An air induction housing having a perforated wall which simultaneously provides ample air entry into the air induction housing and excellent intake noise attenuation. The size, number and arrangement of the perforations is selected such that ample airflow is provided and audibility of intake noise is minimized, based upon simultaneous optimization of: providing a plurality of perforations which collectively have an opening size that accommodates all anticipated airflow requirements; sizing each of the perforations such that the airflow demand involves an airflow speed through each perforation that is below a predetermined threshold at which perforation airflow noise is generated; and arranging the perforation distribution in cooperation with configuring of the air induction housing to provide a highest level of intake noise attenuation.

Internal combustion engines rely upon an ample source of clean air for proper combustion therewithin of the oxygen in the air mixed with a supplied fuel. In this regard, an air induction housing is provided which is connected with the intake manifold of the engine, wherein the air induction housing has at least one air induction opening for the drawing-in of air, and further has a filter disposed thereinside such that the drawn-in air must pass therethrough and thereby be cleaned prior to exiting the air induction housing on its way to the intake manifold.
Problematically, a consequence of the combustion of the fuel-air mixture within the internal combustion engine is the generation of noise (i.e., unwanted sound). A component of this noise is intake noise which travels through the intake manifold, into the air induction housing, and then radiates out from the at least one air induction opening. The intake noise varies in amplitude across a wide frequency spectrum dependent upon the operational characteristics of the internal combustion engine, and to the extent that it is audible to passengers of the motor vehicle, it is undesirable.
As shown at FIG. 1, a solution to minimize the audibility of intake noise is to equip an air induction housing 10 with an externally disposed resonator 12 connected to the air induction housing by an externally disposed snorkel 14. The air induction housing 10 has upper and lower housing components 16, 18 which are sealed with respect to each other, and are also selectively separable for servicing a filter media (not shown) which is disposed thereinside. An induction duct 20 is connected to the induction housing and defines an air induction opening 22 for providing a source of intake air to the air induction housing at one side of the filtration media, as for example by being interfaced with the lower housing component 18. An intake manifold duct 24 is adapted for connecting with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, and is disposed so as to direct the intake air at the other side of the filtration media out of the air induction housing 10, as for example via the upper housing component 16.
One end of the snorkel 14 is connected to the induction duct 20 adjacent the air intake opening 22. The other end of the snorkel 14 is connected to the resonator 12, which is essentially an enclosed chamber. Each end of the snorkel 14 is open so that intake noise may travel between the induction duct 20 and the resonator 12. The resonator 12 is shaped and the snorkel 14 configured (as for example as two snorkel tubes 14a, 14b) such that the intake noise passing through the induction duct toward the air intake opening in part passes into the resonator and then back into the induction duct so as to attenuate the intake noise by frequency interference such that the audibility of the intake noise exiting the air intake opening is minimized.
While the prior art solution to provide attenuation of intake noise does work, it does so by requiring the inclusion of an externally disposed snorkel and resonator combination which adds expense, installation complexity and packaging volume accommodation.
Accordingly, what is needed is to somehow provide attenuation of intake noise as an inherent feature of the air induction housing so as to thereby minimize expense, complexity and packaging volume.

Air induction housing having a perforated sound attenuation wall


A display control apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read allocation data in which categories of images to be displayed in a slide show are associated with display periods, a display control unit configured to display a selection screen that allows selection of a plurality of images for each of the categories based on the allocation data read by the reading unit, a selection unit configured to select images to be allocated to each of the categories based on a user operation performed on the selection screen, and a playing unit configured to sequentially play a plurality of images based on the images allocated to each of the categories in the selection and also based on the allocation data.

Field
The present subject matter relates to a display control apparatus for creating a slide show in which images are switched and displayed, a method of controlling a display control apparatus, a program, and a recording medium.
Description of the Related Art
A slide show with music is known in which images captured using a digital camera are switched and played with background music (BGM). The slide show with music enables the playing of a slide show more entertaining for a user than a slide show without sound.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-204021 discusses, as a method of creating a slide show with music, a technique for, if either one of music or images has been selected, automatically selecting the other. For example, if a user has selected music that the user wishes to use as BGM, an apparatus extracts the feature amount of the music data and automatically selects images to be displayed according to the feature of the music.
With a method discussed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-204021 where an apparatus automatically selects images, images desired by the user may not be displayed in the slide show. If, however, the user manually allocates images to be displayed according to the playing periods of the music data, this requires an enormous amount of work, and, therefore, prevents the user from easily creating an impressive slide show.

Display control apparatus and method of controlling display control apparatus


The present invention relates to processes for producing α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds and unsaturated alcohols with a good yield. There is provided a process for producing and α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound including the step of subjecting a raw aldehyde compound to an intermolecular condensation reaction in the presence of an amine and a protonic acid having 4 to 20 carbon atoms or a salt thereof; and a process for producing an unsaturated alcohol including the step of subjecting the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound to a reduction reaction.

The α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds are useful compounds as perfumes, intermediates for perfumes, or raw materials for medicines or agricultural chemicals.
Examples of the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds usable as perfumes include trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-heptenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-decenal, trans-2-undecenal, trans-2-dodecenal, trans-2-tridecenal, 2,4-octadienal, 2,4-nonadienal, 2,6-nonadienal, 2,4-decadienal, 2,4-undecadienal, 2,4-dodecadienal, citral, α-methylenecitronellal ("Bergamal"), cinnamaldehyde (cinnamic aldehyde), α-methyl cinnamaldehyde and α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde.
Also, examples of the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds usable as the intermediates for perfumes include derivatives of campholenic aldehyde which are usable as a raw material for perfumes such as "Sandalmysole core", "Bacdanol" and "Sandalore", derivatives of p-isobutyl benzaldehyde which are usable as a raw material for perfumes such as "Suzaral", and derivatives of p-t-butyl benzaldehyde which are usable as a raw material for perfumes such as "Lilial".
These α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds may be produced by various methods. As one of these methods, there is known the method of subjecting a raw aldehyde compound to an intermolecular condensation reaction. In such a method of producing the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound by the intermolecular condensation reaction of the raw aldehyde compound, when two different kinds of aldehyde compounds are subjected to cross aldol condensation in the presence of a known aldol condensation catalyst such as sodium hydroxide, the respective aldehyde compounds individually undergo a condensation reaction of same kinds of aldehyde compounds, so that a selectivity of the aimed α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound by the cross condensation reaction tends to be lowered and, therefore, the purification of the resultant product tends to inevitably become complicated.
There has been described, for example, the method of producing the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound by subjecting (A) an aldehyde compound containing a larger number of carbon atoms and (B) an aldehyde compound containing a smaller number of carbon atoms to a cross condensation in an inert solvent in the presence of an organic acid ammonium salt (for example, refer to JP 2004-513871A).
However, the above conventional method has problems such as a relatively large molar ratio of the aldehyde compound (B) to the aldehyde compound (A) (aldehyde compound (B)/aldehyde compound (A)) ranging from 2.5 to 10, necessity of conducting the condensation reaction in a non-polar solvent capable of forming an azeotropic mixture with water, and unsatisfactory yield of the aimed product. Further, in the above method, as the organic acid ammonium salt catalyst, it is required to use an ammonium salt of a lower organic acid having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as piperidinyl acetate, pyrrolidinium acetate, ammonium acetate, dimethyl ammonium pyridinyl acetate, morpholine acetate, piperidinyl formate and piperidinyl propionate. In Examples of JP 9-216847A, there is disclosed the method for producing an α-alkyl cinnamaldehyde by using acetic acid as a protonic acid and pyrrolidine as an amine.

Process for producing α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds


A translator suitable for use in a computer system provides an interpreter and a translation table defining a state machine. The interpreter steps through the states of the state machine defined in the translation table to perform translation of input characters or codes into output characters or codes. The interpreter is fixed, and does not affect the translation to be performed. The translation function is defined entirely within the translation table, and selecting a different translation table for use by the interpreter selects a different translation function. All of the required actions are defined in the translation table with no additional external procedures being required.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to digital computer systems, and more specifically to character or code translators for use within such systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In digital computer systems, it is often required to translate characters or codes into other characters or codes. The number of characters generated by the translation may be different from the number of input characters. This general translation function may be used with existing data files, and may also be used to interpret characters communicated with input/output devices such as keyboards or printers.
Typically, procedures for performing such translations are uniquely coded for specific applications. If the translation is only between single characters, a look up table may be used. However, if more complex translations are required, such as translation of multiple input characters to one or more output characters, such look up tables are not sufficient. Therefore, the information regarding the translation is generally hard coded into the translation procedure.
When translators are written with a specific task in mind, it is often difficult to modify them for use with other, similar translation tasks. For example, a keyboard decoder can be used to translate keyboard scan codes into characters for input to a computer system. It is known that the alphabets of different countries typically utilize slightly different alphabets, so that different decoders must be written for each country. For a system which is intended for use in numerous countries, the separate generation of different keyboard decoders can be expensive and time consuming, and can lead to the generation of subtle errors which are difficult to track down.
Another problem with hard coded translators is that they may not easily be dynamically changed. As an example, it is sometimes desirable for a user to translate a file written in a first national character set into a file written in a second national character set. Then, translation of either of these files may be desirable into a third national character set. In addition to the requirement that each of the translators be made available, the user must invoke different translators for each translation to be made. This can complicate the job of the user, leading to undesired inefficiencies.
It would be desirable to provide a translation technique which is powerful enough to handle extremely complex translational tasks. It would be further desirable to provide such a translator which can be easily modified dynamically to provide different translation functions.

System and method for character translation

International Business Machines Corporation


An illuminate warning vest with photo diode affixing structure includes a circuitry main board, a photo diode welded on the circuitry main board, and a protective case engaged on the circuitry main board, wherein the circuitry main board having a plurality of welding holes for the photo diode to weld therein and a plurality of affixing holes surrounded the welding holes for the protective case to engage therein. The protective case having a central opening for allowing the light generated from the photo diode to spread out therefrom and comprises a plurality of affixing clips protruded downwardly from an outer rim of the protective case. Flach of the affixing clips has a clip end portion in a wedge shape for engaging into the affixing holes of the circuitry main board respectively, so that the protective case is affixed in place. The illuminate warning vest is especially designed to bring instant attention from other drivers on the road even from far away.

Normally when a vehicle breaks down or has trouble on the road, the driver often try to alert the oncoming traffic to avoid accident by placing a light reflecting triangular warning sign, a warning cone, or a smoke flare behind the troubled vehicle. However, no device is yet designed to alert other drivers where the position of the driver of the troubled vehicle is. During night time, the night vision is often considerably poor. The driver of the break down vehicle would need to step out of the vehicle to place the warning device or walk in to the emergency phone, but since the driver is not easily noticeable, many unfortunate accidents happened during such process each year.
The road construction workers currently have special vest to help themselves being noticeable. The vest that they wore is made of bright color such as yellow or orange, and has many strips of light reflector sewed thereon. Most of the road constructions take place during night hour, because that is the time that has the lightest traffic. However, during night time, the vest that the road construction workers wore can not necessary bring instant attention from other drivers on the road from distances. If the drivers on the road can not see the road construction workers with enough reacting time, the life of the construction workers might be in serious danger, in other word, to bring instant attention to the drivers on the road from distances can avoid many accidents and definitely save life.

Illuminate warning vest with photo diode affixing structure


A light frame (10) that is accessible from one side, while mounted, in order to easily replace content being displayed. The frame (10) includes a transparent front panel (11), a frame (12), a rear panel (18) and a light guide panel (15). In use, the rear panel (18) and light guide panel (15) are displaceable, e.g. by a hinge or releasable connection, from the front panel or frame to provide access from the rear through the frame to content being displayed adjacent to the front panel. When hanging (e.g. by virtue of a cable system) in a shop window, the light frame can be opened from the rear side without having to disassemble it to replace content.

Light frames, also known as light boxes, are common as an advertising display means in retail and service industries. A light frame is typically formed as a sandwich of components, e.g. an outer frame or housing, a transparent front panel, printed graphics material or content, a light source/diffusion and a rear panel. It is also now common to implement a light guide panel (LGP) associated with the light source, intended to optimise the uniformity of light distribution so that the back lighting on the printed material is even, resulting in an attractive and bright front view.
Available LGPs are formed from poly(methylmethacrylate) resin, i.e. PMMA or acrylic, also known by trade names such as Plexiglass™ and Perspex™, as a flat surface upon which a dot/line matrix is either printed or etched. The panel is coupled to a light source at its edge, usually in the form of LEDs or a florescent lamp. The effect of the surface matrix is to reorient the edge-lit source to transmit across the front and rear surfaces. Reorientation of the light can be achieved for example by an internal reflection of the received light.
Artwork is typically printed on a translucent polyester film or equivalent which provides a vivid image in daylight, yet also can be illuminated from behind when the light source is activated.
Double-sided light frames/boxes are known which feature a LGP located centrally, with printed artwork mounted either side thereof, pressed against and visible through front and rear transparent panels. Double-sided light boxes can feature a single LGP or two LGPs back-to-back.
Various light box designs are available, ranging from movie theatre wall mounted advertising to shop window product displays. A particularly popular application is to feature a series of light frame displays in the window of a real estate agent where property photographs and information are displayed to catch the eye of potential buyers. It is usual to mount such displays in a hanging or cluster arrangement close to the windows glass so the display is easily visible from outside. However, a problem encountered with available light boxes is that, when positioned close to a window, access to change the printed material on the window side of the frame is difficult. This is often exacerbated by the presence of support/power cables and the close proximity of adjacent light boxes. In some cases, the lightbox display needs to be dismantled in order to change the printed material.
The requirement to regularly dismantle and reconfigure light frames, e.g. in a window display, is inconvenient and time consuming for the business.


A system and method for interfacing a video subsystem capable of driving a video display monitor to a personal computer (PC) architecture. The system and method involves connecting the video subsystem to a host bus via a host bus video interface. The host bus communicates directly to a central processing unit (CPU) and to a slower system bus through buffers. The central processing unit as well as a system bus master connected to the system bus can communicate at high speeds to the video subsystem. The host bus video interface includes a fast temporary storage buffer so that the CPU or the system bus master, during a write cycle to the video subsystem, can write data at high speed to the video subsystem. The video subsystem may further include SRAM in its video memory to increase performance.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer architecture, and more particularly, to a personal computer architecture having a high performance video subsystem.
II. Related Art
In conventional personal computer (PC) architectures, the central processing unit (CPU), main memory, and other peripheral input/output (I/0) devices, such as keyboards, printers, disk drives, and video subsystems, are commonly interfaced by way of a bus network having a host bus and a system bus. The system bus connects to the host bus via buffers and is generally slower than the host bus. The dual bus network is implemented partially because it was realized early on that most of a PC's time is utilized during computation or during the movement of data between the CPU and the main memory. Consequently, the CPU and the main memory are situated on the faster host bus, while the video subsystem as well as other peripheral I/O devices with varying clock speeds are usually connected to the slower system bus. In this configuration, the main memory is sometimes called the "host" memory because it connects to the architecture via the host bus.
The rationale for interfacing the video subsystem to the system bus is that the video subsystem in the PC industry has been historically considered a noncritical computer subsystem as far as performance is concerned. Performance in this context refers to the speed at which a video display can be updated. More specifically, performance is related to the operational bandwidth that is available to the central processing unit when communicating with the video subsystem.
The rationale for considering the video subsystem a noncritical computer subsystem was originally well founded. Initially, video subsystems drove very low resolution displays in the PC industry and, therefore, did not need to handle high speed block transfers of data. Furthermore, customers were using video displays primarily for very low end graphics applications. Hence, performance was just not a major issue.
As a consequence of the rapidly evolving PC industry, high end PCs have migrated into workstation applications, such as high performance Computer Automated Design (CAD) and engineering workstations, where speed is an extremely critical factor. A demand exists in the marketplace for video subsystems which can drive higher resolution displays with more colors and with three-dimensional capabilities. Video subsystems are being developed to far surpass the performance of previous designs. As originally defined by IBM, a video graphics array (VGA) had 16 colors with a picture element (pixel) resolution of 640 by 480. The new Super VGA standard increases the previous video standard resolution to 1024 by 768 pixels, requiring a very high speed video subsystem.
The usual connection of the video subsystem to the system bus along with other peripheral I/O devices, does not adequately meet the high data block transfer rates needed for the high performance video subsystems. When a peripheral device like a video subsystem wishes to perform a transaction on the system bus, the system bus usually has only a few time slots available, or cycle times, partially because of arbitration protocols. When the video subsystem attempts to retrieve data from the system bus, the access time is lengthened by wait states.
Until the present invention, no PC architecture in the marketplace or elsewhere has interfaced the video subsystem to a high speed, 32-bit or 16-bit host bus in order to achieve high speed data transfers to the video subsystem. In this regard, see N. Baran, "EISA Arrives," Byte Magazine, v. 14, number 12, November 1989 (cover story), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Hose bus video interface in personal computers


A method for creating a virtual slide is provided. A virtual slide is a digital representation of an area of interest of a microscopic slide. One method is to use a motorized microscope that can move a specimen with respect to a microscopic objective. With such a system, one can capture one or more images through a microscopic objective, such that a region of interest is imaged. Each image is then joined together to form a composite or “virtual image.” In one embodiment, after a virtual slide is created, a user may fully utilize the full capabilities of the remote microscope. Among these capabilities is a set of “optical objectives” and “virtual objectives.” Optical objectives are images created by digitizing an image through a microscopic objective in real time. Virtual objectives are digitally created magnifications created by utilizing the existing virtual slide data to digitally create a field of view.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for viewing remote microscope images.
Currently there is increasing demand for pathologist review of samples at remote locations. There exist multiple systems to address this need. They typically fall within one of two categories: live remote microscopy and virtual slide imaging.
In live remote control microscopy, a user receives images that are taken from a slide on a microscope. In virtual slide imaging, a user receives images previously captured. Virtual slide systems take one or more images of an area of interest and assemble them together (if there is more than one image) to form a virtual slide. Each of these techniques has its advantages. Live remote imaging provides users with the closest approximation to manual manipulation. Virtual slides allow faster image viewing, since images are already captured.
Virtual slide systems take one or more images and assemble them to form a "virtual slide."
However, users in the past were limited in their ability to integrate these technologies. One could only view and manipulate live and virtual images independently of one another. A user would have to clumsily go back and forth between these two modes of operation to separately look at the virtual slides and live microscope slides. We present a new method that integrates these ideas into one seamless operating environment.

Intergrated systems and methods of virtual or live microscope slide presentation


Novel secreted and membrane bound tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, antibodies and related compositions and methods are disclosed. The polypeptides may be used for detecting ligands, agonists and antagonists. The polypeptides, polynucleotides and antibodies may also be used in methods that modulate inflammation, tumor growth and metastasis, infection, immunity, and cellular maturation.

Cellular interactions which occur during an immune response are regulated by members of several families of cell surface receptors, including the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family. The TNFR family consists of a number of integral membrane glycoprotein receptors many of which, in conjunction with their respective ligands, regulate interactions between different hematopoietic cell lineages (Smith et al., The TNF Receptor Superfamily of Cellular and Viral Proteins: Activation, Costimulation and Death, 76:959–62, 1994; Cosman, Stem Cells 12:440–55, 1994).
The TNF receptor family is composed of a number of type I integral membrane glycoproteins which exhibit sequence homology, particularly with respect to cysteine-rich repeats in their extracellular domains. The TNF receptor family includes p75 NGFR (Johnson et al., Cell 47:545–54, 1989), p55 TNFR-I (Loetscher et al., Cell 61:351–59, 1990), p75 TNFR-II (Schall et al., Cell 61:361–70, 1990), TNFR-RP/TNFR-III (Crowe et al. Science 264:707–10, 1994), CD27 (Camerini et al., J. Immunol. 147:3165–69, 1991), CD30 (Falini et al., Blood 85:1–14, 1995), CD40 (Clark and Lane, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9:97–127, 1991), 4-1BB (Kwon and Weissman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1963–67, 1989; Schwarz et al., Gene 134:295–298, 1993), OX40 (Malletet al., EMBO J. 9:1063–68, 1990), FAS/APO-1 (Itoh et al., Cell 66:233–43, 1991), DR3 (Chinnaiyan et al., Science 274:990–92, 1996) also known as WSL-1 (Kitson et al., Nature 384:327–75, 1996), DR4 (Pan et al., Science 276:111–13, 1997), DR5 (Pan et al., Science 277:815–8, 1997; Sheridan et al., Science 277:818–21, 1997), osteoprotegerin (OPG) (Simonet et al., Cell 89:309–19, 1997; Human Genome Science, WIPO Publication WO96/28546), CAR1, found in chickens (Brojatsch et al., Cell 87:845–55, 1996), TRID or DcR1 (Pan et al., Science 277:815–8, 1997; Sheridan et al., Science 277:818–21, 1997) plus several viral open reading frames encoding TNFR-related molecules. NGFR, TNFR-I, CD30, CD40, 4-1BB, DR3 and OX40 are mainly restricted to cells of the lymphoid/hematopoietic system. TNFR-I, TNFR-II, TNFR-III and DR4 are found in most human tissues.
Members of the TNF receptor family are characterized by a multi-domain structure comprising an extracellular region, a transmembrane domain, a linker region between the extracellular ligand-binding region and the transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain, which in several members of this family (TNFR 1, Fas, DR3, DR4, DR5, CAR1 and low affinity NGFR) contains a death domain associated with apoptosis. One member, TRID or DcR1 (Pan et al., Science 277:815–8, 1997; Sheridan et al., ibid.) has a hydrophobic N-terminus with cysteine rich repeats #2 and #3 followed by five tandem repeats of 15 amino acid residues which concludes with a transmembrane domain. The extracellular ligand-binding region is characterized by the presence of one to six cysteine-rich motifs each containing about six cysteines and approximately 40 amino acids, although variation in the size and number of these motifs occurs among members of this family. The cysteine-rich regions provide the motif for binding to shared structures in the ligands. The highest degree of homology among the TNFR family members is within this extracellular cysteine-rich region. Among human TNFRs the average homology is in the range of 25% to 30%. Between the last cysteine-rich repeat and the transmembrane domain is a small spacer region of between 8 to 70 amino acid residues. Cell surface TNF receptors are anchored in the cell membrane by a transmembrane domain characterized by a sequence of hydrophobic amino acid residues. On the opposite end of the protein from the extracellular ligand-binding region and separated from it by the transmembrane domain is the cytoplasmic domain. The cytoplasmic domains of TNFR family members are small, from 46 to 221 amino acid residues, which suggests possible differences in the signaling mechanisms among family members. In the TNF receptor for example, activation is triggered by the aggregation of cytoplasmic domains of three receptors when their corresponding extracellular domains bind to trimeric ligand.
One member of the TNF receptor family, osteoprotegerin (Simonet et al., ibid.), is unique in that it is a secreted protein. Soluble forms of other TNF receptors have been described for TNFR-I, TNFR-II, low-affinity NGFR, FAS, CD27, CD30, CD40 and 4-1BB, but these were generated either by cleaving from the cell membrane or secreted by alternatively spliced mRNA. OPG inhibits osteoclast maturation and it is thought that it might serve to regulate bone density by modulating osteoclast differentiation from hematopoietic precursors. OPG provided protection from normal osteoclast remodeling and ovariectomy-associated bone loss.
Ligands for these receptors have been identified, and with one exception (NGF) belong to the TNF ligand family. The members of the TNF ligand family share approximately 20% sequence identity in the extracellular ligand-binding regions, and exist mainly as type II membrane glycoproteins, biologically active as trimeric or multimeric complexes. This group includes TNF, LT-a, LT-b (Browning et al., Cell 72:847–56, 1993), CD27L (Goodwin et al., Cell 73:447–56, 1993), CD30L (Smith et al., Cell 73:1349–60, 1993), CD40L (Armitage et al., Nature 357:80–82, 1992), 4-1BBL (Goodwin et al., Eur. J, Immunol. 23:2631–41, 1993), OX40L (Godfrey et al., J. Exp. Med. 180:757–62, 1994), TRAIL or apo-2 (Wiley et al., Immunity 3:673–82, 1995), TNFg (Human Genome Sciences, WIPO Publication WO96/14328) and FasL (Cosman, ibid., Lotz et al., J. Leuko. Biol. 60:1–7, 1996). Soluble ligand forms have been identified for TNF, LT-a and FasL. It is not known whether a specific protease cleaves each ligand, releasing it from the membrane, or whether one protease serves the same function for all TNF ligand family members. TACE (TNF-alpha converting enzyme) has been shown to cleave TNF (Moss et al., Nature 385:733–36, 1997; Black et al., Nature 385:729–33, 1997). No other such enzymes are known.
The X-ray crystallographic structures have been resolved for human TNF (Jones et al., Nature 338:225–28, 1989), LT-a (Eck et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267:2119–122, 1992) and the LT-a/TNFR complex (Banner et al., Cell 73:431–45, 1993). This complex features three receptor molecules bound symmetrically to one LT-a trimer. A model of trimeric ligand binding through receptor oligomerization has been proposed to initiate signal transduction pathways. The identification of biological activity of several TNF members has been facilitated through use of monoclonal antibodies specific for the corresponding receptor. These monoclonal antibodies tend to be stimulatory when immobilized and antagonistic in soluble form. This is further evidence that receptor crosslinking is a prerequisite for signal transduction in this receptor family. Importantly, the use of receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies or soluble receptors in the form of multimeric Ig fusion proteins has been useful in determining biological function in vitro and in vivo for several family members. Soluble receptor-Ig fusion proteins have been used successfully in the cloning of the cell surface ligands corresponding to the CD40, CD30, CD27, 4-1BB and Fas receptors.
In general, the members of the tumor necrosis factor ligand family mediate interactions between different hematopoietic cells, such as T cell/B cell, T cell/monocyte and T cell/T cell interactions. The result of this two-way communication can be stimulatory or inhibitory, depending on the target cell or the activation state. These TNF proteins are involved in regulation of cell proliferation, activation and differentiation, including control of cell survival or death by apoptosis or cytotoxicity. One member of this family, OX-40, is restricted to T cells where it acts as a costimulatory receptor. However, among the TNFR family members there are differences in distribution, kinetics of induction and requirements for induction, which support a defined role for each of the ligands in T cell-mediated immune responses.
The demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activities of these TNF receptor ligand family members illustrate the enormous clinical potential of, and need for, other TNF receptors, TNF ligands, TNFR agonists, and TNFR antagonists. The present invention addresses this need by providing a novel TNF receptor and related compositions and methods.


An audio loudspeaker system is provided which consists of an enclosure having a front wall, a rear wall with a plurality of circular openings, a pair of side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. A plurality of loudspeaker components are supported on the front wall of the enclosure for radiating sound energy therethrough and having varying frequency ranges. A plurality of tubular ducts are supported in the circular openings in the rear wall and extend inwardly into the enclosure to exhibit a tuned acoustic frequency to the loudspeaker components having the lowest frequency ranges.

The instant invention relates generally to sound reproducing units and more specifically it relates to an audio loudspeaker system.
Numerous sound reproducing units have been provided in the prior art that have attempted to improve the fidelity of sound for the reproduction of recordings, broadcasts and live entertainment. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,159 to Schott; 4,266,092 to Barker III and 4,410,063 to Yasue et al. all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purpose of the present invention as hereafter described.


The present invention relates to formulations and methods for preventing and treating restenosis following angioplasty. This is accomplished by the regimented administration of a composition which includes selected antioxidants.

Angioplasty is a technique whereby an artery clogged by an atherosclerotic plaque and/or thrombus is mechanically cleared. Angioplasty procedures are much less invasive and much less traumatic than conventional alternatives such as coronary bypass surgery and have gained widespread acceptance as a means of obtaining dilation or clearance of arteries. In conventional angioplasty procedures, a small balloon-tipped catheter is introduced into an artery, often using a guide wire or a catheter tube in which a collapsed balloon may be positioned at one or more points of arterial stenosis, i.e. narrowing. These balloon and catheter assemblies are often referred to as coronary balloon dilation catheters. In many cases, the catheters are designed to permit continued distal dye injections through the balloon to permit visual verification of proper approach to a lesion or other area in which the procedure is to be employed.
However, it is also well known that angioplasty procedures involve risks of both local and systemic thromboembolic effects, tearing of an arterial wall, and restenosis. As used herein, restenosis refers to a worsening of lumenal stenosis in an artery which is characterized by a hyperplasia of cells of the arterial wall, resulting from an injury to the arterial wall which is a direct consequence of the angioplastic procedure. In this respect, restenosis differs notably from an occlusion of the artery by an arterial atherosclerotic plaque or occlusion by thrombus. In fact, restenosis within a few months (3-6 months) after angioplasty occurs in about 25 to about 55% of patients so treated, depending on a number of variables including, but not limited to age, sex, previous angioplastic procedures, extent of the narrowing, number of arteries involved, smoking, nutrition, diabetes mellitus and activity patterns.
While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, restenosis may result from the body's natural recuperative response to any internal injury. Specifically, restenosis might be explained as the uncontrolled accumulation of macrophage cells and platelets generally involved in the natural healing processes of the body. Macrophages are amoeboid cells and engulf tissue debris, microbes and foreign particles. Platelets are fragments of a type of bone marrow cell and do not have a nucleus; they are involved principally in blood coagulation. These cells and platelets accumulate in the area injured by angioplasty and tend to form a protective barrier to cover the inner lining of the arterial site which has had fibrotic, calcific and fatty debris pushed into the wall by the dilated balloon. The macrophage cells and platelets also begin an oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid to form a variety of compounds including prostaglandins, thromboxane A.sub.2, leucotrienes, and related oxidation products. Some of these compounds are chemo-attractants and cause platelets, macrophage cells and white blood cells to accumulate in the arterial wall at the angioplasty site. Once activated through the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid, the macrophage cells and platelets produce additional products including cytokines, platelet-derived growth factor, and macrophage-derived growth factor (PDGF and MDGF respectively). These cytokines and factors act to stimulate not only the further accumulation of platelets, white blood cells and macrophage cells but also the cell division of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Certain prostaglandins, as well as PDGF and MDGF, are potent activators of cell mitosis and division. If left unchecked, eventual occlusion, i.e. restenosis, results in 3-6 months.
There is additional evidence to suggest that these restenosis processes may be mediated by a highly reactive class of compounds known as free radicals. Restenosis is therefore believed to involve an increase in concentrations of free radicals, beyond the level present in undamaged tissues. Free radicals contain an unpaired electron in an outer orbital and are consequently unstable and attack other molecules in order to obtain electrons to complete their electron orbitals. The hyperplasia (cell division of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts) which characterizes restenosis may be triggered through a sequence of events initiated by the destructive free radical moieties generated by injury to the arterial wall during the angioplasty procedure. Traumatic injuries are known to cause destructive free radicals. These free radical moities may include such molecules as perioxidized lipids and oxidized cholesterol molecules which may be generated during the metabolic conversion of arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated lipids as previously described. Furthermore, cholesterol is more rapidly oxidized in the presence of lipid peroxides, as formed from arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturates. In addition, lipid peroxide free radicals formed in response to vascular injury increase thromboxane A2 synthesis by platelets. Thromboxane A2 is a powerful vasoconstrictor which also stimulates platelet adherence and aggregation. These phenomena, acting in concert, may explain restenosis.
It has been common to use injections of heparin and various known calcium blockers as well as such compounds as aspirin, persantine, and intravenous dextran in an attempt to minimize the complications often attendant to such angioplasty.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,732, issued in the name of Shell et al., suggests the application of prostaglandin E-1 to reduce dysfunction in an angioplasty procedure. Certain prostaglandin compounds have been suggested for their effectiveness in providing antiplatelet effects and antithrombotic effects.
The remaining procedures for the prevention and/or treatment of restenosis involve the use of mechanical/surgical procedures such as intravascular stenting, a procedure in which an expandable metallic sleeve is placed within the artery after angioplasty. Unfortunately this method places a patient in higher risk for acute coronary occlusion, in addition to the risks that additional surgical procedures pose.
The antioxidant properties of the tripeptide glutathione are known in the art, yet its use in human treatment has been limited to the treatment of viral infections, hepatic disorders, pernicious anemia, heavy metal poisoning, and as an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy, See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,146,165, 4,689,347, 4,229,468 and 4,762,705. Glutathione has also been used experimentally by aerosol instillation in patients with AIDS, to suppress recurrence of severe pneumonias (Buhl, et al., The Lancet, Dec. 2, 1989 pp. 1294-1298). It has also been used in cosmetic preparations and for weight loss as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,229,468, 3,984,569 and 4,460,978 and as a food or cosmetic preservative. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,009,264, 4,751,285, 4,761,399 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,235.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), beta carotene, (precursor to Vitamin A) and the B vitamins have been used in various multi-vitamin compositions to promote general health. Vitamins of these general classes have also been used in combination with other compounds in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, for the temporary stimulation of urine production, for desensitizing the gastro intestinal tract from food allergies, for the treatment of liver disorders, for treatment of cuts, burns and abrasions, for the treatment of inflammatory changes of the bronchial mucosa, and for relief in pain as has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,829, 4,760,080, 4,721,716, 4,761,399, 4,784842, 4,606,920, and 4,650,688. Vitamins have also been used in food preparations as a method for preventing rancidification.
Multivitamin and mineral supplements including bioflavonids, L-glutathione and L-cysteine have been suggested for use in preventing cancer, preventing cardiovascular and immunological disorders and for increasing longevity. See WO 91/11117. The use of dietary antioxidants together with a methionine compound to ameliorate inflammatory symptoms of respiratory disease has also been suggested. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,850.
Despite the dramatic advances in cardiac surgery and care realized in recent years, there remains a need for effective, inexpensive, non-surgical techniques for the prevention and treatment of restenosis. In the United States, approximately 300,000 angioplasties were carried out in 1989, and a significant number of patients will restenose.

Pharmaceutically active antioxidant containing composition and the method of its use to prevent and treat restenosis following angioplasty


A satellite, in particular a telecommunication satellite, comprises a structure having a north face and a south face that are oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the Earth and an east face and a west face that are periodically exposed to solar radiation as the satellite orbits the Earth. The structure supports equipment dissipating heat, the north, south, east and west faces constituting radiator panels that radiate into space heat dissipated by the equipment. The satellite comprises at least one shelf to support the equipment and a heat transfer for transferring heat dissipated by the equipment to the north, south, east and west radiator panels and comprising at last one capillary pumped two-phase fluid loop comprising at least one evaporator thermally connected to the equipment supported by the shelf, a heat exchange fluid circulation branch being associated with each of the north, south, east and west faces, and each branch comprising a heat exchange fluid condenser thermally connected to the face with which that branch is associated.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a satellite, in particular a telecommunication satellite, intended to be placed in a geostationary orbit, and comprising a structure having a north face and a south face oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the Earth and an east face and a west face that are periodically exposed to solar radiation as the satellite orbits the Earth, said structure supporting equipment dissipating heat, the north, south, east and west faces constituting radiator panels that radiate the heat dissipated by the equipment into space.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Telecommunication satellites are used to transmit diverse signals (audio, video, data, etc.) from one point on the globe to another. They carry a payload consisting primarily of electronic equipment that dissipates excess heat that must be rejected into the surrounding vacuum by radiation.
It is conventional to use the N/S faces as radiator panels to dissipate the excess heat, because these panels are at the lowest temperatures. Because of the equatorial orbit of the satellite, the solar energy is at a minimum on the N/S faces, whereas the other four faces are exposed directly to solar radiation during a portion of the orbit of the satellite around the Earth. The N/S panels can be thermally coupled to reduce temperature fluctuations and improve heat rejection.
However, as there is a requirement to increase the payload of new generation satellites, the capacity of the N/S panels is no longer sufficient. It is for this reason that attempts have been made to increase the heat rejection capacity.
To this end, U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,887 (Loral Inc.) proposes using the E/W faces as radiator panels in addition to the N/S panels. As these faces are exposed to strong variations of solar radiation during an orbit of the satellite around the Earth, the above document teaches coupling them thermally by means of heat pipes to reduce the temperature variations, which can be further reduced by feeding heat to the points at the lowest temperatures by simultaneously coupling the east/west/Earth/anti-Earth faces by means of looped heat pipes. Equipment is mounted directly on the east and west faces and possibly also on the Earth and anti-Earth faces.
In a system of the above type, the temperature of the equipment depends directly on the temperature of the radiator panels with which it is in contact, so that it is necessary to dedicate a greater or lesser proportion of the heat rejection capacity of the satellite to cooling the panels exposed to solar radiation. This reduces the rejection capacity available for the equipment. Furthermore, it is necessary to heat the radiator panels at certain times, to reduce the equipment temperature variations, and this increases the average operating temperature of the equipment.

Satellite comprising means for transferring heat from a shelf supporting equipment to radiator panels


Provided are a vehicle positioning method, an apparatus and a device. The method includes: sending an auxiliary positioning request to an auxiliary positioning device within a preset distance range; receiving an auxiliary positioning message returned by the auxiliary positioning device with respect to the auxiliary positioning request, where the auxiliary positioning message carries location information of the auxiliary positioning device; and determining a current location of a current vehicle according to the location information of the auxiliary positioning device and distance information between the current vehicle and the auxiliary positioning device. The method of the present disclosure can implement vehicle positioning without a satellite positioning signal. The vehicle positioning can be performed when the vehicle is blocked by an obstacle such as a tunnel, a building and the satellite positioning signal cannot be received, improving the accuracy of the vehicle positioning.

Autonomous vehicles or self-piloting automobiles, which are also known as driverless vehicles, computer-driven cars, or wheeled mobile robots, are smart cars that are unmanned by computer systems. Vehicle positioning plays an important role in the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. Only by accurately locating a current location of the vehicle can a path planning be carried out according to a corresponding high-precision map.
The existing vehicle positioning methods for autonomous vehicles use a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to determine a specific location of the vehicle. For example, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Beidou Navigation Satellite System and a GLONASS Navigation Satellite System, and the like, may be used to provide positioning, navigation and timing services for all types of users all weather and around the clock all over the world. However, in places such as tunnels, urban roads with dense buildings or avenues, the vehicle is blocked by an obstacle such as a tunnel, a building, resulting in that the vehicle fails to receive a satellite positioning signal or the satellite positioning signal is weak, and thus the positioning of the vehicle is inaccurate, or even it is impossible to perform vehicle positioning.

Vehicle positioning method, apparatus and device

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An electronic ballast (10) comprising an AC-to-DC converter (100), an inverter (200), an output circuit (400), a high-voltage detection circuit (500), and a no-load detection suit (600). The inverter (200) includes an inverter control circuit (300) that monitors the lamp(s) via the high-voltage detection circuit (500) and the no-load detection circuit (600), and that terminates inverter switching in response to various lamp-fault conditions such as "diode-mode" behavior. Inverter control circuit (300) also provides for automatic ignition of a replaced lamp and may be economically implemented as a single integrated circuit.

Electronic ballasts typically include an inverter that provides high frequency current for efficiently powering gas discharge lamps. Inverters are generally classified according to switching topology (e.g., half-bridge or push-pull) and the method used to control commutation of the inverter switches (e.g., driven or self-oscillating). In many types of electronic ballasts, the inverter provides a square wave output voltage. The square wave output voltage is processed by a resonant output circuit that provides high voltage for igniting the lamps and a magnitude-limited current for powering the lamps.
When the lamps fail, are removed, or otherwise cease to operate in a normal fashion, it is highly desirable that the inverter be shut down or at least shifted to a different mode of operation. This is necessary in order to minimize power dissipation, reduce heating in the ballast, and protect the inverter transistors from damage due to excessive voltage, current, and heat. Circuits that shut down or alter the operation of the inverter in response to lamp removal or failure are customarily referred to as inverter protection circuits.
Several existing types of protection circuits utilize a current path through the lamp filaments to detect lamp removal or failure. This approach alone is inadequate for those situations in which a lamp fails to operate in a normal manner, but its filaments remain intact, such as what occurs with "degassed" and "diode mode" lamps. Furthermore, if multiple lamps are present, and if a single current path through the filaments of all the lamps is used, the inverter may be shut down even if only one filament of a given lamp fails but the remaining lamps are operational and with their filaments intact. This is unnecessary and undesirable, since it is preferred to have the inverter continue to operate so that the remaining operational lamps may continue to provide illumination, thus obviating any urgent need for replacement of the single failed lamp.
Many existing inverter protection circuits respond to a lamp fault condition by shutting down the inverter and then keeping the inverter off for as long as power is applied to the ballast. With such protection circuits, after replacement of a failed lamp with an operational lamp, it is required that power to the ballast be turned off and then on again (i.e., "cycled") in order to effect ignition and powering of the lamps in the fixture which was relamped. This limitation poses a considerable inconvenience in many environments, such as offices and factories, in which a large number of ballasts are often connected in the same branch circuit. In such environments, it is often necessary to momentarily interrupt the lighting in a large area in order to restore desired operation to even a single lighting fixture after one or more of its lamps are replaced.
It is therefore apparent that a need exists for an inverter protection circuit that provides protection of the inverter switches and other ballast components under various lamp failure modes, such as lamp removal or a degassed lamp, and that also allows the inverter to continue to operate when at least one operational lamp is present and when the failed lamps present no danger to the inverter. In addition, a need exists for a relamping circuit that, following lamp replacement, provides ignition and powering of the lamps in an automatic manner and without any need for cycling the power to the ballast.
A number of protection circuits attempt to detect diode-mode behavior of a lamp by monitoring the voltage across one or more components of the resonant output circuit. For example, a common approach is to unidirectionally monitor the voltage across the resonant capacitor, wherein an abnormally high positive voltage is interpreted as an indication of diode-mode behavior. A drawback of this approach is that it fails to detect those cases in which a diode-mode lamp causes a negative overvoltage condition, but not a positive overvoltage condition, across the resonant capacitor. Thus, a need exists for a detection circuit that more completely provides detection of diode-mode behavior by monitoring the output circuit for both positive and negative overvoltage conditions.
Many existing protection circuits require a large number of discrete components. This makes the ballast physically large, materially expensive, and difficult to manufacture. It is highly desirable to have a protection circuit that employs only a modest amount of discrete circuitry and that incorporates the greater portion of the protection circuitry in an inverter control circuit that is suited for implementation as an integrated circuit. Such a protection circuit would significantly enhance the reliability and manufacturability of the resulting ballast and would thus represent a considerable advance over the prior art.

Electronic Ballast with inverter protection circuit


An orthodontic spring system is provided for primary intended use with conventional fixed appliance systems. The orthodontic spring system includes one or more orthodontic spring devices that may actively grip a fixed orthodontic appliance during use for enhanced delivery of aligning forces and tooth/root control. The orthodontic spring devices may include two or more spring segments for applying tooth aligning forces in transverse directions. Additionally, the orthodontic springs may include one or more bends to provide for deflection of adjacent springs portions, twisting, wherein the orthodontic spring devices may be used to apply alignment forces in three different planes. The orthodontic springs are provided such that, when the maloccluded teeth to be repositioned have assumed their desired position, the interconnected springs will assume a substantially inactive state. Use of the inventive system provides for rapid, bio-mechanically induced tooth rotation, tooth inclination, tooth intrusion/extrusion and tooth axis movement as may be desired for a given situation.

Developments in the field of orthodontics continue to provide orthodontists with an ever-increasing number of competing options to address patient needs. In turn, such competing options have resulted in varying expectations and treatment plans.
Despite such variations, however, competing fixed orthodontia options continue to have many similarities. That is, conventional fixed orthodontic systems all utilize brackets, buccal tubes or similar fixed appliances secured to individual teeth and an arch wire passing therebetween, most commonly through bracket slots and/or ligated to the bracket tie wing(s). In some instances, the arch wire is preformed and/or additional accessories are interconnected to the brackets to apply the desired alignment forces. In the case of edgewise brackets, significant advances have been made in relation to angulation of the mesial-distal arch wire slot for purposes of more effectively "tipping" the root of a tooth to correct crown angle and more effectively applying torque to address inclination objectives.
It has been recognized, however, that slot-oriented approaches can provide only a marginal degree of control over the movement of the root of a tooth and are otherwise unable to realize optimal lingual-buccal tooth positioning. Additionally, slot-oriented approaches yield a range of achievable tipping, spreading and eruption/intrusion that may be insufficient to address severely malposed teeth. Consequently, such approaches can result in stop-go treatment progress, which can delay and otherwise impede the overall efficacy of treatment.


Polymer are removed from organic solvent-polymer mixtures by preparing a liquid-liquid dispersion of finely dispersed solvent droplets containing polymer in water, adding this liquid-liquid dispersion to a stirred vessel containing water or other suitable liquid and rapidly evaporating the solvent to produce a slurry of the polymer in a liquid from which the solid polymer particles are recovered.

This invention relates to a method for recovering polymer resins from solution. More particularly, it relates to a process for isolating a polymer resin from a liquid-liquid dispersion that is formed by admixing an aqueous fluid with an organic solvent that contains the dissolved polymer.
Several methods are currently used to recover polymer resins from solution. Some of the methods are energy intensive and require large quantities of steam to accomplish removal of the solvent. Other methods require high viscosity process equipment which require a high investment cost. Further, the residual solvent contained in the product powder or particles is difficult to remove.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,172 discloses the production of polycarbonate resin particles having high bulk density that are produced by a process in which a polymer solution, or polymer solution-water mixture are fed into an agitation tank containing water the temperature of which is higher than the boiling point of the solvent methylene chloride. The methylene chloride evaporates and the polycarbonate is recovered in the form of an aqueous slurry. This process has the disadvantage that the polycarbonate often agglomerates, producing a large sticky mass prior to precipitation, leading to difficulties in processing. In the process described above, an off-tank wet pulverizer is used to grind the large sticky mass of polycarbonate produced upon evaporation of the methylene chloride.
In another polymer isolation scheme the polymer solution is added to a non-solvent resulting in the precipitation of the polymer. The polymer is then collected. This technique necessitates the use of large quantities of the non-solvent and ultimately the separation of the non-solvent solvent mixture. Moreover, a portion of the product polymer may be soluble in the non-solvent solvent mixture occasioning loss of product.
The utilization of high viscosity process equipment is another solution to the problem of agglomeration.
It would be desirable to develop a process for the recovery of polymers in solution which avoids the use of high shear agitation in the solvent removal step and large quantities of non-solvent, and minimizes energy consumption and the use of special equipment. The present invention overcomes these limitations on the recovery of polymers from organic mixtures.

Polycarbonate isolation through homogenization devolatization


A swivel commode chair, including a base, where the base includes an opening, a stationary frame, where the base is rotatably connected to the stationary frame, a number of elongated members extending downward from the stationary frame, and a bucket removably connected to the stationary frame. A method of a person using a swivel commode chair, including sitting on a base of the swivel commode chair, and depositing human waste through an opening in the base into a bucket removably connected to the swivel commode chair.

People with short-term injuries, long-term injuries, or that are elderly often have mobility issues that prevent them from walking or travelling to a typical bathroom with toilets. While catheters can help a person urinate while in bed, a person still has trouble when they have to expel excrement (feces).
Presently, bed pans are used for bedridden patients or people that cannot travel to the bathroom. However, using a bed pan is often hard for a person to use independently, often relying on a nurse or other person to aid in the process. Using a bedpan can be quite embarrassing and humiliating for someone to use due to the assistance required to go to the bathroom.
In some cases, a person is able to move from the bed but cannot travel to the bathroom. Being able to exit the bed gives the patient the ability to use the bathroom in a standard manner, i.e., sitting in an upright position on a toilet seat to expel human waste. It is normal for the patient to use a bathroom while sitting, as opposed to a catheter or bed pan while laying in a bed.
Currently, there is a need for a device that will allow people who can exit a bed to use a restroom, or pseudo restroom, while in a typical sitting position. A need exists to help people that are not mobile enough to travel to the bathroom but can exit a bed to a chair. Especially if the chair is positioned near the bed.
As can be derived from the variety of devices and methods directed at helping bedridden people expel human waste, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., catheters and bed pans. Heretofore, tradeoffs between humility and comfort were required. Thus, there is a long-felt need for a device that allows a person to sit and expel their human waste when unable to travel to a bathroom. There is a further long-felt need for a device that allows each user to expel their human waste into a bucket on a chair and have the human waste discarded. There is also a long-felt need for a method to sit on a chair to expel human waste through an opening in the chair and into a removable bucket.


A method and an apparatus for control of engine fuel injection are characterized by detecting the state of the acceleration of the engine and also judging whether or not the engine is in a specific acceleration state, by, when the engine is judged to be in a specific state of acceleration, using such a value as a crank shaft angle obtained in advance in order to predict the air mass flow rate of the air flowing into a specific cylinder having undergone a fuel injection, by using the predicted air mass flow rate or the crank shaft angle to determine a proper asynchronous fuel injection quantity for the above-mentioned acceleration state for the specific cylinder, and then by performing an asynchronous injection. In this way, it is possible to calculate the shortage of fuel occurring with the synchronous injection even at the early stage of acceleration by using various variables so as to determine a proper supplemental fuel supply quantity (asynchronous injection quantity) for achieving a desired air fuel ratio in various drive modes.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling engine fuel injection, and is particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for asynchronous injection in an electronic controller of an automobile engine.
An electronic controller of an automobile engine controls the quantity of a gasoline injection in accordance with the air mass which flows into the engine in response to the angle of the accelerator pedal so as to obtain a theoretical air fuel ratio. In other words, it obtains the air mass flow rate of the air flowing into the cylinder, uses an electric circuit such as a microprocessor to obtain a required fuel quantity and then controls the quantity of fuel injection. In the fuel injection control by conventional electronic engine controllers, especially for fuel injection control during acceleration of the automobile, to make up for the shortage of fuel occurring with a synchronous injection during acceleration, an asynchronous injection is performed by using a compensation coefficient obtained by table lookup whose parameter is the throttle opening angle variation, as described on pages 116 to 117 of "Electronic Controlled Gasoline Injection," Sankaido, May 5, 1987.
According to the technique shown in the above-mentioned text, for every engine model a table must be produced by trial-and-error, search of table data with throttle opening angle variations used as one of the parameters. Therefore, such a technique has the disadvantage that a large number of processes are needed for producing the table.
In the first place, the shortage of fuel to be made up for by an asynchronous injection should be specified as a value equivalent to the difference between the air mass flow rate of the air actually drawn into the engine and the air mass flow rate of the air used for calculating the synchronous injection. For this purpose, it is necessary to directly or indirectly use the time of acceleration and the responding air mass flow rate at the inlet port during the early stage of acceleration. However, conventionally no attention has been paid to the time of acceleration in relation to an induction stroke, and the quantity of asynchronous injection has been calculated in most cases by using only an opening angle variation, with the result that excessive or insufficient asynchronous injections still occur with shifts in the time of acceleration. Therefore, prior art attempts have the disadvantage that it is impossible to determine a proper asynchronous injection quantity for achieving a desired air fuel ratio in various drive modes.

Method and apparatus for control of engine fuel injection


Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to enhanced packet load shedding mechanisms implemented in various network devices. In one implementation, the present invention enables a selective load shedding mechanism that intelligently discards packets to allow or facilitate management access during DoS attacks or other high traffic events. In one implementation, the present invention is directed to a selective load shedding mechanism that, while shedding load necessary to allow a network device to operate appropriately, does not attempt to control traffic flows, which allows for other processes to process, classify, diagnose and/or monitor network traffic during high traffic volume periods. In another implementation, the present invention provides a packet load shedding mechanism that reduces the consumption of system resources during periods of high network traffic volume.

Enterprises have become increasingly dependent on computer network infrastructures to provide services and accomplish mission-critical tasks. Indeed, the performance, security, and efficiency of these network infrastructures have become critical as enterprises increase their reliance on distributed computing environments and wide area computer networks. To that end, a variety of network devices have been created to provide data gathering, reporting, and/or operational functions, such as firewalls, gateways, packet capture devices, bandwidth management devices, application traffic monitoring devices, and the like. For example, the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is widely implemented throughout the world-wide data communications network environment called the Internet and many wide and local area networks, omits any explicit supervisory function over the rate of data transport over the various devices that comprise the network. While there are certain perceived advantages, this characteristic has the consequence of juxtaposing very high-speed packets and very low-speed packets in potential conflict and produces certain inefficiencies. Certain loading conditions degrade performance of networked applications and can even cause instabilities which could lead to overloads that could stop data transfer temporarily. In response, certain data flow rate control mechanisms have been developed to provide a means to control and optimize efficiency of data transfer as welt as allocate available bandwidth among a variety of business enterprise functionalities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,216 discloses a method for explicit data rate control in a packet-based network environment without data rate supervision. Data rate control directly moderates the rate of data transmission from a sending host, resulting in just-in-time data transmission to control inbound traffic and reduce the inefficiencies associated with dropped packets. Bandwidth management devices allow for explicit data rate control for flows associated with a particular traffic classification. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,000, above, discloses automatic classification of network traffic for use in connection with bandwidth allocation mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,980 discloses systems and methods allowing for application layer control of bandwidth utilization in packet-based computer networks. For example, bandwidth management devices allow network administrators to specify policies operative to control and/or prioritize the bandwidth allocated to individual data flows according to traffic classifications. In addition, network security is another concern, such as the detection of computer viruses, as well as prevention of Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks on, or unauthorized access to, enterprise networks. Accordingly, firewalls and other network devices are deployed at the edge of such networks to filter packets and perform various operations in response to a security threat. In addition, packet capture and other network data gathering devices are often deployed at the edge of, as well as at other strategic points in, a network to allow network administrators to monitor network conditions.
Enterprises network topologies can span a vast array of designs and connection schemes depending on the enterprise's resource requirements, the number of locations or offices to connect, desired service levels, costs and the like. A given enterprise often must support multiple LAN or WAN segments that support headquarters, branch offices and other operational and office facilities. Indeed, enterprise network design topologies often include multiple, interconnected LAN and WAN segments in the enterprise's intranet, and multiple paths to extranets and the Internet. Enterprises that cannot afford the expense of private leased-Lines to develop their own WANs, often employ frame relay, or other packet switched networks, together with Virtual Private Networking (VPN) technologies to connect private enterprise sites via a service provider's public network or the Internet. Some enterprises also use VPN technology to create extranets with customers, suppliers, and vendors. These network topologies often require the deployment of a variety of network devices at each remote facility. In addition, some network systems are end-to-end solutions, such as application traffic optimizers using compression tunnels, requiring network devices at each end of a communications path between, for example, a main office and a remote facility.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks are a common concern among network administrators. For example, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is one in which a multitude of compromised hosts attack a single target, such as a web server, by transmitting large numbers of packets to deny service for legitimate users of the targeted system. Specifically, the veritable flood of incoming messages to the targeted system essentially forces it to shut down, thereby denying services of the system to legitimate users. A hacker, for example, may implement a DDoS attack by identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in various end systems that are reachable over the Internet. For example, a hacker may identify a vulnerability in one end system connected to a network, making it the DDoS "master." It is from the master system that the intruder identifies and communicates with other systems connected to the network that can be compromised. The DDoS master installs hacking tools on multiple, compromised systems. With a single command, the hacker can instruct the compromised hosts to launch one of many DoS attacks against specified target systems.
The DoS attacks launched by the compromised systems can take a variety of forms. Common forms of denial of service attacks, for example, include buffer overflow attacks and SYN attacks. In a buffer overflow attack, compromised systems send more network traffic to a network address than the data buffers supporting the targeted system can handle. Certain buffer overflow attacks exploit known characteristics of the buffers supporting a given network application, such as email servers. For example, a common buffer overflow attack is to send email messages with attachments having large file names. The large attachment file names quickly flood the buffer associated with common email applications. Other buffer overflow attacks involve the transmission of other types of packets, such as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets and Distributed-Component Object Model (DCOM) packets.
So-called SYN attacks are also common. When a session is initiated between a Transport Control Program (TCP) client and TCP server, a very small buffer space exists to handle the usually rapid "hand-shake" messages that sets up the TCP connection. The session-establishing packets include a SYN field that identifies the sequence in the message exchange. An attacker can send a number of connection requests very rapidly and then fail to respond to the reply. This leaves the first packet in the buffer so that other, legitimate connection requests cannot be accommodated. Although the packet in the buffer is dropped after a certain period of time without a reply, the effect of many of bogus SYN packets is to make it difficult for legitimate requests for a session to get established.
In addition to posing a problem for the targeted end systems, these DoS attacks also create problems for network devices, such as application traffic management systems, disposed at the edge of enterprise networks and/or at a point in the communications path between a compromised end system and a targeted system. For example and referring to FIG. 1, assume for didactic purposes, that end systems 42 on network 40 have been comprised and have initiated a DoS attack against targeted system 43. As discussed above, the compromised end systems 42 transmit a large number of ICMP or SYN packets, for example, to the targeted system 43. An application traffic management device 30, for example, encounters these packets and, pursuant to its configuration, processes the packets as part of its application traffic management functions. Processing the inordinate number of packets from the compromised end systems, however, quickly overwhelms the capacity of the network device 30, such as the system bus, and central processing unit (CPU), requiring that a large number of packets be dropped. One prior art load shedding mechanism is referred to as Random Early Discard (RED). According to such Random Early Discard mechanisms, packets are chosen at random for discard to shed the load placed on application network device 30 by the DoS attack.
The use of Random Early Discard mechanisms can be problematic. For example, random early discard techniques adversely affect the flow of legitimate network traffic. Indeed, random early discards may actually exacerbate the problem due to additional network traffic associated with re-transmissions of the dropped packets. Beyond regular network traffic, the packets randomly chosen for discard may include Web User Interface (WUI), or Command Line Interface (CLI), session packets intended for application network device 30, rendering it difficult or impossible for network administrators to access the device 30 at such a critical time. For instance, this circumstance may render it difficult for a network administrator to receive diagnostic or monitoring data from application network device 30, and/or to configure application network device 30 in a manner that responds to the DoS attack.
In addition, even with random early drop mechanisms, the system resources of network device 30 can be severely impacted. For example, inbound packets received at network device 30 typically consume device resources, such as the available bandwidth across the system bus of network device 30, before being discarded. This circumstance ties up system resources for other processing tasks. For example, by consuming large amounts of bandwidth across the system bus, the large number of inbound packets adversely affect the processing of network traffic and the egress of packets from network device 30. Traffic or packet through-put is affected, therefore, while network device 30 waits for system resources to become available.
In light of the foregoing, a need in the art exists for methods, apparatuses and systems directed to enhanced load shedding mechanisms that address the foregoing limitations. For example, a need in the art exists for methods, apparatuses and systems enabling preferential packet load shedding mechanisms that reduce the chance that legitimate network traffic is dropped during a DoS attack or other event where one or more hosts generate a disproportionate amount of network traffic. A need also exists in the art for methods, apparatuses and systems that facilitate access to network devices during DoS attacks or other similar events. A need further exists in the art for packet load shedding mechanisms that reduce the impact on system resources. Embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill these needs.


A content management system (CMS) uses a simulated containment report generation mechanism to generate a simulated containment report for elements in the repository based on logged properties that represent potential use of the element during dynamic content delivery that are not represented in formal relationships in the content management system. Properties such as probability, popularity, and recent usage that are not explicit relationships between parent documents and child elements are logged and used to determine which document maps may potentially reuse a selected element. In this manner a simulated containment report can be created for an element that allows the user to see the document maps that are most likely to include the element.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to content management systems, and more specifically relates to generating simulated containment reports for elements that are dynamically assembled in a content management system.
2. Background Art
A content management system (CMS) allows many users to efficiently share electronic content such as text, audio files, video files, pictures, graphics, etc. Content management systems typically control access to content in a repository. A user may generate content, and when the content is checked into the repository, the content may be subsequently processed by the CMS according to predefined rules. A user may also check out content from the repository, or link to content in the repository while generating content. The rules in a CMS assure that content that comes into or out of the system or that is linked to meets desired criteria specified in the rules.
One way for known content management systems to create documents is by dynamic compound document assembly. Dynamic compound document assembly involves retrieving elements from the repository and assembling the elements into a parent document. For example, this might occur according to an assembly template or from manual ad hoc assembly. The assembly template dictates which elements are to be retrieved and where the elements are supposed to be linked into the parent document. The parent document contains explicit relationships as formal links to each of the elements in the parent document. When the parent document is checked into the repository, the formal links are all checked against applicable rules, thereby enforcing referential integrity.
Today, content management systems are moving to provide dynamic content delivery. Dynamic content delivery refers to the ability to assemble components "on-the-fly." Dynamic content delivery may involve receiving user input, and then dynamically assembling a document to match the document requested by the user. In the alternative, dynamic content delivery may involve an automated process for dynamically assembling a document without user input, for example, based on some criteria. Document maps provide a backbone to describe how the dynamically assembled document is generated, but the explicit relationships (e.g., formal links) between parent documents and the elements do not exist. The lack of explicit relationships provides for greater flexibility in creating documents, and allows the CMS to receive input from a user or from other parameters and assemble documents dynamically. For example, a customer document may be automatically generated and rendered to a user's web browser based on data the user enters into a form.
One of the problems with dynamic content delivery is that referential integrity can be compromised. Without the explicit relationships between parent and child elements, and because a dynamically generated document may not be persisted or actually manifested in the repository, elements required to create certain documents could be deleted, which would make it impossible to create that document. In content management systems where there is an explicit relationship (e.g., formal link) between parent and child documents, the owner of the parent document could be alerted when a child document is deleted, and/or the deletion of the child document could be prevented. This is not the case in dynamic content delivery as the parent document (i.e. document map) never knows which child elements it will be including when it prepares the document. Without a way to enforce referential integrity when deleting elements in a repository, the computer industry cannot fully utilize dynamic content delivery in a content management system.
One of the abilities available to a content management system is the ability to run a containment report for documents that include formal links between elements. A user can query the repository for all parent documents that contain a specific element. However, in documents that are delivered via dynamic content delivery, the formal links do not exist. Without the formal link between parent and child elements, a traditional containment will not include relationships between elements in a document that was generated and delivered via dynamic content delivery. Since the elements in a document delivered via dynamic content delivery is not specifically linked to any parent document via formal links in the content management system, it is difficult to tell which documents actually include the element. As a result, a containment report for elements in a document delivered via dynamic content delivery cannot be generated. Without a way to account for dynamic content delivery when running containment reports, content management systems will not be able to determine when elements are used and are not used in dynamic content delivery.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Generating simulated containment reports of dynamically assembled components in a content management system

International Business Machines Corporation


A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions disposed over a substrate, and a colored region disposed among the photoelectric conversion regions over the substrate, the colored region forming an image over the substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device that is manufactured by using a liquid containing a silicon compound, an image display, a method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, and a method of manufacturing an image display.
2. Related Art
Photoelectric conversion devices typified by solar cells have attracted increasing attention as an environmentally friendly power supply. Single-crystal silicon solar cells, which are used for e.g. a power supply for an artificial satellite, and solar cells employing polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon have been widely used for industrial use and home use.
Typically an amorphous silicon solar cell has a so-called PIN structure in which a light-absorbing layer composed of an intrinsic-type (I-type) semiconductor layer is interposed between a P-type semiconductor layer and an N-type semiconductor layer. The amorphous silicon solar cell utilizes a built-in electric field arising in the I-semiconductor layer to thereby extract the photocurrent and photovoltage from the electrode.
International Patent Publication WO00/59044, which is a first example of the related-art documents, has proposed a method for manufacturing a solar cell at low costs without using large-scale equipment. In the method, a liquid coating composition containing a silicon compound is applied over a substrate to form a coating film, and then the coating film is converted into a silicon film by heat treatment and/or optical treatment. The silicon film is used as a semiconductor layer.
In step with widening of application range of solar cells, needs for characters and graphics to be represented as design on the solar cell part have been increasing. For example, there are needs for a face photograph, name and so on to be represented on an IC card of which entire body is formed of a solar cell.
Some related-art documents disclose methods for representing characters and graphics on a solar cell part. For example, JP-A-10-308525, which is a second example of the related-art documents, discloses a method in which solar cell panels are arranged so that a two-dimensional representation pattern is formed in a mosaic manner.
Furthermore, JP-A-8-88383, which is a third example of the related-art documents, discloses a method in which the contour shape of a transparent film on the surface of a solar cell is partially varied to form characters and picture patterns on the surface.
In addition, JP-A-2004-228450, which is a fourth example of the related-art documents, discloses a method in which electrodes, semiconductor layers, and a colorant layer are formed into a shape of graphics and the like to be represented.
The methods of the second to fourth examples however cannot allow representation of minute graphics and high-definition photographs. Moreover, it is difficult in terms of costs to apply these methods to fabrication of products such as ID cards, which are fabricated on a high-mix/low-volume production basis.

Method of manufacturing photoelectric conversion device, and method of manufacturing image display


Methods for improving adhesion or bonding between materials used in forming components of directional drilling assemblies, such as rotors and stators, are provided. A surface of a component may be treated, such as through cleaning, etching and/or activating a surface. The use of plasma treatment may enhance the adhesion between the surfaces and/or materials to be bonded, thereby reducing the degradation or mechanical failure of these materials in oilfield applications.

Directional drilling involves the intentional deviation or steering of a drill bit to form a non-vertical wellbore that follows a desired path. The drill bit may be pointed in the direction that one wants to drill, which may be accomplished through use of a permanent bend near the drill bit in a downhole steerable mud motor, also referred to as a progressive cavity positive displacement pump. Such a mud motor connects the drillstring and the drill bit. The mud motor includes a power section comprising a rotor and stator and a transmission section. The pressure of drilling fluid, also known as mud, pumped through the drillstring from the surface, creates eccentric motion in the power section of the mud motor that is transmitted by the transmission section as concentric power to the drill bit. By pumping mud through the drillstring to the mud motor, the drill bit turns while the drillstring does not rotate, allowing the drill bit to drill in the direction that it points.
In a mud motor, a rotor generally turns within a stator to generate the power that spins the drill bit in a downhole direction. Mud motors may use different rotor and stator configurations to optimize performance for a directional drilling assembly. Non-metal materials, such as composite materials and/or resilient materials, such as elastomers, have come to be utilized in the fabrication of components in mud motors. For example, the stator of the mud motor may be formed of a composite material lined with a resilient material, such as an elastomer. However, severe operating and environmental conditions associated with oilfield applications where directional drilling assemblies may be utilized tend to degrade or induce mechanical failure of these materials forming components of mud motors due to insufficient adhesion or bonding between the materials.

Plasma treatment in fabricating directional drilling assemblies


A telephone is provided with a biometric input sensor for receiving a biometric input and providing a signal in dependence upon said biometric input to the telephone network. Such a signal may identify an individual using certain telephone equipment. When used in conjunction with a public phone system, the telephone provides identification for billing, access privileges, and follow me call routing.

In the past, telephones were provided with handsets comprising a speaker, a microphone and a handle, dials or keys, ringers, and buttons to activate and deactivate the telephones. Such telephones are well suited to their intended purpose--communications.
Recently, telephones have been provided with added features and, therefore, require further input. For example, to use a voice mail system one accesses the system, selects a mail box, enters an identification code and listens to prerecorded messages. Each time the voice mail system is used, a "mailbox" and an identification code are required. As a further example, some pay phones are equipped with magnetic strip readers that read phone company issued cards and credit cards to allow billing of the card. As yet a further example, many telephones now have a feature called call display where an originating number is displayed at a receiving telephone prior to a connection being established; this allows for call screening, directing, and advanced preparation.
Another advent in telephone technology is the private broadcast switch. Switches such as these are installed in many hotels, campuses and businesses. Calling privileges are determined by extension number or telephone number. Features like call forward can be activated from anywhere and by anyone. Meeting rooms in businesses are often provided with teleconferencing equipment. Unfortunately, these same rooms are not provided with long distance privileges because they are easily accessible. Alternatively, they are kept locked, thereby reducing their usefulness. Further, a workstation having a telephone with a predetermined set of privileges allows anyone sitting at the work station (with or without authorization to do so) to use those privileges.
A current trend in telephone technologies is to extend customer features and access to those features in a fashion that allows for control, billing, and transparency. In an attempt to achieve these goals, a phone company has disclosed a method whereby a telephone number beginning with a "#" is dialed to identify a user wherever they may be. A further password or identification code is then required to ensure authorization. With such a system, users can move features to their current location. Unfortunately, identification codes are often not secure; requiring a user to enter 10 or 20 tones is not transparent.


A system includes a storage subsystem, a storage controller, and a cache associated with the storage controller. A file system logic receives a direct I/O request for a first data portion stored in the storage subsystem. The file system logic performs a read-ahead operation in response to the direct I/O request to request at least one other data portion stored in the storage subsystem. The cache associated with the storage controller stores the at least one other data portion requested by the read-ahead operation.

Typically, data stored in a storage subsystem is accessed by a file system, which is usually associated with an operating system such as Unix, DOS, Microsoft WINDOWS®, Mac OS, and so forth. Software, such as application software, in a computer can access data stored in the storage subsystem through the file system. There are generally two types of requests that can be issued by application software or other software for data stored in the storage subsystem: cached input/output (I/O) requests and direct I/O requests. In response to a cached I/O request, the file system performs a speculative read-ahead operation to retrieve read-ahead data (in addition to the data requested by the cached I/O request). The read-ahead data is stored in an operating system buffer cache maintained by the operating system.
The speculative read-ahead operation is generally performed to pre-populate the operating system buffer cache with data. If a subsequent request from the application software can be satisfied from the operating system buffer cache, then system performance is enhanced since the data can be retrieved more quickly from the operating system buffer cache than from the storage subsystem, which is usually implemented with relatively slow mass storage devices such as disk drives and the like.
In contrast, for a direct I/O request, a conventional file system does not cache data in the operating system buffer cache. For direct I/O requests, read-ahead is not performed to pre-populate the operating system buffer cache. Direct I/O requests are used by certain types of applications to avoid the expense associated with buffering data in the operating system buffer cache.
Generally, software applications have to choose between using either direct I/O or cached I/O requests. If direct I/O is chosen, speculative read-ahead is not performed so that any subsequent requests for data will result in access of the slower storage devices in the storage subsystem, since read ahead was not performed for caching read-ahead data.

Performing read-ahead operation for a direct input/output request

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.