pascals to 50 pascals.
It has therefore become essential to seek to improve the effectiveness of the aeraulic cooling of the onboard computers, notably by focusing on the hot spots identified on the electronic modules and by optimizing the management of the injected air stream.
In the state of the art, baffles have been added inside the computers for this purpose, in order to deflect the cool air as a priority to the hot spots of the electronic modules. However, this technique is inadequate and it also introduces new mechanical stress problems.

Aeraulic cooling device for a “full ARINC” computer


An improved cup type packer cementing shoe comprising a single pump-out seat and all elastomeric sealing cups.

This invention relates to an improved cup type casing packer cementing shoe. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved cup type casing packer cementing shoe having a single pump-out seat and all elastomeric sealing cups.
Typically, casing packer cementing shoes and stage cementing collars have been used which employ compression set type packer elements, cement basket type elements, cup type packer elements or inflatable packer elements. Also, such typical casing packer cementing shoes and stage cementing collars have employed separate ball seats and separate latch-down seats therein. Such typical prior art type devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2602511, 2813589, 3131767, 3524502, 3527299, 3768556, 4469174, 4407369, and 4961465.
It is further typical to use cup type sealing element on various types of tools used in wells. Such tools having cup type sealing elements are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1563162, 2200943, 2305282, 2546978, 2672199, 2585706, 2674315, 2829717, 3010518, 3391743, 4149566 and 4431058.


A freely oriented portable superconducting magnet is disclosed. Coolant is supplied to the superconducting magnet from a repository separate from the magnet, enabling portability of the magnet. A plurality of support assemblies structurally anchor and thermally isolate the magnet within a thermal shield. A plurality of support assemblies structurally anchor and thermally isolate the thermal shield within a vacuum vessel. The support assemblies restrain movement of the magnet resulting from energizing and cooldown, as well as from changes in orientation, enabling the magnet to be freely orientable.

1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a superconducting magnet apparatus, and particularly to a superconducting magnet apparatus that is freely orientable and portable.
2) Background of the Need
For many current superconducting magnet applications, weight is typically not a major design criterion because they do not need to be mobile. Existing superconducting magnet systems often have the liquid cryogens (and storage means) as an integral part of the magnet cryostat. Systems that have the cryogens stored separately from the magnets are typically stationary and may not allow free orientation of the magnet with respect to gravity.
As superconducting materials mature, (e.g. higher temperature operation and current density, smaller size), their weight and cost will decrease thereby opening up new or expansion of existing opportunities. A light-weight, portable magnet ("field deployable") that could be oriented in any direction could have applications for temporary deployment of military or civilian medical facilities for use with MRI or NMR machines. For example, such field-deployed MRI or NMR machines could be used at the scene of accidents or in homes where a patient is not movable. A concern with current MRI machines is the claustrophobic effect where some patients simply can't endure the procedure without sedation. Children become terrified and are inconsolable by parents. There is a need for an open framed MRI machine. Multiple (flowed cryogens) coils could allow for an open frame MRI configuration. The open frame alleviates claustrophobia, permits contact with the patient, and permits diversions such as television or movies. A freely orientable high-field magnet with separate cryogens would allow cranes, specialized laboratory lifting devices, and machining chucks to connect (magnetic coupling) to metal objects. A freely orientable portable magnet could be moved to and provide an external magnetic field to magnetize various ferretic objects. Two opposing magnets could be coupled together to produce lifting devices for large objects in emergencies or specialized industrial applications. There is a need for a superconducting high field magnet that can be operated in any orientation relative to gravity, and is portable (preferably operable and each subassembly transportable by one person due to its low weight and size).
3) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Superconducting magnets require cooling systems to maintain the conductors at superconducting temperatures. Cooling may occur via one or more methods: thermal conduction, radiation or convection. Systems that utilize coolant for convection cooling generally fall into two categories. One category provides for immersing the conductors in a pool of coolant. This mode of cooling limits orientation of the magnet. The second category provides for circulating coolant through or in channels near the conductors. The coolant may be single phase (gaseous utilizing sensible heat) or two phase (utilizing latent and sensible heat).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,437 discloses cooling superconducting magnets via circulating coolant in conduits in which the conductors are disposed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,560 discloses a superconducting coil apparatus wherein the superconducting wires are cooled via coolant flowing through the conduit in which the wires are disposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,879 discloses using cables to cool superconducting magnets via thermal conduction. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,648 discloses a system for cooling superconducting magnets via circulating coolant from a dewar. U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,928 discloses cooling superconducting magnets by circulating liquid helium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,873 discloses natural convection cooling of a superconducting magnet by circulating helium gas. U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,730 discloses cooling superconducting magnets via circulating coolant from a remotely located cryocooler. U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,718 discloses cooling superconducting magnets via circulating coolant from a closed dewar. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,532 discloses cooling superconducting magnets via circulating coolant remotely from a remote cryocooler. U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,905 discloses a superconducting magnet apparatus wherein cooling occurs utilizing the latent heat of vaporization of liquid helium.
Superconducting magnet apparatus require support structures to prevent movement of the conductors that may create friction causing quenching of the superconducting state.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,433 discloses a support structure for a superconducting magnet which is resistant to shock and vibration forces. U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,234 discloses structural members to resist forces generated within and between pairs of superconducting magnetic assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,454 discloses a suspension system, comprising frustro-conical surfaces, for a superconducting magnet assembly.

Freely oriented portable superconducting magnet

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Disclosed are an error code conversion method and system, a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) server and a mobile terminal, and the method includes: a PPPoE server parses a PPPoE error code generated during a dialup process, converts the PPPoE error code to an extended error code according to a PPPoE error code conversion rule table preconfigured on the PPPoE server and transmits the extended error code to a mobile terminal; the mobile terminal receives the extended error code, interprets the extended error code into a plain text according to a PPPoE error code conversion rule table configured on the mobile terminal in advance and displays the plain text to a user. The present disclosure improves capability of a PPPoE server and a terminal for processing errors, thus making it convenient for the mobile terminal and an operator to control a PPPoE dialup process and for a user to surf the Internet through WiFi by rapidly using PPPoE dialup functionality.

As the rapid development of mobile communications and mobile terminals and particularly the popularity of smart mobile terminals, it becomes one of basic necessities in the era of smart mobile terminals for people to access WiFi so as to surf the Internet, browse web pages, download data and watch online videos. Both WiFi hotspots at home and WiFi hotspots deployed in shopping malls by operators can only be accessed after identity authentication of a subscriber. Regardless of a broadband subscriber or a mobile subscriber, the subscriber generally needs to have an account and a password by which he/she can access the Internet and use network services after inputting them. A PPPoE dialup authentication approach is an approach for authenticating through an account and a password provided by an operator.
The PPPoE is a network tunneling protocol that encapsulates the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) into an Ethernet framework. Since the PPP is integrated into the PPPoE, it can implement functions that can't be provided by a traditional Ethernet such as identity authentication, encryption, compression and the like, and also applies to protocol systems providing subscribers with access services by using an Ethernet protocol, such as a cable modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and the like. Such a standard connection having a login and command also facilitates accounting by an access provider.
For charges and profit model considerations, operators a new generation of home gateway product, i.e., ADSL access box, also referred to as ADSL Modem. Such a device has functionality of a WiFi access point, but a mobile terminal using the device can't work, due to its bridging mode, through being authenticated only once, which is the case for ordinary routing devices. However devices accessing the Internet through ADSL access boxes are required to be authenticated separately. Existing mobile terminals generally haven't PPPoE dialup functionality, which brings inconvenience for the mobile terminals to access the Internet through a PPPoE approach. In addition, PPPoE error codes specified in the protocol are not abundant enough, and not friendly enough for operators and users of mobile terminals, while most major operators also have a set of error codes defined by themselves, thus an error code conversion needs to be performed and a method and system for managing error codes are desired accordingly.

Error code conversion method and system, PPPoE server and mobile terminal


A mounting plate for an attachment with an insertable plug type tubular connector and a process for making the plate. The mounting plate comprises a sheet metal plate having length, width and body thickness T with a tubular nipple member projecting from one side. The nipple member is cold formed plastically from the body of the plate by a stamping process utilizing a progressive die. One of the intermediate die members is shaped such that it produces a tubular preform having a distal end portion with a wall thickness greater than the wall thickness of the opposite end portion adjacent to the plate. A subsequent die member reduces the excess wall thickness and extends the tubular member to an axial length equivalent to at least 3T measured from the distal end of the neck member to the surface on the opposite side of said plate. Subsequently, another die member precisely finishes a feature located in close proximity to the nipple member.

This invention pertains to an improved metal plate for mounting a fuel pressure regulator on a fuel injection rail assembly of an internal combustion engine. More specifically, it relates to a fuel regulator mounting plate which has an elongated tubular nipple integrally formed by a stamping process from a flat strip of sheet metal stock.
Fuel pressure regulators are being redesigned in order to improve their fuel connections and thereby make them easier and more economical to install on a fuel rail. The currently preferrred regulator design has a plug-in type fuel connection for its high pressure supply side and a less pressure resistent connection in close proximity thereto for its lower pressure fuel return side. The male portion of the high pressure connection protrudes from the pressure regulator and is sufficiently long to accommodate two axially spaced apart "O"-ring seals required to produce an effective seal at the pressure involved. The axial length required for a corresponding female portion of the high pressure connection located on the mounting plate was such that it could not be formed as an integral part of the mounting plate by state-of-the-art stamping processes. It would have to be made as a separate tubular nipple and attached to the plate. The separate steps of manufacturing a nipple element and then attaching it to a regulater mounting plate would add significantly to the cost of a completed plate. The requirement of having an uninterrupted smooth surface on the inside of the junction of the plate and nipple presented manufacturing problems. It was essential to have this smooth uninterrupted surface to prevent damage to the "O" ring seals when the pressure regulator was being inserted into the nipple. The maximum protruding length of an extruded tubular nipple formed by state-of-the-art stamping processes under ideal conditions was twice the thickness of the stock. Accordingly, when a longer than normal extruded nipple was required, it could only be produced by increasing the thickness of the stock, which in the instant case was undesirable. Another limitation of state-of-the-art stamping processes was that in plastically forming a projecting nipple of maximum length the surrounding sheet stock within a radius equivalent to three times the thickness of the stock was affected and as a result no formed feature could be located within this distance.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved fuel regulator mounting plate of simplified construction that is easy and economical to produce repeatedly with precision.
It is another object of this invention to provide a one piece fuel regulator mounting plate having an elongated tubular nipple integrally formed by a stamping process from planar metal stock of minimum thickness, wherein the projecting length of the nipple is more than two times the thickness of the plate stock.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved fuel regulator mounting plate which has an integrally formed elongated nipple located in close proximity to another formed feature in the plate.

Fuel regulator mounting plate and forming process


An approach is provided for generating/breaking vehicle paths on a limited graph area. The approach, for example, determining an expected frequency of location data collected from a sensor of a vehicle traveling on a roadway, wherein the location data include a plurality of probe points that are time-sequenced. The approach also involves detecting an exit or an entry of the vehicle on the roadway based on comparing the expected frequency to an observed frequency of the location data on at least one portion of the roadway. The approach further involves initiating an identification, a creation, a breaking, or a combination thereof of a path constructed from the location data based on the detecting of the exit or the entry of the vehicle. The approach further involves providing the path as an output.

A critical component of navigation and mapping services in today's connected world is accurate, real-time traffic information. For example, highly accurate traffic information can enable service providers to offer users (e.g., commuters) effective trip planning, routing, and/or estimated time of arrival (ETA) services. Vehicle pathing refers to taking data points from vehicles on a road or route and interpolating the path between consecutive points of an individual vehicle. Traffic conditions along that path can then be inferred/interpolated using the distance and travel time between points. However, when the coverage of a roadway graph network is not full, missing vehicle data points can result in the interpolation of trivial or highly unlikely vehicle paths. Consequently, the accuracy of the resulting vehicle paths and inferred traffic conditions is significantly reduced. Accordingly, mapping service providers face significant technical challenges to generate accurate vehicle paths from data on a limited graph network.

Method, apparatus, and system for generating vehicle paths in a limited graph area


An exhaust aftertreatment filter has a pre-stressed layer bonded to the filter body at the outer periphery and compressively axially pre-stressed in an opposite axial direction to separational axial tensile stress to counteract the latter during regenerative heating, to minimize separational fracture and cracking.

The invention relates to exhaust aftertreatment filters for filtering exhaust from internal combustion engines, including diesel engines.
Exhaust aftertreatment filters for diesel engines are known in the prior art. The filter traps contaminant particulate in the exhaust. The filter is composed of regenerable material which is regenerated by heat to burn-off the trapped contaminant particulate. The filter includes a filter body, e.g. ceramic such as cordierite, having an outer periphery surrounding a central core. The outer periphery and the central core are subject to differential thermal expansion during thermal cycling during regeneration, due to the outer periphery being cooler than the central core. The differential thermal expansion subjects the filter body to separational axial tensile stress which in turn subjects the filter body to separational fracture and cracking.
The present invention addresses and solves the noted separational fracture and cracking problem in a simple and effective manner.

Exhaust aftertreatment filter with residual stress control


A packing apparatus used for filling or/and emptying bottle cases or the like. The packing apparatus comprises an extension arm, which is adapted to have attached thereto a gripping head and which is articulated on two articulation points with the aid of steering rods defining a steering rod system which is adapted to be moved after the fashion of the bars of a parallelogram, said extension arm being adapted to be moved in an essentially horizontal direction via a cam disk. The steering system also comprises a bipartite steering rod whose parts are adapted to be pivoted relative to each other. By pivoting the two parts of the steering rod relative to each other with the aid of a second cam disk and by changing thus the effective length of the steering rod defined by these two parts, an essentially vertical motion can be superimposed on the horizontal motion of the extension arm, to provide an appropriate path for the gripping head.

The present invention refers to a packing apparatus for filling or/and emptying bottle cases or the like, comprising an extension arm, which is adapted to have attached thereto a bottle gripping head and which is articulated on two articulation points with the aid of first and second steering means, which are each connected to a basic frame at an articulation point, thus defining a rod means which is adapted to be moved after the fashion of the bars of a parallelogram, the first one of the two steering means being provided with a cam element, and a horizontal control element being provided, which is rotatable about a shaft and constructed after the fashion of a cam disk with a guide path and on which the cam element is guided with movement of the rod means and with generation of an essentially horizontal motion of the suspension point for the gripping head when the horizontal control element is being rotated, and further comprising means for generating an essentially vertical motion of the suspension point, which is superimposed on said horizontal motion.
DE 34 20 143 C1 discloses a packing apparatus in the case of which an extension arm provided with a bottle gripping head is moved essentially horizontally via the bars of a parallelogram, said bars of a parallelogram being connected to a crank, which is driven by a motor, so that they can be moved via a pusher. For effecting a vertical movement of the gripping head, which is connected to the extension arm, a separate drive means is provided, which, just as the drive means for the bars of the parallelogram, comprises a motor with a crank and a pusher connecting the crank and the extension arm.
A packing apparatus of the type mentioned at the beginning is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,202. In the case of this apparatus, a vertically movable suspension for a bottle gripping means is provided on the extension arm. The extension arm, which comprises two horizontally spaced legs, is provided with approximately vertically extending guide paths in which a transverse support means can be moved vertically, said transverse support means being arranged between said legs and being adapted to have attached thereto bottle gripping means. A vertical movement of the transverse support means is effected via a separate lifting rod system whose movement is again controlled via the horizontal control element under cooperation of a spring means.
The present invention is based on the task of providing a packing apparatus which is improved in comparison with this prior art.


An optical repeater having a loop-back function is provided in a transmission system including first and second transmission lines. The optical repeater includes a first optical amplifier connected to the first transmission line, a second optical amplifier connected to the second transmission line, a loop-back unit connected to both transmission lines, and a control unit. The control unit controls the loop-back unit to form a loop-back line when a loop-back instruction is detected. Therefore, optical signals are directly amplified without being converted into electrical signals, and a loop-back signal (return signal) and optical signals are not mixed in the optical repeater so that a loop-back operation can be correctly carried out in an optical repeater having a small size and low power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical repeater used in a transmission system and, more particularly, to an optical repeater having a loop-back function used in a submarine optical cable communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a transmission system between two or more terminal stations using repeaters, a transmission of service signals and a monitoring of the whole transmission system are usually important, and a loop-back method (loop-back operation), which is one monitoring method and is used to check a faulty portion from the terminal station through the repeater, are known in the prior art. Further, it is preferable to apply the loop-back method to the transmission system to detect and confirm a faulty portion thereof.
For example, in a submarine optical cable communication system using optical marine cables, a plurality of optical repeaters are provided at specific intervals (from about several tens of kilometers to about one hundred kilometers) in the optical marine cable, to amplify optical signals. This submarine optical cable communication system is used to communicate between two or more landing stations at a distance of about from a few hundred kilometers to ten thousand kilometers, and is used to realize a long distance communication, e.g., an international communication. Further, in the submarine optical cable communication system, the loop-back method is used to detect and confirm a faulty portion in the optical marine cables or the optical repeaters which may be located under the sea (submerged) at a depth of 8,000 meters.
In the prior art optical repeater, for example, optical signals are converted to electrical signals by opto-electrical conversion units of an up transmission line and a down transmission line. Further, electrical signals are carried out in various processes, e.g., an equivalent amplification process, an identificative regeneration process, and a monitor-control process, by signal processing units, and then the processed signals are reconverted to optical signals by electro-optical conversion units of the up transmission line and the down transmission line. In a transmission system or submarine optical cable communication system of the prior art, indirect optical repeaters are mainly used.
In the above described optical repeater of the prior art, or the indirect optical repeater, conversion processes between the optical signals and electrical signals must be carried out, and thus a circuit scale of the repeater becomes large and the power consumption thereof is increased. Further, when a loop-back operation is carried out, the loop-back signals are mixed, at an optical mixer, with optical signals of the opposite transmission line output from the other terminal station.

Optical repeater having loop-back function used in transmission system


A light signal generating device wherein a line of light shutter elements made of PLZT are turned on and off individually in accordance with a driving signal corresponding to image data, and each turned-on light shutter element generates a light signal. The light shutter elements are impressed with a specified voltage by order of a composite signal made by combining a modulation signal modulated in accordance with the image data and a micro duration pulse signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light signal generating device, and more particularly to a light signal generating device using an electro-optical material such as PLZT. The light signal generating device is used for image formation in a display, a printer, a facsimile or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
A light signal generating device using an electro-optical material, especially using PLZT which has a large Kerr constant has been known (refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,111 and 4,932,761). The light signal generating device has a light shutter array comprising a line of light shutter elements, a polarizer and an analyzer which are disposed before and after the light shutter elements respectively. The light shutter elements are driven individually and selectively in accordance with image data. Light shutter elements which are impressed with a voltage transmits a light, and light shutter elements which are not impressed with a voltage shuts off the light.
Incidentally, it has been proved from an experiment that a light shutter element which is turned on and off frequently has a less light leakage (the quantity of light transmitted through a light shutter element in an off-state) than a light shutter element which is kept off. Practically, the light shutter elements are driven individually in accordance with the respective image data. Accordingly, the light shutter elements vary in the light leakage, and thereby, it is difficult to obtain a desired contrast.
For reproduction of a multitone image, the following method is adopted. A time required for reproducing a picture element is divided into some periods, and in connection with each light shutter element, it is decided in accordance with multitone image data in which period(s) the light shutter element is to be turned on (see Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 1-272469). In this method, the number of times which each light shutter element is turned on depends on the desired tone level for the picture element, which is indicated by the multitone image data, and accordingly the light shutter elements vary in the driving frequency. Because of the different driving frequencies, drivers for impressing the respective light shutter elements with a voltage have different temperatures. In other words, the light shutter elements are exposed to different temperatures. A light shutter element made of PLZT or the like has a characteristic that its light transmittance varies in accordance with the circumstantial temperature. Therefore, the light shutter elements at different temperatures have different light transmittances, and it is difficult to reproduce fine multitone images stably.

Light signal generating device with reduced light leakage


A method, apparatus, and system are provided for authentication of collaborative mobile devices. A first mobile device receives a challenge message, derives a first mobile device authentication result based on the challenge message, and conveys, to a second mobile device of a user of the first mobile device, a first short-range wireless signal comprising the challenge message. The second mobile device receives the challenge message from the first mobile device, derives a second mobile device authentication result based on the challenge message, and conveys, to the first mobile device, a first short-range wireless signal comprising the second mobile device authentication result. The first mobile device receives the second mobile device authentication result and authenticates one or more of the first mobile device, the second mobile device, and the user by conveying, to an authenticator device, the first mobile device authentication result and the second mobile device authentication result.

In many communication scenarios, it is desirable to authenticate or verify the identity of a person and/or a device before allowing access to a network or service. The most common user authentication is to require a login and password. This method has the difficulties of the user having to remember and enter this information. Further compounding the problem, a majority of the radios being used today in public safety have no keypad, display, or other graphical user interface (GUI). Thus, for some radios, a very limited user interface or even no user interface is present to facilitate the authentication process.
The user login and password method is also susceptible to spoofing if the user information is acquired by unauthorized persons. For this reason, this method is sometimes augmented with a second factor for authentication, such as a seeded card that gives other information to enter. Due to these limitations associated with the user login and password method, it would be desirable to have a strong authentication method that does not require the user to input a password or other information to complete the authentication process.
Thus, there exists a need for a method and system for authentication of collaborative mobile devices.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. Those skilled in the art will further recognize that references to specific implementation embodiments such as "circuitry" may equally be accomplished via replacement with software instruction executions either on general purpose computing apparatus (e.g., CPU) or specialized processing apparatus (e.g., DSP). It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Method and apparatus for authentication of collaborative mobile devices


A disc changer device includes a housing section, a transporting unit, a recording and/or reproducing unit and a movement unit. The housing section houses a number of discs, such as compact discs, with a pre-set distance between neighboring discs, in a state in which disc surfaces face one another. The transport unit holds one of the discs in the housing section from the direction of disc thickness for transport between it and the recording and/or reproducing unit. The recording and/or reproducing unit records and/or reproduces the disc transported from the housing section by the transporting unit. The movement unit moves at least one of the discs positioned in the housing section and held by the transporting unit in a direction away from the disc held by the transporting unit when holding the disc from the direction of disc thickness out of the housing section by the transporting unit and/or when returning the disc by the transporting unit into the housing section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disc changer device. More particularly, it relates to a disc changer device in which a disc is transported as it is held from the direction of disc thickness.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recording disc as a recording medium for information signals, such as an optical disc or a magneto-optical disc, has so far been proposed. This recording disc has a disc-shaped disc substrate and a signal recording layer deposited thereon.
A disc player apparatus for recording/reproducing information signals for the recording disc has been proposed. This disc player apparatus includes a disc driver having a rotational mechanism for holding and rotating the recording disc and an optical pickup device for writing/reading information signals to the signal recording layer of the recording disc rotationally driven by the rotational mechanism. The optical pickup device includes a semiconductor laser as a light source and an objective lens for condensing the light beam emanated by the semiconductor laser on the signal recording layer of the recording disc.
A disc changer device has so far been proposed, in which plural recording discs are housed in a stacked state, and an optional one of these discs is selected from these discs for loading on the disc driver for recording/reproducing the information signals for the loaded recording disc. Such disc changer device includes a disc stocker for housing therein a number of recording discs in a stacked state and a disc loading mechanism for taking out and transporting the selected recording disc from the disc stocker for loading on the disc driver.
Such a disc loading mechanism has so far been used which has a gripper for gripping one of the recording discs housed and held in the disc stocker. The gripper is designed to be moved from the disc stocker to a position in register with the disc driver.
In such disc changer device, it has been desired to increase the number of recording discs housed therein without increasing the size of the device. To this end, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the recording discs housed and held in a stacked state in the disc stocker.
However, if the distance between the recording discs in the disc stocker is reduced, it becomes difficult to fabricate the gripper inserted into the space between the discs housed within the disc stocker for taking out the recording disc from the stocker. That is, for gripping the desired one of the recording discs housed within the disc stocker, a disc holding portion needs to be inserted into the space between the neighboring discs on both sides of the major surfaces of the desired disc. If the neighboring discs are positioned close to the optional disc for increasing the number of the recording discs that can be housed within the disc stocker, the disc gripping portion of the gripper needs to be reduced in size, such that it becomes impossible to assure a sufficient mechanical strength of the disc gripping portion of the gripper.
Although it may be contemplated to push the recording disc taken out of the disc stocker by a thin member, such as a pin, from the opposite side to the gripper of the disc stocker, the disc loading mechanism tends to be increased in size and complex in structure as compared to the above-mentioned device constructed solely by the gripper.
If the distance between the recording discs held by the disc stocker is reduced, the recording disc taken out from the disc stocker is likely to come into sliding contact with the neighboring recording discs left in the disc stocker to destruct the discs.

Disc changer device increasing the distance between a gripped disc and neighboring discs on both sides of the gripped disc