A distributed antenna PCN system provides for telephone service on a CATV network. The PCN antenna signal from one PCN node is transported to more than one remotely located antenna nodes via the cable. Thus, rather than having a PCN cell shape equal to the radiation pattern of one antenna node, a distributed antenna system creates a cell shape having a distributed pattern, equal to the sum of the radiation patterns of the individual antenna nodes. A single PCN cell is then not necessarily a contiguous area but may include a number of geographically separated areas so that subscriber locations which are not physically adjacent may be included in the same cell. Therefore, the CATV operator may offer universal service to all subscribers in the CATV system using a first PCN node and add subscribers to the first PCN node as needed, regardless of subscriber location.

Personal communication networks are wireless telephone systems in which a geographic area is divided into cells. Near the center of each cell is a radio antenna node coupled to a PCN node. Subscribers within range of the antenna are provided with wireless telephone service.
The PCN node contains a portion of the network intelligence, such as incoming call establishment, signal routing, and frequency assignment. Each cell is geographically defined by the shape of the radiation pattern from the cell antenna. The cells may or may not be contiguous. In some systems, known as full cellular systems, the cell coverage is continuous within a given service area, and the system permits originating or receiving calls by any subscriber within any cell, and also allows movement from cell to cell while a call is in progress. Cellular systems provide all the features of a wired telephone system, with the additional advantage of full mobility. System features, such as cell to cell mobility, require considerable complexity in each node and in the network control. For example, channel frequencies are used in more than one cell at the same time to provide adequate channel capacity. However, to avoid adjacent cell interference, the same channel frequencies are not reused in adjacent cells. If the caller leaves the cell, channel frequencies must be dynamically reassigned.
Simpler PCN systems, on the other hand, provide less than all the features of a full cellular system. For example, in some PCN system arrangements, a call can be received in any cell; however, if the subscriber leaves the cell, the call connection is lost. Still simpler PCN systems may assign a subscriber to receive or make calls from a single home cell (residential service), or permit outgoing calls only (pay phone service), or have some other mix of features and capabilities. Although PCN networks are often defined as wireless telephone networks with less than all the features of a full cellular network, the term PCN as used herein, includes all wireless telephone networks. In any event, network intelligence resides in the individual PCN nodes, and a typical PCN network might be described as a distributed intelligence network.
Numerous systems have been proposed for providing telephone service via cable television (CATV) systems, both regular (wired instrument) telephone service, and PCN. The PCN nodes are geographically distributed as before, and the CATV system provides the connection between the nodes. Communication between PCN nodes, which might have been carried by dedicated wire or otherwise, is modulated onto the cable spectrum and received point to point between PCN nodes. In this manner, the cable system acts as a preexisting wired network so that distributed intelligence PCN nodes can be deployed without adding new wiring or using dedicated telephone lines.

Distributed antenna personal communication networks system


An organic EL display device includes a glass substrate and a flattening film arranged above the glass substrate. A plurality of anodes are arranged on a surface of the flattening film. A plurality of organic EL layers are arranged on a surface of the anodes. The flattening film has irregularities formed in at least a partial surface in a region outside a region where the plurality of organic EL layers are arranged. According to such a structure, an organic EL display device in which remaining of moisture in an insulating film is suppressed can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic EL display device and a manufacturing method of the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device including an organic EL element has increasingly been developed. As the organic EL display device is of a self-emitting type, a backlight as required in a liquid crystal display device is not necessary. In addition, as smaller thickness and lighter weight can be achieved and an angle of view is wide, the organic EL display device is expected to serve as a next-generation display. In particular, an active-matrix organic EL display device in which a thin film transistor (TFT) is arranged for each pixel as a drive element for driving an organic EL element has attracted attention.
A structure for extracting light that is emitted from a light-emitting layer includes a structure for extracting emitted light from the bottom side (hereinafter, referred to as "bottom emission structure") and a structure for extracting emitted light from the top side (hereinafter, referred to as "top emission structure"), with respect to a glass substrate on which a TFT or the like is formed. The top emission structure is capable of achieving higher definition and improved light extraction efficiency, because light is not blocked by the TFT.
An organic EL element has such a structure that an organic EL layer is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. The organic EL layer may be implemented only by a light-emitting layer or by a multi-layer structure formed by layering a light-emitting layer, a hole transport layer and an electron injection layer. The organic EL element emits light, for example in such a manner that, by applying a voltage across the anode and the cathode, electrons injected from the cathode through the electron injection layer and holes injected from the anode through the hole transport layer are recombined within the organic EL layer. Meanwhile, the organic EL layer is composed of a low-molecular type organic EL material, a macromolecular type (polymeric) organic EL material, and the like. The low-molecular type organic EL material is formed with a vapor deposition method or the like. The macromolecular type organic EL material is formed with a coating method using spin coating or an ink jet method.
The organic EL element has such a disadvantage that deterioration thereof proceeds due to moisture, which leads to lower luminance and poor long-term reliability. As characteristics of the organic EL element are readily impaired by moisture, reaching of moisture to the organic EL element is preferably suppressed as much as possible. Moisture reaching the organic EL element is broadly categorized into moisture that is introduced from the outside of the display device and moisture contained in the display device.
Example of moisture that is introduced from the outside of the display device includes moisture contained in normal air in which the organic EL display device is used. The moisture passes through a pin hole or the like of the cathode in an uppermost layer that forms the organic EL element, and diffuses in the inside to cause, for example, such a defect that a non-emitting region called a dark spot grows in a circular shape.
Introduction of moisture from the outside of the display device is prevented by covering the entire surface of the organic EL element with a covering film such as a barrier layer formed with an inorganic insulating film composed of SiNx, SiOxNy or the like, a resin film, and a film implemented by layering these films. Alternatively, all of a plurality of organic EL elements are covered with a cover glass and then a peripheral portion of the cover glass is sealed with a photo-curing adhesive such as an epoxy resin, thus preventing introduction of moisture. Sealing with such a covering film and a cover glass is performed in a vacuum atmosphere or in a dry inert gas atmosphere having a dew point around −80° C.
Alternatively, a getter material or a getter film containing CaO, BaO, SrO, or the like is arranged in a space covered with a cover glass or the like. By arranging such a hygroscopic member, moisture that is introduced from the outside is absorbed, so that reaching of moisture to the organic EL element is suppressed.
An example of moisture contained in the display device includes moisture contained in an organic insulating film. Moisture present in a flattening film formed between the organic EL element and a surface where a TFT is formed and implemented by an organic insulating film represents one example. In addition, moisture present in an isolation film arranged to surround a pixel region where the organic EL layer is arranged and implemented by an organic insulating film represents one example. The isolation film is also referred to as a pixel isolation film, and it is formed, for example, to cover an end portion of an anode and a region where an anode is not present.
The organic insulating film may contain a photosensitive resin. The organic insulating film is formed, for example, by arranging a photosensitive resin with spin coating, thereafter performing exposure to form a desired pattern using a photomask, and thereafter performing a development treatment. After the development treatment, heat treatment is performed in atmosphere. The heat treatment is referred to as a curing and baking treatment or a post-baking treatment. By performing the curing and baking treatment, a coating solvent contained in the organic insulating film is removed and the insulating film is burnt. In the curing and baking treatment, for example, heating at a temperature of approximately 200° C. or higher and approximately 300° C. or lower is performed for 0.5 to 1 hour, although there is some difference depending on an organic material.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-332058 discloses a method of manufacturing an electroluminescence panel including the steps of: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming an insulating layer around the first electrode; subjecting the insulating layer to heat treatment so as to lower an amount of moisture contained in the insulating layer; forming an electroluminescence layer on the insulating layer; and forming a second electrode on the electroluminescence layer.
Moisture contained in the organic EL display device diffuses to move toward the organic EL element. When the moisture reaches the organic EL element, such a defect that a dark region where emission intensity is low grows from a peripheral portion toward the center of a pixel appears. Thus, display characteristics of the organic EL display device are lowered due to moisture present in the display device. The moisture reaches the organic EL layer mainly through the flattening film or the isolation film as the diffusion path.
In general, the flattening film or the isolation film is implemented by an organic insulating film. As a material, the organic insulating film is likely to absorb moisture. Accordingly, the organic insulating film absorbs moisture in such steps as a wet treatment or a washing treatment with water in the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the organic insulating film absorbs a large amount of moisture during transportation through atmosphere.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-332058 above discloses heat treatment of the insulating layer for 1 hour to 3 hours at a temperature from 200° C. to 270° C. With the heat treatment, however, it has been difficult to sufficiently obtain stability of luminance and long-term reliability. Though an allowable upper temperature limit of the organic insulating film depends on a material for the same, an allowable upper temperature limit of a general organic insulating film is not lower than 200° C. and not higher than 300° C. For example, after continued use of a product while being heated for 3 hours at the allowable upper temperature limit, a dark region from an outer peripheral portion of a pixel was observed in several hundred hours.
In particular, an active-matrix organic EL display device having a TFT as a drive element for driving a pixel has such a complicated structure that a TFT, a capacitance portion, an interconnection, and the like are present under a pixel electrode and these elements are covered with a flattening film. Here, simply performing heat treatment described in the publication above has been insufficient to remove the contained moisture. Though a dehydration effect is enhanced by extending a time for dehydration, productivity in manufacturing the organic EL display device becomes poorer (poorer throughput). Therefore, it is not allowed to perform dehydration for a long time and a major problem of reliability has still remained.
In the step of manufacturing a flattening insulating film or an isolation film, a curing and baking step of performing heat treatment as a step of solidifying an organic insulating film after the organic insulating film is formed is present. For removal of moisture, a dehydration step using heat treatment is preferably performed other than the curing and baking step, however, a temperature and a time period for heating are restricted. Therefore, in a range of time ensuring throughput, it has been impossible to perform the dehydration step sufficient for suppressing deterioration of the organic EL element.

Organic EL display device and manufacturing method of the same


Present invention relates to a stable pharmaceutical composition comprising intimate mixture of alogliptin and metformin, and suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipient/s; wherein metformin is present in about 3.3 parts or more parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the total weight of part comprising alogliptin. Invention also encompasses various processes of preparing said pharmaceutical composition and its use in improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Alogliptin, 2-({6[(3R)-3-aminopiperidin-1-yl]-3-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl}methyl)benzonitrile, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, is an anti-diabetic drug which is approved in US as monotherapy or combination therapy with other agents such as metformin, sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione and insulin, for improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Metformin, N,N-Dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide, is an anti-diabetic drug belonging to biguanide class and is approved in US for monotherapy or combination therapy with other agents such as sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, DPP-IV inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors, for improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,900,638 discloses therapeutic combination for diabetes or obesity; comprising dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV) inhibitor alogliptin or a salt thereof and Metformin HCl; wherein alogliptin or a salt thereof and metformin HCl are physically separated from each other to provide stability to the formulation. It further describes the solid composition wherein contact of alogliptin or a salt thereof and metformin HCl is inhibited by layering approaches or by forming granules of alogliptin or a salt thereof and metformin HCl separately using wet granulation process.
Composition of alogliptin and metformin is either associated with manufacturing complexities such as sticking with alogliptin and incompatibility of alogliptin and metformin with each other or some of the excipients, which affects stability and dissolution of the formulation. The available prior art though tried to overcome problem of decrease in preservation stability by following different method of manufacturing such as different layering approaches or formulating granules of alogliptin and metformin separately with purpose of inhibiting contact of alogliptin and metformin; these techniques with added steps are tedious leading to increased complexity of manufacturing. Thus, there still remains need for development of stable pharmaceutical composition of alogliptin and metformin devoid of processing troubles with ease of manufacturing.
Present invention provides a stable, bioequivalent composition of alogliptin and metformin which overcomes all the mentioned issues and is produced using robust, reproducible and easily scalable process.

Pharmaceutical composition of alogliptin and metformin


The location of mobile unit cellular radio system is determined by determining the differences in timing of a characteristic feature of the transmission of the control channel of each of a plurality of base stations as measured at the mobile unit. The characteristic feature may, for example, be the training signal already used by the mobile unit in a cellular system to measure signal strength in handover operations. By determining the differences between time of arrival of transmissions from four base stations, location in two dimensions can be derived without prior knowledge of the actual distance to any of the base stations. A fifth base station allows location in three dimensions to be determined.

This Invention relates to radio location systems. A number of systems are being developed for identifying the location of a mobile unit, using radio propagation characteristics. One such system is the Global Positioning System (GPS), in which a portable unit obtains a position fix using radio transmissions from space satellites. This system is highly accurate, but requires special equipment, and is unreliable in locations having poor visibility of the sky, because several widely separated satellites must be in line-of-sight relationship with the handset for a fix to be obtained.
Several proposals have been made for systems which use the radio propagation characteristics of a cellular radio system to provide a position fix for a cellular radio mobile unit. This would allow the mobile unit itself to act as a position finding device. As is well known, cellular radio systems allow a user having a portable handset (a "mobile unit") to make and receive telephone calls, either to another mobile unit or to a conventional fixed termination, by means of a radio link. The radio link is established between the mobile unit and one of a network of fixed radio base stations distributed over the area to be covered. The system allows any mobile unit to communicate through any of the base stations; usually the mobile unit will communicate through the base station providing the best quality radio signal.
Because the mobile unit may move during the course of a call, it can become necessary for it to move out of range of the base station with which the call was initially established. Cellular radio systems therefore include handover systems to allow communication to be established with a second base station, and dropped from the first, without interrupting the call itself as perceived by either party to the call. In the system known as GSM, (Global System for Mobile communications), the mobile unit frequently monitors the BCCHs (Broadcast Control CHannels) of the surrounding base stations in order to establish which base station is providing the best signal, and therefore through which base station a new call should be established, or whether a handover should be initiated. This process occurs in both idle and active modes, i.e. there is no need for the user to make a call.
Developments in GPS technology mean that a highly accurate synchronisation source can now be implemented relatively cheaply at each cellular radio base site. A good source of synchronisation has a number of benefits, these include; improved handover, an ability to reduce the effect of interference between neighbouring base stations, and enabling highly accurate radiating frequencies on the radio interface. It should be noted that unlike simple broadcast time signals, the GPS synchronisation signal takes the position of the GPS receiver into account, and can therefore compensate for the time lag caused by the finite speed of radio waves.
European patent Specification EP0320913, (Nokia), describes a system in which timing pulses derived from the GPS system are transmitted from each of three or more base stations, and their different arrival times at the mobile unit are used to identify the position of the unit. This prior art system requires the mobile unit to interrogate each base station in turn, which requires it to hand over communication between the various base stations in order to carry out this interrogation. This requires the use of several traffic channels, or an auxiliary channel and also requires that reliable radio communication can be established with each nearby base station.
In International Patent Application WO95/00821 (Omniplex) each base station transmits synchronised packet data signals. The mobile unit monitors all the base stations' packet data channels simultaneously, which either requires a mobile unit capable of receiving several radio frequencies at once, or that all the base stations transmit their data packets on the same channel. Neither of these features are conventional in a cellular radio system.
Both of these systems also require the transmission of special timing or synchronisation pulses from the cell sites (base stations) to the mobile unit, and the recognition of these pulses by the mobile unit. This requirement not only imposes a signalling overhead on the mobile unit, but it requires additional functionality in the mobile unit to recognise the timing pulses.

British Telecommunications Public Limited Company


A medical photometer includes a processor and a memory that stores an instruction readable by a computer. When the instruction is executed by the processor, the medical photometer acquires a first light attenuation of a first light beam that is transmitted through or reflected from a tissue of a living body, and that has a first wavelength, based on a first intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of the first light beam, acquires a second light attenuation of a second light beam that is transmitted through or reflected from the tissue, and that has a second wavelength, based on a second intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of the second light beam, and calculates a light absorber amount that is an amount of a first light absorber in the tissue, based on a ratio of the first light attenuation and the second light attenuation.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a medical photometer which calculates the amount of a material having a relatively low extinction in the body of the subject, and also to a method of controlling a medical photometer for calculating the amount of the material.
A pulse photometer that is an example of a medical photometer is an apparatus which calculates the concentration of a blood light absorber of the subject as an example of photometry.
Specifically, the living tissue of the subject is irradiated with light beams at a plurality of wavelengths at which ratios of the blood extinction coefficients are different from each other depending on the blood light absorber concentration. The intensities of the light beams at the wavelengths transmitted through or reflected from the living tissue are detected. The intensities at the wavelengths are varied in accordance with the pulsation of the blood in the subject. Therefore, due to the pulsation, temporal variations of the intensities at the wavelengths are acquired in the form of a pulse wave signal. The amplitudes of pulse wave signals with respect to wavelengths correspond to light attenuation variations with respect to the same wavelengths. The blood light absorber concentration is calculated based on a ratio of light attenuation variations with respect to wavelengths (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4,196,209).
There is a need for knowing the amount of water or adipose tissue among materials existing in the body of the subject. However, these materials have an extinction which, as compared with the above-described blood light absorbers, is lower over the whole wavelength range (for example, 190 to 1,100 nm) where a general-purpose optical sensor is sensitive. In the specification, such a material is referred to as "weak light absorber in body."
It is an object of the presently disclosed subject matter to calculate the amount of a weak light absorber in body even with the principle of photometry.

Medical photometer and medical photometer control method


An exercise mat is manufactured by a method including the steps of: mixing 15 wt % to 60 wt % of a plant fiber composite and 40 wt % to 85 wt % of a foamable material to form a mixture; adding an appropriate foaming agent; and foaming the mixture at a predetermined temperature to form a mat. The plant fiber composite includes a plant fiber raw material, a starch assistant and a biopolymer additive containing a plant hormone, an enzyme, a biological vinegar, and lactic acid ester. The foamable material is one selected from polyvinylchloride (PVC) and natural rubber (NR).

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to material and manufacturing method of exercise mat and more particularly, to a material composition for making an environmentally friendly, low odor, and recyclable exercise mat and a manufacturing method of the exercise mat.
2. Description of Related Art
Taiwan Patent No. 1367234 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 8,389,110 B2) has disclosed a composition for preparing a plant fiber composite which is non-toxic, harmless, recyclable and low pollution production. Specifically, because rarely utilized waste plant materials such as straw, sugarcane residue, corncob, coconut shell, cereal husk, peanut shell, leaves, bamboo leaves, sawdust, and bamboo stem dust can be used to produce the aforesaid plant fiber composite, the composite has the advantages of environmentally friendly, recyclable, non-toxic, and harmless.
The foregoing composition, however, has never been used in production of exercise mats. In fact, whether the composition can be applied to produce exercise mats is unknown. Accordingly, the inventor of the present disclosure conducted extensive research and experiment on like materials and finally successfully developed the present invention.

Material composition for making exercise mat and manufacturing method of exercise mat


Disclosed are DNA sequences encoding DNA binding polypeptides including androgen receptor (AR) and TR2 polypeptides. Illustratively, human and rat AR-cDNA have 79 kD and 98 kD polypeptide expression products which are immunoprecipitable by human auto-immune anti-androgen receptor antibodies and are capable of binding androgens specifically and with high affinity. Also disclosed are antibodies and immunological methods and materials for detection of androgen receptor and TR2 polypeptides and hybridization methods and materials for detection of AR-and TR2-related nucleic acids.

The present invention relates generally to DNA binding regulatory proteins and more particularly to DNA sequences encoding androgen receptor protein and novel DNA binding proteins designated TR2, to the polypeptide products of recombinant expression of these DNA sequences, to peptides whose sequences are based on amino acid sequences deduced from these DNA sequences, to antibodies specific for such proteins and peptides, and to procedures for detection and quantification of such proteins and nucleic acids related thereto.
There are five major classes of steroid hormones: progestins, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. Receptor proteins, each specific for asteroid hormone, are distributed in a tissue specific fashion and in target cells, steroid hormones can form specific complexes with corresponding intracellular receptors. [Jensen, et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. (USA), 59:632 (1968); Gorski, et al., Ann. Rev. Physiol., 38:425-450 (1976); and Liao, et al., page 633 in Biochemistry of Hormones, H. L. J. Makin, ed. (Blackwell Sci. Publ. Oxford, 1984)]. The hormonal regulation of gene expression appears to involve interaction of steroid receptor complexes with certain segments of genomes and modulation of specific gene transcription. See, e.g., Ringold, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 25:529 (1985); and Yamamoto, Ann. Rev. Genet., 19:209 (1985). Many of the primary effects of hormones involve increased transcription of a subset of genes in specific cell types.
The successful cloning of e.g., cDNAs coding for various steroid receptors has allowed the structural and functional analysis of different steroid receptor domains involved in steroid and DNA binding. See, e.g., Hollenberg, et al., Nature (London), 318:635 (1985); Miesfeld, et al., Cell, 46:389 (1986); Danielsen, et al., EMBO J., 5:2513 (1986); Greene, et al., Science, 231:1150 (1986); Green, et al., Nature (London), 320:134 (1986); Krust, et al., EMBO J., 5:891 (1986); Loosfelt, et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. (USA), 83:9045 (1986); Conneely, et al., Science, 233:767 (1987); Law, et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. (USA), 84:2877 (1987); Misrahi, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 143:740 (1987); Arriza, et al., Science, 237:268 (1987); Sap, et al., Nature (London), 324:635 (1986); Weinberger, et al., Nature (London), 318:641 (1986); Benbrook, et al., Science, 238:788 (1987); and Evans, Science, 240:889 (1988).
Androgens, such as testosterone, are responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics and are synthesized primarily in testis. Cloning of a cDNA for androgen receptor (AR) has been difficult because, until recently, monospecific antibodies against AR have not been available for screening cDNA libraries. An abstract by Govindan, et al., J. Endocrinol. Invest., 10 (Suppl. 2) (1987), reported the isolation of cDNA clones encoding human androgen receptor isolated from a human testis .lambda.gt-11 cDNA library using synthetic oligonucleotides homologous to human glucocorticoid, estradiol, and progesterone receptors as probes. The expressed protein reportedly bound tritium-labelled DHT (dihydrotestosterone) with high affinity and specificity. However, no nucleotide or amino acid sequence analysis was provided for full length androgen receptors, nor was any description provided concerning isolation of the full length putative androgen receptor clones.
Recently, Chang, C., et al., Science, 240:324 (Apr. 15, 1988), co-authored by the inventors herein, described cDNAs encoding androgen receptors obtained from human testis and rat ventral prostrate cDNA libraries. These cDNAs for human and rat androgen receptor were reported to be long enough to code for 94 kDa and 76 kDa receptors. The molecular weights were derived with the assistance of a software program known as: DNA Inspector II (Textco West Lebanon, New Hampshire) open reading frame analysis. With a new DNA Inspector IIe program, hAR (918 amino acids) has an estimated molecular weight 98,608 and rAR (902 amino acids) has a molecular weight of 98,133. Therefore, the reported "94 kDa" AR is now termed "98 kDa" AR; and the hAR or rAR polypeptides, from the second ATG/Met, reported as "76 kDa" are now termed "79 kDa". See also, Chang, C., et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. (USA), 85:7211 (Oct. 5, 1988) also co-authored by the inventors herein.
In contrast, Lubahn, D., et al., Science, 240:327 (1988), using libraries from human epididymis and cultured human foreskin fibroblasts obtained a human cDNA which was expressed in monkey kidney (COS) cells to yield a protein, present in the cytosol, capable of binding androgens. This cDNA, however, was only sufficient to-code for a receptor having an estimated molecular weight of 41,000. Therefore, the cDNA obtained only coded for a portion of AR.
Of interest to the present invention is Young, et al., Endocrinol., 123:601 (1988), wherein the production of anti-AR monoclonal antibodies was reported. Anti-AR autoantibodies were identified in the sera of prostate cancer patients, as described in Liao, S., et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. (USA), 82:8345 (1984) (one of the co-inventors herein), and were characterized with respect to their titer, affinity, and specificity. Subsequently, lymphocytes from the blood of those patients having high antibody titers were isolated, transformed with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and cloned for anti-AR monoclonal antibody production. These monoclonal antibodies were found to interact with androgen receptors from rat prostate. An attempt to scale-up antibody production resulted in a decline of antibody secretion. It is not uncommon for transformed B-cells to be more unstable than hybridoma cells. Kozbor, et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 14, 23 (1984). Because of the instability associated with such cell lines, an alternate source of monoclonal antibodies is preferred.
There thus exists a need in the art for information concerning the primary structural conformation of androgen receptor protein and other DNA binding proteins such as might be provided by knowledge of human and other mammalian DNA sequences encoding the same. Availability of such DNA sequences would make possible the application of recombinant methods to the large scale production of the proteins in procaryotic and eukaryotic host cells, as well as DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA, and RNA-RNA hybridization procedures for the detection, quantification and/or isolation of nucleic acids associated with the proteins. Possession of androgen receptor and related DNA-binding proteins and/or knowledge of the amino acid sequences of the same would make possible, in turn, the development of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies thereto (including antibodies to protein fragments or synthetic peptides modeled thereon) for the use in immunological methods for the detection and quantification of the proteins in fluid and tissue samples as well as for tissue specific delivery of substances such as labels and therapeutic agents to cells expressing the proteins.

DNA binding proteins including androgen receptor


A semiconductor memory device in which sensing of the memory information stored in a memory cell can be carried out stably, and reliably by equilibrating a parasitic capacitance existing between a select line and its adjacent bit line pair. Each Y select line YS is arranged at a position where it uniformly spans over both members of a bit line pair which extend straight in parallel to each other without the twist part TW within an area of four bit line pairs (eight bit lines or auxiliary bit lines) that are simultaneously sensed. Within an area of the first set of bit line pairs (BL0,BL0-)-(BL3,BL3-), in addition to the bit line pair (BL1,BL1-), the line pairs (BL0,BL0-) and (BL2,BL2-) with the twist part TW are substantially capacitance-coupled with the Y select line YS0. In these bit line pairs, the parasitic capacitance for the Y select line YS0 is at equilibrium between a bit line and an auxiliary bit line.

In general, in a memory cell array of dynamic RAM (DRAM), as shown in FIG. 5, the bit line pair (bit line/auxiliary bit line) BLi and BLi- are connected to the differential sense amplifier SAi installed at each row or each column, and the memory cells MCi,1, MCi,3, MCi,5, etc., of an odd array are arranged (connected) at an intersection position of the bit line BLi and the odd word lines WL1, WL3, WL5, etc. The memory cells MCi,0, MCi,2, MCi,4, etc., of an even array are arranged (connected) at an intersection of the auxiliary bit line BLi- and the even word lines WL0, WL2, WL4, etc.
Each memory cell MCi,j is constituted by one transistor Qi,j and one capacitor Ci,j. If the word line WLj connected to the memory cell MCi,j is activated, the transistor Qi,j turns On, and the potential information (memory information) of the capacitor Ci,j is input into the sense amplifier SAi via the bit line BLi or the auxiliary bit line BLi-.
FIG. 6 shows a typical circuit constitution of the sense amplifier SAi. In this sense amplifier circuit, the transistors TR1 and TR2 constitute a transfer gate for connecting the bit line pair BLi and BLi-. The transistors TR3, TR4, and TR5 constitute a precharge circuit for precharging the bit line pair BLi and BLi-with the intermediate potential Vcc/2 of a power supply voltage. A pair of p-type MOS transistors TR6 and TR7 and a pair of n-type MOS transistors TR8 and TR9 constitute an amplifying circuit for amplifying a voltage present on a bit line pair respectively. The transistors TR10 and TR11 constitute a transfer gate for optionally connecting the bit line pair BLi and BLi- to the data input and output line pair IO and IO-.
FIG. 7 explains the operation of writing or reading of a data in and out of a memory cell in this memory cell array. In a standby state before reading or writing, the equalizing control signals .phi.E and .phi.F are respectively at H level, and the transistors TR3, TR4, and TR5 turn on. In the precharge feeder BLR, the voltage of Vcc/2 level is given, and both the bit line BLi and the auxiliary bit line BLi- are precharged to the voltage of Vcc/2 level by feeding from the feeder BLR.
If the external low address strobe signal RAS- falls to L level, the equalizing control signals .phi.E and .phi.F go to L level in accordance with this, and the transistors TR3, TR4, and TR5 of the precharge circuit turn off. Next, the word line WLj of an array selected is activated, the potential information of the memory cell MCi,j connected to the word line WLj is read out on one side of a bit line pair, for example, on the auxiliary bit line BLi-, and the potential of the auxiliary bit line BLi- changes. In the example of FIG. 7, the potential information is "0," the potential of the auxiliary bit line BLi- changes from the Vcc/2 level to a slightly lower level while the bit line BLi remains at the Vcc/2 level.
Next, when one sense amplifier drive control signal NC and the other sense amplifier drive control signal PC change to H level and L level respectively, the transistors TR12 and TR13 respectively turn on. Then, one sense amplifier drive line SDN is pulled down to the ground potential Vss, and the other sense amplifier drive line SDP is brought up to the power supply voltage Vcc.
In this example, since the potential of the auxiliary bit line BLi- changes from Vcc/2 level to a lower value, the p-type MOS transistor TR7 turns on. Thus, the bit line BLi is connected to the sense amplifier drive line SDP via the transistor TR7, and the bit line BLi is pulled up to the power supply voltage Vcc. On the other hand, when the transistor TR7 turns On, the n-type MOS transistor TR8 turns on, and the auxiliary bit line BLi- is connected to the sense strobe drive line SDN via the transistor TR8, and the auxiliary bit line BLi- is pulled down to the power supply voltage Vss.
Next, if the Y address line YSi is activated by the Y address decoder (not shown in the figure), the transfer gates TR10 and TR11 turn on, and the bit line BLi and the auxiliary bit line BLi- are connected to the data input and output line IO and the data input and output auxiliary line IO- respectively. Thus, when writing, the data on the data input and output auxiliary line IO- is sent to the auxiliary bit line BLi- via the transfer gate TR11 and the transfer gate TR2 and is written into the memory cell (the memory cell of an intersection position of the auxiliary bit line BLi- and the word line WLj) MCi,j. When reading, the data read from the memory cell MCi,j to the auxiliary bit line BLi- is sent on the data input and output auxiliary line IO- via the transfer gate T2 and the transfer gate T11.
On the other hand, as a bit line arrangement structure for enhancing the degree of integration of a memory cell array, as shown in FIG. 8, one, for example, BLi+1, of a bit line and an auxiliary bit line which compose an adjacent bit line pair is arranged at almost an intermediate position between the bit line, for example, BLi and the auxiliary bit line, for example, BLi-, which compose each bit line pair. As shown in FIG. 9, if the pitch of the bit line contact positions, for example, BCi,c and BCi,c+1 which are adjacent each other on each bit line or auxiliary bit line is assumed to be P, a so-called 1/4 pitch bit line contact system, in which the positions of the bit line contact, for example, BCi,c+1 and BCi+1,c+1 which are adjacent to each other in the array direction (Y direction) of a bit line and an auxiliary bit line is shifted as much as P/4 in the direction parallel with a bit line or auxiliary bit line, is known. In the bit line arrangement structure of this system, an array of the word lines WLj, WLj+1, etc., is assembled in a complicated manner; however, there is an advantage that it can be wired at higher density, compared with an ordinary 1/2 pitch bit line contact system. In FIG. 9, MAi,c, MAi,c+1, etc., are element areas, and MCi,j-2, MCi,j, etc., are memory cells.
In the above-mentioned memory cell array of a DRAM, bit lines and auxiliary bit lines are adjacent to each other or are coupled to each other via a parasitic capacitance. For this reason, during sensing of a bit line or auxiliary bit line, the potential change on another adjacent bit line or auxiliary bit line is affected, and an incorrect sensing (erroneous readout) is likely to occur.
Here, in the above-mentioned 1/4 pitch bit line contact system, as shown in FIG. 10, it is usual to adopt a twisting structure in which bit lines, for example, BL0 and auxiliary bit lines, for example, BL0-, which comprise each odd or even bit line pair (in FIG. 10, even numbers), switch positions with each other by twisting once at almost the intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of a line. According to this twist structure, since the interval between an arbitrary bit line pair (bit line/auxiliary bit line) and another adjacent bit line or auxiliary bit line is symmetric at both sides of the twist part TW, the parasitic capacitance is at equilibrium. Therefore, when the potential changes on this other adjacent bit line or auxiliary bit line, the influences on the bit line and an auxiliary bit line of the bit line pair via the parasitic capacitance are equal to each other and cancel.
However, in this kind of memory cell array, a parasitic capacitance also exists between a bit line pair and the Y select line YS. Each Y select line YS0, YS1, etc., is arranged in parallel with them via an interlayer insulating film on a bit line pair and is commonly connected to one or more (in the example of FIG. 10, four) sense amplifiers. In the example of FIG. 10, it is assumed that a substantial parasitic capacitance exists between the Y select line YS0 and its adjacent bit lines or auxiliary bit lines BL0, BL0-, BL1-, BL2, and BL2-. In this case, in the bit line pair (BL0,BL0-), since the positions of the bit line BL0 and the auxiliary bit line BL0- switch at both sides of the twisting part TW and become symmetric, the parasitic capacitance for the Y select line YS0 is at equilibrium between both. In the bit line pair (BL2,BL2-), similarly, the parasitic capacitance for the Y select line YS0 is also at equilibrium between both.
However, in the bit line pair (BL1, BL1- ), since the bit auxiliary line BL1- is positioned immediately below the Y select line YS0, while the bit line BL1 is positioned at the side of the Y select line YS0, the parasitic capacitance for the Y select line YS0 is not at equilibrium between both.
Therefore, for example, in case writing or reading is carried out for the memory cell MC1,j on the auxiliary bit line BLi-, as shown in FIG. 11, the potential of the Y select line YS0 rises to Vcc (H level), its potential change functions nonequilibratorily or nonuniformly via a parasitic capacitance to the bit line pair (BL1,BL1-), and as shown in the dotted lines (BLI',BLI-'), the potential on the bit line pair (BL1,BL1-) is disordered. If this disorder is large, the potential of the bit line pair (BL1,BL1-) is reversed, and the data read out of the memory cell MC1,j is likely to be corrupted.
Thus, in the past, the problem of incorrect sensing due to a parasitic capacitance existing between a bit line pair and a select line was not solved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory device which can sense the memory information from a memory cell in a stable, reliable fashion by balancing a parasitic capacitance existing between a select line and its adjacent bit line pair as well as a parasitic capacitance existing between bit lines and auxiliary bit lines that are adjacent each other, or a bit line and auxiliary bit line.

Semiconductor memory device with bit line and select line arrangement maintaining parasitic capacitance in equilibrium


Described is an absorbent article that includes at least a liquid-permeable sheet, a liquid-impermeable sheet, and an absorption body sandwiched between the liquid-permeable sheet and the liquid-impermeable sheet. A pair of right and left compressed grooves are formed along the longitudinal direction. Each compressed groove is separated into a right or left compressed groove located in the longitudinal side edge part at least in the center region of the absorption body, a front-side compressed groove located in the longitudinal front part of the side edge part, and a rear-side compressed groove located in the longitudinal rear part of the side edge part and out of these compressed grooves. The compressed groove located on the widthwise innermost side is formed to allow its end part in the separation portion to run in parallel with the longitudinal centerline or face outwardly in the width direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-195665 discloses an absorbent article having, on the skin-contact surface side of the absorbing layer, convexly curved grooves which are paired on the longitudinal front and rear sides and paired on the right and left sides along the longitudinal direction. In this absorbent article, the front end part of the left groove and the front end part of the right groove are located more on the longitudinal front side than the rear end part of the front groove. Therefore, so-called virtual extended lines obtained by extending the left groove and the right groove toward the longitudinal centerline direction, intersect on the longitudinal centerline to form a nearly V-shaped fold line.
Usually, a force is imposed on the right and left grooves from leg openings during wearing of the absorbent article (a force is imposed in the Y region of FIG. 7), and the force is transmitted to the direction close to the longitudinal centerline of the groove. In the absorbent article of Kokai No. 2007-195665, the right and left grooves are formed to allow their front and rear ends to extend toward the longitudinal centerline and at the same time, the rear ends are closer to the longitudinal centerline than to the position corresponding to a body fluid discharge port, which brings about excessive concentration of the force on this point, as a result, the absorption body on the longitudinal centerline forms a bulge part on the skin-contact surface side and the shape formed by connecting the bulge part and the front or rear end parts of the right and left grooves is liable to change into a projection. The projection may rub the skin to give an uncomfortable feeling during wearing or the liquid excrement may readily roll down on the slant face of the projection and spread to cause leakage.

Absorbent article having compressed grooves


A method and system is provided for controlling a hydraulic actuator in a work machine by opening a load holding valve in a measured fashion in order to leak hydraulic pressure back into a depressurized portion of the hydraulic circuit, thereby minimizing or eliminating jerkiness in the actuator when the actuator is under an external load.

Hydraulic actuators may be held in place against an external load by a load holding valve in lieu of continuous operation of a hydraulic pump. Fluid in the circuit between the load holding valve and the hydraulic pump may become depressurized by leakage through the pump. Thereafter, when the load holding valve opens, the hydraulic actuator may jerk due to pressurized fluid between the load holding valve and the actuator rushing in to the depressurized zone between the valve and the pump.
US Patent Application Publication No. US20080295504 A1 (Method for controlling a hydraulic cylinder in a work machine) proposes a solution to this problem where the electrically driven hydraulic pump is driven in the "wrong direction" (i.e. in a direction that would normally cause extension of the actuator against the external load when the desired movement is actually in the opposite direction) when an operator command is given. The torque applied to pressurize the hydraulic line is based upon a pressure sensor reading taken immediately prior to starting the routine. A second alternative is proposed where the electrically driven hydraulic pump is driven in the "wrong direction" when an operator command is given, and the duration of pressurizing the hydraulic line is based upon a position sensor reading taken during the routine, with the routine being stopped when actuator motion is sensed to be in the "wrong direction".


The segmented flexible hone comprises spirally wound high pressure tubing for conducting a lubricant therethrough with multiple bristled segments for contacting the inner surfaces of tubular holes so that contaminants and metal may be removed from the inner surfaces of the tubular holes. The bristled segments comprise compliant nylon bristles having enlarged abrasive globules attached to the outer end of the bristles in a non-flaking and a non-chipping manner. The bristled segments are separated by intervals along the high pressure tubing wherein no bristles are disposed but wherein the tubing has holes so that a lubricant mist may exit at high pressures and in a mist therefrom. The segmented flexible hone may be attached to a high pressure lubricant source and a mechanism for rotating the hone such that the ends of the bristles contact the inner surfaces of the members to be honed while a mist of lubricant is emitted from the holes in the high pressure tubing.

This invention relates to abrasive hones and particularly to segmented abrasive hones having a lubricating mechanism.
A typical nuclear steam generator comprises a vertically oriented shell, a plurality of U-shaped tubes disposed in the shell so as to form a tube bundle, a tube sheet for supporting the tubes at the ends opposite the U-like curvature, and a dividing plate that cooperates with the tube sheet forming a primary fluid inlet plenum at one end of the tube bundle and a primary fluid outlet plenum at the other end of the tube bundle. The primary fluid having been heated by circulation through the nuclear reactor core enters the steam generator through the primary fluid inlet plenum. From the primary fluid inlet plenum, the primary fluid flows upwardly through first openings in the U-tubes near the tube sheet which supports the tubes, through the U-tube curvature downwardly through second openings in the U-tubes near the tube sheet, and into the primary fluid outlet plenum. At the same time, a secondary fluid known as feedwater, is circulated around the U-tubes in heat transfer relationship therewith, thereby transferring heat from the primary fluid in the tubes to the secondary fluid surrounding the tubes causing a portion of the secondary fluid to be converted to steam. Since the primary fluid contains radioactive particles and is isolated from the secondary fluid by the U-tube walls and the tube sheet, it is important that the U-tubes and the tube sheet be maintained defect-free so that no breaks will occur in the U-tubes or in the welds between the U-tubes and tube sheet, thus preventing contamination of the secondary fluid by the primary fluid.
Occasionally, one or more of the heat transfer tubes may become internally dented due to a variety of possible reasons. One such reason for the internal denting is thought to be corrosion on the outside of the tube which presses in on the tube and causes the internal flow area of the tube to become constricted. Not only does this denting phenomenon restrict the flow through the particular heat transfer tube, but it also may lead to a failure in the tube at the point of denting which may allow the primary fluid to leak into the secondary fluid thus contaminating the secondary fluid. Of course, contamination of the secondary fluid must be prevented; therefore, such a dented tube must be repaired or replaced before the denting results in a crack in the tube. When it has been determined that a particular tube in a steam generator must be removed, the tube is cut and removed from its attachment to the tube sheet. Since corrosion products have been deposited between the tube and the tube sheet wherein the tube was positioned, it is necessary to remove the corrosion products from the hole in the tube sheet so that a new tube may be placed therein. Not only is it necessary to remove corrosion products from the hole in the tube sheet, but it sometimes is also necessary to slightly enlarge the hole in the tube sheet so that a new tube may be disposed therein and welded to the tube sheet. There are many devices known in the art for honing holes in tubular members so that the tubular member may be removed of corrosion products or may be enlarged. However, none of these hones have proved to be successful in applications to nuclear apparatus, such as in the replacement of tubes in nuclear steam generators. Because of the highly radioactive environment present in a nuclear steam generator, it is extremely important that the hone be able to remove the corrosion in a short amount of time and without failing. In addition, the tube sheet of a nuclear steam generator may have holes therein in excess of 20 inches in length that must be honed in a relatively short amount of time. Because of the high temperatures generated and because of the amount of corrosion encountered, the hones available to date were not capable of honing the holes in a tube sheet of a nuclear steam generator in a short period of time and without failing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,139 issued Mar. 18, 1975 in the name of Steven A. Rands, there is described a multiple-compliant-bristle, self-centering, self-sizing rotary abrasive hone made of multiple outwardly extending, flexible, extremely compliant plastic bristles having enlarged abrasive globules completely firmly attached to the outer ends of the bristles in a non-flaking and non-chipping manner. According to the patent to Rands, the hone is suitable for insertion into a recess or hole in a workpiece which is to be honed by relative movement of the abrasive hone with respect thereto. While the patent to Rands does describe a particular rotary hone, it does not teach a segmented flexible hone wherein a lubricant is conducted through the support for the bristles.
Therefore, what is needed is a segmented flexible hone capable of self-lubrication and of honing large sections of tubular members in an environment wherein human access is limited.


An apparatus for chucking a workpiece to a worktable includes a plurality of magnetically activated vacuum flow check valves, which uses a magnet within its body, to block a port through which atmosphere can flow to a vacuum source. The magnet blocking the flow can be drawn off the port seat by positioning a second (activator) magnet in a cavity of the valve body proximal the first magnet. The resulting effect is the communication of a vacuum suction force from the vacuum source to the workpiece. The second (activator) magnet is preferably affixed to a bottom surface of a puck which, when received within a complementary structure on the valve assembly, serves as a chucking mechanism for securely holding a workpiece above the surface of the machining table during the machining operating.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a quick setup method for holding via vacuum materials to be machined on CNC routers or similar equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically all CNC routers or similar equipment are equipped with a vacuum source. The vacuum generated by this source is the means used to hold a workpiece via different apparatuses during the machining operation.
There are generally two methods of setting up of a router bed so that the bed holds workpieces in the proper position for machining. The oldest and most common is manually. Another more recent method is to use programmable elevated/retracted pods that are vertically positioned via computer commands. The manual method, while less expensive, typically requires a complicated and time-intensive setup procedure over the automated one.
Accordingly, the need remains for an improved manual method for setting up a router bed.
The current invention reduces the time required to position mounting jigs (pucks) that hold a workpiece during machining. The, system taught herein is composed of an airtight sheet of material (phenolic or like products) placed on top of the machining bed of the CNC router. An array of evenly spaced cavities are machined into the surface of this material and a magnetically-based valve constructed according to the present invention is placed into each cavity. Once all the machined cavities are filled with the magnetically based valve, the table surface is airtight so as not to allow any atmosphere to be drawn through the table when the vacuum pump is turned on.
The operating principal behind the valve is based on the natural attraction of magnets to one another. A magnet (xe2x80x9cvalve magnetxe2x80x9d) is placed in the valve on a rubber seat so as to block a port in the bottom of the valve when vacuum is turned on. When an operator wants to have a valve opened he/she places a fixture or xe2x80x9cpuckxe2x80x9d that contains an attracting magnet (xe2x80x9cactivator magnetxe2x80x9d) over the valve body. The valve magnet fit into a cavity in the top of the valve body and the attracting force of the activator magnet pulls the magnet contained in the valve off of the rubber seat. When the valve magnet is pulled from the seat, atmosphere is allowed to flow through the valve body.
Preferably, these fixtures are made with gaskets or O-rings positioned around their parameter. The gaskets create a vacuum barrier when a workpiece is placed onto the fixture. Once the workpiece is placed onto the fixture, it in effect creates a seal that stops the flow of atmosphere through it and thus achieves a vacuum chucking effect that holds the workpiece to the fixture. The force of the vacuum chucking pressure further prevents the workpiece from moving during the machining operation.
Two unique advantages are achieved using this system. First the activator magnet on the base of the material holding fixture (puck) opens the valve when the activator magnet is positioned into the cavity of the magnetically based valve configured according to the present invention. This eliminates the need to pull plugs, drill holes into a fixture board or fit gasketing into grooves machined into the table that act as vacuum dams. The second unique advantage is that the activator magnet also act as position locators. By placing numbers consecutively into the bottom of each cavity the operator can receive a pre-machining set-up sheet that tells the operator which valves to cover with the pucks. This eliminates the need to reference the fixture or the workpiece from a known position.
In short, the valves of the present invention create an airtight vacuum bed except in those locations in which pucks having activator magnet are received. This results in the activator magnet attracting the valve magnet, and pulling it from the seat to allow atmosphere to flow through the valve body. Fixturing is used to hold the workpiece above the base level of the table and thereby preventing routing tools from easily passing through the workpiece and impacting upon the surface of the table. By allowing vacuum to pass through the puck fixtures, a seal is formed where the workpiece is placed onto the fixtures and the workpiece is held securely in one position during the machining operation. It should also be understood that when the activator magnet is removed from a valve cavity, the magnet in the valve falls over the vacuum port in the bottom of the valve and thereby blocking atmosphere from passing through the valve.
Besides part holding fixtures, there can be a myriad of other fixtures that may contain clamps, rollers, slides, sensors, etc. The one thing any fixture must have in common is that it contain one or more activator magnets.
Finally, the magnetically-based valve can be used in many applications such as Down-draft tables to hold a workpiece still while being hand sanded, or they can be used in a frame clamping table for positioning and holding the pneumatic clamps secure. Characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.


Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for allocating Long Term Evolution (LTE) resources to a wireless relay node. In one implementation, a method of operating a LTE access node includes receiving device summary reports from a wireless relay node that indicate at least the quantity of wireless communication devices connected to the wireless relay node. Based on the received summaries, the LTE access node may determine scheduling weights for the wireless relay node, wherein the scheduling weights indicate a probability of scheduling resources in comparison to other wireless communication devices communicating using the same quality of service class identifier as the wireless relay node.

Wireless communication networks typically include wireless access systems with equipment such as wireless access, control, and routing nodes that provide wireless communication services for wireless communication devices. A typical wireless communication network includes systems to provide wireless access across a geographic region, with wireless coverage areas associated with individual wireless access nodes. The wireless access systems exchange user communications between wireless communication devices, service providers, and other end user devices. These user communications typically include voice calls, data exchanges, web pages, streaming media, or text messages, among other communication services.
In some implementations, communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication systems may employ relay nodes that can act as an intermediary between a macro LTE access node or base station and the end wireless communication devices. Accordingly, when a wireless communication device requires a communication, the device may transmit data to the relay node, which in turn, transmits the data to the macro LTE access node. Similarly, when data is to be received by the wireless communication device, the macro LTE access node may transmit data to the wireless relay node, which forwards the data to the end wireless communication device.
However, while relay nodes may provide an effective method of distributing wireless resources and signaling to wireless communication devices, it often becomes difficult for the macro wireless access node to manage the allocation of wireless resources to each of the available relay nodes. This could cause a relay node with a large number of connecting devices to receive inadequate signaling to provide communication services to the connected wireless devices.
Overview
The technology disclosed herein enhances the allocation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) resources to wireless relay nodes. In one implementation, a method of operating a LTE wireless access node to dynamically allocate resources to a wireless relay node includes exchanging first signals with the wireless relay node using a quality of service class identifier (QCI) and a first scheduling weight for wireless resources available to the QCI. The method further provides, receiving a device summary from the wireless relay node, wherein the device summary indicates at least a quantity of wireless communication devices communicating with the wireless relay node. The method also includes, determining a second scheduling weight for the wireless relay node based on the device summary, and exchanging second signals with the wireless relay node using the QCI and the second scheduling weight.

Dynamic allocation of resources to a wireless relay node


In order to assure that a plurality of circuits such as a CPU I/F circuit, a rendering circuit, a video input circuit and a display circuit, which are each required to always complete a processing within a prescribed time, are each assured the ability to make as many accesses to a memory as required to complete the processing within the prescribed time, it is necessary to arbitrate a contention for an access to the memory through an internal bus among the circuits by employing a bus control circuit wherein priority levels assigned to the circuits to make an access to the internal bus are dynamically changed by comparing degrees of access urgency among the circuits. In this way, circuits that each have to always complete theirs processing within a prescribed time are assured the ability to make as many accesses to the memory as required to complete the processing within the prescribed time even if a plurality of such circuits do exist.

The present invention relates to a picture processing apparatus for generating and displaying characters and graphical data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a picture processing apparatus having an integrated memory system, wherein a frame buffer for storing pixel data to be displayed is integrated in a main storage device, and to a picture processing method embraced by the picture processing apparatus.
An example of a picture processing apparatus having an the integrated memory system based on the prior art is disclosed in JPA4-84192. In this system, a priority control signal is used for notifying a memory control unit that a display circuit is about to make an access to the memory, taking precedence over other circuits. In reference to the priority control signal, the memory control unit executes control to raise the priority level of the access to the memory to be made by the display circuit. Thus, in this memory system, the control of memory accesses is executed so as to never interrupt the display of a picture on a display unit, such as a CRT, even if the number of contentions for an access to the memory increases due to integration of the memories.
In the apparatus described above, the priority control signal is provided as a means to enable a circuit, which has to always complete processing within a prescribed time, to make access to the memory, taking precedence over other circuits.
In the apparatus described above, however, no consideration is given to a configuration including a plurality of circuits, each of which has to always complete processing within a prescribed time. For example, consider a configuration including a display circuit and a video input circuit, each of which has to always complete processing within a prescribed time. In such a configuration, the display circuit has to read out data to be displayed from a memory so as to display data on a CRT in an uninterrupted manner. On the other hand, the video input circuit has to always write video input data, which is received continuously, into the memory so that no part of the video input data is missed. To be more specific, the display circuit has to read out all of the data of one screen to be displayed from the memory within a period of time it takes to display one screen. Similarly, the video input circuit has to always write all of the video input data of one screen within a period of time it takes to obtain the video input data of one screen. In order to apply the features described above to the picture processing apparatus including such a display circuit and such a video input circuit, it is thus necessary to provide a priority control signal to each of the display circuit and the video input circuit. When both the display circuit and the video input circuit assert the priority control signals to the memory control unit at the same time, the memory control unit eventually lets the circuit having a higher priority make access to the memory, raising a problem that the other circuit is not assured of the ability to make as many accesses to the memory as required to complete its processing within the prescribed time, even if the other circuit also activates the priority control signal.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a picture processing apparatus having an integrated memory system and including a plurality of circuits, each of which is required to always complete its processing within a prescribed time, wherein the circuits are each assured of the ability to make as many accesses to the memory as required to complete its processing within the prescribed time.
In order to achieve the object described above, there is provided a picture processing apparatus having:
a CPU for carrying out processing;
a memory for storing processing results produced by the CPU and data to be displayed;
a display control circuit for making accesses to the memory and for controlling an operation to display the data stored in the memory;
a processing circuit for completing processing within a prescribed time by making accesses to the memory to read out the data to be displayed; and
a bus control circuit for arbitrating a contention for an access to the memory between the display control circuit and the processing circuit, wherein:
the display control circuit and the processing circuit each have a means for outputting an internal-state signal representing an internal state thereof; and
the bus control circuit determines which of the display control and the processing circuit is to be given a higher priority to make an access to the memory on the basis of the internal-state signals output by the display control and the processing circuit.
In addition, the object described above can also be achieved by providing a picture processing apparatus having:
a CPU for carrying out processing;
a first memory for storing processing results produced by the CPU;
a second memory for storing processing results produced by the CPU and data to be displayed;
a display control circuit for making accesses to the second memory and for controlling an operation to display the data stored in the second memory;
a processing circuit for completing processing within a prescribed time by making accesses to the second memory to read out the data to be displayed; and
a bus control circuit for arbitrating a contention for an access to the second memory between the display control circuit and the processing circuit, wherein:
the display control circuit and the processing circuit each have a means for outputting an internal-state signal representing an internal state thereof; and
the bus control circuit determines which of the display control and the processing circuit is to be given a higher priority to make an access to the second memory on the basis of the internal-state signals output by the display control and the processing circuit.

Picture processing apparatus and picture processing method


A fixture for use in adjusting a laser type leveling instrument has a cradle mounted on a base and operative to support the instrument with its normally vertical axis disposed horizontally. A pentaprism is mounted on a rotable platform on the base to reflect a laser beam, emitted by an instrument in the cradle and impinging on the pentaprism, in a horizontal path. The rotatable platform for the pentaprism permits movement of the pentaprism from a first position in which the beam is directed forwardly and a second position in which the beam is reversed and reflected rearwardly.

Laser leveling instruments sweep a horizontal beam over the area. The instrument is adjusted by projecting the beam at a target located at least 10 meters away, preferably more since accuracy of the adjustment increases with distance to the target. It is convenient to reflect the beam back towards the vicinity of the instrument since it is easier for the technician to make readings, etc.
In the normal operating mode a laser leveling instrument is leveled in the X and Y axes and is used principally in that mode. When the instrument is used to establish a vertical plane (Z axis) it is tipped on its side so the (normally horizontal) beam will sweep in a vertical plane. The Z axis must be adjusted initially to a plane normal to the earth's surface. Normally the instruments are calibrated/adjusted in rooms having 3-4 meter ceilings which does not give enough room the locate a target far enough above the instrument to permit accurate adjustment.
This invention is directed to apparatus for enabling adjustment of the Z axis in laser instruments while using a target preferably located 10 or more meters from the instrument. A new adjustment method is used and takes less time than prior methods while giving excellent results.

Method and apparatus for adjusting laser instruments Z axis


A catheter may include an outer layer defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a body defining at least one longitudinal lumen therein. The body may be within the outer layer, and the apertures may be radially outward of the lumen. The catheter may also include a plurality of electrodes positioned in or on the catheter, with each electrode being electrically exposed through an aperture of the plurality of apertures. A ribbon cable may extend through the lumen and include a plurality of leads, with the plurality of leads being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes. The plurality of leads and electrodes may be formed by the deposition of conductive inks or paints, or by the electrodeposition of copper or other conductive metals or materials.

Electrical stimulation of nerves is widely applied in the treatment of a range of conditions and may be applied to control muscle activity or to generate sensations. Muscles and nerves may be stimulated by placing electrodes in, around, or near the muscles and nerves and by activating the electrodes by means of an implanted or external source of energy (e.g. electricity).
The diaphragm muscle provides important functions for respiration. The phrenic nerves normally transmit signals from the brain to cause the contractions of the diaphragm muscle necessary for breathing. However, various conditions can prevent appropriate signals from being delivered to the phrenic nerves. These include:                permanent or temporary injury or disease affecting the spinal cord or brain stem;        Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS);        decreased day or night ventilatory drive (e.g. central sleep apnea, Ondine's curse); and        decreased ventilatory drive while under the influence of anesthetic agents and/or mechanical ventilation.These conditions affect a significant number of people.
Intubation and positive pressure mechanical ventilation (MV) may be used for periods of several hours or several days, sometimes weeks, to help critically ill patients breathe while in intensive care units (ICU). Some patients may be unable to regain voluntary breathing and thus require prolonged or permanent mechanical ventilation. Although mechanical ventilation can be initially lifesaving, it has a range of significant problems and/or side effects. Mechanical ventilation:                often causes ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and alveolar damage which can lead to accumulation of fluid in the lungs and increased susceptibility to infection (ventilator-associated pneumonia; VAP);        commonly requires sedation to reduce discomfort and anxiety in acutely intubated patients;        leads to rapid atrophy of the disused diaphragm muscle (ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction, VIDD);        can adversely affect venous return because the lungs are pressurized and the diaphragm is inactive;        interferes with eating and speaking;        requires apparatus that is not readily portable; and        increases the risk of dying if the patient fails to regain normal breathing and becomes ventilator-dependent.
A patient who is sedated and connected to a mechanical ventilator cannot breathe normally because the central neural drive to the diaphragm and accessory respiratory muscles is suppressed. Inactivity leads to muscle disuse atrophy and an overall decline in well-being. Diaphragm muscle atrophy occurs rapidly and can be a serious problem to the patient. According to a published study in organ donor patients (Levine et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 358: 1327-1335, 2008) after only 18 to 69 hours of mechanical ventilation, all diaphragm muscle fibers had shrunk on average by 52-57%. Muscle fiber atrophy results in muscle weakness and increased fatigability. Therefore, ventilator-induced diaphragm atrophy could cause a patient to become ventilator-dependent. It has been estimated that over 600,000 US patients will be ventilator dependent and require prolonged mechanical ventilation by the year 2020 (Zilberberg et al., Critical Care Medicine, 36(5): 1451-1455, 2008).
It may also be necessary during MV to deliver or remove one or more fluids or to obtain sensor readings from within the patient. Smaller patients, such as, for example, neonates, may require smaller medical instruments to perform the aforementioned procedures. Additionally, as with any medical procedure, the risk of injury to the patient increases with the length and complexity of the medical procedure.
There remains a need for cost-effective, practical, surgically simple and minimally invasive apparatus and methods that may be applied to stimulate breathing, deliver treatment, and perform tests. There is also a need for apparatus and methods for facilitating patients on MV to regain the capacity to breathe naturally and to be weaned from MV.

Apparatus and methods for assisted breathing by transvascular nerve stimulation


A dryer felt having a soft, bulky top surface and comprising at least a top surface, which is defined by a plurality of machine direction yarns and a plurality of cross machine direction yarns interwoven according to a desired weave pattern. A preselected number of the yarns of the top surface are encapsulated yarns, the number being chosen to ensure that a major portion of the top surface is soft and bulky.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to papermaking fabrics, in general, and to dryer felts having a soft, bulky top surface, in particular.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional dryer felt consists of an endless conveyor belt made from a one-, two-, or three-plane fabric, wherein the various planes can be defined either by different groups of cross machine direction yarns, machine direction yarns or both. During the drying process, the upper plane, or top surface of the felt is in contact with the paper web being processed. Accordingly, it is desirable for the upper plane of the felt to have a smooth and soft surface to avoid undue marking of the finished paper. Various methods have been tried to produce a dryer felt having an upper surface which exhibits the desired smoothness and softness. While a close weave of the upper or top plane produces the desired smoothness, this advantage is offset by the comparatively high resistance of the dryer felt to the passage of water and water vapor therethrough; the material costs of a close weave felt are also quite high.
The use of soft spun yarns to replace the basic cross machine direction or filling yarns of the top plane has been tried. However, it was found that the resulting dryer felt was too unstable. Later, stuffer or center picks were added in an effort to increase the stability of dryer felts using soft yarns in the top plane. Although stability improved, the cost of producing such dryer felts was greatly increased.
Using cross machine direction or filling yarns made from a stiff core filament or fiber surrounded by a plurality of twisted filaments or fibers to replace the filling yarns of the top plane has also been tried. It has been found that, in use, the stiff core filament or fiber tends to protrude through the twisted-filament or fiber wrap and thereby causes paper marking problems.
There is, thus, a need for an economical, stable dryer felt which overcomes the paper marking problem noted above.


A nasal filter is provided, including first and second rim portions, first and second crease portions, and a bridge portion. The first or second rim portion has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of a user's nostril. The first or second crease portion is provided in the first or second rim portion, and the first or second crease portion comprises concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a plane defined by the first or second rim portion when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the plane. The bridge portion connects the first rim portion to the second rim portion. The nasal filter is configured to be deployed into the user's nostrils and to provide a filtering of breathed-in air.

The present invention relates to a nasal filter.
Air pollution becomes a serious problem in this world full of burning of fossil fuels in a gigantic and accelerating speed nowadays. The internal combustion engines, factories, and other air-polluting products or cultures in a human scale such as smoking are the sources of dust, fine dust, etc.
Protection from such pollutants is one of major issues in the health or environment community.
Personal protection gears have been suggested in the corresponding industry, but there are many issues to improve.
The invention suggests a new approach to solve the above problems of the prior arts.
Accordingly, a need for a nasal filter has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.


The invention relates to a process for bleaching aqueous surfactant solutions using hydrogen peroxide, specific decomposition of the unreacted hydrogen peroxide and/or oxidizing secondary products formed therefrom being performed using enzymes. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions and leads to extremely pale, low-odor products.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for bleaching aqueous surfactant solutions using hydrogen peroxide in which in a first process step the actual bleaching is carried out at an alkaline pH in the presence of inorganic additives which act as decomposition inhibitors for hydrogen peroxide and in a second process step specific decomposition of the unreacted hydrogen peroxide and/or oxidizing secondary products formed therefrom is performed using enzymes.
The process is of interest in particular for surfactant solutions which contain discolorations due to their preparation, which discolorations must be bleached to give pale-colored products before use in formulations for the washing and cleaning sector, including personal care applications. This relates in particular, e.g., to alkyl polyglycosides.
Alkyl polyglycosides are prepared from natural raw materials and are non-toxic and readily degradable surface-active materials. They are therefore used as detergents and cleaning agents and as emulsifiers and dispersants. However, they only have the desired surface-active properties when the alkyl groups have at least 8 C atoms. The alkyl polyglycosides in the context of this invention comply with the formula EQU R'--O--Z.sub.n,
in which R' represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic alkyl radical having 8 to 18 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and Z represents a polyglycosyl radical having an average value for n of 1.1 to 3 hexose or pentose units or mixtures thereof.
Preference is given to alkyl polyglycosides having alkyl radicals having 12 to 16 carbon atoms and to a polyglycosyl radical having an average value for n of 1.1 to 2. Particular preference is given to alkyl polyglycosides having a polyglycosyl radical having an average value for n of 1.1 to 1.4.
The preferred polyglycosyl radical is the polyglucosyl radical.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Alkyl polyglycosides having long-chain alkyl groups are generally prepared by single-stage or multistage syntheses. A single-stage preparation process is described, inter alia, in DE-A-41 01 252.
A two-stage preparation process is specified, for example, in EP-A-0 306 652, according to which a n-butyl glycoside is first prepared by glycosidation with n-butanol and the desired long-chain alkyl polyglycoside is thereupon prepared by transglycosidation with a long-chain alcohol.
When the reaction is complete, the alkyl polyglycosides present are dissolved in long-chain alcohols. These alcohols must then be separated off if it is desired to obtain products which give a clear solution in water.
The aqueous alkyl polyglycoside(s) solutions thus obtained are still too dark for high aesthetic requirements and must generally be subjected to bleaching.
There are numerous references in the literature as to how the bleaching can be carried out. Thus Staley (EP 0 165 721) describes a process for bleaching using hydrogen peroxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone or peracids. As no control or adjustment of the pH is provided, the bleaching results are unsatisfactory. Moreover, in this manner, by-products can be formed to an undesired extent, some of which also have a pronounced inherent odor.
Other bleaching methods such as catalytic hydrogenation (U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,918, Staley), reaction with borohydride (EP 0 388 857, Kao) and irradiation with UV light (EP 0 526 710, Huls) have proven to be insufficiently effective.
Bleaching in the presence of bleach boosters such as alkaline earth metal ions or alkali metal silicates (WO 93 13 113, Henkel) using hydrogen peroxide does give significantly better bleaching results but it is difficult to obtain products free from hydrogen peroxide under these conditions. Residual amounts of oxidizing agents must be avoided at any rate, since they effect, inter alia, the decomposition of additives in alkyl polyglycoside(s)-containing formulations. The proposal, solving the problem of residual hydrogen peroxide bleaching in the presence of transition metal compounds (DE 42 18 073, Henkel), is likewise unconvincing. The then accelerated catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to give oxygen during the bleaching reaction decreases the available amount of hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching result is thus clearly impaired and made less effective.
The object was therefore to find a very simple process by which hydrogen peroxide which has not reacted during bleaching and/or oxidizing secondary products formed therefrom are decomposed to the required extent in concentrated surfactant solutions.

Process for bleaching surfactant solutions


A method and apparatus for controlling the time cycle of a vibratory finishing machine by providing a workpiece finishing media transfer device for transferring finishing media from a suitable source thereof to inlet and outlet zones of the finishing chamber and providing a ratioing mechanism for selectively proportioning the media supplied from the source thereof to the first and second transfer means.

The present invention is generally directed toward a new and improved apparatus for controlling the time cycle of vibratory finishing machines of the through-feed type wherein workpieces and finishing media are introduced at one end of an elongated vibratory tub or chamber and move longitudinally along the chamber during a finishing operation. When the media and workpieces reach the terminal or discharge end of the chamber, they are communicated to a separating apparatus wherein the media is separated from the workpieces and is recycled within the system by being communicated via a suitable conveyor belt to the inlet portion of the finishing chamber.
One particular problem of feed-through type vibratory finishing machines of the above-described type resides in the control of the time cycle during which workpieces are subjected to a finishing operation by the action of the finishing media within the finishing chambers. In particular, it has been found that when a long time cycle is desired, the discharge or outlet end or chute of the finishing chamber may be elevated slightly to resist the workpieces and media from traversing out the outlet end of the chamber; however, when this is done, the workpieces tend to hang up in the discharge chute due to the low media level at this point in the finishing chamber and additionally, there is a relatively small amount of finishing media available to be recycled via the return conveyor to the inlet portion of the finishing chamber. If it is desired to improve the discharge of the workpieces from the chamber, it has been necessary to lower the outlet end or discharge chute thereof and while this provides a relatively large amount of media for recycling via the return conveyor and greatly improved discharge characteristics, the time cycle for finishing the workpieces is reduced significantly and this can be highly objectionable in situations where a large time cycle is necessary in order to complete the finishing operation on the workpieces.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, it has been found that a constant media flow can be maintained through the media return conveyor and the time cycle for the finishing operation can be varied in accordance with the desired time for finishing the workpieces by splitting or ratioing the media which is supplied from the return conveyor and transferring a first portion of such media to the inlet portion of the finishing chamber and a second portion of such media to a position adjacent the outlet or discharge end of the finishing chamber. As will hereinafter be described, by thus varying or proportioning the media supplied by the return conveyor between the inlet and outlet ends or zones of the finishing chamber, the desired time cycle can be achieved without varying the media level at the extreme discharge end or discharge chute of the finishing chamber which, in the past, has occurred and resulted in the workpieces being hung up within the chute when a long time cycle was desired.
It is accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved feed-through vibratory finishing machine.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved time cycle control mechanism for feed-through type vibratory finishing machines.
It is yet a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vibratory finishing machine, as above described, which includes means for ratioing or proportioning the media supplied by the return conveyor between the inlet and outlet portions of the finishing chamber.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a time cycle control mechanism, of the above character, which includes a proportioning gate or blade which may be manually adjusted to selectively ratio the media which is returned by the return conveyor between a first supply section which is communicable with the inlet portion or zone of the finishing chamber and a second supply section that is communicable with a secondary conveyor mechanism which communicates the media to a position adjacent the outlet end or zone of the finishing chamber.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved time cycle control device, of the above character, which is of a relatively simple design, is economical to manufacture and will have a long and effective operational life.

Time cycle control system for vibratory finishing machines


A memory cell includes a phase-change material. A via is connected to a transistor and an element for heating the phase-change material. A layer made of a material (which is one of electrically insulating or has an electric resistivity greater than 2.5·10−5 Ω·m and which is sufficiently thin to be crossable by an electric current due to a tunnel-type effect) is positioned between the via and the heating element. Interfaces between the layer and materials in contact with surfaces of said layer form a thermal barrier.

In a memory cell comprising a phase-change material, the phase-change material is, for example, a crystalline chalcogenide. To program such a memory cell, the chalcogenide is heated to melt a portion thereof. After the heating has stopped, the molten portion cools down sufficiently fast to become amorphous. The erasing of the memory cell is obtained by heating the chalcogenide without melting it, so that the amorphous portion recrystallizes. The reading of the programmed or erased state of the memory cell uses the difference between the electric conductivity of the amorphous chalcogenide and of the crystalline chalcogenide.
Known phase-change memory cells have various disadvantages, such as a need for a high current during programming, and various compactness problems. Such issues are crucial, for example, for an electronic chip comprising several millions, or even several billions, of such memory cells.

Memory cell comprising a phase-change material


A method and system for isochronous data stream management in high speed audio/video networks. One implementation comprises isochronous communication management between audio/video (AV) devices by maintaining forwarding information for forwarding data between AV devices, wherein each AV device includes multiple I/O ports for connecting the AV device to another AV device via a communication link including multiple communication lanes. The forwarding information is utilized to communicate AV path set-up request and response control messages between a source AV device and a destination AV device via said communication link, and allocating isochronous communication resources for AV data streaming, for establishing AV path streams for bi-directional isochronous AV data streaming between the source and destination AV devices.

Increasing quantity of multimedia content, and specifically high quality multimedia content, presents a number of communication and processing challenges to designers and administrators of computing platforms and networks alike. Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Digital Interactive Interface for Video and Audio (DiiVA), and HDBaseT Alliance provide industry-wide interface standards directed to unidirectional transport of high quality multimedia data between two electronic devices.

Method and system for isochronous data stream management in high speed audio/video networks