A Q-switched solid state laser is disclosed comprising a pump radiation source, whose pump radiation is focused through focusing elements in the laser crystal, a resonator formed by reflecting surfaces in which at least one laser crystal, an acousto-optic switch for Q-switching, and, if desired, a freqency-doubling crystal (KTP) are arranged. The acousto-optic Q-switch is connected with an electronic unit generating a high-frequency wave which can be modulated. The Q-switch is controlled by the high-frequency wave in such a way that laser pulses with pulse lengths on the order of magnitude of several microseconds (xcexcs) and with an energy content on the order of magnitude of several millijoules can be generated by controlling the steepness of the edge of the modulation function of the high-frequency wave.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a Q-switched solid state laser with adjustable pulse length, particularly with a pulse length up to several microseconds and an energy content up to several millijoules, and is generally intended for material processing and specifically for treating biological tissue, for example, for ophthalmologic applications.
b) Description of the Relevant Art
The aim of ophthalmologic laser treatment is, among others, the thermal destruction of diseased tissue (coagulation). However, in so doing, healthy surrounding tissue is usually also affected or destroyed by the thermal action at the same time. Accordingly, there is a need to limit the heating spatially to a central treatment area with diseased tissue in order to protect the healthy tissue as far as possible; this can be accomplished with laser pulses of determined pulse length, pulse energy and repetition rates.
DE 39 36 716, for example, discloses a device for influencing material by pulsed laser radiation and describes the advantage of pulsed laser treatment compared with continuous-wave treatment of biological tissue. In this case, a temporal and spatial switching device of the light source is provided for repeated irradiation with light pulses for deliberately influencing material changes on the direct light-absorbing structures of the irradiated material and their immediate surroundings in a spatially limited manner.
Patent DE 44 01 917 C2 (Brinkmann) and references contained therein describe laser arrangements providing pulsed light with pulse lengths of several microseconds. However, the cost is quite high. For one, the pulses are generated by electro-optic Q-switching, which requires handling high voltages in the kV range (Pockels cell). On the other hand, a very fast feedback loop is used which adjusts the loss control during formation of the laser pulse by means of the Q-switch. A portion of the laser output is converted into an electric signal and is used for feedback. This allows lengthening of the laser pulses to the microsecond range.
Pulse generation by means of a saturable absorber would also be conceivable, but would additionally require the pulse lengthening unit comprising Pockels cell and feedback too. Together with the necessary output electronics for the feedback, this construction requires extensive space and, due to the water cooling among other reasons, is difficult to transport.
A compact Q-switched diode-pumped solid state laser with acousto-optic Q-switching is described in Patent Application No. 199 27 918.7, not yet published, in which exacting requirements are imposed on the quality of the dielectric layers of resonator components, since there is high radiation loading in the laser crystals with pulsed laser radiation. The arrangement described in this reference uses an acousto-optic Q-switch which can be installed in compact devices because of its small dimensions. Loss control in acousto-optic Q-switching is carried out by an ultrasonic wave which is generated in a crystal and which acts upon the laser beam traveling across it as a grating which diffracts part of the laser intensity circulating in the resonator. The pulse lengthening is carried out in this case solely through the presence of a frequency doubler which functions at the same time as a pulse output-coupler. It is disadvantageous that the pulse lengthening is no longer adequate in the range of high pulse energies required for the treatment of biological tissue because the inversion in the laser medium decreases faster as pulse energy circulating in the resonator increases.
YAG crystals are preferably used as active media, although other laser crystals are also possible. Lasers of this type are known to be robust in the sense that they retain their characteristics over a long period, even under environmental influences such as changes in temperature or jolting caused by transport. The laser emission wavelength lies in the near infrared range and is not usable for ophthalmologic laser coagulation treatment. However, efficient conversion of the wavelength of the radiated laser light into the visible spectral region with a frequency-doubling crystal within the resonator makes it possible to generate laser pulses that are suitable for such treatment.
It is the primary object of the invention to provide a Q-switched solid state laser with adjustable pulse length by which the disadvantages of the prior art are extensively eliminated and in which an adjustment of the pulse length in the xcexcs range is achieved economically with small volume and with great dependability and high stability.
According to the invention, this object is met in a Q-switched solid state laser comprising a laser crystal, focusing elements, a pump radiation source whose pump radiation is focused by focusing elements into the laser crystal, a resonator formed by reflecting surfaces in which at least one laser crystal, an acousto-optic switch for Q-switching and, if desired, a frequency doubling crystawherein a (KTP) are arranged. The acousto-optic Q-switch is connected with an electronic unit generating a high frequency wave which can be modulated. The Q-switch is controlled by the high-frequency wave in such a way that laser pulses with pulse lengths of one or more microseconds can be generated by controlling the steepness of the edge of the modulation function of the high frequency wave providing laser pulses with suitable parameters. Further constructions and details of the invention are described in the subsequent subclaims.
It is advantageous when means are provided for focusing the laser radiation in the frequency-doubling crystal in the resonator, wherein a switching edge of the modulation signals with a low slope is used for the Q-switch to prevent radiation damage to the frequency-doubling crystal.
It is further advantageous when a radiation attenuator is provided outside of the resonator for adjusting the energy of the emitted laser pulses.
In an advantageous construction of the invention, the adjustment of the energy of the laser pulses is achieved by means of controlling the intensity of the pump light source while adjusting the pulse length of the therapy (laser) radiation by controlling the edge steepness of the modulation of the high-frequency (HF) wave at the Q-switch.
It is advantageous to use as a monitor for the pulse energy the fluorescent light, which is emitted by the laser crystal shortly before the triggering of the laser pulse by converting it, e.g., by photoelectric elements, into electric signals that can be processed.
The solid state laser is also characterized, among other things, by the fact that the pump radiation source operates continuously or, as the case may be, also in pulsed regime in order to control, regulate or monitor thermal effects in the laser crystal. It may be advantageous to operate the pump radiation source in pulsed manner in order to prevent thermal effects in the laser crystal.
In ophthalmologic devices, it is advantageous when a quartz fiber which conducts light radiation and has a diameter of the order of 50 xcexcm is provided between the solid state laser and an applicator receiving the laser radiation, where the coupling efficiency of the radiation transmitted through the fiber is about 80%.
The invention extensively overcomes particularly the disadvantages particularly of the solid state laser described in DE Patent Application No. 199 27 918.7 since a further degree of freedom for realizing an adjustable pulse length of the laser radiation in a solid state laser is introduced by the variability of the modulation of the Q-switch edge. This additional degree of freedom makes it possible to provide lengthened laser pulses in the xcexcs range with extremely short resonators, two tendencies which would otherwise conflict. Accordingly, a xcexcs laser is realized which has a resonator length of the order of 10 cm, which, for example, also enables manufacture of a compact, stable laser.
The methods for generating and lengthening laser pulses stated (claimed) in the present Application work either with or without a frequency-doubling crystal. The amplitude of the ultrasonic wave of the acousto-optic Q-switching also determines the level of losses. It is possible to deliberately control laser losses by modulating this amplitude. The pulse lengthening is determined by the modulation function of the Q-switch driving HF-wave which is generated. The steepness of the leading switching edge of the modulation function determines the length of the emitted laser pulses. Accordingly, very stable laser pulses have been generated by the device presented herein, wherein the pulse width and pulse height of several thousand repeated laser pulses varied by no more than 10%. Fast fluctuations in pulse shape, e.g., formation of output peaks within a pulse, were not observed. Accordingly, this device makes do without a feedback loop for stabilizing the pulses.
The invention will be described more precisely in the following with reference to an embodiment example.


Disclosed is the identification, provision and use of a panel of biomarkers that predict sensitivity or resistance to gefitinib and other EGFR inhibitors, and products and processes related thereto. Specifically, a method is described for selecting a cancer patient who is predicted to benefit from therapeutic administration of an EGFR inhibitor, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitor. Also described is a method to identify molecules that interact with the EGFR pathway to allow or enhance responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors, as well as a plurality of polynucleotides or antibodies for the detection of the expression of genes that are indicative of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitors. A method to identify a compound with the potential to enhance the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors is also described.

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for lung cancer. However, less than a third of patients with advanced stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond to the best two chemotherapy drug combinations. Therefore, novel agents that target cancer specific biological pathways are needed.
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most appealing targets for novel therapies for cancer. EGFR plays a major role in transmitting stimuli that lead to proliferation, growth and survival of various cancer types, including, but not limited to, NSCLC. Ligand binding to the EGFR receptor leads to homo- or heterodimerization of EGFR with other ErbB receptors. EGFR is overexpressed in a large proportion of invasive NSCLC and in premalignant bronchial lesions. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, represents the major form of lung cancer in non-smoking females and is rising in frequency, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed with high frequency in BAC. Unfortunately, the response of BACs to conventional chemotherapy is poor. Activation of EGFR leads to simultaneous activation of several signaling cascades including the MAPK pathway, the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway and the PI(3)K-activated AKT pathway (FIG. 1). EGFR signaling translated in the nucleus leads to cancer cell proliferation and survival.
Targeted therapy against the EGFR receptor has produced response rates of 25-30% as first line treatment and 11-20% in 2nd and 3rd line settings (e.g., chemo-refractory advanced stage NSCLC). For example, in phase II clinical trials, 11-20% of patients with chemo-refractory advanced stage NSCLC responded to treatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib (commercially available as Iressa®, ZD1839). A trial evaluating the activity of the EGFR inhibitor, erlotinib (Tarceva®, OSI-774) has been completed and the results will be reported in the near future. A retrospective analysis of 140 patients responding to treatment with gefitinib revealed that the presence of BAC features (p=0.005) and being a never smoker (p=0.007) were the only independent predictors of response to gefitinib. These data suggest that EGFR inhibitor therapy is more active in BAC and in non-smokers.
However, currently, there are no selection criteria for determining which NSCLC patients will benefit from treatment with EGFR inhibitors such as gefitinib. Moreover, EGFR expression does not predict gefitinib sensitivity. Therefore, despite the correlation of tumor histology and smoking history with gefitinib response, it is of great importance to identify molecular molecules that influence gefitinib responsiveness, and to develop adjuvant treatments that enhance the response. To accomplish this goal, there is a need in the art to define critical aspects of EGFR signaling and to identify which molecules interact with the EGFR pathway to dictate responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors.

Gefitinib sensitivity-related gene expression and products and methods related thereto

The Regents of the University of Colorado, A Body Corporate


Two telescopically mated tubes carry on their opposite ends laterally extending flanges for engaging the inner faces of opposite panels of rectangular fiberboard ducts to brace them against sagging and/or buldging caused by air-pressure-difference and/or gravitational forces. The inner tube has a series of notches or apertures formed therein and the outer tube has a tongue or pin engageable with a selected notch or aperture to lock the tubes in length-adjusted relative positions. Optionally, the opposite tube ends can have a bendable tongue or a barbed pin for penetrating through the fiberboard wall. The tongue can be bent over the outer face of the duct panel to brace the panel against outward buldging. The barbed pin can receive a pressed-on resilient nut for the same purpose. The tubes can be economically formed from sheet-metal strips bent to define, in cross-section, nearly closed triangles or nested U's.

It is known to brace the panels of rectangular sheet-metal air-ducts against inward bowing by the use of an adjustable-length rod (U.S. Pat. No. to Savage 3,557,838). But no brace is known which is especially adapted for use with soft fiberboard duct-panels and/or which braces such panels against buldging as well as against inward bowing. It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide such a brace. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds.

Length-adjustable stiffener for fiberboard ducts


A D2D communication discovery method, an apparatus, and a system are disclosed. In an embodiment the D2D communication method includes acquiring, at an application layer, location information of a first user equipment and location information of a second user equipment, calculating a distance between the first user equipment and the second user equipment according to the location information of the first user equipment and the location information of the second user equipment and sending a D2D link establishment instruction to the first user equipment according to the distance between the first user equipment and the second user equipment so that the first user equipment and the second user equipment establish a D2D communication link.

D2D communication is a technology that directly performs data exchange or a service without forwarding by using a network. For example, a Bluetooth module of a terminal may be always enabled for scanning, or when a transmission distance supported by Bluetooth is satisfied, a user manually enables a Bluetooth module at a local end, to establish a connection with scanned peer-end Bluetooth. The user may select data to be transmitted by using Bluetooth, and data transmission may be performed by using Bluetooth between the local end and the peer end. In this way, a process of D2D discovery and data transmission is completed.
An LTE (Long Term Evolution) cellular network may include user equipment A (UE A,), user equipment B (UE B), a ProSe A server to which the UEA belongs, a ProSe Server B to which the UEB belongs, a GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location Center) A to which the UEA belongs, and a GMLC B to which the UEB belongs. In the prior art, steps of establishing D2D communication in the LTE cellular network may include: (1) The UE A registers with the ProSe server A to which the UEA belongs, and the ProSe server A obtains a ProSe identifier A and an application identifier A of the UE A; the UE B registers with the ProSe server B to which the UE B belongs, and the ProSe server B obtains a ProSe identifier B and an application identifier B of the UE B. (2) The GMLC A updates location information of the UE A, the GMLC B updates location information of the UE B, the ProSe server A may obtain the location information of the UEA from the GMLC A, the ProSe server B may obtain the location information of the UEB from the GMLC B, the ProSe server A may obtain the location information of the UE B from the ProSe server B, and the ProSe server B may obtain the location information of the UE A from the ProSe server A. (3) The UE A requests to the ProSe server A for a D2D pairing with the UEB. For example, the ProSe server A may calculate a distance D between the UE A and the UEB according to the location information of the UE A and the location information of the UE B, and determine whether the distance D meets a pairing distance S; and if the distance D meets the pairing distance S, notify the UE A that the UE A can perform D2D communication with the UEB. In the prior art, the following problems exist in establishing D2D communication in the LTE cellular network: A third-party server needs to be deployed, and for different operators, message interfaces for different ProSe servers further need to be deployed, which increases a deployment difficulty. In addition, a network element, such as a core network, an access network, or user equipment, needs to support positioning, and network signaling overheads are high, which increases burden of the cellular network. Moreover, there lacks diversified positioning manners. Currently, a manner having relatively high positioning precision, that is, OTDOA (Observed Time Difference of Arrival), may be used in the LTE cellular network, but the positioning precision is far lower than a positioning manner such as GPS (Global Positioning System).

D2D communication discovery method, apparatus, and system


A package for high performance semiconductor devices is disclosed. The package has area array leads which can be pins, solder balls, or conductive pads. The package provides increased electrical and thermal performance at a cost that is less than that of previous technology. The packages is comprised of a printed wiring board type substrate to provide multilayer electrical connections and a thermally conductive case that encloses the top surface and the edges of the wiring substrate. The semiconductor device can be mounted directly on the thermally conductive case and connected to the substrate by any of the common methods for making first level interconnections. In the preferred embodiment, the case is comprised of copper or a copper alloy that is treated to enhance appearance and to prevent oxidation of the surface of the case. In addition to enhancing the thermal properties of the package, the copper case can also serve as a very low noise ground plane. The forged metal case with integral design features and appropriate surface finishes significantly enhance the appearance and perceived value of the package.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to packages for semiconductor devices in general, and specifically to high performance, low cost pin grid array, ball grid array, and pad grid array packages for semiconductor devices.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Until quite recently, the standard for high performance semiconductor packages were packages made of alumina ceramic with multiple layers of tungsten conductors within the monolithic ceramic structure. These packages are known as multi layer cofire (MLC) ceramic packages. The chief advantage of this construction is that it provides virtually perfect protection for the semiconductor chip it houses. Most significantly, once sealed, the chip is not exposed to the exterior environment to any significant degree. In other words, MLC packages are highly hermetic. Hermeticity was important to early die because their surfaces were prone to deterioration from the mix of gases and moisture in the normal environment. MLC packages also provided great flexibility of design to accommodate the electrical requirements of high performance die. That design flexibility came from the ability to route the electrical interconnection on several conductor layers. MLC packages also have good thermal performance due to the relatively high thermal conductivity of the alumina ceramic. It is possible to augment the basically good thermal performance through the application of heat spreaders constructed of metal matrix composite of copper and tungsten.
With all of the benefits of MLC packages, there are two issues that are causing a shift to other technology. Those issues are cost and electrical performance. The processes used to manufacture MLC packages are energy intensive and the materials used are expensive. The result is that MLC packages, when manufactured in the highest volumes and with the greatest efficiency, cost around $0.05 per lead for the most common types. This compares to between $0.01 and $0.02 per lead for the most common of semiconductor packages.
The high performance devices that have traditionally used MLC packages, such as microprocessors, have typically been of high enough value themselves to hide the high cost of the packages. If this were the only problem, inertia alone would probably perpetuate the use of MLC packages for many years. The electrical performance issues, on the other hand are driving a switch away from MLC packages. The problem with MLC is in the basic materials set. The dielectric constant of the alumina dielectric is around 10 and the resistivity of the tungsten conductors is in the range of 0.01 .OMEGA./sq. Those properties, combined with the physical scale and relationships of package components yield structures that generate significant noise in both the signal lines and in the power and ground planes at high operating frequencies. That noise is roughly proportional to frequency. The problem of noise, and increasing noise with increasing speed is exacerbated by the fact that as semiconductor technology advances, operating frequencies increase geometrically and operating voltages, and thus noise immunity, decreases.
These problems are driving a search for packaging that provides higher electrical performance while maintaining the thermal performance of MLC, and hopefully reducing price. Currently the most promising candidate for packaging technology to replace MLC is packaging based on laminate, or PC board substrates to provide the multilayer wiring flexibility. The combinations of resinous materials and reinforcing fibers that form the basis for laminate substrates have dielectric constants of less than five and the copper conductors have resistivities of less than 0.001 .OMEGA./sq. The result is a very significant reduction in noise and the ability to design the impedance of signal lines to much more nearly match that of the die. The traditional problem with laminate based packages is low thermal performance of the basic materials set. The copper is a very good thermal conductor but the quantities of copper in a typical package are small relative to the resin and fiber, which have very low thermal conductivity. Current methods of improving the thermal performance of laminate packages involve attaching a copper slug to the package substrate and thermally connecting the chip to the slug either with thermal vias or by attaching the chip directly to the slug.
The practicality of using a metal slug as a thermal management tool in laminate based semiconductor packages has proven to significantly extend the usefulness and applicability of this type of package. While packages with these copper slugs have superior thermal performance, they are not cosmetically acceptable for device that may sell at retail for more than one thousand dollars.
The cosmetic issues have been addressed by some manufacturers by molding a package exterior around the laminate substrate and the metal slug. Packages produced in this manner are functionally equivalent or superior to the more basic laminate based packages and do have a much more finished appearance. The problem is that the molding process is relatively slow and expensive, regardless of the volume or extent of the package that is molded. While the cosmetics are significantly improved over the basic approach, the packages still suffers cosmetically and in terms of perceived value next to MLC ceramic packages. In addition, molded packages require the use of more expensive substrate materials the can stand up to the high temperatures and pressures associated with molding operations.
The objective of the present invention is to provide the maximum possible electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance, plus cosmetics properties that enhance perceived value to the level of high cost competitive technology, and do so for an absolute minimum cost. The package described here accomplishes the performance goals while providing for manufacturing costs that are below those of competing technologies. The present invention achieves those objectives by redefining how and with which components, the package meets its functional requirements. For any package, those basic functional requirements are: 1) protection of the chip itself; 2) translation of the geometries on the chip to those of the system level interconnects; 3) preservation of the electronic potential of the chip; 4) moving heat from the chip to the environment; and 5) to provide a form factor and interface technique compatible with the system level application.
The last requirement is the by the application, and in the case of the present invention, that is area array contacts using pins, solder balls, or conductive pads. Semiconductor packaging, including high performance area array packages, started out by addressing the requirements for protection and geometric translation. The electrical and thermal performance requirements have been relative late comers to the list. With current technology they have been addressed largely by adding features to then current standard package designs. This reactive, evolutionary process has lead to packages with adequate electrical and thermal performance and mechanical properties sufficient for the job, but also to packages employing high cost materials and processes. In addition, the resulting packages, particularly plastic packages, do not have the cosmetic properties consistent with devices that may sell at retail for more than one thousand dollars.
High performance plastic packages utilize metal heat spreaders or heat sinks to deal with the thermal requirements of high performance die. Those heat sinks constitute the mechanically most stable materials in plastic packages. They are not, however, applied in ways to take much advantage of their mechanical properties. In addition to the mechanical and thermal properties of the heat sink, it is also a potential electrical element in the package. Again, in packages based on current technology, only minimal use is made of this resource that must be included in order to address thermal management issues. By converting the heat spreader to be the mechanical foundation of the package and applying relatively unsophisticated forming techniques to the manufacture of the heat spreader, it is converted in the present invention, from a flat piece of metal to an enclosure and mounting system for the die and the electrical interconnect system of the package substrate.
While there are several methods that could be utilized to produce the heat spreader, or case of the present invention, the most cost effective method is forging. By forging the heat spreader, the complex shapes required for the current invention can be produced for very little more than the cost of the current flat heat spreader.
The initial advantages of the forged heat spreader are superior mechanical properties with little or no increase in mass or cost. The mechanical properties of the case 10 shown in FIG. 1, arise from the basic properties of the materials that comprise it, but also from its shape and from the work hardening that results in the forging process.
The ramifications of making the heat spreader the housing for the rest of the package components are far reaching. First of all, with the thermally conductive material covering the entire top and all four sides of the package, the area of effective hear removal surface can be as much as five times that common in competitive technologies. By removing the mechanical requirements of supporting the packages from the substrate, the substrate materials can be selected for their cost and electrical properties.
Conventional flat heat spreaders have traditionally been attached to the package substrate with thermoset epoxies that cover the entire area where the heat spreader and substrate overlap. By replacing the area attachment with well chosen attachment points and replacing epoxy with solder, cost is significantly reduced and the mechanical properties of the packages can be tailored to accommodate the anticipated environmental challenges for the package.
Despite the advantages of current area array, laminate based packages, all of the heretofore known package structures suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) The cost of materials and processing is high, even approaching that of the MLC ceramic packages.
(b) The cosmetics of the best of conventional laminate based packages is inferior to that of MLC ceramic.
(c) Expensive materials are required due to processes with high time/temperature integrals.
(d) Thermal performance, in terms of moving heat from the package surface to the surrounding environment is limited.
(e) Electrical performance is not optimized.

High performance semiconductor package with area array leads


A refresh method for DRAM is provided, in which a memory cell array is arranged to have multiple storing pages. Each storing page has a counter value. The method includes detecting out a portion of the storing pages being no longer used, indicated as a “no-use portion”, and another portion of the storing pages being still in use, indicated as “in-use portion”. Then, only the in-use portion of the storing pages is performed with a refreshing operation.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a refresh technology for dynamic random access memory, to increase a refreshing operation effect.
2. Background
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is already commonly used in different circuit system for digital processing, wherein the most common are, for example, computer systems, to store required temporary information during processing. DRAM and static random access memory (SRAM) are both volatile memory. When a power source is off, the information stored in a memory cell disappears. However, the memory cell structure of DRAM is formed through a MOS transistor and a storage capacitor. Thus, the area occupied on the chip is small, and so it is more commonly used.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional DRAM memory cell. Referring to FIG. 1, a DRAM memory cell 50 includes a MOS transistor 52 and a storage capacitor 54. A bit line and a source of the transistor 52 are connected. A drain of the MOS transistor 52 is connected to the storage capacitor 54. The other end of the storage capacitor 54 is connected to the ground. A word line and a gate of the transistor 52 are connected. A word line will connect to multiple memory cells 50, and a bit line will also connect to multiple memory cells. Thus, the memory cells 50 compose a two-dimensional memory cell array. Each memory cell will be accessed by a bit line and a word line that are intersecting.
The transistor 52 is described as an NMOS transistor. For example, when writing a "1" information into the storage capacitor 54, the corresponding connected bit line will exert a 5V voltage signal. At this point the corresponding connected word line will exert a starting voltage, which is, for example also 5V, conducted to the transistor 52. Then the voltage of the bit line will charge the storage capacitor 54 to 5V. After that, the transistor 52 can be turned off by a low voltage state of the bit line. The voltage of the bit line is subsequently turned off, or other memory cells 50 are continued to be written into. In contrast, if a "0" information is written, then the bit line will exert a 0V voltage signal. Thus, the voltage of the storage capacitor 54 is 0V. It can be seen that the information "1" or "0" is stored through the high low voltage of the storage capacitor 54.
The following describes a reading mechanism. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional reading circuit of a memory cell. Referring to FIG. 2, if the information of the memory cell 50 is to be read, the bit line connected to the memory cell 50 selected to be read is switched to a comparator 56. A reference voltage VRef of the comparator 56 is between 0V and 5V. When the bit line is conducted through the memory cell 50, the voltage of the bit line is the voltage V of the storage capacitor, which is 0V or 5V. The voltage V of the storage capacitor 54 can be known to be 0V or 5V by comparing the reference voltage VRef.
In the DRAM memory cell 50 structure, if the storage capacitor 54 stores the "1" information with a high voltage level, the electric charge will leak because of leakage current, lowering the voltage. If the voltage value of the storage capacitor 54 is not refreshed after a long time, wrong information will be produced. Generally, to refresh the voltage value of the storage capacitor 54, reading the voltage value of the storage capacitor 54 refreshes it. The reading operation can be an actual obtaining of the information or a dummy read. When rewriting the storage value the information will naturally be refreshed.
FIG. 3A illustrates a conventional diagram of a mechanism of a distributed refresh mode. Referring to FIG. 3A, generally a time interval will require refreshing n times. Conventional refreshing operations can be at a specific time uniformly distributed in a time interval, to perform a refreshing operation towards the memory cell. This is referred to as a distributed refresh mode. Another refreshing operation is, for example, a burst refresh mode. A pulse represents one refreshing operation. FIG. 3B illustrates a conventional diagram of a mechanism of a burst refresh mode. Referring to FIG. 3B, the burst refresh mode will continuously perform multiple refreshing operations in a time interval.

Apparatus and method for refreshing DRAM


A first method of purifying apolipoprotein A-1 includes mixing plasma fraction IV with a 1-8 M urea solution to form a pretreatment solution; loading the pretreatment solution to a first anion chromatography column, and then eluting to obtain an apoA-1 protein solution; and loading the apoA-1 protein solution to a second anion chromatography column, and eluting to obtain pure apoA-1 protein. A second method includes dissolving plasma fraction IV in a buffer to produce a pretreatment solution; adding NaCl to the pretreatment solution and cooling it to form apoA-1 precipitate; collecting and reconstituting the apoA-1 precipitate; loading the reconstituted apoA-1 to an anion exchange column; and eluting apoA-1 from the column.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is an important lipoprotein in blood. It participates in a process called Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT), through which cholesterol in tissue cells can be transported to the liver to be metabolized into a harmless substance, hence restraining the occurrence and evolution of atherosclerosis (AS). Apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) is the main form of apolipoprotein in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). It is closely related to the physiological function of HDL in the blood. It is the main undertaker of the HDL anti-atherosclerosis function. Besides, according to recent research results, apoA-1 deficiency may cause the evolution of atherosclerosis and an increase of inflammation. Furthermore, apoA-1 decreases Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and cleans plaque. In addition, according to recent research results, apoA-1 is promising for applications in drugs with an anti-inflammation effect or liver-targeting function.
Methods such as ultra-speed centrifuge, organic solvent precipitation, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are usually used to purify apoA-1. However, there are some innate defects in these methods, such as low yield, high cost, insecurity, and a production scale that is too small. These methods are not suitable for apoA-1 industrial production.
On the other hand, as one of the fractions acquired after plasma fractionation, plasma fraction IV is always discarded because no useful product can be purified for commercial application. In accordance with the present invention, a purification method suitable for large-scale production is provided, and apoA-1 with high purity is acquired from plasma fraction IV.


The stabilizing apparatus of the present invention has the advantages of allowing the computer system tower units to be positioned in close proximity with respect to each other while providing stability for a single or multiple tower units. The present invention provides a stabilizing apparatus for a computer system having one or more tower units with a generally narrow width base with respect to the depth and height of each tower unit. At least one pedestal spans the base of the tower unit in a direction transverse to the depth of the tower unit. The pedestal of the present invention is a single bar having two ends which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the tower unit for preventing the tower unit from overturning. Alternatively, the ends are also angled downwardly for raising the base of the tower unit. Screws are used, for instance, to attach the pedestal to the tower unit. The pedestal of one tower unit is capable of interlacing with the pedestal of another tower unit allowing the tower units to be positioned in close proximity with respect to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to stabilizing apparatus for securing and stabilizing tower type computer system units.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is desirable, in certain instances, to mount computer system units, such as hard disk drive array systems or tower units, in a vertical orientation, mainly due to space constraints. Pedestals are used to allow the tower unit to be mounted in a vertical position and still pass required standard tip tests for computer system units. The primary design goal of a pedestal is to expand the effective foot print of a given tower unit so that it requires a greater force to tip it over. Another important design consideration for pedestals is integration with and between other tower units and pedestals. If a user has multiple tower units mounted in vertical positions and wants to mount them as close to one another as possible, the minimum distance that two adjacent tower units can be stationed is dictated by how far the tower unit's pedestal extends out from the base, e.g. if the tower unit's pedestal extends out two inches and it is stationed next to a similar tower unit such that the front of the systems are aligned with respect to each other, the minimum distance between the two tower units would be four inches.
There are several commercial and private pedestals on the market that are used to provide stability for tower and mini-tower type computer system units. These are intended for stand alone systems and are not designed to allow two systems to stand closely together side by side. These pedestals typically mount to a system tower unit by enveloping the sides of the system tower unit. Therefore, a pedestal is needed which satisfies the necessary tip/push test requirements and still allows two or more like system tower units to be stationed next to one another as close as possible.

Stabilizing pedestal for computer system tower units


A multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade including a central disk member having a central aperture formed therethrough. The central aperture is dimensioned for rotatable coupling with a spindle shaft of a lawn mower. A plurality of first blade members each have interior edges extending outwardly from a peripheral edge of the central disk member. Each of the first blade members have a cutting edge formed on an interior edge thereof. A plurality of second blade members each have interior edges extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of the central disk member. Each of the second blade members are positioned between the first blade members. Each of the second blade members have a cutting edge formed on an interior edge thereof wherein each cutting edge of the second blade members are disposed above each cutting edge of first blade members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade and more particularly pertains to creating a high vacuum mulching arrangement for a lawn mower with a multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of mulching blades is known in the prior art. More specifically, mulching blades heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of shredding grass and leaves are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,735 to Nascone discloses a mulching blade for rotary lawn mower.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,268 to Barrera discloses a mulching blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 347,773 to Nash discloses the ornamental design for a leaf mulching attachment for rotating line trimmer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,940 to Peterson discloses a multi-edge mower blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,052 to Carroll discloses a cutting and mulching blade assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,635 to White, III et al. discloses a mulching mower with improved mulching blade.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade for creating a high vacuum mulching arrangement for a lawn mower.
In this respect, the multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of creating a high vacuum mulching arrangement for a lawn mower.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade which can be used for creating a high vacuum mulching arrangement for a lawn mower. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade


A side-blown fan is formed by a case and a blade member. The case includes a side-outlet, an axial inlet and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the axial inlet toward the center of the axial inlet. The blade member is embedded in the inside of the case. In the radial direction, a high air pressure region exists between the blade member and the case. The protrusion covers the high air pressure region and a part of the blade member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a side-blown fan and, more particularly, to a side-blown fan with reduced air leakage and an increased air pressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a system requiring a high back pressure, a blower is conventionally used to provide a higher air pressure for the system so that a higher back pressure may be obtained in the system. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional blower. Referring to FIG. 1, a blower 100 is constituted of an upper case 102a, a blade member 106 and a lower case 102b. The upper case 102a has an axial inlet 104, the lower case 102b has an axial inlet 110, and a high air pressure region 108 exists between the blade member 106 and the upper and lower cases 102a and 102b. In addition, a side-outlet 112 is formed when the upper case 102a and the lower case 102b are combined.
In the above-mentioned structure, the upper and lower cases 102a and 102b and an outer periphery of the blade member 106 defines a region serving as a flow field 114 for the blower 100. Since the upper and lower cases 102a and 102b almost do not cover the blade member 106, when the rotating speed of the blade member 106 is gradually increased, the air stream flowing in the flow field 114 tends to overflow from the inlets 104, 110, and pressure leakage and air leakage may occur. Accordingly, the air pressure cannot be further increased.


The invention provides methods and apparatus for establishing a connection between a mobile client and an external computer network such that the client computer network connection provides the illusion of seamless connectivity. In one aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received from a access point at a gateway to an external computer network. Access points are disposed in the vicinity of the path of the mobile client. In another aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received at an onboard proxy from an access point. The data is then transmitted to a mobile client.

The ability to access a computer network at anytime, and from anywhere, has become a goal of the communications industry. Progress toward accomplishing this goal has been possible due to the widespread availability of laptops, cell phones, pagers and other communication devices, as well as the popularity of the Internet. While the mobility of these devices frees the user from being tethered to a single location and allows the devices to be leveraged where they are needed, their full potential is only reached through access to other computers. This results in the need for facilities for high speed connections between mobile devices and a network so that significant amounts of data can be transferred while the mobile device travels a significant distance. However, moderate to high speed Internet connectivity for a mobile device is a difficult proposition. The challenge is exacerbated when the mobile device is transported over long distances during a single communication session.
Existing mobile computing systems include cellular systems, satellite systems, and wireless data networks. Cellular systems and wireless data networks provide connections for clients through a distribution of access points. These access points are constructed having a goal of providing continuous connectivity for the client, however, the ability to properly distribute access points to meet this goal is always limited. The inability to provide the needed distribution of access points results in geographic dead zones in which connections between the client and the network are not possible. A client traveling a significant distance during a single communication session may experience several geographic dead zones which interrupt the communication. Even carefully constructed wireless infrastructures can suffer from temporary or permanent outside interference, which result in dropped connections.
While dead zones are less of an issue with satellite systems, such systems are susceptible to interference due to rain, snow and other environmental conditions. Furthermore, satellite systems are very expensive to operate resulting in inflexible designs.
In order for customers to work seamlessly in a mobile environment, the challenges of the existing systems must be overcome. Thus, a need exists for a data transmission system that provides continuous connections between mobile clients and a network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for continuous connectivity between mobile device and network using dynamic connection spreading

International Business Machines Corporation


An elastic wave device includes a longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter including first to third IDTs and a parallel trap including a surface acoustic wave resonator. The longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter is asymmetric with respect to a central axis of the second IDT, the central axis extending in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the elastic-wave propagation direction on the piezoelectric substrate. When the duty ratio of an IDT of the surface acoustic wave resonator is denoted by D0 and the duty ratios of the first to third IDTs are respectively denoted by D1 to D3, the duty ratio D0 is between the highest of the duty ratios D1 to D3 and the lowest of the duty ratios D1 to D3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elastic wave device including a longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter and a parallel trap.
2. Description of the Related Art
Longitudinally-coupled resonator elastic wave filter devices are used, for example, as RF filters of mobile terminals. Japanese Patent No. 4525861 describes an elastic wave filter device that includes a longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter section, including narrow-pitch portions, and a parallel trap. By making the number of electrode fingers in the narrow-pitch portions differ from each other, the frequency position of the first resonant mode is adjusted to increase the sharpness of filter characteristics. Moreover, the sharpness of filter characteristics is further increased by positioning the resonant frequency of the parallel trap in an attenuation band.
With the elastic wave filter device described in Japanese Patent No. 4525861, the resonant frequencies of the first resonant mode and the parallel trap tend to shift if the electrode finger width varies.


An apparatus for eliminating accidents on power machines such as brake presses which comprises in combination a safety pedal, proximity switch and metal plate.

One of the main obstacles in guarding a machine such as a mechanical press where there are pinch points or rollers so that operators of said machine are not injured is the nature of the machine itself. Several previous solutions to this problem have not proven very effective in guarding these types of machines against hazards to the operator(s) and in retaining production hours at an acceptable level. These previous solutions included palm buttons which were on/off control buttons for the machine located at a level on the machine whereby the operator had to push the button to either activate the machine or shut it down. Other similar preventing means were guard bars located across the face of the machine which the operator could activate by merely pushing or leaning against the bar with his arms or forearms. Still another safety device for diminishing accidents on machines was the ordinary foot pedal mode of operation. In fact, using a foot pedal in conjunction with a press machine where large pieces of metal are being fed into the machine by one or more operators is a very practical means of activating the press because the operator's hands are a good distance from any pinch points. However, the closer the operator's hands get to the machine, the more his chances of being injured increase. When an operator is placing his hands in or near pinch points regularly he is extremely susceptible to injury. With one foot constantly on the foot pedal, and his hands being used to feed and process metal parts in and out of the machine regularly, an operator's concentration on safety greatly diminishes and the chances of an operator making a mistake that would result in an injury are too great to ignore.


Various embodiments enable finding collaborations in a network. One embodiment obtains collaboration data for a plurality of nodes, receives a request to locate at least one collaboration for a user, generates a search tree starting by determining a source node of the collaboration data, the search tree including at least two levels, and expanding the search tree until at least one target node is located that corresponds to a solution for the request, optimizes the search tree to attempt to reduce the number of solutions, generates an adjacency list of adjacent nodes in the optimized search tree, searches the adjacency list to locate at least one shortest path to the target node, and generates a list of collaboration data that is associated with the at least one shortest path from the source node to the target node.

Many websites on the internet allow users to join social or professional networks. A social network is, generally, an online platform that focuses on building or maintaining social relations among people, e.g., who share interests and/or activities. A social network typically contains a user profile for each of a number of users, with each user profile detailing that user's interests, experiences, and other information such as the individual's birthday, hometown, education, career, as well as photographs that the individual has uploaded. Certain networks focus on specific types of information. For example, a professional network service is a type of social network service that is focused mainly on interactions and relationships of a business nature, e.g., places of employment and links to co-workers or clients, rather than including personal, non-business interactions. Professional networking sites allow users to connect with former and current colleagues, as well as others such as classmates. However, these conventional networking sites have various shortcomings, such as the inability to effectively connect the appropriate individuals for new professional or other such opportunities.

Efficiently finding collaborations on a network


The object of the present invention is a seal device for a valve rod controlled by a cam included in a camshaft housing of an internal-combustion engine having at least one cylinder.. The device according to the invention includes a pipe (10) connecting on the one hand a feed line (2) for feeding the carbureted mixture into a combustion chamber (1) closed by a valve (5) and, on the other hand, a camshaft housing (4). A nonreturn valve (11) is arranged in said pipe (10) in order to divide said pipe (10) into two volumes (12, 13), the first volume (12) being connected to housing (4) and forming a capacity under pressure having a pressure P1 greater than or equal to the pressure P2 prevailing in feed line (2) and in the second volume (13).. The device according to the invention is intended for preventing fuel leaks from the feed line (2) towards the camshaft housing (4).

It is well-known to seal valve rods by means of a joint surrounding the valve rod and arranged for example on a guide element for guiding the valve rod.
The joints used may wear out, spoil under the effect of the motion of the valve, of temperatures, so that their seal purpose is no longer (or badly) fulfilled after a certain working time.
The present invention notably proposes a solution to the seal problem stated above.

Seal device for valve rod of an internal-combustion engine


The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer, and a contact. The semiconductor layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The contact has an interface with the semiconductor layer. The contact is substantially tapered toward the semiconductor substrate to the interface.

In recent years, the number and density of memory cells on a DRAM chip have dramatically increased. Areas of the DRAM chip on a substrate consist of an array of closely spaced memory cells with address and read/write circuits along the periphery of the DRAM chip. The individual DRAM cells (memory cells) are formed from a single access transistor, typically a field effect transistor (FET), and a storage capacitor with a node contact to one of the two source/drain areas of the FET. The capacitor is used for storing information in binary form (i.e., in values of 0 and 1) as an electrical charge, and the other of the two source/drain areas is connected to a bit line that is used to read and write information via peripheral circuits on the DRAM chip. Word lines that also form the FET gate electrodes over the active device (cell areas) are used to randomly access the individual memory cells.
This Discussion of the Background section is for background information only. The statements in this Discussion of the Background are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this section constitutes a prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this Discussion of the Background section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure.

Semiconductor device and method of forming the same


A computer-implemented process determines candidate three-dimensional shapes of ring-shaped molecules through an exhaustive search of combinations of torsion angles of the bonds of the ring, given known bond lengths and bond angles for the bonds between atoms of the rings, a range of torsion angles and a resolution. Candidate combinations of the torsion angles are selected according to the range and resolution and coordinates of the atoms of the ring are determined for each candidate combination. It is then determined whether each candidate combination defines a physically possible ring. Indications of such candidate combinations are recorded. Candidate combination may then be selected from those recorded so that coordinates of atoms in candidate repetitive structures may be determined.

Ring-shaped molecules are commonly found both in nature and in man-made compounds. In a ring-shaped molecule, the atoms forming the molecule are interconnected to each other to form a loop or ring, such as shown in FIG. 1. Viewed in two-dimensions, the distances between atoms, known as the bond lengths, and the angles formed at an atom and defined by its bonds with two other atoms, known as the bond angles, are well-known and can be readily determined experimentally. However, viewed in three-dimensions, these atoms may bond in a variety of rotations, identified by torsion angles. Accordingly, a ring-shaped molecule may have many shapes in three-dimensions. The term "shape" of a molecule signifies the arrangement, configuration or location of atoms forming the molecule with respect to each other in three-dimensions. In this field, shape is typically synonomous with "conformation." A "conformer" is a molecule with a particular shape. The shapes of ring-shaped structures are generally given descriptive names in the field of chemistry, such as a "boat", a "chair", a "sofa" or an "envelope." There are multitudes of other shapes.
Molecules including one or more ring-shaped structures are particularly common in biological systems. Most familiar, perhaps, are the carbohydrates in general and the simple sugars (monosaccharides) in particular. For example, the pyranose sugars have six-membered rings comprised of five carbon atoms and a single oxygen atom. These rings occur in the common monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose and mannose) as well as their monosaccharide derivatives such as acetals (e.g., the glucosides), ethers (e.g., 2,3,4,6-tetramethylgluco-pyranose), and acids (e.g. glucuronic acid). The furanoses, a group of common sugars (e.g., arabinose or ribose) in which four carbon atoms and a single oxygen atom form a five-membered ring. Side groups (substituents) which may be attached to the atoms in these rings are essentially unlimited in number and may constitute the better part of the mass of the molecule (e.g., the gangliosides and nucleosides). More generally, ring-shaped structures including anywhere from three to dozens of atoms (e.g., porphyrins and other metalocycles) may be found in natural systems with a wide variety of side groups attached to The ring-shaped structures. In addition, the rings may contain heteroatoms, partial double, double or triple bonds (e.g. Phe, Tyr, dopamine, steroids, vitamins).
These ring-shaped structures are typically flexible and can shift between various three-dimensional shapes while in solution. The so-called "chair" and "boat" shapes of six-membered rings are the most famous examples in which rotation around the bonds forming the ring can cause the atoms to change their spatial orientation with respect to one another while still being constrained by the bonds of the ring. The flexibility of rings will, of course, decrease with decreasing ring size (e.g., cyclopropane) and with the number of double bonds, partial double bonds or triple bonds between the ring atoms (e.g., benzene and other cycloalkenes). In addition, the side groups on a ring may cause the ring preferentially or exclusively to assume a particular shape due to forces such as steric hindrance or electrostatic attraction or repulsion among themselves. Nonetheless, many ring structures of biological interest retain a great deal of flexibility.
Many biologically significant molecules have a structure which consists of a chain or polymer of many repeating subunits which include a ring-shaped structure. The most common examples are, again, the carbohydrates in general and the polysaccharides in particular. Cellulose and amylose, for example, each consist of a polymer of glucose rings joined by 1-4 glucoside linkages. More complex polymers with repeating disaccharide or oligosaccharide subunits and with a wide variety of side groups with varying complexity (e.g., glycoproteins, gangliosides, glycosaminoglycans and mucopolysaccharides) are also quite common. In addition, non-carbohydrates with repeating ring structures are also among the most important biological molecules known. For example, the backbone of the ribonucleic acids is a polymer of ribose rings which have purine or pyrimidine bases as side groups and which are linked by phosphate esters.
The three-dimensional shape of biologically active molecules is often as important or more important than their molecular composition. The active sites of enzymes and the binding sites of cell receptors and antigens in these molecules typically have a three-dimensional shape which is complementary to the shape of their substrates, ligands and antigens. Therefore, the function and selectivity of a portion of a given molecule is highly dependent upon its shape. This shape may be dependent on a ring-shaped structure in either the polymer backbone of the molecule or a side group of the molecule. The ability to understand and estimate these shapes is, therefore, often crucial to understanding the biological activity of many molecules. In addition, the rapidly developing field of rational drug design is based in large part upon the development of new molecules which mimic the shape of natural molecules, or portions thereof, but which have different reactivity. Competitive inhibitors of an enzyme, for example, typically have a similar shape and similar charge characteristics to the natural substrate but differ in molecular composition such that they may occupy the active site of an enzyme but are not subject to the chemical reaction which the enzyme normally catalyzes. A better understanding of the shape of molecules including one or more ring structures, therefore, is valuable both in assessing the three-dimensional structure of a natural molecule which is sought to be mimicked and in predicting the utility of a proposed mimic.
The carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins and proteoglycans are just now being recognized as being of immense biological importance. The importance of oligosaccharides is discussed in "Biological Roles of Oligosaccharides" by Ajit Varki in Glycobiology, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 97-130 (1993). These polymers of ring structures may be found bound to membrane proteins, bound to the extracellular matrix, as integral components of basement membranes, or as soluble components of the extracellular matrix. As they may have functions in cell recognition, cell adhesion, cell migration, antigen recognition, cytokine presentation or activation, immobilization of growth factors and enzymes, and clearance from circulation, these carbohydrates are now the subject of intense scrutiny and knowledge of their three-dimensional structure is greatly needed. Among those of greatest interest are glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin-6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparin, heparon sulfate, keratan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid, all of which are polymers of substituted pyranose disaccharides.
The importance of the shape of a ring-shaped molecule or of a molecule including a ring-shaped structure is not limited to biological environments. Such molecules also occur in synthetic polymers (e.g., cellophane and celluloid), paper (e.g., cellulose) and food (e.g., glucose). With respect to synthetic polymers, the properties of synthetic polymers depend on the interaction between each of the monomeric units of which it is comprised. Estimating the shape of one polymer molecule allows one to study the way a multiplacity of these polymers assemble in three dimensions and to determine bulk properties. Knowledge from such study also allows polymers to be designed to have specific properties. A better understanding of the shapes of such molecules, and the ability to predict the shape of newly proposed materials, such as synthetic polymers, remain critical needs.
There are some computer systems which are used to estimate the shape of a molecule which contains ring-shaped structures, but these systems all assume that each of the ring-shaped structures within the molecule takes some predetermined shape. An expert typically estimates this shape or configuration. Given the assumption by the expert that the ring-shaped structure has a particular shape or configuration, the shapes of chains of this structure are then examined using conventional techniques. Such methods are described, for example, by Grootenhuis, P. D. J., et al., in "Carbohydrates and Drug Discovery--the Role of Computer Simulation," Tibtech, January 1994 (Vol. 12), pp. 9-14; French, A. D., et al., in Computer Moleling of Carbohydrate Molecules, eds. French, A. D. and Brady, J. W. (Am. Chem. Soc., Washington, D.C.) pp. 1-19; and by Homans, S. W., et al., in "Oligosaccharides and Recognition--A `Shape` Problem Probed By N.M.R. and Molecular Modeling," Biochemical Society Transactions, Carbohydrates, Shapes and Biological Recognition, Vol. 21, 1993, pp. 449-452.

Computer-implemented process and computer system for estimating the three-dimensional shape of a ring-shaped molecule and of a portion of a molecule containing a ring-shaped structure


An image forming apparatus including cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) developing units using a C developer, a M developer, a Y developer, and a K developer, respectively; at least one auxiliary developing unit using a developer other than the C, M, Y, and K developers; a plurality of photosensitive media formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively; a plurality of cleaning members formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to clean surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive media; and waste developer storage units formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to collect waste developer cleaned by the plurality of cleaning members. The developer storage unit and waste developer storage unit of at least one of the C, M, Y, and K developing units, in which there is a large amount of developer consumed and a large amount of waste developer generated, are larger than the developer storage unit and waste developer storage unit of the auxiliary developing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus to form images using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (respectively referred to hereinbelow as "Y," "M," "C," and "K") developers, and light color developers, a white developer, or a transparent developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As digital technology develops, high-quality electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as printers, copiers, and multifunctional peripherals are required. In particular, demand for high resolution, fine and faithful color reproduction, extension of the color reproduction range, high clarity, and faithful gradation are increasing.
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses that form color images using four basic color developers (Y, M, C, and K), it is difficult to uniformly attach developer particles to dots having a regular electric potential without the developer particles spreading, and the image gradation corresponding to the dot density ratio of developer areas to non-developer areas is poor, thereby causing limitations in the resolution, color reproduction, clarity, and gradation.
General electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are suitable for printing text, but are inappropriate for printing pictures requiring high resolution, faithful color reproduction, high clarity, and faithful gradation.
On the other hand, image forming apparatuses such as inkjet printers use approximately 11 or 12 color liquid developers, and thereby can obtain images having high resolution, faithful color reproduction, high clarity, and faithful gradation.

Image forming apparatus having toner containers of varying sizes


A shaving cream formulation having one or more surfactants, one or more emulsifying agents, and water, wherein water is present in an amount of less than twenty weight percent based on total weight of the formulation. The shave cream formulation being compatible for use with a water-soluble film enclosure.

Shaving can cause significant irritation to the skin; a shaving lubricant can be added to the area to be shaved in order to facilitate the process. There are many different types of shaving lubricants in use including, but not limited to, creams, foams, soaps, and oils. Shaving lubricants typically produce a significant lather, either through stimulation with a brush or propulsion from an aerosol canister. The lather, along with the lubrication, facilitates the shaving process and protects the skin from discomfort and cuts. Creams are the most commonly used shaving lubricant; shaving creams are typically made up of a mixture of soaps and detergents capable of achieving the necessary lather. Specifically, shaving creams typically consist of an emulsion of oils, surfactants, and a large amount (i.e. 60-80 percent) of water. For example, a standard shave cream formulation can comprise approximately 8 percent stearic acid, 4 percent triethanolamine, 0.5 percent lanolin, 2 percent glycerin, 6 percent polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and 79.5 percent water.
Most common shave creams are sold and dispensed in tubes or aerosol canisters; however, these can be bulky and difficult to pack during travel.


Guidance systems for guiding a catheter through tissue within a body are described. In one form, the system is implemented in connection with a catheter which includes a catheter body having a optic fibers extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The guidance system is coupled to the catheter body and includes a first optic fiber, a second optic fiber, and a detecting element. The first optic fiber includes a first end and a second end, and is coupled to the catheter body so that the first optic fiber second end is adjacent the catheter second end. The second optic fiber also includes a first end and a second end, and a reference mirror is positioned adjacent the second optic fiber second end. The first optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element and the second optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element. The detecting element is configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through the first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through the second optic fiber.

Disease processes, e.g., tumors, inflammation of lymph nodes, and plaque build-up in arteries, often afflict the human body. To treat such disease, it often is necessary to insert a medical device into the body, and to guide the medical device to the diseased site. Once the medical device is adjacent the diseased site, the medical device typically is used to photoablate or otherwise remove or reduce the diseased tissue.
As one specific example, atherosclerotic plaque is known to build-up on the walls of arteries in the human body. Such plaque build-up restricts circulation and often causes cardiovascular problems, especially when the build-up occurs in coronary arteries. Accordingly, it is desirable to detect plaque build-up and remove or otherwise reduce such plaque build-up.
Known catheters implement laser energy to remove plaque build up on artery walls. One known catheter includes a laser source and a catheter body. The catheter body has a first end and a second end, or head, and several optical fibers extend between the first end and the second end. The laser source is coupled to each of the optical fibers adjacent the catheter body first end and is configured to transmit laser energy simultaneously through the optical fibers.
To remove arterial plaque, for example, the catheter body is positioned in the artery so that the second end of the catheter body is adjacent a region of plaque build-up. The laser source is then energized so that laser energy travels through each of the optical fibers and substantially photoablates the plaque adjacent the second end of the catheter body. The catheter body is then advanced through the region to photoablate the plaque in such region.
A guide wire typically is required to properly position the catheter in the artery. The guide wire is advanced through the artery and region of plaque build-up so that it forms a path through the artery and plaque build-up. The catheter is then guided through the artery using the guide wire.
One known catheter includes ultrasound sensors positioned at its distal end for displaying images of the artery while the catheter is advanced. Known ultrasound sensors are coupled to an outer perimeter of the catheter and emit sound waves substantially radially from the catheter distal end toward the artery wall. The sound waves then are reflected by the surrounding tissue, e.g., the artery wall and plaque, and toward the ultrasound sensors. The reflected sound waves are then compared to the transmitted sound waves to generate an ultrasound image of the tissue radially sounding the distal end.
To advance the catheter, an operator first positions the catheter at a first location in the artery. Sound waves are then emitted from and received by the ultrasound sensors, and an image is then displayed showing the artery tissue adjacent the circumference of the catheter at such first location. The catheter is then advanced to a second location in the artery, and a second image is displayed showing the artery at such location. This process is then continued until the catheter is advanced through the artery and the plaque-build up.
Utilizing known ultrasound sensors as described above results in displaying images of the portions of the arterial wall which are radially disposed about the catheter, but does not provide images of the arterial wall or plaque positioned immediately forward the catheter. Particularly, and because of the reflection of the sound waves, the sensors must be aligned within the artery so that the sound waves projected toward the artery wall are substantially perpendicular to the artery wall when reflected to the sensors. Sound waves that are not perpendicular to the artery wall may provide inaccurate signals, which may result in the display of inaccurate images, which is undesirable.
Inaccurate images may result in improperly guiding the catheter through the blood vessel, which is undesirable. Particularly, known catheters must be manually inserted and guided through the blood vessel. Typically, a surgeon or other operator utilizes the displayed images to guide the catheter through the vessel and avoid damaging healthy tissue, i.e., the artery wall. If an inaccurate image displays plaque even though such tissue actually is an artery wall, it is possible that the operator may photoablate the artery wall, which is undesirable.
It would be desirable to provide a guidance system which provides improved image accuracy as compared to known catheters. It also would be desirable for such guidance system to be substantially easy to implement in connection with medical apparatus other than catheters. It further would be desirable for such guidance system to facilitate automatic advancement of the catheter through the body.

Method for guiding a medical instrument through a body


A method of identifying the output energy, main wavelength, position, pattern, etc., of light, which comprises irradiating a photosensitive coloring medium comprising a base material, a heat-sensitive coloring material, and a light absorptive material releasing heat sufficient for coloring the heat-sensitive coloring material by absorbing the light and identifying the output energy, main wavelength, position, pattern, etc., of the light from the colored extent thereof.

A conventional near infrared region sensor card which is used for identifying near infrared light is composed of laminated plastic sheets and a photoluminescent material dispersed as fine powders between the plastic sheets.
On receiving near infrared light, the sensor card emits visible light and shows the form of the invisible near infrared rays and the intensity of the incident light as it is. Thus, the sensor card is effective for the detection of the position of near infrared rays emitted from various kinds of lasers and LED (light emitting diode) and the identification of patterns of such near infrared rays. Also, since a photoluminescent material is used for converting near infrared rays into visible light, the sensor card has an advantage that it can be repeatedly used.
However, since the sensor utilizes the luminous phenomena of a photoluminescent material caused by the transition from an excited state thereof raised by absorbing a light energy receiving from outside, there are various inconveniences. That is, in an ordinary room light, it is required to continue the irradiation for a time as long about one minute for bringing the photoluminescent material into the excited state, and also since the luminescence is vanished with the stop of the light irradiation, photographing is required for storing the luminous pattern by the irradiated light and hence without photographing, it is impossible to identify the state of the irradiated light in detail or compare the state of the irradiation light with a state of other irradiation light.
Furthermore, a near infrared region sensor card using a photoluminescent material is expensive and an inexpensive and simply disposable near infrared region sensor card has not yet been developed.
As described above, in the conventional method of identifying near infrared light such as semiconductor laser light, there are disadvantages that it is difficult to obtain records for comparing one irradiated pattern with other irradiated pattern, it is impossible to store the records easily (or without need of photographing) for a long period of time, and also the materials being used for the method are expensive.
In particular, in the case of focusing a laser beam, it is really necessary to easily obtain the recorded image of the focused laser beam, which can safely and simply detect the shape, intensity, etc., of the focused laser spot and can compare it with other recorded images later, but such an easy means has not yet been found at present. Also, when a laser device emits plural laser beams, it is difficult to exactly know the number, shapes, and intensities of these laser beams by conventional methods.
Also, in the case of focusing plural laser beams, it is impossible to accurately determine whether the optical systems are matched well or not.

Method of identifying output, main wavelength, etc., of light


An apparatus for cutting sheets from an elongated workpiece is operated by first closing a pair of grippers on a workpiece leading end in an upper station and then cutting off the leading end of the workpiece to leave a sheet held in the grippers. The grippers holding the sheet are then moved downward and in an output direction to align the sheet with an output plane and pass the sheet to an output conveyor. The grippers are opened to release the cut-off sheet to the output conveyor for displacement of the sheet away in the output direction. Then the upper gripper is moved downstream in the output direction until it is out from underneath the input station and the lower gripper is moved oppositely upstream in the output direction until it is out from underneath the released sheet on the output conveyor. The upper gripper is moved upward to immediately above the upper plane and the lower gripper upward to immediately below the upper plane. Finally the upper gripper is moved upstream in the output direction until it is above the input station and the lower gripper is moved downstream in the output direction until it is underneath the input station. After the sheet has been moved out of the input station the leading end of the workpiece is advanced on the input plane into the input station so the cycle can be repeated.

The present invention relates to the transporting of a sheet workpiece. More particularly this invention concerns an apparatus for cutting an end off an elongated workpiece and transporting it away from the cutting location.
In many manufacturing processes an effectively endless flexible workpiece of paper, fabric, sheet metal, or plastic film or foil is fed discontinuously in an input direction to a cutting station where with each step or advance of the workpiece a sheet is cut off its leading end. These sheets must be transported away, typically by means of a conveyor operating continuously in an output direction transverse to the input direction. As in any production operation, it is important to be able to carry out the cutting and carrying-off operations as quickly as possible without of course damage to the workpiece.
This is typically done by gripping the leading end of the workpiece by a transporter/gripper and then cutting it free of the discontinuously arriving web workpiece. Then the gripper is moved up or down to an output level and loads the cut-off sheet into an output conveyor which extends transversely away from the input location on the output level. Once the sheet workpiece is engaged by the output conveyor, the gripper releases it and returns to the input location to grip the leading end of the web workpiece and restart the process.
Before the incoming web workpiece can be advanced and a new sheet can be cut off it, the grippers that move it to the output conveyor must be back in position. In addition it is often necessary for the sheet workpiece to be moved out of the way before the grippers can be moved back up to the input station. Due to the horizontal offset of the input and output stations, the path must be completely clear for the grippers to return to their starting position.
In some systems the gripper is formed as so-called needle beams whose points engage into the workpiece and hold it such grippers can work from one side and allow the apparatus to cycle more rapidly since they can move out of the way efficiently. They damage the workpiece edges however so that they are only usable on coarse fabrics or workpieces that are going to be trimmed.
In the simplest system the input station is directly above the output station. The grippers are spaced in the input direction and extend transversely across the workpiece, perpendicular to the input transport direction. The gripper drops straight down and then moves in the output direction to insert the workpiece into the output conveyor so it can be carried off while at the same time the workpiece is advanced in the upper station to get ready for the next cycle. Then the grippers must move further in this second direction to clear the workpieces in the lower output station and upper input station before they can be raised back up and moved horizontally back in place for the next cycle. This complex movement of the grippers takes quite some time and makes the apparatus fairly complex and large, although it does have the advantage of treating the workpiece very gently.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for cutting a sheet off an elongated workpiece and transporting away the cut-off sheet.
A further object is to provide an improved method of operating such an apparatus.
Another object is the provision of such an improved apparatus for cutting a sheet off an elongated workpiece and transporting away the cut-off sheet which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is simple and compact, and which cycles rapidly.
An apparatus for cutting sheets from an elongated workpiece has according to the invention a supply for feeding a leading end of the workpiece in an input direction on an upper horizontal input plane to an input station, a device for cutting the workpiece transversely of the input direction immediately upstream in the input direction from the input station, an output conveyor defining a lower horizontal output plane below the input plane in an output station below the input station and effective in an output direction transverse to the input direction, and upper and lower grippers engageable in a closed position with the workpiece in the upper station and displaceable into the lower station. This apparatus is operated according to the invention by first closing the grippers on the workpiece leading end in the upper station and then cutting off the leading end of the workpiece to leave a sheet held in the grippers. The grippers holding the sheet are then moved downward and in the output direction to align the sheet with the output plane and pass the sheet to the output conveyor. The grippers are opened to release the cut-off sheet to the output conveyor for displacement of the sheet away in the output direction. Then the upper gripper is moved downstream in the output direction until it is out from underneath the input station. The upper gripper is moved upward to immediately above the upper plane and the lower gripper upward to immediately below the upper plane. Finally the upper gripper is moved upstream in the output direction until it is above the input station and the lower gripper is moved downstream in the output direction until it is underneath the input station. After the sheet has been moved out of the input station the leading end of the workpiece is advanced on the input plane into the input station so that the cycle can be repeated. As the upper gripper is moved downstream after handing off the workpiece, the lower gripper can be held stationary or, if necessary, can be moved oppositely upstream in the output direction until it is out from underneath the released sheet on the output conveyor.
According to the invention the output station is partially underneath and partially offset in the output direction from the input station. Thus the system can work very rapidly. The ability of the grippers to move oppositely allows them to get out of the way of whatever is blocking them from moving back to the right level and allows them to slide back over and under the new workpiece end in the upper input station to start another cycle. With this system, therefore, the input station can be reloaded while the just cut sheet is being handed off, and the grippers can get back into position without having to travel through long paths.
According to the invention each upper gripper comprises two upper gripper bars spaced apart in the input direction and jointly movable vertically and in the output direction and two lower gripper bars also spaced apart in the input direction and jointly movable vertically and in the output direction.

Cutting and transporting a sheet workpiece


In a 1911-type hand gun used for target or staged shooting, a magazine utilizing a standard base pad limits the number of rounds that can be carried by that magazine. A base pad designed for exceptionally secure fastening and easy removal from the magazine also permits multiple extra rounds to be carried by the magazine, while still being within competition required size specifications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in magazines for hand guns and, more particularly, pertains to new and improved base pads which attached to the open bottom of a magazine tube.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the most critical problems confronting the designers of sports hand guns used for target and staged shooting competition is the design of a magazine that carries a maximum number of bullets within the size and specification for the hand gun. Since all shooting competitions are timed, the changing of an empty magazine during the competition is wasted time. The bulk of competition hand guns are built on the Colt 1911 frame, which is the standard side arm issued in World War II by the U.S. Military. The hand guns built on these frames may be made in a variety of calibers such as 9 mm, 10 mm, 45 and 38 calibers.
The 1911 guns all utilize multibullet magazine tubes which have an open bottom and a shaped top through which the rounds are individually fed into the chamber of the gun. The follower is spring-mounted and moves the rounds up from the bottom of the magazine through the shaped opening in the top of the magazine into the chamber of the gun. The follower is usually made out of a hard synthetic material such as Delron. The bottom of the magazine tube is closed off by a removable base pad which may also be made of Delron. Because the 1911 Colt frame has a standard size, the magazine tubes that fit within that frame must also be a standard size, thereby limiting the round holding capacity of the magazine.
Aftermarket conversion kits for magazines abound. These are only capable of adding one round to the holding capacity of the magazine and still remain within the dimensional requirements set out in the rules for USPSA or IPSC competition.


A locking mechanism (2) for stock restraining equipment, for locking a bar (3) in position at any position along a major length of the bar (3), mechanism (2) including a housing (7) to form a tapered passage (11), a roller (6) in the passage arranged to bear against the side of the bar (3), the bar (3), passage (11) and roller (6) being arranged so that the roller (6) can move along the passage between a lock position and a release position, along with a lever for moving the roller (6) between the lock position and the release position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism capable of locking a bar in position at any position along a major part of its length. The locking mechanism of the present invention could be used in a number of different applications, but has been devised with special reference to the problems of locking stock restraining equipment, especially cattle crushes and cattle head-bails, and will be described in relation to these applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Stock restraining equipment has to be extremely robust and quick and easy to use if the animal is not restrained rapidly in the correct position it will struggle and may injure itself and bystanders. Hitherto, locking mechanisms for such equipment have been of a ratchet type, but this is noisy in operation, is susceptible to slipping if the ratchet teeth become worn, and can lock only in a series of discrete positions i.e. where the ratchet teeth are in mesh with the carrier.

Locking mechanism for stock restraining equipment


Electrical connection systems, electrical apparatuses, and electrical connection members are described. In one aspect, an electrical connection system includes a receptacle connection member which includes an electrically conductive sleeve, and an electrically insulative member about at least a portion of an exterior surface of the sleeve, and an insertion connection member which includes an electrically conductive post which is configured to be electrically coupled with an interior surface of the sleeve when the post is inserted into the sleeve, and an electrically insulative member about at least a portion of an exterior surface of the electrically conductive post, and wherein the electrically insulative member of the insertion connection member is spaced from the electrically conductive post, and wherein the electrically insulative member of the receptacle connection member is received between the electrically conductive post and the electrically insulative member of the insertion connection member when the post of the insertion connection member is inserted into the receptacle connection member.

Numerous different sources of electrical energy are available and used in a wide variety of applications and industries. For example, automotive industries may utilize batteries, fuel cells, or other sources of electrical energy for providing power, perhaps for starting a gasoline engine or powering an electrical motor. Many different housings and connections exist for interconnecting the electrical energy sources with one another or with other components of the device in which the electrical energy sources are utilized. In one example, typical battery terminations involve the use of threaded fasteners which may be suitable for many different implementations, including use with automobiles. However, these systems may be unsuitable for other implementations, for example, implementations where it may be desirable for a watertight interconnection, such as an implementation within a marine vessel.
At least some aspects of the disclosure are directed towards electrical connection members, electrical connection systems, and electrical apparatus as described below.


There is disclosed a multi-line print head for a labeler. The print head includes a plurality of lines of printing members and a selector for each line. Each selector includes a shaft rotatable by a respective knob. The knobs are close to each other in certain axial positions. Each knob can transmit rotation and axial movements to its respective shaft. However, any knob can be shifted axially to a limited extent relative to its respective selector shaft to a position clear of any other knob. Thus, the other knob or knobs do not interfere with manual rotation of the selected knob.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the art of print heads.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A prior art U.S. patent disclosing a multi-line print head having a plurality of selectors for selectively setting two lines of data is U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,172 granted Apr. 6, 1976 to William A. Jenkins.


A method for forming a wear surface on a metal substrate has a slurry which includes wear resistant particles, powdered steel, and binder system positioned on the metal substrate by retaining walls for a time sufficient for drying the slurry and forming a composite material of preselected thickness "T". The retaining walls are then removed and the substrate and the composite material are heated and passed through a rolling mill compressing the composite material.

Much industrial effort has been devoted to developing ground-engaging tools with a reduced cost to wear life ratio. For example, new material compositions and heat treatments have been responsible for lowering the wear rates of cutting edges for earthworking blades and the tips for penetrating teeth. Moreover, various hardfacing materials have been weldingly applied to the exposed wear surfaces of such tools. Unfortunately, these thin hard facings wear away relatively quickly and it is necessary to apply additional layers at considerable expense of labor, time, equipment and the waste of natural resources. However, heretofore it has been difficult to apply such wear resistant material to relatively thin substrates.
The present invention is directed to overcome and improve one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Method for forming hard particle wear surfaces