A document processing apparatus and method includes a designating device, a memory, an instruction device, an arranger, a margin setter, and an expander. The designating device designates the partition of item information. The memory stores data of a plurality of lines comprising a plurality of pieces of the item information partitioned by the designating device. The instruction device instructs the arranging of the item information, and the arranger arranges each one line of the item information in response to an instruction by the instruction device. The margin setter sets a margin position of document information, while the expander expands the margin position when table document information to form a table document is input beyond the margin position so as to store the table document information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus having a table making function.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional apparatus, when document information is input by executing a table making processing, an operator estimates or assumes a format suitable for input data beforehand, and then inputs document information. Upon estimation of the format, document data of a reference line, e.g., a longest line is input, and the format is determined according to the content of the line.
Therefore, in order to determine the format in this manner, the operator must check the entire table document, search a reference document line from the document information, and estimate the format from the searched line, resulting in a heavy load on the operator. When the document information of the reference line is changed, the entire format must be changed, and the format must be determined again for making a table.
During input of table data, when the table data has a size exceeding a predetermined margin position, the operator must input the table data after he or she changes the margin position, and, hence, must interrupt a series of table data input processing operations. Furthermore, when document information is input according to table data after the table data is input, if tab positions are set according to input positions in the table, the document information can be efficiently input. However, the operator must set these tab positions.

Document processing apparatus and method for arranging each line of item information in response to instructing the arranging of the item information stored in a memory


An electronically controlled fixation light system is described for ophthalmic systems. The ophthalmic system can include an ophthalmic imaging device that generates an image of a portion of an imaged eye, a fixation light controller that includes an input module, configured to receive an input in relation to the image generated by the ophthalmic imaging device, and a control signal generator that generates an electronic fixation light control signal in response to the received input, and a fixation light source, configured to receive the fixation light control signal, and to generate a fixation light according to the received fixation light control signal. A surgeon can image a portion of an eye with the imaging device, determine a misalignment of the imaged eye relative to the imaging device based on the image, and control the fixation light with an electronic control signal to reduce the determined misalignment.

A variety of advanced imaging devices have been developed over the years for ophthalmic imaging, diagnostics and surgery. For some applications, these imaging devices perform best when their optical axis is aligned with the optical axis of the imaged eye. Once the eye is brought into a position aligned with the optical axis of the imaging device, some devices enhance the precision of the imaging by keeping the eye essentially immobilized in this aligned position with a patient interface of an eye-docking system. The alignment of the optical axes is typically achieved by orienting the eye so that its optical axis is parallel to that of the imaging system and then docking the patient interface on the eye in a concentric manner. Therefore, as the precision of the imaging devices improves, the demand for eye-docking systems which provide more precise alignment also increases.
Achieving good alignment can be challenging, however, as without feedback and guidance systems the patient module often ends up docking to the eye in an off-center position with the eye's optical axis tilted relative to that of the imaging system.
In some systems, the operator of the imaging device can improve the alignment by adjusting the imaging system, the patient's eye, or both during the docking process. The operator can direct the docking iteratively by directing the patient verbally, manually orienting the eyeball, or adjusting portions of the imaging device, such as its objective or gantry. However, the inaccuracy of these approaches can make the docking process quite time consuming and frustrating.
In some systems, such as in some surgical systems using excimer lasers, the alignment is aided by a fixation light. The fixation light can be centered with the optical axis of the imaging system. The patient can be instructed to train his eye on the fixation light, aligning the patient's eye. However, even these fixation light systems have limitations.

Electronically controlled fixation light for ophthalmic imaging systems


Provided herein are methods for obtaining purified recombinant osteopontin (rOPN) from cultures of transgenic microalgae, as well as nutritional supplements from such cultures.

Osteopontin (OPN) is an acidic multifunctional protein of approximately 300 amino acids that was first identified in 1979. Osteopontin exists in several isoforms due to extensive post-translational modification. Characterization of post-translational modifications has been conducted for OPN obtained from several species and sources. Bovine milk OPN has 28 phosphorylation sites as well as 3 sites for O-glycosylation. The slightly larger human milk OPN contains 38 phosphorylation sites and 5 O-glycosylation sites, while human urinary OPN also has 5 O-glycosylation sites, but only 31 phosphorylation sites. Rat bone OPN possesses at least 29 phosphorylation sites, 4 O-glycosylation sites and a site of tyrosine sulfation. Osteopontin secreted by mouse osteoblast cultures has 27 phosphorylation and 5 O-glycosylation sites. In addition to the number of phosphorylation sites, the extent of phosphorylation varies between isoforms. For example, although all 28 phosphorylation sites are fully modified in cow's milk OPN, only about 8 of the 31 phosphorylation sites are modified in human urinary OPN. In addition, OPN contains an RGD (arginine, glycine, aspartate) integrin-binding sequence which promotes attachment of cells to various surfaces.
Since its discovery, OPN has been implicated in many biological functions including, activation of cell-mediated immune responses, inhibition of calcification, and neonatal immune development. In human breast milk, OPN has been shown to be crucial for infant immunity. Osteopontin stimulates T-cells to differentiate into T-helper 1 (Th-1) cells by inducing T-cells to secrete IL-12. Th-1 cells are known to be crucial for assisting macrophages by enhancing phagocytosis of bacteria or protozoa, improving viral clearance and maximizing the proliferation of CD8 T-cells. In contrast, OPN down regulates the secretion of IL-10 and limits the production of T-helper 2 (Th-2) cells. Osteopontin also has an opsonizing effect, binding to pathogens and marking them for phagocytosis. These factors indicate an important role for OPN in neonatal and infant gut development.
Osteopontin's role in infant immunity is well known. Previous studies have demonstrated the disparity between the concentration of OPN in cow's milk and human breast milk. In some studies OPN has been shown to account for 10% of human breast milk. This disparity is further highlighted when the concentration of OPN in human milk is compared to that found in infant formula, which is primarily derived from bovine milk. Thus, the ability of infant formula to mimic the nutritional value of breast milk could be improved by the addition of OPN. At present, the only source of OPN on a commercial scale is cow's milk. The use of cow's milk to supplement infant formula, however, is not considered commercially feasible due to the combination of low levels of OPN in cow's milk and the high cost of purification. Previous attempts to develop alternative sources of OPN, such as OPN produced in E. coli have resulted in production of a protein that was biologically inactive due to a lack of phosphorylation.
Over the past 40 years, recombinant protein expression systems have been developed to meet the growing demand for proteins. These systems, however, are often expensive and are therefore reserved for producing high value proteins used in therapeutics. The idea of using a recombinant protein expression system for the production of proteins with nutritional value is rarely considered, mainly because of the underlying cost especially those associated with extensive protein purification. Over the past 10 years there has been significant interest and considerable investment in the large scale and affordable production of green algae for use in biofuels. The advances made in algae genetics, growth, and productivity for biofuels can now be harnessed for the production of recombinant proteins.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a eukaryotic green algae that has been developed as a recombinant protein expression system over many years. The nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes of C. reinhardtii have been sequenced and transformed. Specifically, the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii has been turned into a robust expression system through the development of advance protein expression cassettes and an increased understanding of the biology of this organelle. Recently, chloroplasts of green alga have been used to express phosphorylated, bioactive OPN (US Patent Application Publication 2016/0257730). With the ability to produce recombinant OPN on a commercial scale, the need arises for an economically feasible method that will allow purification of OPN produced from micro algae. The current disclosure provides such a method.

Method of purification of recombinant osteopontin from micro algae


In a hearing aid, as well as in a method for the operation of a hearing aid having a microphone system in which different directional characteristics can be set, the tonal quality is improved, particularly in a quiet hearing environment, by the signal delay for at least one microphone signal being increased so as to increase the transfer function in the frequency response of the microphone system, thus also improving the signal-to-noise ratio, by decreasing the proportion of the microphone noise in the microphone output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hearing aids as well as methods for the operation of hearing aids of the type having a microphone system for picking up an acoustic input signal and for emission of a microphone output signal, a signal processing unit, and an output transducer for emission of an output signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modern hearing aids use devices for classification of hearing situations. The transmission parameters of the hearing aid are automatically varied depending on the hearing situation. In this case, the classification may, inter alia, influence the method of operation of the interference noise suppression algorithms, and of the microphone system. Thus, for example, depending on the identified hearing situation, a choice is made (by discrete switching or by continuous overlaying) between an omnidirectional characteristic (zero directional characteristic) and significant directionality of the microphone system (first or higher order directional characteristic). The directional characteristic is produced by using gradient microphones or by electrically connecting a number of omnidirectional microphones to one another. Microphone systems such as these have a frequency-dependent transmission response, which is characterized by a considerable fall at low frequencies. The noise behavior of the microphones, on the other hand, is not dependent on the frequency, and is slightly amplified in comparison to an omnidirectional microphone. In order to achieve a natural tonal impression, the high-pass frequency response of the microphone system must be compensated for by amplification of the low frequencies. In the process, the noise that is present in the low frequency range is likewise amplified and, in some circumstances, is significantly audible in a disturbing manner, while quiet sounds are masked by the noise.
German OS 101 14 101 discloses a method for processing an input signal in a signal-processing unit in a hearing aid. One embodiment of the known hearing aid has two microphones, with a delay element being connected to one microphone, the delay of which is set as a function of the result of a modulation analysis, in order to improve the signal processing and to reduce the interference noise.
PCT Application 00/76268 discloses a hearing aid having a signal processing unit and at least two microphones, which can be connected to one another in order to form directional microphone systems of different order, in which case the directional microphone systems may themselves be connected to one another with a weighting which is dependent on the frequency of the microphone signals emitted from the microphones. The cut-off frequency between adjacent frequency bands in which a different weighting is provided for the microphone signals can be set as a function of the result of a signal analysis.
European Application 0 942 627 discloses a hearing aid having a directional microphone system with a signal processing device, an earpiece and a number of microphones, whose output signals can be connected to one another via delay devices and the signal processing device, with different weightings, in order to produce an individual directional microphone characteristic. The preferred reception direction (main direction) for the directional microphone system can be set individually to match an existing hearing situation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,056 discloses a hearing aid having an omnidirectional microphone and having a first or higher order directional microphone. The low signal frequency range in the microphone signal from the directional microphone is amplified, and is matched to the microphone signal from the omnidirectional microphone. Both the microphone signal from the omnidirectional microphone and the microphone signal from the directional microphone are supplied to a switching unit. When the switching unit is in a first switch position, the omnidirectional microphone is connected to a hearing aid amplifier, and when the switching unit is in a second switch position, the directional microphone is connected to a hearing aid amplifier. The switching unit can switch automatically as a function of the signal level of a microphone signal.
The known hearing aids with a directional microphone system have the disadvantage that, in certain hearing situations, either the directionality of the microphone system is not optimally used, or a high degree of directionality leads to a clearly audible degradation in the tonal quality. In particular, when the level of the acoustic input signal is low, the signal-to-noise ratio becomes worse, and a hearing aid wearer perceives this in the form of disturbing microphone noise in a quiet environment.

Hearing aid having an adjustable directional characteristic, and method for adjustment thereof


A call processing method in a radio telephone, in which receiving and transmitting operations are carried out using a spread spectrum communication system in accordance with a time division duplexing, the radio telephone including a base set wire-connected to a public switching network and a plurality of handsets radio-connected to the base set and allocated with different pseudo noise codes, respectively. The method includes the steps of transmitting a ring-on message to all the handsets in every transmitting operation of the base set, once the radio telephone receives an incoming call from the public switching network, while encoding the ring-on message with the pseudo noise codes, sequentially checking whether or not a signal responding to the transmitted ring-on message is received at the base set, in every receiving operation of the base set, while replacing the pseudo noise codes one by one at a predetermined time interval, if it is determined that a signal responding to the transmitted ring-on message is received from one of the handsets, then establishing a channel between the base set and the handset transmitting the response signal, and transmitting a ring-off message to the remaining handsets while encoding the ring-off message with the pseudo noise codes respectively allocated to the remaining handsets, thereby cutting off an establishment of channels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio telephone in which receiving and transmitting operations are carried out using a spread spectrum communication system in accordance with a time division duplexing. More particularly, the invention relates to a call processing method in a radio telephone capable of sending a ring signal from the base set of the radio telephone to all handsets when the base set receives an incoming call, and then establishing a communication channel between the base set and the handset transmitting a signal responding to the ring signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
The spread spectrum communication system is the system which has been long used for military communications. This system has a high resistance to jamming or interference and a superior privacy function. In such a spread spectrum system, information is transmitted while its bandwidth is spread out using a pseudo noise (PN) code with a bandwidth considerably wider than that of the information. For example, voice signals generally occupy a bandwidth less than 20 kHz wide. In a spread spectrum system, signals representing the voice information may be spread out over a bandwidth spanning several MHz or more. In receiving, information is decoded by using the same PN code as that used in the transmission. In this way, reception of only the desired information is achieved.
One type of diffused band system is known as code division multiple access (CDMA), in which different PN codes are respectively allocated to different users. As a result, the users can be distinguished from one another, such that multiple users can be simultaneously connected using the same frequency band. Recently, CDMA has been advanced to digital mobile communication systems of cellular telephone networks.
A CDMA technique may be used in operating a radio telephone consisting of a base set and a plurality of handsets radio linked to the base set. For example, this type of radio telephone may be used in the home or office, where the base set is connected to a telephone line of a wire-line telephone network. In order to apply the CDMA technique to such a multi-handset operation, it is necessary to allocate a different PN code to each handset thereby distinguishing the handsets from one another. The base set may be equipped with an equal number of transmitting units and receiving units, both corresponding in number to the handsets. Since the receiving units include synchronization circuits, their configurations are considerably more complex than the transmitting units. For this reason, the configuration requiring as many receiving units as there are handsets, is undesirable.
Meanwhile, the base set may be connected to the handsets via only one channel because there is only one central office line connected to a switching system in most radio telephones. In other words, the base set may communicate with all handsets in a one-to-one communication fashion using only a single transmitting unit while performing a change in PN code in accordance with the handsets. However, where an externally generated incoming call is received, it is necessary for the base set to send a ring signal to all handsets.

Call processing method in radio telephone using spread spectrum communication system


A method for manufacturing a high-density tableware article includes the following steps. The first step is providing a polyester resin composition including 45 to 78% by weight of a blend resin and 20 to 50% by weight of an inorganic filler. The blend resin includes PET resin and PBT resin and the content ratio of PET resin to PBT resin in the blended resin by weight is from 1:0.86 to 1:4.8. The next step is granulating the polyester resin composition to produce plastic granules. The final step is molding the plastic granules into a tableware article.

Ceramic tableware are popular among people owing to their variety of shapes, bright colors, cool and smooth tactile sensation and easy washing. However, ceramic tableware are easily broken upon impact or when dropped. In addition, ceramic tableware require a production process with more complicated techniques and high energy consumption. Nowadays, the use of ceramic-like tableware has become more and more popular.
Melamine is commonly used in ceramic-like tableware. Melamine tableware is cheap and shatterproof so that many stores prefer its use for serving food. However, melamine tableware may release melamine at around 30° C. to 40° C., and thus, for people who regularly eat out, eating with melamine tableware is comparable to taking medicine of chronic diseases The long-term accumulation of melamine may seriously damage the kidneys.
Polybutylene terephthalate (PET) is a safe food grade plastic with high-temperature resistance and is able to be recycled and reused. PET is commonly used in the manufacture of tableware. However, PET products not only have a poor surface gloss inferior to ceramic products but are also difficult to print patterns or textures thereon, or otherwise the printed patterns or textures may be defective.
Therefore, a novel method is required to improve the aesthetics of PET tableware and increase the market acceptance of PET tableware.

Polyester resin composition and method for manufacturing a high-density tableware article


A slinger for use between a housing and a rotatable member passing therethrough includes an engaging member for mounting on the rotatable member, a slinger portion extending radially outward from the engaging portion, and a sealing portion generally axially extending from the slinger portion wherein the sealing portion extends radially outward when subjected to centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotatable member to form a secondary seal. The slinger may be formed of a translucent polymer to facilitate a visual inspection of a primary seal located behind the slinger.

Seals are commonly employed between rotating shafts and housings to protect elements within the housing from corrosion and contamination and to prevent fluids within the housing from exiting through the shaft opening. These seals will be referred to as primary seals.
Primary seals are subject to corrosion and abrasion and are often protected by slingers. A slinger may be attached to a shaft between the primary seal and the exterior environment. As the shaft rotates, material that contacts the slinger is flung from the slinger due to centrifugal force. Unlike the primary seal, however, a slinger typically does not contact the housing, providing the opportunity for debris to get past the slinger and onto the primary seal.
Prior art slingers are generally made of low carbon steel and are therefore rigid and opaque. While such materials provide a durable, low-cost component, they do not facilitate visual inspection of the primary seal, particularly during assembly. Furthermore, such rigid materials may be damaged during the installation process or may damage the primary seal or the shaft if appropriate care is not exercised.

Translucent slinger with centrifugal seal


The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a flexible sleeve and a regulating member disposed at a position opposed to an end surface of the sleeve for regulating the movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction thereof, the regulating member having a first surface opposed to the end surface of the sleeve, and a second surface opposed to the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the sleeve in the generatrix direction thereof, wherein the regulating member is a combination of a first part having the first surface and a second part having the second surface. Thereby, the damage of the end portion of the flexible sleeve can be suppressed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image heating apparatus suitable for use as a fixing apparatus carried on a copying machine or a printer using a recording technique such as an electrophotographic recording process or an electrostatic recording process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers, a heat fixing apparatus of a heat roller type has heretofore been widely used as a fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed toner image indirectly (transfer) or directly formed and borne on a recording material (paper) as a material to be heated by suitable image forming process means such as electrophotographic process means as a permanent fixed image on the surface of the recording material.
In recent years, from the viewpoints of quick start and energy saving, a heat fixing apparatus of a film heating type has been put into practical use. The fixing apparatus of the film heating type is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S63-313182, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H2-157878, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-44075 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-204980.
That is, a flexible sleeve (hereinafter referred to as the fixing film) is nipped between e.g. a ceramic heater as a heating member and a pressure roller as a pressure member to thereby form a pressure contact nip (hereinafter referred to as the fixing nip portion), and a recording material having an unfixed toner image formed and borne thereon is introduced into between the fixing film and the pressure roller in the fixing nip portion and is nipped and conveyed together with the fixing film, whereby the unfixed toner image is fixed on the surface of the recording material by the pressure force of the fixing nip portion while the heat of the ceramic heater is given thereto through the fixing film.
This fixing apparatus of the film heating type can constitute an apparatus of an on-demand type by the use of members of low heat capacity as the ceramic heater and the film, and only during the execution of image forming, the ceramic heater as a heat source can be electrically energized to thereby generate heat to a predetermined fixing temperature, and there are the advantages that the waiting time from the turn-on of the power supply switch of the image forming apparatus until a state in which image forming can be executed is short, and that the power consumption during standby can be greatly curtailed.
When the film is used in the film heating process, shifting in the generatrix direction of the film may sometimes occur, and it is difficult to severely control this. So, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-44075, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-204980, etc., it is proposed to wind film loosely to thereby reduce the shifting force of the film and receive the end portion of the film by the film end portion regulating surface (hereinafter referred to also as the "regulating surface") of a flange, and effect the regulation of the shifting.
FIGS. 8 and 9A of the accompanying drawings show an example of shifting regulating structure for the end portion of film in a heat fixing apparatus. The shifting regulating structure shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A is provided at locations opposed to the opposite end portions of fixing film. FIG. 9B of the accompanying drawings is an enlarged view of the portion Z of FIG. 9A.
In FIG. 8, the reference numeral 21 designates a guide member for guiding the inner surface of sleeve-shaped fixing film 25. Fixing flanges 60 are fitted to the opposite end portions of the guide member 21. Each flange 60 is provided with an inner peripheral sliding portion 60a opposed to an end portion of the fixing film 25 for guiding the rotational locus of the film, a wall 60b substantially orthogonal to the film sliding surface (outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral sliding portion so as to regulate the end portion position (end surface) of the fixing film 25, etc. The fixing film 25 is in pressure contact with a pressure roller, not shown, to thereby form a fixing nip portion, and receives a rotational force from the rotatively driven pressure roller and is rotated thereby. In a case where during the rotation, shifting in the generatrix direction occurs to the fixing film 25 as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 9A, the end portions (end surfaces) of the fixing film 25 are stopped by the walls 60b of the fixing flanges 60, and the fixing film 25 continues to rotate in that position.
In the conventional heat fixing apparatus as described above, however, there have arisen such problems as will be described below.
As the heat-resistant fixing film to be used in the above-described film heating process, use is made of a material such as heat-resisting resin film such as polyimide or PEEK, or metal film such as Ni electrocast film or stainless seamless film. The reason why these materials are used is that they are high in durability in terms of both heat resistance and strength even under a condition under which the fixing film slides while being directly in pressure contact with a heater (heat generating member) generating heat to 200° C. or higher.
In the aforedescribed heat fixing apparatus of the film heating type, however, even in a case where the material of high durability as described above is used for the fixing film 25, when besides the unevenness of the degree of cylindricality and thickness of the fixing film, the fluctuation of the diameter of the pressure roller which is a pressure member or when the balance of the pressure force is not sufficiently secured, the fixing film is biased to one end portion side of the heater in the longitudinal direction thereof (the axial direction of the pressure roller, and soon the end portions of the fixing film strike against the walls 60b of the fixing flanges 60. The material of the flanges 60 is resin, and the flanges are molded by a metal mold and therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, a portion R exists in the intersecting portion between the inner peripheral sliding portion 60a and the wall 60b. Accordingly, if the fixing film continues to rotate while being in contact with the walls 60b, a force continues to be applied to the end portions of the fixing film 25 in a state in which it is pushed open from the inner surface side thereof to the outer surface side thereof, by the portion R in part working which is in the root portion, i.e., the intersecting portion, of the inner peripheral sliding portions 60a of the fixing flanges 60 with the walls 60b and therefore, fracture occurs, and finally the fixing film is broken into a strip shape, and this has sometimes caused such problems as a faulty image, the faulty fixing of a toner and paper jam.

Image heating apparatus using a flexible sleeve


A co-axial cylindrical brushless DC motor has an internal cylindrical stator and an external rotor containing permanent magnets. The cylindrical stator has a substrate of reinforced plastics covered by several layers of helically wound annealed steel wire of about 1 mm diameter to provide a cylindrical magnetic layer of soft magnetic material just below the wound poles on or adjacent the outer surface of the stator.

Conventional electric motors have an internal rotor and an external stator. Typically both the rotor and stator having a large number of iron or steel laminations in order to increase the magnetic flux path from the magnetic poles on the rotor, whether these magnetic poles be wound electromagnetic poles or the magnetic poles of permanent magnets.
Attempts have been made to produce "ironless" motors, and we have developed such a motor described in our U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,125 (or described in PCT/GB 8800742).
There is a need to increase the power output of such "ironless" motors, but without incurring the disadvantages of iron or steel laminations, i.e. increased weight, current losses, and more importantly the resultant high inductance of such conventional steel lamination motors.


A method for maintaining a group call in a mobile radio system, and a mobile station in a mobile radio system, wherein the geographical area covered by the system is divided into radio cells. Each radio cell includes a base station. A group call is established between the mobile stations belonging to a group call group and residing within the areas of the radio cells forming a limited group call area. In order that the mobile station, upon changing radio cells, is able to select the base station within the area of which the group call is in progress, the respective base stations send one or a plurality of group call maintenance messages to the mobile stations involved in the group call. The group call maintenance message contains information concerning the base stations located within the areas of the radio cells forming the group call area, and the group call group identity.

The invention relates to a method for maintaining a group call in a mobile radio system, wherein the geographical area covered by the system is divided into radio cells in such a way that adjacent cells overlap, each radio cell comprising a base station provided with an identity, each base station being in radio communication with mobile radio stations located in the radio cell, a group call marked with an identity being established between the mobile stations belonging to a group call group and residing within the areas of the radio cells forming a limited group call area.
The invention is applicable, for instance, in trunking networks, that is, in networks which are private mobile radio networks sharing radio channels to offer several user groups similar functions and services as a private mobile radio network used by a single organization.
The invention is suitable for use in mobile radio systems having either a digital or an analogue radio path. Analogue mobile radio systems are described e.g., in MPT 1327, A Signalling Standard for Trunked Private Land Mobile Radio Systems, January 1988, revised and reprinted November 1991, and MPT 1343, Performance Specification, January 1988, revised and reprinted September 1991, both issued by the Radiocommunications Agency of the British Department of Trade and Industry.
An essential feature of the above-mentioned mobile radio systems, among others, is that they allow and are designed for the implementation of a group call between a plurality of subscribers.
The group call is a conference call during which all participating subscribers are able to both speak and listen to each other in turns. In group calls, the entire group is called by a single call number. An individual radio unit (such as a mobile station) or a subscriber station may belong to several groups programmed in the radio unit. The system contains a database storing information about base stations associated with the number of each group. The group call may cover one, several, or all of the base stations within the area of a mobile exchange, or several mobile exchanges. To establish a group call, each base station belonging to the group allocates a traffic channel and transmits a group call paging message containing the group number and information indicating the allocated traffic channel. If a mobile radio identifies the group number contained in the group call paging message, it switches to the traffic channel indicated by the paging message. In principle, the mobile radio is thus always able to enter the group call if it is located within the predetermined operation area of the group.
In a cellular mobile radio system, the coverage areas (radio cells) of neighbouring base stations often overlap significantly. Mobile radios located within an overlapping area of two adjacent coverage areas are thus able to use either one of the base stations. A situation problematic for the group call is shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, a mobile station MS1 initially located within a coverage area K1 of a base station BS1 belonging to a group call area K1, K2, K3 and involved in the group call moves to a point X within the coverage areas K2, K4 of two neighbouring base stations BS2, BS4, respectively. This is indicated by the arrow T1. The mobile station thus moves, first, to where the coverage area K4 of the base station BS4 overlaps with the coverage area K1 of the base station BS1, then to where the coverage areas K4, K1 and K2 of the base station BS2 all overlap, then to where the coverage area K2 of the base station BS2 belonging to the group call area K1, K2, K3 overlaps with K4, the coverage area of the base station BS4, which does not belong to the group call area K1, K2, K3. In other words, the mobile station MS1 moves to an overlapping area O of the coverage areas K2, K4 of the base stations BS2, BS4, respectively. If the mobile station MI1 now selects the base station BS4 not belonging to the group call area K1, K2, K3, e.g., due to the higher field strength of the transmission of the base station BS4, the group call of the mobile station MS1 is interrupted, and the mobile station MS1 is excluded from the group call even though it actually is located within the group call area K1, K2, K3, as it unfortunately registered to communicate with the "wrong" base station BS4. In FIG. 1, the communication is shown by tie arrow C1.
One way to solve this problem is to use the same radio channels within the same group call area K1, K2, K3 at all base stations BS1, BS2, BS3 in the radio communication between mobile stations M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 involved in the same call and the base stations B1, B2, B3. Such a system is called a quasisfnc or simulcast system. If the mobile station MS1 moves in this kind of system from the coverage area K1 of the base station BS1 to the coverage area K2 of the adjacent base station BS2, e.g., to point X, it is all the time able to communicate with the base stations on the same radio channel. No interruptions occur in the radio connection, and there is no risk that the mobile station would start to communicate with the base station BS4 located outside the coverage area K1, K2, K3, and, as a result, be excluded from the group call.
A drawback of the above-described prior art method and system is that when the mobile station MS1 is located between the base stations BS1 and BS2, it receives a signal from both base stations BS1, BS2, and these signals interfere with each other. To avoid such interference, the transmitters of both of the base stations BS1, BS2 have to be tuned to an accuracy of a few tens of hertz, whereas a conventional tuning accuracy in analogue cellular radio systems is .+-.1 kHz, which means that no high accuracy is required in conventional practice. Of course, tuning to a very high accuracy is difficult to realize.
Another drawback of the prior art solution is that it is poorly suited for modern cellular radio systems which are typically based on the assignment of different channels to adjacent base stations whereas, and the same channels are reassigned at spacings of a few base stations. If a simulcast system is used in such an environment, channel management is difficult to perform in the same way as in a conventional cellular radio system. This is because the simulcast system assigns the same channel to all base stations within a group call area for a specific group call, thus deviating from the conventional principle applied in cellular systems, where the channels vary from one base station to another. The channel management in a simulcast radio system is thus expensive and difficult to implement as well as unreliable in operation.
Furthermore, implementation of the prior art simulcast radio system requires that the interference occurring in transmissions received at the same mobile station over the same channel from different base stations should be eliminated. This is done by compensating for transmission delays of calls forwarded from the system controller of the cellular radio system to the different base stations, i.e., delays occurring over the same voice channel, and by synchronizing such delays so that the same voice channel is transmitted simultaneously from all base stations transmitting a specific group call. Such compensation and synchronization of transmission delays are difficult and require high precision as well as high equipment investments.


A lubricating oil supply device that supplies hydraulic oil used to actuate a vehicle's transmission. The supply device configured with a pump that generates a hydraulic pressure, and a line pressure generation valve that discharges a part of the hydraulic pressure from the pump as a discharge pressure to generate a line pressure for actuating the transmission. A signal pressure output valve that outputs a signal pressure for actuating the line pressure generation valve in accordance with at least a throttle operation amount or torque input to the transmission. Furthermore, a switching valve that is actuated by the signal pressure from the signal pressure output valve and that supplies lubricating oil input to an input port to the object to be lubricated from an output port with a flow rate of the lubricating oil changed.

Hitherto, there has been proposed a lubricating oil supply device of this type, in which oil leaked from a regulator, which is a part of oil discharged from a hydraulic pump, is supplied to an object to be lubricated of an automatic transmission and an oil cooler (see Patent Document 1, for example). The device includes a lubrication pressure regulator that regulates a pressure (lubrication pressure) to be supplied to the object to be lubricated and that supplies the leaked oil to the oil cooler, and the lubrication pressure regulator is driven by a dedicated electromagnetic valve. Specifically, the electromagnetic valve is controlled such that the amount of oil to be supplied to the object to be lubricated is reduced and the amount of oil to be supplied to the oil cooler is increased in the case where the vehicle speed is equal to or more than a predetermined vehicle speed (high-speed travel) and the engine load is equal to or less than a predetermined value (low load).


A method and apparatus for the dynamic management of disk space by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration is disclosed. A segment is partitioned. Each partition is associated with a bitmap block. A partition's bitmap block indicates the freeness of the partition's data blocks. A partition's bitmap block may be owned by one server instance at a time. After determining from a partition's bitmap block where free disk space is located within the partition, the partition's bitmap block's owner may allocate the free disk space for the owner's use. A bitmap block may become owned by different server instances at different times. When a server instance ceases to actively use its bitmap block, another server instance may “steal” the bitmap block. Thus, multiple server instances may allocate disk space in the same partition over time, preventing disk space waste.

A database server allocates logical database space for data in a database. According to one approach, the units of database space allocation are data blocks, extents, and segments. At the finest level of granularity, a database server stores data in data blocks. One data block corresponds to a specific number of bytes of physical database space on disk. The next level of logical database space is an extent. An extent is a specific number of contiguous data blocks allocated for storing a specific type of information. The level of logical database storage above an extent is called a segment. A segment is a set of extents, each of which has been allocated for a specific data structure. For example, each database table's data is stored in the database table's own segment.
At any given moment, some of the data blocks in a segment may contain data, and some of the data blocks in the segment may be empty. Some data blocks may be partially, but not completely, full. The empty portions of data blocks within a segment comprise the free space of the segment. When a database server inserts data into a segment, the database server inserts the data into the segment's free space. The segment's free space is reduced accordingly.
According to one approach, a database server consults a segment's free space list to determine which data blocks in the segment are at least partially empty. The segment's free space list is a singly linked list. Pointers to the head and tail of the segment's free space list are stored in the segment's first block, which is called the segment header block. Thus, the segment header block may be viewed as containing metadata that describes where a segment's free space is located.
Multiple database server processes might attempt to insert data into the same segment simultaneously or almost simultaneously. When this occurs, each database server process contends for access to the segment's single segment header block. Because the segment header block contains the metadata described above, contention for the segment header block may be called "metadata contention." As a result of this metadata contention, the segment header block becomes a "hot spot." Compounding the problem, each database server process follows the same free space list links to data blocks in the segment's free space. As a result, the data blocks also may become hot spots. The contention for the segment header block and data blocks may significantly degrade throughput.
To alleviate contention at the data blocks, one approach implements multiple different free space lists per segment instead of a single free space list per a segment. While each of the free space lists similarly indicates all of the free space in the segment, each of the free space lists has a different head and tail. When a database server process attempts to insert data into a segment, the database server process' identifier is input into a hash function to produce a hash value. A particular free space list that corresponds to the hash value is selected from among the several free space lists. Thus, different database server processes are directed to different empty or partially empty data blocks in a balanced manner, thereby reducing contention at the data blocks. Unfortunately, because the different free space list heads and tails are contained in the same segment header block, contention at the segment header block remains.
To further complicate matters, a single database may be shared by multiple instances of a database server, such as in Oracle Corporation's Real Application Cluster ("RAC"). In such a configuration, each separate database server instance reads data from and writes data to the same disk space, but each database server instance maintains its own separate shared memory. A particular database server instance may comprise multiple database server processes, and each database server process of a particular database server instance may share the particular database server instance's shared memory. However, database server processes of one database server instance do not share the shared memory of another database server instance.
When a first database server instance needs to allocate disk space within a segment, the first database server instance first loads the segment's segment header block into a buffer cache in the first database server instance's shared memory. If a second database server instance needs to allocate disk space within the same segment, then the segment's segment header block first needs to be transferred from the buffer cache in the first database server instance's shared memory into a buffer cache in the second database server instance's shared memory. Such a transfer requires significant overhead, and may significantly degrade throughput, especially if the first and second database server instances execute on separate machines.
To avoid such transfers, one approach partitions each segment into multiple segment partitions; one for each database server instance. Each database server instance is associated with a different one of the segment partitions. Segment partitions are not shared between database server instances. Each segment partition is associated with its own separate free list group block. A free list group block contains metadata that indicates the location of the free disk space within the segment partition that is associated with the free list group block. Similar to a segment header block, a free list group block indicates a head and a tail of a linked list. Because only one database server instance accesses a particular free list group block, metadata contention between database server instances is reduced.
However, a significant drawback attends the approach just described. A first database server instance cannot allocate disk space within a second database server instance's segment partition. This is so even if the first database server instance's segment partition lacks sufficient free space and the second database server instance's segment partition contains abundant free space. The associations between database server instances and their segment partitions are static. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predetermine how large a particular database server instance's segment partition should be in relation to other segment partitions. Partition sharing is not permitted in the approach just described. As a result, significant amounts of disk space may be wasted.
These are some of the problems that attend past approaches to the management of disk space by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration. Because of these problems, past approaches to the management of disk space by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration leave much to be desired. Approaches that seek to reduce the waste of disk space do so at the cost of increased metadata contention. Approaches that seek to reduce metadata contention do so at the cost of wasted disk space. A disk space management technique that overcomes both of the problems of metadata contention and disk space waste is needed.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
A method and apparatus for the dynamic management of disk space by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, a determination is made as to whether at least one bitmap block satisfies a first set of criteria. If at least one bitmap block satisfies the first set of criteria, then, based on information that is indicated in that bitmap block, disk space is allocated for use by a first server instance. Alternatively, if no bitmap block satisfies the first set of criteria, then a determination is made as to whether at least one bitmap block satisfies a second set of criteria. If at least one bitmap block satisfies the second set of criteria, then that bitmap block, which is associated with a second server instance, is associated with the first server instance instead, and, based on information that is indicated in that bitmap block, disk space is allocated for use by the first server instance.

Dynamic disk space management by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration


A decoy moving apparatus for attracting animals including a winding and unwinding apparatus and a set of reels having a line or string extending to at least one stake or decoy anchor reference point, wherein the line is attached to a decoy pulled between the winding apparatus and one or more anchors, whereby winding the line with the decoy apparatus moves the decoy back and forth and/or rotates the decoy on its axis. The decoy may float in water, mounted to a sled type mounting base, or suspended from a wire, depending upon the habitat of the animal to be attracted to the viewer.

This invention relates to an apparatus for moving a decoy or decoys to attract animals by moving the decoys to stimulate various motions of live animals.
Most conventional decoys do not move or are designed for limited movement; however, the present invention not only attracts animals, but maintains their interest due to the control and deliberate movement of the decoy by the user.
Conventional decoys are stationary or move a portion of the body, pivot, or turn; however, the movement is repetitious and restricted so that prolonged exposure to the animal causes a loss of attraction. Contrary to conventional decoys, the decoy moving apparatus of the present invention is capable of moving decoys hundreds of yards if necessary in irregular patterns at various speeds.
Often the target animal will approach a still decoy, but will be lured off by other live animals. The present invention provides an important tool for both hunters and photographers for attracting animals to them by mobilizing the decoy and controlling the movement.
The movable decoy mounting base provides a means for luring the animal to the viewer. The movement of the decoy keeps the animals attention and aids in camouflaging the activities of the viewer so that the animal is less likely to spot the viewer.


The present invention provides high quality laminated veneer lumber as a material for such uses as in architecture and furniture, and a method of mass production thereof using veneer which is flattened in advance. A sheet of veneer is obtained by cutting a log with a rotary lathe or the like, and flattening and cutting the same into a predetermined length. Sheets of veneer thus obtained are cut on both edges in the grain direction to form symmetrically diagonal end faces and bonded with one another at said end faces with their grain directions aligned to form an elongated sheet of veneer. The resultant elongated sheet of veneer is cut into a predetermined length to form a laminated veneer material having seams a. Plural sheets of thus formed laminated veneer material are laminated and bonded with their grain directions aligned to form laminated veneer core 3. The laminated veneer core 3 is either directly used as a laminated veneer lumber, or is covered with another sheet of seamless veneer 4 on its surface.

Laminated veneer lumber comprising veneer sheets which are obtained by cutting a log into a thickness of 2-3 mm by a rotary lathe or a slicer, and by laminating and bonding the same with the grain directions arranged primarily in parallel is widely used as the material for structures and fixtures of a wooden house such as a door, a door frame, a door casing and a door stop, and for various other items and as a hardwood structural material that combines a decorative material such as a faceplate, a frame and a leg of furniture, a wall trim for ceiling, a skirting, and a base, a faceplate, a door or a counter top of a cupboard.
Laminated veneer lumber (hereinafter LVL) is obtained from logs of broad-leaved trees such as lauans and beech wood, or of acicular trees such as North American woods, Japanese cypress and cedar by chopping the log into cross segments of a given length and cutting the segments into veneer sheets of 2-3 mm thickness using a rotary lathe. Veneer sheets thus obtained are dried using a veneer drier, laminated by arranging them in parallel in the grain direction, and bonded with adhesive. The laminated veneer sheets are subjected to cold press for provisional compression prior to hot press for heat compression. Alternatively, the laminated veneer sheets may be simply subjected to continuous press processing. Subsequently, the lamination of veneer sheets is flattened, cut into a given width and ground on its surface alone with a sander to obtain an LVL.
The prior art method of manufacturing LVL is defective in that a rotary-cut or sliced veneer sheet is generally wavy over its entirety rather than flat. It is difficult to flatten the veneer sheet obtained by the prior art method even if drying is conducted under pressure, and wavy veneer sheets cannot be firmly bonded with one another when laminated using adhesive.
It is also extremely difficult to obtain a laminated veneer lumber which is generally flat even if the lamination of veneer sheets is subjected to cold and hot presses, or simply to a continuous press processing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an efficient method of mass-producing a laminated veneer lumber of high quality and to provide an excellent decorative sheet by subjecting the laminated veneer lumber thus obtained to a very simple processing.

Laminated veneer lumber and decorative laminated sheet utilizing the same


The present invention provides methods for the conditional or regulated expression of a site-specific recombinase using split intein-mediated protein splicing. This enhances the temporal and tissue-specificity of trait gene expression and allows for fine tuning of expression specificity.

Inteins (internal protein fragments) are in-frame intervening sequences that disrupt the coding region of a host gene. These internal protein elements mediate the post-translational protein splicing process, catalyzing a series of reactions to remove the intein from the protein precursor and to ligate the flanking external protein fragments, known as exteins, into a mature protein (Perler, F. B. Cell 92:1-4 (1998)). A typical intein element consists of 400 to 500 amino acid residues and contains four conserved protein splicing motifs, although mini-inteins approximately 150 amino acids in size have been identified (Perler, F. B. Nucl. Acids. Res. 28:344-345 (2000)). Over all, nearly 140 putative inteins have been found from prokaryotes (archaea and eubacteria) and single cell eukaryotes such as algae and yeast, mostly through genome sequencing projects (Perler, F. B. (2000), supra). The majority of these inteins mediate maturation of enzymes involved in replication, DNA repair, transcription, or translation. Protein splicing has yet to be observed in a multicellular organism.
Since the discovery of inteins, much has been done to elucidate their functional mechanisms and potential applications. The complete splicing mechanism, consisting of four coupled nucleophilic displacements between three conserved amino acid residues at intein-extein junctions, is reviewed by Noren, C. J. et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39:450-466 (2000)). This protein splicing mechanism has been reconstituted in vivo and in vitro, demonstrating that inteins could be used as powerful tools for protein modification and engineering (Perler, F. B. and Adam, E. Curr. Opin. Biol. 11:377-383 (2000)). Additionally, both trans-splicing and cis-splicing have been studied.
Protein trans-splicing is a reaction that ligates separate proteins into a hybrid molecule, mediated by a pair of split inteins. Therefore, protein trans-splicing offers great advantages over cis-splicing. For example, trans-splicing can permit the synthesis of highly toxic proteins, when a strategy is applied such that single cells only contain a portion of the toxic protein, while the entire toxic protein is synthesized in vitro. Additionally, it may permit expression of a gene from two different loci of a genome or two cellular compartments. To study protein trans-splicing, artificial split inteins have been generated, in which the N-terminal half intein (Int-n) usually contains the critical A and B splicing motifs and the C-terminal half intein (Int-c) contains the C and F motifs. When the half inteins are fused, each half intein being associated with a partial protein, the two partial proteins can be spliced to form a hybrid product both in vitro and in vivo (Mills, K. V. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 95: 3543-3548 (1998); Southworth, M. W. et al. EMBO. 17:918-926 (1998); Wu, H. et al. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 187:422-432 (1998); Yamazaki, T. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:5591-5592 (1998)). The general utility of these artificial inteins, however, is hindered by a strict requirement for urea treatment to denature and renature the proteins.
The Ssp DnaE inteins are the only known natural split inteins. This intein class was identified from the split DnaE genes of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, which encode the catalytic subunit α of DNA polymerase III (Wu, H. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95:9226-9231 (1998)). The N-terminal half of the DnaE protein containing 774 amino acid residues is fused to the N-terminal 123 amino acid Ssp DnaE intein sequence. The remaining 36 amino acid residues of the C-terminal half of the Ssp DnaE intein are fused separately to the C-terminal half of the DnaE protein, containing 423 amino acids. These two genes are located 745 kB apart on opposite strands of the Ssp PCC6803 genome, although their protein product is an intact catalytic subunit of 1197 amino acid residues lacking any intein sequence due to the intein-mediated protein trans-splicing. In general, efficiency of the protein trans-splicing is usually higher when using Ssp DnaE natural split inteins instead of artificial split inteins (Martin, D. D. et al. Biochemistry. 40:1393-1402 (2001)).
The split Ssp DnaE inteins are also unique in their ability to catalyze the trans-splicing reaction even when two halves of the exteins are foreign proteins. For example, using two compatible plasmids each with an unlinked gene fragment, E. coli was found to be able to: (1) express the two gene fragments containing halves of a herbicide-resistant form of bacterial acetolactate synthase II (ALAS II) gene each fused to the split intein sequences; and (2) form a herbicide-insensitive enzyme in vivo (Sun, L. et al. Appl. Envir. Micro. 67:1025-1029 (2001)). When a wild type corn ALS gene was similarly used, the expected size of the reconstituted enzyme was formed in vivo (in E. coli) but no evidence was presented as to whether it was functional or whether intein-mediated splicing can occur in plant cells. A similar study was performed, again in E. coli, whereby it was determined that an artificially split bacterial 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene could be reassembled as a functional enzyme via intein trans-splicing (Chen et al. Gene 263:39-48 (2001)).
In both Sun et al., supra, and Chen et al., supra, it is suggested that the split Ssp DnaE inteins may be used in agriculture where plants may be genetically modified by utilizing trans-splicing technology to contain herbicide resistant transgenes in crops. In theory, this could be accomplished by expressing inactive gene fragments in separate DNA locations, and only allowing protein activity to be generated following trans-splicing. However, the art is silent concerning the methodology that would be necessary for one skilled in the art of plant transgene expression to practice this concept, and no demonstration of the intein-mediated protein splicing technique exists in eukaryotes. Further, there has been no demonstration that inteins are able to function in higher organisms, such as plants.
The advent of genetically modified crops holds the promise of improving crop yield and quality. These benefits are conferred via the transformation of crop plants with new transgenes encoding desirable traits. Plants are increasingly being looked to as platforms for the production of materials, foreign to plant systems. As the art of genetic engineering advances, it will be possible to engineer plants for the production of a multiplicity of monomers and polymers, currently only available by chemical synthetic means. The accumulation of these materials in various plant tissues will be toxic at some level and it will be useful to tightly regulate the relevant genes to prevent expression in inappropriate plant tissues.
Currently, few methods exist that provide for tightly regulated transgene expression. Non-specific expression of transgenes in non-target cells, tissues, or generations hinders plant transgenic work. This is important where the goal is to produce such high levels of materials in transgenic plants that may be phytotoxic or adversely affect normal plant development. Conditional transgene expression would enable economic production of desired chemicals, monomers, and polymers at levels likely to be phytotoxic to growing plants by restricting their production to transgenic crop biomass (production tissue) either just prior to or after its harvest for extracting the desired product. Therefore, the development of transgene expression in plants is limited both by the lack of a commercially usable conditional expression system and the difficulty in attaining reliable, high-level expression.
Transgenic trait expression often requires temporal and tissue-specific control of a transgene. Thus, binary expression systems are utilized such that traits are not expressed in the hybrid parents but are expressed in F1 hybrid progeny of parents each carrying an element of the binary system. A good example of this binary system is site-specific recombination (SSR), where one parent carries a site-specific recombinase and the other carries the inactive trait. The expression of this trait gene (TG) is blocked by the presence of a 'blocking' or 'STOP' fragment, flanked by the cognate SSR sites, which blocks transcription and/or translation of the TG (Yadav et al., WO 01/36595 A2; WO 00/17365 A2; U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,992).
Recombinase expression in the progeny leads to SSR and removal of the 'blocking' DNA fragment, thereby permitting transgene activation. Similarly, when generational control of removal of a TG flanked by SSR sites is required, one can cross one line carrying the TG and another expressing the recombinase gene.
Site-specific recombination [Odell et al., Plant Physiol. 106:447-458 (1994); Odell et al., PCT Int. Appl. WO 9109957 (1991); Surin et al., PCT Int. Appl WO 9737012 (1997); Ow et al., PCT Int. Appl. WO 9301283 A1 (1992); Russel et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 234:49-59 (1992); and Hodges et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,736)] in plants has been demonstrated. Furthermore, regulated SSR in plants and the use of mutant sites to enhance the specificity of Cre-mediated recombination in conjunction with chimeric Cre genes under the control of available regulated promoters has also been demonstrated in plants (Yadav et al., WO 01/36595 A2; WO 00/17365 A2; EP1115870 A2). Further, directed excision of a transgene from the plant genome has been reported using recombinase specific-sites and a recombinase (Russel et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 234:49-59 (1992); Ow et al., PCT Int. Appl. WO 9301283 A1 (1992)).
One limitation of the above-mentioned approach, however, is that only one parent can carry the recombinase and the other its substrate containing the cognate SSR sites. As a result, the trait locus is heterologous in F1 hybrid progeny. Another limitation of the existing SSR techniques is that the site-specific recombinase may show toxicity through chromosomal rearrangements in plants and animals. For example, the Cre transgene under some plant promoters (e.g., the Bcp 1 gene) show Cre phytotoxicity in some transformants, even when they have the required regulation specificity. This results in pollen sterility with Bcp1:Cre and unwanted spread of active Cre recombinase in future generations. Such toxicity has also been reported in animal cells (see Schmidt et. al. PNAS, U.S.A. 97:13702-13707 (2000)). One solution to such toxicity, when the threshold of recombinase concentration for toxicity is higher than for recombination, is to contain the recombinase within the floxed DNA element such that upon SSR the recombinase gene is autoexcised; and thus, build up of recombinase is prevented. However, maintainence of these lines will be unlikely when the recombinase is under the control of a developmentally regulated promoter.
The problem to be solved therefore is to develop a system for conditionally regulating transgene expression through the implementation of site-specific recombinase systems such that the potential toxicity of the recombinase is minimized.
Applicant has solved the stated problem in the present invention through the development of a site-specific recombinase system based on intein-mediated protein splicing, comprising an inactive recombinase element and a trait expression construct containing an expressible transgene. The organization of the inactive recombinase element results in the splitting the site-specific recombinase into two inactive components that are unable to catalyze the SSR when present individually. However, when both inactive split recombinases are brought together, say, by a cross, the recombinase activity is restored through a split intein-mediated trans-protein splicing reaction. Once restored, the recombinase may act on the trait expression construct to regulate transgene expression.

Method of controlling site-specific recombination


The present invention relates to a plasma diagnosing system and method, and more particularly, to a system and a method for diagnosing plasma in real time using a change in a capacitance sensed by an electrode using a reference waveform having a frequency different from a plasma discharging frequency band region. The sensed capacitance varies before and after discharging plasma and the plasma is diagnosed using the change in capacitance in real time.

A vacuum plasma process occupies a big part in the fields of a semiconductor, a display, or a solar cell. A necessity of precise process control in the manufacturing of a semiconductor is increasing due to the miniaturization of the semiconductor market and double patterning tech (DPT). In particular, a necessity of real-time plasma process diagnosing technique which may improve a degree of integration is increasing in the field of manufacturing a semiconductor device which is 20 nm or smaller.
In the related art, in order to measure characteristics of the plasma, a plasma frequency probe (Langmuir probe) in which a probe is perturbed in the plasma to measure a frequency is mainly used. However, according to this method, the probe is perturbed in the plasma to cause the interference with the plasma so that it is difficult to accurately measure the characteristics. Further, when a material is deposited on the probe during the plasma process, the information on the plasma through the probe is blocked. Therefore, there is a drawback in that it is difficult to measure the plasma using the probe during the process. Further, in some actual processes, the plasma is frequently discharged using mixture gas. When the mixture gas is used, it is difficult to diagnose a density of the plasma using the plasma frequency probe (Langmuir probe).

KWANGWOON UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COLLABORATION FOUNDATION


To reduce a display irregularity when a phase expansion for grouping a plurality of data lines into a block to sample image signals. The difference of brightness of an image data Vid6 to be provided to the data line arranged at one side of the block is obtained, and a correction data V1 corresponding to the difference of brightness is added to an image data Vid1 to be provided to the data line arranged at the other end of the block.

The present invention relates to a technology for suppressing degradation of a display quality when a plurality of data lines is driven in group.
For display panels that perform display by the electro-optical change of an electro-optical material, e.g., liquid crystal display panels using a liquid crystal can be classified into several categories based on a driving scheme. However, for an active matrix driving a pixel electrode with a three terminal type switching device, the following arrangement is typically used. Specifically, in this type of liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal is interposed between a pair of substrates, and a plurality of scanning lines 112 are arranged to intersect a plurality of data lines 114 on one substrate, as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, thin film transistors 116 (hereinafter, referred to as TFT) and pixel electrodes 118 are arranged on one substrate at the corresponding respective intersections of the scanning lines 112 and the data lines 114. Further, transparent counter electrodes 108 (common electrodes) maintained at a constant voltage LCcom are arranged to face the pixel electrode 118 on the other substrate, and TN liquid crystals 105 are interposed between two electrodes. For this reason, a liquid crystal capacitor comprising the pixel electrode 118, the counter electrode 108 and the liquid crystal 105 is provided for each pixel.
In addition, on each facing surface of both substrates, a rubbing processed alignment film (not shown) is arranged such that a long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecule is consecutively tilted, for example, about 90 degrees between both substrates, while a polarizer is arranged on each of opposition side of both substrates according to the alignment direction.
In addition, to prevent the charge leakage in the liquid crystal capacitor, a storage capacitor 119 is arranged for each pixel. One end of the storage capacitor 119 is connected to a pixel electrode 118 (a drain of TFT 116), while the other end is commonly grounded to potential Gnd throughout entire pixels. According to the present embodiment, the other end of the storage capacitor 119 is grounded to potential Gnd, it may be applied to a predetermined potential (e.g., voltage LCcom, a high level power supply voltage of the driving circuit, or a low level power supply voltage of the driving circuit, etc.).
For convenience, assuming that a total number of scanning lines 112 is 'm', a total number of data lines 114 is '6n', (where, m and n are integers, respectively), pixels are arranged in a matrix of m row×6n column corresponding to each intersection located between the scanning lines 112 and the data lines 114.
A light transmitting between the pixel electrode 118 and the counter electrode 108 is refracted about 90 degrees along with the tilt of the liquid crystal when an effective voltage of the liquid crystal capacitor is zero, while as the effective voltage grows larger, the liquid crystal molecule is tilted toward the electric field. Therefore, its optical activity is lost. For this reason, in the transmission type, for example, in case that a polarizer whose polarizing axis is perpendicular to each other to match the alignment direction is arranged at each incident side the bottom side (in a normally white mode), when the effective voltage of the liquid crystal capacitor is zero, light is transmitted to perform a white display (large transmittance), while as the effective voltage becomes larger, the amount of transmitted light is reduced to perform a black display (smallest transmittance). Therefore, when the TFT 116 is turned on by selecting each one of the scanning lines 112, the image signal of the voltage corresponding to a gray scale level (or brightness) of the pixel is applied to the pixel electrode 118 via the data line 114, such that the effective voltage of the liquid crystal capacitor can be controlled for each pixel. Further, the predetermined display is enabled based on this control.
Here, although the liquid crystal panel can be used as a light valve such as a projector. However, the projector does not have any function to make images in its own, and thus it receives an image signal from the upper level apparatus such as a PC or a television tuner. The image signal is provided in a manner of horizontally and vertically scanning images arranged in a matrix. Therefore, for the liquid crystal panel used for the projector, it is appropriate to meet this specification. Accordingly, for the liquid crystal panel used for the projector, a method of point-sequential driving is employed as a driving scheme to provide the image signal to the data line 114. In the method of point-sequential driving, an image signal transformed from a video signal to be adapted to the liquid crystal driving is sampled to the data line for one data line 114, during a period one scanning line 112 is selected (one horizontal effective scanning period).
In addition, recently, there is a strong need for a high definition such as Hi-Vision. The high definition can be accomplished by increasing the number of scanning lines 112 and the data lines 114. However, as the number of scanning lines 112 increases, the horizontal scanning period is shortened. Moreover, with a point-sequential method, as the number of data lines 114 increases, the sampling time to the data line 114 is also reduced. Likewise, in case of the high definition, with the point-sequential method, the sampling time to the data line 114 is not sufficiently secured for the image signal, such that a phase expansion driving method as shown in FIG. 8 is employed. In the phase expansion driving method, while the arrangement in the display region 110a are not changed from that of FIG. 7, the data lines 114 are blocked for every predetermined number (e.g., 6) and the image signal is distributed into 6 channels corresponding to the number of the data lines 114 included in one block. In addition, the image signal is expanded 6 times longer in the time axis, and thus provided to the image signal line 171 as image signals Vid1 to Vid6.
Further, to one end of the data line 114 arranged leftmost among 6 data lines 114 belonging to the i-th row block (where, i is 1, 2, . . . , n) counting from the left side in FIG. 8, a drain of an N channel TFT 151 is connected as a sampling switch, while a source thereof is connected to the image signal 171 to which the image signal Vid1 is provided. Likewise, to one end of the data line 114 arranged at second, third, . . . , sixth row counting from the left side of the corresponding block, drains of the corresponding TFTs 151 are connected, while sources thereof are connected to the image signal line 171 to which the image signals Vid2, Vid3, . . . , Vid6 are provided.
In addition, in FIG. 8, a scanning line driving circuit 130 outputs scanning signals G1, G2, G3, . . . , and Gm, which sequentially and exclusively come to be an H level, by means of a clock signal CLY or a start pulse DY within one vertical effective scanning period. Further, a shift register 140 outputs sampling signals S1, S2, S3, . . . , and Sn, which sequentially and exclusively come to be an H level, by means of a clock signal CLX or a start pulse DX within one horizontal effective scanning period.
In the phase expansion driving, each block is selectively one by one within the one horizontal effective scanning period, by sampling signals S1, S2, S3, . . . , and Sn. Here, for example, when an i-th row block is selected, i.e., a sampling signal Si comes to be an H level, 6 TFTs 151 where drains are connected to the data lines 114 belonging to the related block are simultaneously turned on. Therefore, for each of the first, second, third, . . . , and sixth row data lines 114 belonging to the related block, each of the image signals Vid1, Vid2, Vid3, . . . , and Vid6 is sampled.
In the phase expansion driving, compared to the arrangement where the image signal is sampled by selecting the data lines 114 one by one, the time required in sampling can be made 6 times longer. Therefore, the phase expansion driving can be used to achieve high definition, as described above. Furthermore, while the number of data lines contained in one block is assumed to be 6, this is just illustrative, and thus the present invention is not limited hereto.
However, in the phase expansion driving, since the plurality of data lines 114 are grouped and driven in blocks, a so-called block irregularity representing that brightness of the pixels are different for each block is produced. Regarding this, the present invention proposes a technology for make the block irregularity unnoticeable by making correction signals based on the difference between the image signals of the respective channels and the reference signal to add the correction signal to the respective channels.

Image signal correction method, correction circuit, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus


A method for producing resin particles mainly made of a resin material using a dispersion liquid in which a dispersoid containing the resin material is finely dispersed in a dispersion medium, the method comprising a dispersion medium removing step which comprises ejecting the dispersion liquid from a head portion in the form of droplets into a solidifying portion, conveying the droplets in the solidifying portion to remove the dispersion medium, and obtaining agglomerates each of which is composed of two ore more fine particles derived from the dispersoid, and a bonding step for welding and bonding the fine particles which constitute each of the agglomerates, thereby obtaining resin particles. The resin particles can be used for manufacturing a toner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing resin particles and a toner using the resin particles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As for electrophotography, there are known various methods. Usually, these methods include the process of forming an electric latent image on a photoreceptor by the use of a photoconductive material and various means (an exposing process), the process of developing the latent image by the use of a toner to form a toner image, the process of transferring the toner image to a transfer material such as paper, and the process of heating or pressurizing the toner image by the use of a fixing roller to fix it onto the transfer material.
A toner for use in such electrophotography is produced by, for example, a grinding method, a polymerization method, or a spray drying method.
In the grinding method, a raw material containing a resin as a main component (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "resin") and a coloring agent are kneaded at a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the resin, and then the resulting kneaded material is cooled and ground to obtain a toner (see, for example, Denshishasin Gakkai (ed.), "Densishashin no Kiso to Ohyo", Corona Publishing Co., Ltd., pp. 482–486 (1988)). Such a grinding method is excellent in that a wide variety of materials can be used and therefore a toner can be produced relatively easily. On the other hand, however, the grinding method involves a drawback in that a toner obtained by this method tends to have great variations in shapes of particles, that is a particle size distribution is wide. As a result, electrification properties and fixing properties also vary greatly among toner particles, thereby lowering the reliability of the toner as a whole.
In the polymerization method, toner particles are produced by polymerizing a monomer that is a constituent of a target resin in a liquid phase or the like (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 6-332257, page 2, lines 28 to 35). Such a polymerization method is excellent in that the obtained toner particles have a shape with a relatively high degree of sphericity (that is, a shape close to a geometrically perfect sphere). On the other hand, however, in the polymerization method there is a case where it is impossible to sufficiently reduce variations in particle diameter. Further, in the polymerization method, a range of choices of resin materials is narrow, and therefore there is a case where it is difficult to produce a toner having desired properties.
In the spray drying method, a material for use in producing a toner is dissolved in a solvent, and is then sprayed to obtain fine particles for a toner. Such a spray drying method is advantageous in that the grinding step as described above is not necessary. However, in the spray drying method, since the material is sprayed using high-pressure gas, it is difficult to precisely control conditions at the time of spraying the material. Therefore, it is difficult to produce toner particles having desired shape and size efficiently. Further, in the spray drying method, sprayed particles of the material have large variations in size, and therefore there are differences in their traveling speeds. As a result, there is a case where collision or agglomeration occurs between the sprayed particles before they are solidified, so that particles having various shapes are formed. This results in a case where the finally obtained toner particles have large variations in size and shape. As described above, since a toner obtained by the spray drying method has large variations in size and shape among toner particles, variations in electrification properties and fixing properties among the toner particles also become large, thereby lowering the reliability of the toner as a whole.
Further, such a conventional spray drying method has another problem in that hollow particles are likely to be produced, because a material for use in producing a toner dissolved in a solvent is usually sprayed into an atmosphere with high temperature so that the solvent is Volatilized rapidly.

Method for producing resin particles and toner using the resin particles


An ice maker has an ice tray with a plurality of ice forming cavities arranged in longitudinal succession therealong, and a water distributor extending along the tray and arranged to receive water from a water feed system. The distributor serves to distribute water evenly into the cavities without the overflow of water from one to another, thereby avoiding the formation of interconnecting webs between ice masses formed in the cavities. A level detector is provided, typically in the form of a thermistor, to detect a predetermined level of water in the tray and provide a control signal when said level is detected.

This invention relates to an ice maker, primarily for use in a refrigerator or freezer, and having an ice tray with a plurality of water receptor cavities, in each of which an ice mass is formed, in use, and a water feed system operable to feed water to the tray for filling the cavities.


A system for 3-dimensional gaming on a mobile handset is provided. The system includes a converter component operable to convert a pre-rendered 3-dimensional graphic image having 24-bit color resolution to a 3-dimensional graphic image having 16-bit color resolution. The component further operable such that the 3-dimensional graphic image having 16-bit color resolution is run length encoded. The system includes a mobile handset game operable to use the 3-dimensional run length encoded graphic image having 16-bit color resolution for display on a handset as part of the mobile handset game.

Mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and similar hand-held mobile electronic devices sometimes offer additional functions such as the capability to play video games. The games for such mobile devices have tended to become more complex, with more realistic graphics, more complicated game play, and other improvements. Concurrently, the devices themselves have become more sophisticated, with more memory capacity, faster processors, graphics accelerators, and other upgrades. As a result, some games can be played only on expensive, highly sophisticated devices. Development of such games is complex and can require graphic artists and highly skilled programmers. It is not uncommon for video game development to cost well over one million dollars per game.


The present invention relates to systems and methods for the optimized delivery of one or more advertisements from a group of advertisements. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a request for one or more advertisements and retrieving advertisements responsive to the request received. Click through data associated with the one or more advertisements is retrieved and is normalized using a normalization algorithm. The normalized click through data is used to assign weights to the one or more advertisements. Tracking codes are generated for the one or more advertisements to track user interactions with a given advertisement. Advertisements are distributed according to the one or more advertisements' associated weights with associated tracking codes in one or more formats to one or more locations through which advertising may be conducted.

The present invention generally provides methods and systems for facilitating the delivery of advertisements. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems that indicate optimal advertisements from among a group of advertisements for display to users.
Advertisements are commonly used on the Internet to promote various products and services. Advertisements may comprise banner ads, links to web pages, images, video, text, etc. The various advertisements used to promote products on the Internet may be displayed according to a variety of formats, such as in conjunction with a ranked result set in response to a query, embedded in a web page, a pop-up, etc. The advertisements displayed to a user of a client device may be selected, redirecting a user to a website providing the product or service advertised.
Client devices, communicatively coupled to a network such as the Internet, are capable of accessing various websites which may display advertisements. For example, a user of a client device may submit a search query comprising one or more terms to a search engine, which causes the search engine to retrieve a result set comprising links to content, as well as advertisements responsive to the search terms provided by a user. The search engine displays the result set that it generates to a user who may then select or view items in the result set, including one or more advertisements.
Advertisements displayed in response to a user's query, embedded within a webpage, displayed as a pop-up, etc., are often retrieved according to a predetermined algorithm. For example, the advertisements presented to a user may be selected according to an algorithm that determines the frequency with which a query term appears in a given web advertisement. Similarly, the advertisements embedded in a web page may be selected based upon the terms appearing in the respective web page. Retrieval and delivery methodologies for advertisements using query term frequency or web page content are tailored to provide users with advertisements based upon each advertisement's relevancy with respect to a query or web page. However, while such retrieval and delivery methods are capable of providing users with results that are relevant links to content, these methods fail to take into account the profit interests and needs of the search engine provider and the advertisers providing the advertisements.
Different advertisements may be more profitable or less profitable for a search engine provider to display as the amount paid by each advertiser for displaying an advertisement varies. Additionally, because a search engine provider may charge an advertiser a fee for each advertisement selected by a user, the frequency with which an advertisement is selected may be a significant factor in selecting which advertisements to display in response to a query, within a web page, as a pop-up, etc. Advertisers may have a plurality of advertisements pertaining to a particular product or service, whereby the advertiser measures the success of an advertisement by examining the number of users who select the advertisement when displayed on client devices. Because users may be more responsive to a particular advertisement among a plurality of advertisements pertaining to a similar product or service, the advertiser may desire to display the most successful advertisements in order to increase the likelihood that users purchase the advertiser's products or services.
One methodology for measuring the effectiveness of an advertisement utilizes "click through rate," which is a measure of the number of users who select a given advertisement. However, because advertisements may be delivered in a ranked result set, at varying times, to different web pages, etc., click through rate fails to adequately measure the success or effectiveness of an advertisement. For example, an advertisement or other item of content ranked and displayed first in a result set or displayed during peak hours of Internet traffic is more likely to be selected by a given user than an item ranked second, third, etc., or displayed during off-peak hours. Therefore, an advertisement ranked first in a result set or appearing during peak hours may often receive the greatest user response, thereby resulting in the greatest click through rate for a group of advertisements. However, simply using click through rate as a measure of effectiveness does not provide a search engine or advertiser with an accurate representation of the success of a given advertisement.
Current methods and systems for selecting advertisements for delivery to users from a plurality of advertisements fail to take into account both the relevancy and effectiveness of those advertisements. In order to overcome shortcomings associated with existing advertisement selection and delivery techniques, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tracking and normalizing click through rates for one or more advertisements among a plurality of advertisements. Normalized click through rates may be used to assign one or more advertisement weights that allow for the selection and delivery of both relevant and effective advertisements.

System and method for optimizing the delivery of advertisements


A safety mechanism for a laminate battery. An exterior case (5) consists of two molded sheets (5a) made of laminate sheets, superposed upon one another, and bonded together around the outer edges. The exterior case has a protrusion (10) that communicates with the interior of the exterior case and protrudes outwardly from one side. A safety vent (13) is made up of an exhaust hole (11) formed in at lease one of the two molded sheets (5a) in the protrusion (10), and a valve element (12) making elastic pressure contact with the edge of the exhaust hole (11) to seal it. The safety mechanism does not operate within the range of internal pressure variation during normal use, but operates reliably at a time point when a predetermined valve operating pressure is reached to release a necessary amount of gas to the outside, this valve operating pressure being within the safe range relative to the pressure resistance of the exterior case (5) made of laminate sheets. Also, the safety vent configuration enables a reduction in production cost.

Conventionally, lithium ion batteries and the like are commonly configured as a laminate battery which is composed of an electrode plate group and an electrolyte encased in an exterior case made of laminate sheets. Lithium ion batteries which have metal battery cases are generally provided with a safety vent that opens part of the battery case to the outside so as to release internal gas smoothly to the outside when the temperature or internal pressure of the battery exceeds a predetermined level, in order to prevent rupture of the battery which results from a battery temperature rise and a subsequent rapid pressure build-up. There are usually two types of safety vents: Heat shut-off type and rupture membrane type. Most batteries adopt one of them, and some use both of them.
Some cylindrical batteries that use the above metal battery case include a built-in resealable safety vent. For example, a known resealable safety vent 63 shown in FIG. 17A includes an exhaust hole 61 provided in a sealing plate 60 and a rubber valve element 62 that seals the exhaust hole 61 by making pressure contact with the periphery of the hole 61. Another known resealable safety vent 66 shown in FIG. 17B includes an exhaust hole 61 similarly to the above, a rubber-lined valve element 64, and a spring 65 that applies a force in a direction in which the valve element 64 is pressed against the periphery of the exhaust hole 61 to seal the hole 61. Such resealable safety vents 63 and 66 cannot be applied to laminate batteries. Application of such vents to laminate batteries is unthinkable because of large functional difference, and of the inevitable large difference in configuration, between the laminate sheet exterior case of the laminate battery and the metal battery case.
In laminate batteries, usually, the laminate sheets that form the exterior case are made of polypropylene (hereinafter, abbreviated as "PP") and bonded together by heat sealing. Since the melting temperature of PP is approximately 150° C., the laminate sheet melts and releases internal gas to the outside to lower the pressure when the battery temperature exceeds 150° C., thereby preventing a rupture accident. A safety vent configuration commonly adopted in laminate batteries uses plastic that has a lower melting point than PP and is inexpensive as much as possible, for example polyethylene (hereinafter, abbreviated as "PE"); the plastic is interposed in between the bonded part, so that this portion will melt first to open the vent when the battery heats up (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Another known safety vent configuration for laminate batteries provides a portion where the peeling strength is reduced by making the width of the heat-sealed part narrower, so that this portion will function as a safety vent (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Yet another known safety vent configuration for laminate batteries provides a portion in the sealed part where the pressure resistance (peeling strength) is reduced by making smaller the thickness of part of the adhesive layer or heat-sealed plastic layer of the sealed part, or by implanting a different material film or a hollow component, so that this portion will function as a safety vent (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
[Patent Document 1] Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-93489
[Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3554155
[Patent Document 3] Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-86823