The invention is directed to novel isonipecotamide derivatives of Formula (I):

Integrins are a widely expressed family of calcium- or magnesium-dependent αβ heterodimeric cell surface receptors which bind to extracellular matrix adhesive proteins such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin, and osteopontin. These transmembrane glycoproteins (GP's), known for their large extracellular domains, are classified by at least 8 known β subunits and 14 α subunits (S. A. Mousa, et al., Emerging Theraupeutic Targets, 2000, 4, (2), 143-153). For example, the β1 subfamily, also known as the very late antigen (VLA) subfamily, has the largest number of integrins (S. A. Mousa, et al., Emerging Theraupeutic Targets, 2000, 4, (2), 144). The αvβ1 subfamily further associates with various β subunits: β3, β5, β6, β8 and αIIbβ3 (also referred to as GPIIb/IIIa) (S. A. Mousa, et al., Emerging Theraupeutic Targets, 2000, 4, (2), 144, 147). Some of the disease states that have a strong β3, β5 and GPIIb/IIIa integrin component in their etiologies are unstable angina, thromboembolic disorders or atherosclerosis (GPIIb/IIIa); thrombosis or restenosis (GPIIb/IIIa or αvβ3); restenosis (dual αvβ3/GPIIb/IIIa); rheumatoid arthritis, vascular disorders or osteoporosis (αvβ3); tumor angiogenesis, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, asthma, vascular injury or diabetic retinopathy (αvβ3 or αvβ5); and, angiogenesis (dual αvβ3/αvβ5) (S. A. Mousa, et al., Emerging Theraupeutic Targets, 2000, 4, (2), 148-149; W. H. Miller, et al., Drug Discovery Today 2000, 5 (9), 397-407; and, S. A. Mousa, et al., Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents, 1999, 9 (9), 1237-1248). The β3 subunit has received significant attention in recent drug discovery efforts. (W. J. Hoekstra, Current Medicinal Chemistry 1998, 5, 195) and antibodies and/or low-molecular weight compound antagonists of αvβ3 have shown efficacy in animal models (J. Samanen, Current Pharmaceutical Design 1997, 3, 545).
Furthermore, GPIIb/IIIa and αvβ3 antagonists have typically been designed after the bioactive arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) conformations of peptides derived from their primary ligands, fibrinogen and vitronectin, respectively. The RGD motif is the general cell attachment sequence of many extracellular matrix, blood, and cell surface proteins, as half of the ca. 20 known integrins bind the RGD-containing adhesion ligands. To discover RGD peptides with integrin selectivity, peptides with both restricted conformations and alterations of flanking residues have been studied. In particular, the structural requirements for interaction of the RGD sequence with GPIIb/IIIa and the inhibitory potential of a series of nonpeptidic mimetics on platelet aggregation and interactions with the extracellular matrix have been described (D. Varon, et al., Thromb. Haemostasis, 1993, 70(6), 1030-1036). Iterative synthesis of cyclic and alicyclic peptides and computer modelling have provided potent, selective agents as a platform for nonpeptide αv integrin antagonist design.
For example, PCT Application WO98/25892 to Fisher, et al., describes a series of α-sulfonamido and α-sulfinamido carboxylic acid compounds of the formula:
wherein    Y is selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —PO3H2, —SO3H and —COOR4; where R4 is selected from the group consisting of C1-10alkyl,    C1-8alkylaryl, arylC1-8alkyl, C1-8alkyloxycarbonyloxyC1-8alkyl,    aryloxycarbonyloxyC1-8alkyl, C1-8alkyloxycarbonyloxyaryl,    C1-10alkylcarbonyloxyC1-8alkyl and C1-8alkylcarbonyloxyaryl; A is selected from the group consisting of C6-12alkyl, C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-O—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C1-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C1-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C1-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl-CO—N R5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—C1-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—CO0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-O—C2-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-O—C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-O—C2-8alkyl-O—C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-S—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-S(On)—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-S—C2-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-S(On)—C2-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-S—C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-S(On)—C1-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C0-8alkyl-S—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—CO—C1-8alkyl-S(On)—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C2-8alkyl-S—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C2-8alkyl-S(On)—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—C0-8alkyl-CO2—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-NR5—C0-8alkyl-CS—O—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—C0-8alkyl-CO—NR5—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-NR5—C0-8alkyl-CS—NR5—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-O—C0-8alkyl-CO2-C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-O—C0-8alkyl-CS—O—C0-8alkyl, C0-8alkyl-SiR7R8—C0-8alkyl,    C0-8alkyl-SiR7R8—C0-8alkyl-NR6—CO—C0-8alkyl and    C0-8alkyl-SiR7R8—C0-8alkyl-CO—NR6—C0-8alkyl; where R5, R6, R7 and R8— are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-6alkyl; and where    n=1 or 2; Z is selected from the group consisting of —NH—C(NR9R10)=R11, —NH—C(R9)=R11, —C(NR9R10)=R11 and piperidinyl; where R9, R10 and R11 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, arylC1-3alkyl and aryl; or where two of the R9, R10 or R11 substituents form a cyclic ring containing (CH2)p, where p=2-5; R1 is H and R2 is selected from the group consisting of —SOm-aryl-, —SOm—C1-10alkyl-, —SOm-heteroaryl-, where m=1-2; R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-8alkyl, aryl, C1-8alkylaryl and heteroaryl as inhibitors of RGD-dependent integrins for the treatment of thrombotic or restenotic disorders.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide compounds that are antagonists of integrins. It is another object to provide isonipecotamide compounds that are αvβ3, αvβ5, GPIIb/IIIa, dual αvβ3/GPIIb/IIIa or dual αvβ3/αvβ5 integrin antagonists. It is a further object to provide methods for treating a variety of integrin-mediated disorders including, but not limited to, unstable angina, thromboembolic disorders, atherosclerosis, arterial and/or venous thrombosis, restenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, vaso-occlusive disorders, osteoporosis, tumor angiogenesis, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, asthma, vascular injury, macular degeneration or diabetic complications including diabetic retinopathy.

Isonipecotamides for the treatment of integrin-mediated disorders

Abstract: which are useful in treating integrin-mediated disorders.


A screw-type rotary fluid machine such as a compressor or a vacuum pump has male and female rotors which rotate within a casing, with or without mutual contact. At least one of the male and female rotors being surface-treated to have a treated surface structure. The treated surface structure is a multi-layered structures composed of a plurality of layers including a non-electrolytic Ni plating layer and at least one covering layer of organic resin. The organic resin may be one or more kinds selected from a group of engineering plastics, so as to improve mechanical strength.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screw type rotary fluid machine suitable for use as a compressor, blower or a vacuum pump. The present invention also is concerned with a corrosion-resistant, low-noise and low-friction screw type rotary fluid machine which is suitable for use as a dry-type fluid machine.

Screw-type rotary fluid machine including rotors having treated surfaces


The present invention relates to a method and a use of an agent for the in vitro inhibition of coagulation in blood and a blood collection device provided for said method and use.

Blood sampling and testing are routinely carried out for various diagnostic purposes. The accurate and precise determination of blood constituents or parameters is oftentimes required to be able to draw valid and reliable diagnostic and prognostic conclusions. In this respect results from diagnostic tests of blood can be strongly affected by preanalytical circumstances and conditions. In many cases it is desirable to maintain blood after withdrawal in a substantially physiologically native state. Depending on the particular situation and the type(s) of (extra)cellular component(s) and constituent(s) to be determined, it may be necessary to use whole blood, or also preferable to use plasma samples instead of serum.
Coagulation and platelet aggregation in blood leading to clotting can occur when blood is withdrawn by puncturing blood vessels and when it is collected in and comes in contact with sample containers due to the activation of platelets and coagulation factors. Further, this process can result in for example lysis of cells and changes of cellular and extracellular concentrations of blood constituents. Moreover, subsequent in vitro coagulation tests and blood count are precluded. In order to prepare and provide whole blood and plasma samples for in vitro diagnostic investigations additives which inhibit blood and/or plasma from coagulation and clotting and which are generally called anticoagulants are commonly added to and mixed with blood immediately after sample collection. More specifically, the term anticoagulant refers to inhibitors of plasmatic blood clotting or coagulation, distinguishable from inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Both calcium ions and thrombin are required for the clotting process. Therefore, salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA salts) or citrate salts which can chelate calcium ions, and heparin salts which can inhibit thrombin activity are typically used as anticoagulants. For a general description of the processes and components involved in coagulation and primary and secondary hemostasis, comprising the coagulation cascade and the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway, it is referred to "Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations", 5th edition, T. M. Devlin (ed.), Wiley, 2002.
In particular, sodium, lithium or ammonium salt of heparin, K2EDTA, K3EDTA, Na2EDTA and trisodium citrate are commonly used as anticoagulants in diagnostic laboratory investigations (see e.g. WHO document "Use of Anticoagulants in Diagnostic Laboratory Investigations" (WHO/DIL/LAB/99.1 Rev. 2, 2002)). Buffering and adjustment of pH, for example in the physiological range, may optionally be performed, for example for citrate by adding citric acid. Moreover, stabilizing agents may be comprised besides the anticoagulant. The above-mentioned anticoagulants are used to obtain whole blood samples for hematologic analyses (e.g. full blood cell counts and white blood cell differential analysis) or to obtain plasma samples for hemostasis and clinical chemistry analyses.
However, for diagnostic applications these typically used anticoagulants have certain drawbacks and shortcomings due to the interference with certain analytical methods and the changing of the concentration of certain constituents to be measured. For example, sample contamination with clinically relevant cations such as Na+, Li+, K+ and NH4+ from these anticoagulants, which are added in comparatively high concentrations, can be problematic in view of determination of these ions as well as hyperosmolarity/change in osmolarity. The latter can lead to water outflow from cells, loss of cellular integrity, ion leakage and thus also to interference in subsequent analyte testing. Likewise chelation of e.g. Ca2+, Mg2+ or Zn2+ can interfere with the analysis of these cations, and enzymes—also in subsequent assays—whose structure/function depend on these ions can also be affected, especially when the divalent cations are strongly depleted by a high concentration of chelating anticoagulant. The polyanionic heparin may inhibit metabolic or catalytic reactions. Moreover, the determination of several laboratory parameters by hematologic tests, coagulation tests as well as clinical chemistry analyses from a single sample is precluded. The need to provide several samples with different anticoagulants or different concentrations of anticoagulant entails extra time, cost and potential for errors in the preanalytical and analytical procedures.
There is a need in the art to simplify the inhibition of coagulation in blood during preanalytics and to make it more robust and economical while enabling the subsequent testing of blood constituents and providing benefits in terms of sample handling, storage, transport and throughput and, as far as possible, accuracy, without however affecting anticoagulation efficacy.

In vitro method, use of an agent and collection device for the inhibition of coagulation in blood


Disclosed are therapeutic oral compositions useful in the treatment of a variety of oral disorders, in which the composition can provide blockage of dentinal tubes, while at the same time provide antibacterial and anti-caries efficacy. The compositions include arginine in free or salt form, a mucoadhesive polymer, and at least one component selected from pyrophosphates, zinc salts, potassium salts, strontium salts, and mixtures thereof.

The three mineralized tissues of teeth are enamel, cementum and dentine. In human teeth, enamel covers the crown dentine whereas cementum covers the root dentine. In turn, the dentine encloses the pulp of the tooth which provides the dentine with vascular and neural support. Unlike enamel and cementum, the dentine is transversed by numerous tubules. The tubule walls are comprised of the calcified matrix of the dentine and the tubule space is filled with fluid (dentinal fluid) derived from pulp tissue fluid and serum. The matrix mineral is comprised mainly of the calcium phosphate salt, hydroxyapatite, which is poorly soluble at neutral and alkaline pH, and progressively more soluble as the pH becomes progressively more acidic.
Because of their rigid walls, the fluid that fills the narrow dentinal tubules enables cold, tactile, evaporative and osmotic stimuli to be transmitted through the dentine to the pulp in the form of fluid movement. This movement of dentinal fluid is sensed as sharp pain of short duration. This pain is elicited when the odontoblasts that protrude into the pulpal ends of the tubules are disturbed and as a result, the mechano-receptors of the pulpal nerve fibers attached thereto are stimulated. The neural response is usually referred to as dentinal pain and the involved dentine as hypersensitive dentine.
Dentinal hypersensitivity results when protective enamel or cementum covering dentine is lost. Cementum is easier to breach than enamel, because cementum is thinner and more easily eroded by acids. However, breach of cementum cannot happen until there is gingival recession and exposure of the root surface to the oral milieu. Individuals with breached cementum and suffering with dentinal hypersensitivity often experience pain when the exposed area of the tooth comes into contact with cold air or hot and cold liquids or foods that are sweet or acidic or is touched with a metal object.
One way that loss of cementum occurs (and the same is true of enamel) is by the process of dental caries. Acids are produced as end-products of the bacterial degradation of fermentable carbohydrate and these acids dissolve hydroxyapatite, which, like dentine and enamel, is the main calcium phosphate mineral that comprises most of the mineral of the cementum. Another source is acidic foods which, if ingested frequently and for prolonged periods of time, will cause tooth demineralization. These include fruit juices and many beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Other acidic agents leading to chemical erosion include various oral personal care products. Amongst these are many of the commercially available mouthwashes and some toothpastes. Abrasive toothpastes and vigorous brushing can aid the erosion process. Another way in which dentinal tubules lose their protective cementum and enamel coverings is through procedures performed by the dentist or hygienist in the dental office. This includes cavity and crown preparation of teeth for fillings and other restorations. It also includes cementum removal during scaling and root planing by the periodontist or dental hygienist.
Many attempts have been made with limited success to plug exposed dentinal tubules and to thereby reduce or stop the ability of stimuli to reach the pulp and cause pain. Materials either singly or in combination have been tried to produce an effective plug. Blockage of the tubules through the formation of a calcium phosphate precipitate is a common approach. This includes the mixing of a soluble calcium salt with a soluble phosphate salt and immediately applying the combination to the open tubules. Alternatively, application of one salt before the other to try to get a precipitate to form within tubules is also used.
Substances other than calcium phosphate also have been utilized. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,006 describes using potassium, lithium or sodium nitrate. Another example is calcium oxalate particles of small and large size. Application of a protein denaturing agent, such as an alcohol, a surfactant, or a chaotropic salt, can also plug an exposed dentinal tubule since there is protein material within the dentinal tubules and denaturation can sometimes result in partial or complete tubule plugging. Still another but more drastic approach is to place a dental restoration in the affected area or cover the area with an adhesive material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,768 describes using a varnish containing strontium salt in a sustained hydrophobic polymer. Adherence without leakage of fluid from the tubules is not always easy to accomplish because adherence to a wet surface is difficult to achieve considering that the continual outward flow or leakage of dentinal fluid from the tubules while a filling or adhesive is setting is hard to stop.
Attempts to treat tooth sensitivity other than by plugging have involved depolarization of the nerve fiber membranes essential for nerve impulse transmission. Potassium salts, especially potassium nitrate, have been largely used for this purpose. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,751,072 and 4,631,185 describe using potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride. U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,558 discloses an oral composition containing arginine and a calcium salt to treat dentinal hypersensitivity.
Arginine and other basic amino acids have been proposed for use in oral care and are believed to have significant benefits in combating cavity formation and tooth sensitivity. Combining these basic amino acids with minerals having oral care benefits, e.g., fluoride and calcium, to form an oral care product having acceptable long term stability, however, has proven challenging. In particular, the basic amino acid may raise the pH and facilitate dissociation of calcium ions that can react with fluoride ions to form an insoluble precipitate. Moreover, the higher pH has the potential to cause irritation. At neutral pH or acidic pH, however, a system utilizing arginine bicarbonate (which the art teaches is preferred) may release carbon dioxide, leading to bloating and bursting of the containers. Moreover, it might be expected that lowering the pH to neutral or acidic conditions would reduce the efficacy of the formulation because the arginine may form an insoluble arginine-calcium complex that has a poorer affinity for the tooth surface, and moreover that lowering the pH would reduce any effect the formulation might have on buffering cariogenic lactic acid in the mouth. Use of antimicrobial agents together with arginine and salts also have posed difficulties. Commercially available arginine-based toothpaste, such as ProClude® and DenClude®, for example, contain arginine bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, but not fluoride nor any antimicrobial agent.
Mouthwash and mouthrinse formulations also are well known in the art. Various formulations include antibacterial agents, flavorants, colorants, sweeteners, breath freshening agents, and the like. While a variety of agents can be included in rinse or wash formulations, their concurrent use may not be possible due to interactivity, adverse reactions among reactive agents, resulting in loss of activity. It would be desirable to provide a mouthwash or mouthrinse composition useful in the treatment of a variety of ailments, including for example, dentinal hypersensitivity, anticaries, bad breath, plaque formation, tartar control, stain prevention/whitening, dry mouth, erosion, gingivitis, etc.


A mechanism by which the mop of a sponge roller mop is released without a user having to touch a dirty mop so that the sponge can be released and replaced with a clean sponge, including a sponge pin molded onto the brace which retains the sponge. The mechanism includes a transverse section with a movable hole through which the crown from the sponge pin is inserted. The wall is moved by a transverse spring force so that the wall from the opening of the trigger mechanism is placed between the crown and a lower section of the sponge pin to thereby retain the crown within the rod retaining mechanism. When a pushbutton is pushed transversely, it overcomes the spring force so that the crown is released and a downward force from the vertical compression spring forces the crown downwardly and out of the trigger mechanism, thereby releasing the sponge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sponge roller mops where the sponge is retained in a plastic brace or metal brace and a pair of roller mechanisms are on opposite sides of the plastic brace or metal brace so that when the sponge is in the operative condition, the roller mechanisms are in a raised condition and the sponge can be used to mop a floor and when the sponge is pulled through the roller mechanisms, the sponge is wrung dry so that the sponge can be dipped in soapy water to continue the cleaning process which is primarily for floors and horizontal surfaces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the mechanism is as described in the Field of the Invention section having a sponge which is retained within a plastic or metal brace and having two roller mechanisms which in the use condition, are in an unelevated condition so that the sponge can be used to mop a floor or other vertical surface and with the rollers in the elevated condition, the sponge can be pulled through the two rollers so that water is wrung out of the sponge and when the sponge is returned to its original condition, the sponge can then be dipped in additional soapy water to continue the mopping operation until the sponge is so dirty that it can be no longer used. When the sponge is in the condition where it can be released, in the prior art that is known to the present inventors, the brace retaining the sponge needs to be slid out of the roller mechanism or through use of a J-hook retaining mechanism to remove the brace and mop from the rollers and the person has to have the person's hand touch the dirty mop. When the sponge gets used or too dirty, the operator needs to replace the sponge with a new sponge. The operator needs to hold the sponge and use his/her hand to grip the sponge and thereafter either slide the brace on opposing tracks inside opposing rollers or physically move the brace and sponge through a lifting mechanism such as lifting over J-hook. As a result, it is necessary to hold the dirty sponge in order to remove it from the roller mechanism.
There is a significant need for an improved invention which will enable a user to have the used or dirty sponge released so that the user does not have to touch the dirty and used sponge and can replace the sponge with a new clean sponge.

Sponge roller mop with quick release mechanism to remove a dirty sponge from the housing without having to touch the dirty or contaminated sponge also including a shotgun sponge wringing mechanism


The present invention relates to flexible members for stabilizing a spinal column and methods for making the flexible members. In one embodiment, a flexible member comprises an inner elastomeric member and an outer fabric layer situated securely around the inner elastomeric member. The inner elastomeric member has a first elasticity to provide the flexible member with a desired flexibility. In another embodiment, the flexible member includes an outer covering that defines an outer elastomeric member. The outer elastomeric member may be situated securely around the outer fabric layer with the inner elastomeric member, the outer fabric layer, and the outer elastomeric member having the common lengthwise axis and defining the body including the opposing first and second ends. The outer elastomeric member may have a second elasticity that is less than the first elasticity.

The spine includes a series of joints or motion segments. The components of each motion segment include two adjacent vertebrae and their apophyseal joints, an intervertebral disc, and connecting ligamentous tissue. Each motion segment is capable of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and translation. Each component of the motion segment contributes to the mechanical stability of that joint. Overall, the motion segments enable the familiar kinematic motion of the spinal column.
Components of a motion segment that move out of position, become damaged, deteriorate, or are disordered in some fashion, can lead to serious pain. Furthermore, these disorders may lead to injury to other components of the spine. Depending upon the degree of disorder or damage that has occurred, treatment may include fusing the components of the motion segment together.
Fusion procedures include rigid stabilization of one or more motion segments, i.e., immobilization of the motion segment. Fusing usually involves fixation of a metallic rod, plate, or other rigid member to components of the disordered motion segment to promote fusion within and between these components. However, fusing motion segments may lead to other problems. Simply put, fusion results in a loss of mobility in that motion segment. The lost mobility in the fused motion segment transfers the required movement to other, non-fused motion segments. Adjacent, non-fused motion segments experience the greatest transfer of the demand for motion. Added demand increases the stress on the non-fused motion segments, and, consequently, causes non-fused motion segments to deteriorate. Therefore, loss of motion in one motion segment may contribute to or even cause disorders in the motion segments above and below the fused motion segment.
Thus, a stabilization member that permits limited motion of the disordered motion segment and which reduces the demand for motion on adjacent motion segments is needed.

Flexible member for use in a spinal column and method for making


Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for dynamically bootstrapping repositories or databases for newly created tenants at runtime in scalable, distributed multi-tenant environments. Repositories are maintained for respective application-tenant combinations. If there is an existing repository for the application and tenant combination involved in an incoming request, the request is responded to using that existing repository. However, if this is not the case, a new repository is created dynamically and at runtime. Bootstrapping is triggered dynamically the first time a client application tries to access the newly created tenant at runtime. This approach advantageously is flexible when it comes to enabling tenant- and application-specific repositories with optional search index mapping (e.g., for searching and/or other purposes).

Computer applications with database connectivity oftentimes have been designed such that backend components (such as, for example, tables, stored procedures, views, and/or the like), and also the database itself, need to be configured before the start of the applications that use them. For instance, relational databases have been used to provide information to computer applications, and the components of the relational databases typically are designed and created before such applications try to access them. As a result, information about the contents of the databases is needed before a database server can be started. Although this approach can work well in small, single-tenant environments, it can becomes more difficult as complexities are introduced, e.g., by virtue of the size of the application growing and/or its functionality increasing, the number of tenants using the application rising, etc.
One particularly problematic area involves highly distributed and scalable environments, e.g., of the sort oftentimes associated with cloud computing scenarios. In the computer systems architecture world, cloud computing has recently received some attention. Although there are many competing definitions for "cloud computing," it is fairly well accepted that cloud computing generally involves (1) the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, and (2) providing shared processing and/or storage resources, software, information, etc., to computers and other devices as an oftentimes metered service over a network (typically the Internet). In a cloud computing environment, end users do not necessarily need to know the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services. Applications typically are delivered to end-users as the service, enabling transparent access to the cloud-based resources.
Regardless of whether a cloud computing environment is implemented, it is not uncommon for every tenant in a multi-tenant environment to have its own repositories. These repositories may be used in providing backend database functionality and/or the like. Moreover, the number and type(s) of repositories for a given tenant can vary depending on the applications actually used by that tenant, and if users associated with a tenant want to use a specific function of an application for the first time, an initial process of creating the repositories required for that functionality may be triggered. For instance, an implicated database management system (DMS) may create several repositories for the tenant including, for example, one repository for permanent storage, and perhaps three additional repositories associated with other technical requirements (e.g., for storing metadata, providing a search index, enabling caching functionality, etc.). Further additional repositories for the tenant may need to be created on demand, e.g., when needed by a different part of the application (e.g., an application instance) or another service that uses the application for storing data. Of course, as alluded to above, it will be appreciated that this description could in some implementations apply to each tenant in a multi-tenant system, thereby requiring a large amount of processing during runtime by virtue of the need to create many different repositories for many different tenants, applications, and/or underlying purposes.
In this regard, in a public cloud installation, e.g., where tenants can be created and deleted at virtually any time (for instance, when a customer buys access to a software solution or cancels an existing contract), it would be desirable to react to such events as they occur—even if they occurring during runtime of the associated underlying application. But when a new tenant is created, the backend may not yet be prepared for the tenant and/or the application may not have the information necessary to connect to the repositories of the newly created tenant, e.g., if conventional approaches are leveraged. Thus, it will be appreciated that the dynamic scaling of the database (or more generally, the data storage service) and the use of the same database instance for several tenants and different datasets can be very difficult, particularly if a predefined schema of table structure must be maintained.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that highly distributed and scalable environments, like those associated with cloud computing, can oftentimes present problems because information regarding what is needed for creating and/or maintaining a database (or more generally, a repository) for storing data from specific tenants, applications, and/or the like, generally is not known and in fact is sometimes not knowable, at least at startup time. For instance, it is not always possible to predict when new users may purchase an application, when current users might terminate their use of an application, when users might change tenants (e.g., by virtue of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, etc.), and so on. Similarly, there may be problems associated with changing the schema for differently structured data, creating new tables, starting a new database server, etc. These problems may be manifested in scenarios where, for example, it would be desirable to use the same database for newly created tenants who want to access their databases or repositories from a specific part of an application. Additionally, downtime generally is seen as unacceptable in a public cloud scenario—and it therefore may not be feasible to repeatedly stop and restart an application, e.g., as new components are configured and made available, as new tenants are introduced, etc.
In conventional, single-tenancy architectures, applications and/or application instances generally will access databases or other repositories with predefined structures. Index mappings (e.g., used for searching) will be linked to the repositories. The applications and/or application instances, in turn, will be configured to access exactly these repositories. All these components generally will be "hardwired" in the system and configured before the various components and/or associated services are started. As a result, conventional, single-tenancy architectures generally will implement static, predefined installations and deployment processes. Indeed, as alluded to above, the system oftentimes will need to create repositories that in turn have to be configured with all tables, stored procedures, views, etc., as well as a "hardwired" index mapping for an associated search engine. After that, it becomes possible to configure the applications and/or application instances and start everything in the correct order.
Pitfalls in conventional, single-tenancy architectures can come into play to an even greater extent when scalability and multi-tenancy issues are considered, when it oftentimes is not possible to provide a unique and complete installation for each tenant, and/or in other situations. Further, conventional, single-tenancy installations generally involve static and disjunct subsystems that are not scalable and/or have difficulties when attempting to scale. Unique installations generally will have no connection to one other, thereby implying that the components used in a first environment cannot be used in another installed environment, e.g., in order to handle failures of services of another installation. Yet the ability to provide failover mechanisms oftentimes is an important feature in cloud computing scenarios, and the limited ability to provide them can be problematic. Another problem involves each installation only being used for one application at a time. For instance, if two different applications and/or application instances want to use an application for storing data, it may be necessary to provide one installation for each application or application instance.
FIG. 1 is an example single-tenancy architecture. As shown in FIG. 1, for a first installation (Installation A), an application instance (e.g., a web application instance) 100a attempts to access a predefined repository or database 104a. The information needed for accessing this database 104a was configured and stored as application settings before the application instance 100a was started. At the backend side 102a in Installation A, everything is properly configured for a specific tenant and a specific application instance (in this case, application instance 100a). This predefined configuration is "hardwired" in the system and cannot be dynamically changed for another tenant, application, and/or application instance. Thus, it will be appreciated that each application/tenant (or application instance/tenant) combination is provided with its own installation settings to connect to the backend and, in the FIG. 1 example, separate Installations A and B are provided. In this regard, a parallel structure to that described in connection with Installation A is provided for Installation B, with like reference numerals having the "a" and "b" suffixes being provided for, and designating like components in, Installations A and B respectively.
Referring once again to Installation A, the database 104a is configured with a static repository. Thus, it can only be used for one application instance (in this case, application instance 100a) and one tenant. If another application instance (e.g., application instance 100b) and/or tenant would like to use the web application, it would need another complete installation (e.g., as in Installation B) that is unique to that combination.
To be able to search documents and/or objects stored in the repository 104a, an index mapping 106a that is configured to match the repository 104a is provided and configured for a specific application/tenant (or application instance/tenant) combination. The naming convention for the search index 108a is static and non-unique, and it only works with one repository 104a and provides one searchable index 108a. As shown in FIG. 1, there is only one search index per installation. The index 108a is updated every time a new document is stored to the permanent repository 104a, e.g., by reading a "changes feed" using a search plug-in for metadata and an indexing tool for the full-text search.
There currently are three main approaches to enabling multi-tenancy and to solving the need for preconfigured databases (e.g., in arrangements where relational databases and/or the like are used). These main approaches involved shared nothing, shared database, and shared table architectures. Unfortunately, these approaches do not fit the needs of complex, multi-tenant environments with heavy user bases because they tend to involve manual steps and tend to not scale well. Each of these approaches will be described in greater detail below.
First, in a shared nothing approach, one database is used for each tenant. Using one database for each tenant implies a need for some external scripting, e.g., if one tries to enable new databases for newly created tenants. The control of the data source, however, is outside the application itself and cannot dynamically scale because there is no knowledge of the demands and/or resources available. In a related vein, load balancing may not be possible, e.g., because the application cannot assign a heavy load tenant to a database instance that is capable of handling more traffic. Thus, every tenant is provided with exactly the same database in this scenario, regardless of whether there a few users or thousands of users using a particular service. Although this approach could be improved by setting up database clusters, such an approach leads to more complexity and even further reduces the flexibility to react dynamically to changes of the data structure, database usage of the application, etc.
Second, in a shared database approach, one database is shared and different schema namespaces are used. This approach isolates the data from the tenants, but one still needs to create everything "from scratch" and outside the application itself. In most cases, this unfortunately leads to downtime, the reliance on and heavy utilization of external scripts, a database administrator taking these and/or other actions manually, etc. Indeed, the conventional computer science wisdom is that it is bad practice to undertake these steps automatically from within the application, e.g. by using a Hibernate connector or the like. As a result, this approach oftentimes brings with it heavy reliance on difficult to maintain techniques like reflection (e.g., using a tool like Reflection available from Attachmate), the use of abstraction frameworks like Hibernate (available from Red Hat), and/or the like, even though such techniques are not designed to be used in these ways.
In addition, in a shared database approach, it oftentimes is difficult to use a full-text index for every tenant, separated from the index of every other tenant, because the database oftentimes uses only one index per database. To achieve the desired functionality, one may need to further adapt the code, e.g., to enable full-text searches over specific datasets for the different tenants, while potentially staying aware of how each index is shared with other tenants (e.g., in order to avoid potentially "leaking" information across customers, etc.). There also exists the same or similar problems regarding the use of predefined schemas, the inability to react dynamically (including the inability to be downwardly compatible to changes), etc., without changing the whole data layer and/or database schema.
Third, an approach using shared tables (e.g., where different prefixes are used to distinguish between data of different tenants) might be an easy-to-implement approach, but could also be quite dangerous. When using a shared table approach, the data of all tenants is stored in the same table. Different prefixes may, for example, be used to distinguish between data of different tenants. Unfortunately, however, this approach may be problematic in terms of security because access rights in database systems usually can only be specified on a table level and not, for example, based on table rows. Data isolation therefore may possibly occur at the application level and, as a result, it could easily be the case that a tenant sees the data of another tenant. Additionally, this approach could make it difficult to allow tenant specific extensions to the database schema, as doing so likely would affect all tenants. Resource contention could also be a problem. Moreover, the pitfalls of the shared nothing and shared database approaches described above are likely to exist here, as well.
Other approaches have been tried. For example, in a paper entitled "ProRea-Live Database Migration for Multi-tenant RDBMS with Snapshot Isolation," the authors describe an approach for the migration of multi-tenant databases, combining proactive and reactive database migration approaches. They review commonly used multi-tenancy models and compare them concerning database migration concepts. Yet this paper does not describe a bootstrapping process, nor does it introduce a new multi-tenancy model.
As another example, in a paper entitled "ElasTraS: An Elastic, Scalable, and Self-Managing Transactional Database for the Cloud," the authors describe a distributed transaction system for multi-tenant environments using a shared database process and a process for migration of running transactions across database instances. It does not, however, cover the process of repository bootstrapping or configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,122,055 (which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describes a mechanism for coordination of a multi-tenant environment. A shared database is used to store information about configuration and location of unshared tenant databases as well as cross tenant data. This patent in essence provides an extension of the well-known "shared nothing" multi-tenancy model summarized above.
By using a user specific launch configuration, U.S. Pat. No. 8,560,699 (which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describes a technique able to start new instances of a service (e.g., a database service) that is customized to fit the needs of a particular user. In its process, a launch configuration may be provided by the user or may be generated automatically by the system. This is a provisioning-centric approach covering new instances. It does not describe a way of bootstrapping new repositories without user interaction on an already running database instance, however.
It therefore will be appreciated that it would be desirable to solve one or more of the above-described and/or other problems. For example, it will be appreciated that it would be desirable to provide an approach for dynamically setting up and configuring data repository connectivity in a multi-tenant web application, on demand and at runtime.
An aspect of certain example embodiments relates to techniques for dynamically setting up and configuring data repository connectivity in a multi-tenant web application, on demand and at runtime, e.g., in a cloud computing and/or other highly distributed and scalable environment.
Another aspect of certain example embodiments relates to setting up and configuring data repositories while avoiding manual and/or external scripting approaches, and potentially in the absence of detailed knowledge about the requests of the client applications.
Another aspect of certain example embodiments relates to looking up the location of an already existing repository or, in case one does not exist, creating a new repository including all needed technical enhancements (such as, for example, search indexes, etc.), in order to provide a scalable, flexible, and fault tolerant arrangement suitable for use in a highly distributed and scalable environment such as what might be present in connection with a public and/or private cloud environment.
Certain example embodiments thus relate to techniques for dynamically bootstrapping repositories or databases for newly created tenants at runtime in scalable, distributed multi-tenant environments. In certain example embodiments, the bootstrapping is triggered dynamically the first time a client application tries to access a specific repository related to a newly created tenant at runtime, leading to a flexible approach for enabling tenant- and application-specific repositories with optional search index mapping.
The term "bootstrapping" is used herein and, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it oftentimes is used generally to refer to the starting of a self-sustaining process that is supposed to proceed without external input. In this context, however, those skilled in the art will further understand that bootstrapping may relate to the basic configuration of repositories, indexes, tables, views, and/or other components, that might be used in a multi-tenant, potentially highly-distributed and scalable environment (such as a cloud computing environment), e.g., where an application (e.g., a web application) accesses a database or other repository.
Certain example embodiments create structured repositories (e.g., databases) for new tenants dynamically at runtime, with the repository being modeled in means other than the tabular relations used in relational databases such as a "Not only SQL" or NoSQL database. The creation of the repositories may be carried out by a web application or the like and, apart from or in addition to the creation of repositories, certain example embodiments may also involve the dynamic creation of a search index linked to the newly created repositories. Certain example embodiments may undertake like actions in connection with the deletion of a tenant (e.g., when a customer's contract with an application provider ends, etc.).
In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of managing a distributed, multi-tenant computing system comprising at least one processor and non-transitory storage media hosting a plurality of repositories designated for different respective computing system application-tenant combinations. A request for data to be obtained using a computing system application is received from a client application running on a client device, with the request being associated with a requesting computing system application-tenant combination that is based on a requesting tenant associated with the client application and the computing system application to be used in obtaining the data. A determination is made, using the computing system, as to whether the non-transitory storage media already stores a repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination. In response to a determination that there already is a repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination, the request for data is handled using the already existing repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination. In response to a determination that there is no existing repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination: a new repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination is dynamically and automatically created at runtime, without having to restart the computing system; the new repository is dynamically and automatically configured at runtime, without having to restart the computing system; and the request for data is handled using the new repository following said dynamic and automatic configuring.
In certain example embodiments, a distributed, multi-tenant computing system is provided. Processing resources include at least one processor, and are configured to enable a plurality of computing system applications to be performed. Non-transitory storage media hosts a plurality of repositories designated for different respective computing system application-tenant combinations. Wherein the computing system is configured to at least: receive, from a client application running on a client device, a request for data to be obtained using at least one of said computing system applications, the request being associated with a requesting computing system application-tenant combination corresponding to a requesting tenant associated with the client application and the computing system application(s) to be used in obtaining the data; determine whether the non-transitory storage media already stores a repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination; in response to a determination that there already is a repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination, handle the request for data using the already existing repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination; and in response to a determination that there is no existing repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination (a) dynamically and automatically create and configure, at runtime, a new repository designated for the requesting computing system application-tenant combination, without having to restart the computing system and without having to restart the computing system application(s) to be used in obtaining the data, and (b) handle the request for data using the new repository following said dynamic and automatic configuring.
In certain example embodiments, a distributed, multi-tenant computing system is provided and comprises processing resources including at least one processor. Tenant installations are backed by virtual and/or physical machines and are designated for respective tenants, with each said tenant installation supporting at least one application and at least one repository accessible by and/or to the respective tenant, and with each said repository being designated for a different application-tenant combination. A web application or service is configured to receive a request for a document from a client application. The processing resources cooperate to provide to the web application or service a response to the request for the document from the client application such that: when a determination is made that there is a repository already in existence for the specific combination of the tenant and the application involved in the request, that repository is used in responding to the request; and when a determination is made that there is not a repository already in existence for the specific combination of the tenant and the application involved in the request, a new repository is generated in cooperation with the processing resources dynamically and at computing system runtime, bootstrapping is performed for configuring the new repository dynamically and at computing system runtime, and that new repository is used in responding to the request.
Non-transitory computer readable storage mediums tangibly storing instructions for performing the above-summarized and/or other methods also are provided by certain example embodiments, as well as corresponding computer programs.
These features, aspects, advantages, and example embodiments may be used separately and/or applied in various combinations to achieve yet further embodiments of this invention.

Systems and/or methods for on-demand repository bootstrapping at runtime in a scalable, distributed multi-tenant environment


A three dimensional (3D) modeling system for generating a 3D representation of a modeled object on a display device of a computer system. The modeled object is represented by an initial definition of an object and a set of modifiers. Each modifier modifies some portion of the definition of an object that may result in a change in appearance of the object when rendered. The modifiers are ordered so that the first modifier modifies some portion of the initial definition of the object and produces a modified definition. The next modifier modifies the results of the previous modifier. The results of the last modifier are then used in rendering processes to generate the 3D representation. Each modifier is associated with a three dimensional representation so that the user can more easily visualize the effect of the modifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to field of three dimensional modeling and animation. In particular, the invention relates to an improved three dimensional modeling and animation system having an object oriented architecture.
2. Related Art
Three dimensional modeling systems allow users to generate models of three dimensional objects using computers. In previous systems, a user defines a simple three dimensional (3D) object and then applies various modifications (e.g., stretch, bend) to that object. The modifications change the way the object looks. To apply a modification, a user is prompted with a dialog box to fill in the values of the modification. The user then applies the modification to the object and views the results.
One problem with such a system is that the user does not have a good idea of how a specific modification will affect an object until after the modification is applied to the object. Additionally, it can be difficult to understand exactly how a specific modification affects an object from the look of the object after the modification is applied. This is because it can be difficult to understand the interactions between various modifications, already applied to the object, and the new modification
Therefore, it is desirable to have a 3D modeling system that is simpler for the user to use by allowing the user to better understand how a particular modification to an object will affect the look of that object.

Three dimensional modeling and animation system using master objects and modifiers


The present invention presents a framework for separating specular and diffuse reflection components in images and videos. Each pixel of the an M-channel input image illuminated by N light sources is linearly transformed into a new color space having (M−N) channels. For an RGB image with one light source, the new color space has two color channels (U,V) that are free of specularities and a third channel (S) that contains both specular and diffuse components. When used with multiple light sources, the transformation may be used to produce a specular invariant image. A diffuse RGB image can be obtained by applying a non-linear partial differential equation to an RGB image to iteratively erode the specular component at each pixel. An optional third dimension of time may be added for processing video images. After the specular and diffuse components are separated, dichromatic editing may be used to independently process the diffuse and the specular components to add or suppress visual effects. The (U,V) channels of images can be used as input to 3-D shape estimation algorithms including shape-from-shading, photometric stereo, binocular and multinocular stereopsis, and structure-from-motion.

The reflectance of a textured materials, including plastics, plant leaves, cloth, wood, and human skin, can be described as a linear combination of diffuse and specular reflection components. When a scene fits this description, there are benefits to decomposing its image into the diffuse and specular components to facilitate computer analysis. The presence of highlights causes many algorithms in computer vision to produce erroneous results because most of these algorithms (e.g. stereo, optical flow, segmentation, tracking, and recognition) assume that the reflections from all surfaces are Lambertian (diffuse). In practice, non-Lambertian effects such as specular reflections are either ignored or treated as noisy measurements. By decomposing an image into its diffuse and specular components, powerful Lambertian-based computer vision algorithms can be successfully applied. In addition, the specular reflection component is helpful in determining the surface properties of the imaged object, and some computer algorithms rely solely on this component.
In addition to its uses in image analysis and computer vision, the separation of specular and diffuse components also has applications in photo editing and image-based modeling. In image-based modeling, for example, unless the illumination is carefully controlled when acquiring the images, the acquired texture maps often include undesirable artifacts due to specularities.
Computing a specular/diffuse separation is a difficult problem, and many methods have been proposed for separation of the two components, including optical methods, such as by the use of polarizing filters, and computer-based methods, such as color modeling. While many of the separation techniques have relied on global approaches, a few have proposed evaluation of local interactions. An advantage of the local approach is that it admits highly textured scenes that do not contain piecewise constant diffuse colors. In most local methods, the illuminant color is assumed to be known a priori, which is not a significant restriction because it can often be estimated using established global methods.
Reflectance is described by the bi-direction reflectance distribution function (BRDF). The BRDF is considered to be a five-dimensional function of wavelength and imaging geometry and can be written as ƒ(λ, θ), where λ is the wavelength of light and θ=(θ1,φi,θrφr) parameterizes the directions of the incoming irradiance and outgoing radiance (using spherical coordinates in the local coordinate system of a surface point). A Lambertian, or purely diffuse, surface is one whose BRDF is a constant function of θ.
Reflection component separation in a single image started with the work of Shafer (Color Research and Applications, 10(4):210-218 (1985)), who introduced the dichromatic reflection model. The dichromatic model of reflectance is a special case of the BRDF model that was originally developed by Shafer to model dielectrics. The model assumes that the BRDF of the surface can be decomposed into two additive components: the interface (specular) reflectance and the body (diffuse) reflectance. Furthermore, it assumes that each of these two components can be factored into a univariate function of wavelength and a multivariate function that depends on the imaging geometry. That is,ƒ(λ,θ)=gd(λ)ƒd(θ)+gs(λ){tilde over (ƒ)}s(θ)  (1)
The functions gd(λ) and gs(λ) are respectively referred to as the diffuse and specular spectral reflectance and are intrinsic properties of the material. The functions ƒd (constant for Lambertian surfaces) and ƒs are the diffuse and specular BRDFs, respectively.
Specular reflection is due to light that is reflected at the surface without penetration, whereas diffuse reflection is due to light which penetrates the surface and is scattered (possibly multiple times) before being re-emitted. Since the index of refraction of most surfaces boundaries is uniform over the visible spectrum, the function gd(λ) is typically a constant function, and as a result, the specular color is often independent of the spectral reflectance of the surface and depends only on the spectral power distribution of the illumination and the spectral sensitivities of the sensors. Unlike the specular reflection, the diffuse reflection for these materials is highly color (or wavelength) dependent as the light that penetrates the surface is absorbed and scattered in a manner that may favor certain (colors) wavelengths and attenuate others. For these materials, the color of the diffuse reflectance is thus a product of the spectral reflectance of the surface in addition to the spectral power distribution of the illumination and the spectral sensitivities of the sensors. (See, e.g., M. F. Cohen and J. R. Wallace, Radiosity and Realistic Image Synthesis, Morgan Kaufmann, 1993.).
When this is case, and gs(λ) is a constant function, Equation 1 reduces to the common expression for the BRDF of a dichromatic surface,ƒ(λ,θ)=gd(λ)ƒd(θ)+ƒs(θ)  (2)where ƒs(θ)=gs(λ){tilde over (ƒ)}s(θ).
Taking into account the spectral power distribution (SPD) of a light source L(λ) and a camera sensitivity function Ck(λ), the image formation equation for a surface element with surface normal {circumflex over (n)}, illuminated by a light source with direction {circumflex over (l)} is written per Equation (3)Ik=(Dkƒd(θ)+Skƒs(θ)){circumflex over (n)}·{circumflex over (l)},  (3)where Dk=∫Ck(λ)L(λ)gd(λ)dλ and Sk=∫Ck(λ)L(λ)dλ. Under more general illumination distributions (as opposed to a point source) this is writtenIk=σdDk+σsSk,with σd and σs being referred to as the diffuse and specular geometric scale factors. Since it often encodes a simple relation between the lighting direction and the surface normal, the term σd is said to encode "diffuse shading information".
In these equations, Sk represents the effective source strength as measured by the kth sensor channel and is independent of the surface being observed. Similarly, Dk is the effective albedo in the kth channel. For a multi-channel imaging device such as a color digital or video camera, there are typically three channels, while for a hyperspectral imaging devices device may have many more channels.
An RGB color vector I=[I1, I2, I3]T=[IR, IG, IB]T from a typical color camera consists of three such measurements, each with a different sensitivity function with support in the visible spectrum. For notational simplicity, S=[S1, S2, S3]T=[SR, SG, SB]T (with a corresponding definition for D), and since scale can be absorbed by ƒd and ƒs, the assumption ∥D∥=∥S∥=1 is made. The vectors S and D are called the specular color and diffuse color, respectively. In RGB color space a collection of color vectors from a dichromatic material under multiple view and illumination configurations (i.e., different values of θ) which lie in a plane—the plane spanned by the effective source and body colors, S and D. This plane is referred to as the "dichromatic plane."
It has been observed that color vector in the dichromatic plane often cluster into the shape of a 'skewed-T', with the two limbs of the skewed-T formed by linear clusters of diffuse and specular pixels. When these limbs are sufficiently distinct, the diffuse and source colors can be recovered, the two components can be separated, and the highlights can be removed. In scenes consisting of a single surface material, this approach can be used to estimate a single "global" diffuse color, and in principle, this approach can be extended to cases in which an image is segmented into several regions of homogeneous diffuse color.
While this method works well for homogeneous, dichromatic surfaces in the noiseless case, there are three significant limitations that make it difficult to use in practice. First, many surfaces are textured and violate the homogeneous assumption. Even when an image does contain homogeneous surfaces, a non-trivial segmentation process is required to identify them. Second, in order for the specular and diffuse limbs of the skewed-T to be distinct, the specular lobe must be sufficiently narrow (i.e., its angular support must be small relative to the curvature of the surface.) Finally, when the diffuse and specular colors are the same, there is no way to distinguish between the two components, and no color separation is possible. Some of these restrictions can be relieved, but not eliminated, by using additional cues such as polarization to estimate the source color at each point. (Nayar et al. (Intl. J. Computer Vision, 21(3): 163-186 (1997)).)
Related to these methods are a small number of color-based transformation methods that exploit knowledge of the illuminant to provide a partial dichromatic separation as opposed to an complete and explicit separation. Tan and Ikeuchi obtain a one-channel diffuse image through the transformation in Equation 4
                              I          d                =                                            3                                                              max                  k                                                                  (                                                            I                      k                                        /                                          S                      k                                                        )                                                      -                                          ∑                k                                                          (                                                      I                    k                                    /                                      S                    k                                                  )                                                                        3                                                                                λ                ~                                      -            1                                              (        4        )            where k∈{1,2,3}, and the bounded quantity ⅓<{tilde over (λ)}<1 is chosen arbitrarily. This transformation yields a positive monochromatic diffuse image, which can be seen by expanding Equation (1) using equation (Ik=(Dkƒd+Skƒs(θ)){circumflex over (n)}·{circumflex over (l)}) and assuming that I1/S1>I2/S2, I3/S3. In this case, Equation 5 is
                                                                                I                  d                                =                                                                            2                                                                                I                          1                                                /                                                  S                          1                                                                                -                                                                  I                        2                                            /                                              S                        2                                                              -                                                                  I                        3                                            /                                              S                        3                                                                                3                                            λ                                        -                    1                                                                                =                                                                                (                                                                              2                                                                                D                                1                                                            /                                                              S                                1                                                                                -                                                                                D                              2                                                        /                                                          S                              2                                                                                -                                                                                D                              3                                                        /                                                          S                              3                                                                                )                                                                                f                        d                                                                                n                          ^                                                ·                                                  l                          ^                                                                                3                                                λ                                            -                      1                                                        .                                                                                (          5          )                    Since the expression is independent of ƒs and is directly related to {circumflex over (n)}·{circumflex over (l)}, the positive image Id is specular-free and depends directly on diffuse shading information.
An alternate transformation is proposed by Park (Intelligent Robots and Computer Vision XXI: Algorithms, Techniques, and Active Vision (Proc. SPIE, Vol. 5267) pp. 163-174 (2003)). Park's transformation isolates two predominantly diffuse channels while retaining a similarity to HSI color space. The transformation is composed of a linear transformation Lp and rotation Rp, and is written:Ip=RpLpI, with RpLpS=[0 0 2]T.  (6)The matrices Rp and Lp are chosen such that the third color axis is aligned with the illumination color. As a result, that channel contains the majority of the specular component, leaving the other two channels to be predominantly diffuse.

Methods for identifying, separating and editing reflection components in multi-channel images and videos

The Regents of the University of California


A modular utility cart comprising a body defining a door opening; wheels attached to a lower portion of the body for supporting the body; and a door operatively attached to the body and adapted to mate with the door opening, wherein the body is adapted to receive a utility module thereto is provided. A method of assembling a modular utility cart is also provided. A kit of utility cart and utility module(s) is equally provided herein.

Utility carts are used in the transport industry to perform different tasks. They must carry goods and be configured to serve drinks, food, sell goods and collect garbage, among other tasks, along galleys. Legacy galley carts are provided with a unique planar upper surface that is more or less suitable for performing each task. However, it is desirable to have a galley cart that can be adapted for performing specific tasks.
The improved adaptation of a galley cart for a precise task can become an expensive and tedious process. Customizing a galley cart requires a specific design that might be less suitable for other tasks. It is therefore likely that a greater number of galley carts are required to perform all the required tasks. The design of more "specialized carts" multiplies expensive adapted manufacturing tooling. It is therefore desirable to reuse the parts of a cart on more than one cart design and only change the portion dedicated to perform the specific task.
From a commercialization point of view, the specialization of galley carts means more parts; more inventory thus more storage room. It is therefore desirable to combine existing parts to build a variety of galley carts configured to handle different tasks.
Additionally, the transportation industry is in quest of energy efficiency. The energy needed to move an object is mainly determine by the following equation:E=½m·v2
It is well known that a mass (m) reduction will decrease the energy (E) required to move an object. Therefore, the mass of a vehicle should be reduced to improve energy efficiency of the vehicle.
Various strategies can be used to reduce the mass of a vehicle. Either the mass of the vehicle itself is reduced or the mass of the object it carries is reduced.
Airplanes are weight sensitive for obvious reasons that will not be discussed here. Airlines are cost conscious and are in quest of reducing their exploitation cost. One cost reducing strategy is to use lighter parts and equipments used inside the airplane to lighten the airplane. One of these equipments is the galley cart that is used to carry passengers' food, beverages and other goods.
However, galley carts used in aircrafts are subjected to many technical requirements that must be considered closely. Among others, mechanical resistance and fire resistance requirements are mandatory and have a direct impact on the design of the galley cart and the choice of material that can be used to manufacture the galley cart.
Some galley cart uses are more restrictive than others. For instance, galley carts dedicated to be used in the aeronautic industry must comply with mandatory regulations. For example, when regulations apply to fire resistance, the material should carefully be selected and the manufacturing method needs to be adapted for the selected material. Vertical burn test (FAR 25.853), OSU heat release (65/65), smoke toxicity and smoke density are other possible requirements. It sometimes happens that legacy-manufacturing methods are not adapted to be used with the material suitable to meet the technical requirements and some challenges must be overcome to build regulation compliant cart parts.
Other energy saving considerations exist in relation with a galley cart. The thermal efficiency of the galley cart is one of them since it takes energy to cool or heat the content of the galley cart. The saving is not made through a mass reduction but by restricting the amount of energy required to cool or to warm the galley cart and, consequently, the size of the associated cooling or warming device. It is therefore desirable to use a material having insulation capacity thereof.
Other deficiencies will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains in view of the following summary and detailed description with its appended figures.


According to an embodiment, a thermoelectric conversion material is made of a polycrystalline material which is represented by a composition formula (1) shown below and has a MgAgAs type crystal structure. The polycrystalline material includes a MgAgAs type crystal grain having regions of different Ti concentrations.(AaTib)cDdXe  Composition formula (1)wherein 0.2≦a≦0.7, 0.3≦b≦0.8, a+b=1, 0.93≦c≦1.08, and 0.93≦e≦1.08 hold when d=1; A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb.

In recent years, with growing awareness of global environmental issues, there has been an increasing interest in a thermoelectric cooling element using the Peltier effect as a CFC-free cooling device. Also, there has been an increasing interest a thermoelectric generation device providing a power generation system using unused waste heat energy and using the Seebeck effect to reduce the amount of emission of carbon dioxide.
A performance index Z of a thermoelectric conversion material is represented by the following formula (1): Z α2/(ρκ) . . . (1), where α is the Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric conversion material, ρ is the electric resistivity of the thermoelectric conversion material, and κ is the thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric conversion material. Z has the dimension of an inverse of the temperature and becomes a dimensionless value when multiplied by the absolute temperature T. The ZT value is called a dimensionless performance index and thermoelectric conversion efficiency increases with a thermoelectric conversion material having an increasing ZT value. As is evident from the above formula (1), a higher Seebeck coefficient, a lower electrical resistivity, and a lower thermal conductivity are demanded of the thermoelectric conversion material.
A PbTe alloy has been used in a conventional thermoelectric conversion material, but Pb (lead) is harmful to humans. On the other hand, a half-Heusler compound having a MgAgAs type crystal phase attracts attention as a thermoelectric conversion material that can be used even at a high temperature and does not contain harmful substances at all or reduces such substances to a minimum. According to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-173799 (Patent Literature 1), a certain improvement in the ZT value in the half-Heusler compound is achieved by the inclusion of a predetermined composition, but a still higher ZT value is demanded.
In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2010-129636 (Patent Literature 2), a half-Heusler alloy whose ZT value is improved by including crystals of different Ti molar concentrations.

Thermoelectric conversion material, thermoelectric conversion module using the same, and manufacturing method of the same


A drive circuit and relay circuit using this drive circuit are provided, the drive circuit including: a first terminal connected to a drive electrode located at one side of a mechanical switch contact driven by static electricity; a second terminal connected to a drive electrode located at the other side of the switch contact; a photoelectromotive force element connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, optically coupled to a light emitting element, and including at least two photodiode arrays which are serially connected; and an electronic inductor circuit (bypass circuit) connected in parallel with at least one of the photodiode arrays in the photoelectromotive force element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive circuit of a switch and a relay circuit.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, mechanical relays and photo relays have been used as switching devices. Recently, devices having mechanical contacts driven by static electricity, in particular MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) relays which have switch contacts using MEMS, are attracting attention as such switching devices, as disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-236265. Since MEMS switches used in such MEMS relays are small in size and light in weight, they can operate at a high switching frequency. In particular, MEMS switches driven by static electricity are faster in displacement rate and lower in power consumption than MEMS switches driven by heat. For this reason, MEMS relays using MEMS switches driven by static electricity are attracting attention as key devices of mobile terminals, for which low power consumption is required, wireless antennas, for which low insertion loss is required, high-speed wireless communication, for which high-frequency characteristics are required, etc.
In MEMS switches that are driven by static electricity, a high voltage is necessary to generate an electrostatic force sufficient for driving a contact. For this reason, in order to obtain a reliable switching performance, the electrostatic driving requires a high voltage, which makes it difficult to decrease the size and the cost of the drive circuit (relay circuit).
In order to solve this problem, the present inventors have studied a method of using a photoelectromotive force produced by a photodiode array to generate a voltage necessary to drive an MEMS switch. In this method of using a photoelectromotive force produced by a photodiode array, small photodiodes are connected in series, and a high voltage can be obtained by increasing the number of the photodiodes connected in series. A drive circuit which is smaller in size and lower in cost can be obtained in this manner.
As described above, devices having mechanical contacts driven by static electricity, in particular MEMS relays including switch contacts using MEMS, are attracting attention as switching devices which are superior in high-frequency characteristics, etc. However, unlike contacts using semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs, etc., mechanical switch contacts are mechanical reed type contacts. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the long-term reliability and lifetime of a MEMS relay are inferior to those of a semiconductor device. In particular, one of the most critical problems that shorten the lifetime of an MEMS switch is a movable part sticking to a substrate. The cause of this problem has not been clarified sufficiently.
Such a problem of limited lifetime also occurs in the aforementioned switching device that the present inventors have studied, which is manufactured by combining an MEMS switch driven by static electricity and a relay circuit using a photodiode array. In order to solve this problem of limited lifetime, the present inventors have conducted various studies and analyses.

Drive circuit of switch and relay circuit


A semiconductor chip is mounted on the substrate so that the first group of electrodes faces the first group of leads and the second group of electrodes faces the second group of leads. The first group of leads extends in a direction away from the second group of electrodes. Each of the second group of leads extends so as to pass between the first group of electrodes and is formed to be bent in the region between first and second straight lines.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, an electronic module, and an electronic instrument.
In a chip-on-film (COF) mounting form, a semiconductor chip is mounted on a substrate. Since the substrate and the semiconductor chip differ in coefficient of thermal expansion, a lead formed on the substrate may be bent due to force applied to the joint section with an electrode of the semiconductor chip by this difference in coefficient of thermal expansion. When the gap between adjacent electrodes of the semiconductor chip is narrow, it is difficult to prevent the lead from coming in contact with the electrode adjacent to the electrode to which the lead is bonded.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, electronic module, and electronic instrument


A device, system, and method are provided for controlling a fixture, such as a lighting fixture. The device includes a fixture communication interface for transmitting data to a fixture using a first communication protocol, such as DMX, and an application communication interface for wirelessly receiving information using a second communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. The device further comprises a processor for converting the information received at the application communication interface from the second communication protocol to the first communication protocol. The first communication protocol requires more data than can be transmitted using the Bluetooth protocol, and converting the information may include adding default data or restored data to data being transmitted to the fixture.

Modern LED lighting fixtures that utilize DMX (Digital Multiplexing) for their control are often difficult to control without large, complicated, and expensive lighting controllers.
For example DMX for lighting is typically implemented using a "DMX 512" standard, which includes 512 DMX slots to control various aspects of a lighting installation. However, each of those 512 available slots may control different aspects of a lighting installation in difference cases. Further, in cases where only a subset of the available 512 slots are in use, it is not always obvious which of those 512 slots are in use. Accordingly, the control of these LED fixtures requires many slots of DMX control which are often not intuitive and often require the user to look up the manual just to be able to turn on and test the fixture.
Some portable devices exist that can control individual DMX slots of a lighting installation. However, existing devices typically transmit signals blindly to specific DMX slots, and therefore a user will need to look up which slot to use in order to properly use or test various features of the lighting installation. Further, devices exist that utilize smart phone applications for control purposes. However, such devices typically require a connection from the phone's audio jack which requires a wired connection to the device and prevents the phone from being used to make or receive phone calls while in use.
Existing tools for controlling lighting suffer from drawbacks such as being too large to carry with the user, not containing an internal database of fixture parameters, being unable to automatically load the fixture parameters via RDM, (thereby requiring the user to hunt or guess for the DMX slots that control, color, intensity, or other attributes). Further, existing tools require a wired connection between the lighting fixture and the controller thereby requiring the user to be in close proximity with the fixture. In such devices, wired controls are required since standard wireless protocols, such as RDM, require that data be transmitted at a higher rate than smartphone wireless protocols can manage.
Further, while existing systems may utilize smart phone applications, and may allow you to add text to slots to identify the parameter of the attribute once known, using that feature requires the fixture attributes to first be known. Further, once a label is set, a user typically cannot easily move the group of labels to a new DMX start address. Accordingly, a particular setup, such as for a show, may have dozens of distinct fixture types, and setting them all up could take several hours.
Further, some existing systems only allow 12 slots of control at a time, and some fixtures may require dozens of slots of control, thus it is impossible to control the fixture adequately. Further, some slots of control have various levels that perform various distinct functions, and without direct setting of the level it is not possible to perform the various functions. For example, a slot data value of 128 may set the fixture color for a specified fixture to magenta and a slot data value of 129 may instead set the fixture color to blue. Without direct control of the slot data value, it is difficult to control this function.
Further, in order to set up lighting fixtures to properly leverage control protocols such as DMX, traditionally, all configurations had to be manually entered into the individual fixtures. Accordingly, it takes a significant amount of time and effort to manually review settings for various fixtures and enter configuration data into each device individually.
Modern DMX equipment requires many parameters to be set, and being able to configure multiple devices at once increases the accuracy of such entry. Further, current systems work only with a single manufacturer of lighting equipment. Such systems cannot typically be used for many types of fixtures across multiple manufacturers.
While configuration databases containing configuration data for lighting fixtures across multiple manufacturers do exist, no existing systems can utilize such configuration data from a lighting database and apply it into many lighting fixtures. Accordingly, existing platforms require that the configuration data, once discovered in such a database, must be manually applied to the individual lighting fixtures.
There is no portable tool that lighting users can carry with them that allows them to select and control LED lighting fixtures with DMX and RDM (Remote Device Management) with a wireless connection from the tool to the app, and which selects the fixture's personality manually or detects it automatically using RDM.

Wireless tool and methods for controlling, testing, and setting up lighting fixtures


An aromatic polycarbonate having a high refractive index and good processing and mechanical properties is provided. The aromatic polycarbonate comprises a thiodiphenol monomer and a biphenyl monomer. The refractive index of the polycarbonate may be greater than 1.670.

The present disclosure generally relates to polycarbonates having a high refractive index and methods and compositions for preparing the same.
Polycarbonates are synthetic thermoplastic resins derived from bisphenols and phosgenes, or their derivatives. They are linear polyesters of carbonic acid and can be formed from dihydroxy compounds and carbonate diesters, or by ester interchange. Polymerization may be in aqueous emulsion or in nonaqueous solution.
Polycarbonates have many properties and/or characteristics that are desired in certain instances. These include clarity or transparency (i.e. 90% light transmission or more), high impact strength, heat resistance, weather and ozone resistance, good ductility, being combustible but self-extinguishing, good electrical resistance, noncorrosive, nontoxic, etc. Furthermore, polycarbonates can be readily used in various article formation processes, such as molding (injection molding, etc.), extrusion, and thermoforming, among others. As a result, polycarbonates are used frequently to form a wide variety of products including: molded products, solution-cast or extruded films, structural parts, tubes and piping, lenses, safety shields, instrument windows, and medical devices. Household articles formed from polycarbonates can be produced in a great variety of colors and can be painted, glued, planed, pressed, and metalized and can be used to form precision parts and electronic products.
Other potential applications of polycarbonates require good optical properties like clarity and high refractive index. In this regard, the refractive index ("RI") is the ratio of the phase velocity of light in a vacuum to that in a specific medium. It is also known as index of refraction or the refractive constant.
The applications of polycarbonates which retain good optical properties include multi-layer diffuser and reflector films, and ophthalmic glasses, among others. Polycarbonates formed solely from bisphenol-A, which have a refractive index of 1.58, are used in some of these applications. It is also desirable to have a polycarbonate with a refractive index greater than that of a polycarbonate formed solely from bisphenol-A.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,331, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, 4,4′-thiodiphenol has been copolymerized to form a polycarbonate having high refractive index.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,910, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, the use of 2-phenyl-3,3-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimide (PPPBP), a bisphenol derived from phenolphthalein, is discussed. Copolymers of PPPBP were found to have poor melt stability during melt processing resulting in foamy polymer melts and moldings, and discoloration of the resin during melt processing. Use of PPPBP in high amounts also causes the polycarbonate to become brittle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,826, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl was used with bisphenol-A to form a polycarbonate. However, the refractive index for this polycarbonate is not enhanced.
Accordingly, it is desirable to produce a relatively transparent polycarbonate with a high refractive index having good processing and mechanical properties.

Polycarbonate with high refractive index


Via a mobile communication network, a transmission apparatus receives position information representing a current position of a reception apparatus. Based on the received position information, the transmission apparatus generates notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, and transmits the generated notice data to the reception apparatus. Accordingly, a transmission apparatus is provided which generates information that allows preprogramming of a broadcast program for viewing or recording to be properly performed at the reception apparatus side, or which generates a correct broadcast program table, and transmits the generated information or program table to the reception apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transmission apparatus for generating and transmitting information or a program table which is necessary for a preprogrammed recording or preprogrammed viewing, and a reception apparatus which enables a preprogrammed recording or preprogrammed viewing of broadcast programs or which is capable of receiving program information.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional broadcast stations may sometimes transmit program information representing a broadcast program table (EPG (Electric Program Guide)) in order to facilitate preprogramming of a broadcast program for recording. Furthermore, various techniques have been proposed to improve the ease of using such program information. For example, a certain reception apparatus records information identifying broadcast programs which have been recorded through preprogramming in the past. By referring to such recording information, the reception apparatus calculates the frequency with which a broadcast program has been recorded through preprogramming. Furthermore, by using the calculated frequencies, the reception apparatus gives orders of precedence to the broadcast programs which are described in the program information. More specifically, higher orders of precedence are given to broadcast programs that are associated with higher frequencies. Thereafter, the reception apparatus generates and displays a broadcast program table for users, which lists broadcast programs in accordance with their orders of precedence.
In general, broadcast programs are transmitted toward a reception apparatus which is within a predetermined broadcast area. A plurality of adjoining broadcast areas may have broadcast programs of different contents being transmitted therein, even for the same time zone. Even if broadcast programs of the same content are being transmit in the same time zone in a plurality of broadcast areas, such broadcast programs may be being transmitted through different channels.
In recent years, mobile communication devices are becoming capable of receiving and reproducing broadcast programs as the aforementioned reception apparatuses, and even preprogramming of broadcast programs for viewing or recording. A mobile communication device is typically a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), and more broadly includes a notebook-type personal computer. Such a mobile communication device, when borne by a user, can be freely moved between a plurality of broadcast areas. Therefore, even if a broadcast program is preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording, the preprogramming of a viewing or a preprogrammed recording may be valid in one broadcast area but moot in another broadcast area. More specifically, if a mobile communication device is located in a different broadcast area, it may not be possible for a user to view or record an intended broadcast program.
Moreover, even if a mobile communication device successfully generates a broadcast program table which is directed to an individual user, the generated broadcast program table may be valid in one broadcast area but may be moot in another broadcast area. More specifically, it is possible that the generated broadcast program table does not properly describe a channel, start time, and end time of a broadcast program which is provided in the other broadcast area.
As will be apparent from the above, the conventional preprogramming of a viewing or preprogramming of a recording, or the conventional generation of a broadcast program table, has a problem in that it is not suitable for mobile communication devices which can be freely moved between a plurality of broadcast areas.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission apparatus and reception apparatus