Methods and systems are provided for controlling access to objects in a hierarchical database. The database may include a directory services repository, and/or synchronized partitions. An access constraint propagator reads an access control property of an ancestor of a target object. The access control property designates an inheritable access constraint such as an object class filter or an "inheritable" flag. The object class filter restricts a grant of rights to objects of an identified class. The "inheritable" flag allows inheritance of an access constraint on a specific object property. The propagator enforces the inheritable access constraint by applying it to at least the target object.

Hierarchical database structures are increasingly important, because they help organize information in computer systems. In particular, hierarchical databases are used in large and complex computer networks by directory service providers. Directory services are sometimes called "naming services." Directory service hierarchical databases are also known as "directory service databases" or "directory service repositories".
A variety of directory service providers are now available to help administer both the location of network resources and the rights of network users to use those resources. Many, but not all, directory service tools conform at least in part with the X.500 directory services standard. One well-known directory service system includes NetWare Directory Services software commercially available from Novell, Inc. of Orem, Utah (NETWARE DIRECTORY SERVICES is a trademark of Novell, Inc.). As used herein, "Novell Directory Services" ("NDS") includes NetWare Directory Services and any other directory service commercially available from Novell, Inc.
A hierarchical database differs in several important ways from a relational database. Directory service repositories and other hierarchical databases are organized hierarchically, as one or more trees. Each object in a tree (except the root object) has exactly one parent. Objects may generally have children, which may inherit properties from their ancestor objects. Objects are instances of "classes," as described in detail below.
By contrast, each relational database is organized as a set of tables in which rows represent records and columns represent record fields. Certain fields may be found in multiple tables, and the values of these "key" or "index" fields are used to guide database searches. Database access and manipulation involve combining information from various tables into new combinations to obtain different views of the data.
The structure of at least one NDS directory services provider is defined by a schema. The schema includes a set of "attribute syntax" definitions, a set of "attribute" definitions, and a set of "object class" definitions. The NDS software and a default NDS schema are described in Bierer et al., NetWare 4 for Professionals, ISBN 1-56205-217-9("NetWare 4"), pages 255-342. The terms "attribute" and "property" are used interchangeably in NetWare 4 and herein, as are the terms "attribute syntax" and "property syntax."
Each attribute syntax in the schema is specified by an attribute syntax name and the kind and/or range of values that can be assigned to attributes of the given attribute syntax type. Attribute syntaxes include, without limitation, Case Exact String (case-sensitive string), Case Ignore List (case-insensitive string list), E-Mail Address, Net Address (valid addresses include IPX and AppleTalk), Path, and Stream. Attribute syntaxes correspond roughly to data types such as integer, float, string, file, stream, or Boolean, or to collections of these types, in conventional programming languages.
Each attribute in the schema has certain information associated with it. Each attribute has an attribute name and an attribute syntax type. The attribute name identifies the attribute, while the attribute syntax limits the values that are assumed by the attribute. For instance, the default NDS schema includes an attribute of syntax type integer having the name "supported connections" which specifies the number of concurrent connections a file server allows.
Each attribute may also have associated with it any or all of the following flags: Non-removable, Hidden, Public Read, Read Only, Single-Valued, Sized, and String. The general meanings of these flags are familiar to those of skill in the art. If the Sized flag is set for a given attribute, then upper and lower bounds (possibly including No Limit) are imposed on values to be held by that attribute.
Each object class in the schema also has certain information associated with it. Each object class has a class name which identifies it, a set of super classes that identifies the other classes from which this class inherits attributes, and a set of containment classes that identifies the classes permitted to contain instances of this class.
Each object class also has a container flag and an effective flag. The container flag indicates whether the class is a container class, that is, whether it is capable of containing instances of other object classes. The effective flag indicates whether instances of the class (objects) can be defined. Non-effective object classes are used only to define attributes that will be inherited by other classes, whereas effective classes are used to define inheritable attributes, to define instances, or to define both.
In addition, each object class groups together certain attributes. The naming attributes of an object class are those attributes that can be used to name objects belonging to the class. The mandatory attributes of an object class are those attributes that must exist in each valid instance of the class and/or become mandatory attributes of classes which inherit from the class. The optional attributes of an object class are those attributes that may, but need not, exist in each valid instance of the class. Optional attributes of a parent class become optional attributes of a child class which inherits from the parent class, unless the attributes are mandatory in some other parent class from which the child inherits, in which case they are also mandatory in the child.
A database object is an instance of an object class. Different objects of the same class have the same mandatory attributes but may have different current values in their corresponding mandatory attributes. Different objects of the same class may have different optional attributes, and/or different current values in their corresponding optional attributes.
The hierarchical database may also be a "synchronized-partition" database. Such a database is typically divided into two or more non-overlapping partitions. To improve the response time to database queries and to provide fault-tolerance, a replica of each partition is physically stored on one or more file servers in the network. The replicas of a given partition are regularly updated by the directory services provider through an automated synchronization process, thereby reducing the differences between replicas caused by activity on the network.
In addition to organizing information by grouping objects into classes and subtrees, hierarchical databases can be used to control access to information and other resources. For instance, commercially available NDS software provides at least three means for controlling access: access control lists, inherited rights filters, and security equivalence. These access control tools are discussed at pages 389-401 of NetWare 4 and elsewhere. For convenience, however, aspects of these access control methods are repeated here.
An access control list is an optional property of every object class. Multiple access control lists may exist on a single object, and there is no limit (other than space and efficiency considerations) on the number of access control lists per object. The access control lists of an object identify trustees who are given rights to access properties of that object.
Each access control property has three parts. The first part identifies a trustee object which receives access rights. The second part identifies a property type, thereby indicating the property or properties for which those access rights are given. Property types include "object rights," "all properties rights," and specific properties.
The third part of the access control property identifies at least one access right that is given to the trustee object for properties of the indicated property type. For "object rights," possible access rights include rights to browse, create, delete, rename, or supervise. For "all properties rights," possible access rights include rights to compare, read, write, add, delete, or supervise.
Rights granted to "object rights" or by "all properties rights" by an access control property are inherited. For instance, rights granted at a container apply downward from the container, to all objects in the subtree of which the container is the root. Rights granted to a specific property are not inherited, but rights limited to a specific property of a group of objects may be granted by placing an appropriate access control property on each object in the group, or by placing an appropriate security equivalence property on each of those objects.
Security equivalence is implemented by using an optional Security Equals property. This property contains the names of other objects in the tree. The object having the Security Equals property then derives access rights from the other objects named in the Security Equals property. More precisely, each object is security equivalent to "public," to "root," to every object in its distinguished name, and to every object in its Security Equals property, in that order.
The inheritance of rights may be filtered. This capability is sometimes call "rights masking." An inherited rights filter determines which rights can be inherited in the object hierarchy from a given point downward. Rights masking is implemented in NDS in the same structure as an access control list, with a filter taking the place of the trustee name. Thus, the inherited rights filter can designate object properties, all properties, or a specific property. The filter does not grant rights. Instead, it places limits on which rights can be granted.
It is often desirable to grant rights suitable for administration of particular resources. For instance, a printer administrator would need rights to add, delete, and modify printer objects in a subtree. A telephone number administrator would need rights to modify telephone numbers on user objects. A password administrator would need rights to change a user's password when the user forgets the original password. And a personnel administrator would need rights to create, modify, delete, and move user objects to reflect personnel changes. Moreover, it is desirable to grant these specialized administration rights in a way that is compatible with existing access control mechanisms, so that the database is not taken out of service during a long and painful conversion process.
One conventional approach is to give each of these specialized administrators supervisor rights to the appropriate subtree(s). Unfortunately, this gives the specialized administrators more rights than are strictly necessary. Granting excess rights may lead at best to inconsistent attempts to change the database, as when one administrator updates a phone number and another later inadvertently loses the update by restoring data from an old backup. At worst, granting excess rights may lead to a security breach which compromises the secrecy and/or integrity of information in the database.
Another approach is to place an appropriate access control property on each administered object. However, rather than easing administration, this creates significant maintenance burdens. The number of objects involved is often large, and updating the access control properties in a large subtree can be time-consuming, tedious, and error-prone.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a system and method for efficiently granting limited rights to specialized administrators in a hierarchical database.
It would be an additional advancement to provide such a system and method which are extensions of the capabilities of existing access control mechanisms, and hence can be used in conjunction with existing mechanisms.
Such a method and system are disclosed and claimed herein.

Controlling access to objects in a hierarchical database


An approach is provided for linking the navigation and flashlight functions of a mobile device for guidance purposes. A coordination platform determines mapping information, navigation information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one device. The coordination platform determines at least one operational parameter for at least one flashlight component of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the mapping information, the navigation information, or a combination thereof. The coordination platform causes, at least in part, a configuration of the at least one flashlight component based, at least in part, on the at least one operational parameter.

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. One area of interest has been the development of location-based services to provide pedestrians using mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones or tablets) with navigation assistance to improve the quality of their travels. By way of example, many mobile devices are now equipped with global positioning system (GPS) receivers and mapping and/or navigation applications for presenting location-based information (e.g., maps, travel directions, route details, points of interest (POIs), and the like) to users. In addition, many of these devices also are equipped with applications to control the flashlight components of the device. However, the mapping and/or navigation applications and the flashlight applications currently operate as separate entities and therefore do not share information. As a result, users in dark unfamiliar environments must choose to either look at the screen of their mobile device without illuminating their surroundings or illuminate their surroundings without obtaining guidance information. Accordingly, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges in providing a service that links or coordinates the navigation and flashlight functions of a mobile device so that the flashlight component can inform users when and where to turn.

Method and apparatus for using a device flashlight as feedback for guidance purposes


A parallel link device whose height can be reduced particularly when a movable-side member is brought closer to a fixed-side member, and in which an amount of stroke of the movable-side member can be increased. Specifically, the parallel link device includes a fixed-side member, a movable-side member, six links, and slide mechanisms. Each of the six links has one end connected to the movable-side member with at least two rotational degrees of freedom, and the other end connected to the fixed-side member with at least two rotational degrees of freedom. A connection point of the other end and the fixed-side member is movable with respect to the fixed-side member. Each of the six links has five rotational degrees of freedom and a predetermined length. Each of the slide mechanisms is provided on the fixed-side member and holds the other end of the link movable within a predetermined range.

An example of conventional parallel link devices for use in handling a heavy object is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-104987. Specifically, a non-extendable arm has one end coupled to a fixed-side member with a slip block interposed therebetween, and the other end coupled to a movable-side member with a bearing portion interposed therebetween. The movable-side member can be moved by moving the slip block in a height direction (Z direction).


An automatic content recognition system that includes a user device for the purpose of capturing audio and generating an audio signature. The user device may be a smartphone or tablet. The system is also capable of determining whether a user device is in motion and refraining from audio monitoring and/or generating audio signatures when the user device is in motion. Motion may also be used to reduce the frequency of audio monitoring and/or signature generation. The system may have a database within the user device or the user device may communicate with a server having a database that contains reference audio signatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an efficient system for audio signature generation, and particularly a system and method for conserving power, communication and/or computational resources.
2. Description of the Related Technology
EP 2 501 145 A2 entitled, "Content Provision," is expressly incorporated by reference herein and shows an application where it is useful to identify the audio or video content being presented to a user.
US20130205318 A1 entitled, "Method and system for automatic content recognition based on customized user preferences," is expressly incorporated by reference herein and shows an automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to identify, utilizing an ACR system, content in a presented program.
US20130071090 A1 entitled, "Automatic content recognition system and method for providing supplementary content," is expressly incorporated by reference herein and shows automatic content recognition performed to determine the primary digital content. The time of a sample may also be determined. Supplementary digital content is then selected and transmitted to the media device, or to another device, based upon the identified primary digital content. The supplementary digital content may be adapted in layout, type, length, or other manners, based upon the platform and/or configuration of the media device or any other device to which the supplementary digital content is transmitted.
US20110289114 A1 entitled "System and method for auto content recognition," is expressly incorporated by reference herein and shows automatically recognizing media contents by the steps of capturing media content from the Internet and/or devices, extracting fingerprints from captured content and transferring to backend servers for identification, and backend servers processing the fingerprints and replying with identified result.

Efficient apparatus and method for audio signature generation using motion


The invention relates to an antenna module for a vehicle, wherein an upper assembly comprises a first circuit board, wherein a lower assembly comprises a second circuit board, wherein at least one of the two assemblies is fastened on a vehicle body part of the vehicle, wherein an electrical contact part is arranged on the assembly in each case, wherein the two contact parts respectively comprise at least one antenna contact, and wherein the lower assembly is fixable on the upper assembly. In this case, the second contact part, when the lower assembly is fixed, is displaceable in a plane lying approximately parallel to the vehicle body part from a first position in a displacement direction linearly into a second position, wherein the contact parts are electrically disconnected from one another in the first position and wherein the contact parts are electrically connected in the second position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an antenna module for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle roof antenna module.
2. Description of Related Art
A vehicle antenna arrangement is known from DE 295 00 961 U1, which comprises an antenna module, wherein the antenna module comprises an upper assembly having at least one antenna, and a lower assembly, wherein the upper assembly comprises a first circuit board, wherein the lower assembly comprises a second circuit board, wherein at least one of the two assemblies is fastened on a vehicle body part of the vehicle, wherein a first electrical contact part is arranged on the upper assembly, wherein a second electrical contact part is arranged on the lower assembly, wherein the two contact parts respectively comprise at least one antenna contact, wherein the lower assembly is fixable on the upper assembly. Such antenna modules have the disadvantage that there is a significant space requirement for the installation of the lower assembly below the vehicle body part, to be able to guide the lower assembly from below onto the upper assembly perpendicularly to the planar extension of the vehicle body part.


A semiconductor memory device is composed of a field effect transistor using the interface between a ferroelectric film and a semiconductor film as the channel and including a gate electrode to which a voltage for controlling the polarization state of the ferroelectric film is applied and source/drain electrodes provided on both ends of the channel to detect a current flowing in the channel in accordance with the polarization state. The semiconductor film is made of a material having a spontaneous polarization and the direction of the spontaneous polarization is parallel with the interface between the ferroelectric film and the semiconductor film.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device comprising a field effect transistor having a gate insulating film composed of a ferroelectric film.
Nonvolatile memories, each using a ferroelectric material, are roughly divided into two types which are a capacitor type and a FET (Field Effect Transistor) type having a gate insulating film composed of a ferroelectric film.
The capacitor type has a structure similar to that of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), holds charges in a ferroelectric capacitor, and distinguishes between the "0" and "1" sates of information in accordance with the polarization direction of the ferroelectric material. In the reading of the information, the stored information is destroyed so that an operation of rewriting the information is needed. As a result, each reading operation causes polarization reversal so that polarization reversal fatigue presents a problem. In addition, because polarization charges are read using a sense amplifier in the structure, an amount of charges of not less than the sensing limit (which is typically 100 fC) of the sense amplifier is necessary. Since the polarization charges per unit area of a ferroelectric material are intrinsic to the material, even when a memory cell is miniaturized, an electrode area of a given size is needed as long as the same material is used. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the capacitor in direct proportion to the miniaturization of process rules, so that the capacitor-type ferroelectric memory is unsuitable for an in crease in capacity.
By contrast, from the FET-type ferroelectric memory, information is read by detecting the conductive state of the channel which changes in accordance with the polarization orientation of the ferroelectric film. This allows non-destructive reading of the information as well as an increase in the amplitude of an output voltage through the amplifying operation of the FET. As a result, compared with the capacitor-type ferroelectric memory, the FET-type ferroelectric memory can be extremely miniaturized in dependence on the scaling law.
There has conventionally been proposed a FET-type transistor in which a ferroelectric film, serving as a gate insulating film, is formed on a silicon substrate serving as the channel. Such a structure is termed a MFS (Metal-Ferroelectric-Semiconductor) FET. However, in contrast to the capacitor-type ferroelectric memory capable of retaining data for about 10 years, data disappears from the conventional MFSFET in about several days. This is conceivably because an excellent interface is not formed between the silicon substrate and the ferroelectric film. In other words, because the ferroelectric film is formed on the silicon substrate at a high temperature, the oxidation of the surface of the silicon substrate and the diffusion of an element into silicon easily occur to prevent the formation of the excellent interface.
To solve the problem, a ferroelectric memory composed of a MFSFET using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer has been proposed (see Applied Physics Letters Vol. 68, pp. 3650-3652, Jun. 17 (1996) and Applied Physics Letters Vol. 86, pp. 162902-1 to 162902-3, April (2005)). In general, considering that a ferroelectric film is made of an oxide, an oxide layer made of an oxide such as silicon dioxide is not formed in a multilayer structure using an oxide semiconductor for a channel, in contrast to a multilayer structure using silicon for a channel. Accordingly, it can be expected to provide a stable interface state.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views each showing a typical structure of a MFSFET using an oxide semiconductor for the channel, of which FIG. 14A shows a structure of a back-gate MFSFET in which a gate electrode 102 is formed below a channel (oxide semiconductor film) 104 and FIG. 14B shows a structure of a top-gate MFSFET in which the gate electrode 102 is formed above the channel 104. In the drawings, 101 denotes a substrate, 103 denotes a ferroelectric film, and 105 denotes source/drain electrodes.
To keep up with the miniaturization of a semiconductor integrated circuit with an embedded memory, a structure in which a ferroelectric memory is stacked on a CMOS formed with a selection transistor is desired. In that case, a back-gate structure in which a gate electrode is disposed below a channel, as shown in FIG. 14A, is preferred to a top-gate structure in which a gate electrode is disposed above a channel, as shown in FIG. 14B. This is because, when the back-gate structure is adopted, a region for contact with the CMOS can be reduced and the area of each of memory cells can be reduced. In addition, because the ferroelectric film 103 and the oxide semiconductor film 104 can be formed continuously as a multilayer film in the back-gate structure, the achievement of a more stable interface state can be expected.
For the oxide semiconductor film 104, Non-Patent document 1 uses tin oxide (SnO2) and Non-Patent Document 2 uses indium tin oxide (ITO). In the case of using SnO2, an On/Off ratio of 60 is obtained. In the case of using ITO, an On/Off ratio of 104 is obtained. However, in either case, a long-term data retention characteristic has not been obtained.
Because zinc oxide (ZnO) has an electron mobility higher than that of another oxide semiconductor, when ZnO is used for the channel of a MFSFET, a large on-current is obtained to increase the On/Off ratio. Accordingly, the enlargement of the read margin of a memory can be expected. However, in an actual situation, even when a ZnO film was used for a channel, the obtained On/Off ratio was only about 90 and the obtained retention time was only not more than 104 seconds (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 48, pp. L1266-L1269, December (2006).

Semiconductor memory device including a semiconductor film made of a material having a spontaneous polarization and method for fabricating the same


Methods and systems for recovering hydrocarbon gas from a subterranean reservoir comprising a wellbore, the methods and systems comprising introducing solid carbon dioxide into the wellbore are described within.

Mining of natural gas, such as hydrocarbon gas, is primarily achieved by drilling a hole (a "well") into a subterranean reservoir that contains the hydrocarbon gas. The pressure in the subterranean reservoir is generally greater than the pressure on the surface. Once the subterranean reservoir is tapped, the gas travels naturally through the well to the surface, where the pressure is less.
When hydrocarbon gas travels through the well to the surface, liquids, such as crude oil, condensate, or water, can be pushed along with the gas into the well. Over time, two events generally occur: (1) the rate of hydrocarbon gas exiting the well decreases as the difference in pressure between the reservoir and the surface (in addition to the head pressure) decreases; and (2) liquid condenses and accumulates in the well, forming a "fluid column." The fluid column can form a barrier that prevents hydrocarbon gas from traveling through the well to the surface. This effect is exacerbated as the pressure in the subterranean reservoir decreases and hydrocarbon gases condense. If the fluid cannot be removed, and the gas cannot be lifted out of the well, the well may be prematurely abandoned before the hydrocarbon gas resources in the subterranean reservoir are depleted.

Hydrocarbon well deliquification using dry ice


Methods and compositions are provided for the cloning and expression of genes coding for the non-toxic subunit of the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT-B) of E. coli. The LT-B thus produced may be formulated for use as an immunogen in vaccines. Specific antibodies produced by this invention may be used in diagnostic tests for the detection of Vibrio cholerae or LT positive enterotoxigenic E. coli. The antibodies of this invention may further be formulated into passive vaccines for the prophylactic or therapeutic protection of human beings or other mammalian species against diarrheal diseases caused by Vibrio cholerae or by the LT positive enterotoxigenic E. coli or other bacteria.

2.1. ENTEROTOXIGENIC BACTERIA AND DIARRHEAL DISEASE
Acute diarrheal disease due to the temporary colonization of the small intestine by enterotoxigenic strains of certain bacteria is a major health problem of global significance. Among the responsible bacteria, perhaps the most widely recognized is Vibrio cholerae. Less well known but of greater practical significance are particular strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) which, together with rotavirus, produce acute diarrheic episodes that are fatal each year to an estimated 10 million infants living in underdeveloped tropical countries [Black et al., Lancet i: 141 (1981)].
These E. coli strains also generally account for a high incidence of the acute diarrhea that afflicts visitors to tropical regions. Furthermore, they have a profound impact upon livestock as well, since Kohler [J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 173: 588 (1978)] has reported that weanling animals, particularly calves, lambs and piglets, may be similarly affected.
Both Vibrio cholerae and the enterotoxigenic E. coli strains produce their diarrheic effects through production of an enterotoxin. The cholera enterotoxin has been isolated and purified to homogeneity by Finkelstein [Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 2: 553 (1973)]. Furthermore, Finkelstein and LoSpalluto [J. Exp. Med. 130: 185 (1969)] have separated a protein subunit from the cholera toxin that has reduced biological activity. What has emerged from these and from other studies is the finding that the cholera enterotoxin is an 84,000 dalton protein that consists of an A and a B subunit.
The A subunit (28,000 daltons) is responsible for the biological effects of the toxin but is incapable of binding to its target receptors alone. Through the action of sulfhydryl reagents, the A subunit may be cleaved into two polypeptide chains, with molecular sizes of 7,000 and 21,000 daltons. Of these chains only the larger, designated A.sub.1, is active.
The B subunit, which has a size of 56,000 daltons, is essential for the expression of the activity of the A subunit. Apparently it acts by binding to a target cell and then facilitating penetration by the active A subunit. Finkelstein et al. J. Immunol. 113: 145 (1974)] have that the B subunit consists of non-covalently associated subunits that can be dissociated by vigorous treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate or at low pH with urea into five polypeptide chains.
The effects of cholera toxin have been demonstrated by Sheer et al. Gastroenterology 65: 895 (1973)] in rabbit jejunum. In that system, the toxin causes a blood to lumen unidirectional flux of sodium. As a result, the intestinal fluid becomes low in protein, Mg.sup.++ and high in K.sup.+, Na.sup.+ and HCO.sub.3.sup.-, compared to normal serum levels. With these ionic changes, there is a concomitant outflowing of water to the lumen, for the maintenance of osmotic equilibrium with the blood plasma.
The precise structure of the cholera toxin receptor is unknown, but it appears to be a glycolipid. This observation is based upon a finding by King and van Heyningen [J. Infect. Dis. 131: 643 (1975)] that the binding of cholera toxin to membranes is inhibited by various glycosphingolipids. Of the compounds of this type examined, G.sub.M1 (galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-examined, (sialyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide) was most potent.
Once cholera toxin binding occurs, there is a stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and a locking of that enzyme in the activated state. The result is an increase in intracellular levels of cAMP that in some way gives rise to the above ionic changes.
Enterotoxic strains of E. coli also mediate their diarrheic effects through the production of enterotoxins. These toxins are of two types, one of which is a relatively low molecular weight species of 2,000 daltons. Because it survives treatment at 100.degree. C., this species is referred to as the heat-stable toxin (ST). A second toxin that is heat labile (LT) is remarkably similar to the cholera toxin.
As shown by Gill et al. [Infect. Immun. 33: 677 (1981)], E. coli LT consists of the same type and number of subunits as the cholera toxin, and the corresponding subunits have approximately the same molecular weights. As with cholera toxin, the B subunits of LT attach to intestinal mucosal glycolipid receptors, thus permitting penetration of the cell by the biologically active A subunit. The sequence of events from that point on is also similar. Most importantly, Clements and Finkelstein [Infect. Immun. 21: 1036 (1978)] have shown that E. coli LT is immunologically related to both the A and B subunits of cholera enterotoxin.

Production of the E. coli LT-B enterotoxin subunit


Disposed is a jet mill that has a cylindrical pulverization chamber (10) and a classification chamber (6) that connects to the pulverization chamber (10). A fine-powder discharge port (4a) and a classification rotor (7) are provided in the classification chamber (6). A feedstock supply port (5) and at least one gas emission nozzle (11) are provided in the pulverization chamber (10). The shape of the classification chamber (6) is a cone that starts on the inner wall of the pulverization chamber (10), and is angled towards the classification rotor (7). This configuration gives the jet mill high efficiency of pulverization and reduces the amount of powders left in the chamber when the jet mill has finished running.

An example of this type of jet mill is a fluidized bed type jet mill having a cylindrical container 20 capable of storing raw material powder (hereinbelow simply referred to as "powder") as an object to be pulverized, wherein a plurality of gas emission nozzles 21 are provided facing each other toward the center from the external peripheral wall of the container, and the powder is carried on emitted gas from the gas emission nozzles 21 to collide with itself and be pulverized, as shown in FIG. 5. A stable performance can be achieved with a jet mill of this configuration, but because the pulverization is performed with powder becoming stagnant inside the apparatus, a problem with this jet mill is that powder remains in the apparatus even after pulverization has ended.
Another type of jet mill is a jet mill such as those shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 listed below, wherein powder is made to swirl together with air by emitted gas from the emission nozzles provided to the peripheral wall of a cylindrical pulverization chamber, the powder is pulverized, and the pulverized powder is sent to a classification chamber above the pulverization chamber where it is classified.
In the jet mill disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of gas emission nozzles are attached in a tilted manner with each other in the external peripheral wall of the pulverization chamber, and the powder is carried by emitted gas from the gas emission nozzles and pulverized while swirling at high speed.
In the jet mill disclosed in Patent Document 2, a collision member is provided at a position facing a gas emission port of a gas emission nozzle across a predetermined gap, and the powder is carried by the emitted gas and pulverized by colliding with the collision member.
In the jet mills of Patent Documents 1 and 2, a classification chamber is provided with a classification rotor disposed in the top part of the pulverization chamber, and powder that has been pulverized into the desired grain size is classified and collected.


A rear impact guard configured to be coupled to a rear end of a trailer includes (i) a bumper support member having an upper end configured to be coupled to the rear end of the trailer, and (ii) a horizontal bumper mounted at a lower end of the bumper support member. The bumper support member includes a hollow, generally triangular prism member.

The rear impact guard of a trailer, semi-trailer, and/or flatbed trailer is generally provided to help prevent other vehicles in a rear-impact collision with such a trailer from traveling beyond the rear extremity of the trailer and into an area beneath the floor assembly of the trailer. Rear impact guards may also operate to absorb the energy of a rear impact from another vehicle. Rear impact guards typically include a horizontal member suspended from two struts attached to the bottom side of the trailer rear end wall.


A metal ring inspection method of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) V-belt for inspecting end face defects in a belt laminated band composed of a plurality of metal ring stacked layers in which a first process is executed which grasps the outer periphery surface of the belt laminated band from both sides to firmly touch the inner periphery surface and removes crowning from the metal rings; a second process is executed which applies a sliding force in the width direction relative to each metal ring constituting the belt laminated band to expose the belt laminated band end face in a different tiered shape; and subsequently a third process is executed which inspects the belt laminated band end face defects exposed in the different tiered shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal ring inspection method and a metal ring inspection device for performing defect inspection of a metal ring which is one of the components that constitute a V-belt type of a Continuously Variable Transmission belt (hereinafter denoted as "CVT belt") mounted in a vehicle, such as an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is a known CVT belt structure which laminates a plurality of thin metal rings in a stack of approximately 0.2 mm in thickness to which steel elements are consecutively attached.
FIG. 11A is an outline view of a CVT belt. In this diagram, a CVT belt 1 is constructed by assembling two laminated bands 2 of a layered belt that contain a stack of a number of metal rings 2a (for example, a laminated band composed of about 12 endless layers) which are supported by a layered element 3 composed of a large number of steel elements 3a (for example, about 400 elements).
In this manner, the structure of the CVT belt 1 is produced through the following processes:
(a) First, a ring-shaped drum is formed by welding together the ends of a thin sheet of ultra high strength steel, such as maraging steel.
(b) Next, the drum is cut into round slices of a predetermined width and rolled to create metal rings 2a of a basic peripheral length.
(c) Next, after performing a solution treatment, etc. to each of the above-mentioned metal rings 2a, a peripheral length correction process is performed that provides the necessary peripheral length corresponding to the lamination location on the CVT belt 1. Here, "peripheral length" means the circumference length of the metal rings 2a. The peripheral lengths of the metal rings 2a are subtly different for each lamination stacked position in the CVT belt 1. For example, the outermost periphery side is slightly longer and the innermost periphery side is slightly shorter.
(d) Subsequently, while inspecting whether or not the appropriate peripheral length for each stacked layer position is within specification limits using a peripheral length measuring device, the presence of surface defects in the metal rings 2a is inspected using a metal ring inspection device.
(e) After performing aging treatment, nitride treatment, etc. to increase surface hardness of the metal rings 2a which passed a quality control inspection, the metal rings 2a with the appropriate peripheral length difference applied for each layer are sequentially laminated together to form a belt laminated band 2. The steel elements 3a are consecutively attached and the CVT belt 1 is completed.
As described previously, the belt laminated band 2 of the CVT belt 1 is composed of a stack of about 12 layers of the metal rings 2a.
FIG. 11B is a stacked layer state view of the belt laminated band 2. In this diagram, when the stacked layer sheet number of the metal rings 2a is defined as n, 2a (1) represents the metal ring positioned on the innermost side (hereinafter, denoted as "innermost periphery layer"), 2a (n) represents the metal ring positioned on the outermost side (hereinafter, denoted as "outermost periphery layer") and 2a (2)˜2a (n−1) represent the metal rings positioned in between the innermost and outermost sides.
FIG. 11C is an outline diagram of the metal rings 2a. Each of the metal rings 2a has what is called a crowning shape which is slightly arched in the ring inner periphery surface and has a springy nature acquired through the aging treatment in conjunction with the heat treatment.
FIG. 11D is a diagram showing the end face shape of the metal rings 2a. As illustrated in this view, the end face of each of the metal rings 2a constitutes a smooth shape in which the angle declines (slightly curved).
The "metal ring inspection device" is an apparatus which inspects for the presence of surface defects in the metal rings 2a before being assembled together in stacked layers. Also, while the metal rings 2a containing a defect are rejected as defective parts, the metal rings 2a containing no imperfections or those which have a level of small flaws or superficial flaws that can be ignored are non-defective parts and assembled in stacked layers to form a CVT belt 1.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a conventional prior art device applicable to the above-described "metal ring inspection device" for example as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H11-248637 (1999) titled "DEFECT DETECTING DEVICE" (hereinafter, denoted as "conventional prior art device"). This conventional prior art device comprises a plurality of the light guiding paths 6a˜6c composed of a plurality of optical fibers for guiding irradiated light which travels unidirectionally from the inspection light source 4 to the inspectable surface 5. Also, at least two light guiding paths 8a and 8b (optical fiber) are arranged alternately in between the light guiding paths 6a˜6c for guiding the reflected light Pf and Pg from the inspectable surface 5 to the light reception segments 7a and 7b. Noteworthy is the spacing arrangement of the two light guiding paths 8a and 8b which are separated at a slight distance L.
In such a configuration, when an inspectable surface 5 does not have a defect, such as a flaw, etc., the reflected light Pf and Pg guided by the two light guiding paths 8a and 8b is supplied to the light reception segments 7a and 7b at substantially the same intensity. On the other hand, when an inspectable surface 5 has a defect, since there is a decline (light intensity decline by diffused reflection) in the reflected light of an applicable defective part, a difference occurs in the light of the light guiding paths 8a and 8b and the existence of a defect can be automatically discriminated from the amount of this difference. Consequently,by using the surface of the metal rings 2a as the above-stated inspectable surface 5, this concept can be applied to the inspection device of the metal rings 2a for the CVT belt 1, for example, the metal ring inspection device.
However, because the conventional prior art metal ring inspection device cannot inspect the metal rings 2a which are the object to be inspected as one component at a time, this device has poor inspection efficiency.
Here, if attention is directed to the defect "end face" of the metal rings 2a and since the ring end faces exposed on the outer section are also in a stacked layer state, by including this exposed surface into the above-stated inspectable surface 5 a batch inspection for metal ring end face defects in the stacked layers could be performed. Although supposed that an improvement in inspection efficiency can be achieved, because the expected inspection accuracy is not actually acquired there is no efficiency improvement.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of the conventional prior art disadvantages. The visual line 9 shows the observation direction of the metal rings 2a end faces. This observation direction is equivalent to the incidence direction of the reflected light Pf and Pg to the light reception segments 7a and 7b in the conventional prior art (refer to FIG. 12). As stated above, the metal rings 2a end faces have a smooth form without the angle. For this reason as shown in FIG. 13A, when the end faces are observed from an angle (at a slant), a shadow (dashed line circles) will occur in some of the metal rings 2a end faces in a stacked layer state and a defect in the shadow portions will be overlooked. Additionally as shown in FIG. 13B when the metal rings 2a end faces in a stacked layer state are irregularly (unevenly) constituted, a larger shadow (dashed line circle) occurs and a defect of an even larger scope will be overlooked.
Thus, in a batch inspection of the metal rings 2a end faces in a stacked layer state using merely the above-mentioned conventional prior art device, sufficient accuracy cannot be acquired and an improvement in the inspection efficiency cannot be achieved.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a metal ring inspection method and a metal ring inspection device capable efficiently inspecting metal ring end faces as a batch (collectively) for defects in a stacked layer state.

Metal ring inspection method and metal ring inspection device


A sensing assembly comprises a forward point for mounting on a crop divider associated with a header. At least one movable arm is capable of interacting with one or more plants standing in a field. A sensor detects a position of the movable arm. A mounting assembly operably supports the movable arm and the forward point, where a rear portion of the forward point is spaced apart from a forward edge of the crop divider and the at least one movable arm is located above a bottom portion of the forward point when the mounting assembly is secured to the crop divider.

An automatic steering system may be used for guiding a self-propelled harvesting machine with a desired alignment to a crop, among other possible applications. Steering systems for harvesting crop in rows usually utilize mechanical sensing devices interacting with the crop. Such sensing devices are mounted to the crop dividers of the header and comprise movable arms abutting the plants, stems or stalks and sensors for detecting the position or displacement of the arms.
In one illustrative prior art configuration for mounting the sensing device, arms extend through assigned openings in a modified crop divider. However, the openings tend to structurally weaken the crop divider. Further, in weedy or dense crop conditions, debris and crop residues tend to collect at the openings, reducing the performance of the crop divider and the sensing device.
There are several common problems associated with sensing devices for detecting the relative locations of one or more plants (e.g., stalks within rows) with respect to the harvesting machine with a header or similar implement configuration. First, if the sensing devices are mounted at the underside of the crop divider of the header, they are exposed to debris and objects on the ground and can be damaged. Further, for such sensing devices, the mobility of the arms becomes restricted due to the collected debris. Second, if the header is operated too close to the ground, the arms encounter the ground instead of the plants and provide incorrect signals to the steering system. Third, the plants are growing on ridges or mounds, the arms will encounter the ridge instead of the crop. Thus, there is a need for an improved sensing assembly.

Sensing assembly for detection of one or more plants


A structure of a capacitor in a DRAM includes: A dielectric layer with a contact window for later connecting use is formed on a substrate. Then, a first-conductive layer is formed over the dielectric and is coupled to either the source or the drain of a TFET through the contact window. Subsequently, a number of insulating layers and second-conductive layers are superposed alternatively together to form a stacked layer. By using the space occupied by the insulating layers, a number of third-conductive layers replacing the inner portion of the insulating layers are formed in between the second-conductive layers. After removing the insulating layers between the second-conductive layers, a structure of a horn-like in a sectional view is formed. The first-conductive layer, the second-conductive layers and the third-conductive layers are coupled together to act as a lower electrode of the capacitor. Then, a dielectric thin film is formed over the lower electrode. And then, the fourth-conductive layer is formed over the dielectric thin film to act as an upper electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the structure and fabricating method of integrated circuit (IC), and more particularly, to the structure and fabricating method of a horn-like capacitor made by a stacked layer through a number of insulating and conductive layers alternatively superposed together in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.
2. Description of Related Art
When the function of micro process is continuously enhanced and, in accordance with, the abilities of software including the program size and the computing power are increased, the capacitance of memory is enlarged accordingly. As the integration of DRAM is increased, the memory cell for the present development includes a transfer field effect transistor (TFET) and a storage capacitor. FIG. 1 is the configuration of the circuit of the memory cell in a DRAM device. In FIG. 1, the selected capacitor C, one of an array of capacitors built on the wafer, can be used to store the data by either charging or discharging the capacitor C. The most common way is that a binary data stored on a bit has a logic state of "0" as the capacitor C being discharged and has a logic state of "1" as the capacitor C being charged. In general, a dielectric thin film 102 is sandwiched between an upper electrode 100 and a lower electrode 101 of the capacitor C to provide the required dielectric constant. The capacitor C is coupled to a bit line BL and fulfills the action of read/write through charging or discharging the capacitor C by utilizing the TFET T as a switch. The action as described above is done by the following procedure that the TFET T is coupled between the bit line BL and the capacitor C through a source and a drain of the TFET T, respectively. The word line WL is coupled to the gate of TFET T to selectively control the connecting status between the bit line BL and capacitor C.
In the case of the capability of DRAM, which is less than the need for 1 Megabit in the fabricating process of an integrated circuit, the capacitance conventionally is obtained by utilizing a two dimensional capacitor, generally, called as the planar type capacitor. This kind of capacitor occupies a large area on a substrate to store the needed charges so that it is not a proper application for a high integration case. A highly integrated DRAM like one greater than 4 Megabit needs a capacitor with three dimensional structure, which has such as a stacked type or a trench type, to obtain the needed charges.
In comparison with the planar type capacitor, the stacked type or the trench type capacitor are still able to obtain a large quantity of capacitance even in the case that the size of the memory unit has been further reduced. Unfortunately a simple three dimensional structure of capacitor is no longer suited for the further highly integrated memory device having such as a DRAM with 64 Megabit.
As known by skilled persons on the fabrication of the capacitor as described above, the capacitance is decreased when the size of the memory cell has been reduced, and then the possibility of soft error is increasing due to the incident .alpha. ray on the memory cell, which has low capacitance.
One of the solutions is to extend the area of the electrode and the dielectric thin film of the capacitor horizontally and to stack them up as a type called fin type capacitor to enhance the capacitance by utilizing the increasing area size of the capacitor.
Another solution is to extend the area size of the electrode and the dielectric thin film of the capacitor vertically as a type called cylindrical type capacitor to enhance the capacitance by utilizing the increasing area size of the capacitor.
The size of a memory cell of a DRAM is continuously reduced as the integration ability is continuously increased. So, one in this field of fabricating capacitor is continuously looking for new structures and fabricating methods of the capacitor for use in semiconductor device to reduce the size but keep the capacitance.

Method of fabricating dynamic random access memory having a stacked capacitor


A floor mat or grate overlain by a web or paper fabric is provided with a clamping device having at least one bar engaging the fabric for preventing shifting of the fabric on the grate or mat. The fabric can be removed, e.g. for cleaning or replacement, by releasing the clamping unit.

It is not uncommon at entrance ways to commercial and industrial establishments to provide grates or like structures with scraping units, brushes or the like for removing soil from the soles of the shoes of entrants to the establishment. Door mats of various types are widely used for domestic and commercial establishments to assist in removing soil from the shoes of residents or customers. All such systems are designed primarily to limit the extent of the contamination of the shoes of the user passing beyond the assembly and generally work best with dry soil. However, frequently it is desirable to remove finer contaminants, dust or moisture from the soles of the shoes of a user and in such cases it is not uncommon to provide a cloth or paper web on top of the grate or mat so that the user, by rubbing his or her shoes upon this web, can remove traces of contaminants which might otherwise remain adherent. The web can also be moistened, if desired, to improve the cleaning operation.
However, the application of a cloth or paper overlay for a grate or mat of the type described has had the drawback that the fabric tends to wrinkle up and move on the grate or mat and that paper web tends to shift or crease to the point that the mat or grate may be uncovered and the cleaning surface available for the soles of the shoes may be reduced.


An apparatus for tightening elastic and non-elastic bands designed for fitting to the frames of pieces of furniture includes a tensioner consisting of a roll arranged for rotation about its own axis. The roll has a pressure member mounted in spaced relationship with the roll so as to permit insertion of bands therebetween. The supplied band is folded backwardly over the top of the pressure member to be fastened to the frame of the piece of furniture. During a first rotation of the roll, the pressure member applies, by friction, a slight tractive force on the band, while permitting it to run with respect to the roll. A subsequent rotation of the roll brings the backwardly folded portion of the band to bear on that portion of the band supplied from the reel, which lies on the least one portion of the surface of the roll, whereby running of the band is then prevented by friction such that a further rotation of the roll causes tightening of the band.

This invention is relating to an apparatus for the even tightening of a series of elastic and non-elastic bands of the type as fitted to the frames of pieces of furniture such as armchairs, settees or the like.
This apparatus is particularly designed for tightening bands which require a substantial force to be tightened and which are subject to undergo a minimum elongation.
The apparatus according to this invention is characterized in that it is simple in construction and, thus, easy and practical to use, as well as of lower cost as compared with other, known apparatus for performing the same function.
When manufacturing pieces of furniture such as armchairs, settees, chairs or the like, it is often usual to fit the frames of these pieces of furniture with series of parallel belts made of elastic material, to which a stuffing material is subsequently mounted as necessary.
These belts have to be tightened in a uniform manner and, to this end, machines are provided for putting a plurality of parallel belts or bands in tension and for fitting them to support frames of pieces of furniture, which machines are arranged to supply the belts and to tighten them with a substantially uniform force.
One of these machines known is disclosed in Italian Patent N. 979.355 granted Sep. 30, 1974, and comprises a set of rolls causing the parallel bands to move to a working table, and means for inverting the direction of rotation of said rolls so as to tighten the bands after an operator has attached the ends thereof to a frame of piece of furniture to permit the bands to be fixed to an opposite side of the frame, whereupon the bands are cut.
These machines also include sensing means to sense tension of the bands, which are able to stop the tension rolls automatically.
Said means is a roll mounted to pneumatic supports which press the roll against the bands. When a force of reaction produced by the bands, upon the bands reaching a required tension, acts so as to cause this roll to move backwardly, a microswitch will operate to stop operation of the machine.
However, some problems arise with this known apparatus when the bands to be fitted to a frame are elastic bands requiring a high tension and having a minumum rate of elongation.
In this apparatus, in fact, the belts run between a pair of opposed rolls which cause the bands to advance and which subsequently apply a pull thereon to put the bands under tension, and, in case of high strength bands, it would be necessary for these bands to be tightened between the rolls with a substantial amount of pressure which is often such as to be likely to damage the bands. In a similar manner, it would be also necessary for the tension roll to be subjected to a great pressure which may give rise to many troubles as a result.

Apparatus for tightening bands, in particular bands as fitted to furniture frames

INTES S.A.S. Di Giuseppe Seroldi E.F. LLI & C.


A method of assigning resources within a network element within which a traffic termination point or AAL2 termination point has been established is described. The network element accepts a connection request, and it is then ascertained whether available resources have sufficient capacity to establish the requested connection. In the event that there is sufficient capacity, it is ascertained whether the termination points defined in relation to the available resources fragments the resources such that the connection cannot be established. If the resources are so fragmented, then one or more of the termination points are reallocated, without breaking the connection to which they relate, thereby defragmenting the resources sufficiently that the requested connection can be established.

Various uses of ATM are defined in specifications issued by 3GPP. Of particular relevance is 3GPP TS 25.433 V3.3.0, the contents of which are incorporated herein by cross-reference.
ATM is a connection-oriented technique, comprising the concatenation of ATM layer links required to effect end-to-end transfers between access points. Connection identifiers are assigned to each link of a connection as required and released when no longer needed. In general, signalling and user information are carried on separate ATM connections. In the ATM modes, data to be transmitted is organised into cells.
At a given interface, in a given direction, the different Virtual Path (VP) links multiplexed at the ATM layer into the same physical layer connection are distinguished by a VPI. The different Virtual Channel (VC) links in a Virtual Path Connection (VPC) are distinguished by a VCI.
The AAL (ATM adaptation layer) performs functions required by the user, control and management planes and supports mapping between the ATM layer and the next higher layer. The functions performed in the AAL depend upon the higher layer requirements.
The AAL uses the ATM layer service and includes multiple protocols to fit the need of different AAL service users:                AAL1 supports constant bit rate (CBR), connection-oriented, time-dependent data traffic (circuit, video signal and voice-band signal transport);        AAL2 is an ATM adaptation layer that supports variable bit rate (VBR), connection-oriented, time-dependent data traffic. AAL2 supports packetised voice and VBR video transmission;        AAL3/4 supplies sequencing and error detection support to variable bit rate (VBR), time-independent data traffic. Traffic can be both connection-oriented and connectionless (computer and network data transport, for example Frame Relay and SMDS); and        AAL5 supports variable bit rate (VBR), connection-oriented, time-independent data traffic (AAL5 does not support multiplexing, sequencing or error detection).
Termination points are managed objects that terminate entities, such as trails and connections. Technology-specific termination points are derived using subclassing. In ATM switching a termination point can be at the virtual path or virtual channel level, and it can be external or internal.
In the presently proposed UTRAN specification, a traffic termination point is determined either when a radio link is set up for a dedicated channel or a common transport channel is set up for a common channel. Each radio link has a traffic termination point, and each transport channel within each radio link may have its own AAL2 termination point. Similarly, each common transport channel has its own AAL2 termination point. Once a traffic termination or AAL2 termination point is defined, it is fixed for the duration of the connection.
In a Node B element, this fixing of termination points can generate a resource fragmentation problem. This means that even though a particular Node B element can have theoretically sufficient capacity to accept a requested high bandwidth call (such as a video call), but will need to reject the call because the available resources are scattered.


A CT imaging system for imaging an object is provided. The CT imaging system includes a stationary component, a rotating component configured to rotate with respect to the stationary component, a first conductive line coupled to the stationary component, and a second conductive line coupled to the rotating component, wherein the first and second conductive lines are positioned proximate one another such that inductive crosstalk between the first and second conductive lines provides a contactless communication channel for communicating data between the stationary component and the rotating component.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to CT imaging systems, and more particularly, to contactless data communication for CT imaging systems.
In some computed tomography (CT) imaging systems, an x-ray source projects a fan-shaped beam that is collimated to lie within an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and generally referred to as an "imaging plane". The x-ray beam passes through an object being imaged. The beam, after being attenuated by the object, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated radiation beam received at the detector array is dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the object. Each detector element of the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the beam intensity at each detector location. The intensity measurements from all the detectors are acquired separately to produce a transmission profile and reconstruct an image of the object.
At least some known CT systems include a gantry that rotates within a stationary housing. To control operation of the CT system, data is communicated between the rotating gantry and stationary housing. For example, imaging data acquired by detectors on the gantry may be communicated to a computing device for processing (e.g., image reconstruction). To communicate between the gantry and housing, at least some known CT systems use an optical communication system (e.g., a laser transmitter and an optical receiver). Further, at least some known CT systems use capacitive coupling between a transmitter on one of the gantry and the housing and a receiver on the other of the gantry and the housing. However, these known communication systems may be unidirectional, and may also require relatively high tolerances for proper operation.

Contactless data communication in CT systems


A turbine wheel having an axis of rotation and including: a disk having a periphery and a side face; a plurality of blades assembled on the disk, each blade having a blade root and a first hook oriented radially and defining a first groove that opens radially towards the axis of rotation of the turbine wheel. The disk includes a series of second hooks oriented radially and defining a second groove that opens radially towards the axis of rotation of the turbine wheel. An axial retaining ring for placing in the first and second grooves includes a tab for placing between two adjacent blade roots to limit movements of the ring in azimuth.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to bladed wheels in gas turbines, and it relates more particularly to axially retaining said blades relative to the axis of the wheel.
A particular field of application of the invention is that of aircraft gas turbines, and also that of industrial gas turbines.
1. Description of the Related Art
A conventional turbine wheel presents an axis of rotation and comprises: a disk having a periphery and a side face; a plurality of blades assembled on the disk, each blade having a blade root and a first hook projecting axially therefrom, said first hook being oriented radially and defining a first groove that opens radially towards the axis of rotation of the turbine wheel; the disk including a series of second hooks projecting axially from its side face on the same side as the first hooks, each second hook being oriented radially and defining a second groove that opens radially towards the axis of rotation of the turbine wheel; and an axial retaining ring including at least one tab and designed to be arranged in the first groove and in the second groove in order to retain the blades axially relative to the disk.
Among known turbine wheels, e.g. as disclosed in patent FR 2 729 709, the ring has a tab that is prevented from turning between different portions of the turbine wheel so as to make safe the assembly of the ring and the retention of the blades on the disk.

Turbine wheel fitted with an axial retaining ring that locks the blades relative to a disk


An applicator device comprising a casing and an application element wherein the application element is displaceable with respect to the casing against a return force.

The invention concerns an applicator device comprising a casing and an application means.
Applicator devices of that kind are known. They involve for example ballpoint pens. If such an applicator device is used on a substrate which is easily displaceable in the application plane, then conventional applicator devices are not suitable for application thereon because folds are thrown up, that is to say raised portions, which stand up out of the plane of the substrate. The difficulty of producing on such a substrate a uniform application such as for example a line of a constant line width are similarly high as in the case of a substrate which is structured from the outset—in such a way as to be perceptible to the eye.
The object of the present invention is to improve the applicator device of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, such that it is suitable for substrates which are displaceable in the application plane as well as for structured substrates.


The invention relates to a hydraulic power wrench comprising a ratchet lever (16) driven by a hydraulic cylinder. According to the invention, said power wrench is provided with a friction brake (20) which operates continuously between the housing (10) and the output shaft (14). In this way, reversed rotations of the output shaft following the individual working strokes are avoided.

The invention refers to a power wrench with a drive portion including a hydraulic cylinder, and a driven portion, the driven portion comprising a output shaft rotatably supported in a housing and rotated at intervals by a ratchet lever.
Hydraulic power wrenches are known that work based on the ratchet lever principle. When appropriately high hydraulic pressures are applied, such power wrenches can be used for very high torques. After a stroke of the hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, the output shaft tends to rotate backward by a small angle. This is due to the fact that the screw structure partly relaxes after each working stroke. To prevent such a relaxation, it is already known to have a blocking member engage the output shaft, the blocking member engaging an outer toothing of the output shaft, thereby preventing backward rotation. This entails the disadvantage of a safety risk caused by unreliable retaining systems. When the hydraulic unit that supplies pressure to the power screw driver is stopped, or in the event of a power breakdown or an incomplete stroke length, the apparatuses may come clear of the screw to be turned during the working process. This means a risk of accidents. Apparatuses with retaining latch systems may become twisted after the end moment has been reached and have to be detached tediously from the object to be screwed. The power wrench has to be brought up again to the maximum torque set and may lead to torque inaccuracies. After every stroke, the full clamping force is again applied to the apparatus and the screw bolt connection. This gives rise to high loads in the system and to constant bending stresses at the screw connection.

Wanger Vermögensverwaltungs-GmbH & Co. KG


HLR installed in an environment in which there are a plurality of mobile communication networks, is provided with a whole managed object manager for storing and managing subscriber number IDs and HLR information to manage the subscriber number IDs, in correspondence to each other; a subscriber data manager for storing and managing subscriber number IDs registered as managed objects of the host HLR and subscriber data of the subscriber numbers in correspondence to each other; and a determination controller for determining whether subscriber management information (subscriber number IDs and subscriber data) of managed objects in the host HLR is to be transferred to another HLR, based on criterion information such as current subscriber management information volume and accommodation capacity information, and for, when the transfer is necessary, determining a recipient HLR and subscriber management information of a transferred object, based on the criterion information in each HLR and a predetermined standard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a location register and accommodation transfer control method. The "location register" in claims, specification, drawings, and abstract in the present application means a location information management system.
2. Related Background Art
In the existing mobile communication systems, location information of each mobile terminal is managed by location registers installed by telecommunications carriers (Home Location Registers (HLRs): e.g., cf. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-298766 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-18135). When a mobile communication switching system executes a location registration or location information request of each mobile terminal, a location register as a destination of a control signal is determined based on a correspondence relation between location registers and managed object mobile terminal information prepared in the mobile communication switching system. The correspondence relation between location registers and managed object mobile terminal information is fixedly determined based on number bands of managed object mobile terminals or the like according to processing capacities of apparatus.

Location register and accommodation transfer control method


A square or rectangular bulk shipping container made of rigid packaging material having supporting side beams positioned vertically about the side wall panels of the container. The side beams are made of a rigid material and act to distribute lateral bulge forces evenly throughout the container to prevent bulging.

To store and transport flowable materials such as grain, chemicals, fertilizers and minerals, intermediate or semi bulk shipping containers have been developed. These containers are often square or rectangular in design and constructed of a rigid material, such as corrugated paper board. The containers hold approximately 1,000 to 3,000 lbs. or more of bulk material and because of their economical design, are readily stacked for high density storage or transportation.
As a result of the inherent properties of flowable or bulk material, bulk material exerts a lateral force upon the side wall panels of bulk containers. The box like shape of the containers do not permit the uniform distribution of the lateral forces. Hence, bulging of the container may result. Bulging is an undesired effect as it distorts the containers causing a loss of storage space when the containers' are stacked together. In the extreme, bulging can cause rupture of the containers and a spilling of the containers' contents. This is especially undesired when the contents are chemical in composition.
To compensate for the lateral forces exerted by the flowable materials, square or rectangular (i.e, box) rigid bulk containers are made of durable material (e.g., reinforced corrugated paper board) which are capable of withstanding the lateral forces. Such durable material is more expensive than standard packaging material. Moreover, the manufacture of the rigid containers is more complex as a result of construction techniques designed to add strength to the containers to compensate for the lateral forces.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,991 and 3,715,072 each describe a rectangular shaped rigid bulk container. Three individual cells are formed from corrugated paper board and may contain both a bottom and top closure flaps. The cells are placed in side by side relation and are interconnected via attachment of respective adjacent panels. Reinforcing side panels may be positioned to overlie the external side panel of the first and third cells. A bottom tray and top tray may be placed over the respective top and bottom ends of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,072 further describes the adhesion of reinforcing sheets between adjacent side walls of individual cells to enhance bulge resistance and to distribute pressure uniformly along the adjacent side walls of the cells.
The rectangular shaped rigid intermediate bulk containers of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,991 and 3,715,072 are more expensive as a result of manufacturing costs due to the composition of the containers necessitated by the square or rectangular design (which does not uniformly distribute the lateral forces exerted by the flowable material) and the overall complexity of the configured containers. Moreover, these containers are still susceptible to bulging, despite their construction.
As an alternative, hybrid bulk containers have been developed which combine rigid square or rectangular containers and circular flexible bulk containers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,834,255; 4,901,885; 4,927,037; 5,052,579; 5,071,025; 5,282,544; 5,289,937; and 5,407,090 each describe a bulk container having an outer rigid container of rectangular design and an inner circular flexible container. The inner circular flexible container functions to deflect the lateral forces exerted by the flowable materials (which are chiefly contained within the flexible container) and relieve the bulge pressure, which in a standard rigid container would have been exerted against the container's side walls. Again, this configuration suffers from the disadvantages of increased costs and complexity.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the draw backs associated with bulging of rigid rectangular or square bulk containers under load. This object is achieved through the use of vertical side beams positioned about the side wall panels of the bulk container.

Bulk box container with supporting side beams


The disclosure provides a touch display substrate and a touch display device. The touch display substrate includes: a substrate; a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed on the substrate; and one ultrasonic generator disposed on the substrate. The ultrasonic generator has a plurality of openings, and at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors is disposed in at least one of the openings.

When divided by type, touch screens mainly includes a resistive touch screen, an ultrasonic touch screen, an infrared touch screen, and a capacitive touch screen. The principle for the ultrasonic touch screen is to sense a touched position, using an ultrasonic wave propagating on a surface of a medium, when the energy and shape of the ultrasonic wave are changed due to contact of an object.
The ultrasonic sensing structure in existing ultrasonic touch screens mainly includes two major parts, that is, an ultrasonic generator and an ultrasonic receiving device. The ultrasonic generator generally includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. When a voltage signal of a certain frequency is applied across the upper and lower electrodes, the intermediate piezoelectric material layer undergoes a regular deformation in accordance with the frequency of the electrical signal, thereby causing the air to vibrate to generate sound waves. When the frequency reaches a certain level, ultrasonic waves are generated. The ultrasonic receiving device generally includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. When air vibration due to the sound waves causes the piezoelectric material layer of the ultrasonic receiving device to undergo a corresponding regular deformation, the upper electrode and the lower electrode of the ultrasonic receiving device can sense a regular electrical signal.

Touch display substrate and touch display device


Methods for memory input timing self-calibration, apparatuses for input timing self-calibration, and systems are disclosed. One such method includes sequentially programming a plurality of delay trim settings into a delay circuit of a data path. The data path can include a data latch coupled to the delay circuit. A clock is coupled to the data latch to clock data into the data latch. Transitions of the data are substantially aligned with transitions of the clock. An output of the data latch is read after each delay trim setting is programmed. A boundary is determined between a first output state of the data latch and a second output state of the data latch wherein the boundary is associated with a particular delay trim setting of the plurality of delay trim settings. The particular delay trim setting is programmed into the delay circuit.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and non-volatile (e.g., flash) memory.
Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that may allow for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Changes in threshold voltage of the cells, through programming of a charge storage structure, such as floating gates, trapping layers or other physical phenomena, may determine the data state of each cell.
Due to increasing data rates for flash memory input/output (I/O), meeting a setup/hold time is becoming more difficult for high speed flash memory. Presently, memory device setup/hold times can be trimmed during a manufacturing/testing operation. Once a nominal delay time is determined during the testing of the memory, this delay time can then be trimmed into all memory devices having those same circuits.
However, since each memory device can have slightly different characteristics due to doping levels or material differences, the nominal delay times may not provide the proper delay for all memory devices. There are resulting needs to provide improved delay time trimming for memory devices.


A vertebral spreading instrument for moving apart two vertebrae of a spine includes a plurality of spreading fingers and a spreading mechanism for adjusting a distance between the spreading fingers. The spreading mechanism includes a first and a second part, the first and second parts each including a respective marker trackable by a navigation system. Relative positions of the first and second parts change when the distance between the spreading fingers is adjusted, and different relative positions are unequivocally assigned to different distances of the spreading fingers.

A vertebral spreading instrument is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,800 B1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its ventirety. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,800, two vertebrae can be spread by two fingers or blade tips and, via a sliding or pusher rod, an artificial intervertebral disc can be slid between the blade tips and into the free space created by spreading the vertebrae. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,800 B1 discloses a possible embodiment of a spreading mechanism that operates such that the two spreading fingers or blades are each extensions of a lever arm that can be pivoted about a common bearing. The artificial intervertebral disc can be pinched between the two lever arms and situated distal to the bearing, wherein the lever arms reduce their distance in the distal direction.
The distance between the lever arms thus becomes smaller as they are situated closer to the spine. If the distal intervertebral disc then is shifted further in the distal direction, it thus forces the two lever arms apart. This results in two vertebrae of the intervertebral discs being spread, such that the artificial intervertebral disc can be slid into a free space between the two vertebrae by the spreading fingers or blades. The free space between the vertebrae is a result of a previously performed surgical removal of the damaged intervertebral disc.
A vertebral spreading instrument also is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,296 B1, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The vertebral spreading instrument includes a scissor-like vertebral spreading mechanism, wherein two limbs or extensions are arranged such that they can rotate about an axis (e.g., an axis formed by a bolt coupling the extensions together), thereby providing a scissor-like motion. Proximal handles diverge in the proximal direction, and by pressing the handles together, spreading fingers at the distal end of the scissor-shaped spreading instrument move apart as the extensions rotate about the axis. The distance between the spreading fingers can be set at the proximal end of the spreading instrument via a setting screw that connects the two handles at the proximal end of the spreading mechanism.

Vertebral spreading instrument comprising markers


A nucleic acid molecule which codes for a tumor rejection antigen precursor which is in turn processed to antigens presented by an HLA molecule is described. The HLA molecule may be HLA-A2, HLA-A28, HLA-B13, HLA-B44, or HLA-Cw6. The antigens are also described. These materials are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies. The tumor rejection antigen precursor is not tyrosinase, which has previously been identified as a tumor rejection antigen precursor processed to an antigen presented by HLA-B44.

The process by which the mammalian immune system recognizes and reacts to foreign or alien materials is a complex one. An important facet of the system is the T cell response. This response requires that T cells recognize and interact with complexes of cell surface molecules, referred to as human leukocyte antigens ("HLA"), or major histocompatibility complexes ("MHCs"), and peptides. The peptides are derived from larger molecules which are processed by the cells which also present the HLA/MHC molecule. See in this regard Male et al., Advanced Immunology (J. P. Lipincott Company, 1987), especially chapters 6-10. The interaction of T cell and complexes of HLA/peptide is restricted, requiring a T cell specific for a particular combination of an HLA molecule and a peptide. If a specific T cell is not present, there is no T cell response even if its partner complex is present. Similarly, there is no response if the specific complex is absent, but the T cell is present. This mechanism is involved in the immune system's response to foreign materials, in autoimmune pathologies, and in responses to cellular abnormalities. Recently, much work has focused on the mechanisms by which proteins are processed into the HLA binding peptides. See, in this regard, Barinaga, Science 257: 880 (1992); Fremont et al., Science 257: 919 (1992); Matsumura et al., Science 257: 927 (1992); Latron et al., Science 257: 964 (1992).
The mechanism by which T cells recognize cellular abnormalities has also been implicated in cancer. For example, in PCT application PCT/US92/04354, filed May 22, 1992, published on Nov. 26, 1992, and incorporated by reference, a family of genes is disclosed, which are processed into peptides which, in turn, are expressed on cell surfaces, which can lead to lysis of the tumor cells by specific CTLs. The genes are said to code for "tumor rejection antigen precursors" or "TRAP" molecules, and the peptides derived therefrom are referred to as "tumor rejection antigens" or "TRAs". See Traversari et al., Immunogenetics 35: 145 (1992); van der Bruggen et al., Science 254: 1643 (1991), for further information on this family of genes.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/938,334, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,940 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, nonapeptides are taught which bind to the HLA-A1 molecule. The reference teaches that given the known specificity of particular peptides for particular HLA molecules, one should expect a particular peptide to bind one HLA molecule, but not others. This is important, because different individuals possess different HLA phenotypes. As a result, while identification of a particular peptide as being a partner for a specific HLA molecule has diagnostic and therapeutic ramifications, these are only relevant for individuals with that particular HLA phenotype. There is a need for further work in the area, because cellular abnormalities are not restricted to one particular HLA phenotype, and targeted therapy requires some knowledge of the phenotype of the abnormal cells at issue.
The enzyme tyrosinase catalyzes the reaction converting tyrosine to dehydroxyphenylalanine or "DOPA" and appears to be expressed selectively in melanocytes (Muller et al., EMBO J 7: 2715 (1988)). An early report of cDNA for the human enzyme is found in Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,814. A later report by Bouchard et al., J. Exp. Med. 169: 2029 (1989) presents a slightly different sequence. A great deal of effort has gone into identifying inhibitors for this enzyme, as it has been implicated in pigmentation diseases. Some examples of this literature include Jinbow, WO9116302; Mishima et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,059, and Nazzaropor, U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,768. The artisan will be familiar with other references which teach similar materials.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/081,673, filed Jun. 23, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,974 and incorporated by reference, teaches that tyrosinase may be treated in a manner similar to a foreign antigen or a TRAP molecule--i.e., it was found that in certain cellular abnormalities, such as melanoma, tyrosinase is processed and a peptide derived therefrom forms a complex with HLA molecules on certain abnormal cells. These complexes were found to be recognized by cytolytic T cells ("CTLs"), which then lyse the presenting cells. The ramifications of this surprising and unexpected phenomenon were discussed. Additional peptides have now been found which also act as tumor rejection antigens presented by HLA-A2 molecules. These are described in Ser. No. 08/203,054, filed Feb. 28, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,096 and incorporated by reference.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/233,305 filed Apr. 26, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,117 and incorporated by reference, disclosed that tyrosinase is also processed to an antigen presented by HLA-B44 molecules. The finding was of importance, because not all individuals are HLA-A2.sup.+. The fact that tyrosinase is processed to an HLA-B44 presented peptide, however, does not provide for a universal approach to diagnosis and treatment of all HLA-B44.sup.+ tumors, because tyrosinase expression is not universal. Further, the fact that tyrosinase is expressed by normal cells as well as tumor cells may suggest some caution in the therapeutic area.
It has now been found that a non-tyrosinase coding gene also expresses a tumor rejection antigen precursor which is processed to at least one tumor rejection antigen presented by HLA-B44 molecules and to other antigens presented by HLA-A24, HLA-B13, HLA-Cw6 and HLA-A28. This, inter alia, is the subject of the invention disclosure which follows.

Isolated peptides which bind to HLA-B44 Molecules


A method for calculating sales trend of a product at a store shelf based on crowdsourcing, includes receiving, by a retail store server, availability data of a product measured on a shelf in the retail store from a portable device, where the availability data is in the form of a picture acquired of the product on the shelf, identifying products on the shelf using tags attached to the shelves, calculating sales velocity and sales trends of the product from the identified products, and transmitting the sales velocity and sales trend of the product to one or more third parties' systems in a supply chain of said retail store. Products and their locations on retail store shelves have been cataloged in a product database.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to mobile-based technologies for the retail industry.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Retailers, consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies, and manufacturers face many challenges, such as frequent out-of-shelf and out-of-stock conditions, and poor demand forecasts, that generate inefficient production, excessive inventory or out-of-stocks conditions, that clearly leads to lost sales. The process of sales estimation is crucial to a supply chain. A poor demand forecast may frequently cause a bullwhip effect to occur, which can result in inefficient production, excessive inventory or out-of-stock condition, that can lead to lost sales. It is known that visibility of customer demand is essential for a better supply chain performance.
Manufacturers, consumer goods companies and producers (MCP) typically have little to no real time visibility on consumption and consumption speed information of their products at distribution points and the retailer shelf. Among others, the consequences include 8% out-of-shelf situations that represent about a 3.9% sales loss. For MCP enterprises this may also include possible brand loyalty loss as well as issues with product planning, merchandizing, advertizing and new product introduction. On the other hand, today's consumers have a wide variety of mobile information tools that allow them to verify price and availability of products in the majority of online stores, making shelf information important to future MCP enterprises.
Demand estimation is another important challenge in retail industry. Even though the task is of unquestionable economical relevance, current forecast models cannot be considered satisfactory for most practical scenarios. It is interesting to notice, though, that demand fluctuations caused by out-of-shelf events have been overlooked so far. Incidents of this type happen not only when products are out-of-stock, but also when retailers employ poor shelf replenishment practices and do not have their products properly organized in the store. Out-of-shelf events clearly lead to immediate sales losses, but their side effects are much more profound: since there is no record of unmet demand, a silent deformation of the demand curve is produced. As a result, forecast models are inevitably inaccurate, as they are based on misleading data, resulting in more out-of-shelf events; hence, a vicious cycle arises.
Out-of-the-shelf conditions are also a delicate situation, since they represent an impact on sales. When faced with an out-of-the-shelf situation, a consumer might take one of these actions: (1) buy a similar product from other brand; (2) leave the store and look for the desired product on another store, or (3) do not buy the desired product at all. From the store's perspective, option (1) might not have a negative impact because a sale was made, but from a CPG's perspective, option (1) might be considered the most dangerous option since the consumer might try the competitor's product and prefer it. On the other hand, options (2) and (3) represent a sale loss to the store and to CPG, respectively.
Consequently, out-of-the-shelf conditions should be minimized as much as possible. This situation can occur if the product is out-of-stock or simply if the shelf replenishment was not made satisfactorily.
Shelf monitoring in supermarkets is necessary in order to avoid situations such as items going out of stock. Monitoring products in supermarket is an intensive work typically performed by the employees.
In a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) business model, the vendor supplier is responsible for maintaining an agreed level of products in stock. In some countries, such as in Brazil, this responsibility is extended to the task of shelf-replenishment: there are employees of the CPG inside the store transporting items from the backroom stock to the shelves. In this context, the determination of how many products should be replaced at each period of the day and with what frequency is determined by the CPG's employees who do not have access to point-of-sale (POS) information or have permission to make structural changes in the store's facility.
One of the main reasons why even the most sophisticated analytics and optimization tools have not been able to properly address the problem is the unsatisfactory (and actually almost inexistent) amount of information related to these events and to the status of shelves over time.
There are some solutions that are aimed at monitoring the level of backroom stocks and the number of items disposed in the shelves, but they are primarily based on information of sales collected from POS or on solutions that demand infrastructure's modifications, such as the use of an RFID, which demands the installation of a RFID reader, or with presence sensors on the shelves, and image processing techniques that load product templates and try to determine if each product is displayed in the input picture.
Specialized sensors may have high cost and be challenging to obtain and install. On the other hand, image processing is a low cost solution that can be implemented using pictures taken from any kind of mobile device. However, previous methods either require a planogram (a planogram is an organization of the assortment on a shelf) of the current shelf, or try to match all products templates from the store against the picture.
Therefore, an additional solution using image processing can allow a fully automatic procedure in which the user does not have to provide a planogram, but can obtain an identification with high accuracy and speed by taking a picture of a shelf rack, matching only templates of products from the assortment of the current shelf. This list of products can retrieved automatically from tagged shelves. Shelf monitoring and product replacement can also be made more efficient using mobile devices.

Mobile device based inventory management and sales trends analysis in a retail environment

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