The invention provides a fuel injection pump comprising a pump housing and a pumping arrangement associated therewith, wherein the pumping arrangement includes a pumping plunger and a plunger drive arrangement, the pumping plunger having a first end reciprocably received within a plunger bore provided in the pump housing and a second end coupled to the plunger drive arrangement. A biasing spring is provided having first and second spring ends, the first spring end coupled to a spring plate member associated with the pump housing and the second spring end coupled the plunger drive arrangement. The pump housing includes first and second portions aligned on a common axis, the upper portion including a further bore in which at least an upper portion of a locking pin is receivable and wherein the spring plate member defines support means for supporting a lower end portion of the locking pin.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective and cross section views, respectively, of a known fuel injection pump, indicated generally as 2, which is suitable for use as a means of supplying pressurised fuel to a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The fuel pump 2 includes a generally tubular pump housing 4 having an axially disposed bore 6 within which a pumping plunger 8 is slidable. The pumping plunger 8 has a lower end 10 (in the orientation shown in FIG. 1) that is coupled to a drive arrangement 12 for transmitting reciprocating motion to the plunger 8. The drive arrangement 12 includes a tappet body 14 and an associated cam roller 16 on which a cam member acts, in use (the cam member itself is not shown). A biasing means in the form of a helical spring 17 is received over the plunger 8 such that the spring 17 is disposed between the pump housing 4 and the tappet body 14. An upper end 18 of the biasing spring 17 abuts a spring plate 20 attached to a lower end of the pump housing 4 and a lower end 22 of the spring 17 abuts the tappet body 14, the spring 17 thus serving to bias the plunger 8 downwards in the orientation shown.
As shown in FIG. 1B, an upper end of the pump housing 24 defines a cup-shaped recess 26 into which a lower end of an outlet valve 28 is received. The lower end of the outlet valve 28 closes off the plunger bore 6 and defines a pressurisation chamber 30 between it and the upper end of the plunger 8.
In use, the cam member drives the plunger 8 via the drive arrangement 12 on a pumping stroke during which fuel within the chamber 30 is pressurised. When the pressure of fuel within the pumping chamber 30 reaches a predetermined pressure, the outlet valve 28 opens to permit pressurised fuel to flow through the outlet valve 28. Although not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a fuel conduit may be attached to the outlet valve 28 to convey fuel to a fuel injector, for example.
As the cam member rotates further, the pumping plunger 8 passes a top dead centre position and thus commences a return stroke under the force of the spring 17. During the return stroke, fuel is permitted to fill the pumping chamber 30 through a fill/spill port 32 which is connected to a source of fuel at a relatively low pressure.
In order to vary the delivery volume of the fuel pump 2, the pumping plunger 8 is provided with a control arm 40 which extends radially away from the approximate mid point of the plunger 8. Angular movement of the control arm 40 varies the angular position of the pumping plunger 8.
In use, the control arm 40 engages a fuel delivery rack (not shown) via a control pin 42 that depends downwardly from a radially outer end of the control arm 40. The position of the fuel delivery rack is determined by the engine governor and the rack, in turn, acts on the control arm 40 to cause radial movement of the pumping plunger 8 about its longitudinal axis. The radial position of the pumping plunger 8 determines the point of the pumping stoke that a spill helix 41 (not shown on FIG. 1A) registers with the low pressure spill port 32, thus terminating fuel pressurisation earlier, or later, in the pumping stroke depending on the degree and direction of rotation of the pumping plunger 8. The radial position also controls the start of fuel pressurisation by registration of the upper surface of the pumping plunger 8 with the spill port 32. The variation of the effective stroke between the upper surface of the plunger 8 and the spill helix varies the fuel delivery to the associated engine.
Typically, a plurality of such fuel pumps 2 are installed into the cylinder block of an engine, one per cylinder. In order for the engine to run smoothly, the pumps 2 must be installed with the control arms 40 located in exact positions corresponding to a predetermined delivery setting, hereafter referred to the "reference position".
Due to production tolerances of the components of the fuel pump 2, each fuel pump 2 provides a given delivery volume with the pumping plunger 8 in a slightly different relative angular position. Thus, each fuel pump 2 is subject to a calibration process during manufacture in which the control arm 40 of each pump 2 is set into the correct position to provide a desired delivery at a given speed defined by a customer, for example an engine manufacturer. Once calibrated, the control arm 40 is locked into its reference position by a locking pin 44 associated with the pump. The locking pin 44 is received within a longitudinally extending bore 46 provided in the pump housing 4 that is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump 2.
As can be observed in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the locking pin 44 is supported along substantially its entire length except for its tip 48 that protrudes from the open lower end of the bore 46 to engage a depression or pit (not shown) provided in the control arm 40. It is desirable for the locking pin 44 to be supported close to the spring plate 20 in this way to avoid unwanted movement of the control arm 40 or bending of the locking pin 44 during the process of delivering the fuel pump 2 to a customer. Movement of the control arm 40 would affect the reference position of the control arm, thus negating the pump calibration exercise.
A problem with the above described arrangement is that due to assembly requirements, and the need to support the locking pin 44 along its length, the pump housing 4 is required to be manufactured with a lower portion 50 which is eccentric to an upper portion 52 of the pump housing 4, i.e. axially offset. The process of machining the pump housing 4 to include eccentrically disposed upper and lower portions is complicated and, therefore, expensive. Consequently, it is desirable to provide a fuel injection pump that confers the same advantages and packaging profile as the fuel pump of FIGS. 1A and 1B, but which may be manufactured more readily so as to reduce production effort and overall unit costs.


Compositions, methods, and applications that increase the efficiency of nucleic acid transfection are provided. In one aspect, a pharmaceutical composition may include at least about 0.5 mg/ml concentration of a nucleic acid condensed with a cationic lipopolymer suspended in an isotonic solution, where the cationic lipopolymer includes a cationic polymer backbone having cholesterol and polyethylene glycol covalently attached thereto, and wherein the molar ratio of cholesterol to cationic polymer backbone is within a range of from about 0.1 to about 10, and the molar ratio of polyethylene glycol to cationic polymer backbone is within a range of from about 0.1 to about 10. The composition further may include a filler excipient.

Synthetic gene delivery vectors have considerable advantage over viral vectors due to better safety compliance, simple chemistry, and cost-effective manufacturing. However, due to low transfection efficiency of the synthetic vectors as compared to that of the viral vectors, most of the development in synthetic gene delivery systems has focused on improving delivery efficiency. Consequently, little attention has been given to the pharmaceutical development of synthetic delivery systems, although problems have been identified in formulation stability, scale up, and dosing flexibility. Pharmaceuticals containing DNA that self-assembles into nanoparticles often exhibit poor stability, particularly when the formulation is an aqueous suspension. In such formulations, DNA with synthetic vectors will typically aggregate over time, especially at concentrations required for optimal dosing in a clinical setting. Such formulations are often difficult to prepare at DNA concentrations >0.3 mg/ml, which limits their commercial applications, especially for local delivery where volume constraints would limit flexible dosing. DNA aggregation reduces or eliminates the activity of the DNA and therefore makes the composition unsuitable for use in treatment.
This physical instability is one of the underlying reasons for loss of transfection activity. Manifestation of particle rupture or fusion due to high curvature of the lipid bilayer or physical dissociation of lipid from DNA have also been postulated as potential underlying reasons for poor stability and aggregation of cationic lipid based gene delivery complexes. Chemical modification such as oxidative hydrolysis of the delivery vectors may also contribute to particle instability.
Because of poor stability, the early clinical trials required that DNA formulations be prepared by the bedside. Not having the ability to prepare and store the clinical product at concentrations required for optimal dosing is a major obstacle in the broad clinical practice and commercialization of the non-viral DNA products. This would require physicians training on drug formulation and pose on-site quality control measures.
Freeze-drying is a useful method for improving long-term stability of a number of drug pharmaceuticals. However, this process is not normally suitable for drying DNA complexes with synthetic vectors as it tends to alter their physicochemical properties and results in aggregation and loss of transfection upon reconstitution.
Several approaches have been attempted to prevent formulation aggregation and damage during lyophilization. In some cases, lyophilization of DNA complexes in the presence of a cryoprotectant such as low molecular weight sugars, dextrans, and polyethylene glycol may provide better stability to the product, but that approach does not appear to improve dosing flexibility. Addition of sugars is often the most commonly used approach for this purpose. Many of the test sugars have been found to prevent formulation damage and particle aggregation to some extent, but the quality of this effect varies with the type of sugar and the delivery vector used.
Although lyophilization provides some improvement in formulation shelf life, the conditions required to produce lyophilized DNA products allow for only limited pharmaceutical applications. Even with the most effective lyoprotectant sugars, a very high sugar/DNA molar ratio (typically greater than 1000:1) is required for stability. As a result, the lyophilized product often must be diluted by a very large factor to obtain an isotonic formulation, which results in a drop in the final DNA concentration to the pre-lyophilized DNA concentration. For many cationic carriers the final DNA concentration may typically be about 0.1-0.2 mg/ml, and often below 0.1 mg/ml. Although low concentration formulations are sufficient for in vitro studies, their clinical application may be limited due to high volume requirement for optimal dosing. For example, at the optimal sugar concentration needed for stability, a 1 mg dose of DNA may need to be diluted in 5-10 ml to maintain isotonicity, which is too large a volume for local in vivo administration. This pharmaceutical limitation, prohibitive of flexible dosing, is one of the principal contributors to suboptimal efficacy of synthetic gene delivery systems in human clinical trials and warrants the need for more concentrated DNA formulations that are stable and biologically active.


Provided is a booster device for driving an injector which can suppress an insufficiency of a boost voltage applied to the injector even when the fuel injection interval is short. A boost driver (switching element) is connected to a boost coil in series and turns on/off the conduction of the boost coil. A boost capacitor applies a voltage to the injector. A boost diode has an anode connected to a connection point of the boost coil and the boost driver and a cathode connected to the boost capacitor. A boost gate control circuit controls the boost driver to be turned on/off so as to increase a charging speed of the boost capacitor increases when a decision period indicating a period corresponding to an injection interval of the injector is equal to or less than the first threshold value.

A fuel injection valve control device, which can perform appropriate fuel injections over a range from a low rotation region to a high rotation region of an engine rotation speed without requiring a capacitor having a large capacity, has been known (e.g., see PTL 1).
PTL 1 discloses a control which has a function of detecting a current of a solenoid used for a boost and changes a target voltage according to the current value in a booster circuit in a fuel injection valve-opening control. The device of PTL 1 also controls a duty ratio of a boost FET so that the target voltage becomes a voltage which should be applied to the solenoid at the next fuel injection based on the detected current.
Moreover, an injector drive device, in which, while the heat generation of a transistor for charging is suppressed at high temperature, the charging can be sufficiently completed by the time of the next injection process as a charging time is shortened as much as possible even if a small-capacity charge capacitor is used, has been known (e.g., see PTL 2).
PTL 2 discloses a control which has a temperature detection unit and a plurality of temperature threshold values and increases a charging current stepwise when the temperature is judged as being lower than a predetermined temperature threshold value in a booster circuit in a fuel injection device. The device of PTL 2 also controls the charging current to be increased when a present voltage is decided as being lower than a predetermined voltage.
Furthermore, a control device, which prevents a temperature rise in an ECU by suppressing the heat generation of the ECU without using an additional cooling device such as a blower fan (e.g., see PTL 3).
PTL 3 discloses a control which adjusts a target voltage for a boost by using at least one of the temperature of the ECU, an outside air temperature, a vehicle speed and a cooling water temperature in a fuel injection device performing multiple injections.


A passive feedback-controlled regulator and method for regulating gas turbine bleed air is provided, which automatically regulates the flow of coolant air directed to the turbine vanes, blades, and other hot section components based on the inherent differential pressure between the diffused compressor discharge pressure and the compressor impeller exit air. The differential pressure used to operate the regulator is a measure of the turbine mass flow rate, and, therefore is a measure of the instantaneous engine coolant flow requirement.

This invention relates to gas turbine engine cooling systems.
In order to increase the efficiency and specific power output of gas turbine engines, these engines are designed to operate at ever increasing turbine inlet temperatures. To enable operation at such elevated temperatures, various engine components, such as the turbine nozzles and blades are cooled by a flow of coolant, typically high pressure bleed air from the turbine engine compressor. The high pressure air is diverted from the compressor discharge upstream of the burner and routed directly to the turbine blades and vanes, where it is discharged from openings in the turbine blades and nozzles to reduce the surface temperature of these components. However, coolant flow is a parasitic flow loss reducing engine efficiency.
At high power settings, such as during takeoff, the amount of cooling air that is required is relatively high. At lower power settings such as at cruise or idle, however, there is relatively little cooling air required. Nevertheless, conventional coolant flow systems are generally fixed in capacity to provide sufficient coolant flow to maintain the turbine blades and vanes below their design temperature when the turbine is operating at its maximum rated power. Accordingly, at reduced power settings, the flow of coolant is in excess of that necessary to maintain component temperature. This excess coolant flow results in engine efficiency below that which could be achieved if the bleed air were regulated to respond to the engine power requirements.
Regulation of coolant flow in response to engine operating conditions has been recognized as desirable. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,755 to Williams teaches a coolant flow valve in which a valve member regulates the flow of coolant in response to engine temperature. The opening and closing of the valve member is, however, controlled by an external controller, with commensurate complexity and reliability issues. U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,599 teaches a plurality of normally closed valves that open to permit a flow of coolant in response to an increase in the gross coolant air pressure or coolant air temperature. None of the prior art coolant systems, however, provide a simple passive feedback control of coolant flow that is responsive to engine coolant flow requirements.

Passive turbine coolant regulator responsive to engine load


Embodiments of a system that performs authentication during a financial transaction are described. During operation, this system asks a prospective customer a subset of questions from a set of questions, where the subset of questions has a probability of being different from those asked while previously or subsequently asking questions of the prospective customer or another prospective customer. Next, the system receives answers to the subset of questions from the prospective customer, thereby confirming that the prospective customer is a customer associated with a financial transaction. Then, the system provides transitory information associated with the financial transaction that, for the customer, uniquely identifies a provider of the financial transaction, thereby completing the authentication.

The present invention relates to techniques for authenticating parties during an on-line transaction. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and a technique that reduces phishing by authenticating parties during a transaction.
While there has been considerable recent growth in on-line commerce, and more generally, in the use of the Internet to conduct financial transactions, data security for these on-line financial transactions remains a significant problem which can cause sensitive information to be misappropriated and/or misused.
One class of security problems is 'phishing,' during which a malicious user tricks a victim into accepting a false identity, which enables the malicious user to access or obtain sensitive information (such as a credit-card number, a bank-account number, a social-security number, or a username and password). For example, the malicious user may send an email falsely claiming to be an established, legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the victim into providing sensitive information that can be used for identity theft. In some cases, the email may include a link to a fake website (which is a replica of a trusted website) where the sensitive information is requested.
Unfortunately, phishing often mimics the same techniques that are used in on-line financial transactions. In particular, email is a convenient communication technique for sending invoices to customers, and payment for many invoices is often implemented by linking a customer to a payment web page, where the customer can complete the financial transaction. Moreover, to keep the process simple (and thus, to facilitate use of such services), many payment web pages avoid a lengthy registration process, and thus, do not ask customers to login, thereby exacerbating the security risk.
Hence, phishing undermines confidence in the safety of on-line commerce.


Method, apparatus and computer program product for performing a cross-model predictive inference to generate a cross-model predictive output for a plurality of predictive inputs using a plurality of predictive models. For example, the apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory including program code. The at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, obtain a model selection probability distribution which defines, for each predictive model, a respective selection probability score; obtain, for each predictive model, respective cross-model normalization data; for each predictive input, determine a cross-model predictive score; and determine, based on each determined cross-model predictive score, the cross-model predictive output.

Applicant has identified many deficiencies and problems associated with existing methods, apparatus, and systems related to performing predictive inferences using multiple (i.e., two or more) predictive models. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified deficiencies and problems have been solved by developing solutions that are in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.

Apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer storage medium for performing predictive inferences using multiple predictive models


A probe is disposed in an axial opening in an insulator. The wall defining the axial opening has an internal projection and the probe has a mating recess to define with the projection a detent relationship limiting the axial movement of the probe in a first direction. A shoulder on the probe abuts an insulator to limit the probe movement axially in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The probe has a bayonet portion positioned to engage a female member in a first connector with the probe in the second detent relationship. A ferrule on the insulator has a portion crimpable on the insulator to retain the insulator and the ferrule in a fixed relationship. A nut on the ferrule is fixedly retained between a lug on the ferrule and a sleeve on the ferrule. The probe end opposite the bayonet portion has a socket for receiving a pin in a cable. The cable has an insulator which can be disposed in the space within the ferrule. The ferrule has a plurality of annularly spaced fingers which extend in a direction away from the probe bayonet portion and which have prongs on their outer ends. The fingers are spaced from a crimpable portion on the sleeve. Conductive braiding on the insulator in the cable is disposed between the fingers and the sleeve crimpable portion and is fixedly retained by the prongs on the fingers and the crimping of the sleeve.

Electrical connectors have been known for many years. They provide a coupling between an input such as a pair of cables displaced from each other so that signals from one of the cables will pass into the other cable without any appreciable loss of signal strength or power between the cables. In the past several decades, literally thousands, and probably tens of thousands, of different connectors have been manufactured and sold.
It has been difficult to provide a connector with a centrally disposed probe which is movable between two (2) fixed positions. In one of these positions, the probe is intended to be disposed to be connected relatively easily to the central conductor of a first coupling member such another electrical connector. In the second position, the probe is intended to be disposed to be connected relatively easily to the central conductor of a second coupling member such as a coaxial cable. It has been especially difficult to provide a connector with such characteristics where the connector is relatively simple and straightforward in construction and is provided with a minimal number of parts and where the different elements in the cable are fixedly positioned relative to the connector.

Electrical connector having a probe positionable between a pair of spaced positions


Compounds useful for enhancing synaptic responses mediated by AMPA receptors are disclosed, as are methods for the preparation thereof, and methods for their use for treatment of subjects suffering from impaired nervous or intellectual functioning due to deficiencies in the number of excitatory synapses or in the number of AMPA receptors. The invention compounds can also he used for the treatment of non-impaired subjects for enhancing performance in sensory-motor and cognitive tasks which depend on brain networks utilizing AMPA receptors and for improving memory encoding.

Excitatory synaptic currents at many (probably most) sites in telencephalon (cortex, limbic system, striatum; about 90% of human brain) and cerebellum occur when the transmitter glutamate is released by input axons onto what are usually referred to as the .alpha.-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), or AMPA/quisqualate, receptors. Drugs that enhance these receptor currents will facilitate communication in brain networks responsible for perceptual-motor integration and higher order behaviors. It is also known from the literature see Arai and Lynch in Brain Research, in press! that such drugs will promote the formation of long-term potentiation, a physiological effect widely held to encode memory.
For example, Ito et al., J. Physiol. Vol. 424:533-543 (1990), discovered that aniracetam, N-anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone, enhances AMPA receptor mediated currents without affecting currents generated by other classes of receptors. Unfortunately, however, the drug is effective only at high concentrations (.about.1.0 mM) applied directly to the brain. The low potency, limited solubility, and peripheral metabolism of aniracetam limit its utility as an experimental tool and its potential value as a therapeutic. There is a need, therefore, for the design and synthesis of new drugs that are more potent, more soluble and less readily metabolized than aniracetam. Such compounds would provide new tools for manipulating the properties of the AMPA receptor and would be a major step towards a drug that could enhance AMPA receptor function in the brain after peripheral administration.

Heteroatom substituted benzoyl derivatives that enhance synaptic responses mediated by AMPA receptors

The Regents of the University of California


The disclosure is directed to a power system for a consist. The power system may have a main engine located onboard a locomotive of the consist, a main generator driven by the main engine to generate a main supply of electric power, and a traction motor configured to receive the main supply of electric power and propel the locomotive. The power system may also have an auxiliary engine located on a tender car towed by the locomotive, and an auxiliary generator driven by the auxiliary engine to generate an auxiliary supply of power directed to the locomotive.

Natural gas has been used as fuel for internal combustion engines in consist locomotives. Because natural gas has a lower volumetric energy density than traditional fuels, such as diesel and gasoline, the natural gas used by the locomotives is generally only practical to store in a liquefied state ("LNG"). At atmospheric pressures, the natural gas must be chilled to below about −160° C. to remain in liquid form. Consists having LNG-fueled locomotives store the LNG in insulated tank cars (a.k.a., tender cars) that are towed by the locomotive.
A locomotive's main engine drives a generator to produce electricity used to power traction motors that propel the locomotive. The electricity can also be used to power one or more auxiliary loads (e.g., lights, air conditioning, etc.) of the consist. Given the auxiliary loads' dependence on electricity generated by the main engine, the main engine is generally kept operational even when the locomotive is stopped. In this situation, powering the auxiliary loads with the main engine can result in low fuel economy. In addition, powering the auxiliary loads when the locomotive is traveling can reduce a capacity of the main engine to power the traction motors.
One method of improving fuel economy of a consist is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0186619 ("the '619 publication") of Kumar that published on Jul. 29, 2010. The '619 publication describes locomotives and rail cars that have the capacity to generate electric power from dynamic braking, to store the power, and to reuse the power at a later time during motoring. The energy can be used to power auxiliary loads, as well as traction motor/propulsion systems, until the energy stores are depleted. This capability may help to improve the fuel economy of a consist.
Although the system of the '619 publication may improve fuel economy to some degree, the amount of improvement may be limited. In particular, the system of the '610 patent may function only for short distances and/or in particular terrain. That is, because the system of the '619 publication uses energy stored from dynamic braking, its energy reservoir may be transitory and dependent on the type of terrain being traversed by the consist. Long stretches of travel across areas that do not require significant dynamic braking could threaten to quickly deplete such an electric energy reserve.
The system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems with existing technologies.

Consist power system having auxiliary load management


A mass flow meter includes a housing body having a fluid passageway extending therethrough with a capillary tube communicating with the fluid passageway. The capillary tube is connected through a pair of metallic sleeves mounted on a base member which in turn is fastened to the housing body. A pair of sensor coils is connected to the capillary tube to measure any fluid flow. A metal sensor case is welded airtight to the base member to encapsulate the capillary tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved mass flowmeter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional general mass flowmeter comprises a body block provided with a fluid passage formed therewithin, a sensor case made of resins or metals projected from said body block, a metallic capillary tube (having an outside diameter of for example about 0.6 mm and an inside diameter of for example about 0.4 mm) provided within said sensor case as a measuring passage, a pair of sensor coils wound around said capillary tube and a lead wire or a lead rod mounted on the body block for leading an electric current to said sensor coils.
However, the above described sensor case has generally attempted to isolate the sensor coil provided therewithin from the air or electro-magnetic waves, so that the sensor case, the body block and the lead wire or the lead rod and the body block have been sealed up with resinous adhesives or resinous materials.
However, according to the above described sealing-up method using resinous adhesives or resinous materials, the sensor case, the body block and the lead wire or the lead rod and the body block have been unable to be perfectly cut off from the air, so that a slight quantity of moisture has gradually entered into the inside of the sensor case from the air and thus may badly influence a highly accurate measurement according to circumstances.
In addition, even though an inert gas (for example nitrogen gas) is enveloped in said inside of the sensor case during the production, the sensor case, the body block and the lead wire or the lead rod and the body block can not be perfectly cut off from the air, so that a slight quantity of moisture gradually enters the inside of the sensor case to reduce the accuracy of measurement and thus deteriorate the sensor.
Furthermore, usually a thin-walled capillary tube having a wall-thickness of 0.1 mm or less is used as said metallic capillary tube serving as a measuring passage, so that, in the case where a fluid flowing through said measuring passage is a highly corrosive fluid (for example HF, HCl and the like), there is also the possibility that said corrosive fluid is leaked outside from the sensor case due to a corrosion of a wall of the capillary tube.
Besides, the above described problem has the possibility of similarly occurring also in the sealing-up method of the lead wire or lead rod used as a terminal for introducing an electric current into the sensor coil.

Mass flowmeter with hermetically sealed housing


A mobile communication terminal for controlling call termination based on a user's gaze includes a call answer and decline judging unit configured to compare a user's gaze movement frequency with preset call answer and call decline frequencies and judge a call answer or a call decline according to frequencies coinciding with each other; and a call termination control processing unit configured to perform a call mode or a call refusal mode according to the judgment of the call answer and decline judging unit.

Currently, various types of portable phones including cellular phones have been provided to users. Recently, the portable phone screens have frequently used a capacitive touch scheme.
A fine current in a living body is required in order to input a control signal for operating the capacitive touch screen. Thus, it is impossible to control the capacitive touch screen in a state in which the user wears general gloves.
Therefore, persons using the portable phone during the winter season or persons having special jobs have frequently complained about the inconvenience in operating the portable phone due to wearing of the gloves.
In order to solve this problem, touch pens or conductive gloves have been provided. However, since an additional product should be purchased, and there exits a risk of losing the additional product, many users have operated the portable phones after taking off the gloves while enduring the inconvenience.

Method for controlling call termination based on gaze, and mobile communication terminal therefor


There is disclosed a procedure for DNA-mediated transformation of Candida albicans by electroporation utilizing lithium acetate and dithiothreitol to weaken the cell wall structure and optimize the yield of transformants.

Electroporation has become the preferred method for gene transfer due to its ease and efficiency of operation in comparison to alternate techniques. To date, electroporation has been utilized to transform a wide variety of cell types including mammalian cells, plant protoplasts, bacteria and fungi, including yeast. The technique involves subjecting cells to a high voltage electric field, which results in the temporary formation of pores in the membrane, thereby allowing exogenous DNA to enter the cells. For example, laboratory strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been transformed by electroporation with either self-replicating plasmids or by integration of linearized plasmid DNA into the host genome.
Candida albicans is a pathogenic, diploid yeast capable of causing a broad spectrum of infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. As the number of persons with increased susceptibility to Candida has risen over the past decade, so has the importance of this organism as an agent of disease. Much work has been done on this organism to identify potential virulence factors and to study its biology. To further the understanding of C albicans biology at the molecular level, a number of transformation systems have been developed. Integrative transformation was the first method developed for the transformation of C. albicans (Kurtz et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1986) 6:142-149). It is now widely used for genetic manipulation. Other references regarding transformation of Candida albicans include Kelly et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. (1987) 7:199-207; Kurtz et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. (1987) 7:209-217; Kelly et al. Mol. Gen. Genet. (1988) 214:24-31; Cannon et al., Mol.. Gen. Genet. (1990) 235:4453-457; A recent journal article, Brown et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. (1996) 251:75-80, discloses a transformation method for C. albicans using restriction enzyme-mediated integration.

Transformation of Candida albicans by electroporation


A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst in an adiabatic reactor.

Oxidation of propylene in the presence of acetic acid catalyzed by a palladium catalyst to produce allyl acetate is known. The process includes a reaction (acetoxylation) of propylene with oxygen and acetic acid to form a mixture comprising allyl acetate, propylene, oxygen, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide, and possibly other inert gases. The reaction mixture is typically separated into a gas stream comprising propylene, oxygen, acetic acid, water, and carbon dioxide, and a liquid stream comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, and water. Allyl acetate can be separated from the liquid stream. At least a portion of the acetic acid and water separated from the liquid stream is recycled to the acetoxylation reaction.
In addition to allyl acetate, the reaction generally also gives carbon dioxide, allyl diacetate, and possibly acrolein and propionaldehyde. The heat of reaction for the formation of allyl acetate from propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen is about −37.9 kcal/mole. As the reaction is highly exothermic, generally multitubular reactors are used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,713 teaches a multitubular reactor containing reactor tubes having a length of from 4 to 8 meters and an internal diameter of from 20 to 50 mm. In a typical mulitubular reactor, the catalyst is arranged in the reactor tubes. A heat carrier fluid circulates externally around the reactor tubes to remove the heat generated by the reaction. Mulitubular reactors are suitable for those reactions with a large heat of reaction as well as reactions that are extremely temperature-sensitive. A mulitubular reactor is often called an "isothermal reactor" because of its relatively uniform temperature through the reactor. Usually, the temperature variation through a multitubular reactor is small, generally less than 20° C.
The disadvantage of a multitubular reactor is its high equipment cost. In addition, it can be time consuming to load and unload hundreds, often thousands, of reactor tubes. It is particularly difficult to remove used catalyst from the reactor tubes when the catalyst in the tubes has agglomerated or fused.


A projector assembly includes a projector casing and an auxiliary device. The projector casing is formed with a mating aperture, and has a first light source for emitting light beams defining an optical path of the projector assembly. The auxiliary device includes a mating part inserted detachably into the mating aperture in the projector casing, a second light source disposed in the mating part for emitting light beams, and a light-beam guiding module disposed in the mating part in front of the second light source so that the light beams emitted from the second light source are guided into the optical path via the light-beam guiding module, thereby enhancing illumination of the optical path of the projector assembly.

When holding a conference (business, education or entertainment) in an auditorium and in case of making a presentation, a projector assembly is generally preferred due to its bulky screen and its portability.
FIG. 1 is a top sectional view of a conventional projector assembly, and includes a projector casing 2, a light source 4 disposed in the projector casing 2 for emitting light beams defining an optical path in cooperation with several optical members 6 and a light filter 8, and a projection lens 10 disposed in the projector casing 2 for projecting an image onto a distal screen (not shown).
It is noted that the aforesaid components of the conventional projector assembly are mounted securely within the projector casing 2 at fixed positions in order to avoid the problems of being removed or ruined, thereby eliminating damage caused to the conventional projector assembly. However, the fixed position of the optical components limits or hinders the utility range (the places) of the conventional projector assembly. For instance, in case the conventional projector assembly is used in a place, where illumination is relatively poor (high or lower temperature), the light source 4 in the projector casing 2 is unable to provide the sufficient illumination to fit the ambient surrounding.

Projector assembly provided with an auxiliary device


Provided is a bridged cyclopentadienyl-dicarbollide complex having the formula of {L[(Cp)(C2B9R110)]}MR in which Cp is an unsubstituted, alkyl-substituted, aryl-substituted or fused ring cyclopentadienyl, R1 is hydrogen, or alkyl, L is a bridging unit that bonds to both Cp ring and cage carbon atoms, R is alkyl, aryl or a derivative thereof and M is Ti, Zr or Hf. A process for preparing the complex disclosed herein is also provided.

Existing Group IVB metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerization generally consist of two components, precatalysts and cocatalysts. The precatalyst includes a Group IVB metallocene dichloride or a dialkyl complex composed of two aromatic five-membered ring systems that may be tethered by a bridging unit (ansa metallocene complexes). Aromatic ligands to Group IVB metal can be of the same or different type, including but not limited to: cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, or their derivatives. The cocatalysts includes normally alumoxane (MAO), modified alumoxane (MMAO) or perfluoro (tetraphenyl)borate. The precatalyst does not show any activity toward olefin polymerization. The cocatalyst is essential to activate the precatalyst.
Al(MAO)/M(Group IVB metal) molar ratio of 1,000 in a Group IVB metallocene catalyst is typical but it can reach 20,000 in some cases (Kaminsky, W.; Arndt, M. Adv. Polym. Sci. 1997, 127, 144; Gladysz, J. A. Guest Editor, Special Issue for Frontiers in Metal-Catalyzed Polymerization. Chem. Rev. 2000, 100 (4)). The disadvantage of the current catalyst system is the incorporation of aluminum or fluorine into the polymer, which can cause serious problems when polyolefins are thermally decomposed.
To overcome these problems, a neutral Group IVB metallocene type of catalysts containing dicarbollide, [(C5Me5)(C2B9H11)]MMe (M=Ti, Zr, Hf), was developed. Fourteen electron, d0 bent-metallocene alkyl complexes of general type (C5R5)2M(R′)+ exhibit a rich insertion, olefin polymerization, and C—H activation chemistry which is highly sensitive to the structural and electronic properties of the (C5R5)2M fragment, the presence or absence of Lewis base, and counterion/cocatalyst properties. Replacement of a uni-negative C5R5− ligand of (C5R5)2M(R′)+ by the isolobal, di-negative dicarbollide ligand (C2B9H112−) reduces the overall charge by one unit but leaves the gross structural and metal frontier orbital properties unchanged.
The resulting neutral mixed sandwich complexes [(C5Me5)(C2B9H11)]M(R) show a variety of ligand exchange, insertion (alkenes, alkynes etc) and ligand C—H activation reactions characteristics of electrophilic metal alkyls (Crowther, D. J.; Baenziger, N. C.; Jordan. R. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 1455). It is noteworthy that this type of complexes can catalyze the polymerization of ethylene with a moderate activity in the absence of any cocatalysts. The activity was 7.2×104 g of PE/(mol of Zr atom h)(Crowther, D. J.; Baenziger, N. C.; Jordan. R. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 1455). The activity would be increased in the presence of R3Al (R=alykl).
[(C5Me5)(C2B9H11)]MMe are not thermally stable and can be converted into {[(C5Me5)(C2B9H11)]M}2CH2 upon heating. The latter is also an active catalyst for ethylene polymerization with a similar activity to its parent complex (Crowther, D. J.; Baenziger, N. C.; Jordan. R. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 1455; Karol, F. J.; Kao, S.-C.; Brady III, R. C. U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,466), which is a significant progress in the field of Ziegler-Natta catalysis (Kaminsky, W.; Arndt, M. Adv. Polym. Sci 1997, 127, 144). This process is of great scientific and technological interests since it can avoid using expense MAO, thus eliminating possible contaminate of alumina in the polymeric materials. However, these catalysts cannot be used in industries due to low activities.

Bridged metallocene complexes, process for preparing the same and use thereof


A method of assessing cardiac ischemia in a subject to provide a measure of cardiac or cardiovascular health in that subject is described herein. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting a first RR-interval data set from said subject during a stage of gradually increasing heart rate up to a predetermined heart rate of at least 130 beats per minute; (b) collecting a second RR-interval data set from said subject during a stage of gradually decreasing heart rate; (c) comparing said first RR-interval data set to said second RR-interval data set to determine the difference between said data sets; and (d) generating from said comparison of step (c) a measure of cardiac ischemia during stimulation in said subject, wherein a greater difference between said first and second data sets indicates greater cardiac ischemia and lesser cardiac or cardiovascular health in said subject.

Heart attacks and other ischemic events of the heart are among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In general, the susceptibility of a particular patient to heart attack or the like can be assessed by examining the heart for evidence of ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart tissue itself resulting in an insufficient oxygen supply) during periods of elevated heart activity. Of course, it is highly desirable that the measuring technique be sufficiently benign to be carried out without undue stress to the heart (the condition of which might not yet be known) and without undue discomfort to the patient. It is also desirable that the measuring technique be useful for patients of varying degrees of health, including patients without detectable ischemia, those with moderate levels of ischemia, and patients with coronary artery disease.
The cardiovascular system responds to changes in physiological stress by adjusting the heart rate, which adjustments can be evaluated by measuring the surface ECG R-R intervals. The time intervals between consecutive R waves indicate the intervals between the consecutive heartbeats (RR intervals). This adjustment normally occurs along with corresponding changes in the duration of the ECG QT intervals, which characterize the duration of electrical excitation of cardiac muscle and represent the action potential duration averaged over a certain volume of cardiac muscle (FIG. 1). Generally speaking, an average action potential duration measured as the QT interval at each ECG lead may be considered as an indicator of cardiac systolic activity varying in time.
Recent advances in computer technology have led to improvements in automatic analyzing of heart rate and QT interval variability. It is well known now that the QT interval's variability (dispersion) observations performed separately or in combination with heart rate (or RR-interval) variability analysis provides an effective tool for the assessment of individual susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias (B. Surawicz, J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol, 1996, 7, 777–784). Applications of different types of QT and some other interval variability to susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,540 by Chamoun, 1991; Wang U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,974, 1989; Kroll et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,834, 1992; Henkin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,783, 1994; Xue et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,065, 1998; Lander U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,195, 1998; Lander et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,047, 1999; Hojum et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,484, 1999).
It was recently found that cardiac electrical instability can be also predicted by linking the QT-dispersion observations with the ECG T-wave alternation analysis (Verrier et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,560,370; 5,842,997; 5,921,940). This approach is somewhat useful in identifying and managing individuals at risk for sudden cardiac death. The authors report that QT interval dispersion is linked with risk for arrhythmias in patients with long QT syndrome. However, QT interval dispersion alone, without simultaneous measurement of T-wave alternation, is said to be a less accurate predictor of cardiac electrical instability (U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,370 at column 6, lines 4–15).
Another application of the QT interval dispersion analysis for prediction of sudden cardiac death is developed by J. Sarma (U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,338). He describes a method of an autonomic nervous system testing that is designed to evaluate the imbalances between both parasympathetic and sympathetic controls on the heart and, thus, to indicate a predisposition for sudden cardiac death.
The same author suggested that an autonomic nervous system testing procedure might be designed on the basis of the QT hysteresis (J. Sarma et al., PACE 10, 485–491 (1988)). Hysteresis between exercise and recovery was observed, and was attributed to sympatho-adrenal activity in the early post-exercise period. Such an activity was revealed in the course of QT interval adaptation to changes in the RR interval during exercise with rapid variation of the load.
The influence of sympatho-adrenal activity and the sharp dependence of this hysteresis on the time course of abrupt QT interval adaptation to rapid changes in the RR interval dynamics radically overshadows the method's susceptibility to the real ischemic-like changes of cardiac muscle electrical parameters and cardiac electrical conduction. Therefore, this type of hysteresis phenomenon would not be useful in assessing the health of the cardiac muscle itself, or in assessing cardiac ischemia.
A similar sympatho-adrenal imbalance type hysteresis phenomenon was observed by A. Krahn et al. (Circulation 96, 1551–1556 (1997)(see Figure 2 therein)). The authors state that this type of QT interval hysteresis may be a marker for long-QT syndrome. However, long-QT syndrome hysteresis is a reflection of a genetic defect of intracardiac ion channels associated with exercise or stress-induced syncope or sudden death. Therefore, similar to the example described above, although due to two different reasons, it also does not involve a measure of cardiac ischemia or cardiac muscle ischemic health.
A conventional non-invasive method of assessing coronary artery diseases associated with cardiac ischemia is based on the observation of morphological changes in a surface electrocardiogram during physiological exercise (stress test). A change of the ECG morphology, such as an inversion of the T-wave, is known to be a qualitative indication of ischemia. The dynamics of the ECG ST-segments are continuously monitored while the shape and slope, as well as ST-segment elevation or depression, measured relative to an average base line, are altering in response to exercise load. A comparison of any of these changes with average values of monitored ST segment data provides an indication of insufficient coronary blood circulation and developing ischemia. Despite a broad clinical acceptance and the availability of computerized Holter monitor-like devices for automatic ST segment data processing, the diagnostic value of this method is limited due to its low sensitivity and low resolution. Since the approach is specifically reliable primarily for ischemic events associated with relatively high coronary artery occlusion, its widespread use often results in false positives, which in turn may lead to unnecessary and more expensive, invasive cardiac catheterization.
Relatively low sensitivity and low resolution, which are fundamental disadvantages of the conventional ST-segment depression method, are inherent in such method's being based on measuring an amplitude of a body surface ECG signal, which signal by itself does not accurately reflect changes in an individual cardiac cell's electrical parameters normally changing during an ischemic cardiac event. A body surface ECG signal is a composite determined by action potentials aroused from discharge of hundred of thousands of individual excitable cardiac cells. When electrical activity of excitable cells slightly and locally alters during the development of exercise-induced local ischemia, its electrical image in the ECG signal on the body surface is significantly overshadowed by the aggregate signal from the rest of the heart. Therefore, regardless of physiological conditions, such as stress or exercise, conventional body surface ECG data processing is characterized by a relatively high threshold (lower sensitivity) of detectable ischemic morphological changes in the ECG signal. An accurate and faultless discrimination of such changes is still a challenging signal processing problem.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide techniques for detecting and measuring cardiac ischemia in a patient that may be non-invasive, not unduly uncomfortable or stressful, and which may be implemented with relatively simple equipment for patients having various health conditions, and can be sensitive to low levels of ischemia.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for evaluating cardiac ischemia with an exercise protocol


In one aspect, the present invention is directed to apparatuses for and methods of conducting electrical current in an oxygen and liquid metal environment. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a current collector at the anode, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.

Several processes for extraction of metals from their oxides have used molten salt electrolysis on an industrial scale since the invention of the Hall-Héroult cell for aluminum production in 1886 (U.S. Pat. No. 400,664; herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). When the raw material is not water-soluble and the product metal is very reactive, as with aluminum, it is most advantageous to dissolve the raw material in a molten salt electrolyte and perform electrolysis in a high temperature cell.
While the Hall-Héroult achieved a breakthrough in aluminum production, researchers and inventors since then have been trying for decades to improve the anode to produce oxygen instead of CO2 as the anode product. A recent invention called Solid Oxide Membrane (SOM) Electrolysis accomplishes this by adding a solid electrolyte between the molten salt and anode (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,976,345 and 6,299,742; each herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). The process, shown schematically in FIG. 1 for metal production, consists of a metal cathode, a molten salt electrolyte bath which dissolves the metal oxide which is in contact with the cathode, a solid oxygen ion-conducting membrane (SOM) typically consisting of zirconia stabilized by yttria (YSZ) or other oxide-stabilized zirconia (e.g. magnesia- or calcia-stabilized zirconia, MSZ or CSZ) in contact with the molten salt bath, an anode in contact with the solid oxygen ion-conducting membrane, and a means of establishing a potential between the cathode and anode. The metal cations are reduced to metal at the cathode, and oxygen ions migrate through the SOM to the anode, where they are oxidized to produce oxygen gas.
The SOM process has made significant progress toward the production of other metals such as magnesium, tantalum and titanium (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,742; Britten et al., Metall. Trans. 31B:733 (2000); Krishnan et al., Metall. Mater. Trans. 36B:463-473 (2005); Krishnan et al., Scand. J. Metall., 34(5):293-301 (2005); and Suput et al., Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy 117(2):118-122 (2008); each herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). This process runs at high temperature, typically 1000-1300° C., in order to maintain high ionic conductivity of the SOM. The most promising anode materials for the process are an oxygen-stable liquid metal, such as silver or its alloys with copper or tin (International Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/027255; herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). This leads to the use of a device which can establish a good electrical connection between that anode and the DC current source, known as the anode current collector. The current collector, like the anode itself, must be stable in liquid metal or make good contact with oxygen stable electronic oxides or cermets, and must conduct electricity well from ambient temperature to the high process temperature.
To date, only iridium is known to satisfy these criteria for the current collector in a liquid metal anode. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) use scale-forming oxides, but the higher temperature of SOM electrolysis than SOFC makes it relatively difficult to use the SOFC current collector approaches. Most oxidation-resistant steels and nickel alloys rapidly oxidize at the very high temperature of SOM Electrolysis, and some refractory metals such as platinum dissolve in liquid silver. Oxidation-resistant alloys also generally have significantly lower electrical conductivity than purer metals.
Thus, there remains a need for more efficient and scalable apparatuses and processes to produce oxygen instead of carbon dioxide as the anode product during production of metals from the corresponding metal oxides. There also remains a need for stable and inexpensive anode systems to process metal oxides into pure metals. In particular, there remains a need for apparatuses and methods that conduct current at high temperature in an oxygen generating environment. This invention addresses these needs.

Conductor of high electrical current at high temperature in oxygen and liquid metal environment


A multi-function control illumination device has a synchronization separator, a parameter setting device, a light emitting device, and a video processor. The synchronization separator connects with a video camera and the parameter setting device connecting with the light emitting device. The synchronization separator receives a video signal from the video camera, retrieves a synchronization signal from the video signal, and outputs the synchronization signal to the parameter setting device. The parameter setting device generates an electric signal corresponding to the synchronization signal according to at least one illumination parameter and outputs the electric signal to the light emitting device. The light emitting device emits toward a shooting direction of the video camera a light beam whose intensity periodically varies according to the electric signal. Thereby, the video camera captures images exposed by light beams of different intensities lest nearby persons be overexposed and distant persons be under-exposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illumination device, particularly to a multi-function control illumination device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the video camera has functions of image capturing and real time monitoring, it has become an important tool for home security and crime prevention. With advance of science and technology, the video camera has been able to capture images in various environments, such as indoors, inside transport vehicles, at night or in a rainy day. Further, the video camera can also implement far-end monitoring and assist in administration nowadays.
Daylight illumination is sufficient to make a video camera take a clear image. However, the natural light source at nighttime is too dim to make a video camera take an image. The current solution of the problem is using an auxiliary infrared light source to assist in taking images at night. As the conventional infrared light source has a fixed intensity, the nearby persons are likely to overexpose, and the distant persons are likely to underexpose.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes a multi-function control illumination device, to overcome the abovementioned exposure problem and provide additional functions to enhance image quality.

Multi-function control illumination device


The present invention relates to a manufacturing system of an assembled shoe or moccasin. The system incorporates a shock-absorbing insert inserted in a space obtained inside a false-heel. The false heal is formed by a special rigid frame that basically includes a horseshoe collar.

1. Field of the Invention
This patent application for industrial invention relates to a manufacturing system for an assembled shoe provided with shock-absorbing insert in the heel.
The patent protection is also extended to the shoe obtained with the system according to the invention.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
An assembled shoe is a shoe obtained by using a last that reproduces the shape of the foot. The upper part is put on the last and the lower ends of the upper part are rolled up, stretched and fixed under the intermediate sole that has been previously fixed on the surface of the last, with the possibility to remove it.
After the upper part is applied to the intermediate sole, the sole and the heel are applied and fixed under the intermediate sole.
The purpose of the present invention is to innovate this technique, which has been used for a very long time, in order to obtain a space on the resting area of the heel. The space is used to contain an insert made of soft, elastically deformable material, able to absorb the impact of the heel on the ground every time the foot touches the ground when walking. All sports and leisure time shoes, such as running, basketball or volleyball shoes, are normally provided with a molded bottom with elastic inserts, such as cushions made of soft rubber or rings full of air, designed to cushion the impact of the heel with the ground when running or jumping. The inserts have been exclusively used by the shoes provided with a molded bottom, in which cavities of any shape or depth can be obtained during molding to house the inserts, which are normally covered by the insole, being of a removable, washable and interchangeable type.
In the case of assembled shoes, the edges of the upper part are rolled up and fixed on the perimeter between the intermediate sole and the sole, in such a way that the insole practically covers the upper side of the intermediate sole, on which housings for the shock-absorbing inserts are impossible to obtain.
The heel is always rigid and finished with a heel layer, and therefore there is no space or way to introduce an anti-shock insert in assembled shoes. As mentioned above, the purpose of the present invention is to innovate the traditional manufacturing system of assembled shoes, in order to provide these classical shoes with the shock-absorbing inserts that have been so far exclusively used in sports shoes provided with molded bottoms.

Manufacturing system for assembled shoe with shock-absorbing insert in the heel


An electronic device includes a main body including a printed circuit board (PCB) and a sliding portion, a seat portion slideably engaging with the sliding portion and a connecting cable including a first connector, a second connector and a cable portion connected between the first connector and the second connector. The seat portion includes a winding post and a through hole extending into the winding post and communicating to the main body. The winding post defines a gap communicating the through hole to periphery of the winding post. The first connector is inserted into the main body to engage with the PCB. The second connector is exposed outside of the seat portion. The cable portion is received in the through hole and the gap and enabled to be wound around the winding post.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to the electronic device which can be adjusted to multiple angles and has a cable collecting function.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an electronic device with a Universal Serial BUS (USB) interface, for example, a wireless network card, a USB flash disk, a Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer III (MP3) player, or a Global Positioning System (GPS), connects with an electronic product (such as, a notebook personal computer) to transmit data and signals. How to design the electronic device which can conveniently connect with the electronic product at different adjustable angles is a question for discussion in the electronic industry.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.

Electronic device with cable collecting function


A system and method to transport data collected in a borehole penetrating the earth to a surface location are described. The system includes one or more measurement tools disposed in the borehole, the one or more measurement tools configured to collect data relating to the borehole and a formation penetrated by the borehole. The system also includes a data node tool disposed in the borehole with a plurality of data nodes, the data node tool being configured to receive the data from the one or more measurement tools, program one or more data nodes with at least a first portion of the data, and eject the one or more data nodes into a fluid stream for transport to the surface location.

Geologic formations can have many uses such as hydrocarbon production, geothermal production, and carbon dioxide sequestration. Logging tools are conveyed through boreholes penetrating the formations in order to perform measurements related to an intended use of the formation. Typically, the logging tools include sensors, transducers and/or transponders used in performing and processing the measurements. Because of the large volume of data that may be collected, transmission of the downhole data to the surface with high resolution presents an issue. Prior methods of conveying data to the surface include mud pulse telemetry. However, by itself, mud pulse telemetry is a low bandwidth solution that limits the efficacy of real-time decision making based on the data. Other methods of sending downhole data to the surface involve transporting the data from downhole via radio frequency identification (RFID) devices or other flowable devices. However, these methods have presented reliability issues related to the programming and release of the flowable devices. Thus, effective and efficient ways to send downhole data to the surface would be appreciated in the drilling industry.

System and method to transport data from a downhole tool to the surface


A damper mechanism 4 has a clutch plate 21 and a retaining plate 22 disposed aligned in the axial direction, a hub flange 6 disposed relatively rotatably in the axial direction between the plates 21 and 22, and a second coil spring 8 for elastically linking the plates 21 and 22 to the hub flange 6 in the rotational direction. The plates 21 and 22 have a pair of first main body components 28, and a plurality of linking components 31 that are disposed in the rotational direction between first protrusions 49 and second protrusions 57 and that link the pair of first main body components 28. The plurality of linking components 31 is disposed such that adjacent pitches are different.

Damper mechanisms are used to damp torsional vibration in the power transmission systems of vehicles. A clutch device that transmits and shuts off torque to and from an engine will be described here as an example.
A clutch device is made up of a clutch disk assembly that is disposed near a flywheel, and a clutch cover assembly for pressing the clutch disk assembly against the flywheel. The clutch disk assembly functions both as a clutch and as a damper.
The clutch cover assembly has an annular clutch cover that is fixed to the flywheel, a pressure plate provided so as to be capable of moving in the axial direction and rotating integrally with respect to the clutch cover, and a diaphragm spring that biases the pressure plate toward the flywheel.
The clutch disk assembly is made up of a clutch disk that is sandwiched between the pressure plate and the flywheel, a pair of input plates disposed opposite each other and to which the clutch disk is fixed, a hub flange disposed in the axial direction between the pair of input plates, coil springs that elastically link the pair of input plates and the hub flange in the rotational direction, and an output hub that is elastically linked in the rotational direction with respect to the hub flange. The pair of input plates, the hub flange, and the coil springs constitute a damper mechanism.
With a conventional clutch disk assembly, a stop pin is used to restrict relative rotation between the hub flange and the input plates within a specific range of torsional angle. This stop pin links the pair of input plates and passes through a hole formed in the hub flange. A stopper mechanism is realized when the stop pin hits the hole in the rotational direction.
However, the stop pin needs to have a consistent diameter in order to ensure strength, and must be disposed more to the inside in the radial direction than the outer peripheral edges of the pair of input plates. In this case, an adequate relative torsional angle is not obtained even when coil springs with high stiffness are used. Therefore, with a conventional stop pin type of stopper mechanism, the performance of the coil springs cannot be utilized to full advantage.
In view of this, a damper mechanism has been proposed which employs a stopper mechanism in which no stop pin is used (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H9-196078, for example).


A compact array imager including image generation apparatus providing a real image at an inlet of an optical image waveguide. The real image being reflected a plurality of times within the optical image waveguide by diffractive optical elements that magnify and filter the real image and produce a virtual image at a viewing aperture The imager further includes electronics mounted on the sides of the optical image waveguide and coupled to the image generation apparatus by embedded molded signal waveguides for receiving signals representative of an image and controlling the apparatus to generate the image.

Visual displays are utilized in a great variety of equipment at the present time. The problem is that visual displays require a relatively large amount of electronic circuitry and high electrical power and require a great amount of area to be sufficiently large to produce a useful display. In the prior art, for example, it is common to provide visual displays utilizing liquid crystal displays, directly viewed light emitting diodes, etc. These produce very large and cumbersome displays that greatly increase the size of the receiver and require relatively large amounts of power.
In one instance, the prior art includes a scanning mirror which periodically scans a single row of pixels to produce a two dimensional visual display but again this requires relatively large amounts of power and is very complicated and sensitive to shock. Also, the scanning mirror causes vibration in the unit which substantially reduces visual acuity.

Contact array imager with integral waveguide and electronics


A stent for a bifurcated vessel includes a stent body (1) with two open ends (5, 6). The stent body (1) includes multiple sets of annular units (2) having multiple undulating rods (4) and connecting rods (3) positioned between adjacent annular units (2) and used to connect the adjacent annular units (2). At least one open end (6) of the stent body (1) has a slope structure.

The present application relates to the implantable medical device field and in particular to a stent for a bifurcated vessel.
A stent for a vessel is generally a drug eluting stent for treating vascular stenosis. The stent for a vessel implanted in the human body assists the lesion vessel in recovering by supporting the lesion vessel. Meanwhile, the stent for a vessel can also release a drug on the stent to the vascular wall in contact therewith to inhibit growth of cells of the vascular wall and reduce the incidence rate of vascular restenosis.
In the clinical practice, with respect to many patients, the vascular stenosis does not occur in only one place but in multiple places in the vessel. The bifurcated lesion vessel is a common multiple artery stenosis. As shown by the shaded portions in FIG. 1, the vascular lesion sites are positioned at the intersection of a main vessel 1 and a branch vessel 2.
In the process of developing the present application, the inventors find that at least the following problems exist in the prior art: 1) as shown in FIG. 2, an existing stent for a branch vessel has a structure with both ends flush, and cannot completely and sufficiently cover the vessel at the lesion sites when treating the bifurcated lesion vessel, thus influencing the treating effect; 2) as shown in FIG. 3, an existing branch vessel adopts the "crush" technique, but the stent for a branch vessel and the stent for a main vessel overlap too much, which results in the amount of the implanted metal being too much, whereby thrombus is likely to be formed at the intersection of the vessels.

Shanghai MicroPort Medical (Group) Co., Ltd.


In an immobilization process of electrostatically spraying a nanomaterial dispersion liquid 13 from an electrostatic spray nozzle 20 and immobilizing a nanomaterial on a sample 10, a voltage is applied between the dispersion liquid 13 and the sample 10 to electrostatically spray the dispersion liquid 13 onto the sample 10 from a spray outlet 22 of the nozzle 20 under a condition where one or zero particles of the nanomaterial 18 are contained in each individual droplet 16 sprayed and electrostatically deposit the nanomaterial 18 onto a surface of the sample 10 after drying a solvent 17, contained in each individual droplet 16, in an atmosphere to immobilize the nanomaterial 18 on the sample 10. Aggregation of the nanomaterial in each droplet is thereby prevented and the nanomaterial can be immobilized favorably on the sample.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nanomaterial immobilization method and a nanomaterial immobilization apparatus for immobilizing a nanomaterial on a sample by electrostatically spraying a dispersion liquid in which the nanomaterial is dispersed in a solvent.
2. Related Background of the Invention
With recent advances in nanotechnology, a wide variety of nanomaterials have been created. Because new characteristics not seen in normal, bulk body materials are expressed in nanomaterials due to effects of their ultramicroscopic size, etc., nanomaterials are anticipated for utilization in various fields and applications.
Unlike bulk materials, the above-described nanomaterials are difficult to handle due to being extremely small and have a property that a plurality of nanomaterials aggregate readily to form aggregates. Thus, in many cases, nanomaterials are handled in a state of a nanomaterial dispersion liquid, in which a nanomaterial is dispersed in a solvent. As an example of a method for using such a nanomaterial, there is a method for immobilizing a nanomaterial on a surface of a bulk material of substrate form or other predetermined shape to add and make a useful function of the nanomaterial be expressed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: International Publication No. WO2004/074172

Nanomaterial immobilization method and immobilization apparatus


The invention provides methods and compositions for making a dicotyledonous plant that is susceptible to Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot (PRR) more resistant to PRR, by metabolic engineering of the plant's flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Thus, methods for increasing the synthesis and accumulation of medicarpin and/or 7,4′-dihydroxyflavone in plants such as alfalfa are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to plant genetics. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions conferring resistance to plant disease, and methods for use thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cotton Root Rot, also known as Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot (PRR) is one of most destructive diseases of legumes such as alfalfa. It is caused by an asexual soil-borne fungus, Phymatotrichopsis omnivora (Duggar) previously known as Phymatotrichum omnivorum, and causes significant economic losses every year in the United States. P. omnivora has a very broad host range and attacks almost 2,000 dicotyledonous species, but interestingly it does not cause disease on monocotyledonous plant species, including maize and sorghum. The disease is economically important in alfalfa, other legumes such as beans and peanut, cotton, sweet potatoes, ornamental shrubs, and fruit, nut, and shade trees (Lyda, 1978; Lyda and Kenerly, 1992; Streets and Bloss, 1973).

Metabolic engineering for plant disease resistance

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.


An analog front-end circuit for measurement used as an interface between a sensor and a control device includes: an isolated part including at least an AD conversion circuit configured to serve as an interface to the sensor; a non-isolated part including at least a control circuit configured to serve as an interface to the control device; and an isolated communication unit configured to perform isolated half-duplex communication between the isolated part and the non-isolated part. The control circuit is configured to transmit an AD conversion instruction to the AD conversion circuit after providing setting for measurement to the isolated part via the isolated communication unit, obtain a result of AD conversion by the AD conversion circuit from the isolated part via the isolated communication unit, and transfer the obtained AD conversion result to the control device.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an analog front-end circuit for measurement suitable for use as, for example, a front end for a recorder or a temperature controller.
2. Related Art
A sensor signal processor (MAX1464) manufactured by Maxim Integrated Products is known as an example of the analog front-end circuit (Non-Patent Document 1: "Low-Power, Low-Noise Multichannel Sensor Signal Processor", MAX1464 Data Sheet Rev 0, http://www.maximintegrated.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/4590). MAX1464 is a low power and low noise multichannel sensor signal processor. This MAX1464 is often used for industrial, automotive, and process control applications such as pressure sensing/compensation, RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector)/thermocouple linearization, weight sensing/classification, and remote process monitoring with limit indication.
MAX1464 includes a MUX (Multiplexer), a PGA (Programmable Gain Amplifier), an ADC (Analog-Digital Converter), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DAC (Digital-Analog Converter), and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulator). MAX1464 having such a configuration operates, for example, as follows: Output from a sensor connected to MAX1464 is selected by the MUX and subjected to gain adjustment by the PGA. Subsequently, the sensor output is converted to a digital value by the ADC. The digital data obtained by the conversion is then computed by the CPU. The resulting data is output as a digital signal from the CPU to a system via a serial interface. Alternatively, the digital signal is converted to an analog signal by the DAC or to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal by the PWM and then output.

Analog front-end circuit for measurement


A device for determining a vital sign of a subject comprises an interface for receiving a data stream derived from detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from a region of interest including a skin area of the subject, said data stream comprising a data signal per skin pixel area of one or more skin pixels for a plurality of skin pixel areas of said region of interest, a data signal representing the detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from the respective skin pixel area over time. An analyzer is provided for analyzing spatial and/or optical properties of one or more data signals in one or more wavelength ranges. A processor is provided for determining a vital sign information signal of the subject based on the data signals of skin pixel areas within the skin area, and a post-processor is provided for determining the desired vital sign from said vital sign information signal. The determined spatial and/or optical properties are used by the processor for determining the vital sign information signal and/or by the post-processor for determining the desired vital sign.

Vital signs of a person, for example the heart rate (HR), the respiration rate (RR) or the blood oxygen saturation, serve as indicators of the current state of a person and as powerful predictors of serious medical events. For this reason, vital signs are extensively monitored in inpatient and outpatient care settings, at home or in further health, leisure and fitness settings.
One way of measuring vital signs is plethysmography. Plethysmography generally refers to the measurement of volume changes of an organ or a body part and in particular to the detection of volume changes due to a cardio-vascular pulse wave traveling through the body of a subject with every heartbeat.
Photoplethysmography (PPG) is an optical measurement technique that evaluates a time-variant change of light reflectance or transmission of an area or volume of interest. PPG is based on the principle that blood absorbs light more than surrounding tissue, so variations in blood volume with every heartbeat affect transmission or reflectance correspondingly. Besides information about the heart rate, a PPG waveform can comprise information attributable to further physiological phenomena such as the respiration. By evaluating the transmissivity and/or reflectivity at different wavelengths (typically red and infrared), the blood oxygen saturation can be determined.
Conventional pulse oximeters for measuring the heart rate and the (arterial) blood oxygen saturation (also called SpO2) of a subject are attached to the skin of the subject, for instance to a finger tip, earlobe or forehead. Therefore, they are referred to as 'contact' PPG devices. A typical pulse oximeter comprises a red LED and an infrared LED as light sources and one photodiode for detecting light that has been transmitted through patient tissue. Commercially available pulse oximeters quickly switch between measurements at a red and an infrared wavelength and thereby measure the transmissivity of the same area or volume of tissue at two different wavelengths. This is referred to as time-division-multiplexing. The transmissivity over time at each wavelength gives the PPG waveforms for red and infrared wavelengths. Although contact PPG is regarded as a basically non-invasive technique, contact PPG measurement is often experienced as being unpleasant, since the pulse oximeter is directly attached to the subject and any cables limit the freedom to move.
Recently, non-contact, remote PPG (R-PPG) devices for unobtrusive measurements have been introduced. Remote PPG utilizes light sources or, in general radiation sources, disposed remotely from the subject of interest. Similarly, also a detector, e.g., a camera or a photo detector, can be disposed remotely from the subject of interest. Therefore, remote photoplethysmographic systems and devices are considered unobtrusive and well suited for medical as well as non-medical everyday applications. However, remote PPG devices typically achieve a lower signal-to-noise ratio.
Verkruysse et al., "Remote plethysmographic imaging using ambient light", Optics Express, 16 (26), 22 Dec. 2008, pp. 21434-21445 demonstrates that photoplethysmographic signals can be measured remotely using ambient light and a conventional consumer level video camera.
Wieringa, et al., "Contactless Multiple Wavelength Photoplethysmographic Imaging: A First Step Toward "SpO2 Camera" Technology," Ann. Biomed. Eng. 33, 1034-1041 (2005), discloses a remote PPG system for contactless imaging of arterial oxygen saturation in tissue based upon the measurement of plethysmographic signals at different wavelengths. The system comprises a monochrome CMOS-camera and a light source with LEDs of three different wavelengths. The camera sequentially acquires three movies of the subject at the three different wavelengths. The pulse rate can be determined from a movie at a single wavelength, whereas at least two movies at different wavelengths are required for determining the oxygen saturation. The measurements are performed in a darkroom, using only one wavelength at a time.
Using remote PPG technology, vital signs can be measured from video camera signals providing a time sequence of image frames, as it is revealed by minute light absorption changes in the skin caused by the pulsating blood volume. As this signal is very small and hidden in much larger variations due to illumination changes and motion, there is a general interest in improving the fundamentally low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). There still are demanding situations, with severe motion, challenging environmengtal illumination conditions, or high required accuracy of the application, where an improved robustness of the remote PPG devices and methods are required. For instance, it is a particular challenge to reliably differentiate a pulse signal with low SNR from other periodic signal acquired by the same imaging unit (camera). Those noisy signals might have an amplitude and frequency in the same range as a heartbeat signal, and therefore might be confused with the real heartbeat signal.
When applying the R-PPG technology in healthcare applications, such situations with misdetection of a real heartbeat signal and its confusion with a noise could lead to serious problems. For instance, a rapid deterioration of a health condition of a person might be left unnoticed due to misdetection of a weak pulse signal. Therefore, there is a need for a method for reliable discrimination of a pulse signal from other noise signals with similar temporal and frequency characteristics during HR monitoring with R-PPG camera-based technology.

Device and method for determining vital signs of a subject


The present invention provides a nutrient absorption enhancing composition that contains a mixture of various Aspergillus derived enzymes and mineral cofactors. In one aspect, the enzymes of the formulation may include protease, lipase, amylase, and cellulase. In another aspect, the mineral cofactors of the formulation may include calcium compounds, zinc compounds, manganese compounds, and magnesium compounds.

Enzymes have become well known for their catalytic role in many biological functions. In general, catalysts lower the energy of activation required for a chemical reaction to proceed, thereby facilitating the start of a reaction, as well as enhancing the reaction's speed and efficiency. Often, these factors of speed and efficiency may dictate the biological value of a chemical reaction, and produce varying physiological results.
One of the most common reactions which enzymes catalyze is the hydrolysis, or digestion, of various nutrients such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates into smaller constituents. Such digestion is required in order for most organisms to utilize these substances in carrying on essential metabolic functions. Other chemical reactions involved in metabolic function, such as the production of ATP and gene reproduction, are also highly dependent on various enzymes.
Enzymes may be isolated or derived from a variety of sources, including animal tissue and products, fungi, bacteria, and plants. One example is the digestive enzyme pepsin, which was first isolated from the stomach and intestinal lining of pigs. Other examples of digestive enzymes include papian, which is derived from papaya plant, and bromelain, which is derived from pineapple.
Some enzymes are independently capable of asserting a catalytic effect. Other enzymes may not achieve catalytic activity without the presence of a second substance, or cofactor. Still other enzymes may be capable of asserting a catalytic effect without a cofactor, but have their potency and efficiency enhanced when the proper cofactor is present. Other variables, such as conditions of the physiologic environment, may also affect the catalytic activity of an enzyme. For example, many enzymes show little activity at a low pH, but become increasingly active as pH rises.
Environment not only affects the activity of many enzymes, but may also affect their stability. Harsh or extreme, physiologic conditions may destabilize many enzymes to the point that they lose their chemical and structural integrity and become incapable of exerting a catalytic effect. For example, both bromelain and papian display low tolerance for the pH extremes of the human digestive system. As such, when ingested orally, bromelain and papian lose much of their ability to aid in the digestion of food and attendant absorption of nutrients. In fact many enzymes experience such degradation when subjected to the environment of the stomach.

Nutrient absorption enhancing compositions and methods


This disclosure describes techniques for identifying a voice-enabled device from a group of voice-enabled devices to respond to a speech utterance of a user. A speech-processing system may receive an audio signal representing the speech utterance captured in an environment of a voice-enabled device, and identify another voice-enabled device located in the environment. The system may analyze the audio signal using a different natural-language-understanding model for each of the voice-enabled devices to identify an intent for each of the voice-enabled devices to respond to the speech utterance. The system may determine confidence scores that the intents are responsive to the speech utterance, and select the intent with the highest confidence score. The system may use the selected intent to generate a command for the corresponding voice-enabled device to respond to the user.

As the capabilities of computing devices continue to evolve, many different ways have been introduced to allow users to interact with computing devices, such as through mechanical devices (e.g., keyboards, mice, etc.), touch screens, motion, and gesture. Many computing devices are now capable of receiving and responding to voice commands, including tablets, televisions, entertainment systems, and portable communication devices. In some instances, a number of these voice-enabled computing devices may be in proximity to a user to such that each voice-enabled computing device detects a voice command from the user. Each of the voice-enabled devices may detect the voice command and process the voice command to perform the task for the user. This may result in multiple voice-enabled devices performing the same task for a user. The technology and other innovation described herein provides, among other things, an improved user experience.


The present invention relates to a method, computer program and device for determining the crystal structure and/or the range of crystal structures of one or more crystalline tubular molecules from a set of calibration-free properties of a diffraction pattern of the one or more crystalline tubular molecules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, computer program and device for determining the crystal structure and/or the range of crystal structures of one or more crystalline tubular molecules from a set of calibration-free properties of a diffraction pattern of the one or more crystalline tubular molecules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various crystalline tubular molecules have been discovered in recent years including carbon Nanotubes and nanobuds and boron-nitride Nanotubes. Carbon Nanotubes have received the most attention because of their unique physical, chemical, thermal and electrical properties. A fundamental problem in both basic and applied research on crystalline tubular molecules such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exists because many physical properties of nanotubes can be extremely sensitive to their atomic structure. For instance, the structure of a SWCNT can be conveniently described by a pair of integers known as the chiral indices (n, m). A well-known example of the sensitivity of structure to properties is that a carbon nanotube can be metallic if (n−m) is divisible by 3, otherwise they are semiconducting. A slight change in the value n or m can, thus, dramatically alter the electronic properties of a nanotube. For instance, a (13, 1) tube is metallic while a (14, 1) tube is semiconducting though they are geometrically very similar to each other. Therefore, unambiguous (n, m) determination of individual SWCNTs is of crucial value for progressing CNT-based nanotechnology.
Current efforts for structural characterization of SWCNTs can be categorized into two broad classes, i.e., optical and non-optical. Optical spectroscopy includes, for example, resonant Raman scattering and photoluminescence, where (n, m) are identified by using the characteristic optical transition energies and photon frequencies (in Raman scattering) or optical absorption and emission energies (in photoluminescence). Optical measurements are usually limited in that they require a range of laser wavelengths for detecting a variety of tubes and they are only valid for a limited range of tube diameters. Laborious tasks are usually involved for both measurement and data interpretation. Photoluminescence has an additional drawback since the method can only detect semiconducting nanotubes. In addition, the insufficient spatial resolution of optical measurements makes it impossible to probe individual SWCNTs for analysis without considering effects from the tube environment. Moreover, there is no known calibration technique to correlate the intensity of excitations for tubes of given chiral indices to their concentrations, thus it is difficult to accurately map the chirality distribution in a SWCNT sample with optical measurements.
In the non-optical communities, the chiral indices are usually assigned by first determining the characteristic tube diameter D0 and chiral angle α by means of direct imaging techniques in real space (e.g. scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)), or in reciprocal space by the electron diffraction technique. Direct imaging techniques are faced with the problem that the tubes are usually not stable enough for acquiring high-quality images with atomic-resolution and at a high magnification.
Electron diffraction was the first technique to be used to characterize SWCNTs at the time of their discovery and has remained one of the most powerful means for their structural analysis. Advanced nano-beam electron diffraction techniques uniquely allow direct probing of individual nanotubes and characterization of their structure. However, the measurements are typically made by assuming a normal incidence condition or a small tube tilting angle, e.g. less than 6°. In contrast, it is not rare for a nanotube to have a tilt angle of 20° from the horizontal plane. In practice, it is difficult to establish an experimental setup to ensure such small tilt angle requirements. Although determination of the chiral angle α from electron diffraction patterns (EDPs) was shown to be independent of tube inclination, evaluation of the tube diameter may rely on the tilt of the tube unless the diffraction patterns are actually calibrated by internal standard materials, which are in practice unavailable in the measurement. In the absence of such standards, absolute calibration of an EDP of a SWCNT depends on the value of the carbon-carbon (C—C) bonding distance, which has uncertainty between 0.142 nm and 0.144 nm. Additionally the C—C bond can be stretched when the tube diameter is small. Also, calibration of the EDP by using the C—C bonding distance is either tilt sensitive or complicated by the curvature of the tube. In order to take into account the tilting effect of the tube on the determination, a tedious trial-and-error simulation procedure has to be applied.
Moreover, when D0 and α are required to be determined prior to (n, m) assignment, as by previous methods, they must both be determined with high accuracy in order to determine chiral indices n and m unambiguously. For instance, the metallic (13, 1) tube where D0=1.06 nm and α=3.7°, is very similar to the semi-conducting (14, 1) tube where D0=1.14 nm and α3.4°. Obviously, a slight error in either D0 or α easily leads to an ambiguity in indexing a SWCNT.

Method, computer program and apparatus for the characterization of molecules