A method for diagnostic assessment and proficiency scaling of test results is provided. The method uses as input a vector of item difficulty estimates for each of n items and a matrix of hypothesized skill classifications for each of said n items on each of skills. The method includes using a tree-based regression analysis based on the vector and matrix to model ways in which required skills interact with different item features to produce differences in item difficulty. This analysis identifies combinations of skills required to solve each item, and forms a plurality of clusters by grouping the items according to a predefined prediction rule based on skill classifications. A nonparametric smoothing technique is used to summarize student performance on the combinations of skills identified in the tree-based analysis. The smoothing technique results in cluster characteristic curves that provide a probability of responding correctly to items with specified skill requirements. The probability is expressed as a function of underlying test score.

The present invention relates to standardized test evaluation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tree-based approach to proficiency scaling and diagnostic assessment of standardized test results.
The traditional outcome of an educational test is a set of test scores reflecting the numbers of correct and incorrect responses provided by each student. While such scores may provide reliable and stable information about students"" standing relative to a group, they fall short of indicating the specific patterns of skill mastery underlying students"" observed item responses. Such additional information may help students and teachers better understand the meaning of test scores and the kinds of learning which might help to improve those scores.
Procedures for translating observed test results into instructionally-relevant statements about students"" underlying patterns of skill mastery may be designed to provide student-level diagnostic information or group-level diagnostic information. Student-level diagnoses characterize the individual strengths and weaknesses of individual students. Group-level diagnoses characterize the strengths and weaknesses expected for students scoring at specified points on a test""s reported score scale. A collection of group-level diagnoses designed to span a test""s reported score range is termed a proficiency scale.
Both group- and student-level diagnoses can provide useful feedback. The detailed information available from a student-level diagnosis can help human or computerized tutors design highly individualized instructional intervention. The cross-sectional view provided by a set of group-level diagnoses can be used to: (a) demonstrate that the skills tapped by a particular measurement instrument are in fact those deemed important to measure, and (b) suggest likely areas of improvement for individual students. Both types of diagnoses can also be used to inform course placement decisions.
Procedures for generating group-level and/or student-level diagnoses have been proposed by a number of researchers. Beaton and Allen proposed a procedure called Scale Anchoring which involved (a) identifying subsets of test items which provided superior discrimination at successive points on a test""s reported score scale; and (b) asking subject-area experts to review the items and provide detailed descriptions of the specific cognitive skills that groups of students at or close to the selected score points would be expected to have mastered. (Beaton, A. E. and N. L. Allen, Interpreting scales through scale anchoring, Journal of Educational Statistics, vol. 17, pp. 191-204, 1992.) This procedure provides a small number of group-level diagnoses, but no student-level diagnoses. The estimated group-level diagnoses are specified in terms of the combinations of skills needed to solve items located at increasingly higher levels on a test""s reported score scale.
Tatsuoka, Birenbaum, Lewis, and Sheehan outlined an approach which provides both student- and group-level diagnoses. (Tatsuoka, K.K., Architecture of knowledge structures and cognitive diagnosis, P. Nichols, S. Chipman and R. Brennan, Eds., Cognitively diagnostic assessment Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1995. Tatsuoka, K., M. Birenbaun, C. Lewis, and K. Sheehan, Proficiency scaling based on conditional probability functions for attributes, ETS Research Report No. RR-93-50ONR, Princeton, N.J.: Educational Testing Service, 1993.) Student-level diagnoses are generated by first hypothesizing a large number of latent skill mastery states and then using a Mahalanobis distance test (i.e. the Rule Space procedure) to classify as many examinees as possible into one or another of the hypothesized states. The classified examinees"" hypothesized skill mastery patterns (i.e. master/nonmaster status on each of k skills) are then summarized to provide group-level descriptions of the skill mastery status expected for students scoring at successive points on a test""s reported score scale. For example, in an analysis of 180 mathematics items selected from the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT 1), 94% of 6,000 examinees were classified into one of 2,850 hypothesized skill mastery states (Tatsuoka, 1995, pg 348).
Gitomer and Yamamoto generate student-level diagnoses using the Hybrid Model. (Gitomer, D. H. and K. Yamamoto, Performance modeling that integrates latent trait and latent class theory, Journal of Educational Measurement, vol. 28, pp. 173-189, 1991.) In this approach, likelihood-based inference techniques are used to classify as many examinees as possible into a small number of hypothesized skill mastery states. For example, in an analysis of 288 logic gate items, 30% of 255 examinees were classified into one of five hypothesized skill mastery states (Gitomer and Yamamoto at 183). For each of the remaining examinees, Gitomer et al. provided an Item Response Theory (IRT) ability estimate which indicated standing relative to other examinees but provided no additional information about skill mastery.
Mislevy, Gitomer, and Steinberg generate student-level diagnoses using a Bayesian inference network. (Mislevy, R. J., Probability-based inference in cognitive diagnosis, P. Nichols, S. Chipman, and R. Brennan, Eds., Cognitively diagnostic assessment, Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1995. Gitomer, D. H., L. S. Steinberg, and R. J. Mislevy, Diagnostic assessment of troubleshooting skill in an intelligent tutoring system, P. Nichols, S. Chipman, and R. Brennan, Eds., Cognitively diagnostic assessment, Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1995.) This approach differs from the approaches described previously in two important respects: (1) students"" observed item responses are modeled conditional on a multivariate vector of latent student-level proficiencies, and (2) multiple sources of information are considered when diagnosing mastery status on each of the hypothesized proficiencies. For example, in an analysis of fifteen fraction subtraction problems, nine student-level variables were hypothesized and information about individual skill mastery probabilities was derived from two sources: population-level skill mastery base rates and examinees"" observed item response vectors (Mislevy, 1995).
In each of the diagnostic approaches described above, it is assumed that the test under consideration is a broad-based proficiency test such as those that are typically used in educational settings. Lewis and Sheehan consider the problem of generating student-level diagnoses when the item response data is collected via a mastery test, that is, a test designed to provide accurate measurement at a single underlying proficiency level, such as a pass/fail point. (Lewis, C. and K. M. Sheehan, Using Bayesian decision theory to design a computerized mastery test, Applied Psychological Measurement, vol. 14, pp. 367-386, 1990. Sheehan, K. M. and C. Lewis, Computerized mastery testing with nonequivalent testlets, Applied Psychological Measurement, vol. 16, pp. 65-76, 1992.) In this approach, decisions regarding the mastery status of individual students are obtained by first specifying a loss function and then using Bayesian decision theory to define a decision rule that minimizes posterior expected loss.
The prior art methods are known to be computationally intensive and not to consider any observed data. Moreover, these approaches are form dependent. That is, the set of knowledge states obtained excludes all states that might have been observed with a different form, but could not have been observed with the current form. Finally, the prior art methods cannot capture states involving significant interaction effects if those effects are not specified in advance.
Thus there is a need in the art for a less computationally intensive method designed to search for, and incorporate, all significant skill-mastery patterns that can be determined from the available item difficulty data There is a further need in the art for a form independent approach that provides all of the knowledge states which could have been observed, given the collection of forms considered in the analysis. There is a further need in the art for an approach that automatically incorporates all identified interaction states so that the success of the procedure is not critically dependent on detailed prior knowledge of the precise nature of the true underlying proficiency model.
The present invention fulfills these needs by providing methods for diagnostic assessment and proficiency scaling of test results for a plurality of tests, each test having at least one item and each item having at least one feature. The method of the invention uses as input a vector of item difficulty estimates for each of n items and a matrix of hypothesized skill classifications for each of the n items on each of k skills. A tree-based regression analysis based on the input vector and matrix is used to model ways in which required skills interact with different item features to produce differences in item difficulty. The tree-based analysis identifies combinations of skills required to solve each item.
A plurality of clusters is formed by grouping the items according to a predefined prediction rule based on skill classifications. Preferably, the plurality of clusters is formed by successively splitting the items, based on the identified skill classifications, into increasingly homogeneous subsets called nodes. For example, the clusters can be formed by selecting a locally optimal sequence of splits using a recursive partitioning algorithm to evaluate all possible splits of all possible skill classification variables at each stage of the analysis. In a preferred embodiment, a user can define the first split in the recursive analysis.
Ultimately, a plurality of terminal nodes is formed by grouping the items to minimize deviance among items within each terminal node and maximize deviance among items from different terminal nodes. At this point, a mean value of item difficulty can be determined for a given terminal node based on the items forming that node. The value of item difficulty is then predicted, for each item in the given terminal node, to be the corresponding mean value of item difficulty.
A nonparametric smoothing technique is used to summarize student performance on the combinations of skills identified in the tree-based analysis. The smoothing technique results in cluster characteristic curves that provide a probability of responding correctly to items with specified skill requirements. This probability is expressed as a function of underlying test score.
Group-level proficiency profiles are determined from the cluster characteristic curves for groups of examinees at selected underlying test scores. Student-level diagnoses are determined by deriving an expected cluster score from each cluster characteristic curve and comparing a cluster score for each examine to the expected cluster score.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the present invention, a vector of item difficulty estimates for each of n items is defined, along with a matrix of hypothesized skill classifications for each of the n items on each of k hypothesized skills. A tree-based regression technique is used to determine, based on the vector and matrix, the combinations of cognitive skills underlying performance at increasingly advanced levels on the test""s underlying proficiency scale using. Preferably, the combinations are determined by forming a plurality of terminal nodes by grouping the items to minimize deviance among items within each terminal node and maximize deviance among items from different terminal nodes. The combinations are validated using a classical least squares regression analysis. The set of all possible subsets of combinations of cognitive skills that could have been mastered by an individual examinee is generated and the k hypothesize skills are redefined to form a set of kxe2x80x2 redefined skills such that each of the kxe2x80x2 redefined skills represents one of the terminal nodes.

Tree-based approach to proficiency scaling and diagnostic assessment


A connector includes terminals having engagement parts. The connector includes a connector housing having chambers configured to insert and receive the terminals from the rears of the chambers. The connector includes projecting flexible locking arms including locking parts configured to lock with the engagement parts of the terminals. A single flexible arm is positioned to each of the chambers. The flexible locking arm has a front end supported on a front wall of the connector housing. The flexible locking arm has a rear end supported on a peripheral wall of the connector housing. The flexible locking arm includes a flexible part between the front and rear ends. The flexible part includes a locking part. The flexible part is flexibly deformable relative to an engagement part of a terminal. The locking part is lockable with the engagement part of the terminal received in a chamber.

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector used for a vehicle. This connector has a locking structure for a terminal, wherein a flexible locking arm (a so-called lance) locks a terminal received in a terminal receiving chamber of a connector housing.
A connector having this type of locking structure for a terminal is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication S61-218081 (published in 1986).
This connector includes a terminal receiving chamber formed from the center of a connector housing toward the rear thereof. This receiving chamber includes a flexible locking arm protruding in a single-support beam shape therein. The locking arm extends obliquely forward from a top wall of the connector housing.
The receiving chamber has an opening at the rear end thereof. A terminal, which has an electric wire connected thereto, is inserted through the opening and received in the receiving chamber. The locking arm has a concave free end, which locks a step part of the terminal and can prevent the terminal from falling off in a rearward direction.


A method of assembling a structure, such as a wind turbine, is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing a lifting arrangement comprising a gantry disposed over and/or directly above a rail, and lifting means coupled to the gantry. The method further comprises stacking portions of the structure by: conveyably disposing a first portion of the structure relative to the rail; lifting a second portion of the structure using the lifting means; disposing the first portion underneath the second portion by conveying the first portion along the rail; and lowering the second portion onto the first portion. Also disclosed is a corresponding system for assembling a structure, such as a wind turbine, and corresponding clamping and/or gripping system.

In the field of wind turbines, in particular offshore wind turbines, there is a general trend towards installing increasingly high power-output wind turbines, for example, turbine capable of outputting 10 Mega Watts or more. However, along with increased power capabilities, the physical dimensions of such wind turbines are also increasing.
Historically, wind turbines, or at least assembled or semi-assembled components of wind turbines, may have been manufactured and/or assembled at a first location, then transported by road to a further location for deployment and/or further assembly. However, due to their increased physical dimensions, transport by road of modern turbines, or assembled portions of modern turbines, is no longer practically possible.
At present, wind turbines and their associated structures may be separately constructed onshore and transported in sections to an offshore site. There, such may be moved into position and fixed using slings and cranes.
This background serves to set a scene to allow a skilled reader to better appreciate the following description. Therefore, none of the above discussion should necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that that discussion is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects/embodiments of the invention may or may not address one or more of the background issues.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or at least mitigate at least one problem in the prior art.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a technically simple and/or commercially more cost-effective method and system for assembling a wind turbine structure than in the prior art.
Further background material includes GB 2479232 B (W3G SHIPPING LTD), which describes structures, such as wind turbine structures for offshore sites, comprising transport elements, e.g. an annular protrusion configured for complementary mating with engagement portions of a clamp which allow for transporting of the structures using that clamp. The clamp may comprise two or more portions which are positioned around the structure. A wind turbine may be transported as a completed structure. Generally, the transport element is provided at an attachment region of a tower, or the like, where the tower would attach to a support, such as a jacket. There is also described apparatus for allowing for transport of a wind turbine structure, comprising a clamp. In some cases, the apparatus is also configured so as to modify the effective centre of gravity of an associated structure, and/or the effective centre of inertia of an associated structure. An orientation assembly comprising six actuators controlled by the use of positioning signals may be provided to allow relative movement of the clamp, and thus the clamped structure, with respect to a lifting device. A crane may transport a wind turbine to/from a barge.
GB 2479232 B discloses a system, such as an offshore system, the system comprising: a wind turbine structure for a site, such as an offshore site, the structure comprising a tower for supporting a turbine and a transport element, the transport element being provided at a base of the tower and being part of a complementary mating arrangement, wherein the transport element is matable with an engagement element of a clamp; and an apparatus for allowing for transport of the structure, the apparatus comprising the clamp having the engagement element, the engagement element being another part of the complementary mating arrangement, the engagement element being matable with the transport element of the tower; and wherein when the engagement element of the clamp is mated with the transport element of the tower, the apparatus is configured to allow for lifting and lowering of the structure at the site from the base of the tower using the clamp. A system and clamp according to GB279232 B can find utility in the present invention.


A compound derived from an extract of vegetative tissue of plants of the Genus Shortia demonstrates antitcarcinogenic potential by inhibiting the growth and development formation of tumors in living tissue in response to an organism known to cause the initiation of tumors in living tissue and by reducing mutation rates in living tissues exposed to a known mutagen.

Regulation of cell proliferation in both normal and tumorous tissue remains of fundamental scientific interest and clinical significance in the prevention and treatment of various types of diseases, particularly cancer and related diseases. In animals, including humans, many of the diseases are recognized as some form of malignant cancer. Plants produce tumor-like growths in response to a variety of stimuli, including certain microorganisms. Because the similarity of animals and plants of basic biological process involved with tumor initiation and growth, materials that affect tumor growth in plants are of more than casual interest in the potential treatment of cancer in humans. Genetic mutations are also recognized as playing significant roles in tumor formation and growth.
In addition to interest in materials that uniquely affect tumor formation in plants, in recent years, clinical and basic interest in potential antitumor properties in animals of a wide range of plant extracts has accelerated dramatically. A significant force in this accelerated interest is recognition of the roles diet plays in both the cause of and prevention of cancer in humans. See, for example, M. B. Sporn, Fed. Proc., 38, 2528 (1979).
Dietary management can significantly affect the risk of developing cancer. Increasingly, plant materials found in common dietary constituents have proved to have antitumor (or anti-cancer) properties. Unfortunately, the opposite is also apparently true, certain plant extracts are known to cause or increase the risk of the development of cancer in humans. Ideally, the human diet should be modified to minimize exposure to dietary carcinogens while simultaneously optimizing intake of cancer preventive agents. Progress towards this condition requires identification of both causative and preventative agents that occur in the human diet.
Plants and plant extracts have long been recognized as having great potential medicinal value. As early as 1500 B.C., The Papyrus Ebers, an ancient Egyptian medical text, recognized over 700 herbal remedies. Records suggest the practice of herbal medicine in Chinese culture as early as 2500 B.C. Native Americans, as cited in numerous sources, effectively used herbals as medicines in addition to related rituals. In first U.S. Pharmacopoeia published in 1820 lists 296 substances, of which 130 were "medicines" used by Native Americans.
The plant kingdom is enormous and diverse and largely unstudied with respect to potential medicinal value. In spite of the historic use of plans and plant extracts, only from 5 to 15% of the 250,000 species of higher plants have been chemically and pharmacologically evaluated for potential medicinal value.
Plant materials, including extracts from various tissues, have been used to treat a variety of conditions and have been recognized as appropriate material for protection under U.S. patent law. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,286 issued to T. Nakajima, et al. on Apr. 21, 1981 claims a method for treating a wide array of disorders with a soybean (Glycine max L) extract. The '286 patent claims a method of treating consciousness disorders with appropriate doses of phosphatidylcholines (a form of lecithin) with excellent biological activity purified from soy bean plants.
More recently, emphasis has been placed on plant extracts displaying anticarcinogen or cancer chemotherapeutic properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,425, issued Aug. 20, 1991 to Hasegawa and Lam discloses the use of citrus extracts (limononds) in treating cancer, particularly gastric cancers. The compound reduced induced tumors in mice by 28%, from 100% to 72%. The suggested mode of action was increased antitumor enzymatic activity.
Cancer therapeutic compounds from plants are the subject of other patents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,558, titled Method for Treating Cancer with Legume Plant Extracts, issued Dec. 21, 1999 to Thurn and Huang discloses and claims the use of purified extracts of materials derived from various legumes. Tests were conducted on free-cell extracts and on a prostate cancer patient using extracts from legumes from which specific isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, formononetin, and biochanin, and/or their glycosides) were removed. The cell-free tests equate anti-carcinogenic potential in part with reduced cell proliferation, and apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and growth inhabitation. The efficiency of the extract on prostate cancer was gauged by decreased PSA (prostate specific antigen) level in response to treatment with the extract.
Cyclooxygenase is a metabolic enzyme intermediary involved in stimulating tumor growth. Cancer chemopreventive agents include non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclooxygenase. Extracts derived from Cassia quinquangulata Rich (Leguminosae) are identified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,260, Titled Cancer Chemopreventative Composition and Method issued Dec. 28, 1999 to Pezzuro et. al. The active agent identified in the '260 patent is resveratrol for which the molecular configuration is presented.
The regulation of apoptosis has been associated with anticarcinogens. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,425, title Compositions Which Inhibit Apoptosis, Methods of Purifying the Compositions and Uses Thereof, issued Oct. 22, 1996 to Bathurst et al. The '425 patent discloses materials with apoptosis-regulating abilities derived from plants of at least three families—legumes, nightshade, and garlic. Without reference to antitumor or anticarcinogenic potential, the claims relate to compositions that inhibit normal cell death (antia-apoptic) action. U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,729, with the same title and inventors as the '425 patent which traces to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/158,980. Both the '425 and the '729 patents focus on preventing apoptosis using at least one phytogenic inhibitor.
There remains room for detecting and isolating anti-tumor and anti-mutagenic materials in a wider array of taxa of higher plants, for determining the nature of antitumor action, and for characterizing compositions that induce antitumor reactions in tissues.

Tumor and mutation suppressing plant extract


A non-contaminating radiant heater for analytical laboratory use with a controller providing a closed-loop, precise regulation of sequencing patterns of energy emission delivered to a sample at a programmed rate preventing hotspots until a preselected temperature is reached for a preselected time interval all. within a programmed schedule. The radiant heater includes a supporting base functioning as a sample platform, a vertical support member secured to the base and sample platform, and an electrically powered radiant heating element is enclosed by a sealed surrounding and supporting fixture fastened to the vertical supporting member providing a uniform radiation footprint.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to an electrically powered radiant heater for analytical laboratory use and, more particularly, to a radiant heater for analytical laboratory use having a controller for receiving input power from the power source and processing output power to the heating means to deliver heat to a sample being heated at a programmed rate until a preselected temperature is reached for a preselected time interval all within a programmed schedule.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
There is a constant need for clean radiant heat in both research and development facilities, as well as in process applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, electronic, and semi-conductor, defense/aerospace, food processing, painting, coating, restaurant, automotive and petroleum fields. For example, automobile glass companies that produce nonfogging glass have manufacturing areas with a clean environment. The processes involved in the production of medicine and the like which require drying the final product during the production process require clean heat. The electronic industry needs a clean heat environment for the production of semi-conductors for the computer industry. The application of polymer coatings to circuit boards requires a total absence of contaminating dust or metal. In the coating industry, coatings such as Teflon.RTM. and ceramic are applied to product services in clean environments and often dried for long periods of time during which a clean source of heat is desirable.
At the present, most frequently used radiant laboratory heaters are infrared heating lamps of either 250 watts or 375 watts. The 375 watt infrared lamp achieves a temperature of approximately 105.degree. Centigrade with a sample positioned about two inches from the lamp. The temperature is about 222.degree. Centigrade at the lamp's surface which is not a usable location.
Current infrared heating systems constructed of exposed metal parts can produce a source of contamination to laboratory samples. Contamination is extremely damaging in the analytical laboratory involved in providing accurate trace element determinations. The metal socket receptacle on all infrared heating lamps will eventually corrode when exposed to acid vapors. Since the infrared lamp is not sealed inside a protective housing, the corroded metallic parts from the lamp socket fall in a random manner directly into the analytical sample positioned below which is later subjected to analysis to determine the trace elements present. Thus, the metallic socket particles become combined with the trace elements from the sample contents to yield inaccurate information.
Heat controls on infrared heating lamps range from a plug (full heat) to a variable adjustment knob. These systems are difficult, if not impossible, to use efficiently to provide consistent and reproducible levels of heat such as required in a laboratory environment. Heating conditions that cannot be consistently and reliably reproduced restrict or impede the analyst in the development of precise methodology for sample preparation.
Thus, there is a need for a general purpose laboratory radiant heater having higher heating potential, precise and reproducible heating parameter settings, and greater functional integrity so as not to contaminate samples being treated. It is to this need that the present invention is directed.

Radiant heater for analytical laboratory use with precision energy control, non contamination exterior and uniform radiation footprint


A method for controlling the moisture profile of a paper web or board web processed in a heated multi-roll calendar to optimize the qualities of the paper or board, especially gloss. The method is characterized in that the moisture measurement is carried out both on either surface of the web and as a through-measurement, and the measurement results thus obtained are specified by a thermodynamic model which calculates the moisture of the web in three layers, and that the results thus obtained are used for controlling the supply of moisture to the web.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for controlling the moisture profile of a paper or board web processed on a heated multi-roll calender to optimize the qualities of the paper or board, especially gloss.
2. Description of Related Art
For controlling the gloss of a paper web, a gloss controller is known, the operating principle of which is as follows:                the gloss of the paper web is measured        if the gloss is insufficient, steam is added        steam is added until the gloss is as desired.
This type of gloss controller for a paper web moisturized on its surface cannot be used in connection with heated multi-roll calendars for the following reasons:                the derivative of the response function of steam changes from positive to negative at a certain steam level. That is, the response resembles a downwards opening second-order polynomial. In other words, following the addition of a certain amount of steam, the addition of steam in fact deteriorates the gloss of the paper web compared with the optimum amount of steam.        when gradient calendering in practical conditions, the body moisture and surface moisture of the paper vary. The response of steam is very dependent on the amount of the surface moisture.
The reason for the form of the steam response and the violent effect of moisture are the moisture gradients appearing in the direction of thickness of the paper. In an on-line process, and especially in gradient calendering, these are much greater than in conventional calendering. The appearance of gradients is also affected by higher than conventional process heats.

Method for controlling the moisture profile of a paper web


This invention provides a bag or container for the sanitary collection or storage of items comprising: (a) a bag having a sealable opening at the top thereof, (b) a pair of cooperating, substantially rigid scooping members, each having a griping end and a scooping end, and each attached in the vicinity of their gripping end to opposite walls inside of the bag with their scooping ends directed downwardly to the inside bottom of the bag, to enable gripping of the scooping members at their gripping end, (c) the attachment of the griping end being in the vicinity of the mouth of the bag whereby the scooping members are adapted to be gripped from the outside of the bag and the scooping ends pivoted from their position of being directed downwardly to the inside of the bag bottom to a position upwardly and out of the opening of the bag, and further adapted to scoop items up by the cooperating scooping members, and the item and scooping members then pivoted back into the bag.

The present invention relates to a container for the sanitary collection, storage and/or disposal of items, such as waste, debris, specimens or evidence.
It should be understood that the term "item" is used in its broader sense as referring generally to contaminants, wastes, specimens, evidence at the scene of a crime and similar items. This invention has particular utility with respect to the removal of animal excrements.
The container contains scooping members which are inside of a sealable container so that a gooey or smelly item can be completely sealed inside the container together with the soiled internal scooping members. The entire sealable container may then be carried for some distance and/or for some time, to a final destination without fear of spillage, escape of the item or its unpleasant odor, or contamination of the item or of the transporter. With regard to cleaning up animal excrement and transporting it to a disposal point, once the first and/or the second excrement is picked up and the container is sealed, the container can be placed in the bottom of, e.g., a baby stroller, or inside a carrying bag, without fear of contaminating anything surrounding or nearby to the baby stroller or carrying bag.
An embodiment of the container can be structured so that the container can be used for more than one pick-up.
The scooping members are attached so that their scooping ends are sealed inside the container. The handle portion end of the scooping members either protrude through the side of the container material or the handle portion is entirely inside the container and is adapted to be easily grasped from the outside of the container. By use of the handle, the scooping members are rotated or pivoted out of the mouth of the container, from the inside of the container, and returned by a reverse rotation or pivoting during the pick-up procedure. This also prevents the mouth of the container from becoming soiled.
Since the scooping members are attached inside the container at a point recessed down from the opening of the container, there is a great deal of flexibility, control, and preciseness in their use. The scooping members may be used to brush, push and/or scrape an item by one scoop onto the other scoop, or the scoops may be used in cooperation one-with-the other in a sort of pincer movement in order to pick up an item.
The invention can be reused very easily for a second pickup. The reuse option is necessary when, e.g., a dog defecates more than once during a walk period, and the walker only has one device with them.
The scooping members are attached at a point relatively adjacent to the opening or mouth of the container so that the scooping members can be grasped from the outside of the container and rotated about the point of attachment to project the scooping ends of the scooping members out of the container and then, after use, back into the container.
The invention is extremely simple to manufacture, package, store and use.

Sealable container for sanitary collection of matter, particularly animal droppings


In each of frames of specified image data, a covered background area or an uncovered background area is detected. In an image in the first frame, a user inputs the contour of an object in the covered background area. In an image in the last frame, the user inputs the contour of the object in the uncovered background area. On the basis of the contour of the object, which is input in the image in the first frame, the frames are played in the forward direction to extract the object. At the same time, on the basis of the contour of the object, which is input in the image in the last frame, the frames are played in the backward direction to extract the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses and methods, programs, and recording media, and more particularly relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium for enabling a user to extract the contour of a desired object.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technology has been developed in which a user specifies a desired object and inputs the contour of the object in the first frame of moving image data, thereby extracting the contour of the object in subsequent successive frames and cutting out the desired object (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H10-269369).
FIGS. 1A to 1E illustrate an example of displayed moving image data consisting of successive frames 0 to 40. FIG. 1A shows an image in frame 0 in which a triangular object 1 is displayed. FIG. 1B shows an image in frame 10 in which the object 1 moves slightly to the right, compared with the state in frame 0. FIGS. 1C to 1E show images in frames 20, 30, and 40, respectively, in which the object 1 moves slightly further to the right.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a user specifies the overall contour of the triangular object 1 displayed on an image processing apparatus by tracing the contour with a pen (not shown), which results in a line 2. In subsequent successive frames, the object 1 is tracked on the basis of the contour specified by the user as the line 2, thereby detecting the contour of the object 1 in each of the images in the corresponding frames. The contour is indicated by bold lines in FIGS. 1B to 1E.
Referring to FIG. 1E, the user may specify the contour of the object 1, and the image processing apparatus may track the object 1 in preceding successive frames in order of FIGS. 1D, 1C, 1B, and 1A, thereby detecting the contour.
According to such background art, as indicated by lines 2a of FIGS. 1B to 1D, the contour of an object may be erroneously detected while tracking the object.

Image processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium


A self-adjusting barrier incorporates a series of float units restrained between a primary wall, such as a bulkhead, and a secondary wall, such as sheetpile. The secondary wall may be braced to the primary wall. The float units slidably interconnect along adjacent edges to self-adjust along a perimeter, such as a marina or waterfront lot, based on the height of water within the chamber (stilling basin) provided between the two walls. Mechanisms for deterring vandalism and providing increased environmental integrity are also provided for select embodiments. Methods of employing the barrier are also disclosed.

It is important to protect waterfront properties from damage due to storm surges. Conventionally, permanent bulkheads are used for this purpose. For many waterfront property owners, the view of the waterway or waves breaking on the beach is highly desirable and high bulkheads restrict this view. Owner-preferred low bulkheads require pumps to address wave-induced overtopping from storm surges. Thus, an alternative inexpensive bulkhead that adjusts vertically using only the mechanism of rising water level is desirable. In particular, the adjusting bulkhead should not require operator attention, pumping or active control mechanisms for its continued operation.

Hydrostatically operated variable height bulkhead

The United States of America as reprensented by the Secretary of the Army


A motorized jack for reducing the amount of labor needed to lift up a vehicle. The motorized jack includes a housing with a motor provided in the housing. A threaded shaft is also provided in the housing. A top end of the threaded shaft is upwardly extended through a hole in the top of the housing. A ring gear is disposed around the threaded shaft. The ring gear has a toothed inner perimeter engaging the threaded shafts. An interconnected set of gears is provided in the housing to connect the ring gear to a rotating shaft of the motor. A lifting head is coupled to the top end of the threaded shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motorized jacks and more particularly pertains to a new motorized jack for reducing the amount of labor needed to lift up a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of motorized jacks is known in the prior art. More specifically, motorized jacks heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,244,401; 3,392,959; 5,085,407; 4,653,727; 4,872,230; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 99,894.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new motorized jack. The inventive device includes a housing with a motor provided in the housing. A threaded shaft is also provided in the housing. A top end of the threaded shaft is upwardly extended through a hole in the top of the housing. A ring gear is disposed around the threaded shaft. The ring gear has a toothed inner perimeter engaging the threaded shafts. An interconnected set of gears is provided in the housing to connect the ring gear to a rotating shaft of the motor. A lifting head is coupled to the top end of the threaded shaft.
In these respects, the motorized jack according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing the amount of labor needed to lift up a vehicle.


The invention relates to an apparatus for the galvanic deposition of a metal layer on a substrate and comprises a substrate holder connected to a drive shaft that extends in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The cathode current is supplied to the substrate by the drive shaft. The drive shaft has an outer insulating layer. The substrate is held in contact with a contact plate by a supporting ring on the outer periphery of a supporting plate. The contact plate rests on a base of the supporting plate and has a central sleeve connectable with the drive shaft. A mounting portion is provided in the base around the sleeve and a tube portion is inserted into the mounting portion in a sealing and detachable manner. An internally threaded ring is arranged on the drive shaft and is shiftable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. The internally threaded ring is detachably connectable to the tube portion and seals the tube portion and the drive shaft from intrusion of the electrolyte material.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the galvanic deposition of a metal layer on a substrate.
An apparatus of this kind is used, for example, for the galvanoplastic production of compression tools or molds, especially ones made of nickel. These compression tools are used for the compression molding or injection molding of disks, such as compact disks (CDs), laser vision disks and other information-carrying disks. The above-mentioned molds, which include original molds such as those known as a "glass master" as well as reproductions thereof, are intermediate molds for producing the compression tools. The surfaces of the molds carry information in the form of a relief or recess. The surface structure is transferred from the glass master to the compression tool by means of galvanoplastic reproduction. The information contained in this surface structure is imprinted onto the surface of a plastic material when using the compression tool for injection molding or compression molding. In optical disks, such as compact disks, the relief structure modulates the light of a laser beam permitting the information imprinted on the surface of the disk to be read.
To produce the compression tools or the molds, a metal layer, usually comprising nickel, is deposited on a substrate. The substrate is either an insulating substrate, like glass, having a thin electrically conductive layer, or a metal substrate, like nickel. In either case, the substrate surface has a relief-like structure containing the information to be read. The smallest information unit, called a "pit", is arranged in information tracks and has a spatial wave-length in the micrometer range. The distance between adjacent information tracks is also in the micrometer range. Since the substrate surface may contain several thousand million (10.sup.9) information units, and these corresponding fine structures in the micrometer range have to be transferred to the metal layer, the galvanic metal deposition process has to meet very high standards. The deposited metal layer should be extremely small-grained and free of tension and the thickness of the deposited layer should be relatively large. For example, a compact disk compression tool produced by metal deposition should have a thickness of 295 .mu.m .+-.5 .mu.m. The deposition process should also be carried out at a high speed. Moreover, the apparatus for galvanic deposition should be small in size and simple in its operation.
Another important requirement when creating galvanoplastic metal layers on a substrate is that the thickness of the deposition layer should be uniform across the entire substrate surface. The thickness of the layer should vary only within very close limits. If these limits are not met, the optical disks produced by this metal layer will be of a lesser quality.
Variation in the thickness of the deposited metal layer is dependent on the distribution of the electric current lines between the anode and the substrate, which serves as a cathode. Electric power is usually supplied to the cathode via the shaft of the substrate holder which holds the substrate on a supporting plate. The shaft includes an outer insulating layer to insulate it from the electrically conductive electrolyte. The insulation ensures that the metal ions are deposited only on the substrate surface. To coat different substrates, the supporting plate has to be detached from the shaft. In conventional substrate holders, the seal between the shaft and the substrate holder leaks after frequent use. The leaks may permit the electrolyte fluid to reach locations connected in an electrically conductive manner to the cathode potential. In these locations, metal deposition occurs due to the galvanic process. This deposition is called wild growth. Wild growth disturbs the current line distribution between the anode and the cathode, causes difficulties when detaching the supporting plate from the shaft, and also reduces the layer thickness on the substrate surface.
It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the galvanic deposition of a metal layer whose thickness varies only slightly across the substrate area, and wherein the substrate holder is kept essentially free from wild growth and is easily detachable.

Galvanic deposition cell with a substrate holder

Sono Press Produktionsgesellschaft Fur Ton-Und Informationstrager mbH


Programmable control apparatus applicable for use with a sound synthesizer is disclosed having a programming method to be structured in a first table format (10) defining the configurations (13, 14, 15, 16) of input/output terminals (12) and second listing format (20) defining the events (21, 22, 23, 24) to be executed upon receiving of a qualified input signal. Hardware embodiments comprising of predefined I/O state memory to specify the various I/O configuration states (11) is also presented. Said hardware embodiments are structured closely correlated to the programming method to enable the fabrication of a low cost programmable control apparatus.

Traditional sound synthesizing apparatus samples an analog audio source signal; the sampled signal is encoded into digital data with different kinds of compression algorithm and stored in a memory. Upon playback, the digital data is decoded and converted into analog signal to drive an audio transducer. Later developed programmable sound synthesizer further integrated the design with a microprocessor which enables the synthesized sound to be generated interactively according to external electrical stimulation by a step by step assembly language programming process. The objective of the invention is to develop a low cost programmable sound synthesizing apparatus with simple structured programming method which does not contain any difficult to learn instruction set of an assembly language such that the programming process can be carried out by ordinary people without intensive training of the concept and skill of assembly language programming and understanding of the microprocessor architecture.

Programmable sound synthesizer apparatus


A heat dissipating device incorporating heat pipes includes a heat sink (10), a first heat pipe (50) and a second heat pipe (70). The heat sink has a first base (11), a second base (21) and a plurality of fins sandwiched between the first and second bases. Each of the heat pipes has a heat-absorption end (51, 71) and a heat-dissipation end (52, 72). The heat-absorption ends of the first and second heat pipes contact the first base of the heat sink. The heat-dissipation end of the first heat pipe is inserted in the substantial middle portion of the fins, and the heat-dissipation end of the second heat pipe is inserted between the second base and the fins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat dissipating device, and more particularly to a heat dissipating device incorporating heat pipes to improve heat dissipation efficiency of a heat sink thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Computer electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) are the core administrator of electrical signals in most contemporary personal computers. Continued development of CPUs has enabled them to perform more and more functions. Heat generated by CPUs has increased commensurately. Such heat can adversely affect the operational stability of computers. Measures must be taken to efficiently remove the heat from the CPUs. Typically, a heat sink is mounted on a CPU to remove heat therefrom.
Conventionally, a heat sink is made of high thermal conductivity metal materials and generally includes a base and a plurality of fins extending therefrom. The base contacts with an electronic device to absorb heat generated by the electronic device and conducts the heat to the fins, and further such heat is emitted to atmosphere. In order to improve heat-dissipating efficiency, a fan is often attached to a top of the fins to provide forced airflow. However, because of the resistance of the metal materials, a majority of the heat accumulates in the vicinity of the base of the heat sink and only a minority portion of that is conducted to the top of the fins. Thus, the heat sink has a disadvantage that the heat cannot be quickly transferred to the top of the heat sink, thereby reducing heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink.
Currently, heat dissipating devices using heat pipes are broadly used, as the heat pipe possesses an extraordinary heat transfer capacity with almost no heat loss and can quickly transfer heat from one point to another. A heat pipe consists of a sealed aluminum or copper container with the internal walls lined with a capillary wick structure that is saturated with a working fluid. The most common types of wicks that are used are sintered powder, grooved tube and screen mesh. As the heat pipe absorbs heat at one end thereof, fluid is vaporized, and a pressure gradient is formed in the pipe. This pressure gradient forces the vapor to flow along the pipe from the one end to the other end where the vapor condenses and gives out its latent heat of vaporization. The working fluid is then returned back to the one end of the pipe via the capillary forces developed in the wick structure.
One kind of heat dissipating device using heat pipe has been devised to overcome the above-described disadvantage. As shown in Taiwan Patent Application No. 091212183, the heat dissipating device comprises two heat pipes and two heat sinks. Each heat sink has a base and a plurality fins from the base. The heat pipes are U-shaped. The two heat sinks are placed face to face, and are secured together via the heat pipes inserting into the bases of the two heat sinks. Thus, the heat can be dissipated more efficiently as the heat can be quickly transferred to the top of the heat sink via the heat pipes. Unfortunately, the heat cannot be quickly transferred to the top of the fins of each heat sink which will partially reduce the heat-dissipating efficiency of each heat sink. Thus, this kind of heat dissipating device needs to be improved.

Heat dissipating device incorporating heat pipe


A user/viewer directed film entertainment system preferably includes computer hardware, software, on-line content and audio/video media that allows the user to watch a story unfold in a nonlinear fashion according to the desires of the user and preferably from various points of view. The system provides a story broken up by a plot related category (e.g., characters) into story segments. These segments tell the story from the vantage point of these characters, each having their own storyline within the main story. Each character's storyline may or may not intersect with other storylines. While the user can watch a chosen character's story segments straight through and likely understand enough to allow the user to reveal the end, the user may miss important information contained in other characters' storyline that adds to the chosen character's story. The user can choose any order and any character as desired.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to video entertainment, and more particularly, to a user interactive video allocation entertainment system.
2. Description of Related Art
Video stories (e.g., motion pictures, movies, films, videos, etc.) are seen and enjoyed daily by people worldwide. Typically these video stories are shown on communication terminals such as televisions, computers, smart phones, monitors, viewing systems including a display and speakers, in an order from a beginning of the story to an end of the story as desired by an originator (e.g., author, director, producer, etc) of the video story. Even if a story shifts back and forth along a timeline, the story still flows from its start to its end along a path preselected by an originator for viewing by others. It would be advantageous to give viewers the ability to decide how they watch video stories or videos. It would be further advantageous to allow viewers to select the scenes and order of the scenes desired for viewing based on criteria central to the story, such as based on characters of the story.


Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The methods include, for instance: obtaining a native code having a large number of counters embedded for profiling. Use cases that is serviced by the native code is identified and respective use case profiles representing performance characteristics of a corresponding use case are created. Best predictors identifying one of the use case profiles are determined and variants for a production code is created with only the best predictors instead of the large number of counters. The variants are produced with the use case profiles to to a production environment for performing the use cases.

Conventionally, runtime performance characteristics of a computer program is profiled by use of various runtime profiling techniques such as call stack sampling. Certain compilers generate a profile for the computer program by running the computer program embedded with counters at various profiling locations of the computer program. According to the performance/usage characteristics of the computer program in a particular environment for a specific use case as represented in the profile, a machine code corresponding to the computer program is optimized. The more frequently used a certain functional component of the computer program is, the more likely the same functional component is to be optimized in order to improve throughput and/or resource utilization of the computer program.
A "use case," as that term is used herein, is any software design to perform a list of actions or event steps that: (i) are performed by software and hardware of a computer system; and (ii) is intended to achieve a goal or desired end result. A use case may involve some degree of human participation. Use cases are typically used to find and solve problems in the hardware and/or software of computer systems. The instantiation of a "use case instantiation" on a computer system may herein sometimes be referred to a "running a use case." In this art, a use case instantiation is sometimes more simply referred to as a use case, but as a strict matter of technical language, a use case is a copy of the use case software that is stored to set up use case instantiations as the running of instantiations becomes needed or desired. A "variant" for a use case is a code version that is customized for the use case, to meet the system requirements identified by the use case, and accordingly, performing the variant for the use case is more efficient than performing a generic code version not customized for the use case.
It is known to sell various types of computer system implemented to various customers. When these kinds of services are sold to third party customers, this is herein referred to as a "production environment" context (as opposed to in-house computer work done for managing data of the service provider company or doing basic research or the like. Various types of computer implemented services include, but are by no means limited to: (i) web site hosting; (ii) massive data store/database; (iii) cloud based services and microservices; and (iv) voice over IP communication.

Static optimization of production code for dynamic profiling

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A method and apparatus for producing a product using a substantially flat mold shell is provided. A substantially flat mold shell converted from a 3-dimensional mold. The substantially flat mold shell has open ends. When the open ends are brought proximate to each other, the substantially flat mold shell has the shape of the 3-dimensional mold. A product having the shape of the 3-dimensional mold is formed from the substantially flat mold.

Various methods of mass production of different types of products using molds exist. Such methods include a dipping stage whereby a 3-Dimensional ("3D") mold is dipped in liquid latex so that the mold is coated with latex and a closed shape product is created over the curved conventional mold surface. Alternatively, the closed product is created by a method whereby a product material is sprayed onto a surface of a 3D mold, which is described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/268,684 filed on Nov. 7, 2005, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
However, prior techniques for making products using a conventional 3D mold have a number of disadvantages. For instance, it is relatively time consuming and expensive to produce the 3D molds because they must be sculptured, cast, or milled. Full 3D shaped molds are also relatively heavy. The molds are large and take up a lot of space in the work environment, affecting size and cost (e.g. oven, leaching bath, conveyer belts chains etc.). The molds require a large amount of energy to warm up, and a large amount of time to change temperature. When a spraying technology is used, 3D molds also require an elaborate spraying process with a sprayer that is capable of spraying material in all directions around the mold.
Furthermore, a product is created on the mold surface only, sometimes using just a part of the surface. For instance, when a garment is created over an anatomical shaped mold, it is necessary to cut out openings for body parts such as arms or legs. The need to cut out such openings is another disadvantage of conventional molds, because of both the additional process as well as the loss of product material.
Due to these disadvantages, it is desirable to convert the large and heavy 3D mold into a thin, substantially flat, lightweight mold, while maintaining the effective surface area and some other features of the full 3D mold surface.

Method and apparatus for producing a product using a bendable mold shell


Tracking devices having computational and communication resources receive information from a plurality of local devices, such as passive RFID tags, and collect and process the received information to determine one or more of when, where, and in what format to forward the collected information. The tracking devices typically include hardware resources for temporal- and location-awareness. In operation, these tracking devices may receive and respond to queries from remotely located tracking entities. In some embodiments, records of the communications between the devices and the remotely located tracking entities are made, and charges for the communication services are billed to the tracking entities that receive the communication services.

A major focus of companies today is the security and visibility of inventory throughout the supply chain. This is particularly important when management or processing of a high value asset is outsourced to another company. The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to facilitate item tacking is well known.
RFID tags are electronic devices that generally comprise a transponder and an integrated circuit programmed with unique identification information. In the context of a supply chain they are located on items and pallets of items and may be used as a replacement for barcodes to identify items.
An RFID tag reader is used to red the unique data programmed on the RFID tag. An RFID tag reader is comprised of an antenna, transceiver and a decoder and can be configured either as a handheld unit or a fixed-mount device. The reader emits radio waves in ranges of anywhere from a few centimeters to about 40 meters, depending on its power output and the radio frequency used. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the reader's activation signal. This zone energizes the RFID tag and enables the tag to transmit the data encoded on its integrated circuit. The reader decodes this data and it is passed to a host computer for processing.
RFID tags are generally passive tags, as discussed above, in that they have no internal power source and rely on an external source to provide power. In some instances, RFID tags may be active, in that they have an internal power source. Active RFID tags are more expensive and bulkier than passive RFID tags and, as such are generally not the preferred tracking device for item tracking.
Due to memory and processor limitations, the data stored on the RFID tag is generally little more than a unique identifier for the item. Hence, conventional systems offer little more than an electronic bar code that can be read from moderate distances.
A further disadvantage of conventional RFID tracking systems is the lack of synchronicity and integrity of the data across an entire supply chain. As different entities become involved in subsequent phases of the supply chain the effective tracking of items from source to destination becomes complex and expensive. The integration of a company's backend systems with transport contractors and the like to enable auditing and tracking of the company's items throughout the supply chain is difficult and not scaleable.
For example, consider the situation where a transport contractor is used by a wide variety of companies to move freight. Each company has their own RFID system and the transport contractor has their own RFID system. While the transport company can read the data on the RFID tags for each company, the integration of the transport contractor's backend computer system with each company's is difficult and expensive, and hence the companies have difficulty in accurately tracking their products throughout the supply chain.
Furthermore, RFID tags do not effectively solve the security requirements of governments and companies with high value assets. In order to meet these security requirements, and prevent theft and tampering using existing solutions it is required to install tag readers at every point between the manufacturer and consumer. This is clearly not a cost sensitive, scaleable or versatile solution to item tracking throughout the supply chain.
In another aspect of item tracking, it is desirable to communicate information from a number of passive RFID tags devices associated with the items during their transit through the supply chain to entities authorized to receive such information. These passive RFID tags are typically disposed on the item, or on the item packaging, and these items may be disposed upon a pallet. Additionally, such items, and their associated passive RFID tags, may be collected into a storage area or container, and that storage area or container may provide one or more communication access portals through which inbound and outbound communications traffic must pass.
What is needed are methods and apparatus for allowing data from one or more passive RFID tags, each having limited transmission range, to be communicated to one or remote entities that are located beyond the transmission range of the passive RFID tags.

Method and apparatus for aggregating and communicating tracking information


A control device for a braking system of a vehicle, with the aid of which at least one provided setpoint variable regarding a setpoint brake pressure to be set in a first brake circuit and at least one provided actual variable regarding an actual brake pressure that is present in the first brake circuit, and/or an elasticity variable regarding an elasticity of a second brake circuit of the braking system are receivable, and a default variable regarding a setpoint additional volume of a brake fluid of the second brake circuit which is in a main cylinder braking mode is establishable, by taking into account a first deviation variable of the at least one actual variable from the at least one setpoint variable, and/or a second deviation variable of the elasticity variable from a predefined setpoint elasticity variable, so that a control signal corresponding to the established default variable is outputtable to at least one volume conveying device. Moreover, also described is a method for operating a braking system for a vehicle.

Braking systems for motor vehicles having two independent (separate) hydraulic brake circuits are known from the related art. Due to the independent design of the two brake circuits, in the event of a circuit failure due to a brake circuit defect it should still be possible to ensure at least minimum functioning of the braking system, and thus prevent a total failure of the braking system.
A method for ascertaining a malfunction of a pressure sensor or a brake circuit of a hydraulic vehicle braking system having two brake circuits is described in German Published Patent Application No. 102 24 590, for example. The malfunction or the failure is recognizable by comparing a hydraulic pressure ascertained with the aid of the pressure sensor in a pressure chamber of a main brake cylinder (or a variable derived therefrom) to a vacuum pressure of at least one vacuum sensor situated at a vacuum brake booster (or a variable derived therefrom). After the malfunction or failure is recognized, a shutoff valve situated in a hydraulic line between the main brake cylinder and the still functional brake circuit is closed, and at least one wheel brake of the still functional brake circuit is subsequently acted on by pressure with the aid of a hydraulic pump. In this way, the aim is for hydraulic brake boosting to be producible despite the malfunction or the failure.

Control device for a braking system of a vehicle, braking system, and method for operating a braking system for a vehicle


A system includes a TRS system for providing a transcription service to a user of the TRS system during a phone call with a peer and a communications device of the user which includes a phone call unit associated with the phone number and a TRS call unit associated with the virtual number. The TRS system includes a database which stores a phone number and a virtual number of the user, wherein the phone number is assigned from a carrier of the user and the virtual number is assigned from a TRS provider to the user; and a communications device of the user which includes a phone call unit associated with the phone number and a TRS call unit associated with the virtual number.

Typically, mobile users are assigned a cell number from a mobile carrier when purchasing a mobile cellular device. Hearing impaired users, particularly those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing users, also have their cell phone numbers assigned by their respective mobile carriers, but such hearing-impaired users use mainly text-oriented services. Generally, the term "hearing impairment" describes people with any degree of hearing loss (from mild to profound), and thus hearing-impaired individuals includes those who are hard-of-hearing, deaf, or deafened.
When hearing-impaired users communicate with individuals with normal hearing through text-oriented services, many of the former feels that there is a limit to the delivery of nuance and expressive content in text-oriented communication. Also, the latter sometimes feel uncomfortable with text messaging, as speech-related nuances may be missed over text.
Therefore, hearing-impaired users (hereinafter referred to as "users") join a Telecommunications Relay Service (hereinafter referred to as "TRS") to use voice calls for smooth communication with other people. However, when a hearing-impaired subscriber (hereinafter referred to as "TRS user") uses a general text service, the TRS user's cell number is the number that is displayed as the caller ID on the phone of the other party who received the text (hereinafter referred to as "peer user"), and when using voice or video call service using TRS, the virtual number of the TRS remains as a caller ID in the phone of the peer user. That is, the peer user must have both numbers stored, and it is likely that the peer user will later confuse the two numbers when calling-back to the TRS user. To simplify the process and avoid such confusion, TRS users want to use a single integrated number when communicating with the peer users so that peer users need only to remember one phone number for the TRS user and the TRS user can utilize services like TRS to allow them to have richer communication content. Unfortunately, current TRS providers do not support these features.
Therefore, to solve the above problems, various embodiments of a system and a method are provided to enable the TRS user to use the SMS/MMS (hereinafter "short message service/multimedia messaging service") and TRS while using one cell number assigned by their mobile carrier, as there is a need for such a system and a method that accomplish this goal.
This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

System and method for providing one number service in telecommunications relay service


An image-forming device includes a plurality of process cartridges for a plurality of colors. A plurality of drive transmitting members are provided in one to one correspondence with the process cartridges. Each drive transmitting member is capable of shifting between an engaged position for transmitting a driving force to the corresponding process cartridge and a disengaged position for interrupting transmission of the driving force to the process cartridge. A plurality of restricting members are provided in one to one correspondence with the drive transmitting members. Each restricting member moves between a first position and a second position and restrictes the shifting of the corresponding drive transmitting member when in the first position. A single moving member is provided for the plurality of drive transmitting members. The moving member moves the plurality of restricting members between the first position and the second position.

Conventional color laser printers known as tandem-type printers are provided with process cartridges corresponding to each of the colors yellow, magenta, cyan, and black that are juxtaposed along a path for conveying paper.
This type of tandem color laser printer has, for example, a main device body with a cover provided on the top surface thereof that is capable of opening and closing. By opening the cover, the process cartridges can be mounted into or removed from the main device body. A motor is also provided in the main device body for generating a driving force that is transmitted to each process cartridge when the process cartridges are mounted in the main device body. The driving force drives a photosensitive drum and a developing roller provided in each of the process cartridges in order to form a toner image in each color on the respective photosensitive drums nearly simultaneously. These toner images are transferred onto a paper conveyed along the paper-conveying path in order to form a multicolor image on the paper at approximately the same speed required to form a single color image with a monochrome laser printer.
Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. HEI-11-258966 describes one mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor to each photosensitive drum. This mechanism includes a drum drive shaft provided in the main device body for each photosensitive drum, the drum drive shaft capable of being shifted to advance or retract; a compression spring for urging the drum drive shaft in the retracting direction away from the photosensitive drum; a lever cam having one end rotatably supported about a rotational shaft and another end contacting an end of the drum drive shaft on the side opposite the photosensitive drum; and a vertical lever that is moved vertically when a top cover member is opened and closed on the top surface of the main device body. When the top cover member is closed, each vertical lever moves downward, the lower end of each lever pushing against and rotating the respective lever cam. As the lever cams rotate, each drum drive shaft advances and engages with the respective photosensitive drum.
However, providing the same mechanism that includes the drum drive shaft, lever cam, and vertical lever for each photosensitive drum will inevitably increase the size and expense of the image-forming device due to the large number of parts.


An improved aortic cannula is formed from a cannula body and a tip provided on the distal end of the cannula body wherein the tip is designed to accommodate the fluid flow requirements of an extracorporeal bypass system while simultaneously minimizing any possible adverse impact of the cannula and fluid flow on the vessel in which the cannula is received. The tip has an axial fluid discharge aperture provided at the distal end thereof through which a portion of the fluid exiting the cannula flows. In addition, at least one lateral fluid discharge aperture is provided in the sidewall of the tip. A scoop or other diverting member is formed in the sidewall to direct a portion of the fluid flowing through the tip to exit the cannula through the lateral fluid discharge apertures.

During traditional operations involving the blood circulatory system such as open-heart surgery, a patent's blood is typically removed from the body, oxygenated, and then returned to the body under pressure. Typically, blood is returned from this extracorporeal circuit to the patient's aorta through an aortic cannula. The aorta is a vessel which experiences high internal fluid pressures during a normal heart operation, therefore it is desired to minimize any trauma suffered by the aorta during these operations such as incisions. The challenge is to design an aortic cannula with the smallest diameter tip to minimize the necessary incision in the aorta, but will accommodate the necessary fluid flow rates without damaging the patient's blood or aorta.
Another factor which challenges the designers of aortic cannulas is avoiding concentrated, high velocity fluid flow from the tip of the cannula into the aorta commonly known as a "jet blast" effect. Many patients having this type of surgery already have atheromatous material and/or adherent thromba within the aorta. Directing a blast or jet of blood against the wall of the aorta could easily dislodge small pieces of these materials from the aorta causing strokes or blood clots.
The challenge at hand is to design an aortic cannula, and specifically the distal tip of the cannula to accommodate the necessary volume of fluid flow while simultaneously minimizing the impact on the aorta as a result of the diameter of the tip and the avoidance of any jet blast effect on the interior wall of the aorta. Other cannula designs are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,616,137 to Lindsay, 5,643,226 to Cosgrove, et al., 5,084,033 to O'Neill, et al., and 5,330,433 to Fonger, et al.

Aortic cannula with reduced velocity flow-through tip


The hull of a submerged sea craft adjacent its stern end is provided with auxiliary facilities for controlled maneuvering operations under low speed conditions, including steering, stopping and negative thrust backing performed independently of main propulsion of the craft. The auxiliary maneuvering control facilities include a curved channel pipe connected to two angularly related sub-channel pipe sections for selectively controlled outflow of fluid which is pressurized by a maneuvering control pump within the curved channel pipe before outflow through exit openings in the hull in different directions, as negative angle thrust jets and as steering control jets perpendicular to the hull centerline. By use of a sub-channel flow diverting flapper and gate valves at the inlet and exit outlet openings in the hull, all of the maneuvering operations may be performed under selective control.

Heretofore the maneuvering of many water jet propelled sea vessels involved facilities not suitable for fully submerged sea craft. To avoid use of such maneuvering facilities, emergency water jet stoppage was proposed, involving diversion of jet outflow from a main propulsion unit. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide better maneuvering for such submerged sea craft without adverse impact on the main propulsion unit.

Auxiliary facilities for the maneuvering of submerged water jet propelled sea craft

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A saddle pad display system by which a horse and rider may display an exhibitor number tag, equine jewelry, or the like on a saddle pad. The saddle pad display system is comprised of: a saddle pad, the saddle pad having a left side and a right side and further having an outer pad surface and an inner pad surface; a plurality of display holes cut and sewn into the saddle pad, the depth of the display holes continuing throughout the entire thickness of the saddle pad; a retaining sleeve attached to the inner pad surface and located centrally between a pair of display holes located on each side of the saddle pad; and a display item, the display item having a clip by which the display item may be securely attached to the saddle pad.

Several circumstances exist under which a horse owner or horse rider may wish to display an item on the tack of his or her horse. For example, displays may be needed or desired for competition in horse shows or exhibitions. Additionally, there is an increasing trend among horse owners and riders to display equine jewelry, representing perhaps a breed logo or a horse or owner name, a monogram, or any decorative design.
An exhibitor or contestant at a horse show receives an exhibitor number tag upon entry into the competition or show. For example, throughout this disclosure and associated drawing figures, the entry number 341 is used on an exhibitor number tag. Such a number identifies both horse and rider in a competition. All scoring by judges is based not on a rider name or a horse name, but rather is based on and recorded by the number printed on the exhibition number tag and displayed on either the horse or the back of the rider. These exhibitor number tags are typically comprised of a number printed on a heavy paper or a cardstock. Some exhibitor number tags are available with pin holes and/or a metal clip located on the back. Depending on the saddle class in which the rider is competing, the exhibitor number tag may be displayed on each side of the horse by pinning it to the saddle pad, saddle blanket, or bridle.
Several concerns exist with the methods currently available for displaying exhibitor number tags. For those placed on the bridle of a horse, the horse may experience discomfort, limited vision, or annoyance at the presence of the exhibitor number tag. For those placed on a saddle pad or saddle blanket, via a means of pinning or otherwise, the exhibitor number tag may flap and cause disturbances for the rider and/or the horse. Additionally, a judge may find it difficult to clearly observe and read a number on the exhibitor number tag if it is freely moving about on the surface to which it is pinned or attached.
A display need exists not only for horse shows and competitions, but also a display need or desire exists to show equine jewelry.
An increasing trend is developing in which horse owners and/or riders wish to display equine jewelry on a horse. Such equine jewelry may include a breed logo; a horse, owner, or stable name; a monogram; or any decorative design. For example, in regard to breed logos, the owner of a Dutch Warmblood may wish to display equine jewelry on the horse tack that is in the shape and form of a standing and roaring lion placed upon a roughly pentagon-shaped shield. Or perhaps the owner of a Swedish Warmblood may wish to display a block-letter "S" with a crown placed upon the top of the "S". Breed logos are well known in the equine field. Jewelers are incorporating these breed logos into various jewelry pieces that can be displayed on the tack of a horse or elsewhere.
In the prior art, some devices have been disclosed for displaying a number used by a competitor in a horse show. Many such devices still require that the exhibitor number tag be attached via a means of pinning the tag to a saddle pad or clipping it to the bridle worn by the horse, for example. Such devices may be uncomfortable or distracting to the rider or to the horse. In fact, a horse or rider might actually be stuck by a pin while the pinning process is taking place. Furthermore, such devices may not enable a judge to easily and clearly view the number associated with a particular horse and rider.
However, while such devices may be suitable for their particular purposes, they are not suitable for the purposes of the present invention. Therefore, a need exists for a saddle pad display system as is disclosed in the present invention.
These and other problems exist. Previous attempts to solve these and other problems include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,273, issued to Schneider on May 23, 2000, discloses a contour English saddle pad having a rear area that is sufficient in size to accommodate an exhibitor number on each side of the pad. Preferably, the rear area of each side of the pad comprises a transparent or translucent, preferably non-glare plastic pocket, into which a card printed with the exhibitor number may be easily inserted and removed. The saddle pad of the invention allows display of the exhibitor number on each side of the horse without detracting from the presentation of the horse and is especially useful in English classes in which conformation is a judging criterion. A major benefit of the saddle pad of the invention, especially in English classes in which multiple horses are exhibited simultaneously, is that the exhibitor's number is continuously displayed within the same field of vision in which the judge evaluates the movement and conformation of the horse, thereby eliminating viewing problems associated with the traditional wearing of the exhibitor number on the rider's back. This disclosed invention, however, may result in the plastic discoloring or cracking over time.
U.S. Design Patent No. Des. 376,226, issued to Podolny on Dec. 3, 1996, discloses the ornamental design for a horse saddle pad with speakers and pockets for carrying a portable cassette or disc player. This disclosed invention, however, is not allowable in competition.
Additionally, there are several products in the marketplace that seek to provide a saddle pad with a competition exhibit entry number. For example, Chick's Discount Saddlery retails a competition fleece pin-on saddle pad, available online at http://www.chicksaddlery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Product_Code=22P35&Screen=PROD. Yet another example from Texas Equine Saddlery is the English saddle pad with a translucent display number pocket attached on each side of the saddle pad with Velcro® fasteners. This English saddle pad product with display number pockets is available online at http://www.horseselectsales.com/halters.htm.
While these patents and other previous devices and methods have attempted to solve the above mentioned problems, none have provided for a saddle pad display system in the same manner as the present invention. Therefore, a need exists for such a device and method of manufacture.


A cable bend controller (50) comprising a relatively rigid member includes a body section (52) having first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) at opposing ends thereof. The first and second cable-engaging sections (56) are securable to a cable at a first and second spaced apart locations. The said body section (52) is curved about a preselected radius such that said first cable-engaging section (56) is oriented at a substantial angle to said second cable-engaging section, (60) the body section thereby defining an externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54). Upon fastening the first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) to the cable (42), cable (42) is required to assume a bend to lie along said externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54).

It is known that it is desirable to control the radius or curve of cables, particularly electrical cables, as they are routed through or within an assembly in which they are used. It is important that when the conductors or wires are dressed, particularly at a 90.degree. angle or sharper that they are not bent sharply and thus damaged. This is of particular concern when the cable is a coaxial cable and a sharp bend or "kink" can cause localized impedance mismatch of the coaxial cable. This problem is particularly of concern when discrete cables or wires are terminated to terminals disposed in a housing and at least some of the discrete wires need to be dressed at a 90.degree. angle to the connector housing to exit a card cage or the like.


Textiles are washed by a method comprising contacting the textile with a cleaning composition comprising a copolymer comprising styrene, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present patent application relates to intensifying the cleaning performance of washing agents when washing textiles, by the use of a specific soil-release-enabling polymer.
(2) Description of Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. §§1.97 and 1.98
Washing agents generally contain, in addition to the ingredients such as surfactants and builder materials that are indispensable for the washing process, further constituents that can be grouped under the heading of "washing adjuvants" and encompass such different groups of active substances as foam regulators, graying inhibitors, bleaching agents, bleach activators, and color transfer inhibitors. Also among such adjuvants are substances that impart soil-repelling properties to the laundry fibers and, if present during the washing operation, support the soil-releasing capability of the other washing-agent constituents. The same also applies analogously to cleaning agents for hard surfaces. Soil-release-enabling substances of this kind are often referred to as "soil release" active substances or, because of their ability to make the treated surface (for example, of the fibers) soil-repellent, as "soil repellents." For example, the soil-release-enabling action of methyl cellulose is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,038. European Patent Application EP 0 213 729 discloses decreased redeposition with the use of washing agents that contain a combination of soap and a nonionic surfactant having alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose. European Patent Application EP 0 213 730 discloses textile treatment agents that contain cationic surfactants and nonionic cellulose ethers having HLB values from 3.1 to 3.8. U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,093 discloses washing agents that contain 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, or alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose as well as 5 wt % to 50 wt % surfactant, the surfactant component being made up substantially of C10 to C13 alkyl sulfate and up to 5 wt % C14 alkyl sulfate, and less than 5 wt % alkyl sulfate having alkyl radicals of C15 and above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,305 discloses washing agents that contain 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, or alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose, as well as 5 wt % to 50 wt % surfactant, the surfactant component being made up substantially of C10 to C12 alkylbenzenesulfonate and comprising less than 5 wt % alkylbenzenesulfonate having alkyl radicals of C13 and above. European Patent Application EP 0 634 481 relates to a washing agent that contains alkali percarbonate and one or more nonionic cellulose derivatives. Explicitly disclosed among the latter are only hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and methyl cellulose, and (in the context of the Examples) the methylhydroxyethyl cellulose Tylose® MH50, the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose Methocel® F4M, and hydroxybutyl cellulose. European Patent EP 0 271 312 (P&G) relates to soil-release-enabling active substances, among them cellulose alkyl ethers and cellulose hydroxyalkyl ethers (with DS of 1.5 to 2.7 and molar weights from 2,000 to 100,000) such as methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose, which are to be used with peroxygen bleaching agents at a weight ratio (based on the active oxygen content of the bleaching agent) from 10:1 to 1:10. European Patent EP 0 948 591 B1 discloses a washing agent in liquid or granular form that imparts, to fabrics and textiles washed therewith, textile appearance advantages such as decreased pilling and linting, color fading prevention, improved abrasion resistance, and/or enhanced softness, and that contains 1 to 80 wt % surfactant, 1 to 80 wt % organic or inorganic builder, 0.1 to 80 wt % of a hydrophobically modified nonionic cellulose ether having a molar weight from 10,000 to 2,000,000, the modification consisting in the presence of optionally oligomerized (degree of oligomerization up to 20) ethyleneoxy- or 2-propyleneoxy-ether units and of C8 to C24 alkyl substituents, and such that the alkyl substituents must be present in quantities from 0.1 to 5 wt % based on the cellulose ether material.
Because of their chemical similarity to polyester fibers, soil-release-enabling active substances that are particularly active for textiles made of said material are copolyesters that contain dicarboxylic acid units, alkylene glycol units, and polyalkylene glycol units. Soil-release-enabling copolyesters of the aforesaid kind, and the use thereof in washing agents, have been known for some time.
German Application DT 16 17 141, for example, describes a washing method using polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethlene glycol copolymers. German Application DT 22 00 911 relates to washing agents that contain nonionic surfactant and a mixed polymer of polyoxyethylene glycol and polyethylene terephthalate. German Application DT 22 53 063 recites acid textile finishing agents that contain a copolymer of a dibasic carboxylic acid and an alkylene or cycloalkylene polyglycol as well as, if applicable, an alkylene or cycloalkylene glycol. Polymers of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate in which the polyethylene glycol units have molecular weights from 750 to 5,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate is 50:50 to 90:10, and the use thereof in washing agents, are described in German Patent DE 28 57 292. Polymers, having a molecular weight of 15,000 to 50,000, of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, the polyethylene glycol units having molecular weights from 1,000 to 10,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate being 2:1 to 6:1, can be used according to German Application DE 33 24 258 in washing agents. European Patent EP 066 944 relates to textile treatment agents that contain a copolyester of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, aromatic dicarboxylic acid, and sulfonated aromatic dicarboxylic acid in specific molar ratios. European Patent EP 185 427 discloses polyesters, end-capped with methyl or ethyl groups, having ethylene and/or propylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate units, and washing agents that contain such soil release polymers. European Patent EP 241 984 relates to a polyester that, in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units, also contains substituted ethylene units as well as glycerol units. European Patent EP 241 985 discloses polyesters that, in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units, contain 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene, and/or 3-methoxy-1,2-propylene groups as well as glycerol units, and are end-capped with C1 to C4 alkyl groups. European Patent EP 253 567 relates to soil release polymers, having a molar weight from 900 to 9,000, of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, the polyethylene glycol units having molecular weights from 300 to 3,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate being 0.6 to 0.95. European Patent Application EP 272 033 discloses polyesters, at least in part end-capped with C1-4 alkyl or acyl groups, having polypropylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate units. European Patent EP 274 907 describes sulfoethyl end-capped terephthalate-containing soil release polyesters. In European Patent Application EP 357 280, soil release polyesters having terephthalate, alkylene glycol, and poly-C2-4 glycol units are manufactured by sulfonation of unsaturated end groups. German Patent Application DE 26 55 551 describes the reaction of such polyesters with isocyanate-group-containing polymers, and use of the polymerizates thereby manufactured to counteract the redeposition of dirt in the context of washing synthetic fibers. German Patent DE 28 46 984 discloses washing agents that contain as a soil-release-enabling polymer, a reaction product of a polyester with a prepolymer that contains terminal isocyanate groups and is obtained from a diisocyanate and a hydrophilic nonionic macrodiol.
The majority of the polymers known from this extensive existing art have the disadvantage that they possess insufficient or no activity in the context of textiles that are not, or at least not predominantly, made of polyester. Many of today's textiles are, however, made of cotton or cotton-polyester mixed fabrics, so that a need exists for soil-release-enabling polymers that are more effective for greasy stains on such textiles.
It has now been found, surprisingly, that polymerizates obtainable from very specific monomers have a very good soil-release-enabling effect specifically on cotton-containing textiles.

Boosting cleaning power of detergents by means of a polymer