A protection circuit for a DSL transceiver unit includes a capacitor connected in series between a first and second portion of a primary winding of a transformer. The first and second portions are coupled to first and second lines, respectively, of a twisted-pair telephone line. A first voltage controlled device is coupled to the first line and a chassis ground. The first voltage controlled device has a first threshold turn-on voltage at which the first voltage controlled device provides a first current path from the first line to chassis ground. A resistive device and a second voltage controlled device are coupled across the capacitor in series. The second voltage controlled device has a second threshold turn-on voltage at which the second voltage controlled device provides a second current path from a first capacitor terminal of the capacitor to a second capacitor terminal of the capacitor. The second threshold turn-on voltage is lower than the first threshold turn-on voltage.

One way in which telecommunication service providers provide high-speed digital communication services is by using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. In one typical configuration, a high-bit rate digital subscriber line (HDSL2) transceiver unit located in a central office of a service provider communicates with an HDSL2 transceiver unit located at a remote site. The former transceiver unit is also referred to here as an "H2TU-C" and the latter transceiver unit is also referred to here as an "H2TU-R". The H2TU-C communicates with the H2TU-R over a single twisted-pair telephone line using HDSL2 technology.
The twisted-pair telephone line is typically coupled to the H2TU-R using an isolation transformer. The isolation transformer has a primary winding that is coupled to the twisted-pair telephone line and a secondary winding that is coupled to the signal processing components of the H2TU-R (for example, an analog front end, line driver, etc.). The tip and ring lines of the twisted-pair telephone line are coupled to tip and ring terminals, respectively, of an HDSL2 port included in the H2TU-R.
It is often the case that the H2TU-R is powered by the twisted-pair telephone line. In one embodiment of a line-powered H2TU-R, the primary winding of the isolation transformer has two halves. One half of the primary winding is coupled to the tip line of the twisted-pair telephone line (via the tip terminal of the HDSL2 port) and the other half of the primary winding is coupled to the ring line of the twisted-pair telephone line (via the ring terminal of the HDSL2 port). The two halves of the primary winding are connected using a capacitor having a relatively high capacitance (for example, on the order of 1.8 microfarads). The power voltage for the H2TU-R is taken across this capacitor.
The H2TU-R typically includes multi-stage protection circuitry intended to protect the signal processing components of the H2TU-R from electrical surges and other conditions that may occur over the twisted-pair telephone line. Typically, such protection circuitry includes a primary protection circuit that includes a pair of gas discharge tubes. One of the gas discharge tubes is coupled between the tip line of the twisted-pair telephone line and chassis ground for the H2TU-R. The other gas discharge tube is coupled between the ring line of the twisted-pair telephone line and chassis ground. The gas discharge tubes typically have a relatively high turn-on voltage (for example, around 1200 volts) and can handle large currents for brief periods of time (for example, from around 5,000 amps to around 10,000 amps for around 1 millisecond). When an electrical surge causes a voltage greater than the turn-on voltage to be established across one of the gas discharge tubes, the gas discharge tube turns on and the current associated with the surge is shunted to chassis ground and away from the other components of the H2TU-R coupled to the twisted-pair telephone line.
The multistage protection circuitry of such an H2TU-R also typically includes a secondary protection circuit. A typical secondary protection circuit includes a pair of fuses or positive thermal coefficient (PTC) thermistors. One fuse or PTC thermistor is in series between the tip line and one half of the primary winding. The other fuse or PTC thermistor is in series between the ring line of the twisted-pair telephone line and the other half of the primary winding. This provides overcurrent protection. The secondary protection circuit also typically includes a pair of transient voltage suppressor devices (for example, a SIDACTOR(R) silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)-type (also referred to as a "thyristor") transient voltage suppressor device available from Teccor Electronics) to provide overvoltage protection. One transient voltage suppressor is coupled between the tip line of the twisted-pair telephone line and chassis ground. The other transient voltage suppressor is coupled between the ring line of the twisted-pair telephone line and chassis ground. The transient voltage suppressor devices, in one configuration, have turn-on voltages of between approximately 275 volts and approximately 350 volts. The secondary protection circuit is intended to protect the signal processing components of the H2TU-R from electrical surges that are not stopped by the primary protection circuit.
One type of surge that the protection circuitry is intended to protect the signal processing components of the H2TU-R from is an alternating current (AC) power cross surge. An AC power cross surge occurs when one of the lines of the twisted-pair telephone line comes into electrical contact with a 60 hertz (Hz) AC power line. The GR-1089 standard promulgated by Telcordia Labs specifies a first level AC power cross surge test. See, for example, test number 3 from Table 4-7 of the GR-1089 Telcordia standard. In this test, a 60 Hz, 600 volts AC, 1 amp signal is applied across the tip and ring terminals of the HDSL2 port. During each half of each cycle, the capacitor that couples the two halves of the primary winding of the isolation transformer is charged up by current resulting from the incoming surge.
When the voltage across that capacitor exceeds the turn-on voltage for one of the transient voltage suppressors, the transient voltage suppressor turns on and provides a current path to chassis ground. This causes the charged capacitor to discharge through both halves of the primary winding of the transformer and on through the transient voltage suppressor to chassis ground. Due to the relatively low resistance in this current path, a very high current flows through the primary winding of the transformer. This can lead to the induction of a destructive voltage surge on the secondary winding of the transformer, which can potentially damage the signal processing components of the H2TU-R that are coupled to the secondary winding. The high current flowing through the transformer can also cause a gradual heating of the transformer windings, which can cause the transformer to deteriorate and ultimately fail. The process of charging and discharging the capacitor occurs up to about 10 times during each half of each 60 Hz cycle. In other words, during such test, the capacitor is charged and discharged up to about 1200 times during a one second period.

Protection circuit for a digital subscriber line device


A root extending from a platform of an airfoil is disclosed. The root may include a first portion having a generally cylindrical shape, and a second portion extending from the first portion to the platform. The second portion may have a circumference larger than a circumference of the first portion.

Gas turbine engines may typically include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, with an annular flow path extending axially through each. Initially, air flows through the compressor where it is compressed or pressurized. The combustor then mixes and ignites the compressed air with fuel, generating hot combustion gases. These hot combustion gases are then directed from the combustor to the turbine where power is extracted from the hot gases by causing blades of the turbine to rotate.
Typically, compressors of gas turbine engines include a plurality of stages. Each stage generally includes a disk with airfoils radially extending therefrom. The airfoils may be either rotor blades or stator vanes. Due to the high rotational speeds of the gas turbine engine rotors, the airfoils may be subject to high tensile stress fields and vibrational modes. Airfoil damage, such as cracking or failure may result from high cycle fatigue caused by the induced vibratory stress cycles. In addition, modern engine design trends have incorporated higher rotor speeds, higher stage pressure ratios, and reduced axial spacing; factors which all increase the of the disturbances exciting the airfoils.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an airfoil design that can raise the resonant frequencies of the lower airfoil modes in order to produce more durable airfoils having resonant frequencies outside the level of vibratory excitations which may cause damage to the airfoil. This invention is directed to solving this need and others.


An intravenous tube holder for use in a trauma unit or similar environment is disclosed. The present invention includes at least one element, each element preferably containing a plurality of tracks, each track being design to secure a separate intravenous tube, said element further having a writing surface on the same side of the element as the tracks, with a writing surface next to each track for identifying the content and/or other dosage information identifying the contents of the intravenous tube therein. Each element further has a projection on the side opposite the tracks and writing surfaces for attaching the element to a support means. Each element has a male extension and female indent for interconnecting to additional element so as to accommodate a greater number of intravenous tubes.

This invention relates generally to a device for organizing intravenous (IV) tubes in a trauma unit. Specifically, the present invention entails the use of individual, attachable elements having a track for releasably engaging one or more sections of tubing, each section of tubing representing a separate intravenous tube for a different source container, wherein the elements have a space for nonpermanent marking next to the track for identifying the medicine in the tubing, and the back portion of the element has a projection for engaging a C-clamp or similar mechanical support means.
The quick and accurate delivery of medicines and fluids to a patient is one of the most important aspects of trauma medical treatment. This delivery is typically via the use of a intravenous feed line which communicates various fluid from one or more solution bags or bottles to a hollow needle via a flexible tubing. The hollow needle is inserted into the patient's vein for the slow application of the therapeutic liquid. While this procedure is well known and normally operates without any complications, there are situations which make the monitoring of these fluids and their delivery very difficult.
In any hospital or other medical facility, the nursing staff is periodically relieved by the next shift. Since the nursing staff is responsible for monitoring the IV delivery, each new shift must become familiar quickly with the multitude of patients and the variety of IV drugs being administered. More importantly, in the case of an apparent adverse medicine reaction, the nursing staff or other medical personnel in the trauma unit must immediately be able to analyze the array of fluids administered to the patient. The ability to memorize each patients' array of medicines is impossible, given that a critical care nurse can have responsibility for dozens of different patients having intravenous attachments, each of them having anywhere from one to eight or more different IV drugs being administered. Currently, adhesive tape is added to the IV tube permitting the nurse to write information about the drug and its delivery. This means though that the nurse must adjust the often curled tape so that it can be read. As mentioned above, this arrangement is unsatisfactory if the nurse or other trauma unit personnel cannot identify the each of the respective tubes and their medicines quickly. If there is a variety of IV drugs being administered, their respective tubing often becomes entangled and confused. This entanglement may become life threatening if it takes the nurse time to identify which tube connects to which IV bottle. Even in the instances, where such delay is not life threatening to the patient, the quicker analysis and adjustment afforded by the present invention allows trauma nurses and other medical personnel to save time and thus focus more on patient care.
Another problem which may commonly occur is the problem of excess tubing. Health and safety guidelines for most hospitals currently prohibit intravenous tubes from touching the floor. In addition to the obvious risks of tripping both patients and personnel, the need to avoid touching the floor also is designed to lessen the danger of touch contamination.
In an attempt to clear away the confusion, a variety of inventions have been developed which try to keep the tubing orderly. One such approach is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,473, entitled "Plastic Container with Auxiliary Tube Retention Means" issued to Winchell on Jul. 10, 1979. This device wraps the IV tube around the bag/bottle to take up the slack.
Unfortunately, this arrangement does not assist in marking of the IV tube. Further, this arrangement can injure the patient when the patient rolls or moves; the IV tube cannot "give" or expand so the needle is pulled out of the patient.
Other approaches have attempted to secure the IV tube through the use a clamp or support type of mechanism. Examples of these approaches include: U.S. Pat. No. Des. 260,850, entitled Medical Flexible Tube Support" issued to Greenblatt on Sep. 22, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 243,477, entitled "Intravenous Tube Anchor" issued to Cutruzzula et al. on Feb. 22, 1977; and, U.S. Pat. No. Des 263,624, entitled "Adjustable Medical Tubing Support Frame or Similar Article" issued to Stenzler et al. on Mar. 30, 1982.
In all of these approaches, the tube is secured but the marking of the tubing is even more difficult since these devices are bulky and complex.
Another approach has called for securing the IV tube to the patient through the use of a bracelet. This approach is exemplified by: U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,933, entitled "Intravenous Device" issued to Speaker on Jun. 12, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. Des 290,041, entitled "Intravenous Tube Holder" issued to Scott on May 26, 1987; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,641, entitled "Catheter Support Device" issued to Jacobs on Aug. 9, 1983.
These devices focus upon preventing the IV needle from being pulled from the patient, in use, as the patient rolls, the pull on the tubing causes the IV bottle and support bracket to be pulled over. This is an even more dangerous situation than if the needle had been pulled out. More importantly, these devices to not facilitate the attachable addition of more intravenous tube elements, nor do they teach the easy identification of source solutions contained in various intravenous tubes. To the contrary, the placement of the tubes on a bracelet near the patient's wrist could complicate identification and removal of a particular tube under emergency conditions (e.g., a patient seizure could make analysis of drug identifications on a wrist bracelet virtually impossible).
In addition, a variety of devices have been designed to more securely affix the IV bottle. These include: U.S. Pat. No. Des 265,508, entitled "Combined Bottle Neck Clamp and Tube Holder" issued to Rusteberg on Jul. 20, 1982; and U.S. Pat. No. Des 269,121, entitled "Retractable IV Container Holder" issued to Pollard on May 24, 1983.
The basic structure of these patents result in the IV tubing being even less flexible since the tubing is more securely fastened to the IV bottle and support. These references, however, are not focused upon the easy engagement, disengagement, or identification of multiple intravenous tubes in a trauma setting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,246 (Scott) employs a clip having an open face for identifying medicines being administered. Unfortunately, the preferred embodiment of this reference calls for a throughput for the intravenous tube and a plurality of clips for gathering excess tubing. The throughput hole defined in this reference is not conducive to easy remove or set up (as would be required in a trauma unit, and the multiple clips for each intravenous tube causes a bunching of tubes (and therefore a increased risk of mishandling) at the clip point. Also, this reference fails to provide identification of the medicines on the same side or face as the tubing, thus complicating the process of analyzing and removing tubes during the trauma treatment process. Finally, this reference has no ability to engage a mechanical support to limit entanglement and disorganization of the tubing during treatment or movement.
In short, none of the prior art, either alone or in combination, provides an intravenous tube holder for use in a trauma unit which can alternatively allow for the retention of multiple intravenous tubes and facilitates the quick and easy identification of the fluids in each respective tube.


A light emitting device includes a semiconductor structure layer including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer. A plurality of lower refractive layers is provided on an outer surface of the semiconductor structure layer. The lower refractive layers includes a first lower refractive layer having a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the semiconductor structure layer on a surface of the semiconductor structure layer, and a second lower refractive layer having a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index on an outer surface of the first lower refractive layer. The second refractive index of the second lower refractive layer is 1.5 or less, and the second lower refractive layer is provided on an outer surface thereof with a plurality of protrusions. The second lower refractive layer includes a plurality of metallic oxide powders.

1. Field
The embodiment relates to a light emitting device, a method of fabricating the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system.
2. Background
A light emitting device (LED) is a device having a characteristic of converting electrical energy into light energy. For example, the LED may represent various colors by adjusting the compositional ratio of compound semiconductors.
A LED according to the related art includes an N type GaN layer on a sapphire substrate, a multiple quantum well structure including an InGaN quantum well and a GaN quantum barrier, and a P type GaN layer, and emits light as electrons supplied from the N type GaN layer are combined with electrons supplied from the P type GaN layer in an active layer.
Although internal quantum efficiency of the LED approximates 100%, external quantum efficiency is only in the range of 2% to 30% since the total internal reflection, which is a physical phenomenon caused by a great difference in refractive index between a semiconductor and the air, prevents light, which is emitted from the active layer in the LED, from being extracted to the outside
For example, since a compound semiconductor, such as GaP or GaAs, has a refractive index of about 3.5 or 3.6, and the air has a refractive index of 1, a critical angle allowing the light emitted from the active layer to exit to the outside is about 16°. In the case of a GaN-based semiconductor device, since the refractive index of GaN is about 2.5, and the refractive index of the air is 1, the critical angle is about 23°. In other words, the light emitted from the active layer may exit to the air only if an incident angle of light onto a top surface of the active layer is less than 16° or 23°.
Accordingly, there are suggested schemes of highly transmitting photons to the external air by artificially making the surface of a semiconductor layer rough in order to improve external extraction efficiency of the photons.


A well assembly utilizes a casing tensioning system that allows a preselected amount of stretch to be applied in the casing. The assembly includes a tubular mandrel that secures to the upper end of the string of casing. A load ring has internal grooves that mate with exterior grooves on the mandrel, the load ring being of a ratcheting type. A retainer will latch the load ring in the wellhead housing. A positioning ring mounts to an upper portion of the mandrel to position the load ring at a desired distance above a stop shoulder on the lower portion of the mandrel and the load ring. During tensioning, the load ring remains stationary in the wellhead housing as the mandrel is pulled upward until the stop shoulder contacts the load ring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to oil and gas well drilling equipment, and in particular to an apparatus for tensioning a section of casing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In oil and gas well drilling, the casing will be cemented in the well. In some well installations, the operator will tension the casing above the level of cement, and support the casing in tension at the wellhead. For example in one type of offshore drilling, the level of cement around the casing will be located at or below the sea floor. The casing extends upward to a surface wellhead housing at the drilling or production platform. The surface wellhead will have pressure control equipment. In very deep water, the extension of casing above the sea floor could be a considerable distance.
The section of the casing extending from the level of cement to the surface wellhead housing must be placed in tension. This is handled by pulling upward on the section with a drilling rig, then anchoring the casing in tension at the surface wellhead housing. Various devices to maintain the casing in tension are available.
Under the prior techniques, the amount of tension depends upon the amount of overpull applied by the drilling rig. An operator may have means for calculating in advance how much stretch that he wishes to place in the casing. However, it is difficult to precisely pull and maintain the calculated amount of stretch. Normally, the operator marks the pipe, then pulls it upward for the calculated amount. The operator then attempts to hang the casing in the wellhead housing at the desired point of stretch.


A sterile-packed rice product is produced in a system including a rice filling device that fills an individual tray with a predetermined quantity of washed and soaked rice; a sterilization chamber that substantially air-tightly contains one or more of arrays of the trays with rice for sterilizing the rice with high-temperature pressurized steam introduced into the chamber; a water filling device that fills the trays with the sterilized rice with a predetermined quantity of water necessary for steam rice-cooking; a steam rice cooker that cooks the rice with a steam; and a sealing device that lids air-tightly that trays with the cooked rice. A clean booth surrounds a conveyor conveying the trays from the steam rice cooker to said sealing device, thus providing a predetermined cleanliness over an area covering at least a conveying path of the trays from an exit of the steam rice cooker to the sealing device. An intermittent conveyor is preferably used to intermittently conveys the arrays of the trays throughout the rice filling device and the sterilization chamber. Preferably, high temperature pressurized steam is intermittently flushed into the sterilization chamber for sterilization of the packed rice.

The present invention relates to a system for production of sterile-packed rice, which is capable of substantially completely eliminating any thermo-resistant bacteria that could remain in rice.
Rice has been known as one of the most healthy foods and taken as the staple food or side-dish ingredient in many countries in the world. Recent consumer lifestyles and dining styles have changed the rice industry environment. In other words, the conventional custom of cooking rice as a domestic work has, at least in part, shifted to the recent trend of buying processed rice products.
Retort-pouch foods have become popular as typical one of processed or pre-cooked foods. A retort-pouch food can be produced by packaging and sealing a processed food in a tray or package and then sterilizing the packed food in a high temperature, high pressure atmosphere. It has been known that when the food temperature rises to above approximately 130.degree. C., any thermo-resistant bacteria that could contain in the food is eliminated substantially perfectly.
However, since heat is transmitted gradually from the peripheral area to the center of the food while the food is subjected to retort sterilization, when the food center reaches a temperature of the order of 130.degree. C., its peripheral area must have much higher temperature, resulting in deterioration of natural food flavor. On the other hand, retort sterilization with a lower temperature prevents flavor deterioration but does not provide a sufficient sterilization because the food center could not reach a predetermined temperature.
Thus, retort-pouch rice can not meet the requirement of perfect sterilization without flavor deterioration. Various attempts have been directed to production of sterile-packed rice that satisfies the above requirements. For example, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 3-155761 published on Jul. 3, 1991 and Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 3-201954 published on Sep. 3, 1991 disclose sterile-packed rice production system comprising sterilizing a large quantity of washed rice by a high temperature steam, followed by cooking, and packaging and sealing the cooked rice into a plurality of small-size, individual packages. Packaging and sealing operation is carried out in a sterile atmosphere, that is, in a clean room of cleanliness of 100-1000 class. The packages and lids are in advance sterilized by ultraviolet light.
With this system, a huge clean room is needed for packaging and sealing operation. It is laborious and costly to create and maintain a predetermined cleanliness for such a huge clean room. Moreover, workers' hands and clothes must be cleaned or sanitized each time when they go into and out of the clean room, which greatly degrades operation efficiency and increases production cost.

System for production of sterile-packed rice


The invention relates to a collector (10) for harvested material having at least three movement devices (12) and at least one yoke (16) interconnecting the movement devices (12). Supporting elements (18) are additionally provided which are connected to the yoke (16) and/or the movement devices (12) and which have a shaft bushing (20) within which a shaft (22) is guided on which pick-up tools (24) for picking up harvested material are mounted. At least one additional movement device (12) is provided between two outer movement devices (12), the yoke (16) being elastically deformed so as to allow a vertical movement—with respect to the yolk axis—of the additional movement device (12) relative to said outer movement devices (12).

In the prior art, rotatable collectors for harvested material, so-called pick-up's, comprise tine bars which are mounted radially around the exterior of a central tube and are connected to the latter. Rotation of said central tube will cause the tines mounted on said tine bars to lift up material to be harvested from the ground and convey it to a collecting area.
Particularly important here is how far the tines are spaced from the ground. In the case of wheel-supported pick-up's, such distance is usually determined and set by means of separate sensing wheels or sensing skids.
Such an array of several shaft segments which are interconnected via rigid frames is disclosed in DE 20 2010 010 038 U1.
DE 91 13 475 U1 discloses a torsionally flexible profile which is mounted on a rigid yoke between two frames and in which the shaft is guided with wheels mounted on the exterior of each frame. Similarly, DD PS 143 496 discloses shaft bushings which are spring-mounted or articulated on a rigid yoke and which are connected to load-bearing skids and support a flexible shaft. Furthermore, strippers are provided which are likewise connected to the shaft and are spring-mounted or articulated on said rigid yoke. As the machine passes uneven ground, this array will cause the tines to be axially displaced relative to the strippers.
However, the disadvantage of these pick-up's is that usually only operating widths of between about 2 to 3 meters can be accomplished without risking considerable dirt ingress or excessive raking losses as the machine travels on uneven ground.

Collector for collecting harvested material


A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for building portlets from templates and managing templates are disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises providing a portlet template with configuration user interface components; and using the configuration user interface components to present the portlet template to a user. Attributes of the portlet to be configured are displayed to the user, portlet configuration information is obtained from the user, and the portlet configuration information is used to set portlet attributes. In an embodiment, attributes of the portlet template to be configured are displayed to the user, portlet template configuration information is obtained from the user, and the portlet template configuration information is used to update the template descriptor and other template components. In an embodiment, the portlet templates may be built by creating child portlet templates based on parent portlet templates. Child portlet templates inherit the properties and components of the parent portlet templates, and may be extended by overriding properties and components. Properties and components are obtained from the most specific template in which they are found.

Portlets are Java-based Web components, managed by a portlet container, that process requests and generate dynamic content. They are used to display relevant information to portal users. Applications for portlets include the display of email, weather reports, discussion forums, and news. Portals use portlets as pluggable user interface components that provide a presentation layer to back-end information systems. Java Specification Request (JSR) 168 Portlet Specification, defined by the Java Community Process, enables interoperability among portlets and web portals, and its disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference. This specification defines a set of APIs (Application Program Interfaces) for portlets and addresses standardization for preferences, user information, portlet requests and responses, deployment packaging, and security.
Creating a portlet typically requires expertise in Java, J2EE (Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition), XML (Extensible Markup Language), XML Schema, portlet API (application programming interface) such as JSR-168, and other technologies such as content management software. This task is usually performed by consultants, systems integrators, web developers, or other personnel with the requisite technical expertise. Content is supplied by business users who must work with technical personnel who implement the portlets. Further, reusing portlets is often difficult because of limited configuration capabilities, and requires further involvement from technical personnel.
It would be useful, therefore, to have a way to enable business users to more quickly and easily develop portlets without need for expertise in the underlying technologies. Business users would be able to focus on the content creation task without need to deal directly with underlying technologies.


Systems and methods described herein may operate to receive, at a search service, a first query from a user device corresponding to a current user of the search service, analyze existing search queries performed by users of the search service, and selectively provide, to the user device, a second query of the existing search queries as at least one of: a refinement of the first query based on determining that the second query includes all keywords in the first query, or an alternative to the first query based on determining that the second query lacks at least one keyword in the first query.

Networked commerce systems, such as Internet-based auction systems, depend upon user specified searches to locate items of commerce. While some users are highly skilled at locating desired items, a large segment of users lack knowledge helpful in navigating such systems. As a result, inefficient use of the system and a lack of user traffic to some commerce items can be experienced.
To increase sales, some commerce systems have provided recommendations to users based upon purchasing performance of prior users. For example, when viewing a product the system may indicate that users who purchased the product also purchased a second identified product. This system does not assist the user in navigating but merely provides suggestions to increase sales. What is needed is a system to assist users in navigating a network based commerce system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System to generate related search queries


A residential complex formed of circular modules, the central part of the residence formed by the principal circular module and the bedrooms and other remote living areas formed by secondary circular modules. The modules are interconnected by upper and lower passageways, and the secondary modules may be angularly positioned with respect to the principal module to accommodate elevations and other surface characteristics of the residence site. A circular stairway along the interior peripheral wall connects the upper and lower floors of the principal module, and circular domes with circular centered skylights, circular chimneys and an arcuate cantilevered structure promote the circular theme.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a residential structure and, more particularly, a multi-circular module residence having a principal circular module and a plurality of secondary circular modules.
2. Background of the Invention
Residential construction has conventionally been confined to square or rectangularly configured buildings and square or rectangular rooms within the buildings, a practice that usually provides the most flexibility in furnishing rooms to utilize all wall space. The building styles of such conventional structure have ranged from expanded single level ranch style dwellings to multi-storied high ceiling dwellings that are more popular today. At an earlier time, modern style home building utilized curved corners and arches in many areas, but still utilized basic square or rectangularly shaped rooms for most of the interiors. While conventional building practices still remain popular and offer and endless variety of design and configuration options, there has been an interest in deviating from such general practices and developing a novel, unique and multi-functional dwelling utilizing a consistent array of geometric designs as a theme for the residence. It is to this interesting and flexible concept that the present invention is directed.
The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a residence utilizing a series of circular modules as a central theme of the design.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described that has distinctly separated circular modules of different sizes connected by passageways.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described wherein the secondary circular modules may be angularly positioned with respect to the principal circular module to accommodate the elevational and other distinct features of the building site.
Yet still another objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described wherein perimeter wall engaging stairways connect the various levels of the floors of the structure.
Yet still another further objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described which has a cantilevered arcuate structure forming a deck or sunroom consistent in curvature with the curvature of the principal circular modular exterior perimeter wall.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described wherein each of the circular modules has a circular domed roof and can have a circular domed skylight on that roof.
Yet still another further additional objective of the present invention is to provide a residence of the type described, the circular modules of which may have circular chimneys connecting to their exterior perimeter.
The structure of the present invention is a multi-circular module residence having a principal circular module with interior and exterior perimeter walls that includes a basement and one or more additional floors. Each of the floors has rooms utilizing the interior perimeter wall, and the module has a central area conveniently utilized as a sitting area. An interior perimeter wall engaging stairway connect the floor levels of the principal module. Secondary circular modules are separately positioned from the principal module and are connected to the principal module by ground and first level passageways. The secondary modules conveniently contain bedrooms and baths and usually have a garage at ground level. Cantilevered arcuate structures can be associated with the modules and preferably are consistent in curvature with the curvature of the module exterior perimeter wall.
Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the concept upon which this disclosure is based and that it may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is also to be understood that the abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.
Thus, the enumerated objectives and others identified herein, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive material in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.


Self-learning and adaptive modeling is employed with respect to predictive analytics. A hierarchical model structure can be employed comprising a set of predictive models automatically built from accumulated data and distributed across multiple levels. For a given input type, a set of candidate models can be identified across varying levels of granularity, and a best model selected based on a comparison of performance metrics of the models. The best model can then be activated for use in making predictions. Of course, the best model can change based on most recent training performance results, since as more data becomes available more specific models can be developed.

Predictive models or algorithms are employed to predict the likelihood of an outcome. One application of predictive models is in risk assessment. Most enterprises in e-commerce and financial industries use some form of predictive models to detect fraud and intrusion in their transaction system. For example, fraud can include conducting unauthorized business on someone else's payment instrument. A decision scientist or statistician is conventionally employed to build a predictive model to identify high-risk behavior. Model performance is periodically monitored, and the model is re-developed when the performance level falls below a predetermined level. Further, sophisticated models are often designed to improve classification based on an abundance of historical data. For instance, a model can be trained to classify behavior has high or low risk as a function of historical data for a particular business.


The composition includes a cyclic, unsaturated compound, preferably a polyphenol derivative. It reduces the synthesis of melanin by inhibiting the activity and expression levels of tyrosinase and related proteins, thereby preventing and limiting the content and distribution of melanin in mammalian skin. It also induces autophagy of melanosome, thereby restricting the synthesis, storage and transfer of melanin from melanocyte to keratinocyte. The dual modes of action allow for the efficacy of the composition at low dosage without causing toxicity to lighten skin and treat disorders associated with hyperpigmentation.

Formulations to lighten skin tone and/or reduce hyperpigmentation provides therapeutic and/or aesthetic benefits. It is generally desirable to eliminate or inhibit the development of irregular pigmentation including melasma (chloasma or localized discoloration), age spots (Lentigo senilis) or liver spots (associated with sun damage or aging sometimes appearing as raised spots or Seborrheic keratoses) and freckles (Lentigo aestiva). The excess accumulation of melanin causes hyperpigmentation, which is associated with a number of diseases or disorders including solar lentigines, melasma, freckles and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In most East Asian cultures, traditional aesthetics prefer a light skin tone.
The skin pigmentation is related to the amount and type of melanin synthesized by the epidermal melanocytes and its transfer to the neighboring keratinocytes. Tyrosinase (TYR) is a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, which catalyzes hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and its subsequent oxidation to dopaquinone (Slominski A, et al., Physiological Reviews, 84(4): 1155-1228 (2004)). Dopaquinone is converted through dopachrome into an indole derivative via autoxidation, and the conjugation of dopaquinone with this indole derivative produces melanin. Once synthesized in the cell body of the epidermal melanocyte, pigmented melanosomes are translocated down the dendrites and captured at the dendritic tips via various cytoskeletal elements. When incorporated into the keratinocytes, melanosomes are distributed individually or as clusters, aggregated towards the apical pole of the nucleus. Ultraviolet irradiation (UVR) can modulate the process of melanosome transfer from the melanocytes to the keratinocytes. (Boissy R E, Experimental Dermatology, 12(s2): 5-12 (2003)).
One approach to skin lightening is to inhibit melanin synthesis by suppressing the activity, expression, and/or transcription of tyrosinase or other melanogenesis-related enzymes. However, current depigmenting agents have one or more shortcomings including toxicity, poor stability, low effectiveness, and side effects such as allergy and skin irritation. For example, hydroquinone and its derivatives are widely used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation, but the concentrations are strictly regulated due to their cytotoxicity and side effects such as permanent hypomelanosis and amelanosis (Smith C J, et al., Pigment Cell Res, 1(6):386-9 (1988)). In the United States, hydroquinone is available in concentrations up to 2% as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, and the higher concentrations are only available by prescription (Engasser P, et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 5(2):143-7 (1981)). Ascorbic acid and its derivatives can inhibit melanin synthesis, but they are unstable in air and high temperature and are unsuitable for regular storage. In particular, L-ascorbic acid quickly oxidizes and decomposes in aqueous solution, and is therefore not generally used as a depigmentating agent (Kameyama K, et al, J. Am. Aca. Dermatol., 17:381-386 (1996)). Kojic acid and arbutin are used in skin lightening product (Majmudar G, et al, J. Cosmet. Sci., 49:361-367 (1998); Maeda K, et al., J. Pharmacol Exp Ther, 276(2):765-9 (1996)), but a high concentration is required for them to exhibit inhibitory activities. Besides, kojic acid may also induce allergy. Azelaic acid and α-hydroxy acids may contribute to even skin tone, but often cause skin irritation. Other plant extracts or polyphenols have also been tested based on mushroom tyrosinase system, but their assays in cell-based systems are rare (Solano F., et al., Pigment Cell Res, 19(6):550-71 (2006)).
Agents to diminish melanin levels through other mechanisms may have high toxicity. A melanosome is an organelle found in animal cells and is the site for synthesis, storage and transport of melanin. Verapamil and rapamycin are two autophagy inducers, shown to possess autophagic effect by promoting the autophagic degradation of melanosomes in keratinocytes (Murase D, et al, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 133:2416-24 (2013)). Similarly, resveratrol, was shown to increase autophagy in melanocytes, but the required concentration was very high (Kim E S, et al., Experimental Dermatology, 23:204-6).
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition and a method to safely and effectively lighten skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, or both.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of skin lightening, depigmentation, or both, through inhibiting the synthesis of melanin and inducing the autophagy of melanosome.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a composition and a method to suppress melanogenesis and accelerate the reduction of synthesized melanin.

Compositions and methods for lightening skin and reducing hyperpigmentation


A medical shoe for use in supporting a patient's foot and a method of using same, the medical shoe comprising an out sole, an upper assembly secured to and partially surrounded by the out sole and an insole assembly substantially enclosed by the outsole and the upper assembly. The outsole having a base portion generally corresponding with the plantar aspect of a human foot and of varying thickness and having a substantially rectangular opening in a top surface of the base portion thereof adapted for accommodating a metatarsal shank. The out sole having a circumferential counter portion extending upward circumferentially from the top surface of the base portion thereof around the base portion of the outsole thereby providing a cavity in the outsole. The upper assembly adapted to surround at least the heel, sides and dorsal portions of the human foot. The upper assembly attached to the top surface of the base portion of the outsole and the circumferential counter of the outsole, and extending in a dorsal direction from the top surface of the base portion of the outsole along the circumferential counter. The insole assembly having a plurality of insole layers disposed in the outsole cavity and surrounded by the upper assembly and the outsole circumferential counter. The plurality of insole layers provided to include a first insole layer, a second insole layer a third insole layer and a fourth insole layer wherein the first and second layers are an Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) material and the second layer has a durometer less than the first layer, the third layer is a Poron material with a durometer less than the second layer, and the fourth layer is an EVA material with a durometer less than the third layer, and the first, second, third, and fourth layers may be assembled in any order as determined by a health care provider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a shoe or sandal specifically designed to aid in the offloading, or reducing weight or pressure, from a specific area of the foot. The shoe or sandal, and specifically the insole and outer covering of the shoe upper, are designed to be altered by or under the direction of the health care provider to either offload weight from the bottom of the foot or to remove or reduce pressure from the sides, top or other specific areas of the foot.
The incidence of foot ulcers, infections and deformities of the feet has become an increasing problem as the life expectancy of patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases increase. The cost of treatment of these complex foot problems has escalated to the point that the Center for Disease Control and others in the health delivery system are placing a special emphasis on finding more effective ways of treating these problems. Patients with circulatory problems, diabetes, AIDS, arthritis neuropathies and other debilitating diseases experience complications that lead to increased deformities in the feet subjecting the deformed areas to increased pressures and friction. Spinal cord injuries and other injuries to the back and lower extremities may cause neuropathies that in turn produce deformities in the toes and feet with a loss of feeling causing more complications to develop. Chemically induced neuropathy from chemotherapy, alcohol, drug abuse, etc., may also lead to ulcerations and lesions of the feet that require special care. All of these problems are exacerbated by weight bearing pressure or friction from conventional shoes. Regardless of how aggressive the treatment plan, the use of expensive antibiotics, local wound care, surgery etc., healing is delayed and the lesions and infections reoccur unless effective measures are taken to redistribute weight reducing pressure and friction from the involved foot lesions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Orthotics (othopedic inserts) for supporting certain aspects of the human foot are well known in the field of podiatric medicine. However, orthotics can produce added pressure on the supported areas and cause rubbing which may lead to blistering or other ailments, complicating the above-described problems. Orthotics require additional space when used in conjunction with standard insoles and may even require extra space when comprised in a customized insole. Thus, when used in normal mass market shoes, orthotics can also cause rubbing on opposite surfaces of the foot, due to reduced clearance between foot and the shoe upper. Othopedic shoes such as those manufactured by Markell® and others provide extra depth to accommodate foot deformities and/or orthotics, but have an extremely awkward appearance, generally having a much higher profile (taller appearance) than normal mass-market shoes, and can be unstable when multiple inserts are used.
The wound care shoe system is designed to produce a foot friendly environment where pressure and friction are reduced allowing healing to take place and to reduce the incidence of reoccurrence of a lesion. The invention provides an easy to use healing shoe or sandal and an effective method to offload weight from a particular area of the plantar aspect (bottom) of the human foot by using alterable insoles or insole layers of varying densities and degrees of firmness which fit into an area surrounded by a circumferential counter, in order to hold the insole layers in position. This creates a low profile more stable shoe than prior art extra depth shoes. The outer covering of the upper is also constructed of materials that can be cut out or heat molded or otherwise altered to reduce friction and/or pressure from the non-weight bearing areas of the foot.


A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.

It is known to provide a valve timing control apparatus that controls opening timing and closing timing of intake valves or exhaust valves, which are driven by a driven-side shaft of an internal combustion engine, by changing a rotational phase between a driving-side shaft and the driven-side shaft of the engine. For example, the valve timing control apparatus of JP2005-351182A changes the opening timing and closing timing of the valves through rotation of a vane rotor relative to a housing by changing a pressure of hydraulic oil in advancing chambers and a pressure of hydraulic oil in retarding chambers in the housing. The vane rotor of JP2005-351182A is made only of a plurality of metal plates, which are stacked one after another in the axial direction.
A size of the metal plate varies among the metal plates of the vane rotor. Therefore, the axial size and the radial size of the vane rotor vary from product to product. Particularly, the axial size of the vane rotor largely varies from product to product because of accumulation of size errors of the metal plates, which are stacked one after another in the axial direction. Therefore, a gap between the vane rotor and the housing cannot be reduced beyond a certain limit, and thereby oil leakage from the gap may possibly occur.
JPH11-81928A teaches another type of valve timing control apparatus, which changes opening timing and closing timing of the valves through rotation of a vane rotor relative to a housing by changing a pressure of hydraulic oil in advancing chambers and a pressure of hydraulic oil in retarding chambers in the housing.
In the valve timing control apparatus of JPH11-81928A, a seal member is installed to a radially outer end of each of vanes of the vane rotor. In a state where the pressure of the advancing chamber is larger than the pressure of the retarding chamber, the seal member is urged against a retarding chamber side wall surface of a corresponding groove of the vane rotor and an inner wall of the housing by a pressure of the hydraulic oil, which enters from the advancing chamber into a clearance between the seal member and the vane. In another state where the pressure of the retarding chamber is larger than the pressure of the advancing chamber, the seal member is urged against an advancing chamber side wall surface of the corresponding groove of the vane rotor and the inner wall of the housing by a pressure of the hydraulic oil, which enters from the retarding chamber into a clearance between the seal member and the vane.
In the valve timing control apparatus of JPH11-81928A, when the pressure difference between the advancing chamber and the retarding chamber is reduced, the differential pressure, which is a pressure difference between the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the advancing chamber and the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the retarding chamber and is applied to the seal member, is reduced. Therefore, the position of the seal member becomes unstable, and thereby the oil leakage may easily occur.
Furthermore, the hydraulic oil, which is pumped from an oil pump, is supplied to the clearance between the seal member and the vane of the vane rotor through the advancing chamber or the retarding chamber. Therefore, the pressure loss, which occurs in the path from the oil pump to the clearance, is relatively large. Thus, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient pressing force to press the seal member. As a result, the oil leakage can easily occur.


Antiatherosclerotic compounds of Formula I are provided:

Studies have demonstrated that both the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in humans and the severity of experimental atherosclerosis in animals are inversely correlated with serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (see, eg, Russ et al, Am. J. Med., 11 (1951) 480–493; Gofman et al, Circulation, 34 (1966) 679–697; Miller and Miller, Lancet, 1 (1975) 16–19; Gordon et al, Circulation, 79 (1989)8–15; Stampfer et al, N. Engl. J. Med., 325 (1991) 373–381; and Badimon et al, Lab. Invest., 60 (1989) 455–461). Atherosclerosis is the process of the accumulation of cholesterol within the arterial wall which results in the occlusion or stenosis of coronary and cerebral arterial vessels and subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. Angiographical studies have shown that elevated level of some HDL particles in humans appears to be correlated to a decreased number of sites of stenosis in the coronary arteries of humans (see, eg, Miller et al, Br. Med. J., 282 (1981) 1741–1744).
There are several mechanisms by which HDL may protect against the progression of atherosclerosis. Studies in vitro have shown that HDL is capable of removing cholesterol from cells (see, e.g., Picardo et al, Arteriosclerosis, 6 (1986) 434–441). Data of this nature suggest that one antiatherogenic property of HDL may lie in its ability to deplete tissues of excess free cholesterol and eventually lead to the delivery of this cholesterol to the liver (see, e.g., Glomset, J. Lipid Res., 9 (1968) 155–167). This has been supported by experiments showing efficient transfer of cholesterol from HDL to the liver (see, eg, Glass et al., J. Biol. Chem., 258 (1983) 7161–7167; MacKinnon et al, J. Biol. Chem., 261 (1986) 2548–2552). In addition, HDL may serve as a reservoir in the circulation for apoproteins necessary for the rapid metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (see, eg, Grow and Fried, J. Biol. Chem., 253 (1978) 1834–1841; Lagocki and Scanu, J. Biol. Chem., 255 (1980) 3701–3706; and Schaefer et al, J. Lipid Res., 23 (1982) 1259–1273). Accordingly, agents which increase HDL cholesterol concentrations are useful as anti-atherosclerotic agents, particularly in the treatment of dyslipoproteinemias and coronary heart disease.
European Patent No. 718290-A1 claims carboxyalkyl heterocyclic derivatives as aldose reductase inhibitors useful in treating diabetic complications. Among compounds claimed are 4,5-dioxo-1-thioxoimidazolidines of the following formula:
wherein:                R is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1–3 carbon atoms;        n is an integer of 1–3; and        X is benzyl, benzothiazolylmethyl, or naphthyl methyl
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,919 claims the preparation and use of merodantoin (1) as anticancer and antiviral agents. The patent further discloses compounds of formula 2:
where R1 and R2 may be                hydrogen, C1–C6 alkyl, or benzyl
U.S. Pat. Nos 4,084,001 and 4,152,453 claim the use of compounds of formula (1) as intermediates in the preparation of histamine blocking agents and as inhibitors of acid secretion (2).
wherein:                R is alkyl and        n is an integer of 1–6.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,133 discloses compounds of the following formula as herbicides:
wherein:                R is an alkyl of 1–12 carbon atoms, alkenyl, or alkynyl.
German Patent DE 3540919 claims compounds of the following formula as herbicidal agents:
wherein:                R1 is hydrogen, alkyl; and        R2 is alkyl, phenyl, or phenylalkyl.
German Patent DD 154819 discloses methods for the preparation of compounds of formula (1) from 4,5-di-imino compounds (2)

German Patent DD 219483 A1 discloses compounds of the following formula as antitubercular agents:
wherein:                R is aryl; and        n is an integer of 1–2.

1,3-disubstituted-2- thioxo-imidazolidine-4,5-dione derivatives useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis

Abstract: wherein:                R is lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or —O—(CH2)n—COOR′;        R′ is lower alkyl;        n is an integer of 1–3;        Ar is phenyl, or phenyl substituted with one or more of halogen, lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy, or alkylthio; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.


A method is disclosed for producing a resin-composite profile. The method comprises providing an aluminum profile having a coating film that is capable of forming a functional group which reacts with isocyanate. A discharge treatment is performed on the film wherein the treated surface is capable of reacting with isocyanate. A urethane resin substantially formed of isocyanates and polyol is joined to the discharge treated surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technique for the union between an aluminum profile and a resin material, and more particularly to resin-composite aluminum profiles having a resin material joined to an aluminum profile, especially heat insulating aluminum profiles having the joined parts of opposed lateral sheet members of an aluminum profile formed with a resin material, a method for the production of the profiles, and an apparatus, particularly a discharge treatment apparatus to be used for the production of the profiles.
The term xe2x80x9caluminum profile[s]xe2x80x9d is used herein to express the shapes or sections of aluminum or an aluminum alloy shaped into a continuous form (hereinafter referred to simply as xe2x80x9cprofile[s]xe2x80x9d) and the term xe2x80x9cresin-composite aluminum profile[s]xe2x80x9d is used to express the concept embracing the heat insulating aluminum shapes or sections (hereinafter referred to simply as xe2x80x9cheat insulating profile[s]xe2x80x9d).
2. Description of the Prior Art
The composite profiles having a resin material joined to the surface or recess of a profile have been used in various technical fields because they are light and excellent in durability, strength, or the like. Particularly, in the technical field of construction, sashes which are provided on either of the exterior and the interior side of building with a double paper sliding door disposing part have been disseminating with a view to affording insulation from heat, abating noise, and preventing dew condensation. The heat insulating profiles are used in the frames of such sashes.
The heat insulating profile is provided between the opposed lateral sheet members thereof with a joined part formed of synthetic resin and, in this structure, allowed to have the opposed lateral sheet members integrally joined by the adhesive force of the resin material and, owing to the intervention of the resin material between the opposed sheet members, enabled to manifest the functions of affording insulation from heat, abating noise, and preventing dew condensation. As the resin material mentioned above, generally a foamable hard polyurethane resin is used as taught in published Japanese Patent Application, KOKAI (Early Publication) No. 54-19, 537, for example.
Generally in the production of the heat insulating profile, a urethane resin material is injected to capacity into a recess provided between the coated, opposed lateral sheet members of a profile and wished to be packed with a resin and thereafter the portion of the profile which forms the recess is cut so that the opposed lateral sheet members are joined to each other solely with the urethane resin.
Since the adhesive force produced by the urethane resin is not sufficient, however, the resin and the profile are liable to peel off each other. Once the separation of this sort occurs, the profile has the problem of emitting a squeak when deformed under an external force and betraying deficiency in strength as well. Further, the heat insulating profile entails the problems of durability such as causing shrinkage of the urethane resin after a protracted use, tending to induce the phenomenon of giving rise to a step in the butt end (discernible by a test of repeating cycles of cooling and heating), and possibly inserting a crack in the face of union and inducing leakage of rain water through the crack. For the purpose of compensating the urethane resin for the shortage of adhesive force, such measures as applying a primer layer to the inner surface of the recess in the profile wished to be filled with resin or mechanically forming a multiplicity of claw parts on the inner surface have been heretofore proposed. These measures, however, entail highly expensive treatments, require introduction of expensive devices, and suffer poor productivity. These treatments are not easily performed uniformly on the inner surface of the recess, particularly so when a hole-forming part for a screw is protruded into the recess.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to develop a technique for improving the adhesive force to be generated between a profile and a resin by a relatively simple and inexpensive method and, therefore, allow manufacture of the composite profiles or heat insulating profiles having a profile and a resin joined fast to each other at a low cost with high efficiency.
Particularly, the present invention has for an object thereof the provision of the composite profiles, especially the heat insulating profiles, which allow easy treatment of the recess wished to be filled with resin even when a hole-forming part for screw is protruded into the recess, produce high adhesive strength between a profile and a resin, prevent the profile from emitting a squeak even on exposure to an external force, exhibit high strength, offer strong resistance to the shrinkage of resin, entail virtually no phenomenon of giving rise to a step in the butt end, and excel in durability enough to withstand a protracted use and a highly efficient method for the manufacture thereof.
A further object of the present invention is to develop an apparatus, particularly an electrode for a discharge treatment apparatus, which can be advantageously used for the method described above.
To accomplish the objects described above, the present invention in the basic aspect thereof provides a method for the production of a resin-composite profile characterized by performing a discharge treatment on the surface of the portion of a coated profile destined for union with resin and joining a resin material to the discharge treated portion. When the profile has a recess wished to be packed with resin, the discharge treatment is performed on the inner surface of the recess and the discharge treated recess is filled with the resin material.
The adoption of this method equals the provision of a resin-composite profile which has a resin material joined fast integrally to the discharge treated portion of the coated surface of the profile.
The profile to be effectively used for the present invention may be a profile having a coating film formed by a coating treatment on the surface of a profile of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, generally an extruded profile, or a profile having formed thereon a composite film comprising an anodic oxide film, colored oxide film, or chemical conversion film and a coating film superposed thereon. Thus, a profile furnished on the surface thereof with a coating film is invariably usable for the present invention. The coating treatment involved herein may be performed by any of the heretofore known methods such as, for example, electrodeposition coating, immersion coating, and electrostatic coating.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the production of a heat insulating profile characterized by performing a discharge treatment on the inner surface of a recess disposed between opposed lateral sheet members of a coated profile and intended to be filled with resin, filling a resin material in the discharge treated recess, and then cutting the portion of the profile forming the recess, thereby obtaining a heat insulating profile having the opposed lateral sheet members integrally joined to each other with the resin material filled as described above. When the profile mentioned above has at least two recesses disposed between the opposed lateral sheet members and destined to be filled with resin, the discharge treatment and the packing of resin material are performed on the interior of one of the recesses and then the portion of the profile forming the other recess is cut when the portion of the profile forming the recess mentioned above is subsequently cut, a resin sheet is superposed on the cut portion of the other recess to occlude this cut portion, and subsequently the discharge treatment and the packing of resin material are performed on the interior of the other recess.
The adoption of this method results in the provision of a heat insulating profile which has the joined part of the opposed lateral sheet members of a coated profile, the joined part (joining member) being formed of a resin material joined fast integrally to the discharge treated portions of the opposed surfaces of the opposed lateral sheet members.
The present invention further provides an apparatus for the production of the composite profile or heat insulating profile mentioned above, characterized by being furnished at least with means for conveying a coated profile, discharge means disposed so as to be freely approximated to the profile on the conveying means for the purpose of performing a discharge treatment on the profile in motion on the conveying means, and resin filling means disposed on the downstream side of the discharge means and adapted to be freely approximated to the profile on the conveying means. The apparatus for the production of a heat insulating profile is furnished on the downstream side of the resin filling means with a device for cutting the resin-filled recess portion of the profile similarly in the standard apparatus for production and, when the profile has at least two recesses, furnished further with a device for sealing the cut recess portion with a resin sheet.
The present invention further provides an electrode for the discharge treatment of a profile, which can be used advantageously for the discharge treatment mentioned above. Preferably the electrode comprises a base part shaped like a rod or a plate and connected to a high-voltage power source and a projecting part adapted to protrude laterally from the lower terminal portion of the base part and confront the inner surface of a recess to be treated when the projecting part is, inserted into the recess of a profile. In a preferred embodiment, the projecting part comprises a plurality of-linear materials having the upper ends thereof bundled and fixed to the lower terminal portion of the base part.
The use of the apparatus of the present invention mentioned above, particularly the use of the aforementioned electrode for the discharge treatment, allows the discharge treatment to be performed effectively and continuously on the part of the surface of a coating film of the profile which is wished to be treated and results in improving the productivity of the composite profile and the heat insulating profile.

Resin-composite aluminum profiles, heat insulating aluminum profiles, and method and apparatus for production thereof


The invention concerns a peristaltic hose pump and an equipment for the peristaltic hose pump. The pump includes a rotor configured to compress a hose/tube being positioned on the pump cavity inner perimeter. The rotor is coupled to a one end of a crankshaft of the pump body and the pump includes a device to receive an equipment for rotating the rotor manually. The equipment for rotating the rotor includes a connection point that is configured to connect the equipment to the pump. The equipment includes also weight configured to act as a counterbalance to the rotor in order to maintain the position of the rotor.

Positive displacement pumps, in which peristaltic pumps form a subclass, are employed for pumping problematic substances in particular, such as abrasive, corrosive, slurried or high-viscosity liquids and liquid-suspended solids. Peristaltic pumps are also preferred when pumping as a primary function must be complemented with accurate metering, high hygienic standard and leakproofness. Peristaltic pumps are used widely e.g. in the manufacture of foodstuffs, drugs, oil and chemical products. In heavy industries, peristaltic pumps serve to pump, inter alia, such materials as liquids and ore/mineral suspensions.
To operate properly, a peristaltic pump must be capable of forcing a volume of a fluid medium to move along a hose/tube by way of peristaltically compressing the hose from end to end during one turn of the pump rotor while simultaneously the next fluid volume is already filling the hose. Conventionally, this pumping sequence is implemented by rotating a nonrotary shoe or pressing roller, whereby the hose is subjected to progressive compression in the nip between the shoe/roller and the peripheral wall of the pump head. Furthermore, the hose/tube/tubing is selected to be sufficiently elastic and reinforces such that the hose resumes its circular profile immediately after the compression thereby creating a vacuum in its lumen thus including the entry of the next volume of the fluid medium into the hose.
Publication U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,956 discloses an example of a peristaltic hose pump. A peristaltic pump according to the publication is shown in FIG. 1. The pump comprises a pump body 1, a hose 2 and a rotor 3. The rotor 3 is mounted freely rotatable on bearings mounted onto an eccentric adjustment bushing 5. In use, the rotor 3 rotates in the pump cavity and compresses the hose 2 in said pump cavity by rolling over the hose surface thus propelling the bulk of fluid medium contained in the hose 2. With the rotary progressive motion of the rotor 3 and the hose recovering its circular profile immediately after the point of rotor compression, the hose 2 creates a vacuum that causes the hose 2 to become refilled with the fluid medium being pumped. The adjustment mechanism serves to adjust the gap between the rotor outer surface and the pump cavity inner periphery that determines the compressive force imposed on the hose. The hose 2 is located within the housing of the peristaltic pump, and the hose ends are placed to the feed-through openings 6, 7.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional sideview of the peristaltic pump shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the rotor 3 and the adjustment bushing 5. In addition, FIG. 2 shows also a crankshaft pin 10, onto which the adjustment bushing 5 and the rotor 3 is mounted.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the hose 30 that is inserted within the peristaltic pump. The hose ends 31, 32 are placed to the feed-through openings (see FIG. 1: 6,7) of the peristaltic pump, and the loop of the hose is brought over the rotor (FIG. 1: 3).

Equipment for rotating a rotor of a peristaltic pump


A process for forming a dual-damascene interconnect employs a spun-on organic layer above an interlayer dielectric having a set of apertures for vias that forms tapered regions about the apertures without penetrating the apertures; the slope of the tapered regions being transferred in the etching process to form self-aligned tapered vias.

In integrated circuit processing, vertical connecting members (vias) between horizontal interconnection layers are used to improve planarity. The apertures that are formed have a high aspect ratio and are correspondingly difficult to fill without voids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,442 illustrates a Damascene process that employs a two-level mask. U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,673 illustrates a Damascene process employing a mask of graded thickness at various locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,672 illustrates a Damascene process in which a sacrificial polysilicon layer is isotropically etched to produce a tapered opening, the taper being transferred to an underlying oxide layer. The art has long searched for a simple, low cost method of forming a Damascene-metal interconnect.

Dual damascene process having tapered vias

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and a system are provided for helping to guide an endovascular tool in vascular structures. The method includes an initial planning phase in which a first three-dimensional anatomical model specific to the patient is determined from an acquired three-dimensional image, and an intervention phase in which a final transformation, which is a combination of a rigid transformation and of an elastic transformation, is applied to the first three-dimensional anatomical model specific to the patient in order to obtain a second three-dimensional model specific to the patient. The rigid transformation is estimated between the preoperative three-dimensional image and one or more perioperative two-dimensional images of perioperative two-dimensional images, and the elastic transformation is calculated as a function of a simulation of vascular deformations that are induced by introducing the tool into the target vascular structure.

Endovascular interventions make it possible to treat vascular diseases in a minimally invasive manner. They generally consist in inserting by endovascular route a medical device with the purpose of interacting with the pathological tissues. Endovascular interventions are in particular used to treat aortic aneurysms as well as stenosis and arterial thrombosis, via the introduction of various suitable endovascular tools such as a balloon or a stent.
Contrary to conventional surgical interventions that require making a wide opening in the body of the patient in order to access the tissues of interest, endovascular interventions require only fine incisions in order to be able to insert the tools into the vascular structure. They have several advantages, in particular an increase in the short-term success rate as well as a decrease in perioperative morbidity and in the length of hospital stay. Despite the generalisation of these interventions, they remain delicate and have to be secured and made dependable. Access to the pathological tissues is made difficult by the nature of the intervention. The manipulation and the control of the instruments require substantial precision in order to favour the success of the treatment. Moreover, the following of operating procedures can be carried out only through the intermediary of perioperative imaging.
In the field of endovascular interventions two-dimensional image acquired by fluoroscopy are used, making it possible to guide the insertion of medical devices, such as catheters, into the femoral artery and into other vascular branches.
Fluoroscopy designates a medical imaging technique that makes it possible to view anatomical structures in motion and in real time. As arteries are soft tissues and therefore invisible to X-rays, a radiopaque contrast agent can be administered to the patient in order to bring out the vascular structure by indicating the pathway of the arteries.
The two-dimensional images are acquired and used during an operating phase, therefore an intervention phase.
In order to improve the assistance provided during the operating phase, it has been proposed to also use three-dimensional image data (or 3D images), acquired during a preoperative phase or planning phase, obtained by acquisition techniques such as for example tomography also called CT for "computed tomography", magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Indeed, very often, the two-dimensional information concerning the organs is not sufficient and the operations require three-dimensional knowledge. These 3D images are acquired before the operation for the diagnosis of the disease or for observing the shape of the aneurysm and preparing the intervention, and are therefore easily available during the operation.
Using three-dimensional information generated in the preoperative phase during perioperative navigation requires a putting into correspondence of this information with the two-dimensional imaging (2D) acquired during the intervention phase. The putting into correspondence is carried out thanks to a recalibration process that makes it possible to express the various data in the same spatial reference.
The objective is to view, at the same time and on the same image, various types of information such as images of different modalities or of previously extracted anatomical models. This makes it possible to provide the practitioner with additional information as well as a better understanding of the operating field, allowing him to improve the precision of the intervention and to secure the operating procedure.
There are surgical systems that are image guided intended for so-called hybrid operating rooms, provided with a support device for an image acquisition device able to rotate around the patient for the acquisition of images, for example via X-ray. Such a support device known under the name rotational motorised C-arm, is used in rotational angiography. Using such a device makes it possible to acquire three-dimensional image data during the intervention and to facilitate the merger between image data acquired previously and image data acquired during the intervention, via a 3D/3D recalibration. The updating of the recalibration is then fully automated, and the operator can easily change the angles of the C-arm or move the table of the patient without calling the image merger into question. In the end, the quantity of contrast agent to be injected is less and the duration of radiation is reduced.
However, using a motorised rotating C-arm is not practical in an operating room, and can hinder the movement of the practitioner. In addition, such equipment is expensive and many hospitals cannot be equipped with it.
In most cases, operating rooms are equipped with a conventional mobile and non-motorised C-arm, which is a lighter and less expensive piece of equipment. The objectives of assistance are the same as with the motorised C-arms, but the image merger is no longer fully automated. In this case, the recalibration is carried out between the 3D image acquired in the preoperative phase and the 2D images acquired during the operation, and the recalibration has to be updated every time the patient, table or C-arm moves.
In addition, the 2D images acquired during the operating phase, also called perioperative images, contain various content that makes the recalibration difficult. Indeed, these images contain anatomical structures of different types: constantly visible bone structures, vascular structures, which are fully or partially revealed thanks to the contrast agents injected, as well as endovascular tools, for example catheters, flexible or rigid guides, or stent delivery devices. Consequently, it is generally difficult to determine the geometrical transformation between the preoperative image data and the perioperative image data.
In addition, the anatomical structures undergo deformations between the preoperative phase of acquiring 3D image data and the intervention phase, with these deformations able to be caused on the one hand by physiological changes, but especially by the introduction of endovascular tools into the vascular structures of the patient. In particular, the vascular structure is deformed by the introduction of a rigid guide, which has for purpose to facilitate the insertion afterwards of a stent delivery system.

Method and system for helping to guide an endovascular tool in vascular structures


A radiation-emitting semiconductor component with a layer structure (12) which includes a photon-emitting active layer (16), an n-doped cladding layer (14) and a p-doped cladding layer (18), a contact connected to the n-doped cladding layer (14) and a mirror layer (20) connected to the p-doped cladding layer (18). The mirror layer (20) is formed by an alloy of silver comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Au, Os, Ir, Pt, Cu, Ti, Ta and Cr.

Radiation-emitting semiconductor components, such as for example InGaN-based top-down mounted luminescence diodes or thin-film luminescence diodes require highly reflective mirror materials which reflect radiation emitted from the active zone toward the component rear side back toward the front side or toward the component flanks.
In the case of top-down mounted luminescence diodes, the radiation-generating epitaxial layer sequence faces toward the mounting side, i.e. the component radiates through the growth substrate if still present. In the case of thin-film luminescence diodes, the growth substrate used for the epitaxial growth of the radiation-generating epitaxial layer sequence is at least partially removed and the epitaxial layer sequence is located on a carrier substrate applied subsequently.
Furthermore, for luminescence diodes based on nitride III–V compound semiconductor material, in particular based on GaN, such as AlGaN, InGaN and InGaAlN, and also GaN itself, the mirror materials are to form an ohmic contact with the p-doped layer of the layer structure.
The problem in this context is that metals of good reflective properties in the blue spectral region, such as aluminum, do not form an ohmic contact on p-GaN or related materials, such as p-AlGaN, p-InGaN and p-InGaAlN. On the other hand, materials which form a good contact on p-GaN, such as for example platinum or palladium, have an adsorbing action in the blue spectral region and are therefore not suitable for use as mirror material. Only silver is both sufficiently reflective and suitable for the contact-connection of p-GaN, etc. However, the drawback in this case is that the mechanical stability of silver layers is insufficient for use in luminescence diodes.
The group of radiation-emitting components based on nitride III–V compound semiconductor material in the present case include in particular chips in which the epitaxially produced semiconductor layer, which typically includes a layer sequence composed of various individual layers, includes at least one individual layer which comprises a material from the nitride III–V compound semiconductor material system InxAlyGa1-x-yN, with 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and x+y≦1. The semiconductor layer may, for example, have a conventional pn junction, a double heterostructure, a single quantum well structure (SQW structure) or a multiple quantum well structure (MQW structure). Structures of this type are known to the person skilled in the art and are therefore not explained in more detail at this point.
The choice of mirror material is also difficult in the case of short-wave thin-film luminescence diodes based on InGaAlP. Gold, which is often used as mirror material at present, limits the efficiency of these diodes, on account of its relatively low reflectivity. Silver, which is more suitable in terms of reflectivity, has not hitherto been used, on account of its poor bonding and on account of migration problems.
One approach aimed at eliminating these difficulties consists in using aluminum mirrors, in which the electrical terminal is formed by a platinum layer and the optical properties are provided by the aluminum. Alternatively, it is possible to deposit silver which is fixed to a side facing away from the wafer by further metals.