A coordinate measuring system consists of multiple optical transceivers (transmitter-receivers) mounted onto a stable reference frame such as the walls of a room. The object to be measured is touched with a hand-held measuring probe. To measure, the probe triggers the transceivers to read the distance to two retroreflectors mounted on the probe. The location of the probe tip relative to the reference frame is computed from at least six transceiver readings (three for each retroreflector). The accurate determination of the distance between the transceivers and retroreflectors is done by measuring the phase shift of a high frequency modulation superimposed on light beams. To avoid ambiguity two high frequencies are used, one for coarse and one for fine resolution. The initial location of the transceivers can be found out by measuring an accurately known object and computing the transceiver locations. The transceivers include a beam steering device to track the position of the probe.

The invention relates to three dimensional coordinate measuring machines (CMM), and in particular to the measurement of large objects with high accuracy. The need for this type of measurement can be found in many industries such as automotive, machinery, construction, robotics, aerospace and others.
The limitation of conventional coordinate measuring machines for large objects are mainly the cost of the machine and the need to bring the large object to the machine. This becomes less and less practical as the object size exceeds a few meters.
Prior art attempts to solve the problem consisted of connecting the measuring probe to a fixed reference point via the use of articulated arms, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,696 or use of optical methods based on interferometry. An example of optical methods is U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,722 which has limited range and accuracy or U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,651, 4,457,625, 4,621,926 and 4,707,129 which offers high accuracy but requires continuous tracking. Since these four patents operate on a purely interferometric principle, any breaking of the beam path will cause the measurement reference to be lost. In other words, the systems described in these four patents are accurate but incremental systems. In order to overcome this limitation of incremental systems and create an absolute measuring system LEICA-KERN (Switzerland) uses a combination of theodolites to measure angles and compute the location of the target. This is a commercially available system, however it has a limited accuracy and is slow.
The problem of measuring points which are not within line-of-sight to the transceivers is addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,446, French Patent 2,547,916 and commercially available units such as the sonic digitizer made by SAC (Stratford, Conn.)
All these devices use a three point probe in which two of the points are within line-of-sight to the transceivers. Since the points are in line and the distances between the points are accurately known, the location of the hidden point can be computed from the locations of the visible points.
It is the object of this invention to have a high accuracy absolute measuring system capable of measuring large objects. It is another object to provide a measuring system covering a large volume, such as a large area on the production floor, and being able to measure each object in that volume at all stages of fabrication and assembly. It is a further object to provide such a measuring system at a low cost and a modular manner. These and other objects will become apparent after studying the following description in conjunction with the drawings.

Optical coordinate measuring system for large objects


This invention relates to methods for delipidation of skin or hair through the use of cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives such as hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin. The invention also relates to cerumen removal methods involving introduction of cyclodextrins to the ear canal, followed by complexation of the cyclodextrin with cerumen components, and removal of the resulting cyclodextrin complexes. The cyclodextrin components are used in a substantially oil-free powdered or aqueous formulation without detergents, soaps, solvents, oils or other lipid-like agents.

The present invention relates generally to delipidation agents and methods of using them to prevent accumulations of lipid-like substances on mammalian skin or hair.
Humans and animals have sebaceous glands that are distributed over much of the epidermis and are associated with all or most of the hair follicles. The sebum secreted by these glands accounts for most of the lipids normally found covering the skin and hair. Sebum is composed primarily of glycerides, free fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, cholesterol esters and cholesterol in proportions that may vary greatly depending on species, ethnic background and skin type. Other glands such as the apocrine glands and sweat glands may also contribute to the lipids found on the skin and hair surfaces. The rate of sebum or lipid exudation is variable and is controlled by a number of factors including temperature and hormone balance. A number of skin disorders, notably acne and seborrhea, are associated with increased sebum production. An excessive accumulation of lipids on the skin is a common occurrence that may exacerbate problems of hygiene, body odor and general skin health.
Periodic bathing and washing with detergents or other types of suitable skin cleansers are important parts of normal skin care and the routine control of skin lipids. Beyond this level of care, it is highly desirable to have methods for the mild and effective control and removal of skin lipids for (a) cosmetic applications, to gently control skin lipid levels over extended periods of time, and to allow the application of other cosmetic agents to the skin, and (b) hygienic and medical applications, to continuously control excessive sebaceous excretions in normal or disease states, and to facilitate cleansing and medical treatment of the skin. The present invention fulfills these requirements.
Cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives have been used primarily to increase the solubility of relatively insoluble compounds and to reduce the volatility of volatile products. For example, cyclodextrin derivatives are now used for the delivery of insoluble drugs, notably steroids. They are also used to deliver pesticides, to encapsulate flavors and fragrances, to mask adverse tastes and odors, and to separate substances by selective complexation (in chromatography for example). .beta.-cyclodextrin is now mass produced (in 1989 about 1,000 tons) and used primarily as a food flavor stabilizer. For example, a Vanillin: .beta.-cyclodextrin complex often replaces vanillin in instant pudding mixes to slow flavor loss through evaporation during storage of the mixes on supermarket shelves.

Methods for delipidation of skin and cerumen removal


The field-effect transistor comprising: a semiconductor laminated structure comprising a first layer of a first nitride semiconductor, a second layer of a second nitride semiconductor having a bandgap larger than that of the first nitride semiconductor, and a two-dimensional electron gas layer; a source electrode; a drain electrode; and a gate electrode disposed over the second layer, the gate electrode being adapted to control the flow of electrons passing through the two-dimensional electron gas layer; a third layer of a p-type nitride semiconductor containing p-type dopant between the gate electrode and the second layer; and a fourth layer of a nitride semiconductor between the third layer and the gate electrode, wherein the fourth layer is in contact with the gate electrode, and wherein the fourth layer is an undoped layer which has a larger bandgap than that of the third layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to field-effect transistors using a nitride semiconductor.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, field-effect transistors typified by a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) using a GaN-based compound semiconductor (hereinafter referred to as a "GaN-based FET"), instead of a GaAs-based compound semiconductor, have attracted attention as a next-generation high-speed FET. The GaN-based compound semiconductor has a wide bandgap, and a high saturated electron mobility as estimated from its electron effective mass. The GaN-based compound semiconductor could achieve high frequency devices operable at high temperature with a higher output power and a high breakdown voltage. For this reason, the GaN-based compound semiconductors have been studied.
The GaN-based FET using the GaN-based compound semiconductor includes, for example, a buffer layer, a GaN layer, and a AlGaN layer stacked on an insulating sapphire substrate in that order. The GaN-based FET also includes a source electrode, a gate electrode, and a drain electrode which are formed over the upper surface of the AlGaN layer. The HEMT with the above structure is operated by a high concentration of carrier generated from both effects of spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric polarization, unlike a GaAs compound semiconductor FET driven by a carrier generated by doping impurities. Specifically, when the AlGaN layer is grown on the GaN layer, both effects of the spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric polarization generate positive fixed charges on the hetero-interface, and negative polarized charges on the surface of the AlGaN layer. The concentration of polarized charges changes depending on the composition or thickness of the AlGaN layer. The AlGaN/GaN heterostructure causes a very large sheet electron concentration of about 1×1013/cm2. The application of an electric field to between ohmic electrodes formed in the hetero structure allows a current to flow due to transport of charges in a high electron concentration of about 1×1013/cm2.
The GaN-based FET can fabricate devices with a high breakdown voltage and a low on resistance as compared to the conventional Si power device (MOSFET or IGBT). The use of the GaN-based FET can be expected to reduce the power consumption of the device.
However, the field-effect transistor made of a nitride semiconductor disadvantageously makes it difficult to perform a normally-off operation.
In view of the foregoing problem, JP 2006-339561 A has an object of providing a normally-off type field-effect transistor using a nitride semiconductor. Specifically, a gate electrode is formed over a laminated structure made of the nitride semiconductor via a high concentration p-type GaN layer, so that the gate electrode is ohmic-connected to the high concentration p-type GaN layer to thereby form a p-n junction in a gate region as disclosed in JP 2006-339561 A.
JP 2008-153330 A discloses a technique for obtaining stable enhancement-mode GaN-HEMT characteristics. The technique involves forming an i-GaN selecting regrown layer 29 of about 1 nm in thickness over a p-GaN selecting regrown layer 28 formed for the same purpose as that of JP 2006-339561 A to thereby prevent surface oxidation of the p-GaN selecting regrown layer 28.
However, the field-effect transistors using the nitride semiconductor as disclosed in JP 2006-339561 A and JP 2008-153330 A do not have a sufficiently high threshold voltage even though the normally-off operation can be achieved.
Further, the field-effect transistor disclosed in JP 2006-339561 A and JP 2008-153330 A disadvantageously has a large gate leak current in driving (when turned on), which leads to a large loss of performance. In order to suppress the gate leak current, such a field-effect transistor needs to be driven with a small gate bias. A depletion layer located in a position where a channel is to be formed cannot be sufficiently eliminated by the gate bias with a part of the depletion layer remaining in the channel.
Thus, a resistance between a source and a drain of the transistor cannot be sufficiently suppressed, thereby reducing the maximum current obtained, which results in a field-effect transistor having a large loss of the current with a large gate leak current.


In a telephone answering machine, when the calling party information reception unit receives calling party information, and the call detection circuit detects a receiving signal, the main control unit makes the line interface capture the communication line and generate a communication path to the calling party telephone. The main control unit then determines whether the memory has the same calling party information that has been received by the calling party information reception unit. When it has been judged in the negative, the main control unit makes the response message output unit output the first response message. When it has been judged in the affirmative, the main control unit makes the response message output unit output the second response message. Under the direction of the main control unit, the response message output unit outputs the first response message or the second response message to the calling party telephone through the communication path which is generated by the line interface 2. As the result, the telephone answering machine identifies a large amount of calling party information, records a large number of messages, and allows the called party to listen to the messages without trouble.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone answering machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art telephone answering machines are connected to communication lines such as ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) or a general public network which is supposed to be inaugurated in a couple of years. The ISDN is a high-capacity high-speed data transmission system which allows a called party to be informed of calling party information including calling party telephone numbers when the data is transmitted. The general public network, on the other hand, allows a called party to be informed of the calling party information when the data is received. These conventional telephone answering machines automatically catch a communication line in response to a receiving signal which is sent from the communication line, and transmit a response message to the communication line. When the transmission of the response message is completed, some of the conventional telephone answering machines record a message from the calling party which is sent through the communication line, and others do not record the message. Another conventional telephone answering machine stores calling party information which is reported when the data is either transmitted or received, thereby identifying each calling party who called during the called party's absence.
However, these conventional telephone answering machines have the following two drawbacks. When a calling party calls the called party's telephone more than once, the calling party information is stored every time and all the messages of the same calling party are recorded. This wastes the capacity of a semi-conductor memory which stores calling party information and records calling parties' messages, or the capacity of a magnetic tape which records calling parties' messages. Consequently, the amount of calling party information to be stored and the number of messages to be recorded are limited. In addition, calling parties' messages are played back in the order in which they are recorded, so that when several messages from the same calling party are recorded with interruption of a message of another calling party, it is troublesome for the called party to understand all the messages.


A recording control apparatus includes a video data acquisition unit configured to acquire video data obtained by shooting an area around a vehicle, an event detection unit configured to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event in the vehicle, a changing-point determination unit configured to determine whether or not the vehicle has passed a changing point on a traveling road based on a current position information of the vehicle, and a recording control unit configured to, when the event detection unit detects the occurrence of the event, record the video data including a first period as an event recording file in a recording unit, the first period being from a passing time point of the changing point to a detecting time point of the event, the changing point being a point that the vehicle has passed at least a first time earlier than the detecting time point of the event.

The present disclosure relates to a recording control apparatus, a recording apparatus, a recording control method, and a recording control program.
A dashboard camera that records information about driving of a vehicle records video images and sounds inside and outside the vehicle obtained by a camera(s) installed in the vehicle together with a position, a speed, a traveling distance, etc. of the vehicle. The purposes of recording of information by the dashboard camera include managing safe driving of the vehicle, alerting a driver, and storing video images taken before and after an accident as evidence. For example, the dashboard camera generates a video file every minute and stores it in a recording medium. Then, when the number of stored files reaches the upper limit of the capacity of the recording medium, the oldest file(s) is overwritten.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-009202 proposes a dashboard camera including means for storing video images based on information input from an acceleration sensor and/or a voice input device. Further, the dashboard camera described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-009202 records video images and sounds for a constant time which starts at a time point that goes back a preceding storage time from a certain time point. By recording video images and sound from the time point that goes back a predetermined period as described above, the dashboard camera records an event that has triggered an accident as well as the accident that has occurred after the event.

Recording control apparatus, recording apparatus, recording control method, and recording control program


The present invention generally relates to networked communication systems. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods configured to provide an audience centric instant micro forum for sharing media and communications regarding a particular event and/or product.

Use of social networking systems is ubiquitous. In today's socially networked society, there are no shortages of user centric systems designed to connect two or more individuals in order to provide those individuals the ability to share content between them and their other friends/acquaintances.
One limitation with social networking systems currently available is that they are almost all limited to connecting user A with user B and potentially identify additional users to user A based on other connections possessed by user B. In the alternative, presently available social networking systems are configured to allow user A to be connected to a group B which is comprised of a multitude of users that may share some interest or other characteristic. No social networking systems are currently available that connect users based on an event, show or product.
For example, when a user attends an event currently, the user may be able to send messages, photos or videos to other users via one or more social networking services. The problem is that this information is fragmented and not gathered or collectively associated with the event. So hundreds or thousands of individual users at an event may be sharing content, but that content is not available collectively to those hundreds or thousands of individuals.
Because of this limitation in content aggregation and association, it is impossible to record, display and curate an event or show as a collective entity. Further, since content sharing is disjointed, communication amongst and to those individuals present at an event (i.e., the audience) can be impossible or otherwise inefficient.
Given the lack of abilities with current social network services to aggregate and associate content amongst individuals associated with an event, show or product, not only is there a lack of an ability to effectively communicate with these individuals, but there is also a lack of the ability to preserve the content associated with the event in any meaningful manner (e.g., a multimedia journal).
Therefore, there is need in the art for a computing platform and network with a system and method configured to provide an audience centric instant micro forum for sharing media and communications regarding a particular event and/or product. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained and will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention that follows.


An MR imaging apparatus using NMR phenomenon includes a main magnet, a first, a second and a third gradient field coils, a RF coil, a RF emitter, a slice-selecting gradient field pulse generator, a reading gradient field pulse generator, a phase-encoding gradient field pulse generator, a designating device and a data processor. The phase-encoding gradient field pulse generator varies strengths of phase-encoding gradient field pulses such that, when a reference spin echo signal is placed in a middle position in a spin echo group and is first in the order within the spin echo group, phase encode amounts of the spin echo signals successively increase from the reference spin echo signal according to the order within the spin echo group. The strengths of the phase-encoding gradient field pulses are varied for gradient echo signals such that integrated phase encode amounts have absolute values successively decreasing according to the order, a direction in which the absolute values of the integrated phase encode amounts change is switched alternately with extension of a period of time, and the absolute values are greater than the absolute values of the integrated phase encode amounts of a gradient echo group having a shorter period of time.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to MR imaging apparatus using NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), and more particularly to high-speed imaging based on GRASE (gradient and spin echo) technique.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Various MR imaging apparatus capable of high-speed imaging have been conceived heretofore. For example, an MR imaging apparatus is known which effects a pulse sequence for high-speed imaging called GRASE technique (U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,654, and K. Oshio and D. A. Feiberg "GRASE (Gradient and Spin Echo) Imaging: A Novel Fast MRI Technique", Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 20, 344-349, 1991). The pulse sequence based on the GRASE technique is one combining the EPI (Echo Planar Imaging) technique, a type of high-speed imaging technique which generates gradient echo signals by switching the polarity of a gradient magnetic field, and the RARE (Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation Enhancement) which generates spin echo signals by using an excitation RF (Radio Frequency) pulse and refocus RF pulses.
The pulse sequence based on the GRASE technique in conventional practice will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A through 1E and 2A through 2C.
In this sequence, as shown in FIG. 1A, one excitation RF pulse 100 (also called 90.degree. pulse since it rotates the spin phase of protons 90.degree.) is applied, which is followed by a plurality of (three in this example) refocus RF pulses 101-103 (also called 180.degree. pulses since they rotate the spin phase of protons 180.degree. ). Simultaneously with these RF pulses, as shown in FIG. 1B, pulses 110-113 are applied to form slice-selecting gradient fields Gs. Then, as shown in FIG. 1C, a pulse 120 is applied to form a dephasing gradient field Gr for disarraying the protons, which is followed by pulses 121-123 applied between the above RF pulses to form reading and frequency-encoding gradient fields Gr.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, each of these Gr pulses 121-123 is switched a plurality of times (three times in this example) between one 180.degree. pulse and the next 180.degree. pulse (101 and 102, 102 and 103, or after 103). This generates, as shown in FIG. 1E, spin echo signals S2(SE1), S5(SE2) and S8(SE3) at points of time corresponding to an interval between 90.degree. pulse 100 and 180.degree. pulse 101 multiplied by even numbers, as well as gradient echo signals S1(GE1), S3(GE2), S4(GE3), S6(GE4), S7(GE5) and S9(GE6).
As shown in FIG. 1D, pulses of phase-encoding gradient fields Gp are applied immediately before generation of the nine echo signals S1-S9. These Gp pulses are applied in amounts corresponding to phase encode amounts for causing data acquired from the echo signals S1-S9 to be arranged in a k-space (also called a raw data space) as shown in FIG. 2A.
Specifically, the data acquired from spin echo signals SE1-SE3 are arranged in a middle region (low frequency region) R2 of the k-space. The data acquired from gradient echo signals GE1, GE3 and GE5, and those acquired from gradient echo signals GE2, GE4 and GE6, are arranged in peripheral regions (high frequency regions) R1 and R3 of the k-space, respectively. In each of the regions R1, R2 and R3, the data are arranged from top to bottom in the order of echo signal generation, i.e. from the positive high frequency region through the low frequency region to the negative high frequency region. The pulses of phase-encoding gradient fields Gp corresponding to the respective echo signals are applied in the amounts to realize the above arrangement.
To provide such phase encode amounts, as shown in FIGS. 1D and 2B, the pulse applied in the greatest amount is pulse 131a of phase encoding gradient field Gp which is applied immediately after the first 180.degree. pulse 101 and immediately before the first gradient echo signal S1(GE1). As a result, the data acquired from the gradient echo signal S1(GE1) is placed in the uppermost position (positive region) in the k-space. The pulses 131b and 131c of phase-encoding gradient fields Gp immediately preceding the echo signals S2(SE1) and S3(GE2), respectively, have an opposite polarity to the gradient field pulse 131a. The pulses 131b and 131c have the same amplitude which is smaller in absolute value than that of the gradient field pulse 131a. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 2A, the data acquired from echo signals S2 and S3 are equidistantly arranged in the k-space downward from the position of the data acquired from signal S1.
The phase-encoding gradient field pulse 131d applied subsequently serves the rewinding purpose, i.e. for zero resetting phase encode amounts added up prior to application of the next 180.degree. pulse 102. The phase-encoding gradient field pulse 132a applied after the second 180.degree. pulse 102 has a slightly smaller amplitude than the gradient field pulse 131a. Consequently, the echo signal S4(GE3) has a phase encode amount to be disposed in the k-space immediately below the data acquired from echo signal S1(GE1). The gradient field pulses 132b and 132c immediately preceding the echo signals S5 and S6, respectively, have the same amplitude and polarity as the above gradient field pulses 131b and 131c. Consequently, the data acquired from echo signals S5(SE2) and S6(GE4) are arranged in the k-space downward from the position of the data acquired from signal S4, at intervals corresponding to the intervals at which the data from echo signals S1, S2 and S3 are arranged. Thus, the data from echo signals S5 and S6 are arranged in the k-space immediately below the data from signals S2 and S3, respectively. Subsequently, a rewinding gradient field pulse 132d is applied.
The gradient field pulse 133a applied after the third 180.degree. pulse 103 has a still slightly smaller amplitude than the gradient field pulse 132a. The gradient field pulses 133b and 133c have the same amplitude and polarity as the gradient field pulses 131b and 131c and gradient field pulses 132b and 132c. Consequently, the data acquired from echo signals S7(GE5), S8(SE3) and S9(GE6) are arranged in the k-space immediately below the data from echo signals S4, S5 and S6, respectively.
As described above, an integral of phase encode amounts is set so that data acquired from the spin echo signals free from phase errors due to non-uniformity of the static magnetic field and due to chemical shifts are arranged in the middle region R2 of the k-space, which region is a low frequency region having a substantial influence on the contrast of an image reconstructed by a Fourier transform of the k-space. This provides the advantage that a blur is unlikely to occur to the reconstructed image, which is one type of artifacts caused by discontinuous phase encode amounts in the k-space due to phase errors. Further, in the above sequence, the echo signals having the same place in the order of generation within the respective periods between the 180.degree. pulses are grouped together (as SGE1, SSE and SGE2 in FIG. 2A). This arrangement eliminates the phase errors at the boundaries between the echo signals grouped together, though the phase errors remain at the boundaries between the echo signal groups, to diminish the chance of a blur occurring to the image.
In the conventional pulse sequence described above, however, a striking difference .DELTA.S in signal strength occurs at the boundaries between the groups (between SGE1 and SSE and between SSE and SGE2) of data acquired from the grouped echo signals. That is, the echo signals S1-S9 have strengths as shown in FIG. 2C. This is due to the fact that, as shown in FIG. 1E, the echo signals S1-S9 gradually attenuate with time constant T2 and time constant T2* after the first 90.degree. pulse 100. Time constant T2 represents a transverse relaxation time (also called spin-spin relaxation time) occurring with the spin echo signals. Time constant T2* represents a transverse relaxation time occurring with the gradient echo signals and involving a faster attenuation due to non-uniformity of the static magnetic field than time constant T2. Thus, echo signals S1-S9 have strengths diminishing in the order of generation thereof.
The data acquired from echo signals S1-S9 are arranged in the k-space as shown in FIG. 2A. As seen in the phase encoding direction Kp, i.e. vertical direction, of the k-space, the signal strength changes sharply at the boundary between the data acquired from echo signal S7(GE5) and the data acquired from echo signal S2(SE1) (i.e. the boundary between SGE1 and SSE) and the boundary between the data acquired from echo signal S8(SE3) and the data acquired from echo signal S3(GE2) (i.e. the boundary between SSE and SGE2). This results in a disadvantage that, when an image is reconstructed by a Fourier transform of the data arranged in the k-space as above, artifacts will blur the reconstructed image.
As noted above, the middle echo signal S5 (i.e. spin echo signal SE2) in the echo signals generated is placed in the middle of the middle region R2 of the k-space. This fixes the contrast of the reconstructed image, and does not allow adjustments to a desired contrast level.


An active-noise-reduction (ANR) headset includes at least one auxiliary connection to an output of at least one device, such as a personal communications, computing, and/or entertainment device. An exemplary headset also includes a primary connection to a two-way radio or public-address system and circuitry for automatically suppressing or muting the volume of an auxiliary input signal relative to that of a primary input signal. Other exemplary features include a headset power supply, a microphone, a microphone preamplifier, and a device-detection circuit. The device-detection circuit selectively couples the power supply to the microphone preamplifier, enabling it to provide audio signals to the microphone input of the auxiliary device.

Headsets are used in variety of applications to facilitate one- or two-way audio communications between users and/or devices. For example, many aircraft pilots wear headsets to enable them to communicate via two-way radio with other aircraft and air-traffic controllers as well as via a public-address system with passengers. Additionally, some headsets are worn to facilitate hands-free usage of mobile telephones, while others facilitate private listening to devices, such as computers, stereos, disk players, etc.
One problem that the present inventor recognized is that conventional headsets lack means for successfully integrating more than one audio source, despite their proximity to multiple sources of audio signals. Accordingly, there is a need for headsets that facilitate use of more than one signal source.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Headset with auxiliary input(s) for cell phone and/or other devices


A distributed system of CEP Services hosted by a CEP Cloud where the CEP Cloud is composed of a network of CEP Engines connected by an IPC Protocol is provided. CEP Services interact with each other via a series of Event Streams transported by an IPC protocol between one or multiple CEP Services. CEP Services have no theoretical limit to the number of CEP Engines that compose said services.

Definition of terms used in this discussion, Complex Event Processing (CEP) and CEP Engines, are described below.
CEP is an event processing concept that processes multiple events of an event stream with the goal of identifying the meaningful events within the event stream. CEP employs techniques such as detection of complex patterns of many events, event correlation and abstraction, event hierarchies, and relationships between events such as causality, membership, and timing, and event-driven processes.
A Complex Event Processing Engine is a process executing in a program space that consumes event streams for the purpose of performing the objectives of CEP as described above. Examples of Open Source CEP Engines are Esper (http://esper.codehaus.org/) while commercially available CEP Engines are available from StreamBase (http://www.streambase.com/complex-event-processing.htm), and Progress Apama (http://www.progress.com/apama/products/apama_esp/index.ssp).
Simply by sheer volume of data, Event Streams from either a single or multiple of event sources can out strip the capacity of a CEP Engine. This creates a bottle neck in two areas, processing and networking. Processing capacity can only be elevated (even if only temporarily) by running the CEP Engine in a processor of greater capacity. Additional bottlenecks occur when managing event streams originating from multiple sources across a network. This puts great load on the network to transport the event streams to the CEP Engine that can consume large amounts of network bandwidth.
The CPU capacity bottleneck scales with advances of integrated circuit technology to deliver faster CPU chips and the financial budget available to continually upgrade to these new more powerful compute servers. The network bandwidth bottleneck has no such path to expansion. Unlike integrated circuit technology, network technologies do not advance in accordance with Moore's Law. And networking infrastructures are very costly and not so easily upgraded.
This puts a hard ceiling for CEP capacity and limits the use of this technology thus eliminating entire classes of applications that can benefit from it.
This invention describes engineering techniques and methodology that establishes a "Cloud" or "Virtual" CEP Engine that vastly extends the capacity and scope of the CEP Engine without consuming large amounts network bandwidth.
To date the solution to CEP Engine Capacity is to run these engines on exotic hardware platforms that enable the process to consume and evaluate larger event streams.
Listed below are 2 U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,243,124 and 7,272,660 both submitted by Oracle and are very close to each other in concept. Each describes methods for sharing the load for evaluating "components" of a rule across multiple CEP Engines as managed by a central manager. This is a very different method described with in this patent.
In the U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,243,124 and 7,272,660 a hub and spoke model is used with a single manager sharing its load with "helper" CEP Engines. The central manager is a single point of consumption of input data streams as well as the final correlation of events processed by its satellite CEP Engines. Therefore this method scales with the ability of the central CEP Manager to scale, ultimately the same techniques as current CEP Engines running it on a larger capacity server.
For completeness, prior patents discuss enhancing CEP performance is listed below. However, none of these are directly applicable to networking CEP Engines as described with in this patent. These are: Method and system for managing events (U.S. Pat. No. 7,289,988), Architecture for general purpose near real-time business intelligence system with client devices and methods (U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,124), and Architecture for general purpose near real-time business intelligence system and methods (U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,660)
The other solutions identified, all scale to the hard limit of: Processing power of the hardware (CPU Server) the CEP Engine is running on, and the internal processing efficiency of the CEP Engine software algorithms.
Advances in these respective areas can raise the limit; however it is still a hard limit that can not scale beyond the single running instance of a CEP Engine.
The invention put forth within is a method that opens the CEP scaling ceiling to the approximate cumulative limits of the individual CEP Engines running across the network. The resulting CEP Cloud has a limit defined in the following two fundamental ways. First and foremost, expanding the network of CEP Engines raises the overall processing limit.
Second are the advances available to each individual CEP Engine in the CEP Cloud. This is identical to that of the current solutions, advances in the processing power of the CPU and CEP internal processing algorithm. As each individual CEP Engine in the CEP Cloud increases in processing capability the Cloud processing capacity increases in proportion.
It is an object of the invention to create a CEP Cloud whose processing limits are solely bound by the number of CEP engines participating in the network of CEP engines that make up the CEP Cloud.
It is another object of the invention to establish CEP Services that perform specific end-user function. CEP Services are logical entities defined by function whose physical composition are any number of CEP Engines in the CEP Cloud.
It is another object of the invention to establish communication protocol of Event Streams that CEP Services interface to other CEP Services and external systems of the CEP Cloud.
It is another object of the invention to establish Event Stream relationships that are naturally formed as native event streams and derived event streams.
It is another object of the invention to establish CEP State Actions that are produced by CEP Services so to affect state of other CEP Services in the CEP Cloud as well as systems external to the CEP Cloud.


A valve core connection structure of a valve assembly comprising: a body, two stop valve sets, two limitation structures, and two locking sleeves. The body includes a holder, a cold-water inflow connector, a hot-water inflow connector, a first outflow connector, a second outflow connector, a cold-water inflow seat, and a hot-water inflow seat. Each stop valve set includes a valve core, a limiting loop, a defining structure, and a locating structure. Each limitation structure is defined between a peripheral fence of each second accommodation cavity and the limiting loop so that the limiting loop is retained on the peripheral fence of each second accommodation cavity, thus limiting rotation of the limiting loop. Each locking sleeve is screwed on the cold-water inflow seat and the hot-water inflow seat so that the limiting loop and the valve core are limited in each second accommodation cavity.

A conventional temperature control valve or a thermostatic valve assembly of bathroom equipment is employed to adjust or set a temperature of a water supply. The conventional valve assembly contains a temperature control valve set and two stop valve sets. The temperature control valve set has a boy on which a holder is formed, and the holder has a first inflow connector, a second inflow connector, a first outflow connector, and a second outflow connector. The first inflow connector has a first inflow seat, and the second inflow connector has a second inflow seat. The two stop valve sets are fixed on the first outflow connector and the second outflow connector respectively so as to control cold water and hot water to flow or to stop flowing into the holder. The holder is configured to accommodate a mixing valve and an operation bar for controlling the mixing valve so as to control water supply from the first outflow connector and the second outflow connector and its temperature. Preferably, the mixing valve is capable of controlling a temperature of the water supply by mating with a pressure balance valve. The first outflow connector is in connection to a shower via an upper water tube, and the second outflow connector is coupled to a faucet through a lower water tube. A valve core of each stop valve set is limited on each of the first outflow connector and the second outflow connector by way of a C retainer so as to limit movement of the valve core.
However, the C retainer is operated to limit the valve core by a specific tool, such as a ring clamp, thus having troublesome operation. Furthermore, the C retainer cannot limit the valve core on a desired angle.
In other words, the valve core cannot be fixed on an opening position and a closing position exactly. For example, after the first inflow connector and the second inflow connector connect with the water supply pipe, operator cannot learn the valve cores are located on the opening position or the closing position, so it is difficult to know the valve core is in open state or in close state.
Universal valve body is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,334,971 B2 and contains a C retainer manually operated, but it is impossible to limit a valve core on the opening position and the closing position. The valve body also contains a rotary bar arranged on a top of the stop valve and having an indicator configured to indicate the opening state or the closing state of the valve core. But the valve core is not limited on the opening position and the closing position, so the valve core cannot be rotatably opened or closed accurately and quickly.
A fixer of a stop valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,334,971 B2 and CN 106468369A so as to connect and remove a C retainer, but the stop valve cannot be limited on the opening position and the closing position.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Valve core connection structure and stop valve set of valve assembly


An apparatus and a related method for uniformly transferring a liquid material to a test slide element in which a transfer element having a liquid supporting surface area approximately equal to the surface area subtended by the test volume of the test slide element is brought into direct contact with the test element surface so that the liquid is distributed all at once thereto.

In the field of clinical analyzers for the testing of liquid analytes, a patient sample is introduced and caused to interact with a reaction chemistry to produce a signal involving the analyte of choice, for detection by a sensing apparatus. A preferred technique used by analyzers involves the so-called dried assay technology whereby patient sample is applied to dried test slide elements, each having a dried reactant layer. Analyzers and test elements using this technology include those manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company, both under the trademark "EKTACHEM.TM.".
In a conventional operation, a patient sample is conveyed to a processing station within an analyzer at which time a patient sample is dispensed onto the test element. The sample is dispensed by means of a point source, usually a disposable pipette tip, which is positioned a short distance above the test element surface and has a tip orifice from where the sample is expelled (or metered) onto the sample. A metering tip method of dispensing patient liquid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,849. There are a number of problems relating to a metering technique such as those typically described.
First, it is important to understand that sample delivered from a point source has to spread horizontally, as well as vertically, through the predetermined test volume of the test element. The need for both directions of spreading introduces the possibility of flow irregularities.
Second, the reliability of test results is impacted by the sensitivity occurring due to differences in the makeup of samples between patients. For example, a patient may have a serum, plasma or whole blood sample that may contain a high fat content, (i.e.: containing a higher percentage of lipids and lipo-proteins than a "normal" patient). These sorts of differences are not, however, limited to non-average patients; differences in samples between patients in the so-called "normal" range may also impact the accuracy of test results.
In some cases, the presence of varying amounts of biological components and salts in the patient sample can produce a variation in the sample's viscosity, surface tension and contact angle, impacting its ability to outwardly spread in a uniform manner when dispensed as a drop from a suspended pipette tip onto a test element. Nonuniformity in the spreadability of a patient liquid may affect the accuracy of the detection of the analyte of choice, especially if the analyzer detection means is focused on only a portion of the chemistry portion of the test element onto which a patient sample has been dispensed. This type of nonuniformity is possible with any body fluid, such as blood serum, urine, etc., and may extend as well to control or calibration liquids that are commonly utilized in known clinical analyzers.
The above problems are generally known as "matrix effects" and are based on differences in patient liquid samples, as well as sample interaction with the spreading layer of the chemistry portion of a test element. The spreading layer assists in the migration of the liquid sample across the chemistry portion of the element and in general it works well to counter these effects. An example of a spreading layer is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,158.
However, the requirement that a spreading layer be added to the chemistry portion of a test element to promote sample migration is expensive and complex. In addition, and notwithstanding the use of a spreading layer, point source dispensing systems have other drawbacks. For example, it is usually required that an additional volume of patient liquid be dispensed onto the test element to provide a sufficiently uniform detection or read area. Typically as much as 10 microliters of a patient liquid can be required to produce an effective read area having a diameter of 3 mm. This, in turn, also requires that the chemistry portion of the test element be provided with a larger surface area to accept the additional volume of patient liquid dispensed onto the test element. Further, the dispensing of additional quantities of patient liquid from a point source above the test element also increases the probability of outwardly diffusing or washout of the reaction chemistry, effectively diluting the chemical portion of the test element.
There are other effects which may produce test variability that result from dispensing a volume of liquid sample from a point source. The ability of a point source, such as a pipette tip, to adequately target onto a test element so that it can be analyzed is directly influenced by flow characteristics of the liquid to be tested. These characteristics are affected by factors such as the viscosity, surface tension, contact angle and temperature of the liquid, the volume dispensed, shape of the tip nozzle, the distance the tip is suspended above the test element, the centering of the tip above the test slide, and the makeup of the sample to be tested. Other factors such as the amount of ambient air flow in the vicinity of the dispensed liquid, must also be considered, and all factors may impact upon the accuracy of results. In addition, it is also known that liquid dispensed by a suspended point source has a tendency to move up the exterior surface of the dispensing container, rather than down onto the test element designed to receive the liquid. This problem, known as perfusion, has been an occasional but persistent problem with clinical analyzers using the dispensing means described, altering the volume of liquid that is subsequently dispensed. In addition, the horizontal or outward flow of a point source dispensed liquid varies over time, affecting in particular rate-type chemistries which are also time dependent.
There is, therefore, a need to provide a metering method which will allow patient liquid to be deposited onto a test element without the variability in testing results which are possible using known point source techniques.
There is also a need to provide a method of dispensing a smaller quantity of a patient liquid onto a test element in a substantially uniform manner which will minimize the flow characteristics of the dispensed liquid, as well as washout, and produce an effective detection area for an analyzer.
There is a further need to provide a method of dispensing a patient sample to a test element which will obviate the current needs of requiring a spreading layer to horizontally and uniformly spread a liquid patient sample over the detection area of a test element, thereby also simplifying their design and manufacture.

Surface area liquid transfer method and related apparatus


Disclosed herein is a polypropylene resin composition of a high syndiotacticity comprising a substantial homopolymer of propylene, in which the ratio of the intensity of the peak attributable to the syndiotactic pentad bonds to the sum of the intensities of all the peaks attributable to the methyl groups in the spectrum of the methyl groups measured by .sup.13 C-NMR is 0.7 or more, and a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, and a preparation process thereof.

(i) Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a polypropylene resin composition of a high syndiotacticity and a preparation process thereof.
(ii) Description of the Prior Art:
Although the existence of syndiotactic polypropylenes has been known from old days, those produced by a conventional process, in which propylene is polymerized at a low temperature in the presence of a catalyst comprising a vanadium compound, an ether and an organoaluminum, are of low syndiotacticity and hence can hardly be regarded as characterizing syndiotactic polypropylenes. Copolymers of ethylene and propylene are much less regarded as crystalline polypropylenes. On the other hand, a polypropylene of a good tacticity, e.g., a syndiotactic pentad fraction of more than 0.7, has been discovered for the first time by J. A. Ewen et al. by the use of a catalyst comprising a transition metal compound having an asymmetric ligand and an aluminoxane (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1988, 110, 6255-6256).
The above-mentioned method of J. A. Ewen et al. exhibits a high catalytic activity per unit amount of the transition metal, thus providing a polymer having a high tacticity and relatively properly balanced physical properties. However, molded articles of the polymer are poor in transparency and unsatisfactory in impact resistance at low temperatures.

Polypropylene resin compositions of high syndiotacticity and preparation process thereof


A self-adjusting weather-proof seal for doors, windows and other closures is provided that automatically accommodates warping, settling or other movement of the closure and its frame. A weather stripping flange is mounted on one or more sides of a closure or closure frame, and is adapted to be received in a compatible receptacle on the closure frame or closure, respectively. The weather stripping flange is coupled to an adjustment assembly that permits frictionally restricted movement of the flange. This capability for frictionally restricted movement allows the flange automatically to become inserted into the receptacle as the door or other closure is moved to a closed position, even if the closure and closure frame are significantly out-of-square or warped.

Weather stripping around doors, windows and other closure members is widely recognized as critical for efficient maintenance of temperature environments within buildings. With increasing emphasis on energy efficiency, sealing methods and material for ensuring weatherproof seals for doors, windows and other closure members are basic components in any strategy for building temperature maintenance.
A common problem with known forms of weather stripping construction is maintenance of good seals after defined periods of time following installation of the weather stripping. Although the weather seal may be adequate when installed, shrinking and warping of the sashes and frames can often cause misalignment of the weather stripping such that the sealing effect is reduced or eliminated. In order to maintain an effective weather seal in such cases, it has been necessary to manually adjust the closure frame, the closure member or to manually adjust the relative position of the weather stripping on the closure member or on the closure frame. These manipulations can be time-consuming or inconvenient, with the frequent result that such adjustments are never made. The result is a less than efficient seal with concomitant inefficient use of energy resources.
Although previous weather stripping systems have allowed for some adjustment in response to changes in the relative orientation of closure members and closure member frames, these systems have relied primarily on resistance-inducing folds or bends in metal, polymer or other suitable material elements of the weather stripping system. Such folds or bends are subject to material fatigue and loss of structural memory resulting in reduced efficiency or failure of the weather stripping function. Moreover, the range of adjustment provided by such devices is generally limited. A weatherproof seal that could self adjust to changes in the relative orientation of a closure member to its closure member frame, that would minimize failure of the seal due to material fatigue, and that would provide for adjustment over a wide range of movement, would provide decided advantages over known weather stripping systems.


In a noninvasive system for detection/measurement of analytes in tissue, spectra from the medium are deconstructed into features. Conditioned features, which contain frequency components specific to the analytes, are derived from one or more features after modulating a carrier kernel with the feature. The conditioned features are computationally collided with one or more Zyotons that are co-dependent with the conditioned features. One or more collisions amplify the energy absorbed by the analyte from radiation directed to the tissue. The value of the amplified energy is transformed into an accurate estimate of the concentration of the analyte. Depending on the analyte type, a particular tissue region is targeted and/or one or more parameters of the computational collision are selected.

The measurement of substances at extremely low concentrations in complex samples has absorbed the efforts of chemists for centuries. Modern spectroscopic techniques, which allow measurement of substances at parts-per-million (ppm) or even parts-per-billion (ppb) concentrations, have revolutionized this field and allowed the detection and measurement of naturally-occurring materials such as hormones, contaminating substances such as mercury, and pollutants such as atmospheric sulfur dioxide at levels far below those achieved using earlier methods of analysis. The direct measurement of many important substances in human tissue, however, has not been as successfully accomplished, and many other measurements where the substance to be measured is at a low concentration cannot be made accurately in a high noise and/or high clutter environment. One particularly challenging problem concerns the management of diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body's natural control of blood sugar (glucose) has been lost. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the pancreas that works with the body to process blood sugar. Typically, diabetes is caused by some problem with the body's ability to create or use insulin. Diabetes occurs in different medical conditions: type 1 diabetes (previously known as "juvenile diabetes"), type 2 ("adult onset") diabetes, and gestational diabetes (a complication of pregnancy). In type 1 diabetes, the patient's pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin at normal rates, while in type 2 and gestational diabetes, a patient's cells are not able to properly utilize insulin. Some patients with type 2 or gestational diabetes can treat their conditions using diet, exercise, or a variety of pharmaceutical preparations. All patients with type 1 diabetes (and many with type 2, especially of longer duration) typically must control the disease with injections or infusions of insulin.
A body's normal creation and processing of insulin generally varies over the course of the day depending on a variety of factors, including when and what a person eats, whether that person is exercising, and the time of day. This variation in normal insulin production usually serves to maintain safe glucose levels in the body. If diabetes is left untreated, the complications that can arise can be extremely serious. In the absence of insulin, glucose in the blood can reach dangerously high levels. Extended periods of high blood glucose levels ("hyperglycemia") can lead to a condition known as ketoacidosis, which, if untreated, can be fatal. Chronic poor control of glucose levels can also cause serious long-term complications, which include eye damage (resulting in blindness), kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, loss of feeling in the extremities, and slow healing of wounds. Frequently, diabetes may require amputations of toes, feet or legs. If blood glucose levels are allowed to drop below a threshold value (generally 50-60 milligrams per deciliter), the person can be in acute danger from this "hypoglycemia," which can cause confusion, difficulty speaking, unconsciousness, and coma.
To allow better information and control, blood glucose measurement systems that can be used by individual users have been developed. These blood glucose measurement systems typically require the use of an electronic meter and disposable test strips. A test strip is inserted into the meter, and the user pricks himself or herself (usually on a finger) with a lancet to draw a small amount of blood which is applied to the test strip. The blood glucose meter, using one of a variety of analysis techniques, determines the amount of glucose in the small blood sample drawn from the user. However, because of the pain involved in lancing a body part to draw blood, the need to dispose of materials contaminated with blood, and the visibility and potential embarrassment of testing using conventional blood glucose monitoring systems, many investigators have tried to develop technologies that allow measurement of blood glucose without drawing blood or causing discomfort. These technologies have been termed "noninvasive" blood glucose measurement systems, or simply "noninvasive glucose."
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,225, issued to Dähne et al., with a filing date of Apr. 18, 1985, appears to describe a relatively simple approach to measuring glucose in tissue. This patent states at column 1, lines 8 through 18: "This determination is carried out by measuring the optical near infrared absorption of glucose in regions of the spectrum where typical glucose absorption bands exist and computing the measured values with reference values obtained from regions of the spectrum where glucose has no or little absorption and where the errors due to background absorptions by the constituents of the surrounding tissues or blood containing the glucose are of reduced significance or can be quantitatively compensated." When investigators eventually determined that no regions of the near-infrared NIR spectrum meeting these criteria could be found, they employed advanced techniques, augmented with sophisticated modifications to the instrumentation and complicated mathematical treatments. The NIR region used in these techniques is typically the region of the electromagnetic spectrum in the wavelength range of 700-2,500 nanometers
The most commonly-investigated technique for noninvasive glucose over the past twenty-five years or so has been near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), using light that is just beyond the visible portion of the spectrum, and generally considered to be a wavelength range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers. When near-infrared light is applied to tissue, generally the light is both scattered by cells and structures under the skin and is absorbed by substances in the tissue, including glucose, which can be termed an "analyte" (a substance whose concentration is being determined). The amount of absorbance due to glucose in this wavelength region, however, is extremely small and, coupled with (i) the low concentration of glucose in the fluids of tissue (about 50-500 milligrams per deciliter, equivalent to about 0.05% to 0.5%), (ii) the presence of many compounds with similar chemical structures and similar absorbance patterns in the near-infrared region, and (iii) the extremely high concentration of water in tissue, makes direct measurement of an analyte in this region of the spectrum very challenging, requiring the use of sophisticated spectroscopic imaging and computational techniques.
Many patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,177, issued to Purdy, et al. in 1995, appears to describe approaches for using light from the near-infrared portion of the spectrum to provide "expressions" or spectra that can be examined to determine the concentration of glucose without drawing a sample of blood. Commonly-employed data reduction techniques in previous investigations generally include what are known as "multivariate" techniques, such as principal component analysis ("PCA"), partial least squares ("PLS"), support vector machine ("SVM"), and multiple linear regression ("MLR"). As a group, when these approaches are applied to the measurement of chemical substances, they are often referred to as "chemometrics." These multivariate techniques may make it theoretically possible to create a correlation between measurable properties of a material like tissue, such as the amount of light absorbed or reflected as a function of wavelength (known as a "spectrum"), and the concentration of an analyte such as glucose. An example spectrum, which plots a variable related to light intensity (such as absorbance, transmittance, energy, etc.) as a function of the wavelength of light expressed in nanometers, is shown in FIG. 1.
In order to perform a multivariate analysis on a set of data, some techniques first build what is called a "model." This may be done by first creating a number of like measurements (typically termed the "calibration set" in the context of multivariate analysis), which are spectra which contain the value of a parameter related to light intensity as a function of wavelength and which have known values for the concentration of the analyte. FIG. 2, for example, depicts an absorbance spectrum for one known concentration of glucose. The overall variance in the calibration data set may be separated into "factors" which typically represent decreasing amounts of variance. This model, once created using the multivariate technique, may represent the contribution of a measurement at each wavelength to the concentration of the analyte. The values of the model at each wavelength are often termed "final regression coefficients." At some wavelengths, the value is positive, which may mean that the measurement at that wavelength contributes actual value to the calculation of the concentration, while at other wavelengths the value is negative, which may indicate an amount to be subtracted in the concentration calculation.
Once such a model, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3, has been created, a spectrum with an unknown analyte concentration can be analyzed using that model. With reference to FIG. 4, this can be done by multiplying the value of the new spectrum at each wavelength by the value of the final regression coefficient of the model at the same wavelength, and adding up all the results of those multiplications to give an estimated value of the analyte. The accuracy of this estimated concentration value usually depends on many factors—among them: the number of spectra used in the calibration set, the number of multivariate "factors" used to construct the model, the accuracy of the measurement process for the spectra, the similarity of the instrumentation used to generate the spectra, and the strength of the measured parameter. The measured parameter in the examples described above is the amount of absorbance of glucose molecules at each of the wavelengths, which is quite weak, and which is hidden under the strong absorbance of other components of tissue; the absorbance spectra of some tissue components are shown in FIG. 5, but these spectra are normalized—they are not based on a uniform scale.
Attempts at making measurements of glucose in tissue using these techniques have been made, but to the present time, these efforts have not succeeded in producing clinically accurate results. Several systems have used near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis techniques, but to date, no system for noninvasive measurement of glucose using near-infrared spectroscopy appears to have gained regulatory approval or appears to have been marketed in the U.S. In addition to multivariate and many other regression techniques, other practitioners have sought to extract a glucose signal from near-infrared tissue spectroscopy data using other methods of data reduction. Examples of these include: subtractive techniques where the spectra of interfering substances are sequentially removed from a tissue spectrum, analysis of a number of equations with several unknowns, neural networks, model trees, genetic algorithms, chaotic networks (and many related approaches that can be classified as fast learning algorithms), and an optical method known as Kromoscopy (Appl. Opt. 2000 Sep. 1: 39(25):4715-20). Many other approaches to measuring glucose in tissue have also been attempted, and a book has been written on the subject: The Pursuit of Noninvasive Glucose: "Hunting the Deceitful Turkey" by John L. Smith, 4th Edition (Copyright 2015), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Like the multivariate techniques described above, these techniques have not succeeded in producing clinically accurate results for noninvasive measurement of glucose. A new inventive approach for the direct, noninvasive measurement of glucose in tissue, as well as other analytes of interest, is therefore required.
The term "collision" has been used in different fields and contexts. For example, in computer networking and telecommunications and during the execution of various algorithms processing data, data-packet collisions generally imply that two distinct pieces of data have the same hash value, checksum, fingerprint, or cryptographic digest. The hashing collisions typically allocate the same memory location to different data values. In the computational problem of determining the intersection of two or more computer animated objects, as encountered in simulations and/or video games, linear algebra and computational geometry methods (e.g., the axis-aligned bounding box method for an n-body collision described in Lin, Ming C (1993). "Efficient Collision Detection for Animation and Robotics (thesis)". University of California, Berkeley), collision analysis techniques may be used to determine whether two animated objects would or have collided and the time of impact, and for post-collision trajectory estimation. Computational atomic physics, which introduced a class of stochastic algorithms, such as those used in game theory, molecular dynamics, social simulations, and econometrics, is inspired by techniques used in particle-field simulations. These techniques generally involve collisions of atomic and subatomic particles (such as those described in Sigurgeirsson et al. (2001), "Algorithms for Particle-Field Simulations with Collisions", Journal of Computational Physics 172, 766-807) and algorithms used for calculating post-collision electron and positron scattering and excitation in atoms and ions, such as in non-perturbative close coupling approach.
Various methods inspired by the classical Boltzmann collision operator used in statistical physics or fluid simulations for describing the interaction between colliding particles in rarefied gas include Bobylev-Rjasanow's Integral Transform Method, Pareschi-Russo's Spectral Method, and Mouhot-Pareschi's method. These computational techniques typically exploit the fundamental properties of the Boltzmann binary collision operator (e.g., the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) operator described in P. L. Bhatnagar, E. P. Gross, M. Krook (1954). "A Model for Collision Processes in Gases. I. Small Amplitude Processes in Charged and Neutral One-Component Systems," Physical Review 94 (3): 511-525) that are related to conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, to infer properties of the colliding entities. While the binary collision operator and its approximation have been used in computer simulations and modeling to infer properties of colliding entities, to date these techniques generally do not take into consideration the environment of the entities, such as noise, clutter from confounders, and ultra-weak magnitudes of signals associated with entities of interest.
Computational collision techniques, such as those described in Collision-Based Computing, Andrew Adamatzky, (Ed.), ISBN 978-1-4471-0129-1, generally appear to describe computer implementations of various collisions described above, such collisions between particles or collisions between physical entities. With reference to FIGS. 6-8B, collisions between two traveling waveforms can occur on a space-time grid or a grid in another Cartesian coordinate system. In general, the two traveling waveforms move toward each other along a straight line connecting their centers of mass, with each point of one discretized wavefront (102 in FIG. 6) engaging in a series of collision steps with a corresponding point of the other discretized waveform (104 in FIG. 6), with the result of each step being determined by a set of rules established at the line of collision LC (100 in FIG. 6). Those rules determine the mathematical result of collision interactions and the shape of the resulting symbolic waveforms. Following completion of these partial steps in a collision between two waveforms, two resulting waveforms (106, 108 in FIGS. 7A-7F) are typically produced. The two resulting waveforms: (i) may be completely unchanged (except for a phase shift or delay) relative to the colliding waveforms, as shown in FIG. 7F), (ii) may be deformed (as shown in FIG. 8A), or (iv) either or both waveforms may be essentially completely destroyed (as shown in FIG. 8B). The nature of change in each waveform as a result of the collision (which can also be described as the degree of "elasticity" of the collision) generally depends on the composition of the waveforms, the relative energy of each waveform, and the rules established at the collision line Lc. A "soliton" is an example of a waveform that does do not change its properties other than a delay or phase shift during the collision process.

Spectroscopic tomography systems and methods for noninvasive detection and measurement of analytes using collision computing


A two-part bioactive agent delivery system includes a disposable part, a reusable part, and a solvent removal element. The disposable part includes an agent reservoir, a transdermal patch communicating with the agent reservoir and adapted to transdermally deliver the bioactive agent to a user. The transdermal patch has a bottom surface adapted to contact skin of the user, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and a gas permeable membrane disposed over the top surface of the transdermal patch. The reusable part includes a power source and control electronics that are adapted to deliver bioactive agent dissolved in a solvent from the agent reservoir to the transdermal patch. The solvent removal element includes a gap disposed between the disposable part and the reusable part to create a flow path for gaseous solvent to flow from the gas permeable membrane to ambient air around the bioactive agent delivery system.

Medicinal drugs are given to people to manage or improve their health for a variety of reasons, such as to prevent or treat a medical condition or disease such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, or to manage nicotine or another addiction or dependency, or to manage pain.
Some medicinal drugs are rapidly metabolized by the body. As a result, multiple doses of the drug over a period of time are often needed to provide a desired effect. In addition to having desired preventative or therapeutic effects, medicinal drugs can also have negative side-effects on the body that can range from irritating to life-threatening. Further, a person's body can develop tolerance to a drug, experience a diminished response to the drug after taking it for a period of time, and require higher doses to have an effect, resulting in increased drug use and additional side-effects. It is therefore beneficial to a person taking a drug to minimize the amount of drug he or she takes to prevent or minimize tolerance and other unwanted side-effects while still receiving the desired therapeutic effect from the drug.
Tobacco use (such as smoking) causes serious health problems and can lead to premature death. According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year and contributes to the development of serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease (bronchitis, chronic airway destruction, emphysema), and stroke. Despite anti-smoking advertising campaigns, legislation, taxation, and development of smoking cessation products to stop or prevent people from using tobacco, tobacco sales remains a multibillion dollar industry, generating an estimated $35 billion dollars per year in profits. Tobacco initially causes physical and mood-altering effects that are temporarily pleasing. Further, it is difficult for a person to stop using a tobacco product because tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive, and not having the nicotine causes harsh withdrawal symptoms. It is very difficult for a person to overcome a nicotine addiction and stop smoking.
Medicinal drugs can be taken by tobacco users to help them overcome their nicotine addiction. Some products to help a person stop smoking contain small amounts of nicotine as a medicinal drug to minimize withdrawal symptoms and gradually wean a person from their nicotine addiction. Medicinal smoking cessation drugs such as nicotine have to be taken over an extended period of time (often over the course of many months) to give the body time to adjust to having less nicotine. Medicinal drugs, medical devices, and other products, including smoking cessation products, are regulated in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA approved products on the market to help a person quit smoking include various medicinal drugs that require a doctor's prescription as well as over-the-counter products. These products include capsules or tablets, gums, inhalers, lozenges, nasal sprays, and skin patches. These products have thus far been inadequate to get people to stop smoking: 68.9% of adult cigarette smokers say they want to stop smoking, and every year some 42.7% make an attempt to stop smoking, but are unsuccessful.
Existing smoking cessation products and other therapeutic and prophylactic treatments for health issues suffer from a variety of problems. They may be inconvenient or socially awkward to use. They may require careful and troublesome tracking of when they were used and how much was used to prevent overdosing. They may act too slowly after being administered and not produce a desired effect when it's needed. They may not be readily available when needed (such as while a person is sleeping). None have been wholly effective to for preventing or treating various medical or other conditions, and smoking remains a significant health and social problem.
Thus, new and improved drug delivery systems for bioactive agents, such as smoking cessation agents, are needed.


A radiation image detector for detecting an irradiated radiation and for obtaining radiation image information, includes: an image generation mode; and a plurality of image generation standby modes, wherein the plurality of image generation standby modes includes: a first standby mode having electric power consumption amount at least lower than electric power consumption amount of the image generation mode; and a second standby mode having electric power consumption amount lower than the electric power consumption amount of the first standby mode, and the radiation image detector includes a switching section for switching among the image generation mode and the plurality of image generation standby modes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image detector and a radiation image generating system. In particular, the present invention relates to a radiation image detector and a radiation image generating system each of which is capable of generating an image quickly, saving electric power and realizing a long life duration thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
So far, for a medical diagnosis, a radiation image obtained by irradiating a radiation such as X-ray or the like to a subject and by detecting an intensity distribution of the radiation transmitted through the subject has been widely used. Recently, what has been proposed is a radiation image generating system using an FPD (Flat Panel Detector), which, at the time of generating an image, detects a radiation, converts the detected radiation into electrical signals and accumulates the electrical signals as radiation image information.
What is known as the radiation image generating system, for the purpose of improving flexibility of a system structure, is a system comprising an FPD placed in an image generating room and a predetermined console such as PC (Personal Computer) or the like for performing an image processing, wherein the PC and the FPD are connected through a predetermined communication line (see JP-Tokukai-2003-199726A).
Furthermore, what has been proposed is a system comprising a cassette-type FPD and a console wherein the cassette-type FPD and the console are each other capable of transmitting/receiving various information such as radiation image information or the like, according to a wireless system (for example, see JP-Tokukai-2003-210444A). In the cassette-type FPD, the FPD is contained in a cassette. Therefore, transportability and handling convenience of the FPD are improved, and further flexibility of the system structure is improved.
In view of flexibility improvement, the fact that the cassette-type FPD does not have an obstacle wiring can be cited as one of the characteristics. In this case, the cassette-type FPD incorporates therein a battery charger as an electric power supply source. When the battery charger is consumed to exhaustion of the electric power, the FPD is reused after either charging is performed or a battery is changed.
Therefore, when the electric power is exhausted according to a condition of use or the like, charging needs to be done lots of times in a day, and therefore it is very inconvenient. Further, if the electric power is exhausted when an image is necessary to be generated, what occurs is an inconvenience of not being capable of performing the image generation immediately. Alternatively, when the electric power is exhausted during an image generation, the image generation has to be re-performed. Therefore, there is a possibility of increasing a danger of exposure to the subject. Accordingly, development of a cassette-type FPD which is lightweight and can remain usable for a long time has been necessitated.
Therefore, reduction of wasteful electric power consumption when used has been attempted conventionally. Normally, in an FPD, a power of the radiation image detector is turned on at the beginning of the day, and except for the time of image generation, the FPD is on standby under an image generation standby mode where a voltage is being applied to all the portions that will function after an image is generated, and the power is turned off after the FPD is operated for a whole day so as to be capable of immediately starting generating of an image of a patient except for the time of image generation. At this time, in the FPD, switching between an image generation mode under which image generation is actually performed and the image generation standby mode under which image generation is not actually performed but electric power consumption is smaller than that of the image generation mode and it is possible to immediately start up the FPD to the image generation mode is done, where the switching of each mode is done by attaching/detaching an adapter included in the FPD, as described in JP-Tokukai-2004-141473A. Alternatively, the switching is done by a switch and a timer provided with the FPD as described in JP-Tokukaihei-9-294229A.
As a result, under the standby state where the FPD is not used for image generation, electric power consumption is reduced by not applying a voltage to components to which it is not necessary to apply the voltage on standby, and a time period which is from turning on the power to reaching the state where it is possible to actually perform the image formation, that is, the image generation mode, is reduced. Thereby, electric power saving of the FPD by reducing electric power consumption under the image generation standby mode and immediate transition to the image generation mode have been realized.
However, although electric power consumption amount under the conventional image generation standby mode is smaller than that of the image generation mode, the electric power consumption amount under the conventional image generation standby mode is still larger than that of a state where the power is entirely off. It is very uneconomical especially when only few times of image generation are performed in a day, and therefore it is not sufficient to regard the conventional art as electric power saving.
Further, in order to switch the FPD to the image generation mode immediately, a voltage is for a long time applied to many of the components of the FPD. Thereby, the PD, a TFT and the like are deteriorated, and their sensitivities are decreased. As a result, a life duration of the FPD is shortened despite the fact that the FPD is not actually used very frequently for image generation.
In this way, under the conventional image generation standby mode, it was not possible to realize all of: the immediate transition to the image generation mode; the electric power saving; and the realization of a long life duration, at the same time.

Radiation image detector and radiation image generating system


A web host intrusion prevention system includes a filter engine 302 and comparison tables 303. The comparison tables 303 are populated with the set of valid commands that are to be received at a server. The filter engine 302 looks up received commands in the comparison tables 303. Received commands that are not in the comparison table are rejected.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to network application servers, and more particularly, to security software used to protect network servers.
B. Description of Related Art
Network servers, such as computers that transmit HTML (HyperText Markup Language) documents to client computing devices on the Internet, may interact and receive data requests from many different end-users. These servers, which may receive and respond to the end-user requests, are commonly called web servers.
At a basic level, web servers provide static web pages to end-users by forwarding requested files to the end-users. At a more advanced level, web servers may respond to user input and generate dynamic web pages for the user based on the user input. Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a standard protocol through which a web server passes a user's request to an application program. The application processes the user's request and transmits information to the web server for forwarding back to the user.
Web servers are frequently targets for attacks from malicious end-users. The end-user may wish to disable the web-server, to gain control of the web server, or to access information on the web server that would not normally be accessible to the end-user. One type of attack involves sending long requests or a large number of requests to the web server in an attempt to cause a web server error, such as a buffer overflow condition. Such web server error conditions may compromise the security of the web server.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for increasing the reliability of web servers and their resistance to malicious attacks.

Systems and methods for preventing intrusion at a web host


Provided are a radiation measurement device and method that allow stable radiation measurement as compared with the prior art. The radiation measurement device includes a radiation detection unit 1 having a scintillator, an optical transmission member 21 for transmitting an optical signal generated in the radiation detection unit, and a signal processing unit 3 for calculating a radiation dose from the optical signal transmitted. The signal processing unit includes a compensation unit 7 for obtaining an optical transmission loss amount from a change in wavelength spectrum in the optical signal caused by radiation acting on the optical transmission member and performs compensation-control on the optical transmission loss amount, and outputs a compensated signal.

In a reactor containment vessel at a nuclear power plant, a neutron measurement device for monitoring a reactor power and a radiation measurement device for measuring a spatial radiation dose rate are installed. An ionization chamber and a proportional counter have been used so far as detectors of such measurement devices, but output signals from the detectors are easily affected with noise because the output signals are weak electrical signals. Therefore, in order to improve noise resistance, a system that transmits an optical signal using a scintillator or a scintillation fiber as a detector has been developed in recent years.
A means that enables neutron measurement for reactor power monitoring using such optical signal transmission includes a first scintillator that reacts with neutrons, a second scintillator that does not react with neutrons or has a low nuclear reaction probability, and a photodetection unit, whereby the means measures a thermal neutron flux with high accuracy by obtaining a difference between luminescence outputs from the first scintillator and the second scintillator to eliminate an influence of γ rays (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As another means that uses optical signal transmission in a similar manner, proposed is a multipurpose radiation environment monitoring element for measuring a neutron flux, a γ-ray dose, and a temperature with one sensor under a radiation irradiation environment. Such a monitoring element causes the sensor including OH-added silica pieces to measure an ambient temperature, a neutron flux, and a γ-ray dose, and uses a fluorine-doped optical fiber connected to the sensor as a light guide (see, for example, Patent Document 2).


The present invention provides a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor and osteoclastic bone loss associating therewith, the drug containing as an active ingredient an osteopontin-production regulator or inhibitor; a screening method for a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor, characterized by determining osteopontin production regulatory or inhibitory effect; as well as a diagnostic kit for a myeloma tumor, characterized by including a reagent for measuring blood osteopontin level, and a diagnostic method.

In drug therapy for cancer, chemotherapeutics are frequently employed. Most such chemotherapeutics exhibit strong side effects in addition to anti-cancer effect. When adverse side effects are developed, in some cases administration of the cancer chemotherapeutic is inevitably restricted. In such a case, only insufficient effect of the drug may be obtained, or no effect at all may be obtained. In particular, in therapy for myeloma tumor, which is known as a malignant tumor producing very poor prognosis, such drugs as melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone are used in clinical settings. However, thus far, satisfactory therapeutic effect has not been obtained.
Myeloma tumors are formed through tumorigenesis of antibody-producing cells, and include fusion products; i.e., hybridomas, of myeloma cells and other types of cells. Typical examples of myeloma tumors include malignant tumors such as multiple myeloma and solitary plasmocytoma; and benign pathologies including immunoglobulin abnormalities, such as M-proteinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and Castleman's syndrome.
Among various myeloma tumors, multiple myeloma represents a malignant, uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells derived from a single clone. In most cases of this disease, patients develop significant osteoclastic bone-resorbing lesion accompanied by intractable acute pain and risk of easy osteoclastic bone loss. Meanwhile, histopathological research of bone slices has revealed significant activation of osteoclastic cells at bone-resorbing lesions neighboring myeloma cells. From this finding, it has been considered that, in multiple myeloma, osteoclastic bone loss is caused not only by infiltration (or multiplication) of myeloma cells but also by activation of osteoclastic cells which occurs due to the osteoclast activating factor (OAF) produced by myeloma cells (N. Engl. J. Med. 1974; 29: 1041-6) (Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 1992; 6: 285-95, Br. J. Haematol. 1981; 47: 21-30).
In recent years, several cytokines, such as IL-1β (Blood 1989; 74: 380-7), lymphotoxin (TNFβ) (N. Engl. J. Med. 1987; 317: 526-32, Nature 1986; 319: 516-8), and IL-6 (J. Clin. Invest. 1989; 84: 2008-11, J. Bone Min. Res. 1991; 9: 1143-6), have been found to exhibit OAF activity. Also, in view that most myeloma tumors exhibit cytokine-dependent growth (e.g., dependent on IL-6), a substance capable of inhibiting or regulating such cytokine-dependent growth in vitro or in vivo is considered to have anti-cancer activity against myeloma tumors.
Osteopontin is a secretory phosphorylated glycoprotein, and was initially identified as a substance forming the extracellular matrix of bone. Osteopontin is expressed in a diversity of cells such as osteoclastic cells, macrophages, activated T cells, smooth muscle cells, and epithelial cells, and in some tissues such as bones, kidneys, placenta, smooth muscles, and sectretory epithelium. Osteopontin has an RGD sequence (i.e., Arg-Gly-Asp sequence), and binds through αvβ1, β3, or β5 integrins in a variety of cells, to thereby induce cell adhesion, chemotaxis, and signal transmission. Osteopontin is considered to participate in normal tissue repairing processes in relation to bone resorption, angiogenesis, wound healing, and tissue injury, and also in some diseases such as restenosis, atherosclerosis, renal disorders, and tumors.
However, as described above, the myeloma tumor is quite a special tumor which only rarely responds to popular anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, components which would be effective have remained beyond expectation.
An object of the present invention is to provide preventives or remedies for myeloma tumors and osteoclastic bone loss associating therewith. Another object of the invention is to provide a screening method for candidate preventive or therapeutic drugs. A further object of the invention is to provide a method of diagnosing myeloma tumors.

Preventives/remedies for myeloma tumor and method of diagnosing the same