A method for dynamically directing a wireless repeater is provided. A repeater will include an antenna, a mobile station modem, a processor and data storage. The processor will cause the antenna to sweep over a coverage area, possibly through increments. At each increment, the antenna will receive signals and pass the signals to the MSM. The MSM will then apply a rake receiver to identify characteristics in the received signals, such as PN offsets and signal-to-noise ratios (EC/IO) for each PN offset, and the processor will record in the data storage the PN offsets and corresponding signal-to-noise ratios at that increment. Given this data, the processor will then instruct the antenna to move to the increment where the MSM detected the strongest signal-to-noise ratio. As a result, the antenna of the repeater will point at a base station that is likely to supply the signal with the highest signal-to-noise ratio.

In a cellular wireless communication system, such as a code division multiple access (CDMA) system for instance, base stations are positioned throughout a coverage area and emit radio frequency radiation patterns that define cells. Mobile stations operating in a given cell may then wirelessly communicate with the serving base station, and the base station may provide connectivity with further network components such as switches and gateways that connect with transport networks.
In a CDMA system, each cell is typically divided into a number of sectors, each of which is identified by a specific pseudo-noise offset (i.e., "PN offset") of a specific spreading sequence that is used to encode communications with mobile stations operating in the cell. At any given instant, a mobile station may thus operate in a given sector, and may thereby communicate with the serving base station using the PN offset of that sector. (In practice, an idle mobile station may communicate on a single PN offset (i.e., in a single sector) at once; an active mobile, on the other hand, might communicate on multiple PN offsets (i.e., in multiple sectors) at once, although a dominant one of those active PN offsets might be the focus of communications at any given moment.)
Unfortunately, in some wireless networks, the cells may not seamlessly cover an entire area, so there may be a hole in coverage between cells. To solve this problem, a wireless carrier may install a repeater that functions to extend the range of a given cell or sector, so as to fill in the hole in coverage. Such a repeater may be able to receive a signal distorted by transmission losses and to regenerate or replicate the signal. The repeater would include a donor antenna that would communicate with a base station, a coverage antenna that would communicate with mobile stations, and a build-out circuit that would boost communications from the base station to the mobile stations. For example, the repeater may be positioned between a mobile station and a base station to intercept signals sent between them. The repeater may amplify the power of these intercepted signals and send amplified versions of these signals to the mobile station or the base station. Therefore, the repeater may effectively extend the range of a given cell by boosting communications between a mobile station and a base station.
In practice, the donor antenna of a repeater may receive signals from multiple base stations and multiple base station sectors (i.e., signals with multiple PN offsets) at once and boost all of those signals. In addition, the repeater will receive signals from mobile stations, boost the signals, and radiate the amplified signals to all nearby base stations. However, radiating the amplified signals to all nearby base stations can decrease the capacity of base stations that are not the intended recipient of the amplified signals by increasing the ambient noise level. Furthermore, even if the donor antenna of the repeater is set to radiate to a single base station, when that base station becomes loaded with primary traffic from the system (e.g., traffic not from the extended coverage of the repeater) the repeater traffic can cause a decrease in the overall capacity of the base station due to the noise rise at the base station caused by the noise generated by the repeater.
It would therefore be desirable to have a repeater repeat signals from and to just one base station or to repeat signals from and to just one sector (one PN offset) of one base station with which the mobile station is in communication. It would be even more desirable to have a repeater determine the one base station or one sector to which it repeats signals. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a repeater be able to change its donor base station by handing off communications from one base station to another that has less traffic, for example.

Method for dynamically directing a wireless repeater


A pressure sensor for a pipe includes: a flexible strip; at least one strain sensing element; and a tensioning device. A first end of the flexible strip passes through a second end of the flexible strip. Between the first end of the flexible strip and the second end of the flexible strip, the flexible strip includes the at least one strain sensing element. The pressure sensor is attachable to the pipe. The first end of the flexible strip extends through or past the second end of the flexible strip. The tensioning device tensions the pressure sensor around the pipe.

Industrial pressure sensors are typical invasive field instruments. The pressure is measured by exposing a flexible diaphragm to the process fluid through a port or hole in the process pipe or vessel, and measuring the deflection of this diaphragm using various techniques (e.g. piezo-resistive, inductive, capacitive, etc.). Though such systems are established and widespread in use, offering high accuracy and reliability, they still have significant drawbacks:                The process diaphragm, being exposed to often aggressive process media, is prone to corrosion and erosion, limiting the sensor's lifetime or increasing cost by using special materials;        The actual measuring diaphragm is mostly separated from the process by a hydraulic circuit filled with oil; this limits the use temperature and can be the cause for accuracy limitations (e.g. due to thermal expansion of the oil) or contamination of the process in case of failure of the process diaphragm;        Invasive sensors need open ports in the process; this causes high cost of installation (which may exceed the actual sensor's cost) and additional hazards of leakage, leading to increased explosion-proof requirements in the environment of such installations.
Non-invasive measurement of the pressure has been proposed to overcome these limitations. Many alternatives to measure the pressure through the pipe wall without drilling a hole have been described, though these have severe shortcomings, as described below:
WO2010/132572A1 describes a band and buckle for wrapping around and/or securing one or more objects. Specifically, the band is adapted to receive external objects and maintain the received external objects within the band. The external objects may include electronic devices, sensors, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices or other similar objects. These objects may be used for identifying the objects that are secured by the band, determining information about the band or its surrounding, and other various functions.
US2017/328700A1 describes a cable tie having a strain sensing device incorporated therein. In one embodiment, the strain sensing device is a fiber Bragg grating (FBG), which is preferably molded within the strap. In this case, the cable tie further includes a socket in optical communication with the fiber Bragg grating for coupling of the cable tie to an external light source. In another embodiment, the strain sensing device is a mechanical fuse that activates in the presence of a predetermined amount of strain on the cable tie. The mechanical fuse is preferably disposed on the strap and is made of a fuse material having a mechanical strength lower than a mechanical strength of the material of the strap so that the mechanical fuse will fracture or deform earlier than the material of the underlying strap when both the fuse and the strap experience the same increasing strain.
GB2073423A describes that for sensing pressure changes within a pipe without the need to use a pressure sensor exposed to the interior of the pipe, a piezoelectric sensor has two points spaced longitudinally of the pipe. The sensor is embedded in foam rubber contained within a housing. The housing is clamped in position on the pipe by a strap and a screw threaded clamping member. One application of the sensor is in detecting the instant when pressure is released from a pneumatic braking system. The instant, so defined, can be used for testing the efficiency of the brakes. Alternatively the sensor can be used in fields of process control.
FR2725786A1 describes that a transducer includes two rigid half-jaws in the form of stainless steel strips which are jointed together at one side and closed at the other side by a lever and a spring loop. Piezoelectric, semi-tubular ceramic elements are fixed to their supports by intermediate pieces. The jointing is performed using cylindrical coils held together by a hollow pin. On the closure side one half-jaw has a coil to which the loop is hooked. The other has a coil trapping the rivet whereby the lever is fixed to the support.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,496 and EP720006 both describe a 2 or 3 part clamp, tensioned by a bolt equipped with strain gauges or an according force sensor which show a signal correlated to a pressure increase in the clamped pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,937, CN201184833 and WO2011082317 rely on a bracket with an integrated force sensor to detect deformation of a clamped pipe under pressure.
However, these concepts have several shortcomings in common:                The all use rather stiff, heavy clamp or bracket structures, which cannot comply with the pipe surface due to different tolerances and high stiffness; i.e. there is only contact at a few random points possible;        Accordingly, the pipe deformation caused by internal pressure will be transferred incompletely to the clamp, the transfer function depending strongly on random mounting tolerances and position.        An analytic correlation function between the sensor signal and the pipe pressure is then not possible, and the system will always need an initial calibration that is then used continuously—which is often not possible, if non-invasive installations are made on running processes.        Additionally, the punctual metal-metal contact will always lead to frictional relative movements (e.g. due to thermal differences), which in turn will cause a sensor signal hysteresis and unpredictable zero offset under thermal cycling.
Alternatively:
EP42371 uses also a clamp, with an embedded elastic sensing element which is proposed to deliver a pressure dependent signal. This concept however suffers from tolerance related effects, resulting in non-uniform pre-compression of the elastic sensing element, with consequently undefined measurement behavior.
US20140251020 presents a rather thin, flexible clamp equipped with strain gauges, while KR201302479 also presents a solution with a relatively flexible bracket fixed by a specific A-shaped locking mechanism.
These concepts are better suited to achieve compliance between clamp and pipe wall surface. But they suffer from the direct metal-metal contact between pipe and clamp, being then still subject to friction-induced slip-stick effects.
Also, both patents lack an indication on how to achieve a uniform compliance of the clamp with the pipe surface. Incomplete compliance of the clamp with the pipe, however, will always lead to a reduced sensitivity of the strains on the clamp compared to those on the pipe, and consequently to the need of calibration of the system after each mounting process.
Also both patents lack any indication on how to derive a quantified pressure value from the measured sensor signal without an on-site calibration after mounting (which is in most cases not possible).
So, in summary, all prior art solutions suffer from three main limitations:                High stiffness clamp rings cannot comply with the actual pipe shape, both being subject to tolerances. Accordingly, the resulting signal strongly depends on local tolerances and needs complex calibration processes, which are not possible in real process environment;        The undefined compliance and random point contact of the clamp with the pipe results in a relative movement of the interface. Consequently, pressure changes of the pipe partly result in only local deformations without full transfer to the clamp, leading to poor measurement quality;        Friction at the random contact points between pipe and clamp, typically steel on steel, leads to slip-stick effects, and consequently to hysteresis and unpredictable zero offset. Due to the very high normal forces friction will always be high and standard lubricants are not effective in reducing this problem.
Accordingly, there is a need to improve the means by which pressures in pipes can be measured without drilling a hole into the pipe and without needing an on-site calibration after mounting of the non-invasive sensor.


Systems and techniques are described for capturing target extracellular vesicles from a fluid sample. In some implementations, a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel where an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel includes a plurality of grooves or ridges, or both grooves and ridges, arranged and configured to generate chaotic mixing within a fluid sample flowing through the microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of elongate flexible linker molecules, each having a molecular weight between about 1.8-4.8 kDa, where each elongate flexible linker molecule is bound at a first end to an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel and is bound at a second end to one or more binding moieties that specifically bind to a target extracellular vesicle.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized, membrane-bound vesicles that are released from cells and typically contain messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), microRNAs, other non-coding RNAs, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), proteins, and lipids, and can server as endogenous delivery vehicles for cell-to-cell communication. Different EV types include microvesicles (MVs), exosomes, oncosomes, and apoptotic bodies. MVs bud from the plasma membrane, are about 100 nm to 1 μm in diameter, and contain cytoplasmic cargo. Exosomes are formed by the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane and have diameters of about 40 to 120 nm. Oncosomes are large EVs (about 1 to about 10 μm in diameter) generated from membrane protrusions, which are produced primarily by malignant cells. Dying cells release vesicular apoptotic bodies (about 50 nm to about 2 μm in diameter) that are typically more plentiful in the body than exosomes or MVs and can vary in content between different biofluids.
Tumorigenesis can affect many pathways that regulate the production of EVs and often results in an increased production of EVs by some tumor cells in comparison to normal cells. These tumor-derived EVs often contain a select subset of proteins and nucleic acids that can manipulate their cellular microenvironments at local and distant sites to promote angiogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis. For example, cancer patients frequently show increased concentrations of EVs in their circulation, which allows the use of isolated EVs from biofluids as biomarkers for diagnostics and disease monitoring in a non-invasive manner.

Engineered nano-interfaces for microfluidic isolation of extracellular vesicles


A wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone handset is disclosed including a housing having a transceiver circuit disposed therein. An internal antenna is also disposed within the housing which is RF connected to the transceiver circuit. An external, retractable antenna is mounted on the housing and is selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The external, retractable antenna is RF connected to the transceiver circuit. When the external antenna is retracted, the internal antenna functions as a primary antenna. Should the need arise, the external antenna may be extended to improve the quality of the radio signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antenna system for a wireless communication device and more particularly to a combination internal/external antenna for a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
Internal antennas have been previously used in the interior of a wireless communication device housing or as an internal part of the housing itself. Internal antennas for portable wireless communication devices are becoming very popular in wireless design. Manufacturers are being encouraged to develop and install internal antennas in wireless devices inasmuch as internal antennas are becoming appealing to the user. First, the aesthetics of the handset is perhaps the biggest reason that internal antennas are gaining popularity. Much effort is put into the styling of cellular handsets and an antenna mounted on the outside of the housing detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the device. Second, robustness of the handset is improved by placing the antenna inside the protective housing instead of having the antenna exposed on the outside of the handset and extending therefrom. Third, due to the smaller overall size of the handset when an internal antenna is utilized, the handset is more convenient to stow away into pockets or purses when not in use. Fourth, in some instances, internal antennas may shield a portion of the radiated energy away from the user's head, which is important because more radiated energy is being transmitted as useful radio signals and less radiated energy is being absorbed by the user's body. One of the disadvantages of internal antennas is that in some cases they do not work well enough to receive or transmit a high quality radio signal as well as an external antenna.

Antenna system for a wireless communication device


A system and methods offering a dynamical model of cortical behavior is provided. In an illustrative implementation, the present invention offers a corticonic network comprising at least one parametrically coupled logistic map network (PCLMN)(205). The PCLMN offers a non-linear iterative map of cortical modules (or netlets) that when executed exhibit substantial cortical behaviors. The PCLMN accepts dynamic and/or static spatio-temporal input (210) and determines a fixed point attractor in state-space for that input. The PCLM (205) operates such that if the same or similar dynamic and/or static spatio-temporal input is offered over several iterations, the PCLMN converges to the same fixed point attractor is provided rendering adaptive learning. Further, the present invention contemplates the memorization or association of inputs using the corticonic network in a configuration where the PCLMN cooperates with another cortical module model (e.g. another PCLMN, associative memory module, etc.)(215).

Corticonics, echoing electronics, is the art of identifying anatomical an physiological attributes of cortical organization to be abstracted and used in the modeling and simulation of the cortex. Generally, the cortex, in conjunction with the subcortical centers, is responsible for all higher-level brain functions such as cognition, thought, language, memory and learning, control of the complex motor function, and possibly the more esoteric attributes of intention, awareness and consciousness. In fact, about 75% of all human brain tissue, defining the association cortices is devoted to these functions. Thereby, understanding the workings of the cortex can have profound scientific, technological, and clinical implications. Unfortunately, the intrinsic interest of these higher-level functions is equaled by the difficulties involved—both technical and conceptual—in understanding their neurobiological basis. Nonetheless, progress to further this incomplete understanding is being made through studies of brain tissue that is damaged or has lesions, from in vivo imaging of the brain, and from electrode and patch-clamp studies in non-human primates. These studies aim at developing a complementary computational approach to modeling and studying the cortex employing the concepts and tools of nonlinear dynamics.
The non-linearity and organization of cortical tissue make the cortex a high-dimensional non-linear dynamical system. As such, it exhibits in its state-space not only static (fixed point) attractors but also dynamic (periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic) attractors depending on its location in parameter space. However, important questions remain unanswered about these brain functions and, specifically, about the role of attractors in cortical cognitive processes. An assumption is that the most obvious role for attractors is to make it possible to operate on or utilize the activity trace caused by a stimulus after the stimulus has disappeared. Several important inquiries result from this assumption. Namely, 1) Is a particular attractor associated with the recognition of a particular object or stimulus?; 2) Is the setting of cortical activity onto an attractor state synonymous with the recognition process?; and 3) Is such persistent activity needed for the formation of memory?
Current modeling practices fall short of providing answers to these resulting inquiries. Neural networks are the predominate model used to explain brain functions and how these brain functions could be mimicked in computing environments. Specifically, a neural network is an information processing paradigm that is inspired by the way biological nervous systems process information. The key element of this paradigm is the novel structure of the information processing system. It is generally composed of a large number of highly interconnected processing elements (neurons) working in unison to solve specific problems. Neural networks have an ability to derive meaning from complicated or imprecise data. This ability can be used to extract patterns and detect trends that are too complex to be noticed by either humans or other computer techniques.
However, current brain computational models do not effectively predict the behavior observed in the cortex. Stated differently, current models do not effectively choose those features of cortical organization to make salient in the model and eliminate and ignore those features of cortical organization that do not provide any added benefit. The test of the model lies in how well it can produce, predict, and synthesize cortical functions. Current models, although effective in providing a general model for brain and/or nervous system functions do not effectively and reliably model detailed cortical functions—functions that if properly modeled could provide substantial insight to how to process large volumes of data. Such insight may be applied to numerous data intensive processing applications to improve processing efficiencies. With increased processing efficiencies computing technologies could be used to automate numerous manual tasks—manual tasks that we take for granted, such as voice recognition and synthesis, data searching, basic learning, etc.
From the foregoing it is appreciated that there exists a need for comprehensive systems and methods offering a dynamical brain model, and specifically the cortex, that may be applied to various data processing applications. The present invention meets this pressing need in the art.

Dynamical brain model for use in data processing applications

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A method of detecting fraud and/or unauthorized database access and enhancing the efficiency of a data warehouse system by utilizing a usage profile of a user. The user profiles are generated from usage patterns, and the user profile is preferably utilized to both enforce security policies through detection of breaches and to improve user friendliness via customized portals that are constructed from the profiles.

Data access is the input, update, deletion and retrieval of data in a computer system. It is often referred to as a query or a request. Data access customer service is a model of data access that treats the data center (Information Services/Systems) as a provider of goods (the data) and services (access to the data), and the data consumer (user) as a customer. The invention described herein can be applied to any data access system. It is however particularly useful when applied to a data warehouse environment.
Data warehousing refers generally to the maintenance, access and management of extremely large databases. Commercial environments in which such databases exist may include, for example, a large retail chain, which maintains a database of all products in inventory throughout all of its retail stores in the country. Large corporations may maintain databases with billions of records related to past and present employees, items sold, etc. In such commercial environments, databases may be accessed thousands or even millions of times per day. Tasks for which the database is utilized include report generation, responding to queries of various personnel, etc.
A major issue that arises in connection with the use of any data access system is performance. Performance relates to how quickly the users receive data they requested. There are many techniques utilized to improve the performance of queries. Basic techniques include indexing, partitioning and SQL optimizations (SQL is the language of data access in relational databases). These techniques focus on data management system metrics (i.e., system centric). Other techniques focus on how users are accessing the data (i.e., user centric). One such user centric technique is referred to as a 'Hot Response Cache' (HRC). The HRC improves the performance of queries by identifying "predictable and repeated information requests". This information is then retrieved ahead of time by the system and placed in an accessible cache. This cache is then searched by an application prior to sending a request to the database. If the data is found to be available in the cache it can be quickly presented to the user and the large database is never accessed. One of the problems with this solution is the application dependency. Each application that wants to use the cache must have prior knowledge of it and must provide appropriate security. This prevents the use of ad-hoc query tools (tools that allow a user to write and execute their own queries) and other third-party query generating tools that are commonly used to access data from a data warehouse. It also puts the burden of security in the application. Even if the application uses a centrally managed security table, enforcement of security policies must be duplicated across any applications that access the data. Since many applications are written by independent development organizations, this offers at best inconsistent, at worst incomplete implementations of security policy enforcement.
Even beyond the use of the HRC, security is a major issue that arises in connection with the use of data management systems. For example, it is important to insure that only the appropriate personnel are permitted to access sensitive records. Additionally, a separation of duty policy may be required to insure that certain transactions are only carried out with two different people. An example of such a transaction is the ordering of equipment, which ideally should require one person to authorize and a second person to pay for. Many systems include various techniques to insure that the separation of duties policy is enforced by requiring at least two people to participate in a transaction. An employee who wishes to fraudulently purchase items for his or her own personal use will have to conspire with a second employee to do the same, and thus, the chance of fraud is reduced. Security policies are commonly applied to the individual user and the users' role within the organization.
Another issue requiring attention in such large data warehousing systems is that of report scheduling and generation. Specifically, reports can often involve extremely lengthy database access to millions of records, and can easily consume a large amount of system resources. A brut force way of dealing with this problem is to simply schedule the reports during off hours. This is not the optimum solution since there may be certain reports that are time critical. Moreover, to the extent there are a large number of reports scheduled during off-hours, the off hours will become the very busy hours and the system will become overloaded at that time as well.
Still another major issue with accessing large data warehousing systems is the sheer size and complexity that makes it difficult for users to find and access the appropriate information for their needs. One current solution is the emergence of the enterprise information portal (EIP). EIPs provide a customized solution to the complexity problem. EIPs provide an integrated customizable interface to the information required by a user. The information is generally tailored to the user's role within the organization. While EIPs provide a reasonable solution to the complexity problem, they do not attempt to provide performance or security solutions. The user's role should correspond to the same role used by the security system, but will generally require separate maintenance. The profiles are used to customize the view a particular user has of the database, different profiles must be maintained to be used for intrusion detection or performance improvements.
There are a variety of database and non-database third party packages that attempt to crudely deal with each of the above issues as well as others. Most of these prior solutions have a variety of problems. First, there is no known solution that can deal with all of these problems in a convenient and user-friendly way and that maximizes the use of the database for all involved. Additionally, there is no known system for solving the problems of separation of duties, report generation, and query optimization in a manner that allows any technique to be used across multiple databases.
In view of the above, there exists a need in the art for a single comprehensive solution which will provide for optimized data warehousing management, security, access control, user-friendliness, and report generation.

Method and apparatus for optimizing a data access customer service system


A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

Venous access ports for the infusion and/or withdrawal of fluids from a patient are well-known, secured to the proximal end of an implanted catheter. These ports are typically used for drug infusion or for withdrawal of small amounts of blood, where large flows of fluid are not required. The ports are assemblies of a needle-impenetrable housing with a discharge port in fluid communication with a catheter and a reservoir within the port housing, and provide a subcutaneous self-sealing septum that defines an access site for multiple needle sticks through the covering skin tissue of the patient, through the septum, and into the reservoir, without the need to continuously search for new access sites. Examples of such ports are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,704,103; 4,762,517; 4,778,452; 5,185,003; 5,213,574; and 5,637,102.
It is desired to provide a venous access port assembly that provides a medical practitioner with the capability to discern an important property of the port assembly after the port assembly has been implanted into a patient.

Venous access port with molded and/or radiopaque indicia


The present invention relates to a method, in which a terminal transmits channel state information in a multi-node system, which includes the steps of: receiving information about cooperative transmission candidate nodes from a network; calculating first channel state information about the cooperative transmission candidate nodes; calculating second channel state information by assuming that the nodes included in the interference candidate modes are interference nodes among the cooperative transmission candidate nodes; and transmitting the calculated first and second channel state information to the network.

In a current wireless communication environment, data request for a network within a wireless communication system has been rapidly increased in accordance with the advent and spread of various devices such as a machine to machine (M2M) device to which M2M communication is applied, a smart phone, which requires high data transmission rate, and a tablet computer. In order to satisfy such increased data request, the communication technology has been developed towards the carrier aggregation technology and the cognitive radio technology, which are intended to use more frequency bands efficiently, and the multi-antenna technology and the multi-base station cooperative technology, which are intended to increase data capacity within a limited frequency. Also, a wireless communication environment has evolved towards a direction that density of nodes that may be accessed by a user is increased. The system having nodes of high density may have higher system throughput through cooperation between the nodes. This system performs cooperative communication by using a plurality of nodes, each of which acts as a base station (for example, advanced BS, Node-B, eNode-B), an access point (AP), an antenna, an antenna group, a radio remote header (RRH), and a radio remote unit (RRU).
Moreover, if all the nodes are transmitted and received under the control of one controller and thus each of the nodes is operated as an antenna group of one base station, this system may be regarded as a single distributed antenna system (DAS). At this time, each node may be given a separate node ID, or may be operated as some antenna within a cell without separate node ID.
In the meantime, if each node performs scheduling and handover with its respective cell ID in the DAS, the system may be regarded as a multi-cell (for example, macro cell/femto cell/pico cell) system. If multiple cells configured by the respective nodes are overlaid in accordance with coverage, it refers to a multi-tier network.
Various types of base stations may be used as nodes regardless of their titles. In other words, a base station (BS), a Node-B (NB), eNode-B (eNB), a pico cell eNB (PeNB), a home eNB (HeNB), RRH, RRU, a relay, and a repeater may be the nodes. At least one antenna is installed in one node. The antenna may mean a physical antenna, or may mean an antenna port, a virtual antenna, or an antenna group. Also, the node may be referred to as a point.
Although the nodes refer to antenna groups spaced apart from one another at certain intervals, they may mean random antenna groups regardless of the spacing. For example, it may be defined that the base station controls a node of H-pol antenna and a node of V-pol antenna.

Method for transceiving channel state information and transceiving device


The present disclosure is directed to a web services architecture comprising a component operable for rapid development of a web services application, a mobile application. The web services architecture also includes a telecommunications provider system and a service provider. The mobile application is related to the web services application deployable on a mobile device. The telecommunications provider system is operable to host the web services application and to identify the mobile device and federate information related to the mobile device. The service provider is operable to provide a mobile device service associated with the web services application. The service provider is in communication with the web services application and operable to use the federated information related to the mobile device to provide application services to the mobile device.

The increasing popularity of network computing and the shift away from the use of standalone computer applications have significantly changed the means by which computer software is developed and distributed. Software developers face a new set of challenges and require new tools to create applications and manage dataflow across a variety of computer systems. Web services combine a diverse set of software components to deliver custom functionality to customers. Significant architectural issues must be addressed during development of web services for interaction to take place and data to flow properly between the components of a web service and between various different web services.

Web services architecture system and method


A grinding machine includes an abrasive element rotatably mounted on a support frame and coupled to a drive, a blower casing including a surrounding wall which confines a blower chamber and which extends beyond and which is spaced apart radially from a rim of the abrasive element to define a surrounding intake passage therebetween, a dust discharge port disposed downstream of the intake passage, communicated with the blower chamber and, and offset from an axis of the abrasive element, and an impeller disposed in the blower chamber and coaxial with the abrasive element such that dust generated as a result of a grinding operation of the abrasive element is entrained in an air stream drawn into the blower chamber through the surrounding intake passage and subsequently out of the discharge port by virtue of rotation of the impeller.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a grinding machine, more particularly to a grinding machine with a dust collecting device which has an impeller coaxially coupled with a grinding wheel for drawing dust into a blower chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many conventional multi-function grinding machines have a variety of grinding mechanisms, such as a grinding wheel, a sanding member and a cylindrical emery-coated wheel, mounted on a support frame to meet the operator's different requirements. Since a large amount of dust is generated and scattered during the grinding or sanding operation, collecting means is needed to collect the dust. However, for the aforesaid multi-function grinding machines, at least two collecting devices are required, thereby rendering the machines bulky and structurally complicated.

Grinding machine with a dust collecting device


One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for mitigating the effect of electrical noise on electrical-based hardware components. Electrical noise can be generated by an igniter adjacent to one or more of the components. In lieu of, or in addition to, shielding, hardening, and other noise prevention techniques, methods and systems can be used to mask the effects of electrical noise upon other hardware components. State data for a target component can be stored in volatile memory. Upon a reset of microprocessor controlling the component, the stored state data can be read and matched with known state data stored in non-volatile memory. After the reset, the target component can be placed in the state that matches the state data indicated by the stored data.

Electrical noise can result from a variety of sources and can include radiated and conducted noise. Radiated noise is propagated through the air, while conducted noise is present on power and signal lines. Sources may include motors, short-circuited wiring, and sparking across a gap, amongst others things. Igniter systems typically found in gas ignition devices and appliances can be a source of an electrical spark across a gap, which may result in electrical noise. Electrical noise can cause corruption of desired signals being transmitted by equipment connected and/or disruption of circuitry operations. In extreme cases, these types of noise currents may even become great enough to cause electrical damage.

Mitigating effect of electrical noise system and method


The invention provides antigenic sites of PRRSV isolates. The antigenic sites are neutralizing, conserved, non-conserved and conformational, can elicit antibodies and are found on protein GP4 and N encoded ORF4 and ORF7 of PRRSV. The peptide sequences identified by the sites can be incorporated in vaccines directed against PRRS and in diagnostic tests for PRRS. Also, discriminating tests can be developed that can be used next to marker vaccines in programs designed to eradicate PRRS from pig herds.

The invention relates to the causative agent of Mystery Swine Disease, the PRRS virus, to peptide sequences identified in the PRRS virus, and to incorporating these sequences in vaccines and diagnostic tests.
PRRS virus (PRRSV) is the causative agent of a pig disease, currently called porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The virus is the causative agent of a pig disease, seen since approximately 1987 in the U.S. and since 1990 in Europe, known initially under various names such as Mystery Swine Disease, Swine Infertility and Respiratory Syndrome, and many more. The virus itself was also given many names, among which Lelystad virus (LV), SIRS virus, and many more, but is now mostly designated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). It causes abortions and respiratory distress in pigs and was first isolated in Europe in 1991 (EP patent 587780, U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,691) and subsequently in the U.S. and many other countries throughout the world. PRRSV is a small enveloped virus containing a positive strand RNA genome. PRRSV preferentially grows in macrophages. In addition to macrophages, PRRSV can grow in cell line CL2621 and other cell lines cloned from the monkey kidney cell line MA-104 (Benfield et al., J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 4; 127-133, 1992). The genome of PRRSV, a polyadenylated RNA of approximately 15 kb was sequenced in 1993 (Meulenberg et al., Virology 192; 62-74, 1993). The nucleotide sequence, genome organization and replication strategy indicated that PRRSV is related to a group of small enveloped positive-strand RNA viruses, designated Arteriviruses. This group includes lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), equine arteritis virus (EAV), and simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV). These viruses have a similar genome organization, replication strategy, morphology, and amino acid sequence of viral proteins. Arteriviruses contain a genome of 12.5 to 15 kb and synthesize a 3xe2x80x2 nested set of six subgenomic RNAs during replication. These subgenomic RNAs contain a leader sequence which is derived from the 5xe2x80x2 end of the viral genome. ORFs 1a and 1b comprise approximately two thirds of the viral genome and encode the RNA dependent RNA polymerase. Six smaller ORFs, ORFs 2 to 7, are located at the 3xe2x80x2 end of the viral genome. ORFs 2 to 6 likely encode envelope proteins whereas ORF7 encodes the nucleocapsid protein (Meulenberg et al, Virology 206; 155-163, 1995).
PRRSV is the first Arterivirus for which it has been demonstrated that all six proteins encoded by ORFs 2 to 7 are associated with the virion. The 15-kDa N protein (encoded by ORF7) and the 18-kDa integral membrane protein M (ORF6) are not N-glycosylated, whereas the 29- to 30-kDa GP2 protein (ORF2), the 45- to 50-kDa protein GP3 protein (ORF3), the 31-to 35-kDa GP4 protein (ORF4), and the 25-kDa protein GP5 (ORF5) are. These proteins have also been detected in extracellular virus and lysates of cells infected with a North American isolate of PRRSV, ATCC-VR2332, and other isolates of PRRSV (other isolates of PRRSV are for example CNCM I-1140, ECACC V93070108, CNCM I-1387, CNCM I-1388, ATCC-VR2402, ATCC-VR2429. ATCC-VR2430, ATCC-VR2431, ATCC-VR2475, ATCC-VR2385, but many others are known).
We earlier described the isolation and characterization of a panel of PRRSV-specific MAbs that were specific for GP3, GP4, M and N (van Nieuwstadt et al., J. Virol. 70,4767-4772, 1996). Interestingly, MAbs directed against GP4 were neutralizing, suggesting that at least part of the protein is exposed at the virion surface. Furthermore, most of the Mabs directed against N reacted with all PRRSV isolates tested.
PRRS in it self is a problem of major concern for the swine industry in most parts of the world. Introduction of PRRSV in pig herds will cause severe economic losses. Diagnostic testing against PRRS is widely practiced by many veterinarians and laboratories. Most diagnostic tests, such as IPMA, IFT, IFA, ELISA, each comprising suitable means of detection such as conjugated enzymes or fluorochromes, and other substrates, use interactions between antigen derived from PRRSV and antibodies directed against PRRSV to measure the presence of either PRRSV antigen or antibodies directed against PRRSV in a biological sample, such as blood, serum, tissue, tissue fluids, lavage fluids, urine, feces, that is sampled from the animal (such as a pig) to be tested. The antigen and/or antibodies used in these diagnostic tests, or diagnostic kits or assays, for PRRS diagnosis are only defined by their origin from, or by their reactivity with PRRSV. In principle this suffices for screening assays where a high specificity or sensitivity is not explicitly required. However, the ever continuing spread of PRRS has caused great concern among the pig industry, to the extent that it is deemed needed to eradicate PRRS from whole herds, or even from complete areas, regions, or countries where pigs are raised. A clear example of this need is the proposed eradication program relating to PRRS in Denmark. If one decides to completely eradicate PRRS then diagnostic tests are needed that exhibit higher specificity or sensitivity than the tests used today.
Vaccination against PRRS is also widely practiced. Several examples are known of modified live vaccines that are used, and also killed vaccines are known. However, a problem with live vaccines in general, and thus also with live PRRS vaccines, exists in that these vaccines have a tendency to spread to non-vaccinated pigs, thereby spreading instead of reducing detectable infection in pig herds, and thus being counter productive to complete eradication. If a line marker vaccine were used that could serologically be differentiated from the wild type virus, then this problem would be greatly reduced. Added disadvantages are that live vaccines sometimes cause anaphylactic reactions in the vaccinated pigs, because of undefined antigenic components. Although killed vaccines in general are reported to induce protection in the vaccinated pig, and have the additional advantage that they do not spread from pig to pig, a disadvantage of killed vaccines is that it may be hard to accrue sufficient antigenic mass in one dose of a vaccine to elicit a measurable and protective immune response. Especially killed vaccines that can induce measurable neutralizing antibody titers in pigs would be beneficial to have since measuring these neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated pig populations would help generate understanding about the level of protection obtained by vaccination in the pig herd. In addition, if one succeeds in assembling the necessary antigenic mass, this also means that more and other undefined antigenic mass is also present in the vaccine, which can also give rise to the anaphylactic reactions as described above. In this sense it would be beneficial to know which specific site on PRRSV is important peptide sequences needed for eliciting neutralizing antibodies. An advantage of the currently used vaccines originating from PRRSV isolates isolated in the U.S. is that such vaccines, albeit fully protective against and immunologically cross-reactive with European isolates of PRRSV, contain, as yet undefined, epitopes or antigenic sites by which they can be discerned from European isolates of PRRSV. Reciprocally, live vaccines originating from PRRSV isolates isolated in Europe, albeit fully protective against and immunologically cross-reactive with U.S. isolates of PRRSV, contain similar as yet undefined epitopes or antigenic sites by which they can be discerned from U.S. isolates of PRRSV.
If serological tests would be available which could discriminate (based on the small epitopic differences between PRRSV isolates) between pigs that are either vaccinated with a U.S. derived vaccine or infected with a European wild type of PRRSV (being vaccinated or not), or which could discriminate pigs that are either vaccinated with a European derived vaccine or infected with an U.S. wild type of PRRSV (being vaccinated or no), than marker vaccines and corresponding diagnostic tests (incorporating said discerning epitopes or antigenic sites) could be developed which could be used with large confidence in eradication programs for PRRS. For example, in Denmark it would than be possible to vaccinate with a U.S. derived vaccine and measure the set of antibodies in the Danish pigs which are solely directed against unique epitopes on European wild types of PRRSV and not cross-reactive with U.S. strains. This would enable the unequivocal detection and subsequent removal of wild type infected pigs from Danish herds. Currently, such a discrimination is not possible due to the overall broad immunological cross-reactivity between PRRSV isolates. It goes without saying that such combined vaccination-testing programs will be the basis for eradication of PRRS, and can also be used in other countries, if needed with distinct PRRSV antigenic sites being used in vaccine and/or diagnostic test.
The invention now provides antigenic sites comprising peptide sequences of PRRSV which allow the improvement of vaccines, be it killed or attenuated vaccines or vaccines derived via recombinant DNA technology, and antigenic sites which allow the improvement of diagnostic methods, tests and kits and the production of new diagnostic methods, tests and kits. Artificial changes or amino acid residue substitutions that maintain the antigenicity (as for example defined by the reactivity with polyclonal sera or MAbs) and thus functionality of the antigenic site can easily be derived from sequences known to constitute an antigenic site of a specific isolate by a person with ordinary skills in the art of peptide design and synthesis. For example, certain amino acid residues can conventionally be replaced by others of comparable nature, e.g. a basic residue by another basic residue, an acid by an acid, a bulky by a bulky, a hydrophobic or hydrophilic by another hydrophobic or hydrophilic residue, and so on. Also, other, less conventional but more specific changes are also possible that maintain or even improve the antigenicity of the selected sequence. Such changes can for example be made by PEPSCAN based amino acid substitutions or replacement mapping techniques (van Amerongen et. al., Peptide Research (1992) 5,269-274). In short, amino acid residues within the antigenic sites provided by the invention can e.g. be replaced conventionally or under guidance of replacement mapping, whereby the resulting peptide sequences are functionally equivalent to the antigenic site. The replacing amino acids can be either L- or D-amino acid residues. In addition, the peptide sequences provided by the invention are rendered even more immunogenic by conjugating them to adjuvants (such as KLH) known in the art. Additionally, the peptides are rendered even more immunogenic by making peptides with one (such as tandem peptides) or more repeated sequences or by polymerization or circularization.
Although it has been shown before that the N protein is immunogenic (Meulenberg (1995), J. Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 2, 652-656, GB 2 289 279 A) and that conserved and nonconserved regions between the N protein of European strains (LV) and U.S. strains (VR2332) exist (WO 96/04010), we demonstrate here for the first time which conserved and nonconserved regions are antigenic and which can be used individually or in combinations as antigens for immunization or diagnostic assays. Furthermore it is identified here that the antigenic regions in the N protein consist both of linear and conformation dependent epitopes.
The GP4 protein is the first structural protein of PRRSV for which is shown that it elicits antibodies that can neutralize the virus. A specific region of approximately 40 amino acids was identified and defined that should be exposed at the virion surface as a target for neutralizing antibodies, which then prevent the virus to infect the cells. This is an exciting new finding since it is generally assumed that the GP5 protein, the major structural of PRRSV, is the most important candidate involved in the attachment of the host cell.
The invention provides a major antigenic site, a neutralization site on GP4 of PRRSV. The invention provides the localization of a major neutralization site important for the design of effective marker vaccines that comprise amino acid core sequences and amino acid sequences flanking the core sequences of PRRSV isolates which sequences comprise the neutralization site on the ORF4 protein of PRRSV. By incorporating the relevant neutralization site sequences in the various types of vaccines, it is possible to specifically induce neutralizing antibodies in the vaccinated pig. Killed vaccines comprising the neutralization site provided by the invention are made to induce measurable neutralizing antibodies. Especially sequences located at positions in the ORF 4 encoded protein of PRRSV corresponding to those found at about amino acid 40 to 79 as found in PRRSV isolate I-1102 comprise the neutralization site. Furthermore, selected peptide sequences are made even more immunogenic by mixing the peptides with adjuvants or other carriers known in the art. The thus obtained peptide compositions are used as a vaccine. However, also the selected peptide sequences comprising the neutralization site are incorporated in vaccine vector systems, being either distinct recombinant vectors derived of heterologous viruses or bacteria, but the selected peptide sequences are also selectively incorporated in PRRSV vector viruses or vaccines derived thereof.
In a further aspect of the invention, amino acid sequences located at positions corresponding from about 52 to 75 more specifically constitute a broadly reactive neutralization site. Other embodiments of the neutralization site provided by the invention can be found among the various PRRSV isolates known or to be found (see for instance the experimental part of this description). It is easy for any person working in the field of molecular biology to compare the sequences comprising the neutralization site provided by the invention with the amino acid sequence of the ORF 4 encoded protein of yet another PRRSV isolate.
The invention also provides peptide sequences of PRRSV which improve diagnostic tests, be it antigen or antibody detection tests. The invention provides various groups of antigenic sites which are used alone or in combination in diagnostic tests. In this way diagnostic tests are provided by the invention that serve the various needs that exists in the field with regard to diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Antigen-antibody interactions always entail cross-reactive epitope-paratope interactions of amino acid sequences that are from 5 to 15 amino acid sequences long. Thus amino acid sequences of 5 to 15 amino acids long and partly or completely overlapping with the core sequences of the antigenic sites of invention are provided by the invention for incorporation in diagnostic tests. These peptide sequences are used to select or design antigen or antigenic substance containing the sequences in the test to be used. Alternatively, and provided by the invention, are synthetic antibodies reactive with the antigenic sites provided by the invention. These sites or related sequences react with synthetic antibody obtained from systems such as phage display libraries or clonal selection of (heavy chain) antibodies that constitute antibody-like molecules which can easily be expressed in heterologous expression systems.
One group provided by the invention comprises the peptide sequence corresponding to said neutralization site, as already explained above. Diagnostic tests comprising this site and/or antibodies specifically directed against this site detect neutralizing antibodies in the pig.
Another group provided by the invention comprises a conserved antigenic site on protein N. Within the conserved antigenic site the invention provides a core sequence VNQLCQLLGA (SEQ ID NO. 1) or VNQLCQMLGK (SEQ ID NO. 2). Diagnostic tests comprising this site and/or antibodies specifically directed against this site detect those antibodies in pigs that specifically react with most PRRSV isolates. Also, diagnostic tests are provided that use antibodies directed against the conserved site to detect the PRRSV antigen, thereby allowing the test to detect PRRSV isolates, irrespective of their origin.
Another group provided by the invention comprises a non-conserved differentiating antigenic site on protein N. Diagnostic tests comprising this site and/or antibodies specifically directed against this site detect those antibodies in pigs that specifically react with distinct PRRSV isolates, whereby for example vaccinated pigs can be discriminated from pigs infected with wild type PRRSV. Also, diagnostic tests are provided that use antibodies directed against the non-conserved site to detect the PRRSV antigen, thereby allowing the test to discern different PRRSV isolates. Within one such a non-conserved site the invention provides a core sequence PRGGQAKKKK (SEQ ID NO. 3) or PRGGQAKRKK (SEQ ID NO. 4) or PRGGQAKKRK (SEQ ID NO. 5) or GPGKKNKKKN (SEQ ID NO. 6) or GPGKKNKKKT (SEQ ID NO. 7) or GPGKKNRKKN (SEQ ID NO. 8) or GPGKKFKKKN (SEQ ID NO. 9) or GPGKKIKKKN (SEQ ID NO. 10) or GPGQINKKIN (SEQ ID NO. 11). Within another non-conserved site the invention provides a core sequence MAGKNQSQKK (SEQ ID NO. 12) or MPNNNGKQTE (SEQ ID NO. 13) or MPNNNGKQPK (SEQ ID NO. 14) or MPNNNGKQQK (SEQ ID NO. 15) or MPNNNGKQQN (SEQ ID NO. 16) or MPNNNGRQQK (SEQ ID NO. 17). Also, artificial changes that maintain the antigenicity and thus functionality of the above core sequences in the GP4 or N protein can easily be introduced by anyone skilled in the art of peptide design and synthesis, as described above.
The invention also provides a group comprising conformational epitopes (which vary greatly among the various isolates) which can be found at positions corresponding to those found in isolate I-1102 from amino acid position 51 to about 68 (in isolate I-1102 core sequence PKPHFPLAAEDDIRHHL) (SEQ ID NO. 18) or from 79 to about 90 (in isolate I-1102 core sequence SIQTAFNQGAGT) (SEQ ID NO. 19) or from 111 to 124 (in isolate I-1102 core sequence HTVRLIRVTSTSAS) (SEQ ID NO. 20) on protein N. The conserved and non-conserved and differentiating and conformational sites in the N protein, which sites are provided by the invention, provide diagnostic tests that unequivocally diagnose PRRSV infections. Tests are made that avoid employing non-conserved sites thereby avoiding false-negative results. In addition, the various non-conserved sites are used in the development of differentiating tests that can e.g. discriminate vaccinated pigs from pigs infected with wild type isolates of PRRSV. Again, as said it is easy for any person working in the field of molecular biology to align the sequences comprising the conserved or non-conserved or conformational epitope sites with amino acid sequences of the ORF 7 encoded protein of yet another PRRSV isolate. The sites provided by the invention are used in new pairs of vaccine-discriminating diagnostic tests for use in eradication programs of PRRS.

PRRSV antigenic sites identifying peptide sequences of PRRS virus for use in vaccines or diagnostic assays

Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek


A FET device for operation at high voltages includes a substrate, a first well and a second well within the substrate that are doped with implants of a first type and second type, respectively. The first and second wells define a p-n junction. A field oxide layer within the second well defines a first surface region to receive a drain contact. A third well is located at least partially in the first well, includes doped implants of the second type, and is adapted to receive a source contact. As such, the third well defines a channel between itself and the second well within the first well. A gate is disposed over the channel. At least a first portion of the gate is disposed over the p-n junction, and includes doped implants of the first type. A number of permutations are allowed for doping the remainder of the gate.

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-voltage, n-channel, Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor, Field-Effect Transistor 100 in the prior art. The transistor 100 is formed on a p− substrate 120, which can be formed from silicon. Preferably the substrate 120 is doped relatively lightly (1015 atoms per centimeter3) with a p-type material, such as boron ions.
A p-well 102 and an n-well 110 are diffused or implanted into the p− substrate 120. The p-well 102 appears twice in FIG. 1, but that is only because it surrounds n-well 110, and FIG. 1 is taken at a cross section that shows the p-well 102 in two places. The n-well drain 110 and the p-well 102 are typically doped on the order of 1017 atoms per centimeter3.
The transistor 100 has terminals that are provided for as follows. Contained within the n-well 110 is an n+ region 112 ("n+ Tap"), which is suitable for receiving a drain contact. The p-well 102 also has a p+ region 116 ("p+ Tap") that provides for an ohmic-contact for the body of the p− substrate 120 via the p-well 102. An n+ well 114 is located at least in part of the p-well 102, which is adapted to receive a source contact. The n+ well 114 contains an abundance of n-type material, such as arsenic ions. In fact, the plus (+) sign next to either the letter "n" or the letter "p" indicates an overabundant doping of a particular n-type material or p-type material, which can be of the order of 1020 atoms per centimeter3.
A thin gate dielectric layer 118 is disposed or grown onto the p− substrate 120. The layer 118 can be formed integrally with a thick field oxide ("FOX") layer 108A, which operates as a stop.
An n+ polysilicon gate 104 is formed onto gate layer 118. The gate 104 is suitable for receiving a gate contact (not shown). Sidewall spacers 106A, 106B are formed on either side of the gate 104.
Accordingly, an active region for the transistor 100 is defined under the gate 104. A channel for the transistor 100 is defined in the active region, within the p-well 102, between the n+ well 114 and the n-well 110. The thick FOX stop 108A, and another FOX stop 108B act as shallow trend isolation ("STI") to prevent inadvertent channel formation outside of the active region of the transistor 100.
So, when a positive voltage is applied to the n+ polysilicon gate 104 relative to the p-well 102, positive charges are, in effect, deposited on it. In response, negative charges are induced in the underlying p-well 102 by the formation of a depletion region and a thin inversion surface region near the gate dielectric layer containing mobile electrons, resulting in conductible current. These induced mobile electrons form the channel of the transistor 100, and allow current to flow between the n-well 110 and the n+ source 114, in a direction that depends on the sizes of the biasing voltages.
In the transistor 100, no current flows from the n-well 110 to the n+ source 114 without a conducting n-channel between them, since the drain-body-source combination includes oppositely directed p-n junctions in series, which can be likened to diodes whose cathodes are coupled together.
Indeed, in the transistor 100, a natural p-n junction is created between the p-well 102 and the adjacent n-well 110. It should be noted that the p-well 102 and the adjacent n-well 110 have doping of density that is intermediate between the lightly doped substrate 120 and the heavily doped contact areas, namely the n+ region 112, the n+ source 114, and p+ region 116.
In conventional MOS transistors, the n+ region 112 could act as the drain without providing the n-well 110. This, however, created significant problems when such transistors are used in high-voltage applications. For example, suppose a high voltage, such as 10V or more, were applied to the n+ region 112 without the n-well 110. Such a high voltage can cause a breakdown of the operative p-n junction, allowing current to undesirably flow from the n+ region 112 to the p-well 102, instead of to the n+ source 114. The transistor 100 prevents such a breakdown because the n-well 110 places the natural p-n junction-well away from the n+ region 112, which is therefore free to be interfaced to high voltages.
While this solution worked, it was discovered by the inventors that another problem appeared. When a sufficient voltage is introduced at the gate 104, breakdown of the natural p-n junction may occur. In fact, the voltage applied at the n+ polysilicon gate 104 affects the breakdown voltage of the natural p-n junction formed by the n-well 110 and the p-well 102. The breakdown occurs because there is an overlap, where the n+ polysilicon gate 104 extends over a portion of the n-well 110. The breakdown causes current to conduct undesirably from the n-well 110 to the p-substrate 120 instead of toward the n+ source 114.
Without a resolution to the problem of undesired breakdown of the transistor 100, users may eventually no longer trust the reliability of computing devices built using transistors such as transistor 100. Thus, there is a need for a new transistor and method for inhibiting or alleviating the breakdown of p-n junctions while avoiding or reducing other problems associated with existing transistors.


The invention relates to oral and dental hygiene and cleaning agents for reducing restaining of teeth.

Dental cleaning agents are on the market in various forms and serve primarily to clean the tooth surface and to prevent tooth and gum diseases. They typically include a combination of polishing agents, humectants, surfactants, binders, flavoring agents, and fluoride-containing and antimicrobial active substances. Apart from tooth powders, which play a minor role because of their increased abrasiveness, dental cleaning agents are offered primarily in paste, cream, and translucent or transparent gel form. Liquid dental creams and mouthwashes have also become increasingly important in recent years.
Many people desire white teeth and perceive dark or stained teeth as cosmetically unacceptable. The maintenance of the natural tooth color is not always successful, however, despite regular dental hygiene. Dietary habits or smoking can lead to tooth discoloration. Likewise, the colonization of the tooth surface by bacteria (plaque) leads to discoloration.
A number of technical solutions for plaque removal or whitening of teeth were developed. Peroxide is used primarily for whitening/bleaching. Peroxide is used in high concentrations in professional bleaching products, whereas use in cosmetic products for oral and dental hygiene is limited to 0.1% peroxide. Peroxide in this concentration has only a limited whitening effect and often does not eliminate tooth discoloration to the desired extent.
Another option for whitening teeth is the effective removal of plaque, which makes teeth appear darker. This method of tooth whitening is also described as "natural whitening." A high cleaning performance is best achieved by cleaning substances, for example, silica, alumina, or calcium carbonate in combination with a surfactant. Unfortunately, dental creams with an effective system of one or more cleaning substances often also have a high abrasiveness, and therefore often lead to a certain, albeit very low abrasion of the tooth surface. This can be particularly disadvantageous, when the tooth enamel is already thin, as is the case in people with sensitive teeth. Exposed tooth necks also occur often in individuals with sensitive teeth, therefore the portions of the tooth in the immediate vicinity of the gum where no enamel is present as a protective layer and the underlying dentin is exposed.
Moreover, immediately after teeth cleaning, a protein layer (pellicle) forms on the tooth material on which layer plaque builds up or discolorations accumulate.
There is a need, therefore, for toothpastes that achieve an effective cleaning and whitening but at the same time produce a long-term effect, i.e., prevent or reduce as long as possible the formation of new plaque and thereby new discolorations.
The object of the present invention was to provide preparations for oral and dental hygiene and cleaning that achieve effective cleaning and whitening and thereby prevent or reduce new discolorations as long as possible.
It was now found surprisingly that a combination of two polymers with certain abrasive substances has the result that stains (e.g., from food, particularly tea stains) are less evident. The gentle cleaning by such a combination is supplemented with a long-term effect against restaining.
Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Oral and dental hygiene and cleaning agents for reducing re-staining of teeth


The rotatably engaged socket set includes a plurality of differently sized sockets that are collectively connected at a center such that the differently sized sockets each extend radially from the center. The differently sized sockets are able to rotate through armatures forming the U-shaped member in order to select a desired socket for use. The U-shaped member includes a square drive at a distal end of the U-shaped member such that the rotatably engaged socket set is configured to attach to an existing socket drive, which may involve an impact wrench or pry bar or ratchet. Upon attachment of the existing socket drive to the square drive of the U-shaped member, a selected socket is longitudinally aligned and configured for use in tightening or loosening a nut or head of a bolt.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of hand tools, more specifically, a socket set that are collectively attached together and are rotatable engaged.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a plurality of differently sized sockets that are collectively connected at a center such that the differently sized sockets each extend radially from the center; wherein the center includes a thru hole into which a pivoting pin attaches the center to a U-shaped member; wherein the differently sized sockets are able to rotate through armatures forming the U-shaped member; wherein the U-shaped member includes a square drive at a distal end of the U-shaped member such that the rotatably engaged socket set is configured to attach to an existing socket drive, which may involve an impact wrench or pry bar or ratchet; upon attachment of the existing socket drive to the square drive of the U-shaped member, a selected socket is longitudinally aligned and configured for use in tightening or loosening a nut or head of a bolt; wherein the differently sized sockets may form a cross shape or other shape attributed with the number of differently sized sockets included; wherein all sockets are able to rotate through the armatures in order to enable selection of any of the sockets when in use.
The Chang Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0232424) discloses a wrench for different sized nuts having a swiveling support member. However, the swiveling support member is affixed to a handle, and is unable to be configured for use with any number of types of socket drivers.
The Meholovitch Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0197718) discloses a wrench drive member that includes a body that is rotatably coupled to the handle and at least one socket coupled to the body. Again, the wrench drive member is affixed to a handle, and is unable to be configured for use with any number of types of socket drivers.
The Chang Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,171) discloses a cross wrench having a folding central attachment. However, the central member is not a U-shaped member that enables armatures to attach to a center of a plurality of differently sized sockets.
The Sisolak Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,571,148) discloses a wrench having multiple sized sockets that rotate about a central axis. Again, the wrench is affixed to a handle, and is unable to be configured for use with any number of types of socket drivers.
The Drahonovsky Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,476,058) discloses a wrench having a plurality of sockets of various sizes carried by a central brace member. However, the central brace member is unable to be configured for use with any number of types of socket drivers.
The Chang Patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 639,625) illustrates an ornamental design for a foldable wrench, which is not depicted to operate with an existing socket driver.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a plurality of differently sized sockets that are collectively connected at a center such that the differently sized sockets each extend radially from the center; wherein the center includes a thru hole into which a pivoting pin attaches the center to a U-shaped member; wherein the differently sized sockets are able to rotate through armatures forming the U-shaped member; wherein the U-shaped member includes a square drive at a distal end of the U-shaped member such that the rotatably engaged socket set is configured to attach to an existing socket drive, which may involve an impact wrench or pry bar or ratchet; upon attachment of the existing socket drive to the square drive of the U-shaped member, a selected socket is longitudinally aligned and configured for use in tightening or loosening a nut or head of a bolt; wherein the differently sized sockets may form a cross shape or other shape attributed with the number of differently sized sockets included; wherein all sockets are able to rotate through the armatures in order to enable selection of any of the sockets when in use. In this regard, the rotatably engaged socket set departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.


A container and corresponding blank from which such container is formed is particularly suitable for packaging liquid products and aseptically packaging liquid foods. The rectangular shaped blank may be formed of a laminated sheet material that preferably includes a composite of paperboard web, aluminum foil and intermediate layers of heat sealable polymer. All blank fold lines are scored and an induction sealing flange area is provided around the entire blank perimeter. A unit of several sheet linked blanks is symmetrically folded about a central axis for juxtaposed alignment of sealing flange areas around the perimeter of the unfolded blank. After induction sealing, the package side flange at the bottom of the unit, the resulting tube pocket is open and charged with a material quantity of liquid. After charging, the series of edge flanges above the first sealed edge flange are also induction sealed and severed from the unit remainder to complete a pillow shaped package. With fluid contents encapsulated, the pillow-shaped package includes a standing flange seam around three of four edges. The pillow corners are collapsed along diagonal corner score lines to triangular gable points and the side and ends of the pillow mechanically erected to orthographic planes with the standing seams and corner gable points folded flat against an adjacent plane.

The present invention relates to a paperboard package of the parallelepiped configuration suitable for the consumer distribution of aseptically packaged liquid food products, and to an apparatus and associated method for producing scored blanks and packages made from such blanks.
The laminated paperboard parallelepiped package configuration is well established for marketing small consumer quantities of beverages and liquid foods. These packages are fabricated from a sheet material comprising a laminated composite having a paperboard substrate base and at least two layers of hot melt applied thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene, PET or polypropylene, often with an interior metal foil layer such as aluminum. Packages of this construction typically are both gas and light impermeable. If assembled from sterile materials or materials that are sterilized after assembly and filled with sterile contents under sterile conditions, these packages, known as aseptic, are designed to insure that the contents may be safely consumed after storage for extended time periods without refrigeration.
Commercial sterility in the food packaging field is, therefore, that state or condition where a product, its package and associated filling and handling equipment are substantially free of harmful microorganisms capable of reproducing in the package confined food under normal, nonrefrigerated conditions of storage and distribution. Additionally, the product and its package are substantially free of viable microorganisms, including spores, of public health significance. Process conditions compatible with commercial sterility in low acid foods such as milk, cream, yogurt and vegetable juice include heating to the order of at least 140.degree. C. for at least 6 seconds. At the other end of the spectrum, high acid foods may require heating to only 93.degree. C. for about 15 seconds to achieve commercial sterility.
The paperboard substrate for these packages provides structural strength and rigidity to the composite and an excellent print surface for graphics. Consequently, a sealing layer of polymer is applied to the side of the paper to be used as the package interior and, while still hot and viscous, a layer of aluminum foil is applied onto the polymer film. The foil provides a sealing barrier against all gases and light. A second polymer layer most suitable for direct contact with the package contents is then applied over the foil.
In most cases, the base sheet lamination also receives a coating of polymer on the exterior surface of the paperboard applied over the graphics for external moisture protection of the paperboard, and scratch protection for previously applied graphics. Such a sequence is not exclusive, however, since there are marketing and production circumstances under which the graphics are applied over the exterior polymer coating. The base sheet lamination and fabrication processes referred to are normally practiced upon a continuously running sheet material drawn from a reel supply and rewound as a reel to become reel supply on another processing machine such as a printing machine. In the case of multiple color printing, each color in a complete composition may be applied at a separate print section. Register mechanisms along the sheet route through the machine regulate the running material position relative to each print station. The result is a repeating continuum of package blank graphics repetitively distributed along the reeled material length.
A folding score is typically applied in registry with the pattern of package graphics on the base sheet continuum of package blanks. Scores are channels or grooves pressed or embossed into the base sheet which delineate integrally adjacent panel areas of a package to be formed by folding a sheet of construction material. These scores facilitate folding and bending of the blank in erection of the container and therefore also delineate the boundaries of adjacent panel areas in the finished product.
Longitudinal score lines may be continuous or interrupted and oriented parallel with the web or base sheet running direction. This would also be parallel to the paper web machine direction (M.D.) which is the longitudinal or continuous running direction of the paper web as it was made. Such longitudinal score lines are typically embossed into a running web or laminated base sheet in the nip of a pair of scoring cylinders, one of which has a projecting ridge or ridges around its circumference and the other of which may be flat (anvil cylinder) or contain a groove around its (female cylinder) circumference which rotatably mates in spaced relation with the ridge on the male cylinder. As the web runs longitudinally through the cylinder nip, the male cylinder ridge and female or anvil cylinder pressingly engage the web therebetween to emboss a groove or score into the web.
Transverse or diagonal score lines of finite length may also be embossed between a pair of die cylinders in which a protruding ridge on a male cylinder meshes with a channel indentation on a female cylinder or is disposed in nip association with a co-rotating anvil cylinder.
Conventionally, all the protruding die ridge elements are positioned on one cylinder of a nip combination and any cooperative channels are positioned on the other cylinder. Generally, folded paperboard carton fabrication allows corner folds to be sharply turned over anvil cylinders or hard edges. In the case of aseptic, parallelepiped carton fabrication, however, the corners are typically not sharply broken or completed along any fold or score lines before the package is filled and sealed. Thus, the container may be filled as a rolled tube having its lateral edges sealed upon one another, often with a lapped closure and the leading end sealed in a similar manner. After the contents are inserted, the other end of the tube may be crimp or lap sealed to complete a fluid filled, flexible wall, pillow-like configuration. From this geometry, a parallelepiped shape may be formed by external shaping pressure surfaces to mold the pillow about the creased score lines. Resultantly, the package corners are generally softly rounded rather than crisp and sharp.
Due to the number and thickness of laminations required of aseptic package construction, effective scoring requires die nip pressure. Additionally, when the package closure folds are made, the corner pressures are compounded due to the doubling and redoubling of the sheet thickness about the fold line. As a consequence, the web preparation and packaging processes must be tightly controlled, and even slight deviations may result in rejection of packages due to foil or paperboard ruptures that occur during the folding or filling process.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a parallelepiped package construction forming method and associated apparatus which imposes less compressive and tensile stresses on the package corners and edges.
Another object of the present invention is a method and associated apparatus for scoring package blanks which facilitates erection of the finally folded shape of the package according to the intended fold angle of adjacent panels so as to provide desired edge or corner characteristics.
A further object of the present invention is provision of a paperboard parallelepiped package having two opposite face surfaces and a linking end surface which are uninterrupted by seams or joints.
A further object of the invention is to provide a package blank, package configuration, and method and apparatus for making package blanks and packages from blanks which are relatively uncomplicated and convenient to make and use.

Paperboard package, blank and method and apparatus for producing the same


To further prevent stairway falls, an otherwise conventional handrail, of the type that is mounted on the sidewall of a stairway and has an upper portion which is configured to be easily grasped by one utilizing, is modified by providing it with a two-part cavity in the interior of the handrail, with its first part being a slot that extends from the handrails' exterior surface and its second part being a bore that is situated in the handrail's interior and joined with the slot so as to make the bore accessible from the handrail's exterior surface. This modified handrail is also to provided with a wrist securing device that works in cooperation with the handrail's cavity for keeping the wrist of a user in close proximity to the handrail when the user is traversing the stairway.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to static structures and the handrails found therein, and, in particular, to a handrail adjoining a stair that is configured to minimize the risk of one falling on the stairs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Handrails are well known parts of multi-story buildings that are primarily used for the purpose of trying to prevent a person from falling when ascending or descending a stairway.
However, despite the use of handrails, each year thousands of people die and tens of thousands are injured from falls on stairways in their homes and in other places. Several conventional devices have been developed in order to reduce the number of injuries resulting from ascending or descending a stairway.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,832 discloses a stairway safety suspension support apparatus. This apparatus provides a plurality of loops along the stairway which a person can grasp in the event of a fall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,287 discloses a step walker for use in conjunction with a stairway. In this apparatus, a walking bar is temporarily positioned within guide slots as the person walks up or down the stairway.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,989 discloses an alternative to the standard or conventional stairway handrail. This alternative includes a rail that is secured to a wall adjacent a stairway. However, the configuration of this rail is such that the rail itself is not meant to be grabbed and held in the standard manner by one traversing the stairway. Instead, the rail has a bore that extends along the longitudinal extent of the rail and, through a slit opening in the side of the bore, receives one end of a handle that is slidable on the side of the rail and along its longitudinal extent. The other end of the handle has a loop which is held and pushed by one who is traversing the stairway so as to cause the handle to slide along the rail. The stated advantage of this alternative is that its handle can be gripped at all times so that a user in traversing a stairway does not have to grip, release and regrip the rail—thus supposedly decreasing the likelihood of a accident by eliminating the periods when a rail is not being gripped or held.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,297 discloses a waist-wrapped, safety harness which one wears when ascending and descending a stairway. This safety harness has a tether which is looped around an adjoining tubular handrail that is supported only at its ends.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,058 discloses a handrail whose cross-sectional shape is especially configured so that it sits further away from an adjoining wall and thereby makes it easier for one to grasp and lean on such a handrail so as to prevent a stairway fall. U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,825 also has a handrail with a uniquely shaped cross-section that seeks to help prevent stairway falls and other dangers during a broader spectrum of movements.
With the number of elderly people in the U.S. on the rise, there is a continuing need for improvements in handrails that will make people's movements on stairways safer.


A new and distinct Loropetalum cultivar named ‘IRODORI’ is disclosed, characterized by bright pink, white, green and maroon variegated foliage, tall upright and spread habit and bright pink flowers with some flower re-bloom after the initial heavy Spring bloom. The new variety is a Loropetalum, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Loropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved flowering for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during Apr. 24, 2004.
The seed parent is the, unpatented, commercial variety referred to as Loropetalum 'Kinsai'. The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Loropetalum '3-28'. The new variety was discovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan, in 2009 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successive generations.


A multiple flow system and method for detecting substances in a fluid is provided. More specifically, a first fluid tube containing a first fluid and a second fluid tube containing a second fluid are coupled to a common fluid tube via a connector, such that alternating discrete compartments of the first fluid and the second fluid flow through the common fluid tube. The first and second fluids are immiscible. A substance detector, having a flow chamber with an internal wall, is coupled to the common fluid tube. The alternating discrete compartments of the first and second fluids flow through the flow chamber and are analyzed by the substance detector.

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. Although melanoma has a relatively low death rate compared with other cancers as it is generally easy to see on the skin and can be simply removed, it quickly becomes deadly if the superficial tumor metastasizes to other parts of the body. In metastasis, circulating melanoma cells (CMCs), cells that have broken off from the original tumor site and move through the blood or lymphatic system, can plant themselves elsewhere and create secondary tumors that are subsequently the cause for terminal melanoma. Accordingly, early diagnosis will likely be the cure to cancer, as the treatments have higher chances of success because the cancer has not fully manifested itself yet.
Furthermore, it is predicted that in 2010 over 68,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease and over 8,000 melanoma patients will die from the illness. Nevertheless, melanoma can be easily cured if it is detected early and quickly removed from the skin; however, if it metastasizes, the cancer can become lethal. Considering that a 1 mm diameter tumor typically consists of one million cells, larger more visible tumors can generally consist of billions of cells. That said, a patient who is diagnosed from a large tumor will have reduced options and will necessitate more physically demanding treatment than a patient who is diagnosed before secondary tumors can form. Unfortunately, patients must currently wait months to know if the superficial melanoma tumor has spread, because the current methods of diagnosing metastatic cancer are through imaging techniques, which require the presence of a visible metastatic tumor. Consequently, patients are oftentimes diagnosed too late.
Current methods for diagnosing metastatic cancer include lymph node biopsies and imaging techniques. However, lymph node biopsies can produce false negatives if the cancer did not interact with the lymphatic system and cannot be performed numerous times for disease monitoring. That said, circulating tumor cells can be an excellent source of information for diagnosis and monitoring of metastatic melanoma and other pathological diseases if they can be detected in the lymphatic system or blood stream. For that reason, many techniques are being investigated to detect and isolate these cells for both diagnostic and disease monitoring purposes. Some research has already been conducted to find CMCs, including RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, magnetic cell sorting, fiber optic array scanning technology, and microfilters; however, high false negative rates, labeling, and long procedures limit chances of clinical implementation.
Unfortunately, the current methods used to diagnose metastatic disease are not sensitive to single metastatic cells. Patients must wait until secondary tumors are formed before they can be diagnosed and begin life saving treatment.

Multiple phase flow system for detecting and isolating substances

The Curators of the University of Missouri