An injection seeded, single frequency ring laser source is presented wherein stabilization and single frequency control is accomplished by measuring the intensity or power of the portion of the high power laser beam generated in the ring slave laser and which is directed to return to the seed laser. When the intensity of the return beam falls below a preset threshold level, the in-phase operation of the laser system has been established and high energy single frequency pulses are generated and emitted.

Doppler laser radar systems operating in heterodyne detection mode are used for remote measurements of atmospheric winds. In order to be used within a laser radar system, the laser must provide a powerful pulse of optical energy at a very narrow bandwidth (single longitudinal and transverse mode). Such a narrow line is achieved utilizing two laser components in an injection-seeding master oscillator/power-amplifier system. Generally, in such a system the master oscillator or seed laser is a low power highly stable, continuous wave laser while the power amplifier or slave laser is a high power pulsed laser operating at a single frequency established by the seed laser.
Utilizing a ring resonator configuration for the slave oscillator provides important advantages such as: a traveling wave (eliminating "spatial hole burning"); a long resonator within a compact frame; and direct and simple laser seeding. Active control of the ring resonator length is essential for single frequency operation of the laser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,486 presents a ring laser resonator invention with a type of resonant path length control which, although independent of the invention presented herein, may be utilized in combination with the present invention to improve path length control.
It is an object of this invention to present a method and apparatus for providing a high power, high repetition rate, single frequency laser source.
It is another object of this invention to present a new method and apparatus for providing injection-seeding feedback control for ring slave lasers for use in such laser sources.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an active injection seeding stabilizer for ring slave lasers for use in such laser sources.
It is a further objective of this invention to provide an actively stabilized injection seeded ring laser system.

Pulsed solid state ring laser injection locking stabilizer


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station, an intermediate transfer body, a transfer device, a transfer pressure applicator, and a controller. The image forming station forms a toner image. The toner image formed by the image forming station is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body. The transfer device transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium. The transfer pressure applicator applies a secondary transfer pressure to the recording medium upon transfer of the toner image and to apply a lower secondary transfer pressure upon transfer of a toner image including a special color toner than that upon transfer of a toner image without the special color toner. The controller is operatively connected to the transfer pressure applicator to control the transfer pressure applicator.

Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a plotter or a multi-functional system including a combination thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus using a toner other than process colors such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
Description of the Related Art
Market demand has grown for an ability to add extra values to output images in on-demand printing. In order to satisfy such market demand, there have known color image forming apparatuses capable of producing images using a special color toner. The image forming apparatuses of this type are normally equipped with at least one image forming unit for the special color toner in addition to image forming units for the process colors.
There are various kinds of special color toners: a colorless, transparent toner also known as a clear toner, a white toner, an auxiliary color toner to support a color that is difficult to reproduce with process colors. For example, in order to enhance color development of a color image, a solid white image is formed on an entire surface of colored paper as a base with a white toner, or an uppermost layer of an image surface is formed with the white toner when forming an image on a transparent film based on an assumption that the transparent film is viewed from the back. The use of the special color toner is different from the conventional use of color toners.
In the image forming apparatuses equipped with the special color toner, upon printing an image with the superimposed special color toner, depending on the type of recording media, a toner image is not transferred properly at a secondary transfer portion, resulting in a transfer failure such as a partial toner transfer failure known as toner dropouts (blank spots).
It is known that in general, a highly pressurized toner upon transfer process causes toner dropouts. Prior to the transfer process, the toner layer is formed in a state in which there is a space between toner particles. Upon transfer, pressure is applied to the toner particles, thereby packing the toner particles together and increasing adhesion between the packed toner and a photoconductor (in secondary transfer process, adhesion between the toner and an intermediate transfer belt). As a result, the toner cannot be transferred to the intermediate transfer belt (in the secondary transfer process, to a recording medium), which results in toner dropouts even when a transfer electric field is applied.
Toner dropouts tend to occur easily with a large amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as a toner adhesion amount). Furthermore, toner dropouts occur more easily at a periphery portion of a fine line image and a solid image, the toner adhesion amount of which tends to be excessive due to a so-called edge effect in development. Furthermore, in addition to color toners in yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, when printing with the special color toner, the toner adhesion amount of a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt tends to be greater than when printing a normal color image. As a result, toner dropouts occur easily during secondary transfer process.
It is known that when the relation of friction coefficients μ of a photoconductor (Pμ), an intermediate transfer belt (Iμ), and a recording medium (Rμ) satisfies Pμ<Iμ<Rμ, suppression of toner dropouts tends to be more significant than that using paper having a high smoothness and a low friction coefficient μ such as gloss coated paper. The relation of friction coefficients of the gloss coated paper is degraded, and hence the toner image is not transferred properly, resulting in toner dropouts.


The invention provides adenovirus and retrovirus vectors useful to prepare influenza virus. Also provided is a canine RNA polymerase I promoter and vectors having that promoter.

Influenza epidemics and pandemics continue to claim human lives and impact the global economy. In the United States alone, influenza causes an estimated 50,000 deaths annually (Thompson et al., 2003), while global pandemics can result in millions of influenza-related deaths. A classic example is the so-called 'Spanish influenza', which killed an estimated 40-50 million people worldwide in 1918-1919 (Potter, 1998). The threat imposed by influenza virus has been further elevated with the recent introductions of avian influenza viruses into the human population. Avian influenza viruses were long thought not to be directly transmissible to humans and cause lethal outcomes. However, this perception changed in 1997, when 18 Hong Kong residents were infected by a wholly avian influenza virus of the H5N1 subtype, that resulted in 6 deaths (Subbarao et al., 1998; Claas et al., 1998). Over the next few years, several other cases of direct avian-to-human transmission were reported (Peiris et al., 2004; Fouchier et al., 2004; Koopsman et al., 2004), including the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses in several Asian countries that has claimed 41 lives of 54 infected individuals as of Jan. 26, 2005 (WHO, 2004). The increasing numbers of human H5N1 virus infections, together with a high mortality rate and possible human-to-human transmission, make the development of vaccines to these viruses essential.
In the United States, two influenza vaccines are licensed for human use: an inactivated vaccine and a live attenuated vaccine virus. The production of influenza virus vaccines relies on reassortment (Gerdil, 2003), which requires coinfection of cells with a circulating wild-type strain that provides the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) segments and either A/PR/8/34 (PR8) virus (an attenuated human virus that provides high-growth properties in eggs) or a live attenuated virus that provides the attenuated phenotype. The selection of the desired "6+2" reassortants (i.e., those containing the HA and NA gene segments of the circulating wild-type strain in the genetic background of PR8 or live attenuated virus) is time-consuming and cumbersome. Moreover, the need for reassortment and selection, as well as the inability of some reassortant viruses to grow to high titers, have resulted in delays in vaccine production.
The artificial generation of influenza A and B viruses entirely from cloned cDNA in plasmid-transfected cells, the so-called "plasmid-based reverse genetics system" (Fodor et al., 1999; Neumann et al., 1999; Neumann et al., 2004; Neumann et al., 2002; Neumann et al., 1999; Hoffmann et al., 2002; Fodor et al., 1999; Hoffmann et al., 2000), represents an important advance for influenza virology. This technology has advanced both basic and applied research of influenza virus; most notably, the development of vaccine seed strains for highly pathogenic influenza viruses, including the currently circulating H5N1 viruses (Horimoto et al., 2006; Subbarao et al., 2003; Takada et al., 1999; Webby et al., 2004; Wood et al., 2004).
In one system (Neumann et al., 1999), eight plasmids encoding the eight influenza viral RNA segments under the control of the RNA polymerase I (PolI) promoter and terminator sequences are transfected into eukaryotic cells together with four RNA polymerase II (PolII)-driven plasmids for the expression of the three viral polymerase subunits and the nucleoprotein NP; these four proteins are required to initiate viral replication and transcription. An alternative system has been developed (Hoffmann et al., 2000) that relies on eight plasmids in which the viral cDNAs are flanked by an RNA polymerase I promoter on one site and an RNA polymerase II promoter on the other site, which permits the vRNA and mRNA to be derived from the same template. These systems have allowed 6+2 reassortants to be engineered without the need for reassortment and screening procedures.
Since at least eight plasmids have to be transfected into a single cell for virus generation, the limiting factor for plasmid-based reverse genetics is the transfection efficiency of the cells. In general, 293T cells, which are readily transfected with plasmids (Goto et al., 1997), have been used for plasmid-based systems (Hoffmann et al., 2000; Neumann et al., 1999). However, 293T cells cannot be used for the development of human vaccine seed strains because they are not validated for such use. African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells, which have been used for the production of rabies and polio virus vaccines (Montagnon et al., 1999), are the WHO-recommended cell line for vaccine production (Wood et al., 2004). Although these cells are not readily transfected (Kistner et al., 1998; Kistner et al., 1999a; Kistner et al., 1999b; Bruhl et al., 2000), the generation of influenza virus in Vero cells has been demonstrated (Fodor et al., 1999; Nicolson et al., 2005). Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells (Brands et al., 1999; Palache et al., 1999; Halperin et al., 2002) are available for the production of influenza virus vaccine cells, but the cell line cannot be transfected with high efficiencies. It is, therefore, difficult to efficiently generate influenza viruses by using plasmid-based systems in influenza virus vaccine cells.

Adenoviral vectors for influenza virus production


An air-to-surface surveillance and/or weapons system includes a base aircraft and an unmanned slave aircraft that can be uncoupled from a base aircraft and coupled back to it again. The base aircraft and slave aircraft are equipped with coupling equipment designed to work together. The base aircraft is equipped with surveillance and monitoring equipment. The slave aircraft is equipped with monitoring equipment and/or weapons. The slave aircraft can be connected to a control station via a data link for data exchange and can be controlled from this control station.

To be able to protect unarmed merchant ships from attack by pirates, for example, the risk of an imminent pirate attack must first be promptly detected. Then auxiliary forces equipped with suitable weapons and capable of intervening quickly at the site of the attack are successfully deployed to ward off the attack before the pirates can board the at-risk ship and take the crew hostage.
To promptly detect an imminent pirate attack, for example, it is first necessary to observe and conduct surveillance of the at-risk ships that are to be protected and the maritime shipping route. A distinction is to be made between two possible deployment scenarios, namely a first deployment scenario in which a convoy of ships traveling on a maritime shipping route is monitored, such that the surveillance equipment travels with the convoy, and a second deployment scenario in which an entire maritime shipping route is monitored by a plurality of quasi-stationary surveillance units, and ships traveling on the maritime shipping route go from one surveillance area into the next surveillance area.
To ward off a pirate attack detected as part of this surveillance on a ship that is to be protected, combat means should be available in proximity to the respective surveillance area, the combat means being ready for deployment immediately after detection of a pirate attack and being able to thwart a pirate attack even before the pirates seek to board the ship to be protected.

Air-to-surface surveillance and/or weapons system and method for air-based inspection and/or engagement of objects on land or sea


In accordance with example embodiments, a system may include a sensor, a remote, and one or more transceivers. In example embodiments, the sensor may be configured to sense a condition and send a first signal when the condition is sensed. In example embodiments, the first signal includes a first unique identifier. In example embodiments, the remote is configured to send a second and third signal (for remote “on” and “off”) and the second and third signals will include a second unique identifier. In example embodiments, the first transceiver is configured to receive and retransmit the first, second and third signals.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a detection system. In example embodiments the detection system may be used to for multiple purposes including, but not limited to, detecting a bodily fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is a common childhood urologic complaint. Nocturnal enuresis is also common among adults who, for one reason or another, have reduced bladder control. Common treatments available for nocturnal enuresis include medication and bedwetting alarm systems.
In the conventional art, bedwetting alarm systems are normally comprised of a urine detector, often arranged in a person's undergarments, and an alarm that may be clipped to an article of clothing the person is wearing, or an alarm beside the patient or caregiver which is switched on by a wireless signal from the detector. In the conventional art, the person wearing the bedwetting alarm system may fall asleep. If the urine detector detects the presence of urine while the person is sleeping, the alarm may generate a noise or a vibration to wake the person up.

Abstract: A retransmission of the third signal from the remote further deactivates the transceiver(s) from the “ready” state to the “off” state. Sending the second signal from the remote (the “on” signal) resets the transceiver(s) from the “off” state to the “ready” state.


Disclosed are derivatives of protoberberine biological alkaloids or physiologically acceptable salts thereof produced by means of a derivative reaction of a source material of biological alkaline quaternary ammonium salts of protoberberine alkaloids, a preparation method for same and pharmaceutical uses thereof. The derivatives of protoberberine biological alkaloids or the physiologically acceptable salts thereof show activity inhibiting ulcerative colitis and can be used in the preparation of drugs for same.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a kind of chronic inflammatory disease with its etiology and pathogenesis being unclear up to now. At present, the common clinical IBD includes Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC, also known as chronic non-specific UC), which are reported as high incidence rate, long duration, and recurrent attacks and the like. With increasing knowledge for this disease in the field of medical sciences and the development of medical diagnostic tools in recent years, clinical statistics has made it very clear that approximately 5%-7% of patients of UC will progress toward malignant transformation and probably will lead to cancerization ultimately arisen from UC, with serious dysplasia of intestinal glands and carcinoma of colon and rectum often being formed, and pathologically, the incidence of undifferentiated-type predominates in patients of UC, and too often with high degree of deterioration and poor prognosis. At present, the lack of efficient drug and other effective therapy for the treatment of UC is severe, leading to no complete cure to UC clinically. So it has been identified as nasty disease in the field of medical sciences, which seriously affected the lives of the patients. (At present, there are only several drugs, such as mesalazine (e.g. SASP etc.), immunosuppressive agents, and hormone and on the like, being used to treat UC clinically. Although some efficacy is observed, many problems abound nowadays, such as relapse after treatment and serious side effect, among others).
The lesions of UC are mainly confined to the mucosal layer of colon, too often with ulcer being the most dominant symptom and relapse after treatment and severe gastrointestinal inflammation being its characteristics, which also often implicates rectum and distal colon. These symptoms can also extend to the proximal end, and even the entire colon. According to national collaborative group of IBD, the incidence rate of UC was about 11.62 cases in 100,000 people each year in China, and hospitalized UC patients were mainly mild (35.4%) and moderate (42.9%) cases. In western countries, the morbidity of UC was 79-268 cases in 100,000 people each year, while, in Asia in the late 20th century, it was 7.8-18.1 cases and 8.6 cases in 100,000 people each year in Japan and Singapore, respectively. In recent years, morbidity of UC has shown a tendency of increasing across China (Maybe it is due to our increasing understanding for this disease and the development of medical diagnostic tools). Realistically, getting UC would make patients suffer not only from mental and physical pain, but also from heavy economic burden to themselves.
At the early stage of UC, there can be diffuse inflammation of mucosa, edema, hyperemia, and local hemorrhage, and with diffuse fine granule in the mucosal surface, fragile organization, and easy bleeding when touched also often being observed. Lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and neutrophils infiltration can be found in the mucosa and submucosa. With the progression of the disease, a large number of neutrophils will gather in the bottom of intestinal glands, leading to the formation of a small crypt abscess. When the crypt abscess are mixed together and broken up, mucosa will show wide shallow small irregular ulcer. The ulcer may develop along the longitudinal axis of colon, merging into irregular large ulcer gradually. In the process of repeated episodes of chronic colitis, a lot of new granulation tissue will proliferate, often together with inflammatory polyp. Due to the continuous damage and repair, mucosa will lose its normal structure and fibrous tissue will increase, leading to atrophic changes such as glands being degenerated, arranged in disorder, and reduced in number. With the healing of ulcer, forming of scar, and hypertrophying of muscular layer of mucosa and muscle layer, the colon will deform, colonic pouch will disappear, and even intestinal lumen will narrow, leading to the organic and functional changes of colon, which will seriously affect the health of human body.
Recent investigations have shown that the occurrence and progression of chronic IBD, including CD and UC, are closely related to an imbalance of microenvironment homeostasis function of intestinal epithelial cells. The disorder of homeostasis function of intestinal epithelial cell can trigger non-controllable endoplasmic reticulum stress response (unresolving ER stress), leading to extensive and persistent endoplasmic reticulum damage in intestinal epithelial cells, often with "programmed cell death", namely, apoptosis. Also, it has been reported that the occurrence and progression of IBD are closely related to the non-controllable endoplasmic reticulum stress response within intestinal epithelial cells. Especially the abnormality of key downstream transcription factor, X-box-binding protein 1 (xbp1), which associates with non-controllable endoplasmic reticulum stress response within intestinal epithelial cells plays a key role in the incidence of UC.
Generally, the transcription factor xbp1 plays a very important role for the expansion of endoplasmic reticulum and the growth of glandular epithelial cells sharing secretion function, such as plasma cells, islet cells in the pancreas, and salivary gland cells, and for the adaption of epithelial cells to inflammatory stimulation environment. Of almost all cell types from human body, xbp1 serve as a key regulator in maintaining the basic function of endoplasmic reticulum through directly regulating the transcriptional function of a core set of genes. Kaser and coauthors have created a gene knockout mouse model with xbp1 defect of intestinal epithelial cells (XBP1−/−) in 2008 for the first time. They found that animals with xbp1 gene knockout would generate not only the deficiency of Paneth cell and the obvious change of phenotype of goblet cell, but also the spontaneous inflammatory changes in the ileum. At the same time, further discovery was made by researchers on the basis of the above findings that the sense mutant of the xbp1 gene also related closely to the occurrence and progression of IBD. The above experimental results demonstrated that xbp1 gene plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells and in resisting the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cell induced by ER stress. Similarly, by taking the SNPs technology in clinical studies, it was found that patients getting IBD typically show some variations in the coding region of the xbp1 gene, making them to be more sensitive to predisposing factors of IBD. Taken together, according to research data from not only clinical genetics but also in laboratories, it can be make clear that transcription factor xbp1 plays a very important role in the self homeostasis regulation of intestinal epithelial cell. The failure or weakness of xbp1 expression will increase the sensibility of body to inducing factor of IBD, promote getting IBD, and lead to deterioration of IBD.
However, there has no claim as yet to chemically synthesized small molecule drug or natural medicine monomer in the field of developing innovative anti-IBD drugs with xbp1 as target during recent research across the world. Base on the above findings from laboratory to clinical test, i.e., the research information about the close relationship between the expressive failure and abnormality of xbp1 and the increasing morbidity of IBD, it is speculated that xbp1 may be the potential new drug target for treating IBD. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to screen and discovery selective agonists of xbp1 on the basis of different aspects such as gene transcription regulation of xbp1, mRNA expression, and protein synthesis and the like by establishing drug screening model in vitro with xbp1 as target, in combination with cytology and molecular biology means, mainly including dual luciferase reporter gene, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western Blot (WB) techniques.
Moreover, the present invention also provides a reliable, accurate, and effective method for discovering anti-IBD drug by high-throughput screening.
The present invention obtains some protoberberine alkaloid derivatives or their physiologically acceptable salts by structure modifications of kinds of protoberberine alkaloid quaternium. In pharmacodynamic experiments at molecular and animal level, these protoberberine alkaloid derivatives show certain or significant anti-UC activity with a few of them showing far more efficiency than substrates and positive drug. Especially, the above mentioned compounds 1, 2, and 7 show significant transcriptional activation effect on xbp1 gene at molecular level in vitro, wherein the EC50 values are 2.29×10−9 (mol/L), 7.06×10−9 (mol/L), and 2.21×10−7 (mol/L), respectively. On the other hand, in vivo experiments show that the disease activity index (DAI) (including mental state, weight loss, bloody stool, shape of stool and other evaluation indicators) inhibitory rate of compound 7 (500 mg/kg) in UC model is up to 64%, and on the case of compound 1 (300 mg/kg) and 2 (300 mg/kg), the inhibition rates are as high as 69% and 80%, respectively, while the positive drug SASP (300 mg/kg) is only 32%. In addition, the histopathological test results show that the high-dose group of compound 7 (500 mg/kg) has significant improvement on the colon inflammatory lesion, with intestinal epithelial cells arranged perfectly, and even the cell polarity arrangement can recover to the normal physiological state. Therefore, the results from in vivo experiments of different animal species and different pathogenesis demonstrate that the protoberberine alkaloid derivatives obtained in the present invention exhibit far more significant anti-UC activity in vivo than those currently used clinically, such as SASP, and thus they have important medicinal value in preparing drugs for the treatment of UC. In addition, comparing with substrates, the solubility of these prepared protoberberine alkaloid derivatives has also been significantly improved, especially in those poor solvents for substrates.

Derivatives of protoberberine biological alkaloids and use of same inhibiting ulcerative colitis

Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences


Elevator cars having a plurality of elevator car panels defining a passenger compartment of the elevator car and an interactive touch-based car operating panel system. The interactive touch-based car operating panel system includes an interactive element extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the passenger compartment and located on at least one of the plurality of elevator car panels, the interactive element having an interactive surface facing the passenger compartment and a controller arranged to receive passenger input at the interactive surface and control an elevator car in response to the passenger input.

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to car operating panels of elevator systems and, more particularly, to easy-access car operating panels for elevator systems.
Elevator systems, and particularly elevator cars, include car operating panels that are accessible by passengers to indicate a desired destination. In order for a passenger to indicate a desired floor, the passenger must access the car operating panel and interact with various buttons, inputs, or other device or functions. However, when the elevator car is crowded, access to the car operating panel may be difficult or hampered, and thus a passenger may not be able to input a desired destination after entering the elevator car. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide easier access for passengers to input desired destination information into an elevator system.

Interactive touch-based car operating panel systems for elevator cars


An improved clamp constricting objects to be held in place including hoses wires tubes. One embodiment having some or all plastic molded parts one of which is a support base (10) to one side is attached a partially grooved or fully flexible grooved band strap (13) where as the other end is free to enter a band strap entrance port (26) thereby contact is made with a matching grooved rotating cylinder (12) held by two bearings. The band strap (13) advances encircling objects to be held. The support base top (11) is closed and locked by the rapid release hold down top lock (20) confining the grooved molded rotating cylinder (12) engaging a flexible paw (17) allowing advancing rotation only, preventing the grooved molded band strap (13) from retracting. Six sided wrench or tool is inserted into the cylinder cavity (15) forcefully rotating the grooved rotating cylinder (12) advancing the flexible grooved band strap (13) through exit port (27) being held down by band strap retainers (18). A rapid release finger grip (19) releases a rapid release hold down top lock (20) lifting the molded support base top (11) disengaging the flexible paw (17) from the grooved molded rotating cylinder (12) allowing counter rotation of the grooved molded rotating cylinder (12) retracting the flexible grooved band strap (13) freeing the constricted objects.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to clamps particularly hose clamps that are used to constrict hoses on fittings or other objects to be confined.
2. Prior Art
It is common practice to fasten a tube or hose to an end fitting or connector so the contents of the tube or hose may reach its destination or the final connection. The hose or tube must be securely attached to the fitting usually this is accomplished by compressing the tube or hose around the circumference of the fitting. These devices are known generally as hose clamps.
The present invention relates generally to hose clamping devices and particularly an improved hose clamp apparatus. Other general uses of this invention may apply to similar devices that are used to constrict items such as wires, a collection of small tubing or other items or objects needing confinement. Since the beginning use of hoses, hose clamps, a necessary apparatus, have come in a large variety of designs. None of which have completely satisfied the use advantages but have unfortunately incorporated many disadvantages in there overall design. Some of the problems have been addressed but not adequately and never completely in one clamp.
A frequent problem is hose clamps and hoses are positioned in confined spaces or visually out of sight so that only one hand may be used when, tightening or loosening a clamp. The preferred clamp used today is referred to as the "worm screw" type such as patented by Hill et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,395,273 (1946), Black, U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,314 (1960), Rueckheim U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,392 (1966), E. E. Schaefer U.S. Pat. No. 2,767,455 (1956) H. P. McKown, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,204 (1965), C. E. Hathorn U.S. Pat. No. 2,268,211 (1941), E. W. North et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,386,629 (1945), C. W. Tinsley U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,220 Patent (1963), Allert U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,254 (1984) and L. Baldo U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,494 (1950) these types of hose clamps are accessible primarily from an adjacent direction substantially tangential to the hose, when using a tool to tighten or loosen the clamp it is virtually impossible without the use of another hand to hold the clamp in place since they tend to rotate around the circumference of the hose, when loose. Unfortunately tight areas and hard to reach places are common when using hoses and fittings. This invention solves this critical problem and others as described below.
Other types of hose clamps have tried to address this critical problem but not in a complete manner such as Kreft, U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,524 (1985) with a metal "worm gear" type hose clamp. Kreft has positioned a tightening wrench opposed to the axial of the hose, however it appears that the hexagonal wrench can only be inserted on one side of the head limiting its practical use in hard to reach spaces. Also, the patent does not describe in detail the means of attachment of the locking and gear section to the band or strap, which is critical to its function and cost of manufacture. The strength of the teeth is also a factor due to their nominal width as well as the depth of engagement in the slots in the strap are also questionable. Difficulty appears when the engaging member tab, holding the gear in a stop position where as the hexagonal wrench must be withdrawn so the gear will slide into position by means of a spring. If the hexagonal wrench is removed, force cannot be maintained against the spring causing counter rotation of the gear releasing the strap. Small thin metal tabs are all that prevents the clamp from disengaging as well as a fine steel spring to engage the stop incidence of corrosion are common and will certainly cause this clamp to fail.
Younce, U.S. Pat. No. 1,874,731 (1932) also addresses longitudinal axis but is specifically designed as a "piston ring compressing tool" not a hose clamp. Kitts, U.S. Pat. No. 2,383,199 (1945) and Brodheim, U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,817 (1953) not in general use today for other apparent reasons as described below, they do employ a screw head oriented substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the circular band for tightening. Brodheim, U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,817 (1953), Kitts U.S. Pat. No. 2,383,199 (1945) and W. C. Dumke U.S. Pat. No. 1,963,436 (1934) employ a separate paw and ratchet on an eccentric wedging member to lock the clamp apparatus also employed are metal straps or a flexible band around a winding element. All of which have exposed mechanisms that can become entangled with adjacent apparatus or cause injury by having exposed sharp edges. It also appears some difficulty would be encountered releasing the ratchets when under reverse force from the tightened strap. Kitts U.S. Pat. No. 2,383,199 (1945) as mentioned above this device may also be accidentally released by the exposed position of the ratchet paw. Another major flaw in all the above clamps is that the parts are all various types of metal costly to fabricate, manufacture and assemble. In a relatively short time, under certain conditions, all metal even high quality will corrode, fatigue and erode, especially made from thin sheet metal with no substantial thickness.
Many of these perforated strap clamps are used on soft flexible hose materials so as the band is tightened the soft hose material is pushed through the perforations in the band damaging the hose and with some designs pushing the "worm gear" away from the perforations in the strap ultimately disengaging the clamp. It has been demonstrated that "worm gear" design when over tightened will fracture or bend the metal between each perforation of the strap since they are close together with little metal support between each perforation. Little surface contact between the "worm gear" and the perforations also causes failure.
Another desirable feature of a hose clamp is to provide a quick or rapid disconnect. Toth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,642 (1991) attempts to address rapid disengagement of a "worm gear" type clamp. Although it appears that in order to release the gear from the slotted strap it would have to be pried up with a tool not easily accomplished in tight surroundings or areas out of sight. In addition all the clamps cited above are fabricated from metal, costly to fabricate, manufacture and assemble.
Other references cited are clamps primarily made of polymeric material such as LiVolsi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,556 (1984) this hose clamp which is injection molded is less expensive to produce and uncomplicated to manufacture. Made from polymeric material it will not corrode or degrade as metal clamps. Although it has no means to disengage and is designed to be finger tightened only limiting its use. Today most hose clamps used for low pressure applications are "worm gear" types. All hose clamps of this type as described above in various forms suffer from a number of disadvantages:                (a) Hose clamps based on the "worm gear" design principle cannot be applied or removed using only one hand. A distinct disadvantage in many applications.        (b) All prior art hose clamps designed for medium pressure applications are fabricated from metal. Under certain adverse conditions such as exposure to acids, salts, electrolysis, flexing, vibrations and the like may degrade these clamps to the point of failure, even high quality stainless steel.        (c) The majority of hose clamps used today do not embody means to rapidly and easily disengage.        (d) The need to use tools to install or remove hose clamps such as slotted screwdrivers or ratchets in places inaccessible or completely out of view is cumbersome a distinct disadvantage.        (e) Another disadvantage is the inability to color code in order to identify the contents being carried within a hose and could be a safety issue.        (f) To assembly metal hose clamps you must consider the cost of material, overall energy necessary to manufacture and form parts, labor and assembly equipment, manufacturing space, shipping, as well as other peripheral expenses. These costs are exceedingly greater than a polymeric composite, injection molded, hose clamp.        (g) Some hazards of using metal hose clamps are injuries and cuts from sharp edges and accidental electrical conductivity.

Hose clamp with parallel tightening and rapid release


A device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metals, comprising a casting mold (1) which is open in both ends in the casting direction, means (2) for supplying melt to the mold (1), a first electromagnetic induction coil (4) energized by A.C. current and adapted to induce a stirring motion to the melt (7) in the mold (1), and a second electromagnetic induction coil (3) arranged upstream of the first induction coil (4) and adapted to control the stirring motion of the melt in the region adjacent to the upper free surface (5) of the melt. The second induction coil (3) is arranged to be interchangeably energized by either D.C. or A.C. current. The invention also relates to methods for control of stirring motion in a casting mold (1).

Stirring of liquid steel in a continuous casting mold by means of an externally applied low-frequency A.C. electromagnetic field is a well-established practice in continuous casting steel operations. Electromagnetic stirring, commonly known as EMS, is broadly employed in continuous casting of steel in order to improve quality of the as cast product and process productivity. It was established that control of stirring motion in the region closely adjacent to the melt free surface, commonly termed meniscus, is required to meet the conditions of different casting practices. Thus a certain intensity stirring motion in the meniscus region is necessary in order to control surface and subsurface porosity, subsurface inclusions and other defects in billets and blooms produced from mainly Si—Mn deoxidized steel. The other casting practice, known as the submerged pouring under the mold powder, requires meniscus stability, and therefore it imposes restrictions to stirring motion at the meniscus. Besides these two opposing requirements stemmed from casting practices, the direct correlation was established between certain groups of strand defects and stirring intensity in both the meniscus region and the mold bulk. Therefore the need for control of stirring motion in those regions of the casting mold has necessitated a number of techniques based on application of D.C. or A.C. electromagnetic fields. Thus control of stirring motion in the meniscus region of the mold by means of a horizontal D.C. magnetic field was described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,005. According to this patent, an externally applied D.C. magnetic field interacts with the stirring flow in the meniscus region originated by the main stirrer. An electromagnetic force results from this interaction and this force opposes liquid metal motion, thereby reducing the velocity of that motion. This method of stirring velocity control has limitations. Within the configuration common for the equipment used for continuous casting of billets and blooms, dimensions of the braking coil is restricted, as a result strength of D.C. magnetic field produced by the brake is sufficient only for reduction of stirring velocity at the meniscus up to 50 to 60 percent of the velocity original value.
Another known method in, prior art with the objective to control stirring motion in the meniscus region is a dual-coil EMS system operating with A.C. current and described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,850. According to this patent, an induction coil arranged in the upper part of the mold in the meniscus region is energized from a current source independent from the current source of the main stirrer arranged in a lower portion of the mold. Thus a rotating A.C. magnetic field produced by the upper induction coil is independently controlled with respect to the magnetic field of the main stirrer. When the rotational direction of magnetic fields produced by the upper and the main stirrers coincides, stirring velocity in the meniscus region increases. This velocity increase can be controlled by the current input to the upper coil. In the case of rotational directions opposing each other, the upper stirrer becomes a magnetic brake with respect to the stirring flow in the meniscus region. By adjusting current of the brake, stirring velocity in the meniscus region can be controlled within a range from its original value when there is no braking action applied, to virtual zero, when magnetic torque of the brake is in balance with the angular momentum of stirring flow in the meniscus region.
As a downside of this method, the braking action has an effect only on the azimuthal component of the fluid flows induced by stirring or by the impact of pouring stream discharging into the mold. The longitudinal component of these flows remains unaffected by the A.C. magnetic field produced by the upper induction coil. These longitudinal fluid flows, depending on their intensity, produce a significant turbulence to the melt at the meniscus and in the region adjacent to the meniscus, therefore affecting operating conditions of casting practice and product quality.

Method and device for continuous casting of metals in a mold


New clay-like athletic surface compositions that utilize different types of glass cullet, such as container, ceramic, or plate glass, are provided. Preferably, recycled container-glass cullet between 1.4 millimeters and 20 microns in size is used to provide a slow playing, resilient surface good for a variety of athletic purposes, such as tennis, track and field, and bocce.

1. Field of Invention
The invention generally relates to indoor and outdoor play surfaces for games and activities, especially where a ball is used. More particularly, the invention relates to tennis court surfaces that include cullet obtained from waste glass.
2. Description of the Related Art
Early athletic surfaces, particularly tennis court surfaces, were constructed from concrete, grass, asphalt or clay. Each of these surfaces has significant deficiencies. Clay surfaces, which strictly speaking are only those surfaces utilizing natural clay (i.e., naturally occurring hydrated silicate materials), are soft and easy to play on. However, clay surfaces are expensive to install, difficult to maintain, and must be closed after the first frost in cold climates. Asphalt and concrete are unyielding surfaces that frequently cause injuries. In addition, concrete and asphalt surfaces, when exposed to extremes of heat and cold and to water and ice, often crack or split, thus making them less useful and subject to constant repair. Moreover, grass wears badly with frequent use and is difficult to maintain in good condition when the weather is very hot or cold.
Due to longer life spans and an increasing emphasis on keeping up physical activity later in life, attention has recently re-focused on providing play surfaces that tend to minimize stress to joints and injury in general. Thus, giving yet resilient clay-like surfaces have been developed for use on tennis courts, as well as for track and field and other athletic play applications, in the hopes of providing a cost-effective surface composition that reduces injuries. However, since economy is still a primary concern, alternatives to the traditional clay play surfaces must ideally still be low cost, inexpensive to maintain, and able to be used in varying weather conditions.
One improved clay-like product is sold under the trademark Classic Clay. Classic Clay is reddish maroon or green in color and is a manufactured, polymer-coated silica. It is filled into a carpet of specified height and is piled over the top of the carpet by about 2 mm. Classic Clay has a static charge, which causes the particles to cling to tennis balls, clothing and shoes. In terms of play characteristics, surface speed is moderate and Classic Clay is hydrophobic, meaning it does not mix well with water, and, thus, provides good playability when moist. However, Classic Clay stains tennis shoes and accessories a reddish color.
Naturally existing sand is another alternative. Natural sand is tan or grayish in color (similar to beach or playground sand) or, when crushed brick is added, pinkish in color. Sand used in tennis courts typically exists as a 6.5-9 cm compacted layer on top of 7.6 cm of compacted aggregate, with fines further compacted on rolled local soil. The play is quite slow with a great amount of sliding. Moreover, while sand courts require regular irrigation to saturate the surface, they cannot be played on when truly wet, such as after a moderate rain.
Another clay-like product is called Har-Tru. Har-Tru is a trademark for a bluish green to light blue in color product made from mined and modified shale and slate. Har-Tru American Red is crushed red stone and crushed red brick. Neither contain a binder to aid in draining. Generally, Har-Tru courts are kept moist to improve surface performance, which can result in a high maintenance bill. While the overall construction is similar to courts made with natural sand, many desirable options, such as built-in irrigation and lining, can make construction quite costly. Play is rather slow, with minimal sliding. However, Har-Tru courts can be slippery after a rain.
Other "alternative" athletic play surfaces for clay-like running tracks, tennis courts, bocce fields and the like have also included resilient synthetic plastic materials or other types of resins laid over the ground or concrete. These plastic or resinous materials, such as the products sold under the trademark "Astroturf," have enjoyed significant commercial success. However, they also tend to be relatively expensive to install and provide a play surface that is thought to increase the risk for certain types of knee and foot injuries. Moreover, many of these surfaces are unsuitable for tennis and ball sports. This holds true even for improved plastic surfaces. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,879 by McMahon et al. describes an athletic surface made from a glass-fiber reinforced resinous material. While this material may exhibit improved characteristics for running applications, its bounce and spin characteristics appear to be incompatible with ball sports such as tennis. Hence, those in need of an athletic surface for running and ball sports have returned to examining variations on more traditional athletic surface compositions.
Accordingly, clay courts and clay-like surfaces are again coming into favor, particularly by older athletes. This is because clay and clay-like compositions are characterized by a soft, spin receptive surface that induces slow play in ball sports and helps to reduce player injuries. For example, in the context of tennis, soft courts are 10% of the $400 million U.S. court market. These courts are designed as either compacted clay-like surfacing material or surfacing material placed in a carpet, with the latter usually referred to as synthetic clay or in-fill courts. The market for these non-hard courts is increasing each year and projections indicate that the aging "baby boomers" will create continued increases in demand. In fact, all the newer clubs in traditional retirement localities, such as the Palm Springs area of Calif., have soft courts. In Arizona, several clubs in the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas are replacing their hard courts with soft clay or clay-like courts.
New surfacing material must be added each year to "soft" playing fields (e.g. tracks, bocce fields) and tennis courts—leading to a substantial annual market. Because most courts and tracks are still of the so-called "hard surface" (e.g., concrete and asphalt) type, market growth is not projected to plateau for decades. Taking recent projections relating to clay or clay-like tennis courts in Australia as an indication of growth, soft court surface popularity will overtake other surface use in the coming years, with approximately 75% of the new courts using silica in-fill. In turn, each in-fill court uses approximately 10 tons of clay or clay-like material initially and 300 pounds for maintenance per year.
Due to the large amount of granular material used in various clay or clay-like compacted or in-fill athletic surfaces, manufacturers and those who maintain such surfaces are constantly looking for inexpensive alternatives. Thus, there continues to be a need for an inexpensive, widely available, and inert material for use in the manufacture and maintenance of clay and clay-like athletic surfaces.

Surface composition for clay-like athletic fields


A heat insulating box, such as a refrigerator box, comprises a heat insulator and a box member that is in contact with the heat insulator. The heat insulator is formed of a urethane foam using either HCFC-123 (CHCl.sub.2 CF.sub.3) or HCFC-141b (CH.sub.3 CCl.sub.2 F) or both as a forming agent, and the box member is formed of a styrene/acrylonitrile/butadiene terpolymer, a styrene/ethylene-.alpha.-olefinic rubbery copolymer/acrylonitrile terpolymer (AES resin), a styrene/alkyl acrylate ester containing rubbery copolymer/acrylonitrile terpolymer (AAS resin), or a mixture of the AES resin and the AAS resin.

This invention relates to a heat insulating box that uses a urethane foam as a heat insulator.
A refrigerator box is a kind of heat insulating boxes and its general construction and method of production are described below with reference to "Handbook of Polyurethane Resins", published by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd., pp.238-243 and pp.248-250 and "Plastics Market and Product Design-Electric and Electronic Devices", published by Plastics Age Co., Ltd. pp.58-67. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical refrigerator box, and FIG. 2 is a cross section of that refrigerator box. Shown by 1 is an outer box, 2 is an inner box, and 3 is a urethane foam as a heat insulator. Outer box 1 may typically be produced by molding a painted or coated steel sheet into a predetermined shape (e.g. a gate in the normal or inverted position). Then, an inner box 2 also molded into a predetermined shape is combined with the outer box 1 and a liquid urethane stock from which a heat insulator urethane foam 3 is to be made is injected into the gap between the two boxes. The liquid urethane stock is subsequently foamed so that the outer box 1 is joined integrally with the inner box by means of the foamed urethane 3, which serves not only as a heat insulator but also as a member to retain the strength of the overall structure. Depending on the object of use, the outer box may be made of the same material as the inner box.
During foaming, the polyurethane which undergoes curing reaction will generate heat and the center of the urethane foam 3 will become as hot as 60.degree. C. and above. Hence, following the curing reaction of polyurethane, the urethane foam 3 will cool to shrink, developing a shrinkage stress. The stress causes distortion in the urethane foam 3 or inner box 2 and, if the material of the inner box does not have adequate strength, blushing or cracking will occur in the inner box. To avoid those problems, the material of the inner box must have good moldability, exhibit good adhesion to the urethane foam 3 and high resistance to the stress that may develop upon shrinkage at cold temperature; in addition, said material must satisfy other conditions such as high resistance to the impact of an article dropping in the refrigerator, as well as high resistance to chemicals that may contaminate the interior of the refrigerator such as edible oils and seasonings. Materials in current use that are said to satisfy those requirements include ABS resins (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers), butadiene rubber containing styrene resins, and vinyl chloride resins (PVC).
As forming agents for the urethane foam 3, Freon CFC-11 (CCl.sub.3 F) is most commonly used since it has a good balance between heat insulating property, toxicity, safety, ease of handling and cost. CFC-11 is mixed in liquid form in the starting materials of polyurethane and during foaming, it is evaporated by the heat of reaction of urethane resin to form tiny cells. As time passes, CFC-11 will come out of the foam cells and diffuse to the ambient. Hence, the inner box 2 is subject to the action of CFC-11 not only during the injection of the starting materials of polyurethane but also by its diffusion out of the cells after completion of foaming. Styrene resins currently used to make the inner box have low resistance to CFC-11 and require a protective film or coat in order to avoid direct contact with the foam 3. Vinyl chloride resins (PVC) are less subject to the action of CFC-11 but, on the other hand, they have such low resistance to heat that they may deform upon exposure to heat that will be generated when the insulating material 3 undergoes reaction; furthermore, vinyl chloride resins are so low impact resistance that they are prone to crack. ABS resins are used most extensively today since they have a good balance between various properties such as moldability, stress relaxation upon shrinkage at cold temperature, impact resistance, solvent resistance and resistance to CFC-11.
With the recent concern over the depletion of ozone layers in the stratosphere, many countries have started to introduce global regulations on the production and consumption of Freons. CFC-11 is also within the class of materials under such regulation and the increasing difficulty in using it as a foaming agent for heat insulating polyurethane foams has necessitated the development of a substitute foaming agent. Available as such substitutes today are HCFC-123 (CHCl.sub.2 CF.sub.3) and HCFC-141b (CH.sub.3 CCl.sub.2 F) which are similar to CFC-11 in physical properties (e.g. boiling point and the latent heat of evaporation) and which are out of the scope of the applicable regulations.
However, compared to CFC-11, the substitutes HCFC-123 and HCFC-141b have great tendency to dissolve polymeric materials and their ability to swell and dissolve butadiene rubber containing styrene resins and ABS resins which are currently used as materials for making boxes is so great that using them as foaming agents in place of CFC-11 will not only lower the strength of boxes but also lead to their destruction or deterioration in appearance. If HCFC-123 and HCFC-141b are used as foaming agents for the polyurethane foam, ABS resins which are most commonly used today as box making materials suffer from the problem that they are so seriously attacked by the foaming agents that cracks will develop in the box. To avoid this problem, it has been attempted to increase the wall thickness of the box making materials by a great degree or to laminate them with a film that exhibits high resistance to HCFC-123 and HCFC-141b. In practice, however, these techniques have not proved to be completely satisfactory. Even if the wall thickness of the box making materials is increased, they will be affected by HCFC over time and, in the long run, the quality of the refrigerator box will deteriorate. Furthermore, thicker sheets either require a longer molding time to reduce the production rate or result in heavier box making materials and, hence, heavier refrigerator boxes. On the other hand, lamination with materials having high HCFC resistance is indeed effective in preventing the attack of HCFC by the necessary minimum thickness of box making materials. However, lamination is a separate step and leads to a higher cost of production. In addition, the cut portions of the box will not be laminated with HCFC-resistant materials and, hence, are subject to the adverse effects of HCFC. Hence, to prevent the HCFC attack, an extra means of protection is necessary, adding to the complexity of the production process, furthermore, the use of dissimilar materials in boxes renders it difficult to recycle them.
It is also common practice to improve the mechanical properties of box making materials by incorporating fillers such as glass fibers (GF) and carbon fibers (CF). However, both GF and CF are bulky with a fiber diameter of 5-20 .mu.m and a length of 100 .mu.m to a few millimeters and will deteriorate considerably the surface smoothness and aesthetic appeal of the shaped parts. Furthermore, those fibers deteriorate the moldability of box making materials.


A network mapper for performing tasks on targets is provided. The mapper generates a map of a network that specifies the overall configuration of the network. The mapper inputs a procedure that defines how the network is to be mapped. The procedure specifies what, when, and in what order the tasks are to be performed. Each task specifies processing that is to be performed for a target to produce results. The procedure may also specify input parameters for a task. The mapper inputs initial targets that specify a range of network addresses to be mapped. The mapper maps the network by, for each target, executing the procedure to perform the tasks on the target. The results of the tasks represent the mapping of the network defined by the initial targets.

Many organizations have multiple computer networks that include tens of thousands of hosts such as desktop computers, servers, gateways, routers, printers, televisions, cell phones, and so on. These hosts communicate with one another by sending messages that are typically divided into packets of information. A source host sends a packet to a destination host by specifying that the packet is to be delivered to the address of the destination host. Most computer networks are Internet Protocol ("IP") networks that employ an Internet Protocol ("IP") addressing scheme to address hosts such as IP version 4 ("IPv4") or IP version 6 ("IPv6"). IPv4 specifies an IP address of 32 bits that is divided into a network address portion and a host address portion. IPv4 addresses are typically represented by four numbers that vary from 0 to 255 separated by periods such as "10.168.1.1." IPv4 originally allowed the network address portion to be 8, 16, or 24 bits, referred to as class A, B, or C IP addresses, respectively. The combination of IP address and class uniquely identifies a host, which is represented as "10.168.1.1/B" for an IPv4 class B address. Because these three network address sizes meant that many host addresses might go unused, IPv4 was updated to employ the Classless Inter-Domain Routing ("CIDR") in which the network address could vary in size from 1 to 31 bits. The combination of the IP address and the number of bits in the network address, referred to as a network address mask, uniquely identifies a host, which is represented as "10.168.1.1/20" for an IPv4 address with a 20 network address. The 32-bit IP address of IPv4 was thought at one time to be large enough to uniquely identify all hosts of each network. Because of the rapid growth of the Internet and computer networks for both organizations and individuals, a 32-bit IP address proved to be not large enough. IPv6 was developed to overcome the 32-bit limitation of IPv4. IPv6 specifies that an IP address has 128 bits and can thus address over 1028 more addresses than IPv4.
An organization may modify the configuration of its networks from time to time to meet its changing needs. For example, the organization may add new hosts, upgrade operating systems, install new applications, and so forth on its existing networks and may even create new networks or sub-networks. Although system administrators try to keep accurate records of the configuration of the network, referred to as a "network map," the task of keeping such records is time-consuming and error-prone in part because of the large number of hosts and applications and the large number of modifications made to the network over many years.
Many automated tools have been developed to assist a system administrator in generating and updating a network map, especially for IP networks. To learn the configuration of hosts, some tools send messages to the hosts using Simple Network Management Protocol ("SNMP"). An SNMP-enabled host responds to requests for configuration information. When a host receives from a requesting host an SNMP request message that is addressed to it, the host retrieves the requested configuration information (referred to as a variable) and sends to the requesting host a response message that includes the configuration information. A tool that employs SNMP may be provided an IP address of a target host and sends a series of requests to that target host to obtain the configuration information of that target host. One well-known tool is Nmap, which probes a computer network to extract various types of configuration information. For example, Nmap can scan a range of IP addresses to discover hosts within that range, scan for open ports on a host, and retrieve system configuration information such as identifying the operating system of a host.
Although these automated tools help simplify the task of generating a network map, the task of generating a network map for large networks can be very difficult for several reasons. For example, a network administrator may not even know what ranges of IP addresses are used by a network. Without knowing these ranges, the process of host discovery may be very slow as a very large range of IP addresses may need to be checked. Moreover, the network traffic needed to check so many IP addresses may place an unacceptable burden on the network. As another example, a network administrator may need to run many different tools to get as complete a network map as possible. Because of the complexity of the tools and the computer networks, it can be difficult for a network administrator to keep track of what tools to run, when to run the tools, and in what order to run the tools. It would be desirable to have a tool that would help overcome these difficulties.

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


According to a first aspect of the present invention, a content sharing support device includes a content receiving unit, a content transmitting unit, a first reaction receiving unit and a first reaction transmitting unit. The content receiving unit receives content from an online service providing device. The content transmitting unit transmits the content to a first terminal connected to the content sharing support device. The first reaction receiving unit receives a first reaction relating to the content from the first terminal. The first reaction transmitting unit transmits the first reaction to the online service providing device.

In the related art, for example, in an online game, update of a game program, an in-game event, server maintenance, and the like, a user may be notified of information relating to the game. In addition, some race games are provided with a function of sharing a play moving image or play data relating to getting of a high score between users.
As described above, in the online game, a business operator may provide a user with useful information or content for exciting the game.
The useful information or the content for exciting the game is basically provided at the time of game play. That is, it is difficult for a person other than a user who actually plays a game online to know which event happens in the game and which content is provided. In-game events and content may be a motivation for a non-user to purchase the game, a motivation for a new user to register the game, and a motivation for a user who has not played the game for a long time to replay the game. Here, the business operator utilizes advertisement on mass media or the Internet to make the non-user or the users to aware of the in-game events and the presence of the content.
As means for making a notification for in-game information in the real world, some puzzle games have a function of notifying user's friends of getting of a high score when the user gets the high score by using a communication application (for example, refer to Literature: "[TSUM TSUM] what happens when pushing a "notification" button of a high score?", [online], [retrieved on Jun. 21, 2017], Internet <URL: http://line TSUM TSUM.biz/category6/entry42.html>
In addition, JP-A-2016-45960 discloses a configuration in which a content providing server provides various kinds of content such as news, a product, a service, and a game item to a device ([0020]), and a configuration in which common interest content determined on the basis of user's interest category information ([0032]) are transmitted to an instant message server ([0023]) providing a service of an application relating to a chatting room ([0025]), and is transmitted to a device ([0090]).

Content sharing support device and online service providing device


Disclosed is a walking robot having an improved driving structure for a pitch-direction femoral joint and a knee joint. The walking robot includes a pitch-direction actuator driving the pitch-direction femoral joint to rotate a femoral link relative to a body in a pitch direction, and a power transmission unit transferring driving force of the pitch-direction actuator to the knee joint to rotate the lower leg link relative to the femoral link in the pitch direction.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a walking robot. More particularly, the present invention relates to a walking robot having an improved driving structure for a pitch-direction femoral joint and a knee joint.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of walking robots, such as a biped walking robot or a four-legged walking robot, have been developed for the purpose of household use, military use, or industrial use.
Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-50273 discloses a humanoid in the form of a biped walking robot.
The robot disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-50273 includes a body, a head provided at an upper end portion of the body, a pair of arms provided at both upper lateral sides of the body, and a pair of legs provided at both lower lateral sides of the body.
Each leg includes a femoral link connected to the body through a femoral joint performing 3-DOF (degree of freedom) movement, a lower leg link connected to the femoral link through a knee joint performing 1-DOF movement, and a foot connected to the lower leg link through an ankle link performing 2-DOF movement, so that the robot can perform 6-DOF movement. Accordingly, the robot can perform various actions using the legs as well as running and walking.
In particular, the running and walking of the robot can be realized by repeatedly rotating a pitch-direction femoral joint and a knee joint and a large impact is applied to the robot through the foot of the robot when the robot walks or runs on the ground. Such an impact can be attenuated by controlling the pitch-direction femoral joint, the knee joint, etc.
However, the joints, in particular, the pitch-direction femoral joint and the knee joint are independently driven by two actuators in the conventional walking robot, so the control mechanism may be complicated to effectively attenuate the impact.
In addition, the actuator for driving the knee joint is positioned adjacent to the knee joint in the conventional walking robot, so great inertial force is generated in the leg during walking and great load is applied to the actuator for driving the femoral joint.


Example systems and related methods may relate to handling a plurality of data transmissions from printing devices. Namely, a system may include a primary server and a secondary server. The primary server may include a primary processor and a primary storage device. The secondary server may include a secondary processor and a secondary storage device. The primary processor may be configured to receive and store a plurality of data transmissions from a corresponding plurality of printing devices. The data transmissions may be stored in an active database associated with the primary storage device. Metadata corresponding to the data transmissions may be generated. Some or all of the data transmissions may be archived as secondary data at a secondary server. The secondary data may be pre-processed to form a normalized database. In some embodiments, the metadata and/or the normalized data may be subject to search queries or statistical analysis.

Printing devices have increased in number and geographic footprint throughout the world and have become increasingly connected to networks. Printing device vendors and service personnel may receive data transmissions related to, among other information, the status of such devices. Information about these devices may be collected for the purpose of maintenance, troubleshooting, and diagnostics.
However, as the sheer number of network-connected printing devices grows, handling of data transmission volume and message content may become increasingly difficult. Thus, a need exists for a more efficient system and method for handling large volumes of data transmissions from printing devices.

Printing system for data handling having a primary server for storing active and passive data and a second server for storing normalized and analytical data


The present invention provides a method of treating an individual with primary adrenal insufficiency, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of dehydroepiandrosterone to said individual. Also provided is a method of treating an individual with adrenal failure secondary to dysfunctions of the hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of dehydroepiandrosterone to said individual and a method of treating an individual with adrenal insufficiency due to acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), comprising the step of administering an effective amount of deyhydroepiandrosterone to said individual.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of endocrinology and pharmacology. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of dehydroepiandrosterone to treat primary adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease.
2. Description of the Related Art
In 1855, Thomas Addison described the clinical features, natural history and autopsy findings of the disease that now bears his name. Addison's disease is a rare condition of primary adrenal insufficiency resulting from destruction of the adrenal gland and is caused by a variety of disorders, the most common of which is "autoimmune in origin", Oelkers, W. Adrenal Insufficiency. N Eng J Med 1996 335:1206-1212. The incidence of the disease is 40-60 cases per million young adults with a female/male ratio of 10 to 1 Mason, A. S., et al. Epidemiological and Clinical Picture of Addison's Disease. Lancet 1968, 2:744-747. In this condition, all three zones of the adrenal cortex are affected by the destructive processes (3,4). Consequently inadequate adrenal secretion of glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid and androgen precursors such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS) occurs, Yamaji, T. et al. Plasma DHEAS In Normal And Pathological Conditions. J. Clin Endocrinol Metab 1969, 29: 273 and Urban, M. et al., Androgens In Pubertal Males With Addison's Disease. J Clin Endocrinal Metab 1980 51:925-929.
The onset of manifestation is usually gradual, going first through a stage of partial adrenal deficiency and followed sometime later by the overt cortisol deficiency which results clinically in nausea and vomiting, weight loss and anorexia. It is also associated with fever and hypoglycemia. In cases where mineralocorticoid production is decreased, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia occur. Hyperpigmentation of mucosa and skin occurs due to excessive pituitary ACTH secretion (secondary to the lack of cortisol feedback) and the associated overproduction of MSH-like peptides with pigmenting effect of the skin and mucus membranes, Mains, R. E., et al., Synthesis And Secretion Of Corticotrophins, Melantrophins And Endorphins By Rat Immediate Pituitary Cells. J Biol Chem 1979, 254:7885-7894 and Carter, R. J., et al., Melanotrophin Potentiating Factor Is The C-Terminal Tetrapeptide Of Human .beta.-Lipotrophin.
Nature 1979, 279:34-75. Not infrequently the autoimmune processes also involve other endocrine glands and hypothyroidism and premature ovarian failure may be part of the clinical manifestation, Oelkers, W. Adrenal Insufficiency. N Eng J Med 1996, 335:1206-1212, Irvine, W. J., et al. Adrenocortical Insufficiency. Clin Endocrinol Metab Metab 1972, 1:549-594, Mason, A. S., et al. Epidemiological And Clinical Picture Of Addison's Disease. Lancet 1968, 2:744-747, Eisenbarth, G. S., et al. The Immunoendocrinopathy Syndromes. In: Wilson, J. D., Foster, D. W., Ed. Williams Textbook Of Endocrinology, Saunders, Philadelphia, 1992: 1555-1566, Nerup, J. Addison's Disease. Clinical Studies. A report of 108 cases. Acta Endocrinol 1974, 76: 27-141, Spinner, M. W., et al. Clinical And Genetic Heterogeneity In Idiopathic Addison's Disease And Autoimmune Hypoparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinal Metab 1968, 28: 795-804.
While replacements of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids are standard management of Addison's disease, no attempts to replace adrenal androgen have been properly made to date. Oelkers, W., Adrenal Insufficiency, N Eng J Med, 1996, 335:1206-1212. Patients with Addison's disease frequently complain of fatigue, loss of pubic and axillary hair, decreased libido and muscle weakness in spite of adequate replacement of adrenal corticoids. Burke, C. W. Primary Adrenocortical Failure. In: Grossman A. Clinical Endocrinology, Ed. Oxford: Blackwell: 1992:393-404, Zelissen P. M., et al. Effect Of Glucocorticoid Replacement Therapy On Bone Mineral Density In Patients With Addison's Disease. Ann Int Med, 1994, 120:207-210 and Riedel, M., et al. Quality Of Life In Patients With Addison's Disease: Effects Of Different Cortisol Replacement Modes. Exper Clin Endocrinol, 1993, 101:106-111.
The prior art is deficient in the lack of effective means of treating Addison's disease and primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. The present invention fulfills this longstanding need and desire in the art.

Use of dehydroepiandrosterone to treat primary adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease


Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor having an improved dynamic range. A pixel cell comprises at least one transistor structure. The transistor structure comprises at least one semiconductor channel region, at least one gate for controlling the channel region, and first and second leads respectively coupled to a source region on one side of the at least one channel region and a drain region on an opposite side of the at least one channel region. The transistor structure has at least two threshold voltages associated with the at least one channel region, and an I-V characteristic of the transistor structure is determined at least in part by the threshold voltages.

CMOS image sensors are increasingly being used as a lower cost alternative to CCDs. A CMOS image sensor circuit includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells includes a photogate, photoconductor, or photodiode having an associated a charge accumulation region within a substrate for accumulating photo-generated charge. Each pixel cell may include a transistor for transferring charge from the charge accumulation region to a sensing node, and a transistor, for resetting a sensing node to a predetermined charge level prior to charge transfer. The pixel cell may also include a source follower transistor for receiving and amplifying charge from the sensing node and an access transistor for controlling the readout of the cell contents from the source follower transistor.
In a CMOS image sensor, the active elements of a pixel cell perform the necessary functions of: (1) photon to charge conversion; (2) accumulation of image charge; (3) transfer of charge to the sensing node accompanied by charge amplification; (4) resetting the sensing node to a known state before the transfer of charge to it; (5) selection of a pixel for readout; and (6) output and amplification of a signal representing pixel charge from the sensing node.
CMOS image sensors of the type discussed above are generally known as discussed, for example, in Nixon et al., "256×256 CMOS Active Pixel Sensor Camera-on-a-Chip," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 31(12), pp. 2046-2050 (1996); and Mendis et al., "CMOS Active Pixel Image Sensors," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 41(3), pp. 452-453 (1994). See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,177,333 and 6,204,524, which describe operation of conventional CMOS image sensors, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
A conventional CMOS pixel cell 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a portion of a semiconductor wafer fragment containing the exemplary pixel cell 10 and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the pixel cell 10. The CMOS pixel cell 10 is a four transistor (4T) cell. Pixel cell 10 comprises a photo-conversion device, typically a photodiode 21, for collecting charges generated by light incident on the pixel. A transfer gate 7 transfers photoelectric charges from the photodiode 21 to a sensing node, typically a floating diffusion region 3. Floating diffusion region 3 is electrically connected to the gate of an output source follower transistor 27. The pixel cell 10 also includes a reset transistor having a gate 17 for resetting the floating diffusion region 3 to a predetermined voltage before sensing a signal; a source follower transistor 27 which receives at its gate an electrical signal from the floating diffusion region 3; and a row select transistor 37 for outputting a signal from the source follower transistor 27 to an output column line in response to an address signal.
Impurity doped source/drain regions 32 (FIG. 1), having n-type conductivity, are provided on either side of the transistor gates 17, 27, 37. Conventional processing methods are used to form, for example, contacts 33 (FIG. 1) in an insulating layer to provide an electrical connection to the source/drain regions 32, the floating diffusion region 3, and other wiring to connect to gates and form other connections in the pixel cell 10.
In the pixel cell 10 depicted in FIG. 1, electrons are generated by light incident externally and stored in the photodiode 21. These charges are transferred to the floating diffusion region 3 by the gate 7 of the transfer transistor. The source follower transistor 27 produces an output signal from the transferred charges.
Image sensors, such as an image sensor employing the conventional pixel cell 10, have a characteristic dynamic range. Dynamic range refers to the range of incident light that can be accommodated by an image sensor in a single frame of pixel data. It is desirable to have an image sensor with a high dynamic range to image scenes that generate high dynamic range incident signals, such as indoor rooms with windows to the outside, outdoor scenes with mixed shadows and bright sunshine, night-time scenes combining artificial lighting and shadows, and many others.
The dynamic range for an image sensor is commonly defined as the ratio of its largest non-saturating signal to the standard deviation of the noise under dark conditions. The dynamic range is limited on an upper end by the charge saturation level of the sensor, and on a lower end by noise imposed limitations and/or quantization limits of the analog to digital converter used to produce the digital image. When the dynamic range of an image sensor is too small to accommodate the variations in light intensities of the imaged scene, image distortion occurs.
Dynamic range in a charge coupled device (CCD) (DRCCD) can be expressed as:
      DR    CCD    =      20              log      [                        N          sat                                                                    (                                                      σ                    output                                                        G                    0                                                  )                            2                        +                          N              dark              2                                          ]      where Nsat is the electron capacity of the CCD, σout is the RMS read noise voltage of the sensor output stage, G0 is the conversion gain, and Ndark is the dark current shot noise expressed in RMS electrons. Therefore, maximizing the conversion gain can increase the dynamic range of the CCD until the output stage saturates. See Blanksby et al., "Performance Analysis of a Color CMOS Photogate Image Sensor," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 47(1), pp. 55-64 (2000), which is incorporated herein by reference.
In a CMOS photodiode architecture, such as the pixel cell 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the saturation level is determined by read-out circuit considerations. The threshold voltage drops across the reset and source follower transistors 17 and 27 limit the available swing at the floating diffusion node 3. In this case the dynamic range can be expressed as:
      DR          CMOS      -      APS        =      20              log      [                                    V            dd                    -                      V                          t                                            (                reset                )                                              -                      V                          t                                            (                                  source                  -                  follower                                )                                                                                (                                                      σ                    output                                                        A                    SF                                                  )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      G                    FD                                                                          N                    dark                                                  )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      G                    FD                                                                          N                    reset                                                  )                            2                                          ]      where Vt(reset) and Vt(source-follower) are the threshold voltages of the reset and source follower devices, respectively, ASF is the source follower gain, GFD is the conversion gain of the floating diffusion node, and NRX is the reset noise expressed in RMS electrons.
In a CMOS photodiode sensor, GFD and Ndark are typically small resulting in a large dynamic range. As the pixel dimensions are scaled down, Vdd is typically reduced, which may lead to a reduction of the dynamic range. Accordingly, techniques are needed to improve the dynamic range in image sensors, and, specifically, circuit level techniques are needed to improve gain in the signal path to achieve a high dynamic range as pixel dimensions are reduced.

Image sensor with improved dynamic range and method of formation


A process for preparing hydrophobic polyols that includes reacting A) a mixture having an OH content of from 180 to 300 mg KOH/g, a viscosity at 23° C. of from 5000 to 20 000 mPas and an OH functionality of from 2.8 to 4.5 including from 5 to 20 wt. % of 3-pentadecadienylphenol, from 5 to 10 wt. % of 3-pentadecadienyl-recorcinol and from 1 to 5 wt. % of 2-methyl 3-pentadecadienylrecorcinol; with B) alkylene oxides (AO) with addition of the AO monomers onto the AO-reactive groups of component A); the ratio of the amounts of A) to B) being from 1:9 to 9:1; where the hydrophobic polyols have an OH number of from 140 to 220 mg KOH/g and a viscosity at 23° C. of from 1000 to 4000 mPas. The hydrophobic polyols can be used in polyurethane systems, in coatings, adhesive bonds, sealants or moulding compounds, which can be used to coat substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to new hydrophobic polyols of low viscosity, to a process for preparing them and to solvent-free binder mixtures based thereon which are especially suitable for primers of floor coatings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior-art solvent-free two-component (2K) coating systems divide essentially into epoxy resin (2K EP) systems and polyurethane (2K PU) systems.
Coatings based on 2K EP systems combine good mechanical strength with high resistance to solvents and chemicals. Additionally they are distinguished by very good substrate adhesion. A distinct disadvantage is their poor elasticity, particularly at low temperatures. This brittleness results in poor crack bridging by the coating, so that an attack may take place here on the substrate. An additional disadvantage is the very low resistance to organic acids. This is a problem above all for applications in the food sector, since in that sector organic acids are often released as waste products.
A balanced combination of hardness and elasticity, on the other hand, is the outstanding property of the 2K PU coatings and the greatest advantage over 2K EP coatings. With similar solvent and chemical resistances, moreover, the resistance to organic acids of 2K PU coatings is substantially better than that of 2K EP coatings.
For environmental reasons coating compositions ought to be solvent free, particularly in the case of high-build applications, such as floor coatings, for example. This means that the inherent viscosity of the binder component ought to be low.
In the case of high-build applications on the basis of 2K PU systems there is a risk of bubbles forming through the formation of CO2 as a consequence of the water-isocyanate reaction. Therefore it is important that the raw materials exhibit very low water absorption, so that such coatings can be applied without bubbles even under damp conditions. Since the hydroxy-functional component is generally more hydrophilic than the polyisocyanate component, it is particularly important to use hydroxy-functional components that are hydrophobic, specifically.
The hydroxy-functional binder component of the 2K PU coating may be constructed on the basis of a variety of types of chemical structure.
Whereas polyester polyols are distinguished by a low viscosity and relatively low water absorption, their stability to hydrolysis is low, thereby severely restricting their usefulness for the corrosion protection of metallic substrates and also for the coating of mineral (alkaline) substrates.
2K PU coatings based on polyacrylate polyols are distinguished by effective resistance to hydrolysis, but a disadvantage is their relatively high viscosity. Accordingly either solvents or reactive diluents such as polyether polyols or polyfunctional alcohols are always added to adjust the viscosity. In the same way as when polyether polyols are used alone as crosslinkers, this generally has the effect of increasing the water absorption behaviour.
Solvent-free polyols are often made sufficiently hydrophobic in the prior art by, using castor oil (e.g. Saunders, Frisch; Polyurethanes, Chemistry and Technology, Part 1 Chemistry pages 48 to 53). The 2K PU coatings produced therewith, however, are not stable to hydrolysis.
Resins derived from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL; cashew nut shell oil) are used for paints and coatings (Shukia et al., in Paintindia, February 2002, pages 29-32, Nayak, Natural Oil-Based Polymers: Opportunities and Challenges, in J.M.S.—Rev. Macromol. Chem. Phys., C40(1), 12-18, 2000). Such products are very hydrophobic and because of the absence of ester bonds they are stable to hydrolysis. CNSL-based resins contain phenolic OH groups, which can be utilized for crosslinking by reaction with polyisocyanates. A disadvantage here, however, is that the phenol-based urethane bonds formed are not stable to re-cleavage under damp, alkaline conditions.
J48-29530 describes the reaction of CNSL-aldehyde or cardanol-aldehyde condensates with alkylene oxides such as propylene oxide, the phenolic OH groups becoming aliphatically attached hydroxyl groups. A disadvantage of these products is the fact that the viscosity is relatively high and that the addition of solvents is necessary for processability.
An object of the present invention was therefore to provide a hydrophobic, low-viscosity polyol component which can be further processed to solvent-free binder mixtures and which does not exhibit the aforementioned disadvantages of lack of resistance of the coatings based thereon, especially in the field of high-build applications.


In accordance with the disclosed device and method a highly-corrugated hollow miniature torus is introduced into the pupillary opening in the eye of a person. Then, the torus is expanded by introduction of fluid therein, so that it engages and dilates the marginal edge of the iris. An intraocular surgical procedure is then performed, following which the torus is contracted and removed. A valve is employed to control the introduction and discharge of the fluid.

In conventional dilation techniques used in intraocular surgery, the pupil is dilated by a mydriatic agent. However, when mydriatic agents are employed the surgeon does not know, with certainty, either the diameter or duration of the dilation. When the pupil is--or becomes--insufficiently dilated the performance of the surgeon is hindered. Not only may the patient results then be adversely affected, but the instruments used by the surgeon may injure intraocular structures, for example causing iritis.
Conventional dilation techniques have the further drawback of requiring the use of miotic agents to constrict the pupil after the surgical procedure is completed.
In some instances, the above-indicated techniques may require alternative performance of an iridectomy.
Because of the problems caused by the conventional mydriatic-agent-followed-by-miotic-agent steps, attempts have been made to provide dilation means that are mechanical instead of pharmacological. The mechanical dilation means known to applicant are, however, characterized by various shortcomings. The shortcomings include one or more of the following: 1) inability to effect precise control of the amount of dilation, 2) relative difficulty or complexity of insertion, removal, and use, and 3) failure to shield the surrounding edge of the iris, etc., from surgical instruments.

Expandable dilator and method for intraocular surgery


A head for a well tubular. The well tubular head includes features that may be applied to a casing head or a tubing head. The well tubular head includes a bowl tubular reversibly connected with a casing connector. The bowl tubular is adapted for connecting with an uphole component of an equipment stack or other system. The bowl tubular includes a hanger profile for receiving a casing hanger or tubing hanger. The casing connector is adapted for connecting with the casing. The bowl tubular and the casing connector may be replaced independently of each other. Removable connection points for flow lines may be included on the well tubular head to facilitate changing flow lines or flow line connection points. The bowl tubular may include a drive system for rotating tubing.

Casing heads and tubing heads connect uphole equipment to the casing of a well.
The online Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary defines "casing head" in the implicit context of pressurized wells as "The adapter between the first casing string and either the blowout preventer stack (during drilling) or the wellhead (after completion). This adapter may be threaded or welded onto the casing, and may have a flanged or clamped connection to match the blowout preventer stack or wellhead."
The online Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary defines "tubing head" as "A wellhead component that supports the tubing hanger and provides a means of attaching the Christmas tree to the wellhead."
Casing heads and tubing heads are distinct well components, but share many structural features. Each of these two types of tool includes a connection point for casing downhole of the casing or tubing head. Each of these two types of tool includes a connection point for equipment uphole of the casing or tubing head. Each of these two types of tool includes a bowl profile for receiving a hanger. A casing head is profiled to receive a casing hanger or a pair of slips for supporting additional casing in the well prior to and following cementing. A tubing head receives a tubing hanger for supporting a production tubing string.