A cushion for use with a patient interface device includes a first end portion, which typically contacts the patient's face when the patient interface device is worn, a second end and/or opposite the first end, which is typically coupled to a portion of the patient interface device, a chamber, which is typically disposed between the first and second end portions, and an orifice. The chamber is structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and the orifice, which is in operative communication with the chamber, controls the passage of the dampening medium into and/or out of the chamber. A patient interface device including a mask shell and the cushion is also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a patient interface device for use in a pressure support system that supplies a flow of gas to the airway of a patient, and, in particular, to a patient interface device that includes a dampening cushion, and to a pressure support system that employs such a patient interface device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous situations where it is necessary or desirable to deliver a flow of breathing gas non-invasively to the airway of a patient, i.e., without intubating the patient or surgically inserting a tracheal tube in the patient's esophagus. For example, it is known to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient using a technique known as non-invasive ventilation (NIV). It is also known to deliver to the patient continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or variable airway pressure, such as a bi-level pressure that varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, or an auto-titrating pressure that varies with the monitored condition of the patient.
Non-invasive ventilation and conventional pressure support therapies, such as those noted above, involve the placement of a patient interface device, which is typically a nasal or nasal/oral mask, on the face of a patient. The patient interface device facilitates the delivery of a flow of breathing gas from a pressure/flow generating device (e.g., a ventilator, pressure support device, etc.) to the airway of the patient. Typical pressure support therapies are prescribed to treat a medical disorder, such as sleep apnea syndrome, in particular, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure.
Many patient interface devices (i.e., masks) include a mask shell having a mask cushion or mask seal attached thereto. When the patient interface device is donned by the user, the mask cushion contacts the surface of the patient's face. The mask shell and mask cushion are usually held in place by a headgear that wraps around the head of a patient. A typical headgear includes flexible, adjustable straps that extend from the mask shell to attach the patient interface device to the patient. For example, it is known to maintain such a patient interface device on the face of a patient with a headgear having upper and lower straps, each having opposite ends threaded through connecting elements provided on the opposite sides and top of the mask shell. The patient interface device and headgear may be referred to as a patient interface assembly.
It is also known to provide forehead supports, cheek supports, and/or chin supports with patient interface devices to provide support mechanisms to support the patient interface device on the patient's face. Patient interface devices having forehead cushions, spacers, and/or supports are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,907,584; 5,243,971; 5,517,986; 5,570,689; 6,119,693 and 6,357,441. An example of patient interface devices having cheek cushions, spacers, and/or supports are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,915,105 and 6,119,694. An example of a patient interface device having a chin cushion, spacer, and/or support is described in published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/953,642 (publication No. US 2005/0072428).
Generally, patient interface devices are designed such that a seal is created and maintained between the mask cushion and the patient's face. More specifically, undue gas leaks around the periphery of the mask cushion must be avoided. With many existing patient interface devices, the mask cushion must be compressed against the patient's face to eliminate these undue gas leaks. However, the compression may cause the patient to experience discomfort. This discomfort may discourage the patient from wearing the patient interface device, thus defeating the purpose of the prescribed pressure support therapy. This is especially a problem when the patient interface device is worn by the patient for an extended period of time, for example, in providing CPAP to treat OSA.
In the instances where a forehead, cheek, and/or chin cushion is employed to lend added support to the patient interface device, the tightening of the headgear straps to effect compression of the mask cushion may also cause the forehead, cheek, and/or chin cushions to compress. As a result, the patient may experience further discomfort.
Many patient interface device designs attempt to balance the competing interests of patient comfort and leakage minimization. In addressing these interests, many designs have focused on the mask cushion. Early mask cushion designs were typically a flap of material or a balloon that contacted the face of the user. Further design developments include contouring the patient contacting portion of the mask cushion and/or making the mask cushion customizable to the surface or underlying tissues of the user. Still further mask cushions have employed multiple flaps so that the outermost flap provides a sealing function. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,051 to Toffolon.
A need exists, however, for a patient interface device that improves upon existing devices. More specifically, a need exists for a patient interface device having an improved mask cushion that increases patient comfort while reducing undue gas leaks during delivery of a positive airway pressure or flow of gas to the airway of the user. A need also exists for improved forehead, cheek, and/or chin cushions associated with the patient interface device.

Patient interface device with dampening cushion


A process for the preparation of a substituted guanidine by reacting a substituted cyanamide with ammonia or a substituted amine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of a tri-substituted guanidine by reacting a mono-substituted cyanamide with a di-substituted amine.

Substituted guanidines have a wide field of use. For example, 1,3-diphenyl guanidines and like substituted guanidines are accelerators for the vulcanization of rubbers. Thus, such guanidine derivatives, when radiolabeled, can be incorporated into a vulcanized rubber object (e.g., a tire tread) and rate of loss of rubber therefrom by water can be monitored by rate of loss of radioactivity. As another example, 1,3-di-(o-tolyl) guanidine may act in an agonistic, antagonistic or inverse agonistic manner in relation to the prototypical sigma benzomorphans and therefore can affect pupil size and heart rate in a direction parallel or opposite that caused by benzomorphans which can be determined by standard tests in laboratory animals. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,094, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Similarly, certain tri- and tetra-substituted guanidines, e.g., N-(1-naphthyl)-N'-(3-ethylphenyl)-N'-methyl guanidine, also exhibit exceptionally low binding to the sigma brain receptor. Such compounds can thus be used for treating diseases of the nervous system in which the pathophysiology of the diseases involves excessive excitation of nerve cells by agonists of the glutamate/N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor.
The synthesis of substituted guanidines by reaction of ammonia or amine derivatives with cyanamide derivatives is a well-known reaction. Symmetrical or unsymmetrical N,N'-disubstituted guanidines can be conveniently made by reaction of an appropriate amine with an appropriate cyanamide either by fusion or in a suitable boiling solvent such as chlorobenzene. Safir, S. R. et al. J. Org. Chem. 13: 24 (1948); Gulek, H. W. et al. J. Med. Chem. 12:712 (1969). For example, see Reaction (I) set forth below in which each R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is aryl or alkyl. ##STR1##
However, preparation of tri- or tetra-substituted guanidines using the same reaction is limited by the lower nucleophilicity of the secondary amines or inversely lower electrophilicity of the substituted cyanamides. Indeed, the reaction of a secondary amine and disubstituted cyanamide is a very low yield synthesis (0-20%) of substituted guanidine even under forcing conditions involving fusion at temperatures as high as 200.degree. C., coupled with difficult product isolation and purification. Thus, it is very difficult and impractical to use Reaction (I) for large scale synthesis of unsymmetrical tetra-substituted guandines.
Also, the reaction of a monosubstituted amine and a disubstituted cyanamide to produce a trisubstituted cyanamide can be a very low yield synthesis, coupled with difficult product isolation and purification. For example, the yield of N-(1-naphthyl)-N'-(3-ethylphenyl)-N'-methyl guanidine from 1-naphthylamine and N-methyl, N-(3-ethylphenyl) cyanamide is as low as 17%. The reason for the poor yields can be attributed to the steric hindrance offered by the methyl group of N-methyl, N-(3-ethylphenyl) cyanamide to the approach of the nucleophilic amine.


A system and method manages data versions in a file system. A data version field associated with a direct block pointer in each level 1 indirect block stores a data version associated with the data contained in the direct block. When data is modified subsequent to the creation of a persistent consistency point image, the data version is incremented to a next data version value to signify that the data has been modified. Replication is aided by the ease of identifying modified data blocks by examining the data version field associated with each block.

A storage system is a computer that provides storage service relating to the organization of information on storage devices, such as disks. The storage system may be deployed within a network attached storage (NAS) environment and, as such, may be embodied as a file server. The file server or filer includes a storage operating system that implements a file system to logically organize the information as a hierarchical structure of directories and files on the disks. Each "on-disk" file may be implemented as a set of data structures, e.g., disk blocks, configured to store information. A directory, on the other hand, may be implemented as a specially formatted file in which information about other files and directories are stored.
A filer may be further configured to operate according to a client/server model of information delivery to thereby allow many clients to access files stored on a server, e.g., the filer. In this model, the client may comprise an application, such as a database application, executing on a computer that "connects" to the filer over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private network (VPN) implemented over a public network such as the Internet. Each client may request the services of the file system on the filer by issuing file system protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the filer over the network.
A common type of file system is a "write in-place" file system, an example of which is the conventional Berkeley fast file system. In a write in-place file system, the locations of the data structures, such as inodes and data blocks, on disk are typically fixed. An inode is a data structure used to store information, such as meta-data, about a file, whereas the data blocks are structures used to store the actual data for the file. The information contained in an inode may include, e.g., ownership of the file, access permission for the file, size of the file, file type and references to locations on disk of the data blocks for the file. The references to the locations of the file data are provided by pointers, which may further reference indirect blocks that, in turn, reference the data blocks, depending upon the quantity of data in the file. Changes to the inodes and data blocks are made "in-place" in accordance with the write in-place file system. If an update to a file extends the quantity of data for the file, an additional data block is allocated and the appropriate inode is updated to reference that data block.
Another type of file system is a write-anywhere file system that does not overwrite data on disks. If a data block on disk is retrieved (read) from disk into memory and "dirtied" with new data, the data is then stored (written) to a new location on disk to thereby optimize write performance. A write-anywhere file system may initially assume an optimal layout such that the data is substantially contiguously arranged on disks. The optimal disk layout results in efficient access operations, particularly for sequential read operations, directed to the disks. A particular example of a write-anywhere file system that is configured to operate on a filer is the SpinFS file system available from Network Appliance, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. The SpinFS file system is implemented within a storage operating system having a protocol stack and associated disk storage.
Disk storage is typically implemented as one or more storage "volumes" that comprise physical storage disks, defining an overall logical arrangement of storage space. Currently available filer implementations can serve a large number of discrete volumes (150 or more, for example). Each volume is associated with its own file system and, for purposes hereof, volume and file system shall generally be used synonymously. The disks within a volume are typically organized as one or more groups of Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks (RAID). RAID implementations enhance the reliability/integrity of data storage through the redundant writing of data "stripes" across a given number of physical disks in the RAID group, and the appropriate caching of parity information with respect to the striped data. As described herein, a volume typically comprises at least one data disk and one associated parity disk (or possibly data/parity partitions in a single disk) arranged according to a RAID 4, or equivalent high-reliability, implementation.
A file system may have the capability to generate a snapshot of its active file system. An "active file system" is a file system to which data can be both written and read or, more generally, an active store that responds to both read and write I/O operations. It to should be noted that "snapshot" is a trademark of Network Appliance, Inc. and is used for purposes of this patent to designate a persistent consistency point image. A persistent consistency point image (PCPI) is a space conservative, point-in-time read-only image of data accessible by name that provides a consistent image of that data (such as a storage system) at some previous time. More particularly, a PCPI is a point-in-time representation of a storage element, such as an active file system, volume, virtual file system, file or database, stored on a storage device (e.g., on disk) or other persistent memory and having a name or other identifier that distinguishes it from other PCPIs taken at other points in time. A PCPI can also include other information (metadata) about the active file system at the particular point in time for which the image is taken. The terms "PCPI" and "snapshot" may be used interchangeably through out this patent without derogation of Network Appliance's trademark rights.
It is advantageous for the services and data provided by a storage system to be available for access to the greatest degree possible. Accordingly, some storage system environments permit data replication between a source storage system and one or more destination storage systems. Typically these replication systems generate a PCPI of the active file system and then replicate any changes between the PCPI and the target file system. A noted disadvantage of such replication techniques is the requirement to identify the changes between the replica stored on a destination storage system and the point in time image on the source storage system. One exemplary technique checks the file length and/or a timestamp of each file in a volume to identify whether the file has changed size or has been updated more recently than a given point in time. However, a noted disadvantage of such a technique is that it does not identify which data blocks within the file have been modified, thereby causing the replication system to transmit the entire file to the destination.
Another noted technique for performing replication between a source and destination storage system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,539, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CHANGES IN SNAPSHOTS AND FOR TRANSMITTING CHANGES TO A DESTINATION SNAPSHOT, by Michael L. a Federwisch, et al., filed on Mar. 19, 2002 and issued on Jan. 31, 2006. In such a system, a PCPI is generated and the contents transferred to a destination as a baseline PCPI. At a later point in time, another PCPI is generated on the source. A block by block comparison is performed between the first and second PCPIs to identify changed blocks. Only the changed blocks are transmitted to the destination. However, a noted disadvantage of such a technique is that a block by block comparison of the two PCPIs must be performed, which is computationally intensive and may require a substantial amount of time.

System and method for managing data versions in a file system


A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that defines a fixing hole therein includes a mounting bracket, a locking member, and an operating member. The mounting bracket includes a sideboard, and a first sidewall. The sideboard defines a through hole therein. The locking member arranged between the sideboard and the first sidewall includes a locking pin protruding therefrom. The locking pin is inserted through the through hole of the mounting bracket and configured for engaging in the fixing hole of the data storage device. A top of the locking member is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket. The operating member is arranged between the locking member and the first sidewall, and includes a resilient portion for pressing the locking member inward, and a first clip portion for clipping a bottom of the locking member for drawing the locking member to pivot outward. A top of the operating member is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing or removing a data storage device to or from an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic apparatus, such as a computer, or a server, usually includes data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital video disc (DVD) drives, and floppy disk drives. These devices are typically added to increase the functionality of the electronic apparatus as desired by a user. However, the installation of such devices in the electronic apparatus is usually labor-intensive.
The installation of a hard disk drive in a computer typically involves using screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket on a chassis of the computer. Usually, these screws are so small that it is difficult to install them. It is laborious and time-consuming to manipulate the screws. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws are easier to be dropped by an assembler into the computer. Some accidental damage may occur in the computer.
To address the aforementioned problems, a plurality of mounting apparatuses is invented to reduce the number of needed screws. For example, a pair of detachable rails is attached to opposite sides of a data storage device with screws. The data storage device slides into and is secured to a drive bracket. However, the screws have to be removed to detach the rails from the data storage device before replacing the data storage device.
What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing or removing a data storage device to or from an electronic device.

Mounting apparatus for data storage device

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


Colors of printed materials are easily matched. Provided is a print management system used in a printing system including a plurality of printing presses and performing printing using plates respectively created for each printing press. The print management system includes a tone-curve storage unit for linking and storing identifying information of the printing presses and tone curves for the printing presses; a communication device for obtaining binary image data from a host system; a binary-image-data correction unit for creating binary image data for each of the printing presses by correcting the binary image data using the tone curves stored in the tone-curve storage unit; and CTPs for creating respective plates for each of the printing presses on the basis of the corrected binary image data.

When publishing newspapers covering a wide geographic region, for example, national newspapers, images and so forth for each page are edited at the newspaper's head office, and then the results of the editing work are supplied in the form of multivalued image data. This multivalued image data is subjected to RIP processing (Raster Image Processing) at the newspaper head office to form binary image data, and this binary image data is transmitted to each newspaper printing factory. In the system used, for example, in the case of color pages, binary image data (dot data or bitmapped page image information) for each of the colors CMYB (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) is transmitted from the newspaper company to each newspaper printing factory located in each region.
At each newspaper printing factory which receives the binary image data, in a print management system, operations are performed for inputting corresponding page indexes (codes etc. related to the version name, page, and color) and information about the newspaper press to be used etc. into the binary image data for each page, as well as for applying inspection marks and cut-off marks to the binary image data for each page.
When binary image data for each page is completed in this way, platemaking is performed on the basis of the respective binary image data. Platemaking is performed by, for example, CTP (Computer to Plate) equipment or CTF (Computer to Film) equipment. The plates created in this way are manually mounted on the plate cylinders of corresponding newspaper presses by an operator, and then printing is carried out on each newspaper press.
In this kind of newspaper printing, it is known that there are inevitably differences in the color and so on of the printed matter due to the various types of printing materials (printing paper, ink, etc.), individual differences among newspaper presses, and so forth. Thus, to match the colors of the printed matter between newspaper presses, color management has been proposed in the related art (for example, see Patent Document 1).
For example, the color management disclosed in Patent Document 1 is carried out by the following procedure.
First, the newspaper company transmits multivalued image data instead of binary image data. Each newspaper printing factory holds color management information for each newspaper press installed in the factory, and the multivalued image data is color corrected using this color management information. Accordingly, multivalued image data reflecting the characteristics of each newspaper press is created for each newspaper press. Then, the color-corrected multivalued image data is converted to binary image data by RIP processing, and printing is performed on the basis of this binary image data.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2004-351929.

Print management system, method and computer-readable medium containing program for the same

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd.


Phage displayed recombinant antibody library was developed and the library was screened against VEGFR-2. After screening and ELISA experiments two recombinant antibodies showing binding properties to VEGFR-2 was obtained. The difference of the two recombinant antibodies to the recombinant antibodies already developed was demonstrated by DNA sequence analysis. The inhibition effect of the two recombinant antibodies on endothelial cell proliferation was demonstrated with cell assays. Thus these recombinant antibodies might be used as VEGF related angiogenesis inhibitors.

Oxygen and nutrients required for the development of living tissues are carried to the tissues through the blood vessels whereas waste substances are carried away from the tissues via the blood vessels as well. While angiogenesis, growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is a physiological phenomenon in embryogenesis, wound healing, and during menstruation in the female reproductive system, it emerges pathologically in inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, chronic inflammation, inflammatory bowel diseases, and psoriasis and such cancers of various tissues as breast, bladder, colon, lung, neuroblastoma, melanoma, kidney, pancreas, uterus, cervix, and glioblastoma as well as in ophthalmologic diseases such as age related macular degeneration.
The significance of angiogenesis in in vivo formation, development, and metastasis of solid tumors was first asserted in 1971 (Folkman J., 1971, N Eng J Med., 285, 1182-1186). Angiogenesis emerges through the proliferation of capillary endothelial cells (Risau W, 1997, Nature, 386, 671-674). As with all biological events, the organism responds to angiogenic stimulation by secreting antiangiogenic factors. Proangiogenic factors and antiangiogenic factors are at equilibrium under normal conditions and when this equilibrium is disturbed against antiangiogenic factors, angiogenesis starts. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) was defined by Ferrara et al. in 1989 (Ferrara and Henzel, 1989 Biochem Biophys Res Commun 161, 851-858). VEGF plays a key role in angiogenesis (Ferrara N et al., 1996, Nature, 380: 439-442). Experiments on mice showed that the only lack of allele concerning VEGF resulted in early embryonic lethality due to serious vascular problems (Carmilet P. et al., 1996, Nature, 380, 435-439). VEGF is a heparin-binding homodimeric basic protein bound with disulfide bond of 45 kDa in weight. Such various sub-groups of it as VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D ve VEGF-E have been defined so far. In mammals, VEGF-A has isoforms such as VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF189, VEGF206 and VEGF145 based on the number of amino acids. Among these isoforms, VEGF165 is the predominant one (Ferrara N., et al., 2009, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 29, 789-791,).
VEGF shows its intracellular effects by binding to tyrosine kinase receptors in cell membranes. VEGF Receptors contain two portions. The first section is the intracellular portion containing a tyrosine-kinase domain. The second portion is the extracellular region comprising 5 to 7 immunoglobulin-like structures that contain ligand binding regions (Ferrara N. et al., 2003, Nat. Med. 9:669-676). In addition to identification of Flt-1 (VEGFR-1), flk-1/KDR (VEGFR-2), and Flt-4 (VEGFR-3) as VEGF receptors, receptor structures termed neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 expressed at the endothelial cell surface and that has a low binding characteristic to VEGF-A have been defined recently. KDR (kinase-insert-domain-containing receptor) was defined by Terman et al. by patent numbered PCT/US92/01300 in 1991 (Terman et al., 1991, Oncogene 6:1677-1683). Flk-1 sequence was shed light upon by sequencing method in 1991 (Mathhews W et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 88:9026-9030). These studies have demonstrated that KDR is the human analog of FLK-1 receptor. In addition, KDR and FLK-1 receptors are also known as VEGFR2.
The most important of VEGF receptors is KDR (VEGFR-2), which is responsible for endothelial cell proliferation and chemotaxis (Ferrara N et al., 2003, Nat Med., 9, 669-676). VEGFR-2 (Kinase insert domain receptor/KDR) is expressed at high levels in vascular endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells (Asahara T., et al., 1997, Science, 275, 964-967; Ziegler B l. et al., 1999, Science, 285, 1553-1558; Peichev M., et al., 2000, Blood, 95, 952-958). The 7 immunoglobulin like domains present in the extracellular section of KDR enable the signals from the environment to be transducted to the cytoplasm of the cell. The intracellular section of KDR mediates intracytoplasmic signal transduction. Therefor, any molecule aiming to inhibit the interacion VEGF with KDR should target the 1-7 immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains of the receptor (LU D. ve ark., 2000, JBC, 275, 14321-14330).
Several studies conducted so far have found that VEGF increases in many types of cancers such as glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung, pancreas, ovary, acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's, and myeloma (Ranieri G et al., 2006, Curr Med Chem., 13, 1845-1857). Therefore, VEGF and VEGF receptors are among the priority targets in suppression of angiogenesis. It is possible to prevent function of VEGF by inhibiting from different angles the signal path triggered by binding of VEGF to transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors on endothelial cells with structures developed against VEGF and VEGF receptors.
Although the binding affinity of VEGF to VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) is 50 times more as compared with VEGFR-2 (KDR), VEGF's angiogenic features, endothelial cell proliferation and its effect on chemotaxis, take place due to its relation with KDR (Cross M. et al., 2003, Trends in Biochemical Sciences; 28.488-494). It has been demonstrated that when a plasmid encoding VEGFR2 is given to pig aortic endothelial cells lacking VEGFR2, these cells go through mitosis and participate in chemotaxis (Shibuya M et al., 1990, Oncogene, 8:519-524). Some studies on mice showed that these animals lacked organized blood vessels in deficient or defective expression of VEGFR2. Shalaby et al. showed that mouse embryos lacking VEGFR-2 expression die during the early embryonic period due to the deficiency in the development of endothelial and hematopoietic progenitor cells (Shalaby F et al., 1995, Nature. 376 (6535):62-6). With this experiment, it has been shown that blocking the relation between VEGF and KDR is important in terms of suppression of angiogenesis.
In 1971, J. Folkman asserted that growth of a tumor is dependent on oxygen and energy resources carried by new capillaries that develop from the blood vessels located near the tumor and claimed that antiangiogenic attempts may be an effective approach in terms of preventing cancer development. The close association of tumor growth with angiogenic activity has led to investigation of angiogenic agents as additional options of treatment in cancer treatment. Demonstration of the fact that antibodies developed against VEGF suppress tumor growth in vivo (Kim K J et al., 1993, Nature 362: 841-844) has shown that VEGF antagonists may be used in treatment as inhibitors of tumor vascularization. Today, VEGF and VEGF receptors are among the priority objectives in the suppression of angiogenesis and thereby, in oncology (Ferrara N and Kerbel R. S., 2005, Nature. 438: 967-974)
Several anti-angiogenic strategies based on blocking VEGF/receptor relationship have been developed in recent years. Within this framework, such various structures as anti-VEGF antibodies that prevent VEGF/KDR interaction and/or suppress KDR signal transmission for the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor (Kanai et al., 1998, J. Cancer 77, 933-936; Margolin et al., 2001, J. Clin. Oncol. 19, 851-856); anti-KDR antibodies (Zhu et al., 1998, Cancer Res. 58, 3209-3214; Zhu et al., 2003, Leukemia 17, 604-61 1; Prewett et al., 1999, Cancer Res. 59, 5209-5218); anti-VEGF immunotoxins (Olson et al. 1997, Int. J. Cancer 73, 865-870); ribozymes (Pavco et al., 2000, Clin. Cancer Res. 6, 2094-2103); soluble receptors (Holash et al., 2002, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99, 11393-11398); tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Fong et al., 1999, Cancer Res 59, 99-106; Wood et al., 2000, Cancer Res 60, 2178-2189; Grosios et al., 2004, Inflamm Res. 53(4):133-42); anti-VEGF-antisense (Forster et al. 2004, Cancer Lett. 20; 212(1):95-103); and RNA interference (Takei et al. 2004, Cancer Res. 64 (10):3365-70; Reich et al., 2003, Mol Vis 9:210-6).
Studies focusing on suppression of angiogenesis by targeting VEGF and receptors have intensified. Many strategies have been developed to this end. The rhuMab VEGF (Bevacizumab), recombinant human monoclonal VEGF antibody with antiangiogenic and anti-tumor activity (Monk B. J. et al., 2005, Gynecologic Oncology, 96, 902-905) and the monoclonal human antibody developed in 2006 by Wu Y et al. (Wu Y, et al., 2006 Clin. Cancer Res., 12(21), 6573-84) against VEGFR-1′e are the most important ones. Results indicating that VEGF-Trap glioma-animal models with VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 hybrid structures combined to human IgG1 constant region can be used in treatment of tumors in the beginning and advanced stages (Gomez-Manzano C. et al., 2008, Neuro-Oncology, 10, 940). Ranibizumab, 48 kDa, comprised of the Fab (antigen-binding) section of Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, renders lighter and thinner than the monoclonal antibody Bevacuzumab (148 kDa) it is derived from, and thereby, is able to pass through the internal membrane in intravitreal application and inhibits all VEGF isoforms (Gaudreault J. et al., 1999, Am Assoc Pharm Sci Pharm Sci Suppl, 1, 2142). Today, promising results have been obtained in the use of Ranibizumab for treatment in age related macular degeneration (Rosenfeld P. J., et al., 2006, N Engl J Med., 355, 1419-1431).
In addition to monoclonal antibody structures, the use of small molecules as VEGF antagonists through acting as VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors is possible as well. In a study conducted by Bainbridge J. W. B. et al. in 2003 with peptide structures created by setting off from the exon 6 region, where interaction of the VEGF molecule with KDR take place, 7 amino acid structures that inhibit angiogenesis by blocking interaction of VEGF with its receptor were identified in vitro. Recently, sunitinib and sorafenib, two small molecule VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been started to be used in cancer treatments (KO J. S et al., 2009, Clin. Cancer Res., 15(6), 2148-2157; Jilaveanu L. et al., 2009, Clinical Cancer Research, 15, 1076).
In line with the developments in genetic engineering in recent years, formation of functional recombinant antibody fragments that mimic antigen recognition of the antibody molecule has been possible. Expressed as an antibody fragment, single chain variable fragment is constituted by binding of heavy chain variable region (VH) and light chain variable region (VL) via a peptide bridge. These antibody fragments are called single chain variable fragments (scFv) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778 Lander et al.; WO88/09344, Huston et al.). As ScFv structures contain antigen-binding variable regions (Fv), they have the characteristic to provide the binding feature of the antibody molecule at a minimal structure. On the other hand, single domain antibody structures may be effective in binding to the target antigen structure.
In 1993, Jeffrey et al. showed that heavy chain was fundamental in digoxin binding of the antibody developed against digoxin (Jeffrey, P. D. et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA 1993, 90:10310-103149). It has been shown in a recent study that the "nanobody" structures consisting of heavy chain variable fragments of the antibody developed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) prevents binding of Epidermal growth factor (EGF) to EGFR (Roovers R. et al., 2007, Cancer Immunology 15:303-317). ScFv's are presented on the surfaces of filamentous phages in phage display technology (WO 92/01047 Mc Cafferty et al.). It is possible to develop nanoantibody structures against VEGFR with this approach. However, rapid removal from circulation of nano antibody structures of approximately 15 kD leads to reservations in treatment applications. However, these nano antibody structures have been enabled to stay in the circulation for longer periods by restructuring them as 50 kD multivalent to ensure that they are provided with the feature to bind to albumin (Tijink B et al. 2008, Mol Cancer Therapy. 7(8):2288-2297).
The use of filamentous phages in phage display technology has brought about various advantages. Easy purification of phage particles from culture supernatant, accessibility to genetic and sequence data, and the opportunity to select the small number of phage clones that can identify the target antigen from among many antigens using the "biopanning" method are some of these advantages. Phagemid vectors that contain both bacteriophage replication origin and plasmid replication origin are preferred in order to take advantage of this convenience in phage display technology. The multiple cloning site (MCS) in these phagemid vectors is located at the start point of the gene that belongs to the sheath structural protein of the phagemid (e.g., gIII) Thus, the product obtained as a result of fusions made on sheath proteins can mimic the antibody located on the surface of B-lymphocytes existing in the immune system in the normal environment. However, this process is dependent upon how the amber stop codon located between the antibody gene and gIII will be read by the host bacteria. If phage supE grows on a suppressive host (e.g., E. coli TG1), the antibody fragment makes fusion to the minor sheath protein and stays on the phage surface. This structure on phage surface can act as a receptor that detects such foreign structures as B surface antibodies. If phage is grown on non-suppressive (sup−) E. coli strains (such as HB2151), then amber codon will be read as stop codon and the antibody particle will be secreted from the bacteria in soluble form. As such, mimicking of the antibodies synthesized from plasma cells with phagemid vectors become possible. The region comprised of 6 histidines on the phagemid vector, following the expression of cloned gene fragment to the multiple cloning site as dissolved in non-suppressor bacteria, enables easy purification of this recombinant protein from the environment using Zn++, Ni++ or Co++ charged affinity column (Weiner L. M, 1996, J. Mol. Biol., 255(1), 28-43).
Due to the technical convenience of the phage display technology, the scFv structure reflects a wide range of utilization opportunities in many disciplines. In contrast to the approximately 150 kDa size of the whole antibody molecule, the scFv structures of the antibody, which are approximately 30 kDa in size and lack the constant region and Fc parts of the antibody, are being used in today's medical researches focusing on diagnosis and treatment in increasing numbers (Bradbury A. R. M. et al., 2004, Journal of Immunological Methods, 290, 29-49).
The KDR 1.3 and 2.6 scFv antibody structures mentioned in the invention present antiangiogenic characteristics by blocking the intracellular signaling activity of VEGFR-2 by binding to the extracellular part of the VEGFR2 (1-7 immunoglobulin domain) on the cell surface and by inhibiting VEGF dependent cell proliferation.

Recombinant antibody structures binding to and blocking the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGFR—2/KDR)


Time information for various locations can be automatically generated for display on a portable electronic device. The time information can include time information for remote locations away from the current location of a user. The time information can be generated without requiring user input specifying the locations. The locations can be determined or identified based on context information of the user or context information of contacts of the user. The locations can be prioritized and the time information can be displayed according to the prioritization.

The present disclosure relates generally to portable electronic devices, and in particular to portable electronic devices that provide time information.
Portable electronic devices may have the capability to present time information such as a digital or analog clock on a user interface of the portable electronic device. Portable electronic devices may also have the capability to track the location of a user, for example, by using Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. As the user travels to a different city or to a different location, the digital or analog clock presented on the user interface of the portable electronic device can be updated to correspond to the current location of the user. However, in some instances, the user may be interested in knowing the local time of a city or location away from the current location of the user.
Although some portable electronic devices may provide the capability for a user to manually type in remote locations such as city names to retrieve time information for remote locations, the manual entry process can be cumbersome and may be susceptible to typographical errors. Furthermore, the form factor of some portable electronic devices may not be suitable for such manual entry. For example, a small electronic device may not have sufficient surface area on a user interface to accommodate the display of a virtual keyboard to enable a user to manually type in city names.


Methods for configuring networks and systems including nodes and switches. In one aspect, a method includes selecting a (v, b, r, k, λ) balanced incomplete block design (BIBD), wherein the BIBD includes v elements and b blocks of k elements, each element of the v elements is in r blocks of the b blocks, and each distinct pair of elements of the v elements is in λ blocks of the b blocks. Nodes are connected to switches. Each node is assigned to a different element of the BIBD. Each switch is assigned to a different block of the BIBD. For each switch, the switch is connected to the nodes assigned to the elements included in the block assigned to the switch.

The present disclosure relates to configuring data communication networks.
Networks typically include computers and various networking devices to connect the computers. For example, routers and switches can connect computers in a network. An example network is a computer cluster that includes a group of computers working together to perform tasks. For example, a data center can house a group of computers connected on a local area network (LAN) that provide services to client devices using the Internet. Some networks include redundant networking devices so that computers on the network can still communicate when some of the network devices fail. Redundant networking devices can also be used for load balancing.

Configuring networks using balanced incomplete block designs


An image forming apparatus which uses rolled paper pulls the paper around a decurling roller in order to straighten the paper to allow the paper to remain flat. One or more torque limiting devices which provides a constant angular force against the unrolling of the paper is utilized to provide a force which straightens out or decurls the rolled paper which increases as the radius of the roll of paper decreases. The torque limiting device can be implemented using a spring which grips a rotating cylindrical surface as the surface rotates, a viscous-elastic fluid which provides a resistance against rotation, frictional surfaces, or magnets. The torque limiting device may also be implemented using two springs which provide different resistance against rotation in order to provide different rotational resistance, depending on the direction the roll of paper is rotating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a rolled paper feeding apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, printer, digital copier, and the like. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for providing resistance against the feeding out of paper in order to uncurl the rolled paper. The present invention is further directed towards a torque limiting device for providing a constant angular force (torque) which is used for unrolling the paper.
2. Discussion of the Background
FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional facsimile device 100 which utilizes rolled paper 1. The rolled paper 1 which will have an image recorded thereon is set into a receiving bin in the direction of arrow `A`. In the device 100, the paper is not supported in any manner at the rotational axis but rests on the bottom of the paper bin. Therefore, there is no need to use any type of paper spool or collar with the paper 1 in the facsimile machine 100.
FIG. 1B illustrates a different type of rolled paper facsimile machine which utilizes a paper spool 2 or support device made up of a shaft 2a and a side plate 2b. The rolled paper 1 with the spool is used to allow the paper to be smoothly pulled off of the roll as the roll of paper 1 is rotating. The support 2 may be referred to as a spool, spindle, spur, or other device which supports the rolled paper 1 as the roll is rotating. In FIG. 1B, the supports 2 are pushed against the roll of paper in the direction of the arrows `B` and the rolled paper 1 having the two supports 2 is inserted into the facsimile machine 102 in the direction of arrow `C`. In FIG. 1B, the shaft 2a may freely rotate with respect to the side plate 2b, or alternatively, the shaft 2amay be fixed to the side plate 2b and therefore, the side plate 2b will rotate inside of the facsimile machine 102.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the roll of paper 1 which includes a plurality of layers of paper 1a and a cardboard core 1b. In FIG. 2, a collar 3 is tightly inserted into the cardboard core 1b and the shaft 2a of the support device is inserted into the collar 3. The collar 3 is fixed with respect to the cardboard core 1b of the rolled paper 1 whereas the collar 3 and roll of paper 1 rotate freely with respect to the shaft 2a and the support 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional manner of uncurling the paper from the roll of paper 1. A pair of transport rollers 112 and 114 pull the paper around a decurling roller 110 so as to correct a curling of the paper in an opposite direction to a paper winding direction on the roll with a force of Fa. The rolled paper 1 provide a resistance against the force Fa in order to uncurl the paper around the decurling roller 110.
However, the decurling system illustrated in FIG. 3 has a drawback in that as the roll of paper uncurls, the paper must be under a higher tension around the decurling roller 110 to properly decurl the paper as the radius of the rolled paper 1 gets smaller. This is because the paper wound at a smaller radius (e.g., at a region closer to the core of the rolled paper) requires more tension to properly decurl the paper because the curl of the paper is smaller or tighter near the core. The frictional force imposed against the turning of the rolled paper 1 is partially dependent on the weight of the paper. As the weight of the rolled paper 1 becomes lighter, less force against the pulling of the paper in the direction Fa is imparted. Therefore, even as the radius of the rolled paper decreases which results in an increase in the force which prevents the unrolling operation, unsatisfactory force used for decurling may result due to the decrease in weight of the paper.
FIG. 4 illustrates three different relationships designated by the lines `A`, `B` and `C`. `A` is the ideal curve which would achieve the optimum paper decurling. The curve `A` shows an inverse linear relationship between the force Fa (in Newtons, for example) and the radius of the rolled paper (in centimeters). The line `B` shows a first example of the force Fa of a conventional system. For example, the line `B` can illustrate a roll of paper having a relatively small diameter core which is smooth. Also for example, the curve `C` illustrates the force for a small diameter core of a roll of paper which is somewhat dented. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the slope of the ideal line `A` has the force increasing as the radius of the rolled paper decreases whereas neither lines `B` nor `C` have an increase in force as the radius of the rolled paper decreases.

Rolled paper feeding apparatus which provides a constant torque for uncurling paper and a torque limiting device therefor


This invention relates generally to a content integration and delivery system and a method of using the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a system that integrates digital video content with object-oriented script (hotspots) to provide object specific marketing, including potential channels of distribution, such as internet shopping. The system includes the process of identifying and marking the relative location of specific objects within digital media and providing an outlay for the users to locate the object over the global system of interconnected computer networks (e.g. Internet). By using the disclosed interactive platform, a user can easily view, display, select and purchase any featured product in the video through Internet.

Recently more and more appliances, TVs, DVD/Blue Ray players, Digital Video Recorders, Streaming Media Players, and other similar devices obtain the capability to connect to the internet either through a modified strip down version of Linux OS, Windows Media OS, or a Java based applet. Having such permanent or semi-permanent access to the internet provides the viewer with an option of on-demand digital entertainment delivery, which became even more popular through such offering as Xfinity On Demand, Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV and others.
Even though the programing may be on demand, the marketing/advertisement approach and lack of access to additional related content is still the same. That is, for example, evenly distributed throughout the digital media, e.g., in the case of a full-length movie, the service provider sets time points at which the movie stops and an advertisement runs, and there is no ready access to additional content. Typically, all of this additional content is integrated and digitized together. The drawback of the current system of advertisement, marketing, and additional content delivery is that the viewer may get agitated by the interruptions and has little or no connection to the product being promoted or the ability to access the information at any time during the playback.
Therefore there is a continuing need to develop an alternative product distribution and marketing system that would engage the viewer and relate the viewer's entertainment experience to the product being promoted.


Methods and systems for electronic design automation includes clustering objects into more manageable numbers of objects. Clustering is optionally performed to reduce or minimize interconnections between clusters. Clustering optionally includes multi-level clustering. The clusters, and any unclustered objects, are floorplanned. Floorplanning positions the clusters so as to reduce or minimize the length of interconnections between the clusters. Objects within the clusters are then placed within the area assigned to the corresponding clusters. Placement optionally utilizes placement-based wire load models to accurately predict timing issues. A bottoms-up procedure is optionally performed during clustering and/or floorplanning, whereby area and/or size constraints of clustered objects are taken into account.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electronic design automation and, more particularly, to mixed-mode physical synthesis.
2. Related Art
Integrated circuits are designed using computer-based hardware description languages ("HDLs"), which are analogous to computer program source code. Electronic design automation ("EDA") tools are used to reduce the HDL code to actual integrated circuit designs. The integrated circuit designs can then be fabricated into integrated circuits. Reduction of HDL code to a circuit design is analogous to the reduction (i.e., compiling) of computer program source code to machine language code. EDA processes can "reduce" hundreds or thousands of lines of HDL code to millions of transistor gates and associated interconnections.
EDA tools typically attempt to optimize the design and layout of integrated circuit designs so that the designs meet speed, power, and/or other constraints. EDA processes tend to be extremely complex and consume substantial computational resources. A typical reduction process can take days, weeks, or even months.
What are needed, therefore, are improved methods and systems for electronic design automation.

Methods and systems for mixed-mode physical synthesis in electronic design automation


The present invention relates to a structure and a method of data update in a cache memory inside a local processor, which uses the feature of cache control. A buffer block of a header buffer is mapped to a memory space at several different address sectors addressed by the local processor. Whenever the local processor attempts to access the internal cache memory, cache missing will occur so that a local processor will be forced to alternatively request new data from buffer blocks of a header buffer in a HCA. Consequently, the whole block is loaded into cache memory. This does not only boost cache update performance but also accelerates packet access.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the structure and method of data update in the cache memory of a processor, particularly applying in high-speed transmission network. The cache system of a local processor is forced to access data from external sources due to cache missing so that updating the data in the cache memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays high-speed transmission network covers a spectrum of application such as Infiniband, cable modem, optical network, Serial ATA, and so on. For instance, Infiniband transmission technology comprises the second layer (link) and the third layer (network) in the seven-layer OSI (Open System Interconnect Reference Model). It means that the process of frequent internal I/O transmission and the data stream of signal distribution/exchange are thoroughly moved out from the server, and are processed on a node-to-node basis. This not only eliminates the waste of computing resources used in repeating decoding and encoding of packets in the operation of medium-/large-size network servers or clusters, but also reduces delays in system's reaction to external network service to improve the performance.
Infiniband enhances one-to-one or one-to-many I/O management on a node-to-node basis. Some nodes can be defined as subnet because they can be authorized to manage the transmission or configuration of data streams. According to the specification of Infiniband, the transmission speed of Infiniband achieves up to 2.5 Gbps on a single node and 10 Gbps on four nodes. Theoretically the highest transmission speed may reach 30 Gbps when data are transmitted via a maximum of 12 channels at one time.
The theory of signal transmission technology in Infiniband is based on the cross-like line interweaving and switching. It can be applied on media such as copper or fiber. The products applicable by Infiniband are broad such as servers, switches, routers, relevant interface cards, as well as node management software and so on.
Please see FIG. 1, which shows a block diagram of a packet receiving structure used in transmission technology of Infiniband. As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment comprises a host channel adapter 1 (HCA 1), a hardware module of which supports two or more physical layer ports in order to receive packets from physical layer 2, a host bus interface, two local processor interfaces and a Dynamic Random Access memory 4 (DRAM 4) shared by local processors. The local processors are a receiving processor 5 and a transmitting processor 8. A Synchronous Random Access Memory 3 (SRAM 3) serves as a packet buffer to store the packets transmitted and received between Host Lines Interface and network. There are a plurality of Direct Memory Access (DMA) engines in the hardware module of the HCA 1. Data are transmitted between the SRAM 3 and the host memory as commanded by the local processor. Each port is responding to two hardware engines, one of which is used for transmitting and the other for receiving. For example, the function of the HCA 1 is to connect the host CPU and the Infiniband network.
Again in FIG. 1, when packets are transmitted continuously from physical layer 2 to host memory via the HCA 1, the whole packets are sent to the SRAM 3 and temporarily saved therein. Meanwhile, the packet headers of the packets are copied and temporarily saved to a head buffer 6 so that a receiving processor 5 can access the packet headers for quickly processing instead of carrying them between the shared DRAM 4 and the host SRAM 3 for several times. This method lessens the accessing load of the SRAM 3 as well as that of DRAM 4.
According to prior art, the receiving processor 5 must send a command cycle to the DRAM 4. Only one bit is saved at one time until packet access is completed, which is also called non-cache memory access. Even though this reduces time of carrying the packets between the host memory and the DRAM 4, the processing time still needs to be improved. The processing speed of overall operation is influenced due to slowly processing pockets on the receiving processor 5. However, Some embedded receiving processors 5, use internal cache memory to access incoming packet header in the header buffer 6. In that case, invalidation is caused because of the failure in detecting external updated data. The new incoming packet header updates the data in the header buffer 6, but the updated data is not loaded into the internal cache memory or is not in the cache memory. As the receiving processor 5 will recognize as a "cache hit" due to the address of pocket headers saved in the receiving processor 5 is still the same, the receiving processor 5 will read the old data. Thus, the receiving processor 5 is unable to access the updated packet headers.
Thus, the present invention aims to provide a structure of cache memory for updating the data inside the local processor through using the feature of cache control. The buffer blocks of the external buffer is compulsively mapped to the memory space at different address sectors, and cache missing will occur when local processor accessing the cache memory according to these different addresses. As a result, cache missing will take place whenever the local processor attempts to access data in the buffer block so that the local processor will request data from the external buffer blocks. Therefore, the present invention does not only boost cache-updating performance but also avoid said problems caused by cache unity.
The other purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of data update in the cache system of an embedded processor. Through using the effect of cache missing which causes by compulsively mapping buffer blocks of an external buffer memory to a memory space, the cache memory can read the updated data in the buffer blocks of the buffer memory to solve the invalidation problem caused by failure in detecting the external updated data.

Structure and method of cache memory data update


An improved method for imparting excellent long-term dielectric performance to an in-service electrical cable section having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, the cable section having an average operating temperature T. The method comprising injecting a dielectric enhancement fluid composition into the interstitial void volume, the composition comprising at least one component selected from:                (1) a water-reactive material selected from an organosilane monomer, the above organosilane monomer wherein at least one of the water-reactive groups has been substituted with a condensable silanol group, an oligomer oligomer of the above organosilane monomer, or a co-oligomer of the above organosilane monomer, the organosilane monomer having a diffusion coefficient at least about 15 times greater than the diffusion coefficient of its corresponding tetramer;        (2) a water-reactive material similar to (1) having at least one group attached to silicon comprising 7 to about 20 —CH2— units;        (3) a non-water-reactive organic material which has a diffusion coefficient of less than about 10−9 cm2/sec and an equilibrium concentration of at least about 0.005 gm/cm3 in the polymeric insulation, the above mentioned diffusion coefficients and equilibrium concentration being determined at temperature T; or        (4) an organic compound having an equilibrium concentration in the polymeric insulation at 55° C. which is less than 2.25 times the equilibrium concentration at 22° C.

Extensive networks of underground electrical cables are in place in many parts of the industrialized world. Such underground distribution offers great advantage over conventional overhead lines in that it is not subject to wind, ice or lightning damage and is thus viewed as a reliable means for delivering electrical power without obstructing the surrounding landscape, the latter feature being particularly appreciated in suburban and urban settings. Unfortunately, these cables (which generally comprise a stranded conductor surrounded by a semi-conducting conductor shield, a polymeric insulation jacket, and an insulation shield), particularly those installed prior to 1985, often suffer premature breakdown and do not attain their originally anticipated longevity of 30 to 40 years. Their dielectric breakdown is generally attributed to so-called "treeing" phenomena (i.e., formation of microscopic voids or branching channels within the insulation material, from which the descriptive terminology derives), which lead to a progressive degradation of the cable's insulation. Since replacing a failed section of underground cable can be a very expensive and involved procedure, there is a strong motivation on the part of the electrical utility industry to extend the useful life of existing underground cables in a cost-effective manner.
A typical method for rejuvenating in-service cables comprises introducing a tree retardant fluid into the void space (interstitial void volume) associated with the strand conductor geometry. This fluid, which diffuses into the insulation and fills the microscopic trees to augment the service life of the cable, is generally selected from a particular class of aromatic alkoxysilanes which can polymerize within the cable's interstitial void volume, as well as within the water tree voids in the insulation (Vincent et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,011). This method and variations thereof employing certain rapidly diffusing components (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,372,840 and 5,372,841) have enjoyed commercial success over the last decade or so. However, all of the current methods known to applicants still do not deliver the full potential of insulation longevity. This is very likely due to the diffusion of most of the currently used fluids out of the cable within 10 to 15 years after treatment, thereby again exposing the cable to the above mentioned treeing phenomena (e.g., see Bertini, "Accelerated Aging of Rejuvenated Cables—Part I", ICC, Sub. A, Apr. 19, 2005). Thus, there is a continued desire on the part of the utility industry to further extend the reliable performance of treated cable, thereby improving efficiency and reducing operating costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for extending long-term electrical power cable performance


A method for interfacing a plurality of videoconferencing client devices the method comprising, in a computer server (5) connected to a client devices:—receiving a first client video stream (7) from the video routing client (4);—tagging a video image of the first client video stream received from the video routing client;—sending, through a bidirectional communication channel (14), the first client video stream (21) to a mixing client (2);—receiving, through the bidirectional communication channel with the mixing client, a mixed video stream (15) from said mixing client;—detecting in the mixed video stream received from the mixing client a video image portion which is different from the tagged video image of the first client video stream;—extracting the detected video image portion from the mixed video stream;—generating a second client video stream (23) from the extracted video image portion;—sending the second client video stream to the video routing client.

Along with the increase of bandwidth capabilities in communication systems, video communication systems have become increasingly popular in both business and residential applications. Indeed, in the case of geographically distributed team collaboration, these systems avoid the travelling of the team collaborators and increase flexibility.
Videoconferencing technologies use video and audio communication to allow a plurality of people to communicate at a same time, for instance for meeting activities. Furthermore, besides the audio and visual transmission of meeting activities, videoconferencing technologies can be used to share documents and display information.
Each participant in a videoconference is filmed by a camera which generates a video stream representing the participant in his/her own environment. To create a video conference, two different technologies are generally used.
In a Video mixing based conference, all incoming video streams from N participants are combined by a Multiparty Conference Unit (MCU) in one mixed video stream. The mixed video stream includes the video streams of all the participants joined together. The mixed video stream is sent to the N participants.
As opposed to video mixing, video routing technology consists in having each participant send his own video stream to all other parties, which simultaneously decode up to 4 or 5 of them. Each video client device has thus to support receiving and decoding multiple flows.

Method for generating an immersive video of a plurality of persons


A high impedance circuit of the present invention includes an LC parallel resonance circuit for raising circuit impedance, and a diode, which is connected in parallel to the LC parallel resonance circuit, causing a loop current to flow back via the diode and an inductor in the LC parallel resonance circuit so that a counter electromotive force, due to a surge voltage, which occurs across the inductor is cancelled. A low noise block downconverter which includes a high impedance circuit having a high impedance prevents peripheral circuits from being destroyed by a counter electromotive force, due to a surge voltage, which occurs across the inductor. For this, a diode is provided to cause a loop current to flow back via the diode and the inductor so that the counter electromotive force is cancelled. This makes it possible to cancel the counter electromotive force, to lower the voltage across the inductor to a forward voltage of the diode, and to prevent the destruction of the peripheral circuits such as the high impedance circuit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electrical arrangement of a Low Noise Block downconverter (hereinafter referred to as LNB) 1 which is a typical high impedance circuit of prior art. An LNB, a component which is mounted at the end of antennas such as a BS (Broadcasting Satellite) antenna and a CS (Communications Satellite) antenna, receives and amplifies signals of the order of 12 GHz band transmitted from a satellite, further converts the amplified signals into intermediate frequency signals (hereinafter referred to as IF signal) of the order of 1 GHz band, and outputs the IF signals to a receiver not shown. The LNB 1, which is used for both BS and CS, is provided with respective receiving horns 2 and 3. The LNB 1 selects a target satellite for receiving signals in response to a control pulse sent from the receiver not shown. For this, for example, the control pulse of a maximum amplitude (Vs)=1 VP-P and a frequency (f)=22 kHz is supplied to a terminal 4 via a cable not shown.
That is, the LNB 1 is a high impedance circuit which is provided in a system for receiving satellite broadcasts.
The LNB 1 generally includes a high impedance circuit 5, a low impedance circuit 6 to which a direct current for power source is supplied from the terminal 4, and an LC parallel resonance circuit 7 which is provided between the terminal 4 and the low impedance circuit 6. The high impedance circuit 5 outputs the IF signal to the terminal 4 and is supplied the control pulse from the terminal 4. The low impedance circuit 6 includes a regulator IC 8 which carries out the supply of electricity to the high impedance circuit 5. Also, at the input side of the low impedance circuit 6 provided is an input pass capacitor c1 so as to prevent the oscillation of the regulator IC 8. This causes the low impedance circuit 6 to have a low impedance.
For this, the LC parallel resonance circuit 7 is provided so as to electrically separate the regulator IC 8 having a low impedance from the control pulse. The LC parallel resonance circuit 7 includes an inductor 1 and a capacitor c2 which are connected in parallel, and the value of its resonance frequency agrees with the control pulse's frequency of 22 kHz. A constant of LC is determined by the equation: f=1/(2π√LC). This allows the LC parallel resonance circuit 7 to have a high impedance with respect to the control pulse.
The regulator IC 8 generates a predetermined level of power supply voltage by using the direct current for power source supplied via the LC parallel resonance circuit 7 to carry out the supply of electricity to a signal amplifying and frequency converting circuit 9 and a pulse detecting circuit 10 which are included in the high impedance circuit 5.
The pulse detecting circuit 10 is caused by the power supplied from the regulator IC 8 to output a satellite selecting instruction to select a target satellite for receiving signals to the signal amplifying and frequency converting circuit 9, in response to the control pulse transmitted from the receiver. The signal amplifying and frequency converting circuit 9 is caused by the power supplied from the regulator IC 8 to switch between the receiving horn 2 and the receiving horn 3 in response to the satellite selecting instruction sent from the pulse detecting circuit 10. Then, the signal amplifying and frequency converting circuit 9 receives and amplifies signals of the BS broadcast or the CS broadcast, further converts the signals into IF signals, and outputs the IF signals from a coupling capacitor c3 to the receiver via the terminal 4.
Here, the signal input level of the control pulse supplied to the pulse detecting circuit 10 is determined by a relative ratio of an output impedance of the receiver as a signal source, an impedance of lines such as a cable, an input impedance of the pulse detecting circuit 10, to the LC parallel resonance circuit 7. However, a small level of signal input causes the pulse detecting circuit 10 to misread signals. It is therefore important that the LNB 1, which is set at the places such as a rooftop of a house using a long cable, has the input impedance much larger than the impedance of the cable to keep a large level of the signal input to the LNB 1. Further, the LNB 1, which is set at the places such as a rooftop, may be hit by a stroke of lightning, so that it is necessary for the LNB 1 to withstand the lightning stroke.
Therefore, the high impedance circuit 5 is caused to have a high input impedance. Further, the direct current for power source is supplied to the high impedance circuit 5. At an input stage of the low impedance circuit 6 which is caused to have a low input impedance by the input pass capacitor c1, provided is the LC parallel resonance circuit 7 for raising circuit impedance. Adjustment of the resonance frequency as described previously causes the LC parallel resonance circuit 7 to occur resonance when the control pulse is inputted, so that a high impedance is developed in the LC parallel resonance circuit 7. At this point, the circuits seen from an input side are the high impedance circuit 5 and the LC parallel resonance circuit 7. That is, the high impedance causes the control pulse to be inputted to the pulse detecting circuit 10 at the sufficient level of the signal input.
In the LNB 1 which is arranged as described above, a surge absorber zd is provided to withstand surge voltage caused by sources such as a lightning. However, there is a problem that the addition of the surge voltage causes counter electromotive force which is many times larger than the surge voltage across the inductor 1 polarized as shown in FIG. 4, resulting in the destruction of peripheral circuits such as the high impedance circuit 5.


In an airbag provided in a folded condition, a front end of the airbag includes a pulled-out section provided by pulling out the end of the airbag. In the airbag in a stored condition, an oblique path from a front end of the airbag to a fixed point of a front pillar can be reached by the pulled-out section. In the developed condition of the airbag, the pulled-out section can further draw the position of the front end of the airbag to the front side, thereby providing an increased protection range by the airbag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus for a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
An upper part of a vehicle body of an automobile includes an airbag that protects, when the automobile is subjected to a side impact, the head of an occupant by being developed in a downward direction. A front end of a lower end of the airbag is joined to one end of a strap. The other end of the strap is joined to a fixed point of a front pillar. In some structures, a rear end of an airbag may be connected to a rear pillar by a strap.
When an airbag is developed, a front end of the airbag is connected to a front pillar by a substantially horizontal strap to prevent the front end of the airbag in the developed condition from being withdrawn. The airbag is stored in a vehicle body in a folded condition in which the airbag is wound from the lower end. A strap is provided toward the fixed point in an obliquely downward direction from the front end of the wound airbag to extend along the front pillar (see Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-171464).


A blade support made of molded plastics including an elongated V-shaped beam with a hollow pedestal extending upwardly from the rear of the beam to meet the sole in the heel area of the skate boot. A second pedestal extends from the inner wing of the beam to be joined to the sole at the ball of the foot. A third pedestal extends from the outer wing of the beam to be joined to the sole of the boot coincident with the joint formed by the metatarsus and phalange of the fifth digit of the foot, and a fourth pedestal extends from the front end of the beam to be joined to the front end of the sole. A U-shaped sole plate joins the second, third, and fourth pedestals and provides a mounting flange for mounting the support to the boot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a runner support for a skate, and more particularly, to a molded support for an ice skate blade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Almost all ice hockey skates used today include a molded plastics blade support. Previously, ice skate blade supports were made of sheet metal and included a longitudinally extending tube to which the blade was fixed and two or more pedestals extending upwardly from the tube to be fastened to the sole of a skate boot. The sheet metal support was replaced by the molded plastics skate support because of the lower cost, and the market perception that the molded support is more acceptable to contemporary taste. Examples of such molded supports are illustrated in Canadian Patent 585,720, issued Oct. 27, 1959 to John E. Kirkpatrick et. al., and Canadian Patent 984,422, issued Feb. 24, 1976 to Hugh E. Baikie.
However, the known molded plastics support is inferior to the sheet metal version in several respects. For instance, in order to maintain the support light, unobtrusive, and streamlined, the longitudinal tube was essentially eliminated.
The support should lend lateral rigidity to the blade in order to minimize the absorption of energy during pronation and supination of the foot. The blade and the support are fixed relative to the sole of the skate boot; thus, the maximum reaction force should be transmitted to the body to propel the body forward. This is especially true in ice hockey where it is desirable to accomplish rapid acceleration and changes of direction.
Thus, in order to improve the molded support, it is important to design a support which approaches the rigidity of a sheet metal tube support while not increasing the weight of the molded support relative to the sheet metal blade.
Many molded plastics supports utilize more material than is required. The now well-known "Tuuk" blade, described in Canadian Patent 984,422 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,909, issued Feb. 21, 1978, to Hugh E. Baikie, comprises a shell defining two pedestals with the front pedestal covering most of the toe and forward metatarsal area of the sole while the rear pedestal covers all of the heel. A flange is required surrounding each pedestal to accommodate rivets in order to attach the blade support to the sole. Furthermore, a large "bridge" member extends longitudinally between the pedestals to substitute for the tube of a sheet metal support. Arches or cavities are provided to reduce the weight of this "bridge".
Other patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,832, issued Jul. 6, 1976 to Alan F. Chambers, describe a molded plastics support which initiates the configuration of a sheet metal support. However, the molded plastics material does not have the strength characteristics of a sheet metal support in such a configuration. Furthermore, the pedestals of the skate described in Chambers are in-line and narrow, leaving a rather wide planar flange on either side of the pedestals. Such planar flanges, when made out of plastics, do not exhibit sufficient structural strength, especially in pronation-supination.


A low noise amplifier and method for amplifying an input signal uses a high impedance electrical element having both inductance and capacitance connected between an output transistor and a bias circuit to provide noise isolation between the bias circuit and the output transistor. The noise isolation provided by the high impedance electrical element reduces the amount of bias circuit noise introduced into the output signal. In an embodiment, the high impedance electrical element includes an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel. In another embodiment, the high impedance electrical element includes a grounded transmission line.

Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) are used in communication systems to amplify received signals, which tend to be very weak in signal strength. As the name suggests, one of the most important performance factors for LNAs is the amount of noise introduced into the amplified signals by the LNAs.
A typical LNA with an n-channel output transistor includes a bias circuit that provides a bias signal for the n-channel output transistor through a bias signal path. The amount of noise introduced by the LNA is quantified by the Noise Figure. The Noise Figure (NF) for a LNA is mathematically expressed as:
      NF    =          10                                              log                          (                                    S              i                                      S              O                                )                      ,where Si is the input signal-to-noise ratio and So is the output signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, external noise picked up at the input of the LNA will degrade Si, and consequently, degrade the NF of the LNA. It is therefore important to minimize any noise contribution at the input, which is primarily due to the bias circuit.
One technique to minimize the noise contribution at the input of the LNA from the bias circuit is to place a capacitor between the bias signal path and ground to shunt some of the noise on the bias signal path to ground. The effectiveness of this shunt capacitor depends on its size. However, due to limited real estate on the integrated circuit on which the LNA is fabricated, placing an effective shunt capacitor in the LNA is not practical.
Another technique is to place a resistor on the bias signal path between the source and the n-channel output transistor, which helps to isolate the noise of the bias circuit from the input of the LNA. However, a large resistor on the bias signal path will degrade large signal performance of the LNA, for example, reducing saturated output power. In addition, a large resistor on the bias signal path will also contribute noise at the input the LNA since noise caused by a resistor is proportional to its resistance. An inductor could be used in place of the resistor, but the inductance needed at lower frequencies, such as 2 GHz, would require a larger-than-practical inductor. Furthermore, such an inductor would significantly increase the series resistance, and thus, would introduce noise at the input of the LNA.
In view of these concerns, there is a need for a LNA and method for amplifying an input signal that reduces the noise introduced by the bias circuit of the LNA without affecting the signal performance of the LNA.

Low noise amplifier with low noise, high isolation bias circuit

Avago Technologies Wireless (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


An absorbent article having longitudinal cuffs of improved structure is disclosed. The improved cuffs may be elasticized by a plurality of elastic strands that are substantially greater in number, closer in spacing, lower in pre-strain, and lower in decitex, or any combination of these, as compared with those in conventional articles. This combination of features results in ruffles or gathers of cuff material joined to the elastic strands that are substantially greater in machine-direction frequency and substantially lesser in z-direction amplitude, than those in conventional articles. As a result, the cuff structure lies more closely and evenly against the wearer's skin, has an improved, more cloth-like appearance, provides improved gasketing, and provides improved wearer comfort, as compared with cuff structures in conventional articles. A method for manufacturing articles with such cuff structures, utilizing a warp beam as a supply mechanism, is also disclosed.

Elasticized laminates, also known as stretch laminates, are frequently used as components of absorbent articles such as diapers and absorbent pants. Stretch laminates may be used to form, for example, elastically stretchable back ears or fastening members of diapers, elastically stretchable side panels of bicycle-style absorbent pants, and elastically stretchable waist belt structures in belt- or balloon-style absorbent pants.
As used in these products, stretch laminates are typically formed of an elastic film or array of parallel elastic strands, sandwiched between two layers of relatively non-elastic nonwoven web material. To impart the laminate with elastic stretchability and contractibility, the elastic material is typically incorporated into the laminate under a desired amount of pre-strain along the direction of the desired stretchability of the laminate. Upon completion of manufacture, the elastic material relaxes and contracts along the direction of the pre-strain toward its unstrained dimension, causing the sandwiching nonwoven materials to form corrugations or ruffles of gathered material. The ruffles of gathered material help impart the laminate with substantially nondestructive elastic stretchability by an amount approximately corresponding to the amount of pre-strain, along the direction of the pre-strain.
Depending upon their structure, stretch laminates of the prior art may have appearance and/or performance characteristics that consumers of wearable products including these laminates as components may perceive negatively. For example, suitable laminates incorporating elastic strands typically include an array of elastic strands of a decitex (also referred to herein as "dtex"), strand spacing, and pre-strain level, that in combination may result in concentrations of pressure beneath the individual strands against the wearer's skin, and clearly visible, somewhat irregularly distributed rugosities (formed of material gathered along the direction of pre-strain of the strands) in the laminate. These features can cause skin marking and reduced comfort for the wearer, as well as impart the laminate (and the article) with bulky, mottled, ruffled, non-garment-like (e.g., diaper-like) appearance.
Traditional strand-based laminates typically include elastic strands spaced apart by a minimum distance, primarily due to manufacturing and material handling limitations. Each elastic strand is supplied on an individual spool. During manufacture of the laminate, each strand must be unwound from its own spool using equipment to control tension in the strand and guide it to position as it is introduced to the other layers to make up the laminate. This creates a practical constraint on the number of strands that may be incorporated into a laminate per unit cross-direction width of the laminate and in total. Strand-based stretch laminates with cross-direction strand spacing less than about 4.0 mm are not believed to have appeared in the market.
Additionally, extruded elastic strands and/or extruded elastic scrim materials typically include thermoplastic materials that undergo substantial stress relaxation over time when stretched, and thus may not maintain the desired tensile forces about the wearer's body—e.g., the waist and legs, to provide sustained desired fit and gasketing (i.e., protection against leakage of bodily exudates) over the entire intended time of wear of the article in which the stretch laminate is incorporated. This effect becomes more substantial as the level of pre-strain imparted to the strands during manufacture of the laminate is increased.
Elastic film-based laminates are typically substantially more occlusive (i.e., less breathable, with greatly reduced air permeability) than strand-based laminates. As a consequence, articles having such laminates as components may for the wearer feel hot and sticky against the skin, and may cause greater hydration of the skin, and as a result, reduced comfort and increased marking and potential for irritation, associated with overly hydrated skin.
Additionally, elastic film-based elasticized laminates typically have a higher modulus versus strand-based elasticized laminates; this can make articles in which they are components comparatively more difficult to apply to a wearer (making it difficult to open for donning). In turn, the manufacturer may be compelled to manufacture the article with an elastic film of sufficient caliper to impart the desired degree of elasticity and contractive force, thereby involving relatively greater use of the relatively expensive resins used to form elasticizing components.
As a result of the issues described above there has been a long-standing and unmet need to provide an improved stretch laminate suitable for use for forming various components of products such as disposable diapers, disposable training pants and adult incontinence pads and pants, that reduces areas of localized pressure on the wearer's skin, provides a high level of breathability, provides adequate force for sustained and comfortable fit, low modulus, high extensibility, low stress relaxation and a smooth, cloth-like texture. The desired stretch laminate would have good breathability and minimized areas of localized pressure for skin comfort, minimized skin marking and hydration, uniform and generous elastic extensibility and contraction for ease of donning and removal of the article, improved sustained fit, and improved body conformity and wearer comfort.

Disposable absorbent articles having cuffs of improved stretch laminate structure


A method is provided to incorporate information currently known about an integrated circuit's design, including peripheral components that share the same printed circuit board (PCB) with the integrated circuit, to automate a clock signal instantiation and routing solution to realize a comprehensive design. The information derived from a hardware design synthesis tool includes the existence of PCB resources, such as fixed-frequency oscillators, that may co-exist with a particular integrated circuit, such as a programmable logic device (PLD). Other derived information includes details concerning clock modules and cores that may exist within the PLD in accordance with the PLD's design specification. Once the information that describes the PLD and its environment is known, the information is utilized to automatically instantiate resource interconnect cores and automatically generate connections between the fixed-frequency oscillators, resource interconnect cores, and PLD implemented cores that are contained within the design.

PLDs are a well-known type of integrated circuit that may be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, Input/Output Blocks (IOBs), Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), dedicated Random Access Memory Blocks (BRAM), multipliers, Digital Signal Processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, Delay Lock Loops (DLLs), Multi-Gigabit Transceivers (MGTs) and so forth.
Each programmable tile typically includes both programmable interconnect and programmable logic. The programmable interconnect typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by Programmable Interconnect Points (PIPs). The programmable logic implements the logic of a user design using programmable elements that may include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect and the programmable logic are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells during a configuration event that defines how the programmable elements are configured. The configuration data may be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Another type of PLD is the Complex Programmable Logic Device, or CPLD. A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to input/output (I/O) resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs) and Programmable Array Logic (PAL) devices. In CPLDs, configuration data is typically stored on-chip in non-volatile memory. In some CPLDs, configuration data is stored on-chip in non-volatile memory, then downloaded to volatile memory as part of an initial configuration (programming) sequence.
For all of these PLDs, the functionality of the device is controlled by configuration data bits provided to the device for that purpose. The configuration data bits can be stored in volatile memory (e.g., static memory cells, as in FPGAs and some CPLDs), in non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory, as in some CPLDs), or in any other type of memory cell.
Some PLDs, such as the Xilinx Virtex® FPGA, can be programmed to incorporate blocks with pre-designed functionalities, i.e., "cores". A core can include a predetermined set of configuration data bits that program the FPGA to perform one or more functions. Alternatively, a core can include source code or schematics that describe the logic and connectivity of a design. Typical cores can provide, but are not limited to, DSP functions, memories, storage elements, and math functions. Some cores include an optimally floor planned layout targeted to a specific family of FPGAs. Cores can also be parameterizable, i.e., allowing the user to enter parameters to activate or change certain core functionality.
Generally, clock modules are not instantiated within the cores, since such a design precludes the possibility of sharing clock modules between multiple cores that exist within the same clock domain. Instead, clock module instantiation and associated clock signal routing to each core within a particular design is considered to be a manual effort, since clock signal timing associated with many complicated designs is critical to the success of the designs. Clock signal skew, clock signal loading, etc., are some of the design considerations that are to be taken into account for any design that exhibits critical timing constraints.
The designer, therefore, manually instantiates clock modules in accordance with the design's clocking needs. In addition, the designer routes fixed-frequency oscillator output signals to the inputs of the instantiated clock modules and routes clock output signals from the instantiated clock modules to the clock input signals of the cores that are integrated within the design. In many instances, however, such a manual effort is simply not necessary, since the clock signal timing constraints for many designs are not critical. Efforts continue, therefore, to further automate the FPGA design process so that the designer may be relieved of manual clock signal design/distribution efforts for designs whose timing constraints are more relaxed.

Method of automating clock signal provisioning within an integrated circuit