A system including a diagnostic-quality CT scanner for imaging a patient, the diagnostic-quality CT scanner having an imaging isocenter and a radiation therapy device positioned adjacent the diagnostic-quality CT scanner, the radiation therapy device including a gantry carrying a radiation therapy beam source and having a radiation therapy isocenter separate from the imaging isocenter of the diagnostic-quality CT scanner. The system including a couch configured to position the patient for imaging and for radiation therapy by translating the patient between the diagnostic quality CT scanner and the radiation therapy device.

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods and computer software for performing radiation therapy, including the collimating or shaping of a radiation beam. Collimators may be used, for example, to shape a radiation beam for the purpose of providing precise medical radiation therapy. Radiation therapy systems, methods and software may also incorporate imaging, for example, CT imaging may be performed prior to the delivery of radiation therapy or MRI imaging may be performed during the delivery of radiation therapy.


In a component mounting method and apparatus capable of mounting components on a board having a non-planar component mounting surface, a board holding table in a board holding device is turned based on board holding device information and board information to direct a normal line to a mounting portion on the non-planar component mounting surface in the vertical direction. Thus, after being picked up and moved by a component loading device onto the normal line to the mounting portion, a component can be mounted through a movement of the component loading device in the vertical direction only. Further, compensation amounts for the position of the mounting portion are calculated based on a turn amount, the board holding device information and the board information, and a compensated mounting position is calculated from the compensation amounts and the board information accurately in the horizontal and vertical directions.

As boards having a non-planar component mounting surface, there are cited, for example, a board having a curved-shape component mounting surface that is constituted by a part of a columnar shape, a part of a spherical shape or the like, a board having component mounting surfaces of plural surfaces that are inclined at a plurality of angles like a pyramid shape, and the like. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a component mounting method in which a component is attracted to an extreme end of an attraction head (component attraction nozzle) and is mounted on an inclined mounting-section wall surface (component mounting surface) of a three-dimensional board (board having a non-planar component mounting surface). The attraction head is configured movably in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction and to be turnable about an axis extending in the vertical direction. Further, the extreme end portion of the attraction head is configured to be turnable about an axis extending in the horizontal direction, that is, to be bendable relative to the axis extending in the vertical direction. In the component mounting method, a component is attracted to the extreme end of the attraction head, and the attraction head is bent at the extreme end portion thereof in dependence on the inclination angle of the mounting-section wall surface of the three-dimensional board and is moved to mount the component on the mounting-section wall surface of the three-dimensional board.

Component mounting method and component mounting apparatus


A method of spectroscopic analysis of a material using a laser ultrasound system. The method includes measuring amplitude displacement of a target surface that has been excited with a generation laser. The amplitude displacements relate to the target's optical absorption properties. Amplitude displacements are generated over a range of laser wavelengths to obtain an optical absorption signature useful to identify the target material characteristics.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of non-destructive testing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for spectroscopic analysis using a laser-ultrasound system.
2. Description of Prior Art
Recent developments in creating composite materials have expanded the use of composite materials into a wide variety of applications. Because of its high strength and durability combined with its low weight, composites are replacing metals and metal alloys as the base material for certain load bearing components. For example, composites are now commonly used as a material for body parts and structure in vehicles such as automobiles, watercraft, and aircraft. However, to ensure composite mechanical integrity, strict inspections are required. The inspections are typically required upon fabrication of a component made from a composite and periodically during the life of the component.
Laser ultrasound is one example of a method of inspecting objects made from composite materials. The method involves producing ultrasonic vibrations on a composite surface by radiating a portion of the composite with a pulsed generation laser. A detection laser beam is directed at the vibrating surface and scattered, reflected, and phase modulated by the surface vibrations to produce phase modulated light. Collection optics receives the phase modulated laser light and directs it for processing. Processing is typically performed by an interferometer coupled to the collection optics. Information concerning the composite can be ascertained from the phase modulated light processing, the information includes the detection of cracks, delaminations, porosity, foreign materials (inclusions), disbonds, and fiber information.
One of the advantages of using laser ultrasound for objects with a complex shape, such as components used in aerospace, is a couplant is unnecessary and the complex shaped can be examined without contour-following robotics. Laser-ultrasound can be used in aerospace manufacturing for inspecting polymer-matrix composite materials. These composite materials may undergo multiple characterization stages, one of which is the ultrasonic inspection by laser-ultrasound. At some point during manufacturing these composites must be chemically characterized to ensure the resins used in forming the composite are properly cured. Additionally, it is important to determine that the correct resins were used in the forming process. Composite chemical characterization typically involves obtaining control samples for infrared spectroscopy laboratory analysis.

Method and apparatus for spectroscopic characterization of samples using a laser-ultrasound system


Modeling appropriate comparable properties for a condo property includes accessing property data, and identifying candidate condo properties in the accessed property data to produce condo property data. A regression is performed using the property data, with the regression modeling the relationship between price and explanatory variables, and the explanatory variables including at least one variable that is specific to condo property assessment. The regression accommodates a modeling of comparable properties, such that a subject condo property and comparable properties may be identified and displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to assessment of comparable properties and more particularly to modeling appropriate comparables where the subject property is a condominium property.
2. Description of the Related Art
Appraisals are traditionally performed by human appraisers who assess a subject property and apply various factors to identify a set of comparable properties against which the value of the subject property may be compared. The results may be described in an appraisal report listing the comparable properties.
Appraisals may be variously used in connection with transactions including loan approval as well as downstream transactions. Appraisal reports may be reviewed in connection with the approval of transactions. They may also be reviewed at other times, such as to assess the appraisal, to identify the possibility of a fraudulent transaction, or to assess the work of an appraiser. Traditionally, this might be performed by an assessor who reviews the report, perhaps does some investigation, and then assesses the results.
The traditional techniques for reviewing and assessing appraisals are inconsistent and do not lend themselves to large scale review. Additionally, it is particularly difficult to model appropriate comparables where the subject property is a condominium property.
What is needed are improved techniques for modeling appropriate comparable properties.

Modeling comparable properties where the subject property is a condominium property


Compositions containing (a) L-carnitine, an acyl L-carnitine, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof in combination with (b) an ACE-inhibitor are useful for treating cardiovascular disorders. Orally, parenterally, rectally or transdermally administrable pharmaceutical compositions in unit dosage form contain from about 0.5 to about 2 g of L-carnitine, or an equimolar amount of an acyl L-carnitine or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and, e.g., from about 5 to about 20 mg of the ACE-inhibitor lisinopril.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating cardiovascular disorders by administering L-carnitine, an acyl L-carnitine, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof in combination with an ACE-inhibitor. The present invention also relates to orally, parenterally, rectally, or transdermally administrable pharmaceutical compositions suitable for treating cardiovascular disorders, which comprise, as active ingredients, L-carnitine, an acyl L-carnitine, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof and an ACE-inhibitor.
2. Discussion of the Background
Previous therapeutical uses of L-carnitine are already known. For instance, L-carnitine has been used in the cardiovascular field in the treatment of acute and chronic myocardial ischemia, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac insufficiency. In nephrology, L-carnitine has been administered to chronic uremic patients who are subjected to regular hemodialysis treatment with a view to counteracting muscular asthenia and the onset of muscular cramps. Further therapeutic uses are the restoration of the HDL/LDL+VLDL ratio to normal and in total parenteral nutrition. The use of L-carnitine for the treatment of certain myopathies and muscular dystrophies is also known.
The ACE-inhibitors form a class of medicaments that has been recently introduced and are capable of preventing the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, with a consequent anti-hypertensive effect.
Typical ACE-inhibitors include: captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril, fosinopril, zofenopril, pivopril, rentiapril, quinapril, indolapril, spirapril, pentopril, benazepril, libenzapril, cilazapril, delapril and perindopril.
The main indications for which ACE-inhibitors are used are essential hypertension and renovascular hypertension.
Recently, combination preparations of ACE-inhibitors with various types of other medicaments have been proposed for the treatment of diverse pathological conditions. Examples of such combination preparations and the relative therapeutic indications are set out in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Known combination preparations of ACE-inhibitors with other medicaments Medicaments Indications Reference ______________________________________ Captopril + diltiazem hypertension US 4,871,731 ACE-inhibitors + calcium loss of cognitive EP 0 344 995 antagonists functions, Alzheimer, senile dementia ACE-inhibitors + myocardiac post- EP 0 366 033 thrombolitics ischaemia disfunction ACE-inhibitor + lithium depression US 4,912,096 ACE-inhibitors + calcium medicament addiction EP 381 075 antagonists ACE-inhibitors + calcium appetite suppression EP 381 074 antagonists ACE-inhibitor + flosequinam cardiopathies WO 90/10445 myocardiac infarction ______________________________________
The combinations set out above, particularly if used in the cardiovascular field, do not appear to be wholly satisfactory in that it is foreseeable that the improved therapeutic activity would be accompanied by at least the sum of the side effects of the ACE-inhibitors themselves on the one hand and on the other hand the side effects of the medicaments combined with them.
In particular, in the case of the compositions containing calcium antagonists, side effects caused by excessive peripheral vasodilatation with consequent tachycardial reflex effects are to be expected.
With regard to the use of acyl carnitines in combination with other medicaments, U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,772 discloses combinations of acyl carnitines (in which the acyl group can be saturated C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 acyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 acyl with 1-6 double bonds, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 hydroxyacyl with 1-3 hydroxyl groups, C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 ketoacyl, unsaturated C.sub.5 -C.sub.20 hydroxyacyl or C.sub.5 -C.sub.20 carbalkoxyacyl) and their pharmacologically acceptable salts in combination with various classes of medicaments, such as beta-lactamase antibiotics, aminoglycosidic antibiotics, antiviral agents, amino acids, relaxing agents for the smooth musculature, polypeptides, anti-inflammatory agents and diuretics. The only example supplied in U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,772 of combination between an acyl carnitine and a medicament with cardiovascular anti-hypertensive action is a combination of palmitoyl carnitine chloride and methyl dopa. The effect foreseen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,772 consists of improved gastrointestinal absorption (induced by the presence of the acyl carnitine) of a medicament which is poorly absorbed when administered on its own by the oral or rectal route. It is clear that there is no correlation between the use of acyl carnitines described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,772 and that which forms the subject of the present invention.
Thus, there remains a need for a method to treat cardiovascular disorders. There also remains a need for pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating cardiovascular disorders.

Compositions containing L-carnitine or an acyl L-carnitine in combination with an ace-inhibitor for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and a method for treating cardiovascular disorders

Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A.


An apparatus of analyzing a user preference about a domain is provided. The apparatus including a context structure creator configured to analyze a history of a context and to create a context structure that expresses a relationship between contexts, and a context structure matching unit configured to match a current context to the context structure and calculate a context matching value of the current context.

1. Field
The following description relates to an apparatus and a method for analyzing user preference about a domain using multi-dimensional, multi-layered context structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of Internet technologies, some websites analyze users' preferences about specific domains relating to the users' daily lives and provide users with recommendations on the Internet based on the specific domains. Examples of the specific domains include favorite restaurants, call lists, etc. Also, with the development of mobile communication technologies, users' preferences about domain elements may be provided through mobile communication terminals such as smart phones. In general, a user may tend to display a constant pattern about a specific domain according to a peripheral environment. In other words, in response to a specific peripheral environment being provided, a user may have a tendency to select a specific element in a specific domain. Thus, in response to users' preferences about specific domain elements being analyzed or inferred, a peripheral environment has been dealt with independently, or considered in association with other factors only in response to exactly matching a predetermined condition. Thus, accurate analysis results on the users' preferences could not be offered. Independently may refer to without considering a hierarchical structure or a relationship between peripheral environments. For example, in response to outdoor activities being recommended, weather conditions may be classified into a clear weather, a cloudy weather, and a raining weather. Conventionally, if the weather conditions are fine, outdoor activities that generally take place only under clear weather conditions may be recommended. However, many people may enjoy various outdoor activities under cloudy weather conditions. Also, people may show restraint in enjoying outdoor activities when the weather conditions are too cool or too hot even though the weather conditions may be fine. Accordingly, in order to recommend proper outdoor activities according to weather conditions, various peripheral environments such as temperature may be taken into consideration together with a hierarchical relationship such as weather conditions.

Apparatus and method for analyzing user preference about domain using multi-dimensional, multi-layered context structure


Detergent compositions comprising polyamino acid compounds and salts thereof are provided. More particularly, detergent compositions containing a polyamino acid compound/protein particle comprising at least one polyamino acid compound coated with at least one protein, detergent compositions containing a polyamino acid compound/protein particle comprising at least one protein coated with at least one polyamino acid compound, and detergent compositions containing a polyamino acid compound/protein agglomerate are provided. The polyamino acid compound/protein particle and/or agglomerate resists degradation of the polyamino acid compound.

Polyamino acid agents can be used in detergent compositions as builders or dispersing agents. Such disclosure is given in EP 454126 which described polyamino acids, including polyaspartic acid, as biodegradable builders/co-builders in the formulation of detergents. The said polymers, especially those derived from aspartic acid, glutamic acid and mixtures thereof, are described as resistant to heat, stable to pH, non toxic, non irritant and entirely biodegradable. However, a problem encountered by such use is the degradability of those polymers under storage and over a period of time. PCT/US93/12090 discloses the use of polyamino acid protected from contact with a level of alkalinity as would cause degradation thereof. The said polyamino acid is provided with a coating, encapsulated or mixed in the form of an agglomerate or granulate with at least one other material which is preferably an alkaline or alkaline reacting compound. However, research by the present Applicant has revealed that this kind of protection will also degrade under storage. This being `partially` due to the enzymatic action and alkaline hydrolysis.
It has now been found that a detergent composition containing a detersive surfactant, at least one polyamino acid compound and at least one protein wherein said polyamino acid compound and said protein are in close physical proximity shows enhanced storage stability.
A further advantage to the close physical proximity of said polyamino acid compound and said protein is the enhanced stability and protection against bleaches.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a detergent composition with effective stain and soil removal performance.

Detergent compositions comprising stabilised polyamino acid compounds


An electromagnetic interference (EMI) signal is processed by digitizing the EMI signal, generating a plurality of overlapping time records from the digitized EMI signal, applying a window function to the plurality of overlapping time records to produce a plurality of modified time records, wherein the window function has a substantially flat top, and performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) on each of the modified time records to produce a plurality of corresponding amplitude envelopes.

Time-domain scan (TDS) is a method that performs "weighted" measurements across many frequencies during electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions measurements. The weighted measurements are typically quasi-peak detector (QPD) measurements in which a measured signal level rises rapidly with a short rising time constant, but falls slowly with a longer decay time constant, thus emphasizing to a controlled degree a peak of the signal statistical distribution over its average value.
In a typical QPD measurement, the time constant for a signal to fall is around 0.5 s, and many time constants are required for the signal to settle. Consequently, it can take a long time to sweep through a frequency span. TDS, however, reduces this time burden by parallel processing. In particular, TDS uses fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) to generate an amplitude envelope at many frequencies from one time record. The amplitude envelope at each frequency is then assembled into a time waveform at each frequency which is then weighted with a weighting detector.
Conventional implementations of TDS suffer from various shortcomings that can limit the accuracy and/or cost of an EMI measurement system. For instance, in many conventional implementations of TDS, FFTs are performed with FFT windows that overlap by 90% or more in the time domain. This large overlap means that a relatively large number of FFTs must be performed, which in turn means that the measurement system must include more processing capability, e.g., extra hardware. On the other hand, smaller overlap tends to produce so-called time scalloping errors, which correspond to undesired variation in a computed spectrum with a time relationship between the FFT starting times and the signal event.

Overlapped fast fourier transform based measurements using flat-in-time windowing


An apparatus comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system. The host device comprises a multi-path input-output (MPIO) driver configured to control delivery of input-output (IO) operations from the host device to the storage system over the network. The MPIO driver is further configured, responsive to creation of a first multi-path logical device for a logical volume of the storage system, to query the storage system to determine a user-defined name for the logical volume, and responsive to receipt of the user-defined name for the logical volume from the storage system, to create a second multi-path logical device having the user-defined name. The MPIO driver processes IO operations directed to the second multi-path logical device having the user-defined name as if those IO operations were actually directed to the first multi-path logical device.

Storage arrays and other types of storage systems are often shared by multiple host devices over a network. In some arrangements of this type, a given storage system allows user-defined names to be assigned to particular logical volumes of the storage system. Such user-defined names are sometimes referred to as "nice names" of the logical volumes. However, in host devices that incorporate multi-pathing software for communicating with the storage system, tedious and time-consuming manual options are often required in order to allow user applications to determine and utilize the appropriate user-defined names for respective logical volumes. This can be particularly problematic in storage systems comprising large numbers of logical volumes, such as hundreds or thousands of logical volumes.

Host device configured for automatic creation of multi-path logical devices with user-defined names


A system to facilitate a container orchestration cloud service platform is described. The system includes a controller to manage Kubernetes cluster life-cycle operations created by each of a plurality of providers. The controller includes one or more processors to execute a controller micro service to discover a provider plugin associated with each of the plurality of providers, and perform the cluster life-cycle operations at a container orchestration platform as a broker for each of a plurality of providers.

A cloud service may refer to a service that includes infrastructure resources (a compute resource, a storage resource, a networking resource, etc.) connected with each other and/or platforms. Such infrastructure resources can collectively be referred to as "cloud resources." A host (also referred to as a cloud service provider) may, as example, provide Software as a Service (SaaS) by hosting applications or other machine-readable instructions; Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) by hosting equipment (servers, storage components, network components, etc.); or a Platform as a Service (PaaS) by hosting a computing platform (operating system, hardware, storage, and so forth).
A public cloud is an environment at which IaaS or PaaS is offered by a cloud service provider. The services of the public cloud may be used to deploy applications. In other examples, a public cloud may also offer SaaS, such as in examples where the public cloud offers the SaaS as a utility (e.g. according to a subscription or pay as you go model). Public clouds implement virtualization technology to deploy a virtual infrastructure based on native hardware. Virtualization technology has typically been employed via virtual machine (VMs), with each application VM having a separate set of operating system, networking and storage. However, containers are increasingly becoming a preferred choice for deployment of application workloads.
Containers provide an enhanced technology (e.g., micro services), simplified manageability and increased resource utilization (e.g., more containers per server than VMs) compared to VMs. For instance, containers include components that are created from multiple, self-contained runtimes. However, the manageability of containers provides significant challenges. For example, the emergence of micro service architectures results in a significant increase in containers in which one functional unit effectively represents one container. Thus, a number of containers needed to implement a solution may have a 10× increase.

Unified container orchestration controller

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An apparatus for supporting and vacuum chucking a work piece have a mounting surface, a surface having a spaced array of apertures defined therein which are operatively connected to a vacuum source. The apparatus also contains a plurality of fixed pods each seated over and surrounding one of a apertures, said pods having an upper surface for supporting a work piece above the mounting surface and further having a hollow interior adapted to receive an accessory therein to transmit the vacuum to the work piece and locking components for fixing the pods to mounting surface.

The present invention generally relates to the machining arts and more particularly to a safety and control system for manipulating a workpiece above the surface of a vacuum bed worktable for machining while protecting the vacuum bed from damage during the machining process.
There are three vacuum clamping concepts presently known to the field, all of which rely on a vacuum source and an enclosure (vacuum bed) upon which the clamping device is located. The "vacuum bed", which may or may not be an integral part of the computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining center, creates a negative pressure environment and transfers it, via a series of holes, to its surface. In the following documentation, the term "vacuum bed" is understood to be the above described method of achieving vacuum.
The most common method of achieving vacuum clamping is to use a spoilboard. The spoilboard is secured to the vacuum bed and a series of holes are drilled (within the boundaries of a foam gasket) through it to allow vacuum pressure to be transferred to its surface from the vacuum chamber. Once the workpiece is securely held by vacuum pressure to the spoilboard, the CNC machining center can perform a varied number of operations such as routing, cutting or drilling. As the spoilboard is made of relatively inexpensive materials, any damage to the spoilboard would be negligible compared to the cost of repairing or replacing the vacuum bed itself.
The second method of achieving vacuum clamping is to use flip pods. Presently, there are two known variations of this application: the Effner flip pod system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,719 and the Carter flip pod system marketed by the Carter Company.
Each flip pod system includes a spoilboard having an array of cavities machined therethrough. Depending upon the size and shape of the workpiece which is to be machined and the machining process desired, a pod is selectively placed into each cavity in either its "deactivated" position (flush with its host spoilboard) or its "activated" position (elevated and sitting upon its host spoilboard). The pod is designed to sit flush with the surface of its host spoilboard cavity, and to create a seal, thus preventing the transfer of negative atmospheric pressure to the general atmosphere, when it is in its deactivated position. Prior to machining, the machine operator manually turns the pod over in a predetermined configuration to create an elevated clamping surface. Once the workpiece is placed on the activated pods, the vacuum pump is turned on, thereby creating a vacuum clamping action between the pod and the workpiece laid on it. Machining is then commenced in such a manner as to direct the tool path of the machining center through its milling process without coming in contact with the pods themselves.
The Effner and Carter flip pod systems have several disadvantages. This process is necessarily time-intensive since each pod must be manually activated or deactivated for machining. Also, these pods require a workpiece that is nearly straight in order to achieve vacuum. If a workpiece is warped, some pods will not make contact with the under surface of the workpiece. This has the undesired effect of either reducing the clamping force because of vacuum leakage or does not draw sufficient vacuum pressure to hold the part at all. Another disadvantage of the flip pod systems is their inability to accommodate many irregular shapes or small work pieces, and because of this they exclude a substantial market share of CNC manufacturing.
The third method of achieving vacuum clamping is the "pop-up" system. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,766 to Beeding. However, currently known "pop-up" systems such as Beeding are complex and prohibitively expensive compared to other systems.
The pop-up pod systems have the same general components and activation concepts and mechanisms. They are all placed within the vacuum bed or a vacuum container and are "activated" or "deactivated" in principally the same manner. Therefore, the following description should adequately cover all patents in this category.
The Beeding pop-up pod system is composed of a vacuum bed having an array of cavities into which a quantity of pods are placed. Each of the pods are either in one of two states. The pods can be in an "active" state in which they are raised to an elevated position above the surface of the vacuum bed. Alternatively, the pods can be in an "inactive" state in which they are lowered flush with the surface of the vacuum bed. The state of each pod is regulated by commands given through a CNC controller linked to the system.
The intent of the pop-up pod is to create an elevated working surface that transfers negative vacuum pressure from the vacuum bed to the surface of the pod. The workpiece is secured to the elevated pods by vacuum pressure during the machining process allowing the machining tool to penetrate it without damaging the surface of the vacuum bed.
To elevate a selected pod, positive air pressure is directed through a spool valve to an internal pneumatic cylinder which holds the pod against a fixed stop. Once the desired pods are elevated to their active position and the workpiece is placed on them, the machining program commences by turning on the vacuum pump (securing the material blank) and performing the desired machining operation. At the end of a machining operation or a multiple of the same operation (generally termed a "run"), all pods are retracted to their inactive position.
Though an advance in the automated machining art, vacuum bed systems constructed according to the Beeding reference include some inherent disadvantages. First, the pop-up systems constructed according to Beeding are too complex and expensive compared to conventional systems to make much of a commercial impact. With the Beeding system, the workpiece is raised only slightly above the working surface which is a highly machined surface with intricate vacuum clamping assemblies set into cavities. If a tool is misprogrammed in the vertical Z-axis, either or both the tool (along with its housing or bearings) and the workpiece is damaged or destroyed. Additionally, the Beeding pop-up system is not flexible enough to perform a variety of machine table functions such as load/unloading, clamping and the like which facilitates the machining process. Finally, Beeding by design is not capable of accommodating irregular shapes common to CNC manufacturing. For example, the Beeding pods are positionable in either a fully raised position or a fully lowered position. If the workpiece has an irregular surface, the vacuum clamping of the pods on the surface of the workpiece would be seriously impaired due to vacuum leakage.
Accordingly, the need arises for a vacuum bed system which provides a flexible, modular design in an automated bed which overcomes the complexity and expense of the prior art.

Locking ring vacuum clamping system with load/unload capabilities


A zoom lens and a zoom lens module are provided. The zoom lens is configured to form an image of an object at an object side onto an image plane at an image side. The zoom lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group and a fourth lens group disposed in sequence from the object side towards the image side. The refractive powers of the first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens group are negative, positive, and negative, respectively. The zoom lens satisfies 1.90<|T1G/FW|<2.40. T1G is a distance of the first lens group along an optical axis of the zoom lens, and FW is an effective focal length of the zoom lens when the zoom lens is at a wide-end.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lens and a lens module, and more particularly, to a zoom lens and a zoom lens module.
2. Description of Related Art
Following advances in modern video technology, demands for high-pixel, high-quality lens of digital video camera (DVC) and digital camera (DC) are gradually increasing in recent years, and are developing towards miniaturization, large aperture and wide viewing angle. A core component of the imaging devices is a zoom lens, far and near images can be formed more clearly via an optical zoom of the zoom lens; therefore, an optical quality of the zoom lens is closely related to an imaging quality of the images. In a highly competitive market, various companies are all committed to improve the quality of the zoom lens and reduce a production costs thereof, so as to enhance competitive advantages of the imaging devices.
Nevertheless, a current design of a periscope-type zoom lens, due to a relative difficulty in processing, and subjected to a more strict tolerance, is more difficult to achieve all of a high-resolution feature, a large aperture advantage and a wide viewing angle. Moreover, a small aperture is prone to dilemmas of a shortage of luminous flux, more noises and underexposure when applied in a night use of the digital camera. For example, F-numbers of the apertures disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,466,500 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,684 are both 3.5 or more, and thus are easily faced with a problem of inadequate luminous flux.
In addition, a zoom lens provided by U.S. Pat. No. 7,286,299 not only fails to meet the demands of large aperture but also has a small field of view (FOV) (2ω), thus leading to shortcomings of shooting range shrinkage and inadequate luminous flux, such that the user demands are not able to be fulfilled.
Besides, a zoom lens is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,901, wherein the zoom lens includes four lens groups. Furthermore, a zoom lens including four lens groups is also disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 20120026603.


A catheter system (10) with a valve assembly (12) that expels excess inflation fluid when a cuff or balloon (16) of the catheter system is overinflated. The valve assembly includes a luer-activated spool (34) biased toward a sealed condition, a precision relief/check valve (56) biased toward a scaled condition, a primary valve body outlet (22), a valve body feedback inlet (24), and a secondary valve body outlet (26). An inflation lumen (48) is in fluid communication with the primary valve body outlet and an interior of the cuff or balloon. A feedback lumen (54) is in fluid communication with the interior of the cuff or balloon and the valve body feedback inlet. When feedback fluid builds up pressure in excess of the restoring force of the relief spring, the relief/check valve opens, unsealing an expulsion pathway and relieving excess fluid from the cuff or balloon.

Catheter systems are increasingly provided with cuffs or balloons in order to secure the catheter in place, such as in the rectum, or to dilate surrounding tissue, such as in urinary applications (e.g., Foley catheters and inflatable pessaries), cardiac, or endotracheal applications. While various attempts have been made to design inflation systems for such catheters to prevent over-inflation, such as check valves that can be used to bleed or relieve excess fluid, such attempts have heretofore failed to adequately resist transients, or temporary spikes in cuff or balloon pressure. At least some of these prior attempts to prevent over-inflation also require significant training of medical personnel, as they require a particular series of steps, such as ex-vivo pre-inflation of a balloon or cuff to a certain volume, to "set" the system.
The systems of the present disclosure overcome these and other drawbacks of conventional attempts to prevent over-inflation of cuffs or balloons of catheter systems.

Inflation cuff with transient-resistant over-pressure preventor


A transgenic plant transformed by a potassium channel stress-related protein (PCSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PCSRP, and isolated nucleic acid coding PCSRP, and vectors and host cells containing the latter. Further provided are methods of producing transgenic plants expressing PCSRP, methods of identifying novel PCSRP using antibodies, and methods of modifying the expression of PCSRP in plants.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins that are associated with abiotic stress responses and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In particular, this invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins that confer drought, cold, and/or salt tolerance to plants.
2. Background Art
Environmental stress causes significant crop losses. The stresses are numerous and often crop- or location-specific. They include drought, high salinity, temperature extremes, hypoxia, mineral nutrient deficiency and UV-B radiation. Research in this area is driven by the hope of improving crop yield in afflicted areas. Currently, actual, but slow advances are being made by crop breeders and agronomists using tried- and tested-methodology. However, biotechnology will increasingly have a role as genes involved in stress tolerance are cloned and their mode of action elucidated (Quarrie S A, 1996 Plant Growth Reg. 20:167–178). By improving a plant's performance in response to different environmental stresses, the losses in productivity and risks to farming can be greatly reduced. Modifying a plant's tolerance to environmental stresses also allows a plant to be grown in regions where a plant or plant variety is typically unable to grow (Bohnert H. J and Jensen. R. G., 1996 TIBTECH 14:89–97). Many biochemical and physiological-basis for plant stress tolerance remain to be studied at the molecular level. However, it does appear that common damage from different stress (drought, salinity and cold stress) is mostly due to dehydration (Smirnoff N., 1998 Curre. Opi. Biotech. 9:214–219). The response that distinguishes drought (water stress)-tolerant and -sensitive plants more clearly is a dramatic accumulation of ions and solutes in tolerant species that leads to osmotic adjustments (Bohnert H. J and Jensen. R. G., 1996 TIBTECH 14:89–97). Drought and mineral nutrition may interact in a number of ways as a consequence of either (1) reduced transport of ions through the soil to the roots or (2) modified uptake of ions by roots. Potassium is particularly important in plants not only as a nutrient, but also as an osmoticum. Potassium may make a 30–50% contribution to water potential, particularly in older leaf tissue (Munns R. et al., 1979 Aust. J. Plant Physiol., 6:379–389). After prolonged drought in the field, potassium accumulates in leaves of ryegrass and barley, and could have a role in osmotic adjustment. In addition, potassium plays a key role in stomatal opening. A reduced supply of potassium therefore reduces stomatal conductance of CO2 much more than it reduces internal conductance (Terry, N. and Ulrich, A., 1973 Plant Physiol. 51:783–786), because potassium is lost from the guard cells (Ehret, D. L. and Boyer, J. S. 1979 J. Experi. Bot. 30:225–234).
The fact that plant roots can absorb potassium over more than a 1000-fold concentration range and the concentration dependence of potassium uptake by a root has complex kinetics suggests the presence of multiple potassium uptake systems. Gene families encoding inward-rectifying potassium channels have been identified in several plant species. The AKT1 potassium channel gene is predominantly expressed in roots and genetic analysis indicates that it mediates the uptake of potassium in both the micromolar and millimolar ranges (Hirsch, R. H., et al., 1998 Science 280:918–921). Active transporters also participate in potassium uptake and several candidate genes encoding energized transporters have been identified (Hirsch. R. E and Sussman. M. R, 1999 TIBTECH. 17:356–361). In the past decade, study of potassium channels in plants has been focused on their function at the molecular level, yet none of the genes has been shown to improve stress tolerance in planta.
Due to the commercial consequences of environmental damage to crops, there is an interest in understanding how to improve a plant's response to environmental damage. By improving a plant's performance or survival in response to cold, drought and salinity, the environment stress-related risks of farming can be reduced. This invention fulfills this need by providing an improved method for modifying the response of a plant to environmental stresses, and in particular, provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a novel potassium channel involved in plant stress responses.

Potassium channel stress-related proteins and methods of use in plants


Package components for the radiochemical sterilization of medical devices contain paraformaldehyde as the precursor of the radiolytically generated, sterilizing dose of formaldehyde, premixed with a particulate solid dispersant of, preferably, polyethylene or silica gel, which facilitates the free passage of the formaldehyde to the package gaseous environment or additionally, absorbs trace amounts of moisture in the package, thus, facilitating the device manufacturing process and increasing shelf-stability.

Prior application U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,719, filed on Sep. 16, 2005, by one of the present inventors has dealt with package components for radiochemical sterilization of medical or pharmaceutical products consisting of a hermetically sealed foil pack containing (1) a solid device, as in absorbable sutures and meshes, in a perforated holder or a liquid formulation in a sealed, flexible dispenser, as in absorbable cyanoacrylate-based tissue adhesive; (2) a microparticulate, unstabilized polyformaldehyde as a source of radiolytically generated formaldehyde encased in a sealed pouch comprising a porous, non-woven or woven fabric; and (3) a nitrogenous compound capable of reacting with residual formaldehyde, such as melamine or urea, that is encased in a sealed pouch comprising a porous, non-woven or woven fabric. However, only a small fraction representing less than 3 weight percent of the microparticles of unstabilized polyformaldehyde used to produce formaldehyde gas radiolytically was responsible for releasing the sterilizing dose of the formaldehyde gas. This leaves more than 95 percent of unused polymer mass. Such behavior may be attributed to the establishment of equilibrium between the monomeric and polymeric formaldehyde, which compromises the efficiency of the formaldehyde precursor. This provided an incentive to pursue the study associated with the instant invention, which entails the use of (1) a cyclic, thermodynamically less stable formaldehyde precursor compared to the linear polymeric polyformaldehyde described in the parent application; (2) an organic polymeric microparticular dispersant that lowers the mass of the active gas precursor per unit volume in the package insert, which facilitates the gas diffusion and minimizes the overall mass of the precursor; and (3) an organic granular desiccant dispersant, which not only lowers the mass of the precursor, but also acts as a desiccant to maximize the shelf-life stability of the sterilized absorbable device.

Package components for radiochemical sterilization


Aspects of the invention can provide a fingerprint sensor with high sensing precision. The fingerprint sensor according to the invention can include capacitance detection circuits that output detection signals, which each correspond to a capacitance formed between a subject surface and the fingerprint sensor, to signal transmitting paths, and an amplification circuit that amplifies the detection signals outputted to the signal transmitting paths. The individual signal transmitting paths can be respectively connected to at least two capacitance detection circuits and the fingerprint sensor further includes a resetting means that resets the potential of the signal transmitting paths before the detection signals are outputted from the capacitance detection circuits to the signal transmitting paths.

1. Field of Invention
Aspects of the invention relate to a capacitance detecting technology for reading, as variations in capacitance, the surface form of a subject, such as a fingerprint, that has minute convexes and concaves.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H11-118415, 2000-346608, 2001-56204, and 2001-133213 disclose a related technology where the surface of a sensor electrode formed on a single-crystal silicon substrate is covered with a dielectric film, the potential of a fingertip is set as a reference potential, and variations in the capacitance formed between a fingertip and sensor electrodes due to the convexes and concaves of the fingerprint are used to identify the fingerprint.

Capacitance detection apparatus, driving method for the same, fingerprint sensor, and biometric authentication apparatus


Among other things, a method is disclosed which comprises the following: acquiring at least one set of acceleration data indicative of a progression of measured acceleration values; determining at least one set of evaluation data at least partially based on the acquired acceleration data, wherein determining the evaluation data comprises determining whether one or more characteristic actions have been performed by a user, and if so, performing the following: storing an action data representing the one or more actions that is included in the determined evaluation data or is at least a part of the determined evaluation data; and outputting or causing the output of the determined evaluation data. A device for executing and/or controlling this method, a system with one or more devices for executing and/or controlling this method and a computer program for executing and/or controlling this method by a processor are further disclosed.

Methods for operating or controlling dishwashers are known from the state of the art. The aim of operating such dishwashers is typically to achieve a high degree of user-friendliness and at the same time the best possible result (in the case of a dishwasher, in particular, a cleaning result that is as flawless as possible).
One approach to achieve a high degree of user-friendliness would be, for example, to optimize the user interface (input devices, output devices). If, for example, increased soiling is to be considered, the user must take this into account manually, for example, and select an appropriate program. Approaches are also conceivable in which device parameters are automatically adjusted to achieve the best possible result. For example, in the case of a dishwasher, the program carried out by the dishwasher is adjusted, for example, to the amount of objects to be cleaned with which the dishwasher is loaded. Although this already makes it possible to improve the result, the user must actively select the appropriate program.
However, the disadvantage is that both the user-friendliness to be achieved in this way and the result to be achieved in this way in many situations and scenarios still need improvement.

Monitoring of loading and/or unloading of dishwasher machines


An input signal is transformed into a predetermined space. Transformation computer elements are connected to one another such that transformed signals can be taken at the transformation computer elements, whereby at least three transformed signals relate to respectively successive points in time. Composite computer elements are respectively connected to two transformation computer elements. Further, a first output computer element is provided at which an output signal that describes a system status at a point in time can be taken. The first output computer element is connected to the transformation computer elements. Further, a second output computer element is provided that is connected to the composite computer elements and given whose employment a predetermined condition can be taken into consideration when training the arrangement.

This application contains a microfiche appendix submitted on 1 microfiche sheet and 69 frames.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another, methods for computer-supported determination of a dynamics that forms the basis of a dynamic process, and is also directed to a method for computer-supported training of an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another.
2. Description of the Related Art
The publication by S. Haykin, Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Foundation, discloses that an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another be utilized for determining a dynamics that forms the basis of a dynamic process.
In general, a dynamic process is usually described by a status transition description that is not visible to an observer of the dynamic process and by an output equation that describes observable quantities of the technical, dynamic process.
Such a structure is shown in FIG. 2.
A dynamic system 200 is subject to the influence of an external input quantity u of a prescribable dimension, whereby an input quantity ut at a time t is referenced ut:
utxcex51,
whereby 1 references a natural number.
The input quantity ut at a time t causes a change of the dynamic process that sequences in the dynamic system 200.
An internal condition st (st xcex5 M) of a prescribable dimension m at a time t cannot be observed by an observer of the dynamic system 200.
Dependent on the internal condition st and on the input quantity ut, a status transition of the internal condition st of the dynamic process is caused, and the status of the dynamic process switches into a successor status st+1 at a following point in time t+1.
The following is thereby valid:
st+1=f(st,ut)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
whereby f(.) references a general imaging rule.
An output quantity yt at a point in time t observable by a observer of the dynamic system 200 is dependent on the input quantity ut as well as on the internal status st.
The output quantity yt(yt xcex5 n) is a prescribable dimension n.
The dependency of the output quantity yt on the input quantity ut and on the internal status st of the dynamic process is established by the following, general rule:
yt=g(st,ut),xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
whereby g(.) references a general imaging rule.
For describing the dynamic system 200, the Haykin publication utilizes an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another in the form of a neural network of neurons connected to one another. The connections between the neurons of the neural network are weighted. The weightings of the neural network are combined in a parameter vector v.
An inner status of a dynamic system that underlies a dynamic process is thus dependentxe2x80x94according to the following rulexe2x80x94on the input quantity ut and on the internal status of the preceding point in time st and on the parameter vector v:
st+1=NN(v,st,ut),xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
whereby NN(.) references an imaging rule prescribed by the neural network.
The arrangement known from Haykin and referred to as Time Delay Recurrent Neural Network (TDRNN) is trained such in a training phase that a respective target quantity ytd at a real dynamic system is respectively determined for an input quantity ut. The Tupel (input quantity, identified target quantity) is referred to as training datum. A plurality of such training data form a training data set.
The TDRNN is training with the training data set. An overview of various training methods can likewise be found in Haykin.
It must be emphasized at this point that only the output quantity yt at a time t of the dynamic system 200 can be recognized. The internal system status st cannot be observed.
The following cost function E is usually minimized in the training phase:                               E          =                                    1              T                                                                  ∑                                  t                  =                  1                                T                                                                                (                                                                  y                        t                                            -                                              y                        t                        d                                                              )                                    2                                ⟶                                                                            xe2x80x83                                                            min                                                        f                    ,                    g                                                                                ,                            (        4        )
whereby T references a plurality of points in time taken into consideration.
The publication by Ackley et al., A Learning Algorithm for Boltzmann Machines discloses what is known as a neural auto-associator (see FIG. 3).
The auto-associator 300 is composed of an input layer 301, of three covered layers 302, 303, 304 as well as of an output layer 305.
The input layer 301 as well as a first covered layer 302 and a second covered layer 303 form a unit with which a first non-linear coordinate transformation g can be implemented.
The second cover layer 303 together with a third covered layer 304 and the output layer 305 together form a second unit with which a second non-linear coordinate transformation h can be implemented.
This five-layer neural network 300 disclosed by Ackley et al. comprises the property that an input quantity xt is transformed onto an internal system status according to the first non-linear coordinate transformation g. Proceeding from the second covered layer 303, upon employment of the third covered layer 304 toward the output layer 305 upon employment of the second non-linear coordinate transformation h, the internal system status is essentially transformed back onto the input quantity xt. The goal of this known structure is the imaging of the input quantity xt in a first status space X onto the internal status st in a second status space S, whereby the dimension of the second status space Dim(S) should be smaller than the dimension of the first status space Dim(X) in order to achieve a data compression in the hidden layer of the neural network. The back-transformation into the first status space X corresponds to a decompression in this case.
The publication by H. Rehkugler et al., Neuronale Netze in der xc3x96konomie, Grundlagen und finanzwirtschaftliche Anwendungen also provides an overview of the fundamentals of neural networks and the possible applications of neural networks in the field of economics.
The known arrangements and methods particular exhibit the disadvantage that an identification or, respectively, modeling of a dynamic system that, in particular, is subject to substantial noise, i.e. whose structure is extremely complex in the time domain, is not possible.
The present invention is thus based on the problem of providing an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another with which a modeling of a dynamic system that is subject to noise is possible, the arrangement not being subject to the disadvantages of the known arrangements.
The invention is also based on the problem of providing a method for computer-supported determination of a dynamics that forms the basis of a dynamic process for dynamic processes that can be determined only within adequate precision with known methods.
The problems are solved by the arrangement as well as by the methods INSERT CLAIMS 2-26
The arrangement of computer elements connected to one another comprises the following features:
a) input computer elements to which time row values that respectively describe a status of a system at a point in time can be supplied;
b) transformation computer elements for the transformation of the time row values into a predetermined space, the transformation elements being connected to the input computer elements;
c) whereby the transformation computer elements are connected such to one another that transformed signals can be taken at the transformation computer elements, whereby at least three transformed signals relate to respectively successive points in time;
d) composite computer elements that are connected to respectively two transformation computer elements;
e) a first output computer element that is connected to the transformation computer elements, whereby an output signal can be taken at the first output computer element; and
f) a second output computer element that is connected to the composite computer elements and with whose employment a predetermined condition can be taken into consideration in a training of the arrangement.
A method for the computer-supported determination of a dynamics on which a dynamic process is based comprises the following steps:
a) the dynamic process is described by a time row with time row values in a first status space, whereby at least one first time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a first point in time and a second time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a second point in time;
b) the first time row value is transformed into a second status space;
c) the first time row value in the second status space is subjected to an imaging onto a second time row value in the second status space;
d) the second time row value in the second status space is transformed back into the first status space;
e) the transformation and the imaging ensue such that the dynamic process described by the time row values in the second status space satisfies a predetermined condition;
f) a dynamic of the dynamic process is determined from the time row values in the second status space.
Given a method for computer-supported determination of a dynamic that forms the basis of a dynamic process upon employment of an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another, the input signal is supplied to the arrangement and the arrangement determines a first output signal from which the dynamic is determined. The arrangement thereby comprises the following structure:
a) the dynamic process is described by a time row having time row values in a first status space, whereby at least one first time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a first point in time and a second time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a second point in time;
b) the first time row value is transformed into a second status space;
c) the first time row value in the second status space is subjected to an imaging onto a second time row value in the second status space;
d) the second time row value in the second status space is transformed back into the first status space;
e) the transformation and the imaging ensue such that the dynamic process described by the time row values in the second status space meets a predetermined condition;
f) the dynamic of the dynamic process is determined from the time row values in the second status space.
In a method for the computer-supported training of an arrangement of computer elements connected to one another, the arrangement is trained upon employment of predetermined training data taking a condition into consideration, whereby the arrangement comprises the following components:
a) the dynamic process is described by a time row with time row values in a first status space, whereby at least one first time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a first point in time and a second time row value describes a status of the dynamic process at a second point in time;
b) the first time row value is transformed into a second status space;
c) the first time row value in the second status space is subjected to an imaging onto a second time row value in the second status space;
d) the second time row value in the second status space is transformed back into the first status space;
e) the transformation and the imaging ensue such that the dynamic process described by the time row values in the second status space meets a predetermined condition;
f) the dynamic of the dynamic process is determined from the time row values in the second status space.
The invention makes the modeling of a dynamic system that comprises a dynamic process possible on the basis of a smoother trajectory in a new status space, so that the further development thereof can be predicted more simply at a following point in time.
In particular, the invention achieves a better capability of distinguishing between noise and actual dynamic of the dynamic process.
In contrast to the principle of the auto-associator, a dimension reduction in the transformation into the second status space is not a criterion. On the contrary, the dimension of the second status space Dim(S) is usually greater than the dimension of the first status space Dim(X).
Preferred developments of the invention INSERT CLAIMS 2-26.
In one preferred development, the transformation computer elements are grouped in a first hidden layer and a second hidden layer, whereby at least a part of the transformation computer elements of the first hidden layer and of the transformation computer elements of the second hidden layer are connected to one another.
At least a part of the computer elements are preferably artificial neurons.
The transformation computer elements can be connected to one another such that transformed signals can be taken at the transformation computer elements, whereby at least four transformed signals respectively relate to successive points in time.
In general, an arbitrary plurality of successive points in time can be affected by the transformed signals.
It is provided in a further development that the input computer elements are allocated to an input layer, such that the input layer comprises a plurality of sub-input layers, whereby each sub-input layer can be supplied with at least one input signal that describes a system status at respectively one point in time.
The transformation computer elements of the first hidden layer can be grouped in hidden sub-layers such that the transformation computer elements of each hidden sub-layer are respectively connected to input computer elements of a respective sub-input layer.
The connections between the computer elements can be fashioned variably and weighted.
The connections between the composite computer elements and the second output computer elements are invariant.
In a preferred embodiment, at least parts of the connections exhibit the same weighting values.
The condition can be a predetermined smoothness of the dynamic process in the space or can be a Lyapunov zero condition.
The dynamic process can be a dynamic process in a reactor, particularly in a chemical reactor, or can also be a dynamic process for modeling a traffic system; in general, any dynamic process that sequences in a technical dynamic system. Further, the arrangement or, respectively, the method can be utilized within the framework of a modeling of a financial market. In general, the methods and the arrangements are very well-suited for predicting macro-economic dynamics.
The time row values can be determined from physical signals.

ASSEMBLY OF INTERCONNECTED COMPUTING ELEMENTS, METHOD FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED DETERMINATION OF A DYNAMICS WHICH IS THE BASE OF A DYNAMIC PROCESS, AND METHOD FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED TRAINING OF AN ASSEMBLY OF INTERCONNECTED ELEMENTS


A frequency-tunable capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna includes a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface, and a capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator with a tunable effective electrical length. In one embodiment, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator includes a tunable electric field bridge. For example, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may comprise a quasi loop with a tunable electric field bridge interposed between the quasi loop first and second ends. The electric field bridge may be an element such as a ferroelectric (FE) tunable capacitor or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor, to name a couple of examples. In certain embodiments, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator includes a quasi loop with a loop perimeter. The effective electrical length of the radiator is changed by adjusting the perimeter using an element such as a MEMS switch, or a semiconductor switch.

The size of portable wireless communications devices, such as telephones, continues to shrink, even as more functionality is added. As a result, the designers must increase the performance of components or device subsystems and reduce their size, while packaging these components in inconvenient locations. One such critical component is the wireless communications antenna. This antenna may be connected to a telephone transceiver, for example, or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.
State-of-the-art wireless telephones are expected to operate in a number of different communication bands. In the US, the cellular band (AMPS), at around 850 megahertz (MHz), and the PCS (Personal Communication System) band, at around 1900 MHz, are used. Other communication bands include the PCN (Personal Communication Network) and DCS at approximately 1800 MHz, the GSM system (Groupe Speciale Mobile) at approximately 900 MHz, and the JDC (Japanese Digital Cellular) at approximately 800 and 1500 MHz. Other bands of interest are GPS signals at approximately 1575 MHz, Bluetooth at approximately 2400 MHz, and wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) at 1850 to 2200 MHz.
Wireless communications devices are known to use simple cylindrical coil or whip antennas as either the primary or secondary communication antennas. Inverted-F antennas are also popular. The resonance frequency of an antenna is responsive to its electrical length, which forms a portion of the operating frequency wavelength. The electrical length of a wireless device antenna is often at multiples of a quarter-wavelength, such as 5λ/4, 3λ/4, λ/2, or λ/4, where λ is the wavelength of the operating frequency, and the effective wavelength is responsive to the physical length of the antenna radiator and the proximate dielectric constant.
Many of the above-mentioned conventional wireless telephones use a monopole or single-radiator design with an unbalanced signal feed. This type of design is dependent upon the wireless telephone printed circuit boards groundplane and chassis to act as the counterpoise. A single-radiator design acts to reduce the overall form factor of the antenna. However, the counterpoise is susceptible to changes in the design and location of proximate circuitry, and interaction with proximate objects when in use, i.e., a nearby wall or the manner in which the telephone is held. As a result of the susceptibility of the counterpoise, the radiation patterns and communications efficiency can be detrimentally impacted.

Tunable capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna


A non-linear optical device utilizes laterally asymmetrical quantum dot structures (D1-D5) that are tunable in terms of their lateral asymmetry by bias potentials (V1, V2) applied to laterally extending electrode structures (13, 14).

The effect of incident radiation on a crystal can be characterised as follows: EQU P=X.sup.(1) .epsilon.+X.sup.(2) .epsilon..sup.2 -( 1)
where
P=induced dipole moment PA1 .epsilon.=applied electric field PA1 X.sup.(1) =first order coefficient PA1 X.sup.(2) =second order coefficient
The first order term in Equation 1 defines energy absorption by the crystal whereas the second order term has proved of particular interest since by providing a crystal which optimizes the second order effect, it is possible to achieve sum and difference frequency generation including second harmonic generation and optical rectification. Applications include frequency doublers in which input laser radiation is frequency doubled by the crystal to provide a source of intense coherent radiation outside of the frequency range where high performance semiconductor lasers can operate. Other uses include parametric amplification and optical detection.
The majority of inorganic crystals have small non-linear optical coefficients. The second-order coefficient can be greatly increased in epitaxially grown non-centrosymmetric (lacking inversion symmetry) multi layer structures, but the coefficients are sensitively dependent on the growth parameters and are not easily controllable after growth.
Recently, investigations have been carried out into the optical response of epitaxially grown semiconductor 2-dimensional quantum wells. It has been found that the heterojunction discontinuities lead to sub-bands with energy spacings in the range of 10.sup.-3 -1 eV (corresponding to wavelengths of about 1 mm-1 .mu.m) depending on the material parameters and quantum well dimensions. When the quantum wells are essentially symmetrical, a large, first order absorption of input radiation has been reported hitherto (L. C. West and S. J. Eglash, "First observation of an extremely large dipole infrared transition within the conduction band of a GaAs quantum well", Appl. Phys. Lett. 46, p. 1157, 1985). In such symmetrical quantum wells, the second order effects are forbidden. However, it has been reported that second-order effects can be obtained if the inversion symmetry is removed by the application of an electrical field or by the growth of compositionally asymmetric wells. [L. Tsang, D. Ahn and S. l. Chuang, "Electric field control of optical second-harmonic generation in a quantum well", Appl. Phys. Lett. 52, P. 697 (1988); M. M. Fejer, S. J. B. Yoo, R. L. Byer, Alex Harwitt and J. S. Harris, Jr., "Observation of extremely large quadratic susceptibility at 9.6-10.8 .mu.m in electric-field-biased AlGaAs quantum wells", Phys. Rev. Lett. 62(9), p. 1041 (1989); M. K. Gurnick and T. A. DeTemple, "Synthetic non-linear semiconductors", IEEE J. Quantum Electronics QE-19, p. 791, 1983; and E. Rosencher, P. Bois, J. Nagle and S. Delaitre, "Second harmonic generation by intersub-band transitions in compositionally asymmetrical MQW's", Electronics Lett. 25, P. 1063 (1989); C. Sirtori, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, S. N. G. Chu and A. Y. Cho, "Observation of large second-order susceptibility via intersubband transition at .lambda..apprxeq.10 .mu.m is asymmetric coupled AllnAs/GaInAs quantum wells", Appl. Phys. Lett. 59, 2302 (1991)]. By engineering well widths and barrier heights, the energy levels can be tuned to create two and three level systems whose energy separation is matched to the incoming radiation, and the structure can be optimized for optical rectification or second harmonic generation, for example.
Such prior art arrangements will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 shows a section through an essentially two dimensional quantum well formed in an AlGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs double heterostructure wafer. A device is shown schematically and comprises a GaAs substrate 1 with a GaAs layer 2 arranged between overlying and underlying AlGaAs layers 3, 4. As is well known in the art, an essentially two dimensional electron gas is formed in the GaAs layer 2 as a result of the heterojunctions 2, 3 and 2, 4.
The potential across the potential well in the vertical direction z is shown in detail in FIG. 2a. It will be seen that the well is symmetrical since the structure is centrosymmetric. As a result, incident optical radiation tends to be absorbed between particular quantized energy states E1, E2, E3 permissible within the well as shown in FIG. 2a, but there are no second order effects.
As shown in FIG. 2B, an asymmetry can be produced by applying an electric field in the vertical direction z so that there is a potential gradient within the well. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2C, an asymmetric quantum well can be produced by introducing an additional layer between layer 2 and one of the layers 3, 4. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, if the alloy composition (fraction of Al in Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As) in the region 3a is made less than that in region 3b, a stepped characteristic for the potential in the well is produced as shown in FIG. 2C.
Both of the asymmetric wells (FIGS. 2B and 2C) exhibit second order effects in response to incident radiation and thus can be used as components for frequency doublers or the like. However, these known asymmetrical wells suffer a disadvantage in that they are not readily tunable. For the well shown in FIG. 2B the tunability is limited by ionization which occurs at high fields. The configuration shown in FIG. 2C is not tunable and the asymmetry is set by the alloy composition and layer thickness achieved during epitaxial growth.


Disclosed is a hinge structure comprising: a fixed plate; pivotal plates provided outside both side planes of the fixed plate for relatively pivoting in respect to the fixed plate; a hinge shaft inserted into the fixed plate and the pivotal plates for functioning as a central pivoting shaft and provided in one end with a head portion expanded beyond the diameter of the hinge shaft and in the other end with a coupling portion; a fixing member fitted around the other end of the hinge shaft and laterally movable for adjusting the degree of tightening the hinge shaft; and projected washers each integrally bulged from inner faces of the pivotal plates for forming frictional faces against the fixed plate.

As well known in the art, a number of hinge structures are applied to move a pivoting member vertically or laterally in respect to a fixed member about one rotation shaft. More specifically describing an operation of an article to which the hinge structure is applied by way of illustration, this operation may include certain operations such as opening/closing of an article cover, opening/closing of an upper portion of a notebook computer and vertical adjustment of a visual display device.
The hinge structure generally has a frictional member for applying a certain amount of frictional force and an elastic member for supporting the weight of a pivotal member.
In the meantime, examples of conventional hinge structures include those as proposed in Korean Laid-Open Utility Model Registration No. 20200110000941 and Korean Laid-Open Utility Model Registration No. 20200110000942.
However, the conventionally proposed hinge structures have an inconvenience in that a rotation shaft to be inserted into a central axis of a hinge is necessarily cut into a certain shape of flat plate.
Further, the rotation shaft is fastened in its both ends with certain structures of washer and nut so as to support both sides of the rotation shaft with independent forces. This causes different frictional forces to be applied to the both sides of the rotation shaft thereby failing to apply the frictional force to the both sides of the rotation shaft as a balanced braking force. Then, a user may not easily move the pivotal member as a drawback.
Moreover, the conventional structure has a problem that a number of washers are applied to unnecessarily add more processes in manufacture of an article.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problem of the related art and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hinge structure by which a force applied to both ends of a rotation shaft can be equally divided in an easy manner.
It is another object of the invention to provide a hinge structure which can reduce the number of washers provided in faces between a fixed member and pivotal members so as to overcome the difficulty in manufacturing processes.
It is further another object of the invention to provide a hinge structure which can provide a generally circularly-configured rotation shaft and reduce the number of washers so as to shorten the time consumed for manufacturing an article.

Hinge structure of flat visual display device


The present invention relates, in general, to a gene transfer system and, in particular, to an adenoviral vector system suitable for use in gene transfer and gene therapy.

Gene delivery using recombinant adenoviral vectors is over a decade old (Berkner, Biotechniques 6:616-628 (1988)). There are three primary methods of generating such vectors. First, overlap recombination can be effected in the 293 helper cell line between a restriction digested adenovirus and a plasmid containing adenoviral sequences (see, for example, Hearing and Shenk, Cell 33:695-703 (1983)). Alternatively, overlap recombination can be effected in 293 cells between a 40 kb plasmid that contains the majority of the adenoviral genome and a smaller plasmid containing certain adenoviral sequences (Ghosh-Chaudhury et al, Gene 50:161-171 (1986)). Finally, a segment of DNA containing adenoviral sequences can be ligated with a restriction-digested adenovirus (Stratford Perricaudet et al, J. Clin. Invest. 90:626-630 (1992)).
In the foregoing methods, the adenoviral sequences referred to are the viral terminal repeat, which is the adenoviral DNA polymerase binding site necessary for replication, and the E1a enhancer/packaging signal that is necessary for viral assembly. The first two of the foregoing methods require additional adenoviral sequences for overlap recombination to occur in the 293 cell line.
There are problems inherent in each of the existing methods. First, none of the methods described above has a screening capacity built into it for determining the success of a particular recombination or ligation event. Further, the first and last of the methods described above use wild type virus to generate the vector backbone. The wild type virus is hazardous to use as it is replication efficient which gives it a distinct growth advantage over recombinant virions, especially large recombinant virions (Graham and Prevec, Gene Transfer and Expression Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology 7:109-128, Humana Press (1991)). This latter problem manifests itself when an effort is made to generate recombinant virions and the restriction digestion of the viral DNA is less than complete. Even at a 99.99% complete digestion of 1 .mu.g of viral DNA, approximately 4.times.10.sup.6 copies of uncut wild-type viral DNA is present that could infect cells. This problem would hopelessly confound the isolation of recombinant virions.
The present invention provides an adenoviral vector system that is free of the problems of the systems of the art. The present system simplifies the cloning of genes into plasmid vectors, it makes possible the use of either ligation or overlap recombination in the generation of a recombinant virus and it eliminates the use of cell replication efficient viral forms.


The invention discloses a dual frequency feed assembly for receiving signals of both a first band and a second band lower than the first band, or transmitting signals of one of the first band and the second band while receiving signals of the other band. The dual frequency feed assembly includes an orthogonal-mode transducer, which includes: a core unit having an inner waveguide, an outer waveguide with a diameter larger than that of the inner waveguide and the two waveguides being concentric, a first band output/input port connected to the inner waveguide, and a second band output/input port; and two or four detachable branch waveguides connected to the core unit. An O-ring is provided at each connection between the core unit and the branch waveguides. The dual frequency feed assembly further comprises a first band polarizer made of a metal septum and/or a second band polarizer made of dielectric slabs, when receiving circularly polarized signals. Both of them can be provided in the inner waveguide or the outer waveguide, respectively, which makes the feed assembly design more compact and suitable for mass production.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dual frequency feed assembly and, more particularly, to a dual frequency feed assembly that can simultaneously receive dual frequency signals, or receive and transmit signals at two frequency bands.
b) Description of Related Art
In the past, satellites broadcast signals at Ku-band, which has a low frequency range at about 12 GHz. Due to the increasing need for information, another satellite that broadcasts signals at Ka-band with a higher frequency ranging from 20 GHz to 30 GHz is placed in the same geosynchronous orbit with the Ku-band satellites. Now signals are generally broadcasted at two frequencies, Ka-band and Ku-band, and the reception of these dual frequency signals is still expected to be carried out with just one antenna.
A reflector antenna is often used as a receiving antenna by placing a dual frequency feed assembly at the focus of the reflector antenna to separate the collected signals. Referring to FIG. 1, a feed assembly may include a feedhorn 11 and an orthogonal-mode transducer (OMT) 12. The OMT 12 separates signals in different frequency bands (high and low) and separates signals in different polarizations. The OMT 12 further includes two output/input ports 13, 14, wherein one is high frequency output/input port (Ka-band) and one is low frequency output/input port (Ku-band), and the output/input ports can be further connected to a down converter or act as an input port for a transmitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,321 discloses a structure having a concentric feed and a plurality of interconnecting waveguides, and the need to simultaneously receive signals in different frequency bands is satisfied thereby. However, the structure of '321 patent is composed of two complex units, which makes mass production difficult. Moreover, it is hard to waterproof the components in the structure, and so signal distortion and attenuation may occur easily.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,165 discloses a structure similar to that of '321 patent but with improvement on the division of units, wherein the cutting surface is designed to be in the interconnecting waveguides, and therefore O-ring can be applied for waterproof purpose. However, although the cutting design of '165 patent is more effective in providing water resistance to the structure, the assembly of the structure is still complex in industrial manufacture, and therefore the need and goal for mass production cannot be well met. Furthermore, the two aforementioned conventional technologies only disclose conditions concerning linearly polarized antenna, whereas designs relating to circularly polarized antenna are not mentioned.


A method for resistively heating a subterranean region to lower the viscosity of heavy oil by using production tubing coupled to at least two electrodes modified for three-phase flow and an electrically insulating body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved method and apparatus for the recovery of highly viscous oil in subterranean deposits. In one aspect, the invention concerns a method of resistively heating the subterranean formation to lower the viscosity of the oil. In another aspect, the invention concerns a heating and production apparatus comprising a flexible production tubing. In another aspect, the invention concerns a method of completing a well by inserting into the fluid-filled well bore production tubing modified with a buoyant body.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Heavy oil is naturally formed oil with very high viscosity that often contains impurities such as sulfur. While conventional light oil has viscosities ranging from about 0.5 centipoise (cP) to about 100 cP, heavy oil has viscosities that range from 100 cP to over 1,000,000 cP. Heavy oil reserves are estimated to equal about 15% of the total remaining oil resources in the world. In the United States alone, heavy oil resources are estimated at about 30.5 billion barrels, and heavy oil production accounts for a substantial portion of domestic oil production. For example, in California alone, heavy oil production accounts for over 60% of the state's total oil production. With new reserves of conventional light oil becoming more difficult to find, improved methods of heavy oil extraction have become more important. Unfortunately, heavy oil is typically expensive to extract, and conventional methods have only about 10 to 30% recovery rates of heavy oil from existing reserves. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop a more efficient and effective means for the extraction of heavy oil.
One of the ways in which heavy oil can be recovered is through electromagnetic stimulation. This involves lowering the viscosity of heavy oil by heating it with electricity. There are several different methods of electromagnetic stimulation, including, for example, inductive heating, microwave heating, and resistive heating. Inductive heating utilizes a down-hole heating element that directly turns the current into heat. Microwave heating utilizes very high frequency energy to heat the reservoir. Resistive heating utilizes an electrode that is grounded to an adjacent well bore or to the surface. The electric current from the electrode in this method is conducted by connate brine in the reservoir. Resistive heating essentially heats the subterranean formation surrounding the heavy oil, resulting in the oil being heated and lowering its viscosity.
Electromagnetic stimulation is, in theory, the ideal way to lower the viscosity of heavy oil because of the wide availability of electricity and because it requires a minimal surface presence. However, the results have not lived up to theory. There have been many different designs for electromagnetic stimulation of heavy oil reserves, but none have worked well enough to gain widespread acceptance. This is primarily because the prior art has not developed an economical and robust downhole deployment system for electromagnetic stimulation.
Among the methods of electromagnetic stimulation, resistive heating seems to hold the most promise as a reliable means of lowering the viscosity of heavy oil. One reason for this is that resistive heating does not require any type of injection, because the current simply flows through the conductive brine of the oil well. However, as in other types of electromagnetic stimulation, there has yet to be a widely accepted system for resistive heating. Thus, there remains the need for an electromagnetic heating system that is effective in increasing the productive output of heavy oil reservoirs.
Oil and/or natural gas wells are often drilled horizontally in several directions from one well head for a variety of reasons. However, one problem with the completion of horizontal wells is that it is difficult to extend production tubing to the end of the well. Therefore, there is also a need for a method to more effectively complete a horizontal well.

Selective electromagnetic production tool


The present invention relates to methods for separating and recovering ethane, propane and heavier components from a feed gas, e.g. raw natural gas or a refinery or petroleum plant gas stream or a petrochemical plant gas stream. These methods employ a common new concept which is the use of the turbo-expander shaft compressor to generate the reflux requirement for the cryogenic absorber or distillation columns. The power of the turbo-expander which is absorbed by the shaft compressor is always high enough so that reflux generation by a specific gas compression through the expander shaft compressor and subsequent cooling, condensation and sub-cooling can always be easily maintained. The present invention allows for higher cryogenic absorber pressure and a lower demethanizer/de-ethanizer column pressure thus eliminating the common cryogenic pump at absorber bottom. The present invention ultimately results in a lower residue compression and utilities consumption. The present invention as such allows for a higher 99+% recovery of NGL from the feed gas stream.

The present invention relates to processes for recovery of ethane, propane and NGL from natural gas whereby the expander shaft compressor is located in a new locations permitting the reflux generation requirement for the cryogenic absorber and/or gas processing distillation columns.
Current prior art processes for recovery of natural gas liquids comprise:                A large sales gas export compressor that unnecessarily increases utilities, the large size needed to compensate for a high pressure drop across a turbo expander that provides some process refrigeration and dictating a low cryogenic absorber pressure.        A relatively high capacity cryogenic pump to pump a bottoms liquid stream from a cryogenic absorber.        Expander feed gas being at least partly condensed and used as a reflux to a demethanizer, causing loss of propane from a bottoms liquid product.        Process configuration and operating conditions that might result in a lower ethane plus or propane plus recovery (less than 99%). U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,410 B1.        Process configuration and operating conditions whereby maximum heat integration between cold and hot streams are not always optimally effected. This results in a lower outlet temperatures of cold streams and accordingly a lower overall UA.        In propane recovery, relatively large energy consumption in a de-ethanizer bottom reboiler due to operation at pressures higher than a cryogenic absorber.        In propane recovery, a de-ethanizer must be designed with a relatively large diameter.        In propane recovery mode, extra equipment must be installed to provide chilling of feed gas through heat exchange with de-ethanizer side draw.        In ethane recovery, additional multi-flash vessels and LNG multi-stream, platefin heat exchangers are needed to generate multiple reflux streams for an absorber de-methanizer.        Excess carbon dioxide tends to accumulate an NGL product        In propane recovery, additional compressors are needed to recycle de-ethanizer overhead gases to a cryogenic absorber, which operates at a pressure above the de-ethanizer. PCT/US01/20633, WO 02/14763, US 2002/0166336 A1.        In propane recovery, ethane can build up in a gas loop between a de-ethanizer and a cryogenic absorber that makes operation unstable.        In a propane recovery, lean gas and de-ethanizer OVHD gases are recycled back to the cryogenic absorber. US 2004/0148964 A1, WO 2004/057253 A2.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,578,379, 6,278,035, 6,311,516, 6,354,105, 6,453,698, and 6,244,070 generally describe a state of the art using multiple pieces of expensive equipment and/or external refrigeration systems to accomplish high recovery of ethane from NGL. Older references, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,851,020, 4,867,499, and 5,992,175, show ethane recovery systems with somewhat fewer pieces of equipment and less reliance on external refrigeration. The systems in these older references have been found to be incapable of obtaining presently commercially required recovery of ethane from NGL feeds.
Fractionation of the natural gas feed requires that a product stream contain a minimum specified amount of carbon dioxide. Obtaining a low level of carbon dioxide in the product stream has in the past typically required two or more separated fractionation columns processing the natural gas feed.
There is a need for a process that minimizes or eliminates the above problems.

Ethane plus and HHH process for NGL recovery


The present invention relates to methods for detecting the presence or amount of a target polynucleotide. A polynucleotide, target nucleic acid analog, and dye are combined to form a mixture. The optical property of the dye is observed after the mixture is exposed to a stimulating means. Optionally, after the stimulating means is employed, the mixture is compared to a reference value characteristic of the rate of change in the optical property of the dye in a similar mixture containing a known amount of a target polynucleotide/nucleic acid analog hybrid to determine a relative rate of change in the optical property. The change in a property of the mixture after exposure thereof to a stimulating means or the relative rate of change in the optical property of dye in the mixture is correlated with the presence or amount of the specified target polynucleotide in the sample.

There is a great need to identify and quantify polynucleotides. Current methods of identifying target polynucleotides such as those associated with pathogens, pathogen infection, human genes associated with diseases and disorders, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biowarfare agents, food applications, water applications, environmental applications, veterinary applications, and agricultural applications presently rely on methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), NASBA, TMA, or bDNA. These methods require skilled personnel and specialized equipment. Accordingly, there is a great need for convenient and economical methods of detection, identification, and quantification of target polynucleotides. This invention meets this and other needs.