A frequency switching terminal is provided to input a signal for switching frequencies of a reception circuit. A smart ECU is connected to the frequency switching terminal via a connection cable. When the signal for switching the frequencies is inputted into an external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a first electric wave transmitted from a portable terminal for smart entry. In contrast, when the signal for switching the frequencies is not inputted into the external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a second electric wave transmitted from a tire sensor.

[Patent document 1] JP-2003-81059 A (US 2003/0046993 A1)
[Patent document 2] JP-2009-97272 A (US 2009/0102634 A1)
There is conventionally existing an apparatus that integrates a function of a keyless entry apparatus and a function of a tire pressure monitoring apparatus to each other by adopting a common component member such as a high frequency reception section that is used in common by the two functions. Such an integrating apparatus switches functions of the keyless entry apparatus and the tire pressure monitoring apparatus in conjunction with an ignition switch turning into ON and OFF states (see Patent document 1).
There is an area or nation such as the United States of America where installing of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus is compulsory. Such an area has a needs to primarily install the function as a tire pressure monitoring apparatus whereas eliminating the function as a keyless entry apparatus. Therefore, a system which integrates the function of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus and the function of the keyless entry apparatus is desirably configured to function as the tire pressure apparatus by easily separating the smart ECU for controlling smart entry. Thus, there is an apparatus in which the smart ECU may be easily separated (for example, refer to Patent document 2).
In contrast, there is an area or nation such as Japan where installing of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus is not compulsory, for example. Such an area has a needs to primarily install the function as a keyless entry apparatus whereas eliminating the function as a tire pressure monitoring apparatus.
In the apparatus described in above Patent document 2, a microcomputer for a tire pressure monitoring apparatus (TPMS microcomputer) is to switch the reception frequencies of the reception circuit depending on an ignition switch turning ON and OFF and the voltage of a voltage signal terminal RCO inputted from a smart ECU. Even if the integrating apparatus is intended to function only as a smart entry, the installing of the TPMS microcomputer is necessary, posing a problem.


The present disclosure provides a display substrate such that each pixel unit of the display substrate includes a switching circuit and a control circuit, and the switching circuit is connected to a corresponding gate line, a control circuit of a respective pixel unit, and a corresponding pixel electrode. The control circuit is configured to transmit a data signal on a corresponding data line to a switching circuit of the respective pixel unit under control of a corresponding control signal line, and n is an integer not less than 2. The present disclosure further provides a display device including the above display substrate and a driving method for the above display substrate.

Among currently rapidly developing liquid crystal display technologies, thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been widely favored due to their advantages such as large capacity, high definition, high quality true full color, and the like. An important performance indicator for a TFT-LCD is resolution. The resolution of a TFT-LCD indicates the number of light-emitting points that can be used as image display in an effective display area, wherein the light-emitting points are referred to as pixels. The resolution reflects the total number of pixels in the effective display area. The higher the resolution is, the greater the image resolution will be.
Generally, human eyes are more sensitive to the number of pixels in a vertical direction. The higher the resolution in the vertical direction is, the higher definition images will have. However, the higher resolution in the vertical direction means that a larger number of gate lines need to be used for driving rows of pixels. For a scheme of driving gate lines using a gate driving integrated circuit, the number of driving channels of the gate driving integrated circuit increases as the number of gate lines increases, so that the gate driving integrated circuit is more expensive. Moreover, the larger the area occupied by fanout lines is, the larger a bezel of a TFT-LCD will be. For a scheme of driving gate lines using a GOA circuit, the number of required GOA units increases as the number of gate lines increases, so that power consumption of the GOA circuit is greater and the bezel of a TFT-LCD is larger.
In view of the above, there is a need in the art for an improved display substrate, a driving method thereof, and a display panel.

Display substrate, driving method thereof, display panel

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A stator core for a rotating electric machine includes a plurality of split cores. Each of the plurality of split cores includes a back yoke, a tooth, and a single caulking portion. When each of the plurality of split cores is seen in an axial direction, two inner circumferential-side intersections and two outer circumferential-side intersections are defined, both circumferential-end surfaces of the tooth intersect an inner circumferential surface of the back yoke at the two inner circumferential-side intersections, virtual lines drawn by extending both the circumferential-end surfaces of the tooth intersect an outer circumferential surface of the back yoke at the two outer circumferential-side intersections, a central position of the caulking portion is disposed in an opposing angular region on a radially outer side out of four opposing angular regions defined by lines diagonally connecting the two inner circumferential-side intersections to the respective two outer circumferential-side intersections.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a stator core for a rotating electric machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A core block formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-72014. The plurality of thin metal plates of the core block are fastened to one another and laminated on one top of another by using a single caulking portion and by bonding at plurality positions thereof.
A good lamination state is maintained by using the caulking portion and the adhesive as described above to laminate the plurality of thin metal plates, and an increase in iron loss is suppressed by using a single caulking portion.

Stator core for rotating electric machine


Recent advances of the research on synergistic effect of a mixed baculovirus infection demonstrated the presence of viral molecules enhancing the early event of infection. The enhancins from the Trichoplusia ni was identified to have such a function, i.e., disrupting the structural integrity of peritrophic membrane of midgut of T. ni larva. The enhancin gene was ligated downstream of the CaMV 355 promoter of a binary vector pBI121. With a drug resistant gene, the gene was introduced to a piece of tobacco leaf, from Nicotiana tobacum cv. Havana SR1. We screened 11 regenerated plants out of 37 by feeding tobacco powder mixed in artificial diet, to 3rd instar Pseudaletia separata larvae. The larval stage was usually delayed from 1 to 3 days in comparison of that of control larvae. The larvae did not pupate normally. The larvae showed irregular morphology of half larva and half pupae, suggesting a hormonal disturbance caused by the transgenic tobacco. The introduction of an enhancin gene into plants is an effective method of protecting them from insects due to the disruption of their normal life cycle.

Present in the protein occlusion bodies (OBs) of some baculoviruses is a unique viral-encoded protein which enhances viral infection of the host insect. This protein is referred to herein as the virus enhancing factor (VEF) and/or as the synergistic factor (SF). Pest control Compositions comprising this factor and nuclear polyhedrosis viruses are the subject matter of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,973,667 & 5,011,685.
Studies on the mode of action of the VEF isolated from Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper) granulosis virus (TnGV) showed that the VEF caused rapid degradation of the peritrophic membrane which lines the midgut lumen of lepidopterous larvae. Larval bioassays suggested that this alteration made the peritrophic membrane more permeable to invading baculoviruses resulting in at least 25-fold increase in larval mortality (Derksen, A. G. S. and Granados, R. R. Virology 167: 242-250 (1988); and Peters, W. and Wiese, B. J. Insect Physio. 32: 43-49 (1986); both incorporated herein by reference).
The VEF gene was isolated and purified. It comprises a DNA molecule encoding a polypeptide of molecular weight 104 Kd and the protein is found in the granulin fraction of TnGV OBs purified by SEPHACRYL® S200 SUPERFINE (2.6×34 cm) column, possessing a biological activity and wherein said polypeptide has a total of 901 amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.
The gene encoding for viral enhancing factor (VEF) of TnGV was cloned from a lambda gtll expression library, and the complete nucleotide sequence determined. The VEF gene encodes a protein with a predicted molecular weight of 104 Kd which does not share homology to any previously reported proteins. The apparent promotor is located 4 bp upstream of the initiation codon and represents a consensus baculovirus late promoter (ATAAG). This has been confirmed by the identification of VEF mRNA in northern blots of infected larvae at 6 days but not 3 days post infection. Three repeats of the sequence 'TTACAAGA' which match the baculovirus late promoter in 4 of 5 nucleotide have been identified between 149 and 192 bp upstream of the initiation codon. While the function of these sequences is unknown, they are believed to be transcriptionally active since they diverge from the consensus promoter at the invariant 'T' position. Using the VEF gene as a probe in southern blots of genomic DNAs, homologous sequences have been identified in Pseudaletia unipuncta granulosis virus—Hawaiian strain (PuGV-H) and Heliothis armigera granulosis virus (HaGV) but not Erinnyis ello granulosis virus (EeGV) , Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ACMNPV) or Trichoplusia ni nuclear polyhedrosis virus (TnSNPV). In addition, SDS-PAGE analysis of dissolved viral occlusion bodies have demonstrated proteins with a molecular weight similar to VEF in PuGV-H and HaGV.
The gene encoding the synergistic factor (SF) of PuGV-H was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence determined. The SF gene encodes a protein with a predicted molecular weight of 104Kd which shares a 99.1% and 98.2% homology with the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the viral enhancing factor (VEF) gene of TNGV, respectively. A majority of the differences in the amino acid sequences of the two viruses result from two reciprocal frameshifts which occur between nucleotide +1962 and +1985 of the SF gene. Both enhancin proteins have similar activity in neonate larvae of Trichoplusia ni (2.4 fold enhancement) and in vitro peritrophic membrane assays. Using a polyclonal antibody directed against TnGV VEF, 17 baculoviruses were screened by western blot hybridization. Cross reactive proteins are found in seven GVs isolated from 4 families of Lepidoptera. These putative enhancing proteins can be separated into 3 groups based on size: HaGV (lloKd); PuGV-H, Pieris rapae granulosis virus (PrGV), Scotogramma trifolii granulosis virus (StGV), and TnGV (104Kd); and Cydia pomonella granulosis virus (CPGV) and Estigmene acrea granulosis virus (80 Kd). The name "enhancin" has been proposed for these enhancing proteins.
Although the genes for some enhancins have been purified and isolated, a need still exists for transgenic plants that have been protected from insects by the introduction of an enhancin gene. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a transgenic plant and a method of protecting a plant by introducing an enhancin gene.

Method of protecting plants by introducing a gene coded for a protein which enhances virus infection of host insects

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.


A conventional centrifuge refrigeration system is modified by connecting a capillary sized line between the expansion valve and the evaporator. This permits the expansion valve to be located at a point within the centrifuge remote from the rotor. This facilitates the easy removal of the expansion valve for repair and yet reduces icing of the expansion valve. Further, the system capacity may be improved by wrapping the capillary line about the suction line to effect subcooling of the refrigerant before it passes to the evaporator. This enhances system capacity.

This invention relates to centrifuge refrigeration systems. Many centrifuges are provided with a refrigeration capability to maintain samples in the centrifuge rotor at a desired low temperature while they are undergoing centrifugation. To achieve the desired cooling, the rotor chamber of the centrifuge is surrounded by refrigeration coils. These coils, which constitute the evaporator in a typical refrigeration system, are supplied with refrigerant through the usual expansion valve which controls the flow of the refrigerant.
While this is conventional practice, a problem encountered with centrifuges is that, due to the usual space limitations in the rotor housing, the expansion valve for the evaporator, if located immediately adjacent the evaporator, is difficult to remove and/or repair. On the other hand, if the expansion valve is located at a distance from the evaporator so that it can be removed or repaired, it can undergo icing and, in any event, the cooling capability of the system is reduced. Both effects are undesirable.
It is known to use a capillary tube or line in lieu of an expansion valve. This delays the expansion of the refrigerant until it reaches the evaporator and hence the loss of the cooling capability is avoided. Unfortunately, a capillary line permits no variable control over the rate of flow of fluid through the evaporator as is provided by the feedback control of the expansion valve. Hence, the mere use of a capillary line is an undesirable solution.


A mixture is prepared by mixing carriers to which a substance specifically reacting on an object substance adheres with a sample containing the object substance. The mixture is irradiated by light having an intensity gradient to concentrate the carriers at and near the irradiated positions by the optical pressure of the light. The efficiency of an agglomeration reaction of the carriers is thereby increased. A qualitative or quantitative measurement of the object substance is performed by detecting a state of agglomeration of the carriers within the mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sample measurments, and more particularly, to measuring an object substance within a sample by generating and detecting an agglomeration reaction of microcarriers by specific coupling, such as an antigen-antibody reaction or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A method of measuring an object substance within a sample with high accuracy utilizing a reaction of specifically coupling to the object substance, for example, an antigen-antibody reaction, so-called immunoassay, has been known. In one method, a reagent having a predetermined concentration containing a substance (for example, a monoclonal antibody), which is specifically coupled to an object substance (for example, a paticular antigen), adhered to the surfaces of carriers (for example, latex particles), serving as insoluble fine particles, is prepared. The reagent is mixed with a sample, such as serum or the like, to agglomerate the carriers by an antigen-antibody reaction, and so-called incubation is performed wherein the carriers are left alone for a time period (usually, about 20-30 minutes) to allow a sufficient agglomeration reaction at a constant temperature. Subsequently, the object antigen in the serum is qualitatively or quantitatively measured by measuring the agglomeration state of the carriers mainly by an optical method. This method is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (Kokai) Nos. 53-24015 (1978), 54-108693 (1979), 54-108694 (1979), 54-108695 (1979), 54-109494 (1979), 55-159157 (1980) and 62-81567 (1987).
In the above-described conventional method, however, in the process wherein the carriers agglomerate to form clumps in incubation, contact between respective carriers is mainly caused by the Brownian movement of the carriers themselves. Hence, particularly when the concentration of the carriers in a reaction fluid is low, the reaction is inefficient, and much time is needed.

Sample measuring method using agglomeration reaction of microcarriers


An adjustable flexible back cushion including a flexible protecting frame, a ventilating mesh, an upper pull belt, a lower pull belt, fasteners and elastic belt, wherein the protecting frame contains a flexible metal strip and the left and right sides thereof are curved while the lower portion thereof is bent rearward, and at least two pull belt assemblies each of which is composed of the upper and lower pull belts and the fasteners are dispowed on the protecting frame in vertical direction while the elastic belt is sewn on the protecting frame across over the pull belt assemblies, whereby the back cushion can be adjusted to eliminate a user's backache caused by improper sitting attitude, the back cushion being suitable for a car seat, office chair and general domestic chair.

Conventional back cushions have been developed for improving the functions of ventilation, slideproof, durability and for lowering the cost. However, no back cushion has been developed for elimination of the drawback of poor sitting attitude caused by improper design. Therefore, a back cushion which can be adjusted and which is light and ready for use is still needed.

Adjustable flexible back cushion with adjusting belts and attachment belt


A piezoelectric ceramic actuator having a laminated body obtained by alternately laminating a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers in which at least one part of two adjacent ceramic layers, having the internal electrode sandwiched therebetween, are bonded to each other through particles of ceramic powder contained within the internal electrode. As a result of this structure, the bonding strength between the ceramic layer and the internal electrode can be greatly increased compared with conventional designs, thus improving the impact resistance of the actuator. The average particle size of the ceramic powder contained within the internal electrode ranges from one-third to one times (preferably from one-half to one times) the thickness of the internal electrode, and the mixing ratio of the ceramic powder ranges from 10 to 20 weight percent to electroconductive materials within the internal electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuator and more particularly, to an improvement of internal electrode structure thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, the multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuator has a laminated body that is formed by alternately laminating a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers. On each of the two opposing side surfaces of the laminated body (for example, right and left side surface thereof), a glass insulator is coated onto the exposed edges of the internal electrodes on one of the opposite side surface to cover their linear edges. In this way, the glass insulators are provided on the edges of the internal electrodes arranged in the laminating direction and alternately disposed on the opposing side surfaces of the laminated body. On the opposing side surfaces of the laminated body having provided with the glass insulators, external electrode layers are respectively formed covering the glass insulators and connecting every other internal electrode on each of the opposing surfaces. The external electrodes thus formed have the lower ends respectively connected to lead wires by soldering to form a lead wire pair. The laminated body, including the external electrodes, is contained in a resin case for armoring.
With the multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuator thus prepared, if a voltage is applied across the ends of the lead wire pair, it is applied through the external electrodes respectively to the internal electrodes. As a result, one piezoelectric ceramic layer sandwiched between internal electrodes deforms in the thickness direction thereof in accordance with the voltage applied. The deformations induced in respective ceramic layers as shown above are accumulated, and the actuator itself has a displacement induced in the laminating direction. This displacement is controlled by the voltage applied.
As explained above, the laminated type ceramic actuator has internal electrodes which are respectively sandwiched between ceramic layers. Thus, the ceramic layers are isolated with no bonding to each other. As a result, the bonding strength between the internal electrode and ceramic layer is not so large. Thus, if a tension is applied in the laminating direction, a fracture may occur at the interface between the internal electrode and the ceramic layer.
One method for solving the above problem, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 62-132381, is to increase the bonding strength between the internal electrode and ceramic layer by mixing a ceramic powder of the same kind as that of the ceramic layer into the internal electrode. Mixing ceramic powder into the internal electrode increases the contact area between the internal electrode and ceramic layer, utilizing the "anchor effect", thus increasing the bonding strength therebetween. Conventionally, the average particle size of the ceramic powder to be used for this purpose is considerably smaller than a thickness of the internal electrode, being not more than a quarter the thickness thereof.
According to the above-mentioned proposal, the bonding strength therebetween can be approximately doubled as compared with that obtained when not mixing the ceramic powder thereinto. In the conventional apparatus described above, a bonding strength cannot be attained that is equivalent to the strength that the ceramic layer has inherently. Thus, the problem of a fracture occurring at the interface between the internal electrode and the ceramic layer due to tension applied to the actuator in the laminating direction still remains to be solved.
Thus, an object of this invention is to provide a stack type ceramic actuator having a bonding strength between a ceramic layer and an internal electrode higher than that of being proposed as described above and a higher reliability for application of an impact force.

Multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuator


A calibration and measurement system for measuring a radioactive specific activity of an analyte pipe includes a calibration pipe, a standard radiation source, a radiation detector, a robot connected and a processing unit. The diameter of the inner wall of the calibration pipe is the same as the analyte pipe. The standard radiation source is surfaced over the inner wall of the calibration pipe and with a standard radioactive activity of a radioactive nuclide. The radiation detector is with a detection efficiency for detecting radiation. The radiation detector is for measuring the standard radioactive activity of the radioactive nuclide and a calibration net count rate thereof or measuring a radiation net count rate of the analyte pipe. The robot is connected with the radiation detector and moves in the calibration pipe or the analyte pipe. The processing unit calculates the detection efficiency and the radioactive specific activity.

Numerous pipelines are widely distributed in ceilings, walls and floors of nuclear power plants, such as waste water drain pipes, water supply pump pipes, reactor drain pipes, safety injection pump drain pipes, drain ways of the valve housings, and the pumping rooms of the fuel pools.
Affected by radioactive materials, the inside of the pipeline is radioactively contaminated. When the radioactivity of the pipelines is contaminated to the extent that it needs to be decontaminated or scrapped, the pipelines will be removed. Hence, during the maintenance or the preparation for decommissioning of the nuclear power plant, the extent of radioactivity contamination of each pipelines will be measured.
The calibration and measurement for pipelines radioactivity contamination are multi-selective, e.g., smear sampling method, γ-spectrum analysis, scraping sampling with radiochemical analysis, and total acid etching method.
However, in the traditional measurement, the object sampled by the measurement is only part of the pipelines, so as the measurement result is not representative. Although γ-spectrum analysis is capable of measuring the radioactive activity of all parts of the pipeline from the outside of the pipeline, it is difficult to calibrate the measurement results due to the various shapes of the pipelines, so as the correct radioactivity cannot be measured.

Calibration and measurement method and system for piping radioactivity contamination

INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN, R.O.C.


Methods and systems for identifying inhibitors of Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters are provided. Methods and systems for identifying inhibitors of Concentrative Nucleoside Transporters are also provided.

Throughout this application various publications are referred to by number in parentheses. Full citations for these references may be found at the end of the specification. The disclosures of these publications, and all patents, patent application publications and books referred to herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the subject application to more fully describe the art to which the subject invention pertains.
Some eukaryotic parasites, such as Plasmodium species that cause malaria, Leshmania species that cause leshmaniasis, Trypanasoma species that cause African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and Toxoplasma gondii that causes toxoplasmosis, and Cryptosporidium which causes cryptosporidiosis, are purine auxotrophs, unable to perform de novo purine biosynthesis [3-7]. Because nucleobases and nucleosides are impermeable through phospholipid cell membranes, cells use Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters (ENTs) and Concentrative Nucleoside Transporters (CNTs) to import and export purines and pyrimidines [1,2]. The parasites rely on purine import via ENTs, and possibly CNTs, to supply purines needed for DNA synthesis and other cellular processes. The imported purines are processed through the purine salvage pathway to generate the specific purines required by the cell.
Blocking purine import is likely to have inhibitory or cytotoxic effects on these parasites. For example, knockout of the Plasmodium falciparum Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter Type 1 (PfENT1) results in parasites that are not viable during in vitro culture in growth media containing physiological purine concentrations found in normal human blood [8,9].
ENTs are also present in humans where they are responsible for clearance of nucleobases and nucleosides from the plasma and extracellular space to terminate purinergic signaling [10-13]. Human ENTs are about 18% sequence identical with PfENT1. It is reasonable to expect that species specific ENT inhibitors exist. Supporting this, human ENT inhibitors, dipyridamole, dilazep and p-nitrobenzylthioinosine, do not inhibit PfENT1. In addition, dipyridamole and dilazep are in clinical use as coronary artery vasodilators and antiplatelet agents. Thus, ENT inhibitors are useful therapeutic agents for modulating purinergic signaling pathways. Moreover, some cancer cells are unable to perform de novo purine biosynthesis and are reliant on purine uptake for DNA replication. ENT inhibitors can serve as anti-cancer drugs for this limited group of cancers.
The present invention discloses a novel high throughput assay and system for identifying ENT inhibitors.

Assay for inhibitors of equilibrative or concentrative nucleoside transporters


An implant for the application in spinal or trauma surgery is provided that has a variable axial length, the implant including a first member and a second member guided relative to the first member to be movable relative thereto in an axial direction for adjusting an overall length of the implant; and at least one engagement member that is in a first configuration configured to engage the first member and the second member such that the first member and the second member are locked with respect to each other and in a second configuration configured to engage the first member such that the second member is movable with respect to the first member; wherein, in the second configuration, the engagement member is configured to be secured against disengagement from the first member by an abutment, and wherein the engagement member is a monolithic part.

The invention relates to an implant that has a variable axial length and that is suitable for the application in spinal or trauma surgery. The implant includes a first member and a second member guided relative to the first member to be movable relative thereto in an axial direction for adjusting an overall length of the implant. Further, the implant includes an engagement member. In a first configuration, the engagement member is configured to engage the first member and the second member to lock the first member with respect to the second member. In a second configuration, the engagement member is configured to engage the first member but not the second member so that the second member is movable with respect to the first member. The engagement member is inhibited from disengaging from the first member.
An implant in the form of a length adjustable spacer for insertion between two vertebrae is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,348 B1. The spacer comprises a first sleeve-shaped member and a second sleeve-shaped member which is slidably guided within the first member in an axial direction relative thereto for adjusting the overall length. The second member comprises on its outer surface facing the first member an axially extending portion having ratchet notches. The first member comprises an engagement member that cooperates with the ratchet notches for displacement to a desired overall length. The engagement member is formed by a tool that comprises a resiliently biased ball on its front face that is configured to engage the ratchet notches. After adjustment of the suitable axial lengthy a locking screw is used to lock the first and the second member relative to each other and the tool is removed.
Another spacer for insertion between two vertebrae is known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,191 B2. It comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The length of the spacer is adjusted by telescoping the second tubular member out of the first tubular member using a tool and once the desired length is achieved, one or more locking screws are inserted to lock the second member relative to the first member.
A further length adjustable intervertebral spacer is known from. U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,363 B2. The spacer comprises a pair of coaxial annuluses locked together by an engagement member comprising a set screw and a pressure plate having an outer face contacting the set screw and an inner face having teeth adapted to mate with ratchet notches of the second member.
Another implant in the form of a length-adjustable bone plate is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,762. In a similar manner as for the above described spacers, a first plate portion is slidably arranged relative to a second plate portion using a tool and the desired length is fixed with locking screws.


Disclosed is a composition for inducing the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons. The composition includes the compound represented by Formula 1 (“AS703026”) as a MEK 1/2 inhibitor. Also disclosed is a method for inducing the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons by using the composition. Dopaminergic neurons whose differentiation from neural stem cells is induced by the composition and method can be applied to cell replacement therapies and gene therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, or can be widely used as materials for the examination of drug effects or numerous studies in the development of new drugs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composition for inducing the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition capable of specifically inducing the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons without apoptosis while preventing differentiation into other brain cells, and a method for inducing the differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons by using the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Parkinson's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease but senile dementia and the majority of patients with the disease are elderly. With increasing aging population, the number of patients with Parkinson's disease increases exponentially. Thus, much attention is focused on developing therapies for stopping the progress of Parkinson's disease or recovering damaged brain tissues.
Although the exact cause of Parkinson's disease is not yet established, it is known that Parkinson's disease is caused by destruction of dopamine-secreting dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. The lack of dopamine leads to damage to the motor pathways of the brain, causing various symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Research has been conducted on the treatment of Parkinson's disease in various fields. Some potential approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's disease have been proposed, for example, drug therapies using several mimetics and artificial neuron stimulation methods by surgery, such as deep-brain stimulation. However, drug therapies have side effects caused by short-term chronic administration, making it difficult to treat Parkinson's disease. Surgical therapies impose heavy physical and economic burdens on patients and their therapeutic effects other than temporary alleviation of symptoms are difficult to expect. Thus, there is an absolute need for alternative therapies for Parkinson's disease.
Gene therapy and cell transplantation are known as therapeutic methods that can be used to replace lost neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. Once damaged, brain nerve tissues have very limited capacity of self-regeneration. For this reason, there are currently no effective therapies for these diseases.

Composition for inducing differentiation of multipotent neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons and method for inducing differentiation of multipotent neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons by using the same

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY


The childbirth-assisting device uses an automatically synchronized expandable pneumatic girdle-to externally augment the secondary force of labor. The pneumatic girdle is fitted around the abdomen of the woman and the girdle is inflated to create a downward pressure on the abdomen when a contraction occurs. The synchronization of the girdle's inflation and the contractions is provided by an electronic controller which receives a signal from an intra-uterine monitor indicating a contraction and causes the girdle to inflate at a certain rate until a preset intra-uterine pressure is attained. Once the intra-uterine pressure reaches the pre-set pressure, the girdle pressure is maintained until the offset of the contraction is detected, at which time the girdle is deflated.

A normal labor process is divided into three stages. Among these stages, the first and second stages are the crucial ones which are directly involved in the delivery of fetus. The first stage of labor begins with the onset of rhythmic uterine contraction and ends at the complete dilation of the cervix which is about 10 cm in diameter. The complete dilation of the cervix marks the beginning of the second stage of labor which ends immediately after the birth of the fetus. The third stage of labor extends from the birth of the baby to the complete expulsion of the placenta. The labor progress is driven by two types of labor forces. The primary force is produced by the involuntary contractions of uterine muscle. The secondary force is produced by the increase of intra-abdominal pressure through voluntary contractions of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. These forces cause an increase of intrauterine pressure to provide a critical expulsion force on fetus.
As often seen in clinical practice, systemic analgesic drugs, epidural anesthesia and long duration of exhaustive labor all can lead to the weakening of secondary force, and sequentially to delayed labor duration or even dystocia (arrest of labor). Numerous clinical studies have correlated a prolonged labor duration and dystocia with many undesirable outcomes, such as higher rate of infant mortality, neonatal seizures and postpartum hemorrhage. To solve these serious problems, clinical instruments (forceps or vacuum suction) or cesarean section are often required to terminate labors. However, both instrumental delivery and cesarean section are far from trouble-free. While a cesarean section is basically safe, it remains a major surgical procedure. Patients who lo give birth by cesarean section are at much greater risk of childbirth-related illness or death than women who deliver vaginally. Also, the average cesarean birth has a length of hospital stay double that of a normal delivery and costs up to three times as much. Instrumental delivery also has limitations and may result in numerous complications including head and facial injuries to fetus. Therefore, it is in the best interest of both mother and fetus to prevent the incidence of prolonged duration of labor or dystocia.
One method of decreasing the incidence of prolonged labor is oxytocin infusion, which is commonly used in clinical practice to increase the primary labor force by directly inducing uterine contraction. Clinical evidence has demonstrated that oxytocin alone can only partially solve the problem of prolonged labor and dystocia associated with epidural anesthesia. However, a high incidence of cesarean section still occurs in patients receiving epidural anesthesia in spite of a high dosage of oxytocin infusion. Furthermore, high doses of oxytocin has been implicated in uterine tetanus and in some adverse neonatal outcomes, including fetal asphyxia.
Devices directed toward assisting in delivery are disclosed in the prior art. In the apparatus of Heidenwolf (U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,637, issued May 20, 1952), an inflatable bladder is held against the woman's upper abdomen by a wide belt. Extending from the bottom of the belt is a pair of straps which, in turn, attaches to straps surrounding the upper thighs. This structure holds the belt down to prevent slippage.
In the birth-assisting pneumatic cuff of Lee (U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,281, issued Dec. 29, 1992), an inflatable bladder fits over and around the woman's abdomen and is manually inflated and deflated in coordination with the patient's voluntary straining during the second stage of labor. This device applies pressure equally to the entire abdomen.
The Chinese patent of Fei Chao (Chinese Patent No. 2198, issued in 1989) teaches an abdominal girdle which has a generally triangular bladder (to match the rough contour of the uterus)which is placed over the patient's abdomen. The bladder is inflated manually in coordination with the woman's contractions to apply a downward pressure on the abdomen, assisting in forcing the fetus downward. While the girdle itself is very effective, the manual control of the inflation/deflation may not be easily accepted by physicians who may be reluctant to rely on a device which could be easily subject to human error with serious consequences.
Related prior art may be seen in the areas of anti-G pressure suits and in inflatable tourniquets and splits. Examples of pressure suits are taught by Crosbie et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,338, issued Aug. 13, 1985, and Van Patten, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,731, issued Apr. 12, 1988. These suits inflate in response to changes in the rate of acceleration of an aircraft. Poole, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,516, issued Jul. 30, 1985), Manes (U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,198, issued Oct. 22, 1985) and Kitchin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,820, issued Jun. 4, 1985) teach inflatable devices for first aid applications. The latter two patents include disclosure of controllers for maintaining constant pressure, however none of these patents addresses synchronization of inflation/deflation as would be required for a labor and delivery-assisting device.


The present invention relates to a spring link for a motor vehicle, wherein the spring link is produced as an elongated, deformed hollow profile of open cross section made of a steel material and has respective attachment points at its ends, said spring link being characterized in that the spring link, in the installed position, is arranged with its opening of the hollow profile pointing upward, wherein a spring seat plate for receiving a helical compression spring is coupled to the spring link on and/or partially in the opening.

The present invention relates to a spring link for a motor vehicle.
Individual wheel suspensions of motor vehicles are known from the prior art. To this end, there are multi-link axles, in which links are coupled at one end rotatably or pivotably on a motor vehicle body and are coupled with the opposing end of the link rotatably or pivotably on a wheel carrier.
A for the most part lower link of a motor vehicle axle additionally comprises a receptacle for a spring and optionally furthermore a receptacle for a damper and/or motor vehicle stabilizer. The forces which arise during the spring compression or rebound of the motor vehicle wheel are therefore absorbed via the spring.
A corresponding spring link is in this respect, however, for the most part an elongated narrow component. A spring, by contrast, is configured as a helical compression spring and has a diameter greater than the width of the spring link itself. Spring links therefore for the most part have a widened configuration in the region of the spring receptacle. During the spring compression or rebound, however, this has the effect that forces are introduced into the spring link in such a manner that the spring link widens or contracts minimally. This effect is also referred to as breathing.
The spring link itself has conflicting goals here; that of having a particularly flexurally rigid configuration but at the same time having a low component weight such that a low weight is present particularly on sides of the unsprung wheel masses, with the result that a high level of driving dynamics of the motor vehicle is made possible.
DE 10 2012 100 719 A1 or else DE 10 2013 222 234 A1 disclose spring links which are produced as deformed sheet steel components. However, these also have a widened cross section in the region of the spring receptacle.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify, proceeding from the prior art, a spring link which is produced as a steel component and has a low dead weight combined with a high rigidity.


A liquid crystal cell display device including a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates having transparent electrodes and aligning films, a liquid crystal composition with a positive dielectric anisotropy positioned between the substrates, major axes of the liquid crystal molecules being aligned nearly parallel in a plane parallel to the substrate when a field is applied and the liquid crystal molecules being twisted in an angle of 120.degree. to 360.degree. in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; a pair of polarizers positioned on opposite sides of the cell; and one or more birefringent layers positioned between the cell and at least one of the polarizers in which a maximum refractive index directions at a planes contacting the polarizer and the liquid crystal cell, are tilted with respect to a plane parallel to the substrate, angles made between each of the directions and the parallel plane are symmetrical one another with regard to a plane parallel to the substrate when angles made between the substrate and maximum refractive index directions positioned between the contacting planes of the birefringent layers are continuously distributed.

The present invention relates to an improvement in an STN (Super-Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystal display device which has liquid crystal molecules having a positive dielectric anisotropy that are twisted at least 90 degrees in a perpendicular direction to a display surface of the device.
A mode of display of a liquid crystal (hereinafter referred to as "L.C.") currently in use is the Twisted Nematic (hereinafter referred to as "TN") type which has L.C. molecules twisted about 90 degrees between a pair of polarizers and utilizes rotation of the polarization surface by the L.C. and a compensation of the rotation induced by a voltage. Although this mode can be applied to an instrument requiring only a low multiplexing drive, such as a watch and a portable electronic calculator, when it is applied to an instrument of a highly multiplexing drive in order to increase display capacity, disadvantages occur. The contrast is reduced and the display viewing angle is narrowed. These disadvantages occur because the ratio of working voltages on a selective point and a nonselective point approach 1.
To avoid these disadvantages, it is preferable to make a steepness, .gamma., as small as possible. The steepness, .gamma., is defined by the equation: EQU .gamma.=V.sub.50 /V.sub.10
wherein V.sub.10 represents a voltage difference with which a relative transmittance of the display changes 10% and V.sub.50 represents the same voltage except that the change is 50% instead of 10%.
The steepness of the TN type display is around 1.13. On the other hand, a display of STN or SBE (Super-Twisted Birefringence Effect) mode can make the steepness lower than 1.1 by making a twisted angle of L.C. molecule large and shifting polarizing axis from an aligned direction of L.C. molecules. As a result, it is possible to obtain a display of a highly multiplexing drive having a duty of around 1/400.
However, in these cases, a display surface gets colored when a field is applied because of existence of birefringence. Since it is necessary to utilize changes of the color according to the field strength for the display, there exists the disadvantage of poor contrast because a black and white display is very difficult in principle.
Japanese Patent Application, Laid-Open (KOKAI) 64-519 (1989) discloses a method to use a birefringent medium as a color compensation plate in order to avoid the disadvantages of STN type L.C. display device caused by the coloring. However, this method has another disadvantage, brightness and a color on display surface change according to a viewing direction.
The present inventors have studied extensively aiming to reduce disadvantages of the conventional STN type L.C. display device and to provide L.C. display device having high contrast throughout a wide range of viewing angle. Finally, they have found that by designing a L.C. display device comprising the following features, several advantages are realized:
A liquid crystal cell of the invention comprises:
(a) a pair of substrates having transparent electrodes and aligning films and a L.C. composition, with a positive dielectric anisotropy, positioned in a layer between the substrates, long axes of the L.C. molecules are aligned nearly homogeneous to a plane parallel to the substrate in the absence of an applied field and the molecules are twisted in an angle of 120.degree. to 360.degree. in a direction perpendicular to the substrate;
(b) a pair of polarizers are positioned on opposite sides of the cell; and
(c) one or more birefringent layers are positioned between the cell and at least one of the polarizers, a maximum refractive index direction at a plane of a layer contacting the polarizer and the maximum refractive index direction at a plane of a layer contacting the L.C. cell are tilted with respect to the substrate and angles made by the both maximum refractive index directions and with respect to the substrate are symmetrically aligned with each other.

Super-twisted nematic type liquid crystal display device


Systems and methods for improved detection of fraud, waste, and abuse are provided, based on the analysis of enriched relationships and aggregated metrics thereof. An enriched relationship record associates patient and provider information to provide an enhanced view of patient data, provider data, and interaction data for a given entity. Aggregated metrics provide an enhanced view of a particular entity's activities based on the entity's interactions with other entities and data and metadata from the related entities' enriched relationship records. The enriched relationship records and aggregated metrics may be used to audit the entity and produce a report indicative of suspicion levels for the entity engaging in fraud, waste, or abuse.

Healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse is estimated to exceed $200 billion per year. Rogue healthcare service providers (physicians, ambulance services, homecare providers, etc.) perpetrate most of the fraud, waste, and abuse, which negatively impacts the affordability of healthcare throughout the healthcare system. Fraud similarly affects several industries. Previous efforts to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse focused on examining individual claims, which is resource intensive and often requires the fraud, waste, and abuse to be extreme for it to be detected.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that examples will be made.

Enriched system for suspicious interaction record detection


A circuit for translating data in one of a plurality of data formats into data in any of the other of the plurality of the data formats including apparatus for storing data from a first number of input bytes of data, apparatus for selecting unused bytes from the first number of data bytes stored by the apparatus for storing data and from a second number of input bytes of data, apparatus for placing the unused bytes selected in numerical byte order, and apparatus for placing the data in the numerical byte order in byte position for transfer to the format of a destination device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer interface circuitry and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing a single interface by which a computer may connect to any of a plurality of different peripheral devices which handle information in a plurality of different formats.
2. History of the Prior Art
Computers offer many possible formats in which data may be utilized. For example, some of the earlier personal computer processors were only capable of handling data presented to them in eight bit units. Later computer processors were capable of handling data in sixteen bit units. More recently designed computer processors are capable of handling data in thirty-two bit units, and the more advanced computers are capable of handling data furnished in sixty-four bit units. Often, these formats are a natural outgrowth of the particular information or the manner in which it is handled. For example, industry standards assure that information will be available in certain formats; IEEE standards for floating point numbers are thirty-two or sixty-four bits while ASCII characters are typically eight bits.
When a computer is connected to a peripheral device, the computer must be able to utilize the data provided by that device. This requires a computer which normally handles data in one particular format to communicate with peripheral devices which handle data in other formats. In general, a computer should be capable of communicating in all formats used in earlier models of the product line of the manufacturer. In this way, software and hardware designed for use with earlier models of the product line having lesser capabilities may be run by improved computers in the product line.
Normally, the ability to communicate with peripheral devices operating in other formats is provided by special circuit arrangements which are built into the peripheral devices and convert information furnished in a native format to the format of the computer. Each such arrangement is adapted to handle a particular format conversion. Consequently, when a piece of peripheral equipment operating in a particular format is to be used with a particular computer system utilizing a different format, circuitry must be provided for converting between the formats before the equipment can be utilized. Often the design of such conversion circuitry is so expensive that the two pieces of equipment are never used together.
Even when circuitry is provided for format conversion as a part of a peripheral device, the total cost of the computer system rises because of the specialized nature of the converting circuitry. It is much more cost effective if the same converting circuitry can be used with all peripheral devices so that its design and manufacturing costs are spread over a much larger base.

Apparatus for translating data formats starting at an arbitrary byte position


A memory control unit (MCU) 22 includes a first interface for interfacing the memory control unit to one or more memory units; a second interface for interfacing the memory control unit to a system bus, including a system data bus for expressing information units, including memory read and write requests, and a system address bus. The MCU further includes logic, responsive to a write request from the system bus, for storing one or more information units within a memory unit at an address specified by the system address bus. The storing logic includes write request receiving and buffer logic having a plurality of storage locations for storing received write requests and associated write addresses prior to the execution of the write requests. The MCU further includes logic, responsive to a read request from the system bus, for reading one or more information units from a memory unit at a location specified by the system address bus. The reading logic includes read request receiving and buffer logic having a plurality of storage locations for storing received read requests and associated read addresses prior to the execution of the read requests. The memory control unit further has logic for comparing a received read address to write addresses stored in the write address buffer, the comparing logic having an output for indicating, when asserted, the occurence of the reception of a read address having a value within a predetermined range of values of one of the stored write addresses.

In an information processing system which employs a central system memory for storing information units, such as operands and instructions, an important consideration is the coupling of the system memory to a central system bus. In order to achieve and maintain a desired system bus bandwidth it is important that data read and write operations which access the system memory occur in a rapid manner. It is also important, for those systems which employ one or more system bus units, or bus connections, that substantially simultaneous multiple read and write accesses which target a given memory location occur such that the read and write operations are correctly sequenced. That is, if one bus connection desires to read a given memory location while another bus connection desires to write the same location the sequencing of these two operations must be such that the data read reflects the current state of the data.
Related to both of the above considerations is an underlying goal of providing the data to a requesting bus connection without the introduction of errors resulting from hard or soft memory storage device errors. In this regard it has been known to provide additional memory storage devices to store error correction and detection syndrome bits which advantageously correct single bit errors and detect multiple bit errors occurring in data words stored within the system memory. It has also been known to provide, for memory systems which employ dynamic random access memories (DRAM), error "sniffing" and "scrubbing" techniques which detect and correct errors during the required memory refresh cycles.
It can be realized however that error detection and correction techniques require some finite amount of time to accomplish. During a read of the system memory this additional time is typically incurred for each memory access, resulting in a longer access cycle and a consequent reduction in the overall bandwidth of the system bus.

Memory control unit with selective execution of queued read and write requests


Described is an exhaust gas cleaning metallic substrate of the structure that three metallic honeycomb bodies are successively arranged within a metallic casing. Among the three metallic honeycomb bodies, (i) the metallic honeycomb bodies at front and rear positions have each been constructed by fixing a planar and corrugated bands as constituent members of said metallic honeycomb body at at least some of points of contact therebetween and also an outer peripheral wall of the metallic honeycomb body and an inner peripheral wall of the metallic casing at at least some of points of contact therebetween, and (ii) the metallic honeycomb body at a middle position has been constructed without fixing a planar and corrugated bands as constituent members of said metallic honeycomb body at points of contact therebetween and also an outer peripheral wall of the metallic honeycomb body and an inner peripheral wall of the metallic casing at points of contact therebetween.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a metallic substrate for supporting thereon an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst which is inserted in an exhaust system of an automotive vehicle as cleaning means for exhaust gas from the automotive vehicle.
In particular, the present invention is concerned with a honeycomb body which is a principal element of the metallic substrate, has a honeycomb structure formed of a planar band and a corrugated band made of metal sheets and is employed to support an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst. Notably, the present invention adopts a novel fixing method for the components of the honeycomb body and also for the honeycomb body in the metal-made casing, so that an exhaust gas cleaning metallic substrate excellent in both durability and economy can be provided.
b) Description of the Related Art
Metal-made substrates (hereinafter called the "metallic substrates) for supporting thereon exhaust gas cleaning catalysts of the above-mentioned type (for example, catalyst systems making use of Pt, Rh, Pd and the like) have been mounted on automotive vehicles and the like and have entered the stage of commercial use for their excellent properties compared with conventional ceramic substrates such as cordierite substrates.
In the present field of art, the metal substrates are also called metal supports and may be abbreviated as "MS". In the present invention, this abbreviation will also be used.
The above-described metallic substrates (MS) are each composed of:
(1) a honeycomb body of a honeycomb structure (hereinafter called the "metallic honeycomb body") formed by bringing a planar band and a corrugated band, which are made of heat-resistant metal sheets and have a predetermined width, into a stacked contiguous relationship in view of such desires as supporting a cleaning catalyst in a greater amount per unit volume (in other words, increasing as much as possible the area of effective contact between exhaust gas and the cleaning catalyst per unit volume), reducing the back pressure (the resistance to the discharge of exhaust gas) and further reducing the own weight of the metallic substrate as much as possible; and PA1 (2) a metal-made casing for enclosing and fixedly holding the metallic honeycomb body therein (hereinafter called the "metallic casing"). PA1 (i) among the three metallic honeycomb bodies arranged within the metallic casing, the metallic honeycomb bodies at front and rear positions have each been constructed by fixing the planar and corrugated bands as constituent members of said metallic honeycomb body at at least some of points of contact therebetween and also an outer peripheral wall of the metallic honeycomb body and an inner peripheral wall of the metallic casing at at least some of points of contact therebetween; PA1 (ii) among the three metallic honeycomb bodies arranged within the metallic casing, the metallic honeycomb body at a middle position has been constructed without fixing the planar and corrugated bands as constituent members of said metallic honeycomb body at points of contact therebetween and also an outer peripheral wall of the metallic honeycomb body and an inner peripheral wall of the metallic casing at points of contact therebetween.
An abbreviation (H) is used for the metallic honeycomb body because of its honeycomb structure, while an abbreviation (C) is employed for the metallic casing after the word "casing".
The metallic honeycomb body (H) as a principal element of the above-described metallic substrate (MS) is formed, for example, by bringing a planar band, which is made of a heat-resistant steel sheet of 100 .mu.m or less (preferably 50 .mu.m or less) in thickness, and a corrugated band, which has been obtained by forming a similar steel sheet into a corrugated form, into a stacked contiguous relationship and then rolling them together into a spiral form so that a honeycomb body of a honeycomb structure having a number of network-patterned gas flow passages in an axial direction is obtained.
In the present field of art, a variety of metallic honeycomb bodies (H) are known other than the above-described rolled type, depending on the method for fabricating a metallic honeycomb body (H) from a planar band and a corrugated band. For example, are known those of the stacked type, which are each obtained by stacking both the types of bands in layers. Besides, metallic honeycomb bodies of the radial type, S-shaped type, the type that three huge commas are so united as to make a perfect circle, the X-wrapped (swastika-patterned) type or the like are known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. SHO 62-273050, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. SHO 62-273051, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. HEI 1-218637, Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication (PCT) No. HEI 3-502660, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. HEI 4-227855 or the like.
A typical conventional metallic substrate is illustrated in FIG. 13. Namely, the conventional metallic substrate indicated by MS' is of the construction that a single metallic honeycomb body H' a principal element, is arranged within a metallic casing C.
To distinguish the conventional metallic substrate MS' and metallic honeycomb body H' from those of the present invention, their abbreviations are accompanied by a prime.
Since the metallic substrate MS' is employed in severe thermal environment, that is, an exhaust gas system, the metallic honeycomb body H' and the metallic casing C are firmly fixed together. This is necessary because the metallic honeycomb body H' and the metallic casing C are heated to high temperatures by heat conducted from hot exhaust gas itself and also by exothermic reactions of exhaust gas induced by a cleaning catalyst and in such a high-temperature atmosphere, the large thermal stress is applied to individual elements, in other words, because they have to withstand such thermal stress. They also have to vibrations and the like during running of an automotive vehicle. In general, they are firmly fixed together by brazing or the like.
On the other hand, the planar band and the corrugated band, which make up the metallic honeycomb body H', are fixed together by one of various methods at points or areas of contact therebetween (for example, at some and predetermined ones of such points or areas of contact inside the honeycomb body).
However, the metallic substrate MS' composed of the conventional metallic honeycomb body H' and metallic casing C' cannot withstand use over a long term. Due to thermal stress produced in the above-described high-temperature atmosphere especially in the axial direction of the metallic honeycomb body H' (in other words, the flowing direction of exhaust gas), separation takes place between an outermost peripheral wall of the metallic honeycomb body H' and an inner peripheral wall of the metallic casing C, so that the durability is significantly impaired.
This led to the need for a change to the belief that it is only necessary is to firmly fix the metallic honeycomb body H' and the metallic casing C together.

Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Ltd.


A hunting chair with a hunting blind attachment that encircles the chair is disclosed, as well as an attachable camouflage roof covering, all of which may be folded and disassembled in such a way that it fits into a self-contained pack that may be carried on a hunter's back. The chair includes an adjustable, pivoting backrest, a pivoting gun rest with telescoping legs for height adjustment, folding legs, a pouch to contain the disassembled elements, and shoulder straps for carrying the apparatus. In its disassembled state, the roof poles, roof fabric, and blind fabric are packed into a pouch on the back side of the backrest, and the chair is folded into a carrying position. Detachable shoulder straps may be attached to the underside of the seat section, so that the entire chair and blind combination may be carried on a hunter's back into the field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable hunting chairs and blinds. More specifically, the present invention includes a folding lounge chair having an attachable camouflage apparatus that is used to conceal hunters from their game. The portable hunting chair and blind may be folded up and carried via shoulder straps by a hunter, and then quickly set up in the field as desired.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, efforts have been made to provide portable hunting blinds that may be carried by hunters and erected in the field, with limited success. Some portable blinds are heavy and bulky, and difficult to set up, especially in the dark when hunters set out before dawn to hunt their prey. Additionally, many portable blinds do not fully conceal the hunter from the game, and include complex structural systems that add to the weight and bulk of the apparatus, often requiring an ATV or other 4-wheel drive vehicle to transport the devices to the field. Further, most portable blinds do not include features such as a chair or gun rest, which must be carried and set up separately from the blind itself.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a portable hunting blind that includes a chair, gun rest, camouflaged sides and roof, a pouch and shoulder straps, so that the entire apparatus may be disassembled, packed into the pouch (or series of pouches) and carried like a backpack via the shoulder straps.


The present invention provides a method for measuring the PN-junction temperature of a light-emitting diode (LED), which uses a reference voltage to establish the function of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval on temperature. The initial and thermal-equilibrium values of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval are measured, and hence the variations thereof are calculated. Referring to the pre-established function, the temperature change is given. By the temperature change and the initial temperature, the PN-junction temperature of the LED is thereby deduced.

A light-emitting diode (LED) generates heat while emitting light. Thereby, to know well about temperature is a very critical issue for developing LED-related products. However, there is still no effective method for measuring PN-junction temperature of an LED. Hence, the development of an LED has to measure the operating temperature under every operating condition, delaying the development progress, which is not least welcomed by R&D workers. Accordingly, a novel method for measuring PN-junction temperature of an LED is needed in the field of LED technology for providing accurate measured data, and for being applied extensively to various operating conditions of an LED.
The present invention provides a method for measuring PN-junction temperature of an LED, and the problems described above can thereby be solved.

Method for measuring PN-junction temperature of light-emitting diode (LED)

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present disclosure provides a speech recognition method and device. The method includes: receiving a speech signal; decoding the speech signal according to an acoustic model, a language model and a decoding network established in advance, and dynamically adding a blank unit in a decoding process to obtain an optimum decoding path with the added blank unit, in which the acoustic model is obtained based on connectionist temporal classification training, the acoustic model includes basic pronunciation units and the blank unit, and the decoding network includes a plurality of decoding paths consisting of the basic pronunciation units; and outputting the optimum decoding path as a recognition result of the speech signal.

Speech recognition is realized mainly by a speech recognition model based on state modeling in the related art. For example, the speech recognition is based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM for short). The HMM may be regarded as double random processes mathematically. One is an implicit random process which simulates changes of statistical properties of a speech signal by a Markov chain with a finite number of states. The other is a random process of an observed sequence related to each of the states of the Markov chain. In this modeling, one phoneme or one syllable is considered to be divided into a number of non-physical states, and then an output distribution of each of the non-physical states is described according to discrete or continuous Gaussian model or depth learning model. However, based on this modeling, confusion may occur and recognition performance is poor when the speech recognition is performed between two pronunciation units in the process of speech recognition.

BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


The present invention relates to preprimed metal substrates suitable for use in formed metal applications. The preprimed metal substrate is coated with, as primer layer, (1) a first coating layer applied onto the metal substrate, the first coating layer being based upon a particular hydroxyl group-containing block copolymer, and (2) at least one flexible subsequent coating layer applied onto the first coating layer. The preprimed metal substrates are especially useful in automotive applications.

The present invention relates generally to preprimed metal substrates, such as sheets, which are suitable for formed metal applications, for example, the manufacture of automotive body parts for repair and/or on-line assembly.
In the usual formed metal applications, a metal sheet is first formed by well-known methods (drawing, die cutting, etc.) into the desired shape then subsequently coated with a primer (postpriming). The primer serves a number of well-known functions, including providing a barrier layer and/or corrosion protection layer for the underlying metal substrate.
Typical examples of primers for metal applications, such as automotive applications, include the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,053 describes epoxyester linear block oligomers made with n-1 moles of fatty acid groups and n moles of epoxy oligomer, which are said to be particularly suited for chip-resistant coating compositions (preferably containing small pigment volume concentrations). See also EP-A-0179281.
WO 85/00375 discloses thermosetting coating compositions based upon an epoxy-polyester graft copolymer and a polyisocyanate crosslinker, which is said to be useful as a chip resistant primer for the automotive industry.
EP-A-0070008 describes zinc rich coatings having binders comprised of thermoplastic polyhydroxyethers, epoxy resins, epoxy ester resins, alkyl silicates, etc., which are useful for corrosion protection in the automotive industry. These coatings particularly contain aluminum trihydrate for improved combined spot welding/corrosion resistance properties on automotive components.
In automotive applications where the formed metals may take a number of odd or complex shapes, postpriming by normal on-line painting methods may result in a significant portion of the underlying metal substrate being unprimed or underprimed, as in the normal on-line painting methods it is difficult to adequately apply the primer in the various corners and other odd-shaped areas of the formed metal, particularly on both sides. In many instances, the various body parts are not primed until after assembly, thereby exacerbating the problem of unprimed or underprimed base metal. A common result is the early rusting and decreased life of the part.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome this shortcoming by providing a preprimed metal substrate which may subsequently be formed into a shape suitable for use in automotive applications.
The general concept of preprimed metal substrates for formed metal applications is, of course, not new. Most primers suitable for use in automotive applications, however, are not suitable for preprimed formed metal applications, for example, because of either insufficient adhesion to the metal substrate or insufficient flexibility. In forming the preprimed metal substrate, particularly in the manner and degree necessary for automotive applications, insufficient adhesion can cause the primer to separate from the substrate, while insufficient flexibility can cause the primer to crack. Both can result, as indicated above, in the early rusting and decreased life of the part.

Preprimed metal substrates for formed metal applications


An image scanning apparatus and method are provided. The image scanning apparatus scans an image of a document and converts the scanned image into digital data, and includes light sources that emit light. The apparatus includes a light guide unit that diffuses the light emitted by the light sources and a sensor unit that senses image data from the document by recognizing light reflected from the document by being diffused by the light guide unit. The apparatus includes a control unit that controls the turning on of the light sources. The control unit alternately turns on or off the light sources such that at least one of the light sources is turned on when at least one other light source is turned off.

1. Field
The embodiments discussed herein relate to an image scanning apparatus and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image scanning apparatus is an apparatus that scans an original image such as a document, a picture or a film, and converts the scanned image into digital data. The digital data may be shown on a computer monitor or printed out by a printer and be generated as an output image. Such an image scanning apparatus may be a scanner, copier, facsimile, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) where the functions of a scanner, copier and facsimile are integrated in one apparatus.
An image scanning apparatus uses a light source for emitting light for performing scanning. For example, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), xenon (Xe) lamps, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used as the light source.
Due to the risks posed to the environment by CCFLs or Xe lamps and the shortcomings of CCFLs or Xe lamps such as low efficiency and high power consumption, LEDs are becoming more widely employed as light sources for image scanning apparatuses.
The temperature of LEDs gradually increases as the LEDs emit light. Since the performance and lifetime of LEDs depend on the temperature of the LEDs, a heat dissipation plate may be provided in an image scanning apparatus using LEDs as light sources. The size of the heat dissipation plate may be determined by the amount of heat to dissipate from the LEDs. Accordingly, in the case of using high-performance LEDs, a large-size heat dissipation plate may be needed to adequately dissipate heat. However, the use of a large-size heat dissipation plate may lead to an increase in the manufacturing cost of an image scanning apparatus, and it is difficult to secure enough space for accommodating a large-size heat dissipation plate in an image scanning apparatus.
To address these problems, an array of a plurality of low-performance LEDs may be used as a light source for an image scanning apparatus. However, the low-performance LEDs may not be able to uniformly emit light, and also may contribute to an increase in the manufacturing cost of an image scanning apparatus.

Image scanning apparatus and control method thereof


A network device includes a packet processor device that determines that packets are to be transmitted via a group of network interfaces, and a load balancing network interface selector. The load balancing network interface selector selects network interfaces in the group via which to egress packets from the network device using a first hash function. In response to determining that a first network interface within the group has become inoperable, the load balancing network interface selector continues to use the first hash function to select network interfaces in the group via which to egress packets from the network device. In response to determining that the first network interface within the group has become inoperable and when the first network interface is selected for packets using the first hash function, the load balancing load balancing network interface selector reselects network interfaces in the group using a second hash function.

Today, hash functions are widely used in a variety of computing applications to map data in a larger set to a value in a smaller set. For example, a relatively long sequence of bits may be supplied as an input into a mathematical function to generate a shorter sequence of bits that serves as an index into a database table.
One area of application in which hashing can be particularly useful is network switching. In general, a network switch may receive and transmit data packets via multiple ports. In some situations, there may be more than one possible network link via which a packet can be transmitted to properly forward the data packet to its destination. Moreover, network links sometimes are purposefully aggregated to provide more bandwidth between communicating devices or networks. Grouping links together to define wider communication channels is sometimes referred to as link aggregation (LAG). In those situations where multiple links present equally attractive routing choices to a network switch, the routing technique is typically referred to as equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing. A hash function is sometimes used to select one of the links in a LAG group to transmit a packet. For example, the hash function can be applied to a portion or portions of a header of the packet, and a result of the hash function indicates one of the links in the LAG group.

Resilient hash computation for load balancing in network switches


Diaryl-, dialkoxyalkyl-, alkylalkoxyalkyl-, arylalkoxyalkyl- and cyclic aminosulfur trifluorides fluorinating agents are disclosed.

The development of safe, efficient, and simple methods for selective incorporation of fluorine into organic compounds has become a very important area of technology. This is due to the fact that fluorine strategically positioned at sites of synthetic drugs and agrochemical products significantly modifies and enhances their biological activities. The conversion of the C--O to the C--F bond, which is referred to herein a deoxofluorination, represents a viable method to produce selectively fluorinated organic compounds, but the low yields and hazards associated with the current deoxofluorination reagents and processes severely limit the application of this technique.
The introduction of fluorine into medicinal and agrochemical products can profoundly alter their biological properties. Fluorine mimics hydrogen with respect to steric requirements and contributes to an alteration of the electronic properties of the molecule. Increased lipophilicity and oxidative and thermal stabilities have been observed in such fluorine-containing compounds.
In view of the importance of organofluorine compounds, efforts aimed at the development of simple, safe, and efficient methods for their synthesis have escalated in recent years. The conversion of the carbon-oxygen to the carbon-fluorine bond by nucleophilic fluorinating sources (deoxofluorination) represents one such technique which has been widely used for the selective introduction of fluorine into organic compounds. A list of the deoxofluorination methods practiced to date includes: nucleophilic substitution via the fluoride anion; phenylsulfur trifluoride; fluoroalkylamines; sulfur tetrafluoride; SeF.sub.4 ; WF.sub.6 ; difluorophosphoranes and the dialkylaminosulfur trifluorides (DAST). The most common reagent of this class is diethylaminosulfur trifluoride, Et-DAST or simply DAST.
The DAST compounds have proven to be useful reagents for effecting deoxofluorinations. These reagents are conventionally prepared by reaction of N-silyl derivatives of 2.degree. amines with SF.sub.4. In contrast to SF.sub.4, they are liquids which can be used at atmospheric pressure and at near ambient to relatively low temperature (room temperature or below) for most applications. Deoxofluorination of alcohols and ketones are particularly facile and reactions can be carried out in a variety of organic solvents (e.g., CHCl.sub.3, CFCl.sub.3, glyme, diglyme, CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, hydrocarbons, etc.). Most fluorinations of alcohols are done at -78.degree. C. to room temperature. Various functional groups are tolerated including CN, CONR.sub.2, COOR (where R is an alkyl group), and successful fluorinations have been accomplished with primary, secondary and tertiary (1.degree., 2.degree., 3.degree.) allylic and benzylic alcohols. The carbonyl to gem-difluoride transformation is usually carried out at room temperature or higher. Numerous structurally diverse aldehydes and ketones have been successfully fluorinated with DAST. These include acyclic, cyclic, and aromatic compounds. Elimination does occur to a certain extent when aldehydes and ketones are fluorinated and olefinic by-products are also observed in these instances.
While the DAST compounds have shown an versatility in effecting deoxofluorinations, there are several well recognized limitations associated with their use. The compounds can decompose violently and while adequate for laboratory synthesis, they are not practical for large scale industrial use. In some instances, undesirable by-products are formed during the fluorination process. Olefin elimination by-products have been observed in the fluorination of some alcohols. Often, acid-catalyzed decomposition products are obtained. The reagent's two step method used for their synthesis renders these relatively costly compositions only suitable for small scale syntheses.
The DAST reagents are recognized as fluorinating agents in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,914,265 and 3,976,691. Additionally, Et-DAST and related compounds have been discussed in W. J. Middleton, New Fluorinating Reagents. Dialkylaminosulfur Fluorides, J. Org. Chem., Vol. 40, No. 5, (1975), pp 574-578. However, as reported by Messina, et al., Aminosulfur Trifluorides: Relative Thermal Stability, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 43, (1989), pp 137-143, these compounds can be problematic fluorinating agents due to their tendency to undergo catastrophic decomposition (explosion or detonation) on heating. Difficulties with major amounts of by-products in the fluorination reaction is also noted. See also M. Hudlicky, Fluorination with Diethylaminosulfur Trifluoride and Related Aminofluorosulfuranes, Organic Reaction, Vol. 35, (1988), pp 513-553.
Further, Russian Inventor's Certificate No. 433,136 published 15 December 1974 discloses sulfur dialkyl(alkylaryl)aminotrifluorides.
G. L. Hann, et. al., in Synthesis and Enantioselective Fluorodehydroxylation Reactions of (S)-2-(Methoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ylsulphur Trifluoride, the First Homochiral Aminofluorosulphurane, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. (1989) pp 1650-1651, disclosed the aminosulfur trifluorides, (S)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ylsulphur trifluoride and N-morpholinosulphur trifluoride as fluorinating agents for 2-(trimethylsiloxy)octane.
The compositions of the present invention overcome the drawbacks of the prior art fluorinating agents, including DAST, by providing more thermally stable fluorine bearing compounds which have effective fluorinating capability with far less potential of violent decomposition and attendant high gaseous by-product evolvement, as will be set forth in greater detail below.

Thermally stable aminosulfur trifluorides


A centrifugal fluid machine includes a rotor, a low pressure compression unit provided on one side in the axial direction of the rotor, a high pressure compression unit provided on the other side in the axial direction of the rotor, a partition wall 13 that separates the low and high pressure compression units, and a high pressure-side discharge passage 54 formed on the side of the high pressure compression unit of the partition wall 13, extending in the radial direction of the rotor, and provided along the partition wall 13, wherein the partition wall 13 has a wall body 71, a passage deformation suppression member 72 that is provided between the wall body 71 and the high pressure-side discharge passage 54 and can deform the high pressure-side discharge passage 54, and an biasing mechanism 73 that is provided between the wall body 71 and the passage deformation suppression member 72.

In the related art, a single stage centrifugal compressor is known as a centrifugal fluid machine (for example, see Patent Literature 1). This centrifugal compressor includes a diffuser passage that allows an impeller, which is attached to a turbine shaft, to communicate with scrolls formed on the discharge side of the impeller and on the outer circumferential side thereof. This diffuser passage is provided with a guiding blade unit that includes a guiding blade. The guiding blade unit protrudes into or retreats from the diffuser passage, depending on its operating mechanism. Specifically, the guiding blade unit retreats from the diffuser passage by the negative pressure in a rear air chamber. On the other hand, the guiding blade unit protrudes into the diffuser passage by being pressed by means of a protruded spring provided in the rear air chamber when the negative pressure therein is released and the air in the diffuser passage flows in through a vent hole that communicates with the rear air chamber. Thus, the centrifugal compressor can enhance efficiency in a low flow area by protruding the guiding blade unit into the diffuser passage, and prevents a decrease in efficiency in a high flow area by retreating the guiding blade unit from the diffuser passage.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION