A method of treating patients for compulsive overeating includes stimulating left and right branches of the patient""s vagus nerve simultaneously with electrical pulses in a predetermined sequence of a first period in which pulses are applied continuously, alternating with a second period in which no pulses are applied. The electrical pulses are preferably applied to the vagus nerve at a supradiaphragmatic location.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for treating eating disorders by application of modulating electrical signals to a selected cranial nerve, nerve branch or nerve bundle, and more particularly to techniques for treating patients with overeating disorders, and especially obese patients by application of such signals bilaterally to the patient""s vagus nerve with one or more neurostimulating devices.
Increasing prevalence of obesity is one of the most serious and widespread health problems facing the world community. It is estimated that currently in American 55% of adults are obese and 20% of teenagers are either obese or significantly overweight. Additionally, 6% of the total population of the United States is morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is defined as having a body mass index of more than forty, or, as is more commonly understood, being more than one hundred pounds overweight for a person of average height. This data is alarming for numerous reasons, not the least of which is it indicates an obesity epidemic. Many health experts believe that obesity is the first or second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, with cigarette smoking either just lagging or leading. A recent study from the Kaiser HMO system has demonstrated that morbid obesity drastically increases health care costs (Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)).
It is the consequences of being overweight that are most alarming. Obesity is asserted to be the cause of approximately eighty percent of adult onset diabetes in the United States, and of ninety percent of sleep apnea cases. Obesity is also a substantial risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, chronic venous abnormalities, numerous orthopedic problems and esophageal reflux disease. More recently, researchers have documented a link between obesity, infertility and miscarriages, as well as post menopausal breast cancer.
Despite these statistics, treatment options for obese people are limited. Classical models combining nutritional counseling with exercise and education have not led to long term success for very many patients. Use of liquid diets and pharmaceutical agents may result in weight loss which, however, is only rarely sustained. Surgical procedures that cause either gastric restriction or malabsorption have been, collectively, the most successful long-term remedy for severe obesity. However, this type of surgery involves a major operation, can lead to emotional problems, and cannot be modified readily as patient needs demand or change. Additionally, even this attempted remedy can sometimes fail (see, e.g., Kriwanek, xe2x80x9cTherapeutic failures after gastric bypass operations for morbid obesity,xe2x80x9d Langenbecks Archiv. Fur Chirurgie, 38(2): 70-74, 1995).
It is difficult to document many cases of long term success with dietary counseling, exercise therapy and behavioral modification. The introduction of pharmacologic therapy may help improve these results; however, to date pharmacologic remedies have not been able to document long term success. In addition, the chronic use of these drugs can lead to tolerance, as well as side effects from their long term administration. And, when the drug is discontinued, weight returns.
To date, surgical procedures such as gastric bypass or vertical banded gastroplasty have demonstrated the best long term success in treating people with morbid obesity. However, these operations are highly invasive and carry risks of both short and long term complications. Additionally, such operations are difficult to modify, and cannot be regulated up or down if the clinical situation changes.
As a result, a pressing need currently exists for better treatment options for obesity. The long-term failure of liquids and pharmaceuticals aptly demonstrates a need for a life-long control mechanism. A perfect treatment would be adjustable and could be regulated as needed. It would need to be with the patient at all times. The applicants herein are convinced that vagal nerve stimulation has the potential to meet those requirements as a safe and effective treatment for obesity, through an extension of the vagal stimulation technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,480 to J. Wernicke et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The ""480 patent discloses that treatment for eating disorders in general, and obesity and compulsive overeating disorder in particular, may be carried out by selectively applying specially adapted modulating electrical signals to the patient""s vagus nerve by a neurostimulator which is preferably totally implanted in the patient, but may alternatively be employed external to the body or even percutaneously. The modulating signals themselves may be stimulating or inhibiting with respect to the electrical activity of the vagus nerve, but for purposes of that patent, both cases were sometimes included within the term xe2x80x9cstimulatingxe2x80x9d. In essence, stimulation of vagal activity could cause more neural impulses to move up the nerve whereas inhibition of vagal activity could block neural impulses from moving up the nerve. The modulating signals can be used to produce excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter release.
According to the ""480 patent, strategies for vagal modulation, including adjusting the parameters for electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, nerve fibers or nerve bundle, depend on a number of factors. Among these are considerations of which part(s) of the nerve or the nerve fibers are to be subjected to the modulating signals; whether the patient experiences a xe2x80x9cfeelingxe2x80x9d or sensation at the onset of the disorder or a symptom of the disorder which can be used to activate the neurostimulation generator or, alternatively, a physiologic signal is generated which can be detected and employed to trigger the modulation; and/or whether a xe2x80x9ccarryoverxe2x80x9d or refractory period occurs after modulation in which the benefit of the modulation is maintained. Further, for example, appropriate setting of pulse width and amplitude of the stimulating (modulating) signal at the output of the neurostimulator, applied via electrode(s) to the vagus nerve, might allow particular fibers of the nerve to be selectively stimulated. Also, the precise signal pattern to be used, such as the length of the time intervals in which the signal is on and off, might be adjusted to the individual patient and the particular eating disorder being treated.
In treatment of obesity, the ""480 patent hypothesized that vagal stimulation could be used to produce appetite suppression by causing the patient to experience satiety, a sensation of xe2x80x9cfullness,xe2x80x9d which would naturally result in decreased intake of food and consequent weight reduction. In effect, the brain perceives the stomach to be full as a result of the treatment.
In a then-preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in the ""480 patent for treating patients with compulsive overeating/obesity disorders, an implantable neurostimulator included a signal generator or electronics package adapted to generate an electrical output signal in the form of a sequence of pulses, with parameter values programmable by the attending physician within predetermined ranges for treating the disorder, and a lead/electrode system for applying the programmed output signal to the patient""s vagus nerve. Calibration of the overall treatment system for a particular patient was to be performed by telemetry by means of an external programmer to and from the implant. The implanted electronics package might be externally programmed for activation upon occurrence of a predetermined detectable event, or, instead might be periodically or continuously activated, to generate the desired output signal with parameter values programmed to treat obesity by modulating vagal activity so as to produce a sensation of satiety.
In alternative embodiments of the invention disclosed in the ""480 patent, the stimulus generator or electronics package might be located external to the patient, with only an RF coil, rectifier and the lead/nerve electrode assembly implanted; or with the lead implanted percutaneously through the skin and to the nerve electrode. The latter technique was least preferred because special precautions would be needed to avoid possible infection via the path from outside the body to the nerve along the lead.
In a preferred method of use according to the ""480 patent, the stimulus generator of the neurostimulator is implanted in a convenient location in the patient""s body, such as in the abdomen in relatively close proximity to the stimulating electrode system and, if applicable, to the detecting system. For treating compulsive overeating and obesity, it might be desirable to ascertain the patient""s food intake, i.e., the quantity of food consumed, for example by means of implanted sensing electrodes in or at the esophagus to detect passage of food as the patient swallowed. The swallows could be summed over a preselected time interval to provide an indication or estimate of the amount of food consumed in the selected interval. Modulation of vagal activity would then be initiated if the summation exceeded a predetermined threshold level. In the preferred embodiment of the ""480 patent, the stimulating electrode (nerve electrode e.g., a cuff) would be implanted about the vagus nerve or a branch thereof in the esophageal region slightly above the stomach, and the vagal stimulation applied to produce or induce satiety. As a result, the patient would experience a satisfied feeling of fullness at a level of consumption sufficient to maintain physiologic needs but supportive of weight reduction.
In another method according to the ""480 patent, the appropriately programmed output signal of the neurostimulator is applied periodically to modulate the patient""s vagus nerve activity, without regard to consumption of a particular quantity of food, except perhaps at prescribed mealtimes during normal waking hours according to the patient""s circadian cycle. The intent of such treatment was to suppress the patient""s appetite by producing the sensation of satiety between normal mealtimes.
Alternatively, or in addition to either or both of automatic detection of the event and activation of the signal generation in response thereto, or intermittent or sustained activation according to the circadian cycle, the neurostimulator electronics package could be implemented for manual activation of the output signal by the patient, as by placement of an external magnet over the implanted device (to close a switch), or by tapping the region over the device (to cause it to respond to the sound or vibration), or by use of an RF transmitter, for example. Manual activation would be useful in situations where the patient has an earnest desire to control his or her eating behavior, but requires supportive measures because of a lack of sufficient will power or self-control to refrain from the compulsive behavior, such as binge eating or simply overeating, in the absence of the neurostimulation device.
The vagus nerve is the dominant nerve of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (see, e.g., Berthoud et al., xe2x80x9cMorphology and distribution of vagal afferent innervation of rat gastrointestinal tract,xe2x80x9d Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 17(2), 1365, 1991). A right and a left vagus connect the GI tract to the brain. After leaving the spinal cord, the vagal afferents transport information regarding the GI tract to the brain. In the lower part of the chest, the left vagus rotates, becomes the anterior vagus, and innervates the stomach. The right vagus rotates to become the posterior vagus, which branches into the celiac division and innervates the duodenum and proximal intestinal tract. While the vagus is often thought of as a motor nerve which also carries secretory signals, 80% of the nerve is sensory consisting of afferent fibers (see, e.g., Grundy et al., xe2x80x9cSensory afferents from the gastrointestinal tract,xe2x80x9d Handbook of Physiology, Sec. 6, S.G., Ed., American Physiology Society, Bethesda, Md., 1989, Chapter 10).
While the exact mechanisms that make us feel full are still being determined, much information has been accumulated. Satiety signals include the stretch of mechanoreceptors, and the stimulation of certain chemosensors (xe2x80x9cA Protective Role for Vagal Afferents: An Hypothesis. xe2x80x9d Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Abdominal Vagal Afferents, Chapter 12. CRC Press, 1992). These signals are transported to the brain by the nervous system or endocrine factors such as gut peptides (xe2x80x9cExternal Sensory Events and the Control of the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Introduction. xe2x80x9d Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Abdominal Vagal Afferents. Chapter 5. CRC Press 1992). The role of vagal afferents in the transmission these signals has been demonstrated by numerous studies. Ritter et al. has demonstrated that direct infusion of maltose and oleic acid into the duodenum of rats leads to a reduction in oral intake. This response is ablated by vagotomy or injection of capsaicin, which destroys vagal afferents. Similarly, systemic cholecystokinin has been demonstrated to reduce intake in rats. This response is also ablated by destruction of vagal afferents. A plethora of literature makes it clear that vagal afferent fibers are an important source of information to the brain regarding the quantity and quality of the ingests.
The present invention is based on the applicants"" study of particular methods and techniques of vagus nerve stimulation after numerous studies that have indicated the vagus to be an important nerve transporting satiety signals from the gut to the brain. Studies in rat models have demonstrated that the vagus nerve is the xe2x80x9cinformation superhighwayxe2x80x9d for conducting signals from agents such as cholecystokinin and enterostatin. It remains to be determined whether and how such signals could be mimicked by using vagal nerve stimulation. Greater attention to use of vagal stimulation in treating obesity is also prompted in part by the knowledge that vagal nerve stimulation has been shown to be safe and effective when used long-term to treat epilepsy. That is to say, the regimen in studies involving use of vagal stimulation techniques to treat obesity would not involve the extreme measures or short-and long-term side effects on the patient that have characterized treatment methods of the type described above in the background section.
According to the present invention, a method of treating patients for obesity includes performing bilateral stimulation of the patient""s vagus nerve by applying a stimulating electrical signal to the right and left vagi, wherein the parameters of the signal are predetermined to produce a sensation of satiety in the patient. The signal could be applied synchronously to the right and left vagi or asynchronously. The stimulating electrical signal is preferably a pulse signal which is applied intermittently to the right and left vagi according to the duty cycle of the signal (i.e., its on and off times). Also, the intermittent application of the stimulating electrical signal is preferably chronic, rather than acute. Nevertheless, it is possible that the bilateral stimulation could be delivered continuously to the right and left vagi to achieve some success in the treatment, and/or that acute application might suffice in some circumstances.
Also, it is conceivable that the stimulating electrical signal applied acutely to the right and left vagi during a customary mealtime, or from a short time preceding and/or following the mealtime, according to the patient""s circadian cycle, could be somewhat effective in certain cases. Although an automatic delivery of bilateral intermittent stimulation is preferred, it is also possible that application of the stimulating electrical signal to the right and left vagi might be controlled by an external commencement signal administered by the patient, as by use of an external magnet brought into proximity with the implanted device.
In general, the same stimulating electrical signal is applied to both the right and left vagi, but it may also be possible to apply a different stimulating electrical signal to the right vagus from the stimulating electrical signal applied to the left vagus. Further, although two separate nerve stimulator generators may be implanted for stimulating the left and right vagi, a single nerve stimulator generator may be implanted for bilateral stimulation if the same signal is to be applied to both the left and right branches of the vagus, whether delilvered synchronously or asynchronously to the vagi.
Preferably, the stimulating electrical signal is applied at the supradiaphragmatic position of the left and right vagi. Also, the stimulating signal is characterized by a current magnitude below a predetermined physiological response to stimulation called the retching level of stimulation of the patient. This is to assure that the patient will not suffer from nausea during the periods of vagus nerve stimulation.
In summary, then, the most preferred method of treating patients for obseity, includes stimulating the left and right branches of the patient""s vagus nerve simultaneously with electrical pulses in a predetermined sequence of a first period in which pulses are applied continuously, alternating with a second period in which no pulses are applied, and in which the electrical pulses are applied to the vagus nerve at a supradiaphragmatic location. The pulses preferably have an electrical current magnitude not exceeding about 6 ma, but in any event, the magnitude is preselected to be less than the level that would induce retching in the patient as determined at the time of the initial implant(s). The pulse width is adjusted to a value not exceeding about 500 ms, and the pulse repetition frequency is set at about 20-30 Hz. The second period is preferably about 1.8 times as long as the first period in the alternation of application of the stimulating pulses (i.e., the on/off duty cycle is at a ratio of 1:1.8). The pulse parameters including on time and off time are programmable by the implanting physician, using an external programmer.
Apparatus according to the invention for treating patients suffering from obesity eating disorder includes implantable neurostimulator device means for simultaneously stimulating left and right branches of the patient""s vagus nerve with electrical pulses in a predetermined sequence of a first period in which pulses are applied continuously, alternating with a second period in which no pulses are applied; and electrode means for implantation on the right and left branches in a supradiaphragmatic position.
Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide improvements in methods and apparatus for treating and controlling overeating disorder, especially in obese patients.
It is a more specific aim of the invention to provide methods of treating and controlling compulsive overeating and obesity by bilateral intermittent pulse stimulation of the right and left vagi at a supradiaphragmatic position in the patient.

Treatment of obesity by bilateral vagus nerve stimulation


A power source provides power (e.g., electrical power) to a powered object. The object is identified and the amount of power consumed by the object is measured. Information representing the object identity and the amount of power consumed by the object is transmitted to a remote server. Proximity between a device and the object may be determined, in response to which the device may obtain the information representing the object identity and the amount of power consumed by the object, and transmit such information to the remote server, in addition to information representing an identity of a user of the device.

Technologies have recently been developed to identify the signatures of individual electrical devices, providing knowledge about what devices are being used, when they are being used, how much power they are utilizing, and more. It is desirable to improve upon such technology to further determine information about users of devices to empower new and useful information, such as knowledge about which user is using a particular device during a specific time period. This knowledge may be used to provide a user profile, help users to be more energy-conscious and efficient, and to enable a multitude of energy payment mechanisms that are only be possible by associating specific device and energy use with a specific user.

Multinodal power sensing, aggregation, and transmission


A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl lower alkyl or halo substituted lower alkyl;. R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl lower alkyl or halo substituted lower alkyl; PA0 n is 0, 1 or 2; PA0 X is--(CH.sub.2).sub.m Z--; PA0 Z is oxygen, sulfur or imino; PA0 m is 0 or 1; PA0 Y is S-R or ##STR2## R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, ##STR3## R.sub.3 is lower alkyl, phenyl or phenyl lower alkyl; and R.sub.4 is hydroxy, amino, hydroxyamino or lower alkoxy. These compounds are useful as hypotensive agents.

Cushman, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,511 discloses angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.4 each is hydrogen, lower alkyl or phenyl lower alkyl;
R.sub.2 is hydroxy, amino, hydroxyamino or lower alkoxy; PA0 and n is 0 to 2. PA0 Ondetti, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,776 disclose angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors of the formula ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; PA0 R.sub.2 is hydrogen, R.sub.5 -CO--, R.sub.6 -S-- or R.sub.7 ; PA0 R.sub.5 is lower alkyl; PA0 R.sub.6 is lower alkyl PA0 n is 0, 1 or 2; PA0 and R.sub.7 is ##STR8## PA0 R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl lower alkyl or halo substituted lower alkyl; PA0 n is 0, 1 or 2; PA0 X is --(CH.sub.2).sub.m Z--; PA0 Z is oxygen, sulfur or imino; PA0 m is 0 or 1; PA0 Y is --S--R or ##STR10## R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, ##STR11## R.sub.3 is lower alkyl, phenyl or phenyl lower alkyl; and R.sub.4 is hydroxy, amino, hydroxyamino or lower alkoxy. PA0 Y is S--R; PA0 R is ##STR33## R.sub.3 is lower alkyl; R.sub.2 is phenyl lower alkyl or hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 1; PA0 R is hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.2 is phenyl lower alkyl or hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 1; m is 0; and Z is oxygen. PA0 R is hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.2 is phenyl lower alkyl or hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 0; PA0 m is 0; PA0 and Z is oxygen. PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 1; PA0 m is 0; PA0 and Z is oxygen. PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 0; PA0 m is 0; PA0 and Z is oxygen. ##STR36## R.sub.4 is lower alkoxy; R.sub.2 is phenyl lower alkyl or hydrogen; PA0 R.sub.1 is lower alkyl; PA0 n is 0; PA0 m is 0; PA0 and Z is oxygen. PA0 n is zero and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, PA0 and wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, PA0 n is one and R.sub.2 is hydrogen.
Ondetti, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,935 discloses hyportensive agents of the formula ##STR5## wherein R is hydrogen, lower alkanoyl or ##STR6## R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is each hydrogen, lower alkyl or trifluoromethyl; and n is 0 or 1.

Carboxyacyl, mercapto and acylmercapto derivatives of heterobicyclo compounds


A process for removal and recovery of chromium ions (chromate, dichromate, or combinations thereof) from aqueous waste water of surface treatment phosphatizing solutions and for recycling of the treated waste water following replenishment wherein the aqueous waste water is initially partially clarified in a settling tank, with the effluent then being passed through an ion exchange column for removal of substantially all of the chromium ions therefrom. Following treatment in the ion exchange resin column, the chromium-free material is recharged with a supply of fresh chromium ions until the chrome ion content is at the desired level for metal surface treatment. The spent ion exchange resin columns are removed and replaced, as necessary, with the recharge of the resin columns making additional chromium available as a resource.

The present invention relates generally to a system for removal of chromium ions, in either hexavalent or trivalent form from the waste water of metallic surface treatment solutions, and for the recycling of the treated waste water through subsequent replenishment of the chromium ion content. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for treatment of the chromium ion containing waste water through passage of the waste water through a settling/clarifying vessel, and withdrawal of the effluent to a holding vessel for gravity passage through active ion exchange resin columns. The process of the present invention permits use of the highly desirable chrome-based seal rinses employed in aqueous pretreatment of metals, without posing ecological dangers.
In the manufacturing industry where painted metallic parts are being produced, pretreatment of metallic surfaces through phosphatizing is extremely common. In conjunction with the phosphatizing, a chrome-based seal rinse operation is highly desirable. Such operations, including spray and dip operations, have been wide-spread in the past, but recent concern with ecological factors has led to attempts to substitute other materials for the chrome-based seal rinse.
Substitutions for the chrome-based seal rinses have not been favorably received. Generally, the surface treatment through exposure to chrome-based seal rinses has provided industry as well as the consumer with a durable corrosion-resistant surface following coating with organic polymeric films. The paint industry, as well as the manufacturing industry have been unable to find acceptable substitutes for the chrome-based seal rinse solutions employed in the past.
While the reasons for the failure of acceptable substitutes are numerous, it has frequently been found that surface adhesion of organic polymeric coatings such as paints has been inferior. Accordingly, it has been found desirable to find alternate systems and/or techniques for disposal of chromate and dichromate containing waste water solutions so that chrome-based solutions may be utilized. Paints and related materials applied to ferrous and nonferrous metals tend to achieve better adhesion and bonding to the substrate which has been treated so as to be slightly acidic, generally in the pH of between about 3.0 and 6.5. Furthermore, freedom from contaminants generally provides more uniform films along with enhanced adhesion.


The composition for optical materials of the present invention comprises a compound having in one molecule at least one structure represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X, Y and n are as defined in the disclosure, an amine compound and an isocyanate compound. Resins obtained by curing the composition by polymerization are useful as well-balanced optical materials having a high impact resistance, a high refractive index and a sufficiently high Abbe's number.

Plastic materials are recently widely used in manufacturing optical materials, particularly, spectacle lenses because of their light weight, toughness and easiness of dyeing. Optical materials, particularly, spectacle lenses are required to have a low specific gravity, a high transparency, a low yellow degree, a high impact resistance, and optical properties such as a high refractive index and a high Abbe's number.
Polycarbonate known as optical materials having a high impact resistance have some problems of (1) Abbe's number as low as 29, (2) ease of causing optical distortion, and (3) not so high refractive index as low as 1.58, etc.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-236386 discloses a polythiourethane compound derived from a polythiol compound and an isocyanate group-containing compound. Although higher in the refractive index, the proposed polythiourethane compound is lower than polycarbonates in the impact resistance.
"Latest Polyurethane Applied Technology", CMC, pp89, 1983 discloses the production of a high-impact material by reacting a polyurethane prepolymer, which is prepared from an OH-terminated polymer and a diisocyanate, with an active hydrogen compound such as amines and polyols. The proposed material is higher in the impact resistance, but lower in the refractive index as compared with polycarbonates.


A system and method for magnetically launching projectiles or spacecraft includes an electromagnetic launcher including a launch tube, and a launch craft. The launch tube includes electrically conducting rails energized along the length of the rails, and a transverse direct current magnetic field is generated along the launch tube, and upper and lower conductors and loops of conducting material on the launch craft are provided for magnetic levitation, stabilization and propulsion of the launch craft in cooperation with the transverse direct current magnetic field. A transverse direct current magnetic field is applied to the launch tube and the launch craft during launching of the launch craft, and the launch craft is magnetically levitated and stabilized to minimize contact between the launch craft and the launch tube as the launch craft travels within the launch tube.

This application relates generally to a system and method for electromagnetically launching payloads such as projectiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, missiles, rockets, or the like, and more particularly relates to an electromagnetic launcher, an electromagnetic launch system and a method for electromagnetically launching such payloads that utilizes magnetic levitation, stabilization and propulsion, employing a transverse direct current magnetic field generated in superconducting cables extending along a launch tube.
Electromagnetic launch systems typically are capable of accelerating payloads such as projectiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, missiles or rockets, for example, to high velocities. Electromagnetic launching of such payloads has the major advantage of minimizing or even eliminating the need to carry fuel and rocket motors for propulsion and stabilization of the payloads, as is particularly the case with missiles and rockets. Launching projectiles electromagnetically can also achieve much higher muzzle velocities for the projectiles than is possible with other conventional methods, such as artillery.
One prior art electromagnetically energized railgun system is known that utilizes nesting and segmenting of primary rails in combination with augmenting rails and crossover bar conductors, and an inductorless single power supply arrangement. The railgun system includes a launch tube containing two or more electrically conducting rails along which a projectile-carrying sabot slides. Acceleration force is generated when a current is passed up through one rail, through an armature, which physically contacts the rail, and down another rail, creating a magnetic pressure that pushes the sabot along the launch tube. However, such railgun systems typically have a maximum practical launch velocity achievable with railguns and is on the order of 3 kilometers per second, which constrains the range of projectiles launched on earth to only a few hundred miles, and is far below the velocity needed to achieve orbit for a payloads, which is on the order of 8 kilometers per second. Furthermore, because railguns commonly require that an armature physically contact the rails, the rails must be replaced on a regular basis due to the extreme mechanical stresses and erosion present with this technology.
A conventional coil gun is also known that utilizes an electromagnetic projectile accelerator including stationary coils aligned along an axis of a launch tube for acceleration of a magnetic projectile down the launch tube, by sequentially energizing each individual coil as the projectile approaches to electromagnetically pull or push the projectile along the launch tube. While projectiles launched by such coil guns need not contact any rails on the inside of the launch tube, as is the case with railguns, such coil guns also have a limited maximum practical velocity, due to the need to sequentially and precisely switch large currents through the series of coils on short (sub-microsecond) time scales. This constraint limits the maximum practical velocities and masses of the launched projectiles.
A space tram (Powell and Maise, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,926 B1) for launching a spacecraft from earth into outer space is also known that utilizes a launch tube that is magnetically suspended, with an inlet on earth and an elevated outlet. The spacecraft includes superconducting loops, and when the launch tube is evacuated, the payload is propelled through the launch tube by magnetic levitation to achieve escape velocity for reaching outer space, due to magnetic interaction between the superconducting loops on the spacecraft and an alternating current (AC) wave flowing in non-superconducting, normal metal loops embedded in walls of the launch tube.
While such magnetic levitation or maglev launch systems based on the magnetic acceleration of spacecraft equipped with superconducting loops can achieve orbital speeds of 8 kilometers per second or greater with potentially much lower launch costs than rockets, such conventional maglev launch systems are difficult to scale down to smaller systems such as those optimized for launching small satellites on the order of 100 kilograms, and typically requires specialized power conditioning equipment to generate the necessary AC current required to accelerate the vehicle. While such magnetic levitation systems can potentially be used for launch systems with launch tubes less than 50 km long providing moderate accelerations of less than 500 m s2 (50 g), such magnetic levitation systems are typically prohibitively expensive for shorter launch systems necessarily requiring higher accelerations, and typically require that spacecraft launched in this manner to have sufficient superconductor cables to carry large currents (500,000 to 1,000,000 amps), which can be prohibitively costly for the launch of small payloads on the order of 100 kg.
Furthermore, such maglev launch systems that use high current superconducting loops on the payload being launched typically require a complex travelling AC current wave in the rails on the walls of the launch tube that pushes on the superconducting magnets on the payload to accelerate the payload. The frequency of the AC power wave must be finely adjusted and controlled using DC to AC inverters to increase its frequency as the velocity of the payload being launched increases. In addition, only a short section of the launch tube where the payload being launched moves along the launch tube can be energized. As the payload being launched moves along the launch tube, the travelling AC power wave is switched off from the presently energized section that the payload is leaving, and is switched onto the next section into which the payload is moving.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an electromagnetic launcher and a system and method for electromagnetically launching a payload such as a projectile, launch vehicle, spacecraft, aircraft, missile, rocket, or the like, that involves no confining mechanical contact and friction of the payload with a launch tube wall, to allow launching many such payloads at extremely high velocity without damage to the launch tube wall or the payloads being launched.
It would also be desirable to provide such an electromagnetic launch system and method that does not require high current superconducting loops on such a payload, in order to greatly simplify and reduce costs of the design and manufacture of the projectile, launch vehicle, spacecraft, aircraft, missile, rocket, or other similar payload to be launched, and allowing the launching of much smaller and lighter such payloads than is possible with conventional maglev launch systems.
It would also be desirable to provide such an electromagnetic launch system and method in which the power conditioning system required for accelerating such payloads is much simpler and less costly than power conditioning systems required for maglev launch systems that use high current superconducting loops on the projectile or launch vehicle.
It would also be desirable to provide such an electromagnetic launch system and method that utilizes a simple DC current stationary power source, with the current flowing from DC rails mounted to an interior tube wall through a moving payload to be launched. It would also be desirable to provide such an electromagnetic launch system and method in which the complete length of the DC rails along the launch tube is energized with the DC current that flows into the payload being launched across small gaps between the rails and the payload being launched via plasma arcs or via conducting brushes, for example, eliminating the requirement for expensive, complex electronic switches to control the frequency and activation location of the current needed by other maglev launch systems that employ superconducting loops on the payload being launched and a traveling AC current wave. The present invention meets these and other needs.

System and method for magnetically launching projectiles or spacecraft


An aerial delivery system is configured to allow delivery of one or more releasable items after the system is extracted from an aircraft. One or more linear guidance devices and releasable securing mechanisms allow the aerial delivery system to deploy one or more releasable items at an appropriate time. The releasable securing mechanisms may utilize one or more rotatable latch plates. The one or more releasable items may be deployed simultaneously, or in a staged or staggered fashion. Through use of drag or lift-producing devices, the system may be recovered and reused. The attitude and/or azimuth orientation of the system may be varied prior to, during, and/or after release of a releasable item.

Aerial delivery is a term used to describe extracting an item from an aircraft in flight and then enabling a safe recovery of the item by use of an aerodynamic decelerator, which is most often a parachute system. Additionally, the aerial delivery operation is typically conducted from a cargo-type aircraft. The process may utilize very specific aerial delivery equipment and may adhere to very specific aerial delivery operational procedures. Often, the extracted item consists of an aerial delivery system containing cargo of some sort.
Two general types of extraction are utilized. Gravity extraction is the technique of using positive aircraft pitch angle, or by using some other force to cause the item to simply roll or slide out of the aircraft, which is typically followed by a parachute being deployed by a lanyard that is anchored to the aircraft. Parachute extraction is a technique whereby a parachute is first deployed out the rear of the cargo compartment, and the parachute is used to pull the item from the aircraft. Both techniques may conform to guidelines regarding length, weight, mass, etc., of the item being extracted in order to achieve a safe extraction operation. Generally speaking, relatively short and/or relatively lightweight items may be gravity extracted, but relatively long and/or relatively heavy items may preferably be parachute extracted, which removes the item from the aircraft quickly to prevent it from adversely affecting the aircraft's center of balance.
Items having a generally cylindrical shape, such as bombs that are powered by gravity, will typically be released from the belly or wing of a bomber or fighter aircraft. In practice, these items are released vertically but their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal. Because the lower bomb racks in a bomb bay may be repositioned before other items can be released from racks above them, a simultaneous release of all items in the bomb bay cannot generally be conducted. The relatively long release time, coupled with a relatively high airspeed that is a feature of these aircraft, prevents the items from impacting in a concentrated area. Instead, the resulting impact path of the items is quite lengthy and the resulting impact effect is known as carpet bombing.
For aerial launching of chemical energy powered items, such as missiles, yet another technique is used. In this scenario, items are loaded into linear guidance devices, which are typically referred to as launchers. Typically, these launchers are either tubular or monorail (dovetail) in design, and are mounted substantially horizontally on fighter airplanes or helicopters. In practice, these items are generally powered by a self-contained rocket motor, allowing only one item to be loaded per launcher. Otherwise, the rocket blast from the front item could damage the item behind it, perhaps even causing it to explode while it is still in the launcher.
In yet another scenario, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordinance Air Blast ("MOAB") munition is secured in a cradle atop an aerial delivery system that is parachute extracted from the cargo compartment of a cargo aircraft. The MOAB cradle is just that—a cradle; and, because the MOAB is a winged item, it must be separated from its cradle immediately outside the aircraft, with the extraction parachute still attached to the aerial delivery system, before the cradle can pitch or roll significantly—otherwise, the MOAB is likely to be damaged or released in an undesirable attitude. In the separation process, the MOAB has forward momentum due to inertia imparted by the aircraft, but the aerial delivery system and cradle will slow significantly, due to drag created by the still attached extraction parachute. The aerial delivery system will also pitch, with its leading edge going downward due to gravity and aerodynamic forces. The combination of relative longitudinal motion and a pitch-down of the aerial delivery system and cradle, allow the platform and cradle to move down and rearward, away from the MOAB. However, because this separation technique does not provide linear guidance control, or roll and yaw control, relative to the cradle, the rear control surfaces of the MOAB must be in a retracted configuration until after the separation event has occurred. Even though this marginally controlled separation technique is acceptable for the MOAB, it may be unsuitable if the separation event were significantly delayed after the system has been released from the aircraft. Further, because the separation technique provides no directional control or roll and yaw control for the separating item, it may be unsuitable for launching items with extended rear-mounted control surfaces, such as fins. With no directional or roll and yaw control, it may also be unsuitable for simultaneously launching multiple items that have any type of extended control surfaces.

Aerial delivery system with munition adapter and latching release


A tubular-bag packaging machine having at least one pair of cross-sealing jaws (25) which are supported on a holding device (15) movable vertically back and forth by means of a connecting rod (14) as well as horizontally through a four-bar mechanism comprising a crank disk (9) coupled with the connecting rod (14), and comprising side-fold-forming means (23, 24) which are supported on a guide element (18) movable transversely with respect to the direction of movement of a foil tube (41). In order to be able reliably synchronize the movement of the side-fold-forming tools (23, 24) with the sequence of movement of the remaining tubular-bag packaging machine, in particular the cross-sealing jaws (25), the invention provides that the guide element (18) is supported on the holding device (15), that the guide element (18) is coupled with an arm (39) pivotally supported on the holding device (15), which arm (39) is operatively connected to a rocker arm (33) pivotally supported on the connecting rod (14) and the lower end area of which cooperates in the area of the crank disk (9) with a cam element (11) associated with the crank disk (9).

The manufacture of tubular bags on forming, filling and sealing machines is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,081. The rotating friction belts which rest on a fill pipe pull the foil sheet supplied by a roller over a forming shoulder, with the initially flat foil being formed into a tube. The longitudinal seam is formed by sealing or welding of the overlapping edges. The forming shoulder has a fill pipe so that the goods to be packaged can be filled from above through the fill pipe into the tube. The bottom seam and at the same time the top seam of the preceding bag are created below the fill pipe by means of a cross-sealing station, with the two bags being separated from one another by means of a separating knife. The cross-sealing jaws, which lie transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the bag material, are here moved cyclically in one plane in order to be able to move the filled bag on downwardly after sealing.
A tubular bagging machine operating in this manner has become known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,253 which shows a device for the manufacture of upstanding bags. The sidewalls are folded inwardly below and above the sealing jaws shortly before the sealing by means of side-fold-forming means. The bag is moved downwardly after the sealing has taken place, with the bag being one more time shaped into a rectangular shape in a forming chamber consisting of two oppositely lying U-shaped elements prior to its top seam being formed and prior to the separation from the next following bag taking place.
Part of the state of the art is also to support the rectangular shape of the bag to be manufactured such that the fill pipe itself has, at least in the lower area, a rectangular cross section. However, it is also known to design the entire pipe rectangularly, with the forming shoulder changing the flat sheet into a rectangular tube.
It is disadvantageous in these intermittently operating packaging machines that, based on the standstill times of the cross-sealing jaw movement and of the unwinding foil, an upper limit exists for the machine performance. In particular, and due to the very fast foil acceleration, the frictional resistance between foil and friction belt is no longer guaranteed so that, due to slippage, the adjusted bag length can no longer be achieved.
In order to overcome the disadvantage of the intermittent tubular bagging machine, a continuously operating device is described in EP-PS 226 693. In contrast to the preceding devices, the cover material is continuously removed from the roller, is formed into a tube and is fed to the cross-sealing station. The longitudinal sealing task is also done continuously. The sealing jaws of the cross-sealing station describe in this case an essentially circular path, with significantly faster machine performances being possible due to the elimination of the standstill times of the jaw movement. Due to the linear movement of the control cam and of the movable arrangement of the cross-sealing jaw carrier, a sealing/welding path results over which the sealing jaws travel synchronously with the foil by a suitable driving control. Only so-called flat bags can be produced with this tubular bagging machine.
The closest state of the art is DE-OS 40 05 078. This reference shows a block base station following the cross-sealing station, which block base station has side-fold-forming tools which are horizontally movably supported. The movement of the tools is controlled through a cam directly associated with the tools. It can be disadvantageous in this known device that the cam cannot be sufficiently synchronized in its rotary speed with the movement of the cross-sealing jaws and the foil tube in order to control the horizontal movement of the side-fold-forming tools. In particular, and in the case of shorter cycle times and faster production speeds, considerable problems can therefore result.

Tubular bagging machine for the continuous manufacture of bags having folded sides


A user state tracking and anomaly detector for multi-tenant SaaS applications operates in association with a log management solution, such as a SIEM. A given SaaS application has many user STATES, and the applications often have dependencies on one another that arise, for example, when a particular application makes a request (typically on behalf of a user) to take some action with respect to another application. The detector includes a mapper that maps the large number of user STATES to a reduced number of mapped states (e.g., “red” and “green”), and a dependency module that generates user-resource dependency graphs. Using a dependency graph, a SaaS modeler in the detector checks whether a particular dependency-based request associated with a SaaS application is valid. State and dependency information generated by the mapper and dependency module are reported back to the log management solution to facilitate improved logging and anomaly detection.

Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to deploying applications in a "cloud" compute environment.
Background of the Related Art
An emerging information technology (IT) delivery model is cloud computing, by which shared resources, software and information are provided over the Internet to computers and other devices on-demand. Cloud computing can significantly reduce IT costs and complexities while improving workload optimization and service delivery. With this approach, an application instance can be hosted and made available from Internet-based resources that are accessible through a conventional Web browser over HTTP. An example application might be one that provides a common set of messaging functions, such as email, calendaring, contact management, and instant messaging. A user would then access the service directly over the Internet. Using this service, an enterprise would place its email, calendar and/or collaboration infrastructure in the cloud, and an end user would use an appropriate client to access his or her email, or perform a calendar operation.
Cloud compute resources are typically housed in large server farms that run one or more network applications, typically using a virtualized architecture wherein applications run inside virtual servers, or so-called "virtual machines" (VMs), that are mapped onto physical servers in a data center facility. The virtual machines typically run on top of a hypervisor, which is a control program that allocates physical resources to the virtual machines.
Software as a Service (SaaS) refers to the capability provided to the consumer is to use a provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. SaaS applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail). In this model, the consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
With ever-increasing numbers of users of SaaS technologies, monitoring SaaS applications is becoming more important. Monitoring security of a SaaS application differs significantly from traditional application monitoring because of its multi-tenancy nature, the fact that the application can be accessed from a variety of devices, the fact that the application can be accessed from anywhere, and further because security intelligence tools use HTTP/HTTPS mechanisms to detect anomalies (from the SaaS application/user activity logs). These differences make consumption and monitoring of logs from SaaS environments very difficult for traditional device-based log management solutions, such as SIEM-based systems. Primarily, this is because the event processing model of these log management solutions are tuned towards device monitoring.
Because application states do not fall into the normal event-based models, there are significant performance bottlenecks in monitoring SaaS logs by known log management solutions. These known approaches are also deficient in that they are rule-based and thus lack to capability to monitor dependencies across SaaS applications. Further, SIEM solutions typically rely upon HTTP to fetch logs, but HTTP is stateless and thus less useful for anomaly detection where states change dynamically and need to be monitored separately. Prior techniques are also problematic because they require querying of the state of application resources and business objects using a large number of API calls, which are computationally intensive and costly.
There remains a need to address the problems and deficiencies of current approaches to SaaS security monitoring.

User state tracking and anomaly detection in software-as-a-service environments

International Business Machines Corporation


A preset counter has a case and one or more counter units. Each counter unit has a number wheel, a first intermediate wheel in mesh with the number wheel, a preset wheel and a second intermediate wheel in mesh with the preset wheel. Said first intermediate wheel comprises a first wheel which is in mesh with said number wheel and whose rotation is prevented releasably by a locking means and a second wheel which is disposed in opposed relationship with said second intermediate wheel, resiliently connected through a clutch to said first wheel and is formed with a recess or notch cut into the peripheral surface thereof. When the preset wheel is rotated, its movement is transmitted through said second intermediate wheel to said second wheel, but not to said first wheel. When the number wheel is rotated, its movement is transmitted through said first wheel to said second wheel, but not to said second intermediate wheel. In each counter unit, when said notch and a contact roller are in line with each other, contacts are actuated. During the counting, a preset reading may be changed. A preset reading remains displayed on the preset wheels until the preset reading is reached.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a preset counter and more particularly a preset counter wherein a preset reading may be changed by changing the relative position between a number wheel and a preset wheel.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In general the prior art preset counter has one or more pairs of number and preset wheels which are in mesh with each other for rotation in unison with each other. In presetting a desired reading, first the number wheels are reset and are disengaged from the preset wheels so as to change the relative position between each pair of number and preset wheels, thereby changing a previously preset reading to a new one. During the counting, the preset wheels are rotated in unison with their associated number wheels, but since the preset wheels are not interconnected to each other, there is no correspondence between a reading on the number wheels and a reading on the preset wheels. That is, as a reading on the number wheels increments or decrements, a reading on the preset wheels will not follow the number wheels. In other words, a preset reading will not be displayed on the preset wheels during the counting and may be displayed again only when the number wheels are reset to zero. Furthermore the prior art preset counter is disadvantageous in that extremely complicated steps are required for changing a preset reading to a desired one once the counting has been started.


An electroplating bath and process for producing a nickel-zinc alloy electrodeposit containing about 8% to 35% nickel characterized in that the bath is essentially a boric acid-containing sulfamate bath maintained at a pH of 2.5 to 4.0 and operated at a cathode current density of about 10 to 25 mA cm.sup.-2 and at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 70.degree. C.

In the field of metal finishing there is a need for decorative or quasi-decorative metallic finishes which are sacrificially anodic with respect to a metal being protected. The classic, sacrificially anodic, coating metal is zinc used extensively in galvanized coatings. It is desirable to provide a sacrificially anodic coating metal which has enhanced corrosion resistance compared to zinc.
Electrodeposited nickel-zinc alloy coatings have been suggested for corrosion protection purposes, for example, in the documents abstracted in Chemical Abstracts listed as follows:
69 CA 56463v PA1 78 CA 66117k PA1 T. L. Rama Char, Proc. Australian Conf. Electrochem, 1st, Sydney, Hobart, Australia 1963, 384-91. PA1 S. Sathyanarayana and T. L. Rama Char, Bull. India Sect. Electrochem. Soc. 5 (4), 83-85 (1956). PA1 A. Brenner, Electrodeposition of Alloys Academic Press, New York, 1963, v. 2, p 216. PA1 J. Dini and H. Johnson, presented at the Government-Industry Workshop on Alternatives for Cadmium Electroplating in Metal Finishing, Oct. 4-6, 1977. PA1 S. Venkatachalam, Some Peculiar Observations in the Electrodeposition of Nickel-Zinc Alloys from the Sulphamate Bath, Bull. Indian Section, Electrochem. Soc. 10, 93 (1961).
The use of an electrodeposited nickel-zinc alloy layer as a part of a plated system involving a corrodible basis metal having successive deposits of zinc-nickel alloy, nickel and chromium is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,027. Other disclosures known to us relative to nickel-zinc plating are as follows:
The present invention is directed to novel plating baths and plating procedures for producing decorative quality or quasi-decorative quality nickel-zinc alloy deposits useful for purposes envisioned by the prior art and for other uses.

Nickel-zinc alloy deposition from a sulfamate bath


A machine monitor includes sensors producing a series of scalar values corresponding to sensed physical parameters. An analyzer produces a first database based on the scalar values and determines a median value of the scalar values for each sensor. It also sets a spike level that is offset from the median value by a predetermined multiple of the median value. A spike filter in the analyzer compares the scalar values to the spike level, and identifies a particular scalar value as a potential spike when the particular scalar value differs from the median value by an amount that is equal to or greater than the spike level. A potential spike is determined to be an actual spike if the first and second side values are within a predetermined range of the median value. A second database is produced with the actual spikes eliminated. Using the second database, corrected faults are identified by finding a data point that exceeds a danger level with a preceding data point exceeding a warning level and two trailing data points being less than an advise level.

In the collection of vibration data, spikes in the data can reduce the reliability of vibration data analysis because a spike could be mistaken as a fault. A data "spike" is defined as a change in a measured value which is unreasonable due to rate of change from previous values, difference in magnitude from previous values, or both. Typically, the "spike" is of short duration, and appears as a very sharp positive or negative excursion on the processed data plot.
Raw vibration data collected by either portable or continuous online vibration devices may be subject to a variety of noise inputs which may manifest as spikes in the processed data. These noise inputs can arise from poor wiring installations, bad cables to vibration sensors, static electric discharges, electromagnetic pickup from external sources such as a noisy electric motor or some other source.
It should be noted that some spikes in the processed data may be legitimate changes in vibration levels or harmonic content due to some sort of fault with the machine being monitored. In general, there are most often other indications (such as a steady increase in trended values) that something is changing in the behavior of the machine.
Spikes in the real-time or historical vibration data can lead to false alarms being generated. Conversely, if historical data is being used to set alarm limits, spikes in the data may result in alarm limits that are too loose, which may result in problems being missed or being alerted to problems too late.
Different techniques have been developed to identify and eliminate spikes from various forms of data. In general, prior art techniques rely on some type of mathematical or statistical analysis to identify outlier data and eliminate a spike as an outlier.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,322 discloses a method in which attributes of a motorized system are measured where the attributes are at least one of vibration, speed, temperature, pressure, etc. One step of the method is the elimination of outliers. Certain data patterns are excluded from the data as outliers and extraordinarily large or small data values are typically excluded. US20070260656A1 searches out and subtracts both outlier data and edge data in a method for diagnosing a mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,637 discloses a method for determining vibration amplitude limits of a mechanical device. The collected data is corrected using outlier detection procedures that are known in the art. German application DE102010013594A1 discusses measuring outer contours of an object and ignoring individual outliers that may be caused by a speck of dust at the measuring point. U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,012 discloses a method for detecting an abnormal situation associated with the process plant. Specialized data filters and data processing techniques are used to produce enhanced data and such enhanced data may be trimmed to remove outliers. U.S. Pat. No. 9,483,049 B2 discloses an extremely complicated and mathematically intensive method for detecting anomalies in sensed data, including outliers, and rejecting them.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,683 discloses a tool that includes a detection system that avoids false alarms caused by noise spikes. EP0018853B1 discloses a technique for discriminating electrical noise spikes from actual impact signals.
These prior art techniques are time consuming to execute and are not well suited for monitoring scalar vibration data from a variety of machines for purposes of preventative maintenance. In other words, these techniques require too much processing time and are slow, and they do not work well in a preventive maintenance environment.

Detection of spikes and faults in vibration trend data


In some implementations, a system can intelligently restore data to a user's computing device. For example, the system can prioritize data to be restored to a user device based on the data that the user is most likely to use. The system can restore high priority data items first while delaying restoration of low priority data items. The system can control when data restoration is performed based on device conditions. For example, the device conditions can include how much of an energy budget and/or data budget remains for downloading data to the user device. The device conditions can include the thermal condition (e.g., how hot) of the user device. If device conditions do not allow for downloading data at a particular time, then the device can delay downloading data until the device conditions allow for downloading and/or restoring the data.

As cloud computing and storage options grow, more and more users are choosing to back up the data on their computing devices to cloud storage servers (e.g., network servers). One of the benefits of backing up the data to the cloud, is that the user can automatically configure a new device or reconfigure an old device based on the data stored in the cloud storage servers. However, the process of restoring the data to the user's computing device (e.g., old device or new device) can use a lot of computing resources (e.g., battery power, network bandwidth, CPU cycles, etc.) and may cause the user device to temporarily operate at a suboptimal level (e.g., generate heat, respond slowly to user input, etc.). Thus, a more intelligent mechanism for restoring data to a user's device is needed that will improve the user's experience when using the user's computing device during the data restoration process.

Intelligent restoration of a computing device


A method of fabricating a biopolymer array, and an apparatus which can execute the method, droplets of fluid carrying the biopolymer or a biomonomer are deposited onto a front side of a transparent substrate. Light is directed through the substrate from the front side, back through a substrate back side and a first set of deposited droplets on the first side to an image sensor. The substrate may be mounted by means of a chuck with parallel channels, and a scanning operation of a droplet dispensing head, light source, and sensor conducted in unison in the direction of the channels.

This invention relates to arrays, particularly polynucleotide arrays such as DNA arrays, which are useful in diagnostic, screening, gene expression analysis, and other applications.
Polynucleotide arrays (such as DNA or RNA arrays), are known and are used, for example, as diagnostic or screening tools. Such arrays include features (sometimes referenced as spots or regions) of usually different sequence polynucleotides arranged in a predetermined configuration on a substrate. The arrays, when exposed to a sample, will exhibit a binding pattern. The array can be interrogated by observing this binding pattern by, for example, by labeling all polynucleotide targets (for example, DNA) in the sample with a suitable label (such as a fluorescent compound), and accurately observing the fluorescent signal on the array. Assuming that the different sequence polynucleotides were correctly deposited in accordance with the predetermined configuration, then the observed binding pattern will be indicative of the presence and/or concentration of one or more polynucleotide components of the sample. Peptide arrays can be used in a similar manner.
Biopolymer arrays can be fabricated using either in situ synthesis methods or deposition of the previously obtained biopolymers. The in situ synthesis methods include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,754 for synthesizing peptide arrays, as well as WO 98/41531 and the references cited therein for synthesizing polynucleotides (specifically, DNA). Such in situ synthesis methods can be basically regarded as iterating the sequence of depositing droplets of: (a) a protected monomer onto predetermined locations on a substrate to link with either a suitably activated substrate surface (or with a previously deposited deprotected monomer); (b) deprotecting the deposited monomer so that it can now react with a subsequently deposited protected monomer; and (c) depositing another protected monomer for linking. Different monomers may be deposited at different regions on the substrate during any one iteration so that the different regions of the completed array will have different desired biopolymer sequences. One or more intermediate further steps may be required in each iteration, such as oxidation and washing steps.
The deposition methods basically involve depositing biopolymers at predetermined locations on a substrate which are suitably activated such that the biopolymers can link thereto. Biopolymers of different sequence may be deposited at different regions of the substrate to yield the completed array. Washing or other additional steps may also be used. Typical procedures known in the art for deposition of polynucleotides, particularly DNA such as whole oligomers or cDNA, are to load a small volume of DNA in solution in one or more drop dispensers such as the tip of a pin or in an open capillary and, touch the pin or capillary to the surface of the substrate. Such a procedure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522. When the fluid touches the surface, some of the fluid is transferred. The pin or capillary must be washed prior to picking up the next type of DNA for spotting onto the array. This process is repeated for many different sequences and, eventually, the desired array is formed. Alternatively, the DNA can be loaded into a drop dispenser in the form of an inkjet head and fired onto the substrate. Such a technique has been described, for example, in PCT publications WO 95/25116 and WO 98/41531, and elsewhere. This method has the advantage of non-contact deposition.
In either method of fabrication, glass or other transparent material, is often used for the substrate. Such materials particularly lend themselves to linking of a nucleotide of a monomer or polymer. Further, in array fabrication, the quantities of DNA available for the array are usually very small and expensive. Sample quantities available for testing are usually also very small and it is therefore desirable to simultaneously test the same sample against a large number of different probes on an array. These conditions require use of arrays with large numbers of very small, closely spaced features. It is important in such arrays that features actually be present, that they are put down accurately in the desired pattern, are of the correct size, and that the DNA is uniformly coated within the feature. Normally, in an automated apparatus the features are deposited according to a target array pattern.
However, every component in an array deposition apparatus are subject to errors such as component failure or variances in its operating parameters within, or sometimes even outside of, normal tolerances for such component. For example, a dispensing head used to dispense fluid droplets to form the array, may have one or more jets which fail or which vary slightly in the size of the droplets dispensed, the orientation of the jets with respect to one another, or the orientation of the head itself in the apparatus may be slightly off from a nominal position. Whatever the error source, the result is that a target array pattern is not produced. That is, there is a discrepancy between the target array pattern and the actual array pattern deposited. These discrepancies can occur in each cycle of the in situ process, or during deposition of presynthesized polynucleotides.
The validity of the results of any test using an array, is dependant on knowing where the features are on the carrier substrate and if they were actually there on the substrate to begin with. A line scan camera can be used to observe droplets after their deposition during fabrication to reduce the possibility that during array use in a test, a reaction did not occur because a feature was missing or subject to some other error, thereby resulting in a false test result. However, observing the droplets during array fabrication can, as a practical matter, be difficult. For example, it is difficult to obtain sufficient reflected light from either the droplets or substrate surface to the camera sensor as the droplets move past the line scan camera. The amount of light the camera sensor is exposed to is inversely proportional to the speed of the objects being viewed. The faster the objects move, the less light reaches the camera, which can result in poor image contrast for reliable feature imaging. While the fabrication speed could be slowed to capture more light, this is undesirable from a manufacturing perspective and so the line scan camera should capture images at the running speed of the system. An additional issue with obtaining sufficient light to the camera is that when the substrate is glass or is otherwise transparent, and given that the droplets themselves may be transparent and colorless, most of the light will pass through the substrate and not make it back to the camera.
It would be useful then, to provide a means by which arrays can be fabricated by depositing droplets of monomer, polymer, or any other material used during array formation, and in which the deposition of the droplets can be accurately and rapidly observed even against a transparent substrate. It would also be useful if any such means is relatively simple to construct and offers little interference with other components of a deposition apparatus.
The present invention realizes that relatively good images can be obtained of deposited droplets of monomer, polymer (such as DNA, RNA, or peptides), or other fluids deposited on one side of a transparent substrate during array fabrication, by back lighting those droplets (that is, by providing illumination from the back side of the substrate). However, the present invention further realizes that back lighting during array fabrication is not particularly practical. For example, the substrate should preferably be firmly and precisely held in a known position at all times so that droplets will be deposited at least close to the expected locations, while still being supported on a back side. This implies some type of clamping and support structure across a back side of the substrate thereby making the to provision of any lighting system across the back side during array manufacture, difficult. Further, illuminating an entire back side of a substrate could lead to undue heating which could adversely affect sensitive biopolymers, given the intensity of illumination required. The present invention realizes that back lighting a transparent substrate during array fabrication can be accomplished by providing a mirror on the back side and illuminating and imaging from the front side on which droplets are deposited. The present invention further realizes that scanning illumination on the front side can avoid undue heating.
The present invention then, provides a method of fabricating a biopolymer array (for example, a polynucleotide or, more specifically, a DNA or RNA array). The method includes depositing droplets of fluid carrying the biopolymer or a biomonomer onto a front side of a transparent substrate. Light is directed through the substrate from the front side, back through a substrate back side and a first set of deposited droplets on the first side to an image sensor. In this manner, the first set is xe2x80x9cimagedxe2x80x9d. The light may optionally pass through the substrate from the front side at a position other than the first droplet set before being reflected to pass back through the back side of the substrate and first droplet set. Particularly, the light may pass through the substrate from the first side at an angle to a normal of the first side, and pass back through the back side and first droplet set at a complementary angle to the normal. Alternatively, the light may pass through the first droplet set when passing through the substrate from the first side, before being reflected to again pass through the first droplet set. In either event, the light is optionally reflected at a position spaced from the back side.
The directing of light in the foregoing manner may be repeated for additional sets of the deposited droplets by scanning the directed and reflected light across the first side. This can, for example, be accomplished by scanning both a light source of the directed light and the image sensor in unison across the first surface. Furthermore, the droplets may be deposited as droplet sets by a head, and multiple droplet sets may be deposited by scanning the head across the first side. Any deposited set may or may not be the same set that is later imaged by the sensor as a set. Further, the light source, image sensor and head are preferably physically interconnected and are scanned in unison across the first surface. The mirror preferably faces at least that area on the second side corresponding to that area on the first side across which droplet sets are deposited.
The substrate may, in one arrangement, be held in a chuck having multiple upstanding ribs to support the second side of the substrate. In this case, the mirror from which light is reflected may include multiple mirror segments extending along channels defined between the ribs. The head may be scanned across the first side of the substrate by scanning along the channels in turn. The direction of light from the source to the sensor may be on a plane oriented along (and preferably parallel to) the direction of the channels, and the source and sensor also scanned in a direction along (and preferably parallel to) the channels. This is particularly useful in the case where the light source and camera are positioned at so as to direct and receive the reflected light at complementary angles in the manner as described above. The head may be adjusted toward or away from the first side of the substrate independently of the sensor.
An apparatus which can execute a method of the present invention, is also provided. Such an apparatus includes a mount on which a transparent substrate can be mounted. A head is provided to deposit the fluid droplets onto the front side of the mounted substrate. A light source, reflector, and image sensor are also provided to execute the steps required by them, as described above. The apparatus may include other features as already described in connection with the method. For example, the apparatus may further include a transport system for the head, light source and image sensor, so as to move them in a manner as described, preferably including scanning in unison (with the head, light source, and image sensor being preferably physically interconnected as described above). A processor may also be provided to control the transport system as required and cause the head to dispense multiple droplet sets in co-ordination with relative movement of the head and substrate. Other elements may include the substrate mount in the form of a chuck, as described above.
Apparatus and methods of the present invention, can be also be used to deposit droplets of any other fluid moiety or moieties, and embodiments of the apparatus can be described by replacing xe2x80x9cbiopolymerxe2x80x9d, or similar terms with xe2x80x9cmoietyxe2x80x9d. Also, methods of the present invention can be executed without the deposition step in the event that the droplets were previously provided on the substrate.
The present invention can provide any one or more of a number of advantages. For example, the deposition of the droplets can be accurately observed against a transparent substrate. The imaging arrangement is relatively simple to construct and offers little interference with other components of a deposition apparatus, such as a chuck of the type described. The light source and camera scanning arrangement can offer rapid scanning with little interference from chuck components, such as the described ribs.


The present invention relates to a diagnosis method of cancer using SYG972 gene and to the genomic DNA and to a promoter regulating transcription of the gene. Expression of SYG972 gene is greatly reduced in breast cancer cells compared to normal breast cells. Therefore the present invention provides a method of diagnosis method by using the gene of the present invention or its fragments as a probe. SYG972 genomic according to the present invention is composed of 4 exons and 3 introns. Promoter is 3 kb long from the transcription initiating site in the 5xe2x80x2 direction. SYG972 genomic DNA and promoter can be used to design and screen drugs to promote or to inhibit apoptosis and differentiation of cells, especially to screen drugs to treat cancer, a disease wherein cell growth and differentiation is abnormal.

The present invention relates to a gene relating to cell differentiation (SYG972), amino acid sequence coded therefrom and their application to cancer diagnosis. The present invention also relates to a genomic DNA of SYG972 and to a new promoter.
Cell differentiation is the series of events involved in the development of a specialized cell having specific structure, functional, and biochemical properties. Cell differentiation occurs mainly at the time of fetus formation, but also occurs through out the entire life. Differentiating cells receive specific intracellular signals to participate in cell differentiation according to its program. During this process, expression of many different genes is regulated through a complex path. Genes that regulate cell differentiation are known to encode transcription-regulating factors including homeoproteins and cell cycle proteins. Most of the cell differentiation related genes, however, act on specific cell lines in a specific mode. Nevertheless, a common phenomenon relating to differentiation, that is, differentiation accompanying growth inhibition indicates that there exists a key regulator for cell differentiation. Accordingly, it is necessary to separate the functioning gene and elucidate its function.
One of the most prominent characteristics of cancer cells compared to normal cells is that cancer cells can amplify indefinitely. In order for normal cells to mutate to into cancer cells, the intracellular growth inhibiting genes must be deactivated. One of the representative example is the deactivation of the P53 gene that is found frequently in cancer cells. The product of the P53 genes is intra-nuclear transcription regulating factor for the normal cells, but mutation in this gene results in abnormal growth of the cells and which became cancer cells.
An example of a cancer regression gene closely related to cell differentiation is an erbA gene encoding thyroid hormone receptor. When red blood cell precursor cells are infected with an avian erythroblastosis virus, and the function of the erbA gene is regulated abnormally, this cell differentiates not into red blood cell but into undifferentiated immortalized cancer cells. In other words, generation and progress of cancer cells are complex phenomena that accompany expression of many genes and also accompanies the blocking of cell differentiation. Therefore, it is very important to find factors regulating cell differentiation and growth inhibition in diagnosing and treating cancers.
Promoters, sites regulating the transcription of a gene, are generally located at 5xe2x80x2 position of transcription start site. Gene expression is regulated depending on the transcription factor that binds this domain. In other words, the promoter of the gene determines regulation site for tissue specificity of a specific gene and changes in the expression according to the differentiation. Therefore, cloning a gene promoter and determining the sequence are very important in studying gene expression mechanism and finding gene expression regulating factors.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cancer diagnosis method using SYG972 gene, its fragment and polypeptide derived therefrom.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a genomic DNA of SYG972.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sequence for a new promoter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method to design and screen drugs by using a promoter of SYG972.

Cell growth inhibiting and cell differentiation specific SYG972 gene, genomic DNA and promoter thereof


An ignition cable terminal assembly for connecting an ignition cable to a spark plug terminal which is located in a deep well in an internal combustion engine has a handled stiffener for manipulating the ignition cable terminal assembly into engagement with the spark plug terminal. The stiffener comprises first and second members of relatively rigid thermoplastic material. The first member is a columnar arrangement of a lower collar portion which holds an elastomeric boot of the ignition cable terminal assembly, an intermediate channel portion for loading the elastomeric boot into the lower collar portion, and an upper handle portion for manipulating the stiffener. The second member is a closure member for the channel portion which including a clip for gripping the portion of the ignition cable which is disposed in the channel and a stop for holding the elastomeric boot down in the lower collar portion of the first member. The intermediate channel portion of the first member and the closure member have complementary semi-circular grooves at their respective upper ends which hold a seal ring.

This invention relates generally to ignition cable terminal assemblies and more particularly to stiffeners for ignition terminal assemblies which are adapted for connection to spark plugs which are located in deep recesses or wells in an internal combustion engine.
In the past such stiffeners have typically included a handle for manipulating the terminal assembly into and out of engagement with the spark plug terminal which is located in the bottom of the deep well. See for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,358 issued to Yoskihi Yano et al Jan. 20, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,662 issued to Hidenori Yamanashi et al Oct. 20, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,198 issued to Ronald P. Sturdevan Mar. 7, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,385 issued to Ronald P Sturdevan Apr. 25, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,202 issued to Kenneth B. Germ Mar. 6, 1990 which is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
In some instances these handled stiffeners have been used in conjunction with ignition cable terminal assemblies having an elastomeric boot housing a terminal and an end portion of the ignition cable to which the terminal is attached such as the arrangements shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,810,198 and 4,824,385.

Handled stiffener for deep well ignition cable terminal assembly


An amount of toner remaining within a toner cartridge is determined by sensing an environmental factor, determining a pulse width count, and determining a corrected pulse width count based on the pulse width count and the environmental factor. In addition, the amount of toner remaining within the toner cartridge is calculated based on the corrected pulse width count and a predetermined starting amount of toner in the toner cartridge.

This invention relates generally to printing, and more particularly to estimation of toner usage.
It is generally known that electrophotographic printers utilize toner to generate text and/or images on a print medium, such as, paper. In this regard, a toner cartridge is typically employed to store the toner. In the event the toner cartridge runs out of toner in the middle of a print job, paper and time may be wasted and users may become frustrated. Thus, to insure sufficient quantities of toner for a print job, sensors are often utilized to measure the toner level. However, sensors are expensive. In this regard, methods of toner estimation may be employed.
Previous inventions have disclosed methods of estimating toner usage for a print job. Typically, the toner usage is estimated for each print job. If the estimate indicates that insufficient toner is remaining in the cartridge, a user may be notified. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,420 discloses a method of predicting toner usage based upon printing history. For example, if a certain amount of toner was used to print the last 10 pages, the next 10 pages is estimated to use that same amount. U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,255 discloses a method of estimating toner usage based upon a pixel count. For example, if xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d amount of toner is used to generate one pixel, then 100 pixels is estimated to use 100xc3x97T amount of toner.
However, different pixels may not utilize the same amount of toner. For example, in the assignee""s HP Monochrome and Color LaserJet(trademark), a laser light source is modulated as it scans across the surface of an optical photoreceptor (xe2x80x9cOPRxe2x80x9d). To create a pixel, the laser light source may be modulated (or pulsed) to illuminate a desired pixel location. However, the pixel does not represent a fixed quantity of toner. For each pulse, the length of time (or duration) the laser is on as it scans across the OPR correlates to the width of the pulse on the OPR surface. The width and number of pulses used to create a pixel may vary from one pixel to another pixel. For example, to produce certain fine details, it may be advantageous to produce relatively narrow pixels. Thus, the duration of the pulse used to create the relatively narrow pixel may be correspondingly short. Conversely, relatively wider pulses may be used to produce a substantially solid line across the page.
Moreover, even for a given sized pixel, the amount of toner used may vary from pixel to pixel. For example, the number of pulses used to create a pixel may differ from pixel to another. A first pixel may be produced with a single pulse. A second pixel may be produced with more than one pulses. However, the first and second pixel may be substantially the same size despite using varying amount of toner based on the number of pulses.
The invention includes a method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for correcting a pulse width count.
In one respect, the invention includes a method for correcting a pulse width count in response to an environmental factor. The method comprises determining the pulse width count and calculating a corrected pulse width count based on the pulse width count and the environmental factor.
In another respect, the invention includes a computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software capable of automatically correcting a pulse width count in response to an environmental factor. The software comprises determining the pulse width count and calculating a corrected pulse width count based on the pulse width count and the environmental factor.
In yet another respect, the invention includes an apparatus for correcting a pulse width count in response to an environmental factor. The apparatus comprises a processor system configured to determine the pulse width count, wherein the processor system is further configured to correct the pulse width count based on the environmental factor.

Correction of pulse width accumulator based on the temperature and relative humidity


A cold-inducible promoter region and a tuber-specfic promoter region from an .alpha.-amylase gene from Solanum tuberosum are described. The promoter regions can be used to express a gene of interest in plants or plant cells.

It is known that it is desirable to direct expression of a gene of interest ("GOI") in certain tissues of an organism--such as a plant. For example, it may be desirable to produce crop protein products with an optimised amino acid composition and so increase the nutritive value of the crop. It may even be desirable to use the crop to express non-plant genes such as genes for mammalian products. Examples of the latter products include interferons, insulin, blood factors and plasminogen activators.
However, whilst it may be desirable to achieve expression of a GOI in certain tissues it is sometimes important (if not necessary) to ensure that the GOI is not expressed in other tissues in such a manner that detrimental effects may occur. Moreover, it is important not to upset the normal metabolism of the organism to such an extent that detrimental effects occur. For example, a disturbance in the normal metabolism in a plant's leaf or root tip could lead to stunted growth of the plant.
CA-A-2006454 describes a DNA sequence of an expression cassette in which the potato tuber specific regulatory regions are localised. The expression cassette contains a patatin-gene with a patatin-gene promoter. The DNA sequence is transferred into a plant genome using agrobacteria. According to CA-A-2006454, the DNA sequence enables heterologous products to be prepared in crops.
One of the key plant enzymes is .alpha.-amylase. .alpha.-amylase participates in the pathway responsible for the breakdown of starch to reducing sugars in potato tubers. Genes coding for .alpha.-amylase in potato plants have been isolated and characterised. For example, see the teachings in EP-B-0470145.
In brief, .alpha.-amylase is encoded by a gene family consisting of at least 5 individual genes. Based on their homology the genes can be divided into two subfamilies--one of which is the type 3 amylase(s), the other of which is the type 1 amylase(s). The two groups of .alpha.-amylases are expressed differently, not only on the molecular level but also in different tissues of the potato plant.
In this regard, type 3 .alpha.-amylases are expressed in root, in tubers, in sprouts and in stem tissue; whereas type 1 .alpha.-amylases are expressed in sprout and stem tissues, but not in tubers.

Cold-inducible and tuber-specific promoter sequence from potato .alpha.-amylase gene

deceased, Rolf Frost Pedersen, legal representative


A system, method, and computer-readable medium, to define and create a thing type and a thing regarding an internet of things environment, the thing type being a data structure of a category of a thing representing a real world entity and the thing being a data structure defining an instance of a thing type.

The Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to describe many aspects of the real world. Given the vastness and possibilities, describing the many different things can be a time consuming process. Each and every machine, system, and device may have to be defined in order to be effectively represented in the digital world.
However, some users may have a desire for a tool to efficiently create an integrated model of things in a IoT context.


A transmitting torque limiting apparatus, used in a power transmitting apparatus, includes side gears (40) and side gears piece (42) one of which are axially shiftable. The side gears (40) and the side gear pieces (42) respectively have first engaging teeth (60a) and second engaging teeth (60b) each being provided with a pressure angle (Alpha). Due to such pressure angle, when an excessive torque is inputted into the power transmitting apparatus, a thrust force (F1) is generated for disengaging the engagement between the first engaging teeth (60a) and second engaging teeth (60b). Thus, inputting of the excessive torque into the power transmitting apparatus can be limited.

The power transmission apparatus for vehicle is provided in a power transmitting path from an engine to driving wheels to transmit power generated at the engine to each of drive wheels. Normally, it is constructed by a transmission, propeller shaft, final reduction device, drive shaft and the like. For example, "New-type Car Manual TOYOTA CELSIOR" (issued by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA in November, 1988) disclosed a general final reduction apparatus which includes a reduction device and a differential device constructed integrally. A driving torque of the engine is inputted into the power transmitting device and then is transmitted to the driving wheels, while a reacting torque balancing with the driving torque is inputted from the driving wheels into the power transmitting apparatus.
There is a demand for improvement of power performance of the vehicle, and an output of the power source, grip force of tire, suspension device and the like are improved to satisfy such the demand. Here, when the vehicle is started quickly, or the vehicle is running on a rough-surface road, the drive wheel(s) floated up momentarily from the road, and the driving torque and the reacting torque momentarily decreases.
Thenafter, at the moment of landing of the driving wheels on the road, extremely large driving torque and reacting torque are inputted into the power transmission apparatus. This may cause a temporary shortage of the transmission capacity of a rotary shaft such as a driving shaft, propeller shaft and the like, or capacity of gears arranged in a differential device, automatic transmission device and the like. Thus, durability of the shafts or gears may be lowered.
For overcoming the above problem, it is conceivable tor example to make size of the shafts and the gears large to thereby increase strength of them, whereby the power transmission capacity of the shafts and the gears is increased. However, there is fear that strengthened shafts and the gears may make the power transmission apparatus large-sized and heavy-weighed, so that quality of the vehicle may be lowered.

Transmitting torque limiting apparatus for vehicle