A method of providing an image of an interior of a structure containing regions having different conductivities or admittivities. In one embodiment a series of electrical signal sets is applied to a series of electrodes, each signal set generating a rotating electric field. A measured set of electrical signals obtained from the electrodes are used to calculate a conductivity or admittivity distribution representative of the interior of the structure in a region about which the electrodes are positioned. The process of calculating the distribution includes defining a cost function, e.g., the energy function based on the distribution, and a forward model expressing the measured set of electrical signals as a function of the change in voltage values with respect to conductivity or admittivity and requiring that the partial derivative of the difference between the energy function and a function based on the forward model equal zero.

This invention relates generally to image reconstruction and, specifically, to methods for generating image data based on Electrical Impedance Tomography.
The principles of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) are based on knowledge that media under examination have variations in electrical properties, e.g., conductivities and permittivities, which are highly correlated with material characteristics such as density or chemical composition. For example, in the human body there are significant variations in electrical conductivity among body tissues.
In industrial activities and other non-clinical applications, it is desirable to perform non-invasive monitoring and, sometimes, imaging to determine the composition of a body volume, or to characterize the size and shape of a feature, or other condition within an object of interest. Generally, EIT is useful for imaging features within a volume that are characterized by distinguishable electrical properties. Oftentimes features within volumes having different densities can be resolved on this basis. For example, in multiphase fluid mixtures it is known that conductivities will vary based on phase (e.g., liquid or gas) or chemical composition. In principal, electrical measurements performed with relatively simple instrumentation can provide data indicative of where in the volume a particular material is located, and the relative proportions of different constituents. Examples of mixtures for which phase concentrations can be determined are solid-liquid compositions such as slurries, gas-liquid compositions such as present in oil pipe lines, and, generally, liquid-liquid and solid-gas-liquid mixtures. The mixtures may be stationary or flowing. In the case of fluids flowing through a pipe, conductivity determinations among materials of different phases, or between materials having different chemical properties (e.g., water and oil), can lead to determinations of relative volumes present. In the past, volume fractions of liquid and gas phases in a pipe have been inferred based on electrical impedance measurements. With respect to EIT imaging it is conventional to acquire data by placing a series of electrodes along the periphery of a body under study, e.g., in a circle along an interior surface of a pipe. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,486,835; 4,539,640; 4,920,490; and 5,381,333, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the measurement systems described by the foregoing literature the measured voltage or current signals are used to reconstruct spatial features within the volume under study so that an image representative of the features can be generated. In this regard, there is what is often referred to as an inverse problem wherein there may not be a unique solution, i.e., image, corresponding to the acquired data. To overcome this it is necessary to impart a relatively large number of sets of excitation patterns to the electrodes. With this data, algorithms are applied to find a conductivity distribution.
When the electrodes are positioned along a plane cutting through the body under study, the algorithms may provide a conductivity distribution along the same plane. Generally, a wide variety of mathematical methods and numerical techniques have been applied to determine a conductivity distribution which resembles that of the body under examination. Extensive computations have been required in order to generate useful image resolutions. It is desired to find techniques by which satisfactory image generation can be had with fewer computations performed in shorter periods of time in order to bring EIT-based image reconstruction to a larger array of commercial applications.

Image reconstruction based constrained maximization


The present invention relates to a film comprising a low density linear ethylene copolymer of ethylene and a higher olefin and up to about 10 percent by weight of the total composition of an acrylic polymer.

This invention relates to films and more particularly to films such as blown films, cast films and the like, prepared form linear ethylene polymers and small amounts of acrylic polymers.
Linear low and medium density polyethylene copolymers (LLDPE), and linear high density polyethylene are known materials which are widely commercially available. LLDPE is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,698 which is incorporated herein by reference. A commercially important use of LLDPE is in films which are conventionally prepared by blown film extrusion. Such films have generally good properties but often exhibit undesirably low stiffness for some uses and have marginal MD tear characteristics.
In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,912, MD tear can be improved by blending LLDPE with aromatic polymers such as polystyrene or poly(para-methylstyrene). Furthermore, the stiffness of LLDPE is improved without loss of MD tear.
The present invention also relates to improved LLDPE blends and a method for preparing improved films, preferably blown films, made therefrom.

Films of blends of linear ethylene polymers and acrylic polymers


An X-ray examination apparatus (1) is provided with an X-ray source (2) and an X-ray detector (5) wherebetween there is arranged an X-ray filter (6) which includes filter elements (7) whose X-ray absorptivity can be adjusted by controlling the quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid (31) in individual filter elements (7). The filter elements (7) are formed by spaces between electrically conductive tracks (9) provided on parallel plates (8). The parallel plates are arranged in a reservoir (31) for the X-ray absorbing liquid. The liquid level in the vicinity of an electrically conductive track is controlled on the basis of an electric voltage applied to the relevant electrically conductive track (9).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus, including an X-ray source, an X-ray detector for picking up the X-ray image, and an X-ray filter which is arranged between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, the X-ray absorptivity of the X-ray filter being locally adjustable by control of a local quantity of an X-ray absorbing liquid in the X-ray filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
An X-ray examination apparatus of this kind is known from French Patent Application FR 2 599 886.
The known X-ray apparatus is provided with a filter for limiting the dynamic range of an X-ray image, being the interval between the extremes of the brightness values. An X-ray image is formed on the X-ray detector by arranging an object, for example a patient to be examined, between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector and exposing the object to X-rays emitted by the X-ray source. If no steps are taken, the dynamic range of the X-ray image may become large. On the one hand, for some parts of the object, for example lung tissue, the X-ray transmissivity is high, whereas other parts of the object, such as bone tissue, can hardly be penetrated by X-rays. Lead shutters used to intercept parts of the X-ray beam from the X-ray source so as to shield parts of the object to be examined from the X-rays are imaged with a uniform, very low brightness. Lead shutters are also used to prevent X-rays which fail to pass through the object from reaching the X-ray detector, leading to overexposed areas in the X-ray image. If no further steps are taken, therefore, an X-ray image will be obtained with a very large dynamic range whereas, for example medically relevant information in the X-ray image is contained in brightness variations in a much smaller dynamic range; because it is not very well possible to make small details of low contrast suitably visible in a rendition of such an X-ray image, it is not very suitable for making a diagnosis. Furthermore, problems are encountered when such an X-ray image is picked up by means of an image intensifier pick-up chain. An image intensifier pick-up chain includes an image intensifier tube for converting an incident X-ray image into an optical image and a video camera for deriving an electronic image signal from the optical image. Regions of very high brightness and regions of very low brightness are formed in the optical image from regions of very high brightness and very low brightness, respectively, in the X-ray image. If no further steps are taken, the dynamic range of the optical image could be larger than the range of brightness values that can be handled by the video camera without giving rise to disturbances in the electronic image signal.
In order to limit the dynamic range of the X-ray image, the known X-ray examination apparatus includes a filter with filter elements provided with a bundle of parallel capillary tubes, each of which is connected, via a valve, to a reservoir containing an X-ray absorbing liquid which suitably wets the inner walls of the capillary tubes. In order to fill a capillary tube with the X-ray absorbing liquid, the valve of the relevant capillary tube is opened after which the capillary tube is filled with the X-ray absorbing liquid by the capillary effect. Such a filled capillary tube has a high X-ray absorptivity for X-rays which pass therethrough in a direction approximately parallel to its longitudinal axis. The valves are controlled so as to ensure that the quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid in the capillary tubes is adjusted such that filter elements in parts of the X-ray beam which pass through parts of the object of low X-ray absorption are adjusted to a high X-ray absorptivity and that filter elements in parts of the X-ray beam which pass through parts of the object of high X-ray absorption, or are intercepted by a lead shutter, are adjusted to a low X-ray absorptivity.
In order to change the adjustment of the filter of the known X-ray examination apparatus it is necessary to empty the filled capillary tubes first. Therefore, use is made of a paramagnetic X-ray absorbing liquid which is removed from the capillary tubes by application of a magnetic field. After all capillary tubes have been drained, the filter is adjusted again by deactivation of the magnetic field, followed by the opening of the valves of capillary tubes which must be filled with the X-ray absorbing liquid so as to raise their X-ray absorptivity to a high value according to the new filter adjustment.
It is a drawback of the known filter that it is not very well possible to change the adjustment of the filter within a very short period of time, say one second. Therefore, the known X-ray apparatus is not suitable for forming successive X-ray images at a high image rate, where the adjustment of the filter is changed between the formation of successive X-ray images. Because it is necessary to drain all capillary tubes before the filter elements can be adjusted to new X-ray absorptivities and because the X-ray absorbing liquid suitably wets the inner wall of the capillary tube so that draining requires a rather long period of time, amounting to several seconds or even tens of seconds, switching over the known filter requires a comparatively long period of time. Moreover, it is not very well possible to drain the capillary tubes completely by application of the magnetic field, because a layer of X-ray absorbing liquid will remain on the inner walls of the capillary tubes.
It is a further drawback of the known filter that the construction involving separate mechanical valves for each of the capillary tubes is rather complex.

X-ray examination apparatus including an x-ray filter


A display apparatus configured to receive a command, and convert the command to displayable information to an outside pedestrian or drivers in other vehicles may include a main body that includes a securing portion to secure the display apparatus to a vehicle; a communication unit to receive the command; a processor to convert the command to displayable information; a display portion having a displaying layer to display information; and a power managing unit to store and provide electrical energy for the display apparatus. In one embodiment, the power managing unit may include a power generating unit to be positioned to overlap with the displaying layer.

Improving vehicle safety has long been a subject of public concern. As the number of vehicles has increased, so has the number of accidents. Drivers have long used simple intervehicular communication devices for alerting other drivers of impending action or danger. When used properly, such devices as turn signal lights, brake lights and horns provide convenient, low complexity message transmitters that help to maintain highway safety. These devices have failed, however, to avert the causes and problems associated with some drivers' erratic and sometimes irrational reactions to others' driving practices or discourtesy. This problem, commonly termed "road rage," has become a growing concern as highways have become more and more crowded. The term "road rage" as used herein refers to the negative psychological reactions exhibited by drivers in a variety of driving circumstances. Particularly prevalent among these reactions are feelings of frustration, anger and helplessness.
The negative reactions associated with road rage can be combated by providing a way for the affected driver to exercise additional control over the driving environment. One way to provide additional control is to enhance the driver's ability to communicate with other drivers. In general, enhanced communication improves an individual's psychological state while driving. The ability to transmit such simple messages as "Please," "Thank you," and "I'm sorry" can boost the individual's sense of self-efficacy, personal control, optimism, and belonging.
Therefore, there remains a need for an apparatus to convey simple but psychologically beneficial messages from one vehicle to another, which would provide an overall improvement in road safety by reducing road rage through enhanced communication without significant distraction of either the sending or receiving drivers.


A method and system for communication in a system area network (SAN) data processing system are described. The SAN includes a plurality of interconnected nodes that each have at least one port for communication. To avoid communication-induced errors that may arise, for example, if multiple nodes share the same node ID, the port of a node in the SAN is marked as “fenced” to prevent transmission of packets of a first traffic type while permitting transmission of packets of a second traffic type. The marking of the port may be recorded, for example, in a configuration register of the port. While the port is fenced, only packets of other than the first traffic type are routed via the port. In one preferred embodiment, the second traffic type represents SAN configuration traffic, and the first traffic type represents non-configuration traffic. In this preferred embodiment, the marking of the port may be removed following communication of configuration traffic utilized to negotiate unique node ID throughout the SAN.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to networks and, in particular, to a method and system for routing communication between nodes of a network containing multiple nodes. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a network in which communication between nodes of a system area network (SAN) is filtered by traffic type, for example, to avoid errors arising from multiple nodes sharing the same node identifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system area network (SAN) is a collection of interconnected processor and peripheral nodes that operate in concert as a data processing system. The SAN topology advantageously permits large data processing systems customized to the processing, storage and I/O requirements of particular installations to be readily constructed through the interconnection of desired numbers of processor and peripheral nodes via backplane connections or inter-cabinet cables.
To promote reliable, efficient communication, a SAN generally logically and physically isolates processor buses and input/output (I/O) buses in separate nodes. Communication between the processors and peripherals in a SAN must therefore be routed between nodes, for example, utilizing unique node identifiers (IDs) assigned by firmware at system startup.
The conventional method of routing communication in a SAN is subject to errors if, following system startup, two SANs are interconnected, for example, by an inter-cabinet cable. Errors arise because the node IDs assigned in each of the smaller SANs may not be unique throughout the combined system. As a result, communication in the combined system may be routed incorrectly, possibly causing data corruption and/or other undesirable errors.
The present invention therefore recognizes that it would be useful and desirable to provide an improved method and system of inter-node communication in a SAN in which all of the nodes may not have unique node IDs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus for filtering inter-node communication in a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


Apparatus for treatment is provided, including one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a site of a subject, and adverse cerebrovascular condition treatment functionality. The functionality comprises a control unit configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site during a plurality of stimulation periods which includes at least first and last stimulation periods, set an inter-period interval between initiation of the first stimulation period and initiation of the last stimulation period to be at least 24 hours, and configure the stimulation during the first and last stimulation periods to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. The site is selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. Additional embodiments are also described.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a unique feature of the central nervous system (CNS) which isolates the brain from the systemic blood circulation. To maintain the homeostasis of the CNS, the BBB prevents access to the brain of many substances circulating in the blood.
The BBB is formed by a complex cellular system of endothelial cells, astroglia, pericytes, perivascular macrophages, and a basal lamina. Compared to other tissues, brain endothelia have the most intimate cell-to-cell connections: endothelial cells adhere strongly to each other, forming structures specific to the CNS called "tight junctions" or zonula occludens. They involve two opposing plasma membranes which form a membrane fusion with cytoplasmic densities on either side. These tight junctions prevent cell migration or cell movement between endothelial cells. A continuous uniform basement membrane surrounds the brain capillaries. This basal lamina encloses contractile cells called pericytes, which form an intermittent layer and probably play some role in phagocytosis activity and defense if the BBB is breached. Astrocytic end feet, which cover the brain capillaries, build a continuous sleeve and maintain the integrity of the BBB by the synthesis and secretion of soluble growth factors (e.g., gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) essential for the endothelial cells to develop their BBB characteristics.
PCT Publication WO 01/85094 and US Patent Application Publications 2004/0015068 and 2004/0210269 to Shalev and Gross, which are assigned to the assignee of the present patent application and are incorporated herein by reference, describe apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, including electrodes applied to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) or a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit drives the electrodes to apply a current capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,853,858 to Shalev, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for delivering a Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) supplied to a body of a subject for delivery to at least a portion of a central nervous system (CNS) of the subject via a systemic blood circulation of the subject. The apparatus includes a stimulator adapted to stimulate at least one site of the subject, so as to cause an increase in passage of the NSAID from the systemic blood circulation across a blood brain barrier (BBB) of the subject to the portion of the CNS, during at least a portion of the time that the NSAID is present in the blood, the site selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), an anterior ethmoidal nerve, a posterior ethmoidal nerve, a communicating branch between an anterior ethmoidal nerve and a retro-orbital branch of an SPG, a communicating branch between a posterior ethmoidal nerve and a retro-orbital branch of an SPG, a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, a nasopalatine nerve, a posterior nasal nerve, an infraorbital nerve, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0220644 to Shalev et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for treating a subject, including positioning at least one electrode at at least one site of the subject, such as the SPG, for less than about 3 hours, applying an electrical current to the site of the subject, and configuring the current to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, so as to treat a condition of the subject.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0176898 to Gross et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating a condition of an eye of a subject, comprising a stimulator adapted to stimulate at least one site of the subject, such as the SPG, so as to treat the eye condition.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0159790 to Shalev, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for facilitating a diagnosis of a condition of a subject, including applying a current to a site of the subject, such as the SPG, and configuring the current to increase conductance of molecules from brain tissue of the subject through a blood brain barrier (BBB) of the subject into a systemic blood circulation of the subject. The method also includes sensing a quantity of the molecules from a site outside of the brain of the subject, following initiation of application of the current.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0266099 to Shalev, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for modifying a property of a brain of a patient includes presenting an odorant to an air passage of the patient, the odorant having been selected for presentation to the air passage because it is such as to increase conductance of molecules from a systemic blood circulation of the patient through a blood brain barrier (BBB) of the brain into brain tissue of the patient. The molecules are selected from the group consisting of: a pharmacological agent, a therapeutic agent, an endogenous agent, and an agent for facilitating a diagnostic procedure.
PCT Publication WO 04/010923 to Gross et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a chemical agent delivery system, including a chemical agent supplied to a body of a subject for delivery to a site in a central nervous system of said subject via blood of said subject; and a stimulator for stimulating parasympathetic fibers associated with the SPG, thereby rendering a blood brain barrier (BBB) of said subject permeable to said chemical agent during at least a portion of the time that said chemical agent is present in said blood.
PCT Publication WO 04/043218 to Gross et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating a subject, including (a) a stimulation device, adapted to be implanted in a vicinity of a site selected from the list consisting of: a SPG and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and (b) a connecting element, coupled to the stimulation device, and adapted to be passed through at least a portion of a greater palatine canal of the subject.
PCT Publication WO 04/045242 to Shalev, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating a condition of an ear of a subject, comprising a stimulator adapted to stimulate at least one site of the subject, such as the SPG, at a level sufficient to treat the ear condition.
PCT Publication WO 05/030025 to Shalev et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating a subject, including an elongated generally rigid support element having a length of at least 1.8 cm, and having a distal end. The apparatus also includes one or more electrodes fixed to the support element in a vicinity of the distal end thereof, and configured to be positioned in a vicinity of a site of the subject, such as the SPG, when the support element is inserted into a body of the subject, such that a portion of the support element remains outside of the body. The apparatus further includes a control unit, coupled to the support element, and adapted to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical current to the site, and to configure the current to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, so as to treat a condition of the subject.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,318 to Ansarinia and related PCT Publication WO 01/97905 to Ansarinia, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a method for the suppression or prevention of various medical conditions, including pain, movement disorders, autonomic disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The method includes positioning an electrode on or proximate to at least one of the patient's SPG, sphenopalatine nerves, or vidian nerves, and activating the electrode to apply an electrical signal to such nerve. In a further embodiment for treating the same conditions, the electrode used is activated to dispense a medication solution or analgesic to such nerve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,079 to Ansarinia, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for the suppression or prevention of various medical conditions, including pain, movement disorders, autonomic disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The method includes positioning an electrode adjacent to or around a sinus, the dura adjacent a sinus, or falx cerebri, and activating the electrode to apply an electrical signal to the site. In a further embodiment for treating the same conditions, the electrode dispenses a medication solution or analgesic to the site.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,986 to Levin and PCT Publication WO 99/03473 to Levin, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe techniques for inhibiting a cerebral neurovascular disorder or a muscular headache. The techniques include intranasally administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a long-acting local anesthetic.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,940 to Levin, US Patent Application 2003/0133877 to Levin, and PCT Publication WO 00/44432 to Levin, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe techniques for inhibiting a cerebral neurovascular disorder or a muscular headache. The techniques include intranasally administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a long-acting local anesthetic. Apparatus for delivering or applying the composition is also described.
US Patent Application 2001/0004644 to Levin and PCT Publication WO 01/43733 to Levin, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe techniques for inhibiting cephalic inflammation, including meningeal inflammation and cerebral inflammation. The techniques include intranasally administering a long-acting local anesthetic. Apparatus for delivering or applying the composition is also described, including a dorsonasally implanted electronic neural stimulator, such as a transepithelial neural stimulation device.
The following patent application publications, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and are incorporated herein by reference, may be of interest: WO 03/090599, WO 03/105658, WO 04/010923, WO 04/043218, WO 04/044947, WO 04/045242, WO 04/043217, WO 04/043334, WO 05/030025, WO 05/030118, and US 2004/0220644.
The following patents and patent application publications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, may be of interest: U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,071 to Mattern et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,515 to Jolesz et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,725,471 and 6,086,525 to Davey et al., PCT Publication WO 02/32504 to Zanger et al., US Patent Application Publication 2003/0050527 to Fox et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,184 to Ishikawa et al., PCT Publications WO 03/084591, WO 03/020350, WO 03/000310, WO 02/068031, and WO 02/068029 to Djupesland, and US Patent Application Publication 2003/0079742 to Giroux.
Hotta H et al., in an article entitled, "Effects of stimulating the nucleus basalis of Meynert on blood flow and delayed neuronal death following transient ischemia in rat cerebral cortes," Jap J Phys 52:383-393 (2002), which is incorporated herein by reference, report that stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) in the rat was accompanied by vasodilatation and increase in cortical blood flow. They suggest that NBM-originating vasodilative activation can protect the ischemia-induced delayed death of cortical neurons by preventing a blood flow decrease in widespread cortices.
Reis D J et al., in an article entitled, "Electrical stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus reduces ischemic infarction elicited by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat," J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 11(5):810-8 (1991), which is incorporated herein by reference, report that electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) profoundly increases cerebral blood flow via a cholinergic mechanism. Utilizing the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, they demonstrated that one hour of electrical stimulation of the FN has the capacity to substantially reduce the infarct size at the rim of the cortex dorsal and ventral to the infarction, and medially within the thalamus and striatum corresponding to the penumbral zone. They conclude that excitation of an intrinsic system in brain represented in the rostral FN has the capacity to substantially reduce an ischemic infarction.
Matsui T et al., in an article entitled, "The effects of cervical spinal cord stimulation (cSCS) on experimental stroke," Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 12(4 Pt 2):726-32 (1989), which is incorporated herein by reference, report that cSCS increases regional cerebral blood flow, and, in a cat middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO), reduced the rate of death within 24 hours after MCAO.
Segher O et al., in an article entitled, "Spinal cord stimulation reducing infract volume in model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats," J Neurosurg 99(1):131-137 (2003), which is incorporated herein by reference, demonstrate that spinal cord stimulation increases cerebral blood flow in rats and significantly reduces stroke volume, suggesting that spinal cord stimulation could be used for treatment and prevention of stroke.
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Stimulation for treating brain events and other conditions


A method to display an electronic document includes receiving an electronic document, displaying a current page of the electronic document on a screen of a handheld device operated by a user, and displaying one or more adjacent pages of the electronic document on an external display. The method may also include changing the current page on the screen of the handheld device and the adjacent pages on the external display in response to user input. In some embodiments, the method includes pinning or unpinning one or more selected page(s) on the external display in response to user input. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are also disclosed herein.

1. Technical Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to electronic documents and specifically to methods, devices and systems for reading and displaying electronic documents.
2. Discussion of the Background
Two of the most popular modern tools are the smart phone and the digital book reader device. These handheld devices include specialized hardware devices such as the Amazon Kindle or the Barnes and Noble Nook. In addition these include software book readers such as the Apple iBooks for the iPad or the Kindle reader on the iPad or numerous other smart phone, digital tablet, and netbook devices. Such devices typically have a screen sizes up to approximately the size of a physical book page.
The size of a handheld device is frequently small for purposes of portability and cost. However, small size can be limiting in many respects. A handheld device may not effectively show an image that is larger than the physical device. Many handheld device solutions allow the user to zoom in and pan around a page to access more detail but such behavior loses the context of whatever one is looking at. This lack of display space makes existing devices more suited for casual sequential reading rather than interactive learning. The lack of display space can also be problematic when viewing large pictures such as architectural drawings, complex chemical structures, maps, tables, graphs or other materials.
Even without such specialized book needs, there may be times when someone reading a text or other book wants to refer to multiple pages simultaneously. On standard handheld devices, particularly on smartphones such as an iPhone, this is not possible because there is not enough display space. Furthermore, when presenting information to others a handheld device often requires passing the device around to facilitate seeing the information on the screen.
Given the foregoing, what is needed are methods, devices and systems for reading and displaying electronic documents that provide more viewable space.

Handheld document reading device with auxiliary display


A security device for tagging a bottle has a body defining a sleeve into which part of the bottle neck and its closure are received. A housing is defined to one side of the sleeve and first and second catch members are pivoted within the housing for movement between free and locking positions. When in their locking positions, the catch members project into the sleeve to engage behind a shoulder on the bottle neck or the closure, to resist removal of the device. An operating member is also pivoted to the housing for movement between open and closed positions, springs being arranged between the operating member and the first and second catch members to urge the catch members to their respective locking positions. A magnetically-releasable latch is arranged to hold the operating member in its closed position unless the latch member is acted upon by an external magnetic field.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a security device for a bottle—that is to say, a device which may be secured to a bottle and which may serve to reduce the likelihood of misappropriation of the bottle, for example from a shop or store.
b) Description of the Prior Art
Theft of various products from shops is an ever increasing problem, especially with self-selection stores. In an attempt to address this problem, it is now a common practice to attach a security label to the products on offer, even for products not having an especially high value, which security label is adapted and configured to trigger an alarm mechanism should the product carrying the label be taken out of the store before the label has been disabled in some way, or otherwise removed from the product.
With many products, label-based security systems work well but an important aspect of security systems of this kind is that the system should be highly visible, so as to act as a deterrent against theft. On the other hand, the label should not damage the product, or otherwise make the product less attractive to a purchaser. In view of this, some security systems utilise a device which is intended only for temporary attachment to a product so long as the product remains in the shop—for example, in the case of clothing. At the time of purchase of the product, the security device is removed from the product so that the product may be carried out of the store without evidence of the previous presence of the security device attached to the product. A particular problem arises in the case of high-value bottles of drink, such as spirits, champagnes and vintage wines. The only way in which a label can be attached to a glass bottle is by means of an adhesive, but the use of such a label detracts from the aesthetic qualities of the product. Moreover, if the label has sufficiently strong adhesive to prevent it being removed in an unauthorised way by an intending thief, a purchaser cannot subsequently easily remove the label, for example if the product is purchased as a gift for a third party.
In WO 01/75254 (Plescon Limited) we have described and claimed a security device which is intended to be fitted to the neck of a bottle and which can be released only by subjecting the device to an appropriate external magnetic field. The device may be provided with a security label to which a store security system will respond, in the event that an attempt is made to take a bottle carrying the security device out of a store. Though the device of WO 01/75254 is able to function adequately with many designs of bottle, further research and development has significantly improved that device, in order to give greater security to resist unauthorised removal and also to permit the device to be fitted to a wider range of bottles.


Disclosed is a handover method in radio communication. A base station apparatus monitors the receiving state of a terminal, detects, based upon the receiving state, whether the terminal is one in which there is a possibility that loss of a call or a decline in quality will occur or one in which loss of a call or a decline in quality has occurred, and hands over the terminal to another base station apparatus having a carrier frequency different from that of the present base station apparatus.

This invention relates to a base station apparatus and mobile communication system. More particularly, the invention relates to a base station apparatus and mobile communication system for dealing with loss of calls or decline quality as caused by a decrease in transmission speed, wherein when a required transmission speed for a certain terminal or service is no longer met or the required transmission speed is met but without enough margin, the terminal is handed over to another frequency being used at the same position (location) without the terminal moving, thereby solving problems such as loss of calls.
Although a W-CDMA system is described below by way of example, the invention is capable of being implemented in mobile communication systems unless stated otherwise. That is, the present invention is applicable to mobile communications as a whole and not just to W-CDMA systems alone.
In a W-CDMA system, service areas (hexagonal areas) in a cellular configuration of the kind shown in FIG. 48 are formed, a radio base station is deployed at the center and each service area is composed of one or a plurality of sectors. FIG. 48 illustrates a three-sector arrangement. A radio base station will be referred to simply as a base station or Node B below.
Further, a plurality of frequencies (carrier waves) are assigned to each sector. FIG. 49 illustrates a case where two frequencies have been assigned to one sector. The frequency of a base station Node B1 in FIG. 49 is assumed to be f1 and its service area is indicated by the solid line. The frequency of a base station Node B2 is assumed to be f2 and its service area is indicated by the dashed line. For the sake of illustration, the solid and dashed lines are drawn off set from each other although they may just as well overlap. In FIG. 49, one base station, i.e., one Node B, is indicated for one frequency. However, one Node B may be associated with two frequencies, as illustrated in FIG. 50. In this specification, basically one transceiver TRX is shown to be deployed per frequency. Accordingly, there are two cases, namely a case (FIG. 49) where one transceiver (one frequency) is provided for one Node B, and a case (FIG. 50) where a plurality of transceivers TRX1, TRX2 are provided for one Node B.
It should be noted that a terminal normally is capable of sending and receiving using all frequencies employed in a W-CDMA system.
Handover
An operation in which a terminal UE1 moves from a cell CL1 of a base station BTS1 to a cell CL2 of a base station BTS2 to thereby change the base station that is the connection destination, as illustrated in FIG. 51, is referred to generically as handover. Handover based upon movement is well known and, depending upon the particular method, is classified into soft handover, hard handover, different-frequency handover and cell change. Simply "handover" will be used below.
Handover in a system such as the conventional 3GPP Release 99 and PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) is implemented under the initiative of a Radio Network Controller (RNC), which is above the base station hierarchically. That is, the RNC manages movement of terminals and controls handover between cells, between sectors, between different frequencies and between different systems. Specific examples of control are designating a handover-destination base station, designating the establishment of a radio link to a handover-destination base station and designating the re-establishment of a radio link to a terminal UE. The base station (Node B) at this time executes processing in accordance with the designation made by the RNC. Further, ordinary handover is carried out as the terminal moves.
HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access)
In mobile communication such as W-CDMA, data communication is performed using packets. In the case of W-CDMA, specifications are being reviewed in the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and packet communication is being performed between radio base stations and terminals (mobile telephones, etc.) using protocols that have been decided by the project.
In 3GPP at the present time, the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) scheme is being studied in order to perform packet communication at higher speeds. This is a technique for the purpose of adopting a high speed of 2 Mbps for packet communication on the downlink (communication from the base station to the terminal). As mentioned above, HSDPA is being studied with a view to implementing standardization in Release 5, which is a 3GPP specification. The major changes in HSDPA in comparison with 3GPP Release 9 of the conventional specifications are the composition of the radio channels, retransmission control and the introduction of a scheduler. The composition of radio channels will be described below in simple terms and a scheduler that is directly related to the present invention will be described as well.
FIG. 52 is a schematic view of the configuration of an HSDPA system. A radio access system in 3GPP comprises an RNC (Radio Network Controller) 1, a Node B (base station) 2 and UEs (User Equipment: terminals) 3. The RNC is connected to a CN (Core Network) 4.
With HSDPA, a {circle around (1)} HS-DSCH (High Speed-Downlink Shared Channel) in a wired downlink section and a {circle around (2)} HS-PDSCH (High Speed-Physical Downlink Shared Channel) in a wireless downlink section are used as packet-data transmission channels CH. That is, HS-DSCH and HS-PDSCH are channels exclusively for the downlink and are shared by a plurality of UEs. They transmit packets that have been encoded as by turbo encoding.
In a wireless downlink section, a {circle around (3)} HS-SCCH (High Speed Shared Control Channel) is set up as a high-speed control channel, and control information for allowing the plurality of UEs to receive packet data on the HS-PDSCH is transmitted. The control information includes a user identifier (UEID: User Equipment Identifier) and various parameters (radio spreading code, modulation scheme, data-length information, etc.) for receiving data on the HS-PDSCH. The HS-SCCH is shared by a plurality of the UEs.
Furthermore, in a wireless uplink section, a {circle around (4)} HS-DPCCH (High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel) is set up on a per-user basis. HS-DPCCH is a dedicated channel. This is a channel that transmits a value, which indicates the number of receivable bits, from each terminal to the base station based upon reception conditions (whether or not a packet could be received without errors) and the receiving state (the C/I, as one simple example). Notification indicative of the former, namely the reception conditions, is referred to as ACK (notification of acknowledgement of reception) or NACK (notification of reception failure), and information indicating the latter, namely the receiving state, is referred to as CQI (Channel Quality Indicator).
Channels in addition to those mentioned above are {circle around (5)} DL Associated DPCH (Downlink Associated Dedicated Physical Channel) and {circle around (6)} UL Associated DPCH (Uplink Associated Dedicated Physical Channel). These channels are radio channels established individually between each terminal and the base station. These are channels used in association with the HS-PDSCH in particular among the DPCHs (Dedicated Physical Channels) employed in conventional Release 99. These channels will be abbreviated to DL A-DPCH and UL A-DPCH below.
ACK/NACK and Retransmission Control
With HSDPA, data retransmission control is exercised between the Node B 2 and UE3. The UE3 reports ACK (notification of acknowledgement of reception) or NACK (notification of reception failure) with respect to the received data to the Node B 2 using the HS-DPCCH.
The flow of retransmission control is illustrated in FIG. 53, the structure of the terminal UE in FIG. 54 and the structure of the base station Node B in FIG. 55.
The terminal UE3 receives a packet, which has been transmitted by the above-mentioned HS-PDSCH, using a radio unit 3a, demodulates and decodes the packet using a demodulator 3b, performs a CRC check using a retransmission controller 3c and verifies the packet reception conditions (e.g., whether or not the packet could be received without errors). For example, in the event that no errors have been found, the terminal transmits ACK via a modulator 3d and radio unit 3e using the above-mentioned UL HS-DPCCH, thereby requesting the base station Node B to perform a new transmission. On the other hand, if an error is found as a result of the CRC check, the terminal transmits NACK using the UL HS-DPCCH, thereby requesting the base station Node B to perform retransmission. Retransmission is performed until error-free reception can be achieved, by way of example.
Meanwhile, the base station Node B receives UL HS-DPCCH by a radio unit 2a and demodulates and decodes the packet in a demodulator 2b. The base station then extracts the ACK/NACK signal in an ACK/NACK extraction unit 2c and performs retransmission control using a retransmission controller 2d. Specifically, in case of ACK, the retransmission controller 2d deletes a successfully transmitted packet that has been stored in a transmit buffer 2e. In case of NACK, the retransmission controller 2d retransmits an unsuccessfully transmitted packet, which has been stored in the transmit buffer 2e, via a modulator 2f and radio unit 2g using HS-PDSCH. Such retransmission control is carried out by a scheduler, which is described next.
Whether ACK or NACK is sent back changes depending upon whether or not receive data contains an error, which depends upon the receiving state of the terminal UE. As for the cause, factors that depend upon the states of C/I or/and S/N or/and the traveling speed of the terminal are significant. Here C/I stands for Carrier/Interference and corresponds to S/N and SIR (Signal/Interference), C represents signal power and I interference power with respect to interference. This is an index of the magnitude of interference. It indicates that the smaller the C/I, i.e., the greater the amount of interference, the greater the degradation of the receiving state.
Scheduler
In HSDPA introduced by 3GPP Release 5, the above-mentioned radio channels and a scheduler function that is for deciding the order of packet transmission are added anew. In order to describe the scheduler, a description will also be rendered with regard to HS-PDSCH. Unlike the conventional DPCH, HS-PDSCH is not a radio channel provided individually for a terminal that is a communicating party. That is, one HS-PDSCH, for example, is time-division multiplexed and is used by one terminal or by being shared by a plurality of terminals.
FIGS. 56(A) to 56(D) are diagrams useful in describing a mechanism for receiving packet data on the HS-PDSCH.
As shown at (A) of FIG. 56, a transmit cycle referred to as a "TTI" (Transmission Time Interval=2 ms) is set up on HS-SCCH. Control information is transmitted in conformity with the TTI and received by a plurality of UEs (two UEs #0 and #1) only if control information to be transmitted exists. The data transmitted on the HS-SCCH includes a user identifier (UEID: User Equipment Identifier) and various parameters (radio spreading code, modulation scheme, data-length information, etc.) for receiving data on the HS-PDSCH.
UE receives HS-SCCH data in all TTIs. For example, in slot #1 at (B) of FIG. 56, UE #1 and UE #2 receive the HS-SCCH data simultaneously. Each UE refers to the UEID in the data and compares it with its own ID. In this case, the UEID of the HS-SCCH data in slot #1 is "UE #1", and therefore UE #0 discards the receive HS-SCCH data and UE #1 loads the control data contained in the receive HS-SCCH data. UE #1 thenceforth extracts a parameter, which is for HS-PDSCH receive, from the control data portion, and receives the packet data on the HS-PDSCH [(C), (D) of FIG. 56].
Upon receiving data, the UE #1 refers to a "sequence number" contained in the data and checks to determine whether there is loss of data. In a case where all data could be received without error (without CRC error) and without loss of data, the UE #1 reports ACK to Node B using the HS-DPCCH. Further, if data has been lost or a CRC check error has occurred, then the UE #1 reports NACK to Node B using the HS-DPCCH. Operation is similar with regard to slots #2 to #5 and slots #7 and #8. The UE #1 receives packet data via the HS-PDSCH of slots #1, #4, and the UE #0 receives packet data via the HS-PDSCH of slots #2 and #3, slot #5 and slots #7 and #8.
A scheduler executes scheduling management and retransmission control for deciding in which slot a packet should be transmitted and which terminal should be assigned. FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating the structure of base station Node B that includes a scheduler. Here reference characters 2h represent a scheduler, 2i a handover controller, and 2j a CQI extraction unit for extracting CQI information, which is information indicating the receiving state of a terminal, from receive data.
An example of operation of the scheduler 2h will be described below. Depending upon the CQI reported from a terminal and the communication service content (quality of service QoS) of the data transmitted, the scheduler 2h decides the order of data transmission suited for each terminal and effects the transmission in this order. A specific example of the decision of an order will be given below. It should be noted that what follows is a representative method and that the method is not limitative in any way.
{circle around (1)} C/I Method
On the basis of the C/I, transmission is performed in order of descending C/I excellence. In case of HSDPA, a CQI of high value is adopted as an excellent C/I. There is a possibility that a terminal with a poor C/I will not be given an opportunity to transmit.
{circle around (2)} Round Robin Method
This is a method in which transmission is performed equally irrespective of the receiving state of the terminal.
{circle around (3)} Proportional Fairness Method
This is a method in which transmission time is equalized and transmission is performed in order of descending C/I excellence.
Further, in addition to the methods cited above, weighting with regard to the traffic class (Streaming class, Conversational class, Interactive class and Background class), which will be described later, also is conceivable. These traffic classes are referred to generically as QoS (Quality of Service). Maximum speed (bit/sec) and minimum speed (bit/sec), etc., are defined as parameters in QoS. In particular, in case of the Conversational or Streaming class, quick response is sought in view of the applications of these classes and the stipulation on minimum speed is severe. In cases where the minimum speed is not complied with, service may no longer be provided, service may be suspended and the quality of transmitted data may not be maintained. As examples that may readily be understood, frame advance may occur when a moving picture is transmitted, and audio or video may be interrupted.
{circle around (1)} Conversational class: This is a class in which a small-delay quality is required in both directions (example: voice).
{circle around (2)} Streaming class: This is a class in which a small-delay streaming service is required in one direction (example: distribution of real-time moving pictures).
{circle around (3)} Interactive class: This is a class that requires a response within a fixed period of time as well as a low error rate (example: a Web browser or server access).
{circle around (4)} Background class: This is a best-effort class of the kind that is implemented in the background (example: E-mail or ftp).
Problems of the Prior Art
Depending upon the propagation environment in which a terminal is placed or the traveling speed of the terminal, problems may arise. That is, the stipulation on minimum speed in the QoS of the transmitted service may not be adhered to, a call may be lost in the midst of communication and quality may decline. This will be described below using a specific example.
Assume that a certain terminal UE2 is receiving a service (transmission of a moving picture) that requires quick response, and that the throughput required is 2 Mbyte/sec. Assume that since the propagation environment has worsened and interference has increased (i.e., that C/I has deteriorated), it is necessary to repeat retransmission and the actual throughput (transmission speed) has become 1 Mbyte/sec. A problem which arises at this time is that frames of the moving picture are lost, motion of people, etc., becomes stiff and the moving picture becomes a still picture. In some cases service must be halted because the quality of the moving picture is not maintained.
Prior art (JP01-274524A) in which the communication rate (throughput) of a mobile terminal is measured to render a decision as to whether handover should be performed is available as art for preventing loss of calls and a decline in quality. However, this is not art in which a terminal having little margin is allowed to handed over to a base station of a different frequency.
Prior art (JP07-240959A) in which handover from a terminal having little margin is performed based upon the reception level is available as art for preventing loss of calls and a decline in quality. However, this is not art in which whether handover will be performed or not is decided based upon the communication rate (throughput) of a mobile terminal or delay time or transmission power, and handover is allowed to be made to a base station of a different frequency.
Prior art (JP10-136425A) in which handover is performed at a different frequency is available. However, this is not art in which handover is performed upon detecting a terminal that is likely to experience loss of a call or a decline in quality based upon the communication rate (throughput) of the mobile terminal, delay time or transmission power.

Base station apparatus and mobile communication system


Gas-permeable devices which absorb VOC and pollutants and/or are biocidal, containing molded parts or consisting of molded parts, containing materials or consisting of materials on the basis of wood, biodegradable fibers, biodegradable films and/or separated manure, containing geometrically regular and/or irregular, free and/or aggregated and/or agglomerated carbon nanoparticles, carbon microparticles and/or carbon macroparticles. Carbon is selected from the group consisting of biocarbons, biochar, charcoal, screening residues of charcoal, wood ash, activated carbons, hard coal, animal charcoal, carbons from animal waste, pyrogenic carbon having different degrees of pyrolysis, functionalized carbons, pretreated carbons, washed carbons, and extracted carbons.

The prior art cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference.
Wood materials can consist of different types of comminuted wood, which differ in size, shape, position and/or arrangement. The production of, for example, plate and/or rod-shaped wood material is carried out by mixing the different wood particle shapes with natural and/or synthetic binders, such as adhesives, and/or addition of other additives, wood preservatives and/or color particles. Subsequently, the mixed materials are produced to become plate and/or rod-shaped wood materials in a hot and/or cold pressing, in a casting and/or bulk method.
Various types of wood-based materials are, for example:                Solid wood materials and/or materials based on solid wood                    solid wood and/or glued wood panels            glued laminated timber and/or other board stacking construction            blockboard            laminated wood and/or other solid wood elements glued together                        Veneer materials                    veneered plywood (FU)            laminated veneer lumber            strand lumber            bending plywood            synthetic resin (KP)                        Wood chipboard                    flat press plate (P2)            extruded plate            veneer molded parts            coarse chipboard (OSB board)            chipboard wood (LSL)                        Wood fiber materials                    wood fiber insulation board (HFD)            medium hardboard (MB)            hard fiberboard (HB and HFH)            medium density fiberboard (MDF)            high density fiberboard (HDF)                        Composites                    wood plastic composites, also called wood-polymer materials            lightweight panels            laminated densified wood                        Arboform
Furthermore, there are gypsum fiber boards, Rigidur H10® and Rigidur H Active Air®, which consist of gypsum, paper fibers and mineral aggregates. These gypsum fiber boards are breathable and absorb pollutants and so-called VOCs.
Coal refers to a black and/or brownish-black, solid sedimentary rock formed by carbonation.
The uses of coal are broad and no longer limited to agriculture. Coal is being integrated into more and more fields of application and its positive properties are being exploited.
Coal is used in the paper industry, with a maximum load of 30%.
The present applications of coal are schematically and exemplarily listed:
food and beverage packaging: coffee mugs, pizza boxes, banana boxes, coffee filters, food containers, egg cartons, fruit bags, napkins, placemats, take-away containers, sandwich wrapping paper, disposable dishes
courtyard and garden: growing pots, seed tape, mulch band, germination protection, leaves dust bags, plant packaging, weed fleece, soil
housewares: book covers, garment boxes, wallpaper, furniture, bedding, passepartouts,
office and shipping articles: pouches, boxes, partitions, folders, notebook covers, envelopes, cardboard boxes, shipping tubes
private use: diapers, changing pads, toilet pads, sanitary napkins, tampons, biodegradable urns, wrapping paper, filters for printers, toilet paper
pet supplies: small animal box, dog waste bag, animal litter
German utility model DE 20 2014 004 445 U1 discloses an apparatus for producing biochar and obtaining heat. The apparatus includes a motorized fuel conveyor for conveying biomass fuel in a combustor for carbonizing the extracted biomass fuel in the combustor to biochar and combusting the released volatiles for heat recovery. In addition, the apparatus comprises a biochar conveyor for discharging the biochar generated in the burner from the burner.
European Patent Application EP 0 116 414 discloses a paper-like sheet material containing at least 25% synthetic thermoplastic material and at most 75% cellulose fibers. The disadvantage here is the comparatively high content of thermoplastics.
U.S. Pat. No. 2015 027 179 (A1) discloses the use of dried digestates for further processing in a pyrolysis system to produce biochar and synthesis gas.
Malayan patent application MY 129,849 (A) discloses a process for producing a biodegradable material. In the method, a pregelatinized starch suspension is first prepared and maintained between 0° C. and 60° C. A dry or moist, homogeneous mixture containing wood fibers with an aspect ratio between 1:2 and 1:8 (width: length) is added to the suspension. The result is a homogeneous, moldable mass that can be formed in the heat to a biodegradable material.
From the German patent application DE 3.622.933 A1 a carrying case made of waste paper is known. On the outer side of the bag, a thread grid is laid, which has threads running in the longitudinal direction of the bag side surfaces. Carrying handles are attached to the upper end of the pocket side surfaces. The thread grid is a network of two intersecting threads of threads made of natural fibers. The thread grid gives the bag even when wet sufficient carrying capacity, so that it is suitable as a garbage bag. The term "thread grid" as used is intended to denote all arrangements of threads and/or fibers.
In his article »55 applications of biochar«in the Ithaca Journal, January 2012, pages 92 to 102, H.-P. Schmidt explains the advantages of biochar and gives a detailed description of the application fields of biochar.
In her article "Paper from Biochar" in the Ithaca Journal, Kathleen Draper describes the production and applications of paper from biochar. This paper illustrates the papermaking and functional properties of biochar papers.
German patent application DE 197 22 324 A1 discloses a process for the production of solid molded parts from renewable and/or organic materials. In this case, crushed or shredded cellulose-rich raw materials with 5 to 50% of a lignin-based material as solidifying agent in the form of activated by intensive wet maceration raw lignite or peat and 1 to 15% slaked lime for denaturing plant ingredients and as bonding agent between wood and activated lignite or activated peat intensive are mixed, and the mixed material is solidified to form parts after drying to a moisture content of 5 to 25% by high-pressure compression. The use of lignite or peat, however, has the disadvantage that both the starting materials and the series products can vary greatly in their material composition and their structure, which is why the particular desired performance property profile of the molded parts—if at all obtainable—is difficult and experimentally consuming to adjust and reproduce.

Gas-permeable devices which absorb VOC and/or pollutants and/or are biocidal, and use thereof


A vacuum exhaust element of a vacuum switch has an ordinary withstand voltage because the vacuum vessel and power source element are grounded, therefore not requiring the high voltage to be taken into consideration. This way, the vacuum exhaust element is miniaturized and it is safe for a worker to touch the vacuum vessel and the vacuum exhaust element when performing maintenance and/or inspection.

The present invention relates to a vacuum switch with a vacuum exhaust element.
The interruption performance of a vacuum valve drops down suddenly at 10xe2x88x924 Torr or below. A change in vacuum pressure is caused not only by the leakage of vacuum due to generation of cracking but also by the release of gas molecules adsorbed in metal or insulating material, further by the transmission of atmospheric gas, and so on. When a vacuum vessel becomes larger in size as a higher rated voltage is requested of such a vacuum valve, the release of adsorbed gas or the transmission of atmospheric gas cannot be bypassed.
According to JP-A-51-130873, a vacuum exhaust element is attached so as to project from a vacuum vessel to the outside. However, the vacuum exhaust element is provided in portion connected to the bus. Therefore, there is a problem that an insulating transformer is required for a power source so that the whole size of the vacuum switch with the insulating transformer becomes larger.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum exhaust element of a vacuum switch which is miniaturized and which is safe for maintenance and inspection.
In order to attain the foregoing object, according to an aspect of the present invention, in a vacuum switch in which a pair of electrodes are disposed in opposition to each other in a grounded vacuum vessel so that one of the electrodes is detachably brought into contact with the other electrode, and rods connected with the electrodes extend to the outside from the grounded vacuum vessel, there is provided a vacuum exhaust element comprising: a projection portion projecting to the outside from a part of the grounded vacuum vessel; a magnetic field generator disposed outside the projection portion; and a power source circuit connected with an electrode and a getter which are provided in the projection portion.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vacuum exhaust element has a projection portion projecting from a part of the grounded vacuum vessel in the same direction as one of rods connected to the electrodes respectively; a magnetic field generator disposed outside the projection portion; and a power source circuit connected with an electrode and a getter which are provided in the projection portion.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vacuum exhaust element has a projection portion projecting from a part of the grounded vacuum vessel in the same direction as one of rods connected to the electrodes respectively; a magnetic field generator disposed outside the projection portion; and a power source circuit connected with an electrode and a getter which are provided in the projection portion. The vacuum exhaust element is made shorter than the one rod.
The vacuum exhaust element may be disposed under the one rod in opposition to each other.
In the vacuum exhaust element, the vacuum vessel and the power source circuit may be connected to the ground.
In the vacuum exhaust element, an insulator may be put between the grounded vacuum vessel and the projection portion.
In the vacuum exhaust element, the electrode provided in the projection portion may be constituted by a high-voltage-side electrode and a low-voltage-side electrode through an electric discharge gap.
In the vacuum exhaust element, a getter layer may be provided in an inner wall surface of the projection portion.
In the vacuum exhaust element, an insulation resistance meter may be connected to the power source circuit.


One embodiment of this invention pertains to a high throughput screening technique to identify current leakage in matrix-structured electronic devices. Because elements that are likely to develop a short have relatively high leakage current at zero operation hours, by identifying elements with the relatively high leakage current, the electronic devices that are more likely to later develop a short can be differentiated. The screening technique includes performing the following actions: selecting one of multiple first lines; applying a first voltage to the selected first line; applying a second voltage to the one or more of the first lines that are not selected; floating the multiple second lines; and measuring the voltages on the second lines, either sequentially one line at a time or measuring all the lines at the same time.

An organic light emitting diode ("OLED") display typically includes, in sequence: (1) a transparent anode (e.g., the anode can be comprised of indium tin oxide ("ITO")); (2) a hole transporting layer ("HTL"); (3) an electron transporting and light emitting layer ("emissive layer"); and (4) a cathode. When a forward bias is applied, holes are injected from the anode into the HTL, and the electrons are injected from the cathode into the emissive layer. Both carriers are then transported towards the opposite electrode and allowed to recombine with each other in the device, the location of which is called the recombination zone; the recombinations in the emissive layer produce visible light. In an OLED display, each intersection of the anode and cathode is referred to as a pixel (e.g., an electroluminescent ("EL") element) from which light can be emitted.
Anode-cathode shorts within a pixel ("pixel shorts") are one of the major causes for failure of passive matrix OLED devices. Under multiplexed operation a pixel short becomes visible as a black pixel combined with a bright column or bright row effect. The pixel short lowers the display quality and may even render the display unusable. The pixel short can be caused by, for example, substrate imperfections or asperities, anode layer irregularities, non-uniformity of the one or more organic layers, and airborne particles introduced in the element structure during handling. In most cases the short develops suddenly after a certain operation time. Pixels with risk of shorting usually have an increased reverse leakage current at zero operation hours. It is difficult to detect this leakage current due to the noise added by the multitude of pixels that are in parallel to the pixel to be measured.
In case of OLED displays, the measurement of pixel related leakage becomes particularly important, since there is a high probability that leaky pixels will develop into pixel shorts. Similar measurements are important for other matrix-structured devices such as, for example, memory circuits, active matrix displays, detector arrays, and solar cell arrays. The leakage current of a single pixel can be very small (sometimes less than 1 nA). It is difficult and time consuming to detect such a small leakage current in each pixel of a display that has thousands of pixels. There is a need to develop a fast and accurate technique to measure pixel leakage currents less than 10 nA (or 10 uA/cm2).
Therefore, it is desirable to have a fast technique to accurately measure a signal which is a suitable indicator for the pixel leakage currents of a newly fabricated display so as to identify those pixels that are later likely to develop pixel shorts.

Determining leakage in matrix-structured electronic devices


The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions of gabapentin tannate, processes for production of those compositions and methods of use of those compositions. The present invention provides a novel process for preparation of the tannate salt of gabapentin in liquid or semi-solid dosage form for human and veterinary pharmaceutical use. Tannate salts of active pharmaceutical ingredients are used in sustained release applications and to improve certain organoleptic properties such as taste. The process may utilize either natural or synthetic tannic acid.

The literature describes many ways of preparing gabapentin from a variety of starting materials, but there is no suggestion of the preparation of gabapentin tannate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,175 describes at least three methods of preparing gabapentin from cyclohexyl-1,1-diacetic acid. Each of these methods results in the formation of gabapentin hydrochloride salt, which may be converted to 1-(aminomethyl)-1-cyclohexaneacetic acid by treatment with a basic ion exchanger and then crystallized from a solvent such as ethanol/ether.
However, the prior art neither discloses nor suggests the preparation of gabapentin tannate and subsequent incorporation into suitable liquid and semi-solid dosage forms. The formation of a tannate salt of gabapentin is unexpected because of the close proximity of a carboxylic acid group to the amine group. The negative charge on the carboxylic acid group was expected to shield and possibly neutralize the positive charge on the proximal nitrogen. Since tannate salts are thought to normally form through an ionic interaction with a positively charged amine functional group, the close proximity of the carboxylic acid group was expected to prevent the formation of the tannate salt.

Phenolic acid salts of gabapentin in liquid and/or semi-solid dosage forms and methods of use


An electrophoretic display apparatus and an image-updating method thereof are provided. The electrophoretic display apparatus comprises a display panel and a source driver. The display panel comprises a plurality of pixels and a plurality of source lines, and each pixel electrode is electrically coupled to an AC common voltage through a corresponding capacitor. The capacitor comprises a plurality of charged particles. The source driver comprises a first data-latching circuit and a second data-latching circuit. Each of the data-latching circuits comprises a transistor, a capacitor and an inverter. The first data-latching circuit receives image data and a data shift-register output pulse. The second data-latching circuit is electrically coupled between an output terminal of the first data-latching circuit and a source line and is used for receiving a data output pulse.

The inner circuit structure of the current source driver adopted in an electrophoretic display apparatus generally comprises a plurality of control circuits corresponding to the number of the source lines. For the common electrode above the electrophoretic film and biased by a DC voltage (i.e., DC-common), the pixel potential should have three levels, that is, high level, low level, and common level. The three levels are respectively used to move particles upward, to move particles downward and to hold particles at the same position. Therefore, two-bit data is needed. Because each of the control circuits must receive the image data with the two bits, each of the control circuits must use two same circuits to process the image data with the two bits, and each of the control circuits further comprises an additional decoding circuit to decode the image data with the two bits. Therefore, in the condition of having a plurality of pins, the circuit of the conventional source driver is very complex, and the size of the circuit of the source driver is very large. Furthermore, the width of the outer frame of the display panel is determined by the size of the source driver (which is more complex than the gate driver), thus it is difficult to reduce the width of the outer frame of the display panel because the source driver is very complex, and it goes against the trend of narrowing the frame of the display panel.

Electrophoretic display apparatus and image-updating method thereof


A computer implemented method to handle events based on historic actions. An event-handler receives an event, wherein the event has an associated event-type. The event-handler records the event to an event-action history table. The event-handler determines a history associated with the event by reading the event-action history table. The event-handler looks up a row entry in an action table based at least in part on the event-type, wherein the row entry comprises an action. The event-handler executes at least one instruction of the action. The event-handler records the event and action data to the event-action history table.

The present invention relates generally to a computer implemented method for selecting responsive actions. More specifically, the present invention relates to referencing earlier attempted actions, if sufficiently current, and responding with at least one alternate action.
Systems management software installed on data processing systems are used to detect and catalog events. An event is a signal that indicates a condition of a resource of a data processing system. An event can be, for example, a condition related to a rotation rate of a fan. Accordingly, the event can be a signal generated to identify both the resource and the condition of the resource. Some events can be asynchronously generated from an error condition. In addition, multiple events may be aggregated together to form an event summary. An event summary is an event that describes at least two other events. For example, an event summary can be a count of the number of times a fan speed exceeded a threshold in the previous hour. A resource is a physical data processing hardware or virtual resource, backed by physical data processing hardware. A resource can correspond to a system, subsystem, software program, or device. A resource can have attributes such as a temperature. An event, on the other hand, may be a request such as a hypertext protocol request at a server, or a report that a processor on that server has met or exceeded a temperature. Accordingly, the use of events can be helpful to collect information about a data processing system's status.
One or more events can be indicative of an underlying problem or anomaly. Accordingly, it is helpful that system administrators pay attention to some events under some conditions.

Event-handler for selecting responsive actions


A risk system that performs a risk assessment of a financial transaction to obtain a first risk score, and based on first risk score performs post-score assessments by selectively utilizing various scoring models and databases. The post-score process re-assesses some of the borderline risks in order to capture beneficial transactions that may fail standard risk assessments that use a cutoff risk score to divide the transactions into either authorized or declined groups.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to risk assessment, and more particularly to systems and methods of evaluating risks associated with financial transactions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most financial transactions involve a customer making a payment in exchange for goods or services from a merchant. Many times the payment is in a promissory form that instructs the customer's bank to pay the merchant. A check is one example of such promissory form of payment. As is well known the funds promised by the check are sometimes not paid due to reasons such as insufficient funds in the customers' checking accounts or fraud. Thus, the merchant is taking a risk whenever a check is received as a payment. Many merchants maintain local databases that include, for example, a list of checkwriters that have written bad checks in the past. Such databases may range from a simple list on paper for a small store owner to a computer network for a chain store. As is known in the art, managing such databases requires use of merchants' resources that could otherwise be used more beneficially.
In order to manage financial transaction risks, many merchants subscribe to an agency that assesses risks associated with financial transactions. For a given transaction, a subscribed merchant sends a transaction approval request to the agency with information such as check amount, check identifying information, and information about the checkwriter. The agency assesses the risk and generates a risk score based on the information received. The agency then either authorizes or declines the transaction based on the risk score. Some examples of these risk assessment agencies include TeleCheck and Equifax. The level of subscription to such an agency can vary, from an approval service to the agency assuming the risk of the transaction by either guaranteeing the check or purchasing the check from the merchant. Thus it is in the interest of the agency to accurately assess the transaction risks.
In order to assess a transaction risk, check approval agency typically calculates a risk score by inputting information about the check, checkwriter, and the merchant into one or more algorithms. The algorithms then return the risk score that is indicative of the transaction risk. Traditional check approving process typically comprises a cutoff risk score such that a transaction whose risk score is higher than the cutoff risk score is authorized. Conversely, a transaction whose risk score is lower than the cutoff risk score is declined. Such approval process is generally configured to statistically favor the merchant or the check approving agency in terms of probable risk. As a consequence, the cutoff risk score selected causes decline of many check transactions that have borderline risk scores.
Significant portion of the declined transactions, however, are beneficial to both the merchant and the check approving agency. As an example, a checkwriter whose check "bounces" occasionally due to careless bookkeeping, but always ends up paying for the bounced check plus a substantial fee, is ultimately beneficial to the merchant or the agency; however, the bounced check history will most likely reflect negatively and may lead to a decline decision by the agency. Traditional risk assessments performed by check approval agencies are not able to evaluate such specific situations very well, and thus do not benefit as much from such potentially beneficial transactions.
Hence, there is a need for improved and more precise scoring methods for determining whether to authorize or decline checks written by customers. To this end, there is a need for a system and method that is better able to distinguish between a high risk transaction wherein the checkwriter will most likely be unable or unwilling to cover the check and a medium risk transaction wherein the checkwriter will, in all likelihood, be able to cover the check at a later time plus pay the additional service fees.

Systems and methods for selective use of risk models to predict financial risk


A system and method is provided for routing telephone calls on a standard telephone network to one of a PSTN network and a VoIP network. The system comprises at least one telephone capable of making local and long distance calls on the network. A Central Office is coupled to the telephone and comprises a trigger for identifying calls to be routed to either a VoIP platform or the PSTN network. Calls to be converted to IP protocol are routed to a VoIP platform. An IP network is coupled to the VoIP platform and routes VoIP calls to one or more devices in communication with the telecommunications system.

The process of routing telephone calls over the Internet, rather than using traditional phone lines (i.e., POTS, PSTN), goes by many names: Internet telephony, IP (Internet Protocol) telephony, iTelephony, Voice over IP (VoIP) and e-calling. Recently, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has become a more widely used method of communicating because telephone calls can be carried on the Internet. Uses of software/hardware combinations that use the packet-switching methods of the Internet and other digital data communications to establish voice communications via the Internet have become more and more common. The most immediate advantage of these systems is that VoIP does not incur long distance toll charges.
VoIP implementations enable users to carry voice and other traffic (for example, telephone calls and faxes) over an Internet network. There are several advantages of VoIP, including low-cost phone calls, add-on services and unified messaging, and merging of data/voice infrastructures. Most VoIP systems consist of a number of different components, including some form of software/hardware combination that converts voice conversations to Internet Protocol. In VoIP, a digital signal processor (DSP) segments the voice signals into frames and stores them in voice packets. The voice packets are transported using Internet protocol (IP) in compliance with one of the specifications for transmitting multimedia (voice, video, fax and data) across a network, e.g., H.323 (ITU), MGCP (level 3, Bellcore, Cisco, Nortel), MEGACO/H.GCP (IETF), SIP (IETF), T.38 (ITU), SIGTRAN (IETF), Skinny (Cisco). VoIP is a delay-sensitive application. Accordingly, a well-engineered, end-to-end network is necessary to use VoIP successfully. Examples of services provided by a VoIP network include: phone to phone, PC to phone, phone to PC, fax to e-mail, e-mail to fax, fax to fax, voice to e-mail, IP Phone, transparent CCS (TCCS), toll free number (1-800), class services, call center applications, VPN, Unified Messaging, Wireless Connectivity, IN Applications using SS7, IP PABX and soft switch implementations, chat and video conferencing.
While VoIP is becoming more commonplace, the technology has not been developed to the point where it can replace the services and quality provided by the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Cost savings for using VoIP are most easily realized in the area of long distance services. In this area, VoIP provides a competitive threat to providers of traditional telephone services that will clearly stimulate improvements in cost and function throughout the industry.
Some VoIP systems offer voice override IP products for use on a personal computer (PC). For example, the user dials a number via a computer dial pad provided on a webpage. The PC converts the voice transmission to IP protocol. The call is transferred to an IP network and eventually the call is completed via a landline network or the like. Other known VoIP systems offer an IP telephone or a device where a user can simply pick up a handset and dial a number and the device will complete the call in voice override. The handset avoids the voice spectrum of the phone line. Instead, the IP phone typically is connected via a DSL line to a box or the like that connects the voice transmission to IP protocol. All of these known systems require special hardware, either an intermediate box, or software at the user's end. Some systems require an "always-on" connection to a network, typically a DSL line. These systems often experience poor voice quality and connectivity problems.
FIG. 1 depicts examples of known VoIP architectures. As depicted in FIG. 1, by implementing software or hardware, such as an IP telephone 105, or by connecting compatible hardware to an existing broadband line, users can complete IP telephone calls. For example, user 101 using a software application and a PC accesses an Internet website via a modem 120. The user "dials" a long distance call by typing in a number using an "Applet" telephone dialpad, or the like, which is displayed on a web page. Another example is illustrated by telephone 103, which is connected to box 110 provided by an IP telephone service. Box 110 converts the analog voice call to IP protocol and couples the voice stream via a broadband line 130, e.g., a DSL line, to a switch in a Central Office 150. Central office 150 routes the call, via Internet 160, to a VoIP Gateway 170 and then on to second Central Office 180. From there, the call is routed via PSTN Central Office 180 to a second caller 109. Finally, another example is illustrated when caller 105 uses a special IP telephone as mentioned above. The IP telephone 105 serves in much the same manner as box 110, converting voice data to IP protocol.
As will be appreciated, these systems all require, in one form or another, hardware, software, or both, at the user's end to create a VoIP telephone call. This need for extra hardware and/or software raises the cost of making the calls, increases the need for customer service and can generate customer dissatisfaction.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus to enable users to enjoy the convenience and cost savings of a VoIP system using their standard telephone (POTS). In order to fully capitalize on the benefits of VoIP, a need exists for a system and method to make IP telephone calls using a standard telephone without having to, for example, dial extra digits, use a special device, implement software applications, or dial in to a network with a modem at the user's end.

System and method for voice over internet protocol using a standard telephone system

AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.