A system for welding tissue by irradiation with laser energy, includes a laser for generating a beam of laser energy and directing the beam toward the tissue so as to irradiate the region to be welded. The laser has a control input and is responsive to a control signal supplied to said control input to adjust the power of the beam of laser energy. An infrared sensor senses the temperature of the tissue in the region to be welded by sensing infrared radiation coming from this region. The sensor provides a sensor output indicative of the temperature. A computer control arrangement is responsive to the sensor output. The computer control arrangement supplies a control signal to said laser such that the region to be welded is heated to a predetermined temperature.

This invention relates to tissue welding techniques and apparatus for accomplishing tissue welding and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus by which tissue may be reliably welded under controlled conditions.
Lasers of various types have long been used in various medical applications. In a wide variety of surgical techniques, a beam of laser light is used to cut tissue, and to coagulate along the cut at the same time. Although commonly used for tissue destruction, lasers have not gained the same widespread use for reconstructive procedures. Some progress has previously been made, however, in the use of laser energy for joining tissue, commonly termed tissue welding. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the joining of two tissues with a minimum of scar and good tensile strength of the apposed edges.
The mechanism of tissue welding is complex, and there are many variables that can be adjusted or modified in the welding process. Some evidence suggests that the mechanism of welding may vary depending upon which type of laser is used. Welding of blood vessels with an Nd:YAG laser produces an interdigitation of collagen which is the structural basis of the effect. As such, the collagen fibrils develop a change in periodicity but are still recognizable. Similarly, welding with an argon laser likely involves a structural change in the welded tissues.
In contrast to the argon and Nd:YAG lasers, which penetrate through the tissue, the CO.sub.2 laser produces heating with only superficial penetration. As a consequence, the CO.sub.2 laser probably accomplishes welding through yet another mechanism. A CO.sub.2 laser produces heating at the tissue surface, and this destroys tissue to the extent that a coagulum is produced which seals the edges to be joined. This denaturation of proteins occurs between 60.degree. C. and 70.degree. C.
The success of tissue union is dependent on several factors. First, it is necessary to align the edges of the tissue without tension. Second, a close approximate in the shape of the tissue edges is essential so that the laser energy is equally distributed to both edges. Third, since laser welding will inevitably destroy some of the tissue edge, it is important to have enough tissue so that stricture will not occur. Fourth, an adjustment of laser parameters to minimize peripheral tissue destruction will improve results. A protein solder has also been found to be helpful in minimizing the last two problems, as seen in several reports. Poppas, D., Schlossberg, S., Richmond, I., et al: "LASER WELDING IN URETHRAL SURGERY: IMPROVED RESULTS WITH A PROTEIN SOLDER", The Journal of Urology, Vol. 139, February 1988, pages 415-417; and Ganesan, G., Poppas, D., Devine, C.: "URETHRAL RECONSTRUCTION USING THE CARBON DIOXIDE LASER: AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION", The Journal of Urology, Vol. 142, October 1989, pages 1139-1141.
In the past, the success of the tissue welding process has clearly been dependent in part upon the skill of the surgeon operating the laser. When lasers are used clinically for destructive purposes, the effect of laser light on the tissue is determined principally by visual observation. Since tissue destruction is the goal, assessing the degree of destruction by visual inspection is a fairly straightforward process. This is especially true of the CO.sub.2 laser which has a very short extinction coefficient. When using the Nd:YAG laser, some guidelines are available to help assess the amount of laser energy needed. Since the Nd:YAG laser has a longer extinction coefficient, however, tissue changes at the surface may not always be indicative of the effects that the laser energy has produced deeper in the tissues.
Determining when the end point of the tissue fusion process has been reached merely based on visual observation of the irradiated tissue, as has been done in the past, is less acceptable than using visual observation with destructive procedures. In prior tissue welding techniques, the surgeon has typically observed the tissue as it was irradiated, and when the tissue has changed to a golden brown color, welding is stopped. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the success rate achieved in laser welding techniques has been operator dependent to a significant degree.
It is seen, therefore, that there is a need for an improved method of tissue welding, and for apparatus for effecting this method, in which tissues are joined in an atraumatic, rapid, and reliable fashion.


A refuge guide system including a central server (10), a refuge guide device (100), a plurality of fire monitoring devices (30), and a wireless communication device (40). The plurality of fire monitoring devices (30) transmit a fire information to the central server (10). The wireless communication device (40) provides communication between the central server (10) and the refuge guide device (100), and provides a positioning information to the refuge guide device (100).

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a guide system and method, especially to a guide system and method for refuge and fire hazard evacuation.
Description of Prior Art
In metropolitan area, there are more and more large buildings, exhibition halls and stores, which typically have many escape exits. However, the layout of escape exits is more complicated for large buildings. When disaster happens, people begin aimlessly looking for escape exits or escaping following the crowd. Such phenomenon may cause too many people using the same exits and pushing each other, and cause more casualties. When the alarm rings, people are told that there is a disaster without receiving more detailed information (disaster locations, types of disasters, escape direction . . . ), so that people cannot escape immediately or people will choose the wrong path and thus put themselves in a more dangerous situation.
The existing fire escape guidance voice indicator uses loudspeaker to broadcast pre-recorded content when fire happens, where the pre-recorded content is stored in the voice chip and based on various terrains of building and evacuation routes. However, this escape guidance voice indicator lacks the capability of knowing the right place or the capability of changing the predetermined evacuation route according to the disaster situation, and thus may result in incorrect escape and evacuation guide. Besides, the aforementioned indicator lacks important functions of evacuation for people acting with poor physical agility.
Thus, it needs better refuge guide system and method provided to solve the issue mentioned above.


A wide band linear gain control amplifier for a mobile communications system, which can be easily implemented by standard CMOS fabrication processes for forming into an integrated circuit. The linear gain control amplifier is responsive to a basic control signal and includes a compensating circuit unit for outputting a gain-compensated first control voltage that is substantially stable against changes in temperature and changes in source voltage, and which has an exponential relation to the basic control signal, and for outputting a second control voltage associated with the first control signal; a variable gain amplification unit for gain-controlling an input signal according to the first control voltage to output an amplification signal and for keeping the gain of the amplification signal for the input signal substantially constant even if a source voltage changes; and a driving amplification unit for amplifying the amplification signal to a predetermined level.

The present application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 64273/2000 filed Oct. 31, 2000, which is herein fully incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear gain control amplifier, and more particularly, to a wide band linear gain control amplifier for a mobile communications system.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a conventional linear gain control amplifier. As illustrated therein, the linear gain control amplifier includes: a compensating circuit unit 10 for converting a control signal CTL inputted for linear gain control into a control voltage VCTRL having an exponential form; a first amplifier 20 for gain-controlling an input signal RF_IN according to the control voltage VCTRL to output an amplification signal AMP_OUT; a surface acoustic wave filter 30 for filtering any distortions in the amplification signal AMP_OUT and any noise present therein; and a second amplifier 40 for gain-controlling an output of the filter 30 according to the control voltage VCTRL to output a compensating signal RF_OUT.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first amplifier 20 includes: a low-pass filter unit 21 for filtering a low frequency of a control voltage VCTRL to output a DC component; a high-pass filter unit 22 for filtering a high frequency of an input signal RF_IN; a capacitor C3 and inductor L1 for matching the input signal RF_IN inputted via the high-pass filter unit 22 and an input impedance; an amplification control transistor 23 for amplifying a high-pass filtered input signal to a predetermined level and controlling the gain of an amplification signal AMP OUT by the DC component from the control voltage VCTRL; a tank circuit unit 24 for applying a predetermined DC level voltage to the amplification signal AMP_OUT and matching the amplification signal AMP_OUT and a predetermined output impedance; and a bypass circuit unit 25 for removing an AC component applied to the amplification control transistor 23. The second amplifier 40 can be constructed to be the same as the first amplifier 20, while the filter 30 can be a surface acoustic wave filter.
The operation of the conventional gain control amplifier will now be described.
First, the compensating circuit unit 10 compensates an externally inputted control signal CTL so that the control signal output characteristics are exponentially approximated for thereby outputting a predetermined control voltage VCTRL. This is to linearize the gain characteristics of each amplifier 20 and 40 for the control voltage VCTRL by making the previously gain-compensated control voltage VCTRL have exponential characteristics, since the gain characteristics of each amplifier 20 and 40 for the control voltage are logarithmic.
The first amplifier 20 gain-controls an input signal RF_IN according to a control voltage VCTRL applied from the compensating circuit unit 10, to thus output an amplification signal AMP_OUT to the filter 30. The filter 30 filters any distortions in the amplification signal AMP_OUT and any noise present therein, to thereby output a filtered signal to the second amplifier 40. Then, the second amplifier 40 gain-controls the filtered signal again for thereby outputting a compensating signal RF_OUT.
Here, with the respect to the operation of each amplifier 20 and 40, when an input signal RF_IN is applied to the first amplifier 20, the high-pass filter unit 22 filters a high frequency of the applied input signal RF_IN, and the capacitor C3 and inductor L1 matches the input impedance of the filtered input signal RF_IN, thus minimizing a loss generated during inputting of a signal.
The amplification control transistor 23 is controlled by an output RF_IN of the high-pass filter unit 22 applied to an input gate G2, for thereby amplifying the output RF_IN to a predetermined level according to a set gain and thereafter outputting an amplification signal AMP_OUT. The above amplification control transistor 23 can be a transistor device having a dual-gate structure G1, G2 as shown in FIG. 2.
At this time, the low-pass filter unit 21 receives the compensated control voltage VCTRL output from the compensating circuit unit 10 and filters a low frequency thereof, for thereby applying a DC component to a control gate G1 of the amplification control transistor 23. As such, the gain of the amplification control transistor 23 is controlled according to the voltage applied to the control gate G1 for thereby outputting the compensated amplification signal AMP_OUT to the filter 30.
Here, since the amplification signal AMP_OUT has a high output level, the tank circuit unit 24 is added to an output terminal in order to use the source voltage VCC as a bias voltage. The tank circuit unit 24 employs a resistor R4, a capacitor C5, and an inductor L2 having particular values so that the first amplifier 20 has a desired output impedance in order to match an impedance of the filter 30.
In addition, the bypass circuit unit 25 serves to remove an AC component applied to the amplification control transistor 23. Input and output impedance are controlled to a predetermined level by making each capacitor C3, C4, and C5 to have variable characteristics.
As described above, the conventional linear gain control amplifier is allowed to have a wide gain variable range by using the first and second amplifiers 20 and 40, and allowed to have the linearity of the first and second amplifiers 20 and 40 with gain characteristics for a control voltage by exponentially compensating a control signal CTL by the gain compensating unit 10.
However, since the above-described conventional linear control amplifier includes a surface acoustic wave filter (filter 30), as well as an inductor and variable capacitors, it is difficult to make the conventional linear control amplifier into an integrated circuit (IC). Also, the necessary inductor cannot be easily formed by standard CMOS processes. Furthermore, an additional process is required to implement the necessary variable capacitors. These drawbacks result in undesirably increased fabrication costs incurred in semiconductor chip manufacturing.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a linear gain control amplifier, which can be easily implemented and formed by standard CMOS processes and can be made into an integrated circuit (IC).
The linear gain control amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a compensating circuit unit for generating a first compensation control voltage having an exponential relation to a received basic control signal, and also for generating a second control voltage associated with the first control voltage; a variable gain amplification unit for varying a gain by the compensated control voltage; and a driving amplification unit for amplifying a signal inputted from the variable gain amplification unit to an output signal of a desired size.
Advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A liquid asphalt composition comprises a mixture of asphalt and a hydrocarbon having over about 55% by weight aromatic content, which mixture is useful for being added to asphalt-aggregate recycle compositions during processing.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,941 and 3,971,666 there are disclosed processes for recycling used asphalt-aggregate composition which include methods for determining make-up asphalt requirements of the used composition, and adding an appropriate amount of such asphalt to the used material as it is being processed. In my co-pending application Ser. No. 488,518 there is further disclosed a process in which an aromatic hydrocarbon is added during recycle processing of used asphaltic concrete. The aromatic hydrocarbon significantly enhances the properties of the recycle composition by achieving product having penetration and ductility characteristics like those of virgin compositions.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a network device and a data backhaul implementation system and method, which can implement centralized and dynamic allocation of backhaul resources in a network and improve a data backhaul capacity of the entire network. The method includes: obtaining, according to channel state information, a backhaul request of a second network device, and residual backhaul capability information of a third network device, backhaul control information used for controlling the second network device and the third network device to backhaul data, where the backhaul control information includes backhaul network topology control information and physical resource allocation information; and sending the backhaul control information to the second network device and the third network device, so that the second network device and the third network device backhaul data according to the backhaul control information.

In a network evolution process of a Long Term Evolution (LTE for short) or Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-advanced, LTE-A for short) system of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP for short), evolution from a homogeneous network to a heterogeneous network is presented. In the homogeneous network, high-power eNodeBs with a large coverage area form continuous coverage according to a cellular network shape. In the heterogeneous network, more micro eNodeB nodes are added in network coverage of an eNodeB (macro eNodeB) to further improve a network coverage capacity. In the heterogeneous network, although the network coverage capacity of the eNodeB can be improved by adding the micro eNodeB nodes, how to resolve data backhaul of numerous micro eNodeBs becomes one of critical problems that need to be resolved in the heterogeneous network.
The LTE standard supports a relay technology. A network mainly includes a donor node, a relay node (RN for short), and user equipment (UE for short). One end of the RN connects to the donor eNodeB, and the other end connects to the UE. The donor eNodeB is a common eNodeB that already connects to a core network. The RN is a station that can provide a wireless access service for the UE, and connects to the donor eNodeB by using a Un interface, thereby implementing data backhaul. However, the connection between the RN and the donor eNodeB is generally fixed and supports only a single-hop connection.
In a wireless mesh network (Wireless Mesh Network, WMN for short) technology in the 802.11s, as shown in FIG. 1, a station STA, an access point (AP for short), and a mesh point (MP for short) are included. The STA is equivalent to the UE in the LTE network, and the MP may form a mesh network with a neighboring MP. Because the wireless mesh network in FIG. 1 works in a distributed form and lacks a node for optimizing and managing the network, relatively poor network backhaul performance is caused.

Network device and data backhaul implementation system and method


A guide bush for an adjustable length column for chairs, tables or the like is provided, in its inner portion, with a slide bush concentric of a central longitudinal axis for the guidance of a cylindrical housing of a gas spring. The outside wall of the slide bush is provided with spaced ribs for the reception and support, radial to the axis, in an upright tube of the column. The ribs are elastically deformable radially to the central longitudinal axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a guide bush for an adjustable length column for chairs, tables or the like, which, in its inner portion, is provided with a slide bush concentric of a central longitudinal axis for the guidance of a cylindrical housing of an adjusting element, the outside wall of the slide bush being provided with spaced ribs for the reception and support, radial to the axis, in an upright tube of the column, and to an adjustable length column comprising a guide bush of this type.
2. Background Art
A guide bush of the generic type and a column of the generic type are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,115. On the inside circumference of its slide bush, this known guide bush comprises narrow guide ribs for the guidance of the housing of an adjusting element, in particular an adjustable length gas spring. Web-like ribs are formed on the outside circumference of the slide bush, extending precisely radially to the common central longitudinal axis and supporting the slide bush to be rigid and immovable radially to the central longitudinal axis in the upright tube of the column. The web-like ribs combine with the slide bush to be very rigid so that no inadvertent radial motions of the housing of the adjustable length element are possible.
Any direct compensation of tolerances of the inside diameter of the upright tube is not possible in this way.
In as much as the design of the web-like ribs and the support, in this regard rigid radially to the central longitudinal axis, of the slide bush in an upright tube are concerned, comparable solutions are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,646 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,969.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,786 teaches an upright tube of plastic material which is embodied to replace an upright tube of metal. It comprises rigid web-like ribs on its inner surface which extend over the full length thereof radially to the central longitudinal axis and the inside end of which is provided with flexible support projections which combine to constitute a floating support ring, this ensuring lateral motions of the housing of an adjustable length element in the vicinity of the upper end of the column. These support projections have the double function of resiliently guiding the adjustable length element and of simultaneously offering sufficient rigidity to loads. Since the upright tube, the radial web-like ribs and the support projections formed on the latter all constitute a single piece of plastic material, the problem of compensation of tolerances of the inside diameter of the upright tube does not pose itself.

Guide bush and adjustable length column with guide bush


A system and method for partial fault tolerance in an embedded appliance is disclosed. The method comprises providing an embedded appliance having first and second digital storage locations, with the second location including a boot manager and a recovery operating system. An image instance of the operational section of the first digital storage location can be copied at a selected frequency to a selected location on the second digital storage location. Files in the image instance can be re-mapped to operate at the second digital storage location. The embedded appliance can be rebooted from the second digital storage location using the boot manager to load an operating system in the image instance to operate the embedded appliance from the image instance at the selected location on the second digital storage location when the operational section of the first digital storage location is inaccessible.

The embedded/appliance system (E/A system) in the digital telephony industry is traditionally targeted for the Small and Medium Business (SMB) marketplace. This business space is characterized by low profit/high volume for sales for the vendors of the embedded/appliance telephony systems. To be successful in this marketplace, the telephony systems are typically designed to be low cost in terms of manufacturing and cost of ownership for the end customer. The systems are also designed to require a relatively low amount of support from the vendor.
If a customer requires fault tolerance for the data storage (e.g. hard drive) of an E/A telephony system, current implementations will include the use of a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system. With the small physical foot print of an E/A telephony system, there is usually only enough physical space for two 2.5 inch data storage devices. This will limit the implementation to a RAID 1 (mirror) type of system that can be used only for fault tolerance.
While RAID 1 is an effective method of protecting against a single drive failure, such failure has a very low probability of occurrence. The chance of a catastrophic hard drive failure that cannot be recovered by software is actually quite remote with the technology available today for enterprise rated drives. Typical hard drives available today for use in industrial applications have an unrecoverable error rate on the order of 1 in 1016, resulting in an average of 0.55% annual failures per year under normal environmental operating conditions. For a standard consumer grade hard drive, the unrecoverable error rate is 1 in 1014 with an annual failure rate of 0.5% under normal environmental operating conditions.
While the RAID system is useful in protecting against loss of data, the system precludes the use of the second storage device in an E/A telephony system from being used for other purposes. With the low probability of data loss, the second storage device may be of more use to a customer in reducing the cost of manufacturing, ownership, and support.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

Partial fault tolerance in an embedded appliance


The present invention provides a novel biosensor for the detection of chemicals of interest. The novel biosensor of the present invention comprises an electrode having a catalytically active cyclodextrin attached thereto. The present invention will be useful for the detection of materials in a wide variety of samples. In particular, the present invention will permit the detection of nitrophenyl esters.

The following references are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference: Certa, H., Fedtke, N., Wiegand. H. J., Miller, A. M. F., Bolt, H. M. Arch. Toxicol. 1996, 71, 112-122; EPA method 604, Phenols in Federal Register, Oct. 26, 1984. Environment Protection Agency, Part VIII, 40 CFR Part 136, 58-66; EPA method 625, Base/neutrals and acids in Federal Register, Oct. 26, 1984. Environment Protection Agency, Part VIII, 40 CFR Part 136, 154-174; Puig, D., Barcelxc3x3. Trends in Anal. Chem, 1996, 15(8), 362-375; Li, N., Lee, H. K. Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 5193-5199; Bender, M. L., Komiyama, M. Cyclodextrin Chemistry, Springer-Veriag, Berlin, 1978; Breslow, R., Bovy, P., Hersh, C. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1980, 102, 2115; Szejtli, J. Cyclodextrin Technology, Kluwer Academie Publishers, Boston, 1988; Editor Sant""e, D. Minutes of the Sixth International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Paris, 1992; Editor Bethell, D. Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 1994, Volume 29, 1-85, Academic Press. New York; Chen, E. T., Pardue, H. L. Anal. Chem. 1993, 65, 2583-2587; Ikeda, H., Kojin, R., Yoon, C.-L., Ikeda, T., Toda, F., J. Inclusion Phenom. 1989, 7, 117-124; Chen, E. T. unpublished cytotoxicity report of the mM-xcex2-DMCD; Alarie, J. P., Vo-Dinh,T. Talanta, 1991, 38(5), 529-534; Zhao, S., Luong, H. Y. Analytica. Chimica Acta, 1993, 282, 319-327; Liu, H., Li, H., Ying, T., Sun, K., Qin, Y., Qi, D. Analytica. Chimica Acta, 1998, 358, 137-144; Li, G., Mcgown L. B. Dissertation Abstracts International. 1994, 56/02-B; Li, G., Mcgown, L. B. Science, 1994, 264, 249-251; Mallouk, T. E., Harrison, D. J. (editors) Interfacial Design and Chemical Sensing, 1994, ACS Symposium Series 561; Roberts, S. M. Molecular Recognition, Chemical and Biochemical Problems, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1989; Chidsey, C. E. D. Science, 1991, 251, 919-922; Nuzzo, R. G., Fusco, F. A., Allara, D. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 2358-2368; Spasov, A. Ann. Univ. Sufia, II Faculte Phys. Math. Livre, 1939, 2(35), 289-291; Chen, E. T. Dissertation of Ph.D. Title xe2x80x9cA Study of Analytical Application of the Catalytic Properties of Cyclodextronsxe2x80x9d 1994; Chung, C. Dissertation of Ph.D. Title xe2x80x9cSpontaneously Adsorbed Monolayer Films: Fabrication, Characterization, and Application of Monolayers of Alkanethiol and Sulfur-bearingxe2x80x9d, 1990; Markowitz, M. A., Bielski, R., Regen, S. L. J. Am. Chem, Soc.,1988, 110, 7545-7546; Gregg, B. A., Heller, A. J. Phys. Chem. 1991, 95, 5976-5980; Komiyama, M. Ange. Macromole. Chemie, 1988, 163, 205-207; Koradecki, D., Kutner, W. J. Incl. Phenom. 1991, 10, 79-96; Lehn, J. M. Science, 1985, 227, 849; Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Chemosensors of Ion and Molecular Recognition, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Bonas, France, 1997; (Editors) Scheller, F. W., Schubert, F., Fedrowitz, J. Frontiers in Biosensorics, (books one and two), Birkh-user Verlag Base, Boston, 1997; Szejtli, J., Szente, L. Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Budapest, Hungary, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 1996; Dagani, R. C and EN. Jun. 8, 1998, 35-46; Pardue, H. L. Anal. Chim. Acta, 1989, 216, 69-107; Williams, M., Pardue, H. L, Uhefbu, C. E., Smith, A. M., Studley, J. Talanta, 1996, 43, 1379-1385; Lim, K. B., Pardue, H. L. Anal. Chim. Acta, 1996, 329, 285-295; Wang, X., Pardue, H. L. Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 4482-4489; Kotte, H., Grundig, B., Vortop, K-D., Strehlitz, B., Stottmeister,U. Anal. Chem. 1995, 67, 65-70; Bucke, C. Polysaccharide biotechnology-a Cinderella subject, Trends in Biotech. 1998, 16(2), 50-52; Ross, et al. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 1998, 122:587-608; Wang, J. Anal. Chim. Acta 1997, 337:41; and Biosensors and Electronic Noses, Kres-Roger, Editor, CRC Press, N.Y., 1997.
The present invention relates to the field of biosensors and, in particular, to biosensors comprising a catalytically active cyclodextrins.
Many chemicals in common use in industrialized societies contain aromatic esters. Examples of the types of chemicals containing aromatic esters include detergents, antioxidants and agricultural chemicals. Upon degradation of these aromatic esters whether through enzymatic hydrolysis or bacterial degradation, toxic phenols and phenol derivatives are produced. Research has shown that these toxic chemicals can accumulate in food, soil, and water. In addition, it has been shown that the presence of these chemicals can be dangerous to humans and animals as they can have adverse effects on reproduction and have been implicated in the development of tumors (Certa et al. 1996). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) has listed phenolic compounds as priority pollutants due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment (EPA method 604, Phenols in Federal Register, Oct. 26, 1984, Environment Protection Agency, Part VIII, 40 CFR Part 136, 58-66; EPA method 625, Base/neutrals and acids in Federal Register, Oct. 26, 1984. Environment Protection Agency, Part VIII, 40 CFR Part 136, 154-174). Furthermore, European Community Directive 76/464/EEC recommends that the maximum level of phenolic compounds in surface water for drinking purposes should be in the 1-10 xcexcg/L range (Puig et al.). Therefore, developing a sensitive, reliable, and fast testing method for the detection of phenolic compounds is an issue of importance to the entire industrialized world.
Current methods for the detection of phenolic compounds include liquid chromatography with electrochemical (LCEC) detection and a coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method which requires sample pretreatment (Puig et al. 1996; Li et al. 1997). These currently employed methods suffer from various limitations. For example, the LCEC method is subject to interference because of the high applied potential (around 1V) required for electrochemical detection of the phenolic compounds. The high polarizing potential causes oxidation of other matrix compounds; hence, an increase in background current is frequently observed. In addition, the LCEC method has problems with signal stability, pH dependence, and time consuming experimental protocols. The GC/MS method usually requires sample derivatization prior to analysis. For example, Li and co-workers (Li et al. 1997) converted phenols to phenyl acetate prior to analyzing with GC/MS. It has been suggested by Puig (Puig et al. 1996) that the US-EPA method for derivatization of nitrophenols for GC/MS may often lead to incorrect results.
Conventional electrochemical methods used to detect toxic phenols suffer from signal drift, and the probes need frequent cleaning because of polymerization caused by oxidation of phenols (Puig et al. 1996). Because traditional electrochemical methods are sensitive to pH they have limited practical application. To date, no satisfactory approach exists for measuring phenols. Cyclodextrins (CDs) and modified CDs have been used as biomimetic enzyme (BMZ) catalysts for several decades (Bender et al. 1978; Breslow et al. 1980; Szejtli et al. 1988; Editor Sant""e, D. Minutes of the Sixth International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Paris, 1992; Editor Bethell, D. Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 1994, Volume 29, 1-85, Academic Press, N.Y.). CDs are cyclic carbohydrates made up of six (xcex1-CD), seven (xcex2-CD) or eight (xcex3-CD) linked D-glucopyranose units. They look like hollow truncated cones, where the interior cavity is hydrophobic and the outside is hydrophilic. The cavities can entrap a variety of chemicals having suitable size and hydrophobicity. Functional groups can be attached to the CDs enabling them to mimic enzyme catalysis. For example, one or two imidazolyl groups attached on the C-3 position of the dimethyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin (xcex2-DMCD) can enhance catalysis of the hydrolysis of paranitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) to para-nitrophenolate (p-NPOxe2x88x92) with rate increases up to several thousand times the un-catalyzed rate (Chen et al. 1993; Ikeda et al. 1989). The nomenclature used to identify the imidazole modified xcex2-DMCDs is mM-xcex2-DMCD for mono-imidazolyl substituted xcex2-DMCD and bM-xcex2-DMCD for bis-imidazolyl substituted xcex2-DMCD. The M before xcex2 in the abbreviation represents imidazolyl group. mM-xcex2-DMCD has been used in solution to mimic the natural enzyme xcex2-chymotrypsin. The protease xcex2-chymotrypsin has a pH optimum of 8.2 for the hydrolysis reaction of p-NPA and achieves only a modest rate acceleration at this pH. In contrast, mM-xcex2-DMCD can work at wide range of pH values. In addition, these modified CDs have good stability, and have unique solubility in both aqueous and organic phases. The mM-xcex2-DMCD showed good selectivity for p-NPA and the cytotoxicity of mM-xcex2-DMCD has been studied (Chen et al. 1993; Ikeda et al. 1989; Chen, E. T. unpublished cytotoxicity report of the mM- -DMCD).
Biosensors of the prior art generally contain immobilized enzymes on the surface of an electrode. This type of biosensor has found application for the detection of various analytes. Systems of this type generally include a mediator that functions to shuttle electrons from the electrode to the electrochemically active species detected. The biosensors of the prior art based on immobilized enzymes have a major flaws in that the response time is dependent upon the concentration of the analyte and the requirement for a mediator introduces an additional complexity and source of error.
New types of biosensors have been developed utilizing CDs and CD derivatives. The unique properties of CDs have been used to enhance the performance of biosensors with both optical and electrochemical detection. Examples of the use of CDs in sensors are provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,828 to Yacynych, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,587,466 and 5,480,924 issued to Vieil, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,274 issued to Luong, et al., the specifications of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. A variety of analytes can be detected in a fast, selective and sensitive way using CDs. Alarie and co-workers have developed a fiber-optic CD-based fluorescence sensor that utilized CDs"" inclusion property to detect pyrene (Alarie et al. 1991). When using traditional electrochemical methods, electron mediators are needed in most cases; however, most of the mediators are toxins. Luong and co-workers used modified CDs to form a water soluble complex with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and used the complex as an electron mediator for a glucose biosensor (Zhao et al. 1993). The inclusion property of CDs was used in the development of an amperometric glucose biosensor as reported by Liu and coworkers (Liu et al. 1998). Recently, CDs, together with inclusion compounds, were found to form molecular nanotubes through self-assembly (Li et al., Dissertation Abstracts International 1998; Li et al., Science 1994). Molecular self-assembly technology for developing membranes is recognized as superior to conventional techniques because it can provide varying degrees of spatial and orientation arrangements of amphiphilic molecules on variety of surfaces of substrates as reported elsewhere (Mallouk et al. 1994; Roberts 1989; Chidsey 1991; Nuzzo et al. 1987). The formation of nanotubes made with CD and diphenylhexatriene based on the molecular inclusion has reported in the literature (Le et al. 1994).
One analytical technique which may be used in conjunction with a biosensor is cyclic voltammetry. In cyclic voltammetry, the potential of the electrode is scanned linearly from an initial value to a second value and then back to the initial value or some other potential. As the potential is scanned in the positive direction, an anodic current occurs when the electrode becomes a sufficiently strong oxidant to oxidize the analyte. The anodic current increases rapidly until the concentration of the analyte on the electrode surface approaches zero corresponding to a peak in the current. The current then decays as the solution surrounding the electrode is depleted of the analyte due to the conversion of the analyte into an oxidized form. When the highest potential of the scan is reached, the potential is scanned in the negative direction. When the electrode becomes a sufficiently strong reductant, the oxidized form of the analyte is reduced back to the original form. This reduction causes a cathodic current that increases until the concentration of the oxidized form of the analyte on the electrode approaches zero at which point the current peaks. The cathodic current then decays as the solution of the in the vicinity of the electrode is depleted of the oxidized form of the analyte. The cycle is completed when the potential returns to the initial value or to another predetermined potential value. Additional scans may then be made. When the oxidized form of the analyte is not reduced during the scan back to the starting potential, the reaction is said to be irreversible. The parameters determined in a cyclic voltammogram are the magnitude of the anodic peak current, ipa, the anodic peak potential, Epa, the cathodic peak current, ipc, and the cathodic peak potential, Epc. The pseudo first order rate constants can be obtained from plots of the ln(i∞-it) where i∞ is the maximum current and it is the current at time t.
Notwithstanding the above mentioned uses of CDs, utilizing the catalytic and molecular recognition features of mM-xcex2-DMCD for biosensor development is difficult for the following reasons: (1) low coverage due to the monolayer defects, (2) low sensitivity and (3) low reproducibility as reported in the literature (Chung 1990; Gregg et al. 1991; Komiyama 1988; Koradecki et al. 1991). Thus, there exists a need in the art for a biosensor specific for phenolic compounds. In addition, there exists a need in the art for biosensors that do not utilize electron mediator molecules. These and other needs have been met by the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel biosensor. In preferred embodiments, the biosensor of the present invention may comprise an electrode and a catalytically active cyclodextrin affixed thereto.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a biosensor specific for the detection of phenolic compounds. In preferred embodiments, the biosensor of the present invention may comprise a xcex2-DMCD comprising one or more imidazole groups. In a most preferred embodiment, the biosensor of the present invention may comprise a mM-xcex2-DMCD.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a biosensor capable of detecting molecules of interest that does not require the inclusion of a mediator.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting an analyte of interest comprising the steps of contacting a solution containing the analyte with a biosensor and detecting the analyte wherein the biosensor comprises a catalytically active cyclodextrin.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting the presence of o-NPA in solution comprising the step of contacting a solution containing o-NPA with a biosensor, which biosensor comprises a catalytically active cyclodextrin. In preferred embodiments, the cyclodextrin may be mM-xcex2-DMCD.
The present invention provides a novel biosensor comprising an electrode with a catalytically active cyclodextrin attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the novel biosensor of the present invention comprises a modified cyclodextrin capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of NPA thereby making possible the measurement of nitrophenyl acetate (NPA) without the use of an electron mediator. In other preferred embodiments, the catalytically active cyclodextrins of the present invention may be assembled in the form of nanotubes.
The electrode of the present invention may be constructed of any material customarily used by those skilled in the art for the construction of electrodes. In preferred embodiments, the electrode may be glassy carbon, gold or silver. In a most preferred embodiment, the electrode may be glassy carbon.
The biosensor of the present invention may be constructed by coating the surface of an electrode with a catalytically active cyclodextrin to form a membrane. This coating may be accomplished by any means known by those skilled in the art. In addition to a cyclodextrin, the electrode may be coated with one or more compounds. In preferred embodiments, the electrode may be coated with a catalytically active cyclodextrin and a polyethylene glycol (PEG). In another preferred embodiment, the electrode may be coated with a catalytically active cyclodextrin, a PEG and a polyvinylpyridine (PVP). In a most preferred embodiment, the cyclodextrin will be deposited in the form of nanotubes and will be applied by co-polymerization of mM-xcex2-DMCD with polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEG) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP).

Amperometric biomimetic enzyme sensors based on modified cyclodextrin as electrocatalysts

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


One or more layers of a sheet comprising (1) 60% to 99%, based on the weight of solids, of vermiculite delaminated by mechanical means only, (2) 1% to 40%, based on the weight of solids, of at least one fibrous material and (3) 0.1% to 4%, based on the weight of the vermiculite, of at least one flocculating agent, can be used to protect heat-sensitive substrates such as resin matrix composites from fire or heat.

Resin matrix composites such as carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites and glass fiber-reinforced polyester resin composites are useful in applications where a high strength and stiffness to weight ratio are required. However, the composites exhibit poor fire resistance because of their high degree of flammability, rapid flame spread, high rate of heat release and, in some cases, production of toxic combustion gases. Many solutions have been proposed for improving the fire resistance of composites and other heat-sensitive substrates, for example, addition of halogenated materials to the resin; addition of aluminum trihydrate, borate salts or polyammonium phosphates to the resin; application of intumescent coatings to the substrate; and use of thick inorganic fiber mats as insulation. All of these materials have disadvantages, however, such as generation of toxic and corrosive halogenated gases, deterioration in the physical properties of the substrate, the necessity for several time-consuming and labor intensive coating applications, and low abrasion resistance of the protective material.
Vermiculite in various forms has been used for fire protection of heat-sensitive substrates. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,442,164 and 4,543,287 disclose the use of a composite of fibers coated with chemically delaminated vermiculite for the fire protection of substrates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,233 discloses coating a substrate with a composition comprising chemically delaminated vermiculite and a copolymer of ethylene and a vinyl monomer to impart fire and heat resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,700 discloses the use of carbon fibers coated with chemically delaminated vermiculite to insulate substrates and protect them from fire.

Flame spread barrier made from mechanically delaminated vermiculite sheet


A portable computer has incorporated therein a central processing unit, a display apparatus and a timer circuit. This portable computer is also provided with exclusive operation keys, wherein image data corresponding to a predetermined condition can be displayed on the display apparatus only by depressing the predetermined exclusive operation key and schedule data judged from a date of present time point can also be displayed on the display apparatus only be depressing the predetermined exclusive operation key.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable computers and, more particularly, is directed to a portable computer which incorporates therein a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling schedule data and a display for displaying the schedule data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A portable computer has been proposed so far, which incorporates therein a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling schedule data and a display portion for displaying the schedule data.
According to this previously-proposed portable computer, when the user wants to see and compare schedules on two different dates, the user has to operate keys to input two dates alternately to access schedules of respective dates. This requires a very cumbersome operation to compare schedules of two dates.
Further, when the user wants to see desired data and the like, the user has to input a particular keyword in the data and to retrieve desired data and the like. Thus, when the user wants to see the desired data very often, these operations are very cumbersome for the user. Also, particular data and so on can not be accessed immediately.
Furthermore, when the user wants to see a schedule of "today", the user has to operate an exclusive key of date of "today" to access the schedule of "today". In that case, however, the user has to operate a plurality of keys such as year key, month key, day key and the like. Further, the user has to operate a "retrieval key", a "check key" and so on. Therefore, the user can not check the schedule of "today" without very cumbersome operations.

Electronic organizer with electronic book marker


A number plate is provided comprising a body having an indicating portion and an elongated band extending from the number plate body. The band has a wrapping portion to be wrapped around a handlebar of a straddle type vehicle. An engagement portion is formed on a base of the elongated band to engage with a control cable. Engaging the control cable in the engagement portion in this manner can increase the mounting rigidity of the number plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a number plate and, more particularly, to a number plate that can be attached to a handlebar of a straddle type vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Often when a straddle type vehicle is used in racing competition, a front plate indicating a number is attached to the vehicle body. The front plate usually is secured to the vehicle by an upper bracket with screws or the like. However, when the vehicle is used over rugged terrain, the front plate often swings, which makes it hard to see the numbers and/or letter disposed on the front plate.
Prior art front plates, such as the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, attempt to resolve this problem. As shown in FIG. 1, a front number plate 100 has a body portion 101 and a band portion 102 at an upper part of the body 101. The band portion 102 is wrapped around a portion of a handlebar 103 to limit the swinging and/or twisting of the front number plate 100. The band portion 102 of the front number plate 100 as described above is typically made of plastic resin or the like, and thus is flexible so as to conform to the position and shape of any particular handlebar. The flexibility, however, also can result in movement of the number plate when a straddle type vehicle operates over rugged terrain. In addition, the band portion 102 may move around due to wind pressure, impacts that the vehicle receives during operation, or the like.
When the handlebar is a straight handlebar having a tension bar, a bar pad, which is wrapped around the tension bar, supports the band portion. As a result, the band portion is fairly rigidly attached to the vehicle. When the vehicle features a tapered handlebar, however, as shown in FIG. 2, a space 110 is created between the handlebar 103 and the band portion 102. The space 110 can result in reduced mounting rigidity for the band portion 102.
In some off-road straddle type vehicles (e.g., two-wheeled motor vehicles equipped with a two-stroke engine), when the engine speed is reduced, the rider typically increases the engine speed while the transmission is in a half clutch state and then engages the clutch. Because such an operating technique puts a heavy load on the clutch, the rider frequently adjusts the play in the clutch. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, some off-road two-wheeled motor vehicles have a clutch quick adjuster 106 located between a clutch lever 104 and a clutch cable 105 so that the rider can easily adjust the clutch play while operating the vehicle. The clutch quick adjuster 106 is designed to adjust the play in the clutch as a ring portion is turned, and is operable by the rider with one hand during operation of the vehicle.
As described above, when the handlebar is a tapered handlebar, the band portion 102 often is not tightly connected to the handlebar. Therefore, when the vehicle is used over rugged terrain, the band portion 102 might twist or otherwise deform. In such situations, the band portion 102 can get in the way of the rider's operation of the clutch quick adjuster 106. This is particularly problematic when the rider attempts to operate the clutch quick adjuster 106 with the right hand since the band portion 102 might somewhat obstruct access to the clutch quick adjuster 106, such as by covering the clutch quick adjuster 106.

Number plate for a straddle type vehicle


In a folding screen device pulled in the lateral direction, the widthwise dimension limit of the screen device in the opening and closing direction of the screen is eliminated. A plurality of screen units include movable vertical frame members attached to both ends of a screen expandable in an accordion manner. The vertical frame members are slidable along a lateral frame member of a building opening. Screen guides in the screen units move out and into the interior of the vertical frame member through upper and lower ends thereof in a bent state, and are led along upper and lower ends of the screen in an extended state. A parallel movement mechanism causes the vertical frame members to move in parallel during opening and closing of the screen. The screen units can be arranged in parallel in the building opening by connecting adjacent vertical frame members of the screen units.

In a folding screen device in which a screen expandable in an accordion manner can be opened and closed by pulling in the lateral direction, the one provided with a screen guide for guiding an end of the screen by moving out and into the interiors of the upper end and the lower end of at least one of frame members attached to both ends of the screen in a bent state and being led out along the end of the screen in the extended state is known by, for example, Patent Document 1.
Since the screen device of this type can avoid arrangement of a large member which guides the lower end of the screen on the lower side of an opening of a building in a screen-opened state in which the screen is completely folded and stored, it is simple in appearance and does not hinder passage of pedestrians, wheelchairs or the like, and hence it is quite effective in a point that it can adapt barrier-free structure.
Therefore, in the screen device of this type, it is necessary to configure the extended width of the screen guide within a range in which the screen can be led completely into the interior of the frame member in the screen-opened state in which the screen is completely folded and stored, and hence the widthwise dimension of the screen device in the direction of opening and closing the screen is limited and, in particular, in the case in which the opening of the building is wider than the height, the screen device may be difficult to mount.
In addition, even though the widthwise dimension of the product can be increased by any means, the distance of movement of the operating frame in association with the opening and closing operation of the screen is increased, and hence difficulties may be occurred during opening and closing operation, or the operation may take a lot of trouble.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-36518


A two-part electromagnetic radiation shielding device (10) for mounting on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The device (10) comprises a substantially open frame member (6) for receiving an electric or electronic component requiring shielding, and a closing can or cover member (1). The frame and cover members (6; 1) are constructed from electrically conductive material and have peripheral sides (7; 3) adapted to grip each other such that, in use, the frame and cover member (6; 1) surround the component in a closing arrangement. The peripheral sides (7; 3) of the frame and cover member (6; 1) have a shape such that a continuous gripping force is exerted (14) to establish and maintain circumferential electrical contact (13) between the frame and cover member (6; 1) at facing edges (5; 11) of the peripheral sides (3; 7) of the members (1; 6). Separate mechanical (14) and electrical (13) engagements are provided for optimum Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) shielding.

In present telecommunication systems, in particular systems for cellular and cordless radio telecommunications, transceivers operating at frequencies in the GHz Radio Frequency (RF) band are used.
It is known that electric or electronic components or apparatuses and devices in the vicinity of electromagnetic radiation sources can be driven into malfunctioning if subjected to certain levels of electromagnetic radiation.
To avoid as much as possible any unwanted influence of electromagnetic radiation from devices such as oscillators in transceivers for telecommunication or other devices operating in the RF band, it is known to shield such radiation sources by encasing the radiation source or the device such as a transceiver incorporating the radiation source in a suitable housing. Such a housing is usually formed of conductive materials having an ability to concentrate high levels of magnetic flux. Accordingly, the electromagnetic radiation is prevented from leaving the housing.
On the other hand, it is also possible to encase an electric or electronic component which is sensitive to electromagnetic fields, such to prevent that any magnetic, electric or electromagnetic fields can reach the component through its encasing. Housings for shielding electromagnetic radiation are also known as Faraday cages.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,222 discloses a two-part electromagnetic radiation shielding housing for receiving a complete PCB.
GB-A-2,285,181 discloses a two-part shielding device for mounting at a PCB such that in use, a component requiring shielding is completely surrounded and enclosed by the shielding device and a signal ground layer of the PCB to which the device is electrically connected. The component can be either an electromagnetic radiation source or a component which is vulnerable to electromagnetic fields.
With the present trend towards using frequencies in the GHz range and due to increasing governmental regulations on electromagnetic stray field levels of devices such as mobile or cordless telephones and (small) base stations for indoor use, the presently available shielding devices are not suitable to meet future demanding ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements.

Two-part electromagnetic radiation shielding device for mounting on a printed circuit board


A small boat lifting device for use between two substantially parallel docks includes two substantially cylindrical longitudinal cable winding reels. Attached to the substantially cylindrical longitudinal cable winding reels are flexible cables which are in turn are secured to a small boat lifting cradle. As the substantially cylindrical longitudinal cable winding reels are rotated the flexible cables are wound therearound thus causing the small boat to be lifted from the water into the space between the two substantially parallel docks.

The present invention relates to watercraft lifting systems; more particularly, the present system pertains to watercraft lifting systems which are mounted between substantially parallel docks between which small watercraft are typically stored. Such arrangements of docks are often found on lakes, inlets, marinas and canals or other waterways used by small recreational watercraft.
In many locations where small watercraft are stored it has become desirable and sometimes necessary to lift these small watercraft out of the water. A variety of methods are being used to meet this need.
In the following description the word "boat" will be used; however, it will be understood that this word will be meant to include such other watercraft as Jet-Skis.RTM., pontoon boats and the like.
Typically prior art small boat lifting systems incorporate a boat cradle which is placed between the substantially parallel dock members. The small boat is first caused to rest upon the boat cradle. Then the boat cradle is guided upwardly to lift the boat from the water by a guide assembly mounted within the substantially parallel dock members. The actual lifting of the boat cradle from the water is accomplished by flexible cables. These flexible cables pass around a complex system of pulleys and are then wound around a cable reel located at the head of the dock assembly. Such boat lifting systems place inordinately large stresses on the cables. It has been found that such cables repeatedly fail because of the stresses caused by high boat loads and the many twists and turns taken by the cables before being wound on a cable reel. In addition, such boat lifting systems are also expensive because of the need to install a guide assembly in the docks on either side of the boat to guide the boat lifting cradle in its travel upwardly out of the water.
There is therefore a need in the art to provide a boat lifting system which is simple, inexpensive and reliable. Such boat lifting system should be easy to use and easy to install without requiring major disassembly or reconstruction of the docks between on which it is to be installed.
A prior art search was done and the following patents were identified; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,073,125, 3,114,246, 3,276,211, 4,329,082, 4,686,920.
Exemplary of systems using complex cable arrangements which place large forces on such cables and cause quick wear of cables are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,114,246 and 4,329,082.
Systems designed for larger boats which employ flexible cables are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,073,125 and 3,276,211.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,920 illustrates an extremely complex cable system used for lifting small boats from the water. Because of the number of twists and turns made by the cable in the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,920 it is anticipated that, while operative, this system is subject to frequent failure because of the stresses put on the lifting cables.


A method of providing for the transfer of an IP flow when a client is handed over from a first to a second radio layer node of a cellular communications network. The method comprises establishing said IP flow between a client and an application of a local service network within or connected to said first radio layer node, and sending said IP flow over a radio access bearer extending between the client and the first radio layer node, and maintaining within a mobility database a mapping between an identifier of the client, an IP address of said application, and an IP address of said local service network. Prior to or upon handover of the client from said first radio layer node to the second radio layer node, a request including the client identifier is sent from said second to said first radio layer node or to another node if the central mobility database is maintained in that other node. The client identifier contained in said request is used at said first radio layer node or said other node to identify said mapping in the mobility database, and the application and local service network IP addresses are sent from said first radio layer node or said other node, to said second radio layer node. The application and local service network IP addresses are received at said second radio layer node, and the received local service network IP address are used at said second radio layer node to establish a tunnel between the second radio layer node and said local service network. Said IP flow is switched from said radio access bearer to said tunnel for delivery to the client via said second radio layer node.

In 3G cellular communication architectures, data services are provided to subscribers using the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). A GPRS core network routes data between a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, UTRAN, to which a client (User Equipment or UE) is attached, and an IP backbone of the network operator. A so-called GPRS Gateway Support Node (GGSN) provides an interconnection between the GPRS core network and the IP backbone. The IP backbone provides client access to "internal" packet services of the network operator as well as access to the Internet and the various "external" services available over the Internet. The interface between the GGSN and the IP backbone is referred to in the relevant standards as the Gi interface. In the case of SAE/LTE network architectures, that is the so-called 4G networks, the Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN Gateway) within the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network performs a role broadly similar to that of the GGSN, connecting the EPC to the operator's IP backbone.
Network operators are currently experiencing rapid growth in demand for data services, due in large part to the growing use of streaming media services. These services tend to be centralised "above" the GGSN/PDN Gateway anchor point in the sense that subscribers connect to common servers (hosting the services) regardless of geographical location. In order to reduce the burden placed on networks by this increased demand, it is desirable to allow for the local breakout of data connections such that data traffic does not have to flow unnecessarily through mobility tunnels, e.g. via a subscriber's home network to a visited network. It is further desirable to introduce where possible local data sources, i.e. local streaming servers and local caching, to reduce the path length between data source and subscriber. Such local data sources are enabled by so-called local "service networks" located beneath the level of the GGSN/PDN Gateway, for example within or co-located with a radio layer node.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an example streaming media architecture with deployed caches used to offload the central server. The caches may be located within the Internet, within the IP backbone network, and/or within the operator's network. Considering the latter, in the case of a 3G network, caches could be located within the GPRS core network, for example co-located with or connected to the GGSN, or could be located within the RAN, for example co-located or connected to the Radio Network Controller (RNC). Similarly, in the case of a 4G network, caches may be located in the packet core network (co-located with or coupled to the PDN Gateway) or within the radio access network (co-located with or coupled to the enhanced Node B (eNB)).
Caching data beneath the GGSN/PDN Gateway attachment point, whilst efficient in terms of reducing network traffic, does raise issues regarding subscriber mobility. Subscriber mobility is a requirement for the introduction and acceptance of any data traffic handling solution. Operators and subscribers will not accept a solution which results in the loss of service connections when a subscriber moves from one location to another or is otherwise handed over between network access points. There is an inherent conflict between moving the cache as close as possible to the subscriber equipment in order to reduce network traffic on the one hand, and facilitating subscriber mobility on the other. This applies of course not only to data caches but also to other data sources.
One possible mechanism for enabling the provision of data to mobile nodes from local service networks located within or associated with the radio layer node (e.g. the RNC or and eNB) involves providing the local service networks with unique IP addresses within the domain of a given network operator. One or more unique IP addresses may be allocated to each application residing in the local service network. Session establishment requests received over the local radio link are routed to an application within the local service network based upon the unique IP addresses, and are handled by the application based upon the destination Uniform Resource Locator (URL). By implementing classifiers and traffic selectors within the radio layer node, when a handover occurs it is possible to switch traffic (flowing between the application and the mobile node) from a radio link associated with the current or "source" radio layer node, to the new or "target" radio layer node via the operator's IP backbone network. Such a mechanism allows local service networks to be used where possible, but facilitates handover between radio layer nodes whilst maintaining a connection between the mobile node and the local application responsible for delivering the content.
This approach suffers from the disadvantage that a given application, e.g. responsible for delivering streaming video (TV) channels, will be allocated different IP addresses in different radio layer nodes. The handling of different IP addresses for the same application can prove difficult, e.g. DNS provisioning is complex given the need to map a given FQDN to multiple IP addresses in a location dependent manner. There are advantages to allowing common applications in different locations to be identified by the same IP address.


A disclosed state display method includes: obtaining measurement results of vital activities of a subject; and displaying temporal transition of states of the subject by a one-dimensional heat map based on the measurement results. And the displaying includes: first displaying, in association with a first period in which the measurement results represent a sleep state, a first color that represents a depth of sleep by shading and has a first hue corresponding to the sleep state; and second displaying, in association with a second period in which the measurement results represent a non-sleep state, a second color that represents an intensity of an activity by the shading and has a second hue corresponding to the non-sleep state.

One patent document discloses an example of displaying actions, daily activities, rest and sleep as a band graph in a system for collecting vital data of a user. Moreover, another patent document discloses an example in which sleep and awaking are displayed as a band graph in a sleep state evaluation apparatus. In both cases, the user can distinguish a sleep period and a period other than the sleep period, however, the user cannot know information other than information for each time band and length of the time band.
Moreover, another patent document discloses a band graph representing a sleep depth by shading of colors as a system for evaluating the sleep states. In this example, the user cannot know a relationship between sleep and activities.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-235920
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-045336
Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-148829
Therefore, there is no technique for enabling the user to chronologically grasp a relation between a depth of sleep and an intensity of an activity.

Method and apparatus for displaying states


A system is provided for rating multimedia content streamed over a data network as a series of data frames, segments, or packets and for administering display of the rated content. The system includes at least one content source device for creating raw multimedia content; an intermediate content marking and delivery agent for marking and delivering the content created; and a content receiving device for displaying or rejecting delivered content according to detection of and comparison of content markings applied to at least one preset value. In one aspect, the content marking follows some existing or devised rating system and whereupon the marked content is identifiable at the receiving end for each received data frame, segment, or data packet carrying content in a payload.

In the field of systems for producing, delivering and displaying multimedia content, there has been considerable development of systems and methods for enabling parental or administrative control over exactly what content may be viewed or heard on an end user device. For example, in the areas of antenna-based broadcast systems, or of satellite and cable television broadcast systems, there are technologies that allow an administrative user to configure and apply channel blocking, program blocking, and some audio content blocking to available media programs based on pre-defined ratings.
For satellite and cable television systems, a variety of remote control operated features are now available for blocking channels, programs, or offensive content detected in programs. V-chip technology is one of these implemented via a hardware chip added to the viewing terminal. The V-chip blocks content by reading the ratings embedded in television signaling data frames or recorded video and turns off the signal when the ratings exceed certain ratings-based thresholds set by the parents. V-chip technology utilizes a relatively complicated, but generally well known rating scheme including all youth (Y), youth 7 or older (Y7), general audience (G), parental guidance suggested (PG), teen 14 or over (TV14), and mature audience only (MA). Programs having these ratings may also include sub-ratings like contains violence (V), contains sexual situations (S), contains coarse language (L), and contains suggestive dialogue (D).
Some existing program blocking methods include time-based blocking wherein an administrator (typically a parent) may block channels during any specified time intervals of a programming period. There are also time allowance systems that amount to a simple timer function installed on a display terminal (television). These systems enable specification and application of viewer blackout periods and may also provide time-based viewer credits based on viewer account status wherein the viewer may initiate a viewing period, which terminates when the allowed time period expires.
More popular program-based filtering commonly associated with satellite television systems enables a ratings-based selection of programs and or channels to be blocked. Groups of programs may be blocked using this system. The Motion Pictures of America Association (MPAA) has instituted the general ratings G, PG, PG-13, R, TV-14, and NC-17, which may also be accompanied by the sub-indicators for content like V, S, L, D, and so on. While these rating indicators are generally well known in the U.S. and are prevalent in the art, many end users have some trouble remembering which type of content each symbol really covers and describes.
Another more complicated system is known in the art as TV Guardian™, which applies to audio or closed-captioning often associated with presented programs. It uses a word recognition system to detect profanity or suggestive language in real time and mutes the audio accordingly, preventing it from being heard by the viewer, while allowing accepted language to be presented. The video portion of the program filtered with TV Guardian™ is not affected.
More recently, content blocking services have been made available to personal computer (PC) users for the purpose of blocking certain websites or web-based content from being displayed by a web browser interface. Such controls are typically available through an Internet service provider (ISP) and may be available options settings provided in a browser tool bar or other control or configuration options interface. Web-based content filtering or blocking typically uses a known list of offensive vocabulary words and/or banned website universal resource locators (URLs) or other data source identifiers to filter by comparison. Therefore, if a Web site containing offensive language is accessed, the vocabulary list may be used to detect that language. Upon detection of the offensive content, the browser may be set to default display of a blank URL or to a default re-direct to an accepted URL or data source. Some anti-virus products also contain parental controls in their firewall solutions.
While all of the existing solutions work to some extent to block unwanted content, new methods of content delivery and availability of new and emerging multimedia display devices create certain vulnerabilities in the existing methods. Other limitations are also apparent to one with skill in the art of multimedia content filtering. The boundaries between data network telephony (DNT), of which Internet protocol network telephony (IPNT) is a subset, and data packet enabled satellite and cable network content delivery paths are increasingly blurred by improvements in the capabilities of transversing between networks and transport protocols when accessing or delivering content. Cellular telephones capable of accessing IP data networks are increasingly being marketed as content receiving devices capable of receiving, displaying, and storing, and sharing multimedia content. Some "bleeding edge" devices have up to 2 gigabytes of storage capability. These and other like devices, including new devices being developed, are fully multimedia capable and highly mobile and may receive content from a variety of defined networks.
Further to the above, providing multimedia content and making it available to consumers is becoming less complicated and can be achieved at increasingly lower costs using video and audio streaming. This factor, in combination with more robust access and delivery networks including a wider variety of possible receiving devices, has resulted in an explosion of available live content and introduction of non-traditional content sources, both domestic and foreign, including some that do not normally adhere to any ratings criteria. Moreover, new bleeding edge media devices are increasingly compact and mobile and may therefore not be adapted for ratings schemes of other countries, for example.
In the case of live digital multimedia content, unplanned objectionable subject matter included in the program may not be blocked because of a general, pre-assigned program rating that defines the overall program as acceptable, for example, for family viewing or the like. Likewise, there are currently no customizable solutions for filtering objectionable content from an accepted rated program leaving the individual forced to agree wholly or not to agree at all about whether a specific rating is valid from the view of the decision maker for covering the subject matter for viewing by younger children and so on.
There are several other problems in the art with conventional content blocking systems. One main disadvantage is that there are currently no universally adapted ratings systems. This may create problems because some foreign content that is not rated but that is otherwise acceptable even exemplary viewing material may be blocked by conventional systems unless the material is reviewed, rated, and re-packaged for delivery by an intermediary source. Other limitations include complicated programming steps for configuring and applying program; channel, and content blocking settings and software and hardware expenses related to end-device capabilities passed on to the end user; and the lack of more granular content blocking capabilities. Moreover, newer and emerging devices, in many cases, may not be equipped with any standardized content blocking capabilities.
What is clearly needed in the art is a distributive system and methods for enabling administratively controlled blocking of streaming multimedia content that may be applied to content received from any available content source accessible over a network including live multimedia programming in a fashion that can be universally standardized and that may be applied without taxing end user devices. Such a system would improve granularity of content filtering and would reduce much content preparation tasks at the network or feed-in level.

Distributive system for marking and blocking video and audio content related to video and audio programs


In a front mounted lift for watercraft, the torque exerted by the lift on the dock is limited by a combination of a first buoyant force, being air trapped within the lift tanks, and a second buoyant force, being flotation devices connected to the rear of the lift. In a preferred embodiment, the primary buoyant force is achieved by the extension of an air supply and exhaust hose into each tank compartment to a level below the uppermost level of the tank chamber. When the water level in each tank compartment covers the hose opening, the air trapped in the tank provides a buoyant force to counter most of the submerged lift weight. The depth of the hose is selected so that the weight of the lift slightly exceeds the primary/buoyant force. This permits the lift to sink but significantly minimizes the torque exerted on the connection of the lift to the dock. The secondary buoyant force preferably consists of a pair of buoyant guides which prevent the rear of the lift from sinking to an undesirable depth. This secondary force further reduces the torque on the dock. These buoyant guides also serve to direct the watercraft into its proper position on the lift during the landing process and to support the watercraft in its operational attitude on the lift when the watercraft is raised out of the water.

This invention relates generally to watercraft equipment and more particularly concerns lifts for raising and lowering watercraft out of and into the water.
Depending on docking situations, it may be desirable or necessary to mount a lift on the dock in either a side mount or a front end mount orientation. In the front end mount orientation, the keel of the watercraft will extend perpendicularly to the edge of the dock to which the lift is mounted. In all known front mounted lifts, the front end of the lift which is the portion of the lift closest to the dock is mounted at a level significantly higher than the opposite end of the lift. Since the lift is angled, during the lifting process the watercraft will be supported at an angle with respect to its level or operational attitude. Furthermore, the angled condition of the lift makes it impossible for the watercraft to approach the lift in reverse, that is stern rather than bow first, because the propeller will not clear the lift frame. Presently known front mounted lifts also are limited in design by the torque exerted on the dock by the cantilevered weight of the lift which often results in damage to the dock. Some front mounted lifts use chains or ropes connected from the rear of the lift to limit its downward travel. Others allow the lift to rest on bottom when it is lowered. Still others limit the length of the lift and therefore the type of watercraft which can be raised and lowered by it.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a front mounted lift for watercraft which substantially maintains the watercraft in its operational or level attitude throughout the lifting and lowering processes. It is another object of this invention to provide a front mounted lift for watercraft which may be approached by the watercraft either the bow or stern first. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a lift for watercraft which reduces the torque applied by the lift to the dock. Similarly, it is an object of this invention to provide a front mounted lift for watercraft which does not require the use of chains or ropes to support the rear of the lift. It is also an object of this invention to provide a front mounted lift for watercraft which does not rest on the bottom when in the lowered condition. And it is an object of this invention to provide a front mounted lift for watercraft which is capable of supporting a variety of types and size of craft while minimizing the possibility of damage to the dock.


A method for determining an operational condition of a vibratory system, comprising receiving vibration signals from one or more sensors associated with the vibratory system preprocessing the vibration signals to remove known noise to create a preprocessed signal, processing the preprocessed signal in both a time domain and a frequency domain to create time domain data and frequency domain data, respectively, and fusing the time domain data and the frequency domain data to determine the existence of abnormal operations.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of vibration based monitoring and diagnostics, specifically to vibration monitoring for compressor systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional vibration monitoring technologies for mechanical diagnostics (e.g., for compressors, gas turbines, turbomachinery or other rotating machinery systems), particularly in health and usage management systems (HUMS), largely depend on the measurement of vibration amplitudes. With the underlying assumption that the system under monitoring is stationary, absolute amplitudes associated with a frequency band, directly or implicitly after certain signal processing methods, e.g., envelope analysis, are used as fundamental building blocks to establish indicators.
Unfortunately, the assumption doesn't hold true in many real-world applications, particularly in the area of the compressor systems. Significant variations in amplitude measurements can be expected and are often attributed as "noises", regardless of changes in operation conditions. To prevent these so called noises from overwhelming the results, efforts are made to either change the way to data is collected (e.g., by using time-synchronous averaging by assuming cycle-stationary) or the way data is interpreted (e.g., by using statistics in the hope of minimizing false alarms). While these efforts can be useful in particular contexts, such efforts are based on another layer of assumptions and cannot be adapted to differentiate changes in operational conditions.
Another fundamental difficulty in using amplitudes is the identification of characteristic frequencies. In vibration from compressor systems, a few characteristic frequencies, e.g., blade passing, can be approximately identified as they closely resemble similar speed dependent characteristics found in gear box systems. Other vibration frequencies associated with rotor-dynamic instabilities, however, do not simply have fixed relationships to speed. From the viewpoint of condition monitoring, the latter ones can be of more importance as they are strongly correlated to abnormal operations to be detected.
There is a need in the art for improved vibration monitoring systems to enhance the capability of detecting abnormal operations of compressor systems of interest. Specifically, there is a need for methods, devices, and systems to reliably detect dynamic instability during online operations of compressor systems through vibration. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.


This invention is a wireless network based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and simple terminals. In a conventional OFDM system, the signal processing hardware is divided equally between the base station and the terminal. In this invention, most of the complex signal processing hardware is shifted to the base station, making the terminal a simpler and more power-efficient device. To send information to the base station, the terminal transmits a series of QPSK symbols that make up an OFDM-code. The code is designed to distribute the signal's energy into a number of OFDM sub-carriers which can be detected and combined within the base station's OFDM receiver. Other users transmit the same OFDM-codes within the same bandwidth and at the same time, but with slightly offset carrier frequencies. Because of the nature of OFDM, the codes from different users remain orthogonal, even in a multipath radio environment. OFDM signals transmitted from the base station are detected at the terminal using a decimator-accumulator structure.

This invention applies to wireless networks with a central base station and a number of terminals. There are several ways that the terminals can share the radio resources of the base station including frequency division multiplexing (FDM) time division multiple access (TDMA) and code division multiple access (CDMA). A special type of FDM known as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has a number of desirable properties including the ability to handle large capacity networks and good spectral efficiency. The major problem with OFDM is that it requires a large amount of digital signal processing hardware to implement, which makes OFDM more costly and power consuming than other types of multiple access. This invention is an adaptation of OFDM where only the base station requires the complex OFDM hardware. The terminals use much simpler hardware, which makes them less expensive and more power efficient.


Provided herein are compositions and systems comprising yeast-based biosensors (YBBs) and methods of use thereof. In particular, YBBs are provided for the detection and/or quantification of an analyte (e.g., peptide analyte) in a sample (e.g., a biological sample, environmental sample, etc.). In some embodiments, provided herein are diagnostic compositions, devices, and methods comprising yeast-based biosensors (YBBs) engineered to detect analytes (e.g., peptides (e.g., biomarker peptides, etc.), etc.). In some embodiments, YBBs comprise (a) recognition element (e.g., receptor (e.g., modified yeast receptor, etc.), etc.) on the exterior of the biosensor (e.g., for binding and or recognition of the analyte (e.g., peptide)), and (b) a reporter that signals binding or recognition of the analyte. In some embodiments, a recognition element is a cell surface receptor.

Low-cost, point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are an invaluable resource for screening, diagnoses, and treatment for a range of diseases. POC is useful as it allows immediate results, and allows frequent measurements, as it is low cost. POC exist for several important molecule groups: small molecules (colorimetric reactions), nucleic acids (nucleic acid amplification tests, NAATs), and full proteins (lateral flow sandwich immunoassays, e.g., pregnancy tests). However, there is currently a technology gap in POC diagnostics for peptides, which are useful biomarkers in serum and urine for a range of diseases. Sandwich Immunoassays, for example, cannot simultaneously bind a peptide with two antibodies, and are therefore not useful. Instead, peptide tests rely on hospital laboratories with long wait times (hours to days) and are typically more expensive.