Provided are microorganisms, e.g., the Saccharomyces yeast, that have been made able to co-ferment xylose sugar-obtained from hydrolyzing plant cellulosic biomass form trees, grasses, straws, etc., with glucose that can be obtained from hydrolyzing either edible feedstocks such as starch, cane sugar, etc. or from hydrolyzing cellulose from various types of non-edible cellulosic biomass. The microorganisms are also capable of expressing an amylase, e.g., glucoamylase, having nonnegligible enzymatic activity, capable of producing glucose from oligo- or polysaccharides obtained by treating soluble starch with α-amylase. In some embodiments, nucleotidic material is provided comprising genes actively expressing xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase as well as an active gene expressing glucoamylase. Vectors and other compositions of matter are provided as.

Ethanol and other alcohols may be used to fuel automobiles and other machinery powered by internal combustion engines, either as a neat fuel or as a blend with gasoline at various concentrations. For example, the use of oxygenated materials in gasoline can reduce the emission of carbon monoxide, a harmful pollutant, into the air. Among several oxygenates currently used for boosting the oxygen content of gasoline, ethanol has the highest oxygen content. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that gasoline blended with 10% ethanol reduces carbon monoxide emissions by about 25% to 30%.
Up to now, the feedstock used for the production of industrial alcohol by fermentation contain six carbon sugars and starches such as that from sugar cane, beets, corn or other edible crops. However, these agricultural crops have generally been too expensive to be used as feedstock for the large-scale production of fuel ethanol. In addition, the edible crops can only be produced in rich farm land and are in limited supply. Since the population of the world continues to increase, crops are needed to feed the people.
Plant biomass is an attractive feedstock for ethanol-fuel production by fermentation because it is renewable, and available at low cost and in large amounts around the world. The major fermentable sugars from cellulosic materials are six-carbon sugars such as glucose and five-carbon sugars such as xylose. Glucose and xylose are the major sugars present in all types of cellulosic biomass (trees, grasses, straws, etc.) with the ratio of glucose to xylose being approximately 2 to 1. The most desirable fermentations of cellulosic materials would, of course, completely convert both glucose and xylose to ethanol. Unfortunately, even now there is not a single natural known microorganism capable of fermenting both glucose and xylose effectively and efficiently to ethanol.
Some yeasts, particularly of the genus Saccharomyces, have traditionally been used for fermenting glucose-based feedstock to ethanol, and they are still the best microorganisms for converting glucose to ethanol. However, these glucose-fermenting yeasts have been found not only unable to ferment xylose but also unable to use the pentose sugar for growth. Nevertheless, glucose-fermenting yeasts can use xylulose for growth and fermentation, albeit with varying efficacy. For example, S. cerevisiae ferments xylulose very poorly while species of Schizosaccharomyces does so quite effectively. However, the latter yeast has not been used traditionally for ethanol production, particularly for large scale industrial ethanol (fuel ethanol) production.
Even though the glucose-fermenting yeasts are unable to use xylose both for growth and fermentation, there are many other natural yeasts that can use xylose for growth aerobically, but they cannot ferment xylose efficiently to ethanol. Particularly, these xylose-fermenting yeasts also ferment glucose very poorly to ethanol. These xylose-utilizing yeasts rely upon two enzymes—xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase—to convert xylose to xylulose. These yeasts are different from most bacteria which rely on a single enzyme—xylose isomerase—to convert xylose directly to xylulose. The yeast xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase also require cofactors for their actions; xylose reductase depends on NADPH as its cofactor and xylitol dehydrogenase depends on NAD as its cofactor. On the contrary, bacterial xylose isomerase requires no cofactor for direct conversion of xylose to xylulose.
Historically, since the early 1970s, efforts were devoted in an attempt to find new yeasts capable of effectively fermenting both glucose and xylose to ethanol in a cost effective manner. However, no ideal yeast able to ferment both glucose and xylose effectively was found by 1980.
Among xylose-fermenting yeasts, three species, Pachysolen tannophilus, Candida shehatae, and Pichia stipitis have been extensively characterized. P. stipitis and C. shihatae ferment xylose better than the other xylose-fermenting yeasts. Nevertheless, even the best xylose-fermenting yeasts lack high efficiency in fermenting xylose, and are also highly ineffective in fermenting glucose.
By 1980, scientists worldwide believed that an ideal C5/C6 co-fermenting yeast could be created by using the then-newly developed recombinant DNA techniques to engineer Saccharomyces yeast so that the resulting yeast may efficiently ferment sugars extracted from cellulosic biomass. Initial efforts were concentrated on cloning a xylose isomerase gene into yeast to render it capable of converting xylose directly to xylulose without dependence on cofactors. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful initially because the genes encoding various bacterial xylose isomerases are incapable of directing the synthesis of an active enzyme in S. cerevisiae.
Subsequently, efforts toward genetically engineering yeasts, particularly S. cerevisiae, to ferment xylose have been focused on cloning genes encoding xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase. S. cerevisiae and other glucose-fermenting yeasts do not contain any detectable xylose reductase or xylitol dehydrogenase activities, but all seem to contain xylulokinase activity. Thus, the glucose-fermenting yeasts can all ferment xylulose, but do so with varying efficacy.
Initially, researchers have only tried to clone both the xylose reductase and the xylitol dehydrogenase gene in S. cerevisiae. However, these genetically engineered yeasts still cannot effectively ferment xylose. For example, these yeasts have been incapable of fermenting more than 2% xylose. In addition, they produce large amounts of xylitol from xylose, which diverts the valuable xylose substrate from the desired fermentation path to ethanol. Nevertheless, this has been changed due to the technologies provided by the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,789,210, 7,527,927 and 8,652,772, each to Ho et al. The methods described in these patents have made it possible to develop the glucose/xylose co-fermenting yeast that can effectively co-ferment glucose and xylose to ethanol. The yeasts developed by Ho et al. according to these patented technologies have proven to be particularly efficient for co-fermenting both glucose and xylose to ethanol. The first such glucose and xylose co-fermenting yeast was developed before 1993. The strain was designated as 1400 (LNH-ST). Subsequently, quite a few of such strains were developed by Ho et al., including strain 424A(LNH-ST), which may be abbreviated herein and accompanying drawings as 424A. As shown in FIG. 1, the 424A(LNH-ST) yeast has been proven able to produce high concentrations of ethanol when high concentrations of glucose is available. This is because the 424A(LNH-ST) yeast was developed by selecting the best ethanol producing yeast to develop the glucose/xylose co-fermenting yeast. Sedlak et al. (2004), "Production of Ethanol from Cellulosic Biomass Hydrolysates Using Genetically Engineered Saccharomyces Yeast Capable of Cofermenting Glucose and Xylose," APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, 113-116:403-16.
Glucoamylase, also known as glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase, amyloglucosidase, gamma-amylase, lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, acid maltase, exo-1,4-alpha-glucosidase, glucose amylase, gamma-1,4-glucan glucohydrolase, acid maltase, and 1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase, is an enzyme with a system name of 4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase. The enzyme catalyzes the following chemical reaction: hydrolysis of terminal (1−>4)-linked alpha-D-glucose residues successively from non-reducing ends of the chains with release of beta-D-glucose. Most forms of the enzyme can rapidly hydrolyse 1,6-alpha-D-glucosidic bonds when the next bond in the sequence is 1,4. Genes that code for the expression of glucoamylase have been cloned into yeasts such as S. cervisiae. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,267 to Yocum et al. Typically, glucoamylase is produced in industrial scale using microorganisms such as Aspergillus Niger. Often, glucoamylase is added to speed up fermentation of wort, honey, grape juice, or other fluids or solutions containing sugar.
As discussed in Pretorius et al. (1991), "The Glucoamylase Multigene Family in Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus: An Overview," CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 26(1):53-76, S. cerevisiae has been used widely both as a model system for unraveling the biochemical, genetic, and molecular details of gene expression and the secretion process, and as a host for the production of heterologous proteins of biotechnological interest. The potential of starch as a renewable biological resource has stimulated research into amylolytic enzymes and their substrate range in S. cerevisiae. The enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, consisting of linear (amylose) and branched glucose polymers (amylopectin), is catalyzed by α- and βamylases, glucoamylases, and debranching enzymes. Starch utilization in the yeast S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus depends on the expression of the three unlinked genes, STA1 (chr. IV), STA2 (chr. II), and STA3 (chr. XIV), each encoding one of the extracellular glycosylated glucoamylases isozymes GAI, GAII, or GAIII, respectively. Additional research relating to research pertaining to S. cerevisiae can be found in Pugh et al. (1989), "Characterization and localization of the sporulation glucoamylase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae," BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA, 994: 200-209.
Despite the concerted and longstanding efforts of numerous researchers, a single organism capable of fermenting in an economically feasible manner biomass containing starch as the sole or main precursor to ethanol (or alcohol), e.g., without needing to add glucoamylase from another source, to replace hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline has not been achieved. Although certain entities have strived to improve biomass biotechnological productivity, e.g., Mascoma Corporation (Lebanon, N.H.), none have achieved the level of success to meet long-felt industry needs as reflected by subject matter encompassed by the claims below.
Accordingly, there remains a need for such microorganisms and for methods of their preparation and use.

Glucose and xylose co-fermenting microorganism that expresses active glucoamylase


Auxiliary relations are used to maintain a materialized view. The materialized view comprises results of some operation performed between two or more base relations of a parallel database management system comprising a plurality of nodes. The two or more base relations are distributed to the nodes according to some partitioning strategy. Each auxiliary relation is partitioned according to the join attribute in the materialized view definition. During join or other operations involving the relations, the auxiliary relations, not the base relations, are used to construct join results and to maintain the materialized view.

A data warehouse collects information from several possibly widely distributed and loosely coupled source databases. The collected information is integrated into a single database to be queried by the data warehouse clients.
Because a data warehouse is primarily used for decision support, queries at the data warehouse tend to be complex and take a long time to execute. Due to the huge volume of data and the complexity of the queries, a data warehouse is typically managed by a parallel database management system (DBMS). In addition to the data itself, the parallel DBMS typically includes data structures of various types that facilitate efficient query processing.
The data itself is organized in tables, also known as relations. Various data structures may be associated with these relations. For example, a view is a derived relation formed by performing a function on one or more base relations. Rather than storing the view, the function is typically recomputed each time the view is referenced.
A materialized view is another type of data structure used to speed up query processing. A materialized view is a pre-computed, stored query result that can be used for some queries instead of reconstructing the results directly from the base relations. As with the view, a function is performed on the base relations to derive the materialized view. Because the materialized view is stored, fast access to the data is possible without recomputing the view.
The materialized view is thus an assembly of data for fast access. After the materialized view is created, subsequent queries may use the materialized view, where appropriate, saving the overhead of performing the computation again. Materialized views may be used to assemble data that come from many different relations, which typically requires many different join operations to be performed between the relations.
Much like a cache, a materialized view is updated when the underlying base relations are modified. A typical materialized view may consist of a join between two or more base relations. The primary copy of the data is kept in the base relations. As these relations are changed through insertion of new tuples, deletion of tuples, or updates to existing tuples, the corresponding rows in the materialized view are changed to avoid becoming stale. This is known as materialized view maintenance.
The maintenance process may be expensive (in terms of resource utilization) on a parallel database management system. It is often the case that the information (tuples) for maintaining the materialized view is not stored together on a single node of the system. Thus, to perform a maintenance operation, the system collects the affected tuples together from several nodes, performs the join, and updates the materialized view. Maintenance of the materialized view may thus adversely affect the speed of query processing.
In a data warehouse environment, updates typically arrive in bulk, rather than a few at a time. Ostensibly, this bulk updating of data improves efficiency of the DBMS. In most commonly used commercial data warehousing systems, the data warehouse is not available for other queries during materialized view maintenance.
As international corporations have branches that span multiple time zones, there is sometimes no convenient "night" down time for the data warehouse to be maintained while blocking query requests. Moreover, in the world of e-commerce, there may be no down time.
Recently, real-time data warehousing has emerged. A real-time data warehouse is event driven, reacts in a timeframe appropriate to the business need, and makes rapid operational decisions or causes prompt operational actions. The real-time data warehouse must be available at all times to provide quick responses to interactive requests. Both updates to base relations and maintenance of materialized views ideally occur at least daily (and often hourly, every ten minutes, or even continuously). For a real-time data warehouse, therefore, materialized views need to be updated without inhibiting queries in progress.

Auxiliary relation for materialized view


A memory apparatus and an operation of the memory apparatus which allow quick booting are provided. The memory apparatus includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a memory control unit to control input/output of data stored in the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The memory control unit restores data, according to a control command input from outside of the memory apparatus, from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory in an on-demand fashion during booting.

1. Field
The following description relates to a memory apparatus and a method for the memory apparatus, and more particularly, to a memory apparatus enabling quick booting and a method for the memory apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer system processor executes commands from a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). DRAM is capable of high speed access, but loses data stored therein when power is turned off since it is a volatile memory. Thus, data held in DRAM needs to be stored in a non-volatile memory such as hard disk and flash memory before the power supply to the DRAM is stopped.
For example, in a personal computer, default programs may be written in DRAM in order for the DRAM to exchange data with a keyboard or hard disk since no information is stored in the DRAM immediately after the power is supplied. This start-up process of the computer or initialization process of settings is referred to as "booting." Generally, the default programs are stored in storage mediums such as read-only memory (ROM) or hard disk drive (HDD). Data transmission from the above storage medium to DRAM occurs at low speed. Hence, a waiting time for a computer to boot when it is turned on is long and it takes a significant amount of time to initialize hardware.


Embodiments of the present invention feature a method and apparatus for detecting defects, such as, leaks, component failure and adverse performance. One embodiment of the present apparatus for pumping fluid comprises a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet powered by a motor. The motor operates in pumping mode upon receiving a pumping signal. The apparatus further comprises at least one inlet valve in fluid communication with the inlet of the pumping chamber. And, the apparatus comprises a switchable valve in fluid communication with the outlet of the pumping chamber. The switchable valve has a closed position and an open position, and assumes the closed position upon receiving a close signal. A pressure measuring device is in fluid communication with the pumping chamber, between said inlet valve and switchable valve. The pressure measuring device determines a minimal pressure and first threshold pressure at a first time and a second threshold pressure at a second time. The control means calculates the slope of a line representing the difference of said first threshold pressure signal and said second threshold pressure signal over time and comparing the slope with a threshold decay value. And, the control means compares the minimal pressure to a minimal acceptable value. Deviations from such values represent a defect in the pump.

By way of background, the following terms will be used in this application with the meaning ascribed thereto.
The term "component defect" is used to mean that the apparatus can not attain or maintain a normal set point. In the context of a pump, a common component defect is often a leak but also encompasses the failure of sensing devices such as transducers or computing devices. As used herein, the term "leak" refers to a hole, crack or opening through which fluid escapes in a manner not intended by the user. The leak may be totally internal. That is, the fluid escapes from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure within the apparatus. Or, such leak may be external, allowing fluid to escape from the confines of the hydraulic circuit. Leaking flammable fluids represent a safety concern, the detection of which would be very useful.
The term "solution failure" is used to suggest an absence of fluid, gases in solution or a partial filling of the pump assembly with fluid.
A "pump" is a mechanical device for moving fluids. Embodiments of the present invention have particular application to high pressure pumps used in analysis and diagnostics. By way of example, without limitation, pumps used in high performance liquid chromatography are capable of placing a fluid under as much as 10,000 psi. Such pumps can be single chamber pumps or multi-chambered pumps. One common multi-chambered pump is a serial pump in which a plurality of, usually two, pumping chambers are placed in series. That is, the flow of fluid first passes through a first pump chamber and then a second pump chamber. Another common multi-chambered pump is a parallel pump in which a plurality of, usually two, pumping chambers are placed in parallel. That is, fluid is received by a first chamber, which chamber brings the fluid to pressure and propels such fluid downstream without involving a further pump chamber. As the first pump chamber is exhausted, a second pump chamber starts to propel fluid. Parallel pumps are often equipped with rotary valves which control the outflow of the plurality of pump chambers.
As used herein, the term "control means" means control circuitry and/or computer programmable unit (CPU).
As used herein, "pressure measuring device" comprise any device for measuring pressure, including strain gauges and pressure transducers.
Valves are devices for closing, opening or directing fluid flow. Typical valves include such mechanical check valves and active valves. Mechanical check valves are responsive to pressure. Active valves receive a signal which directs power means, such as motors, solenoids and the like, to open or close the valve. Cycling valves are capable of selectively opening and closing the flow of fluid from one or more sources or directing the flow to one or more destinations. Cycling valves are used in parallel pumps to alternate the outlet flow from multiple pump chambers.
Current techniques require manual intervention to determine the integrity of a hydraulic system. It would be advantageous to have methods and apparatus capable performing operations which determine the presence or absence of a leak in a hydraulic system under pressure. Such methods and apparatus would be able to ascertain a problem in a system and alert the operator, or shut the operation down until the problem can be remedied.

Methods and apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a fluid leak


A mechanism and process for coating tapped holes in specialty articles having varying external configurations, such as metal stampings. The specialty article is positioned in a preselected orientation at a loading station, and is then engaged by a carriage assembly and moved from the loading station to a heating station, and then to a spray and discharge station. During movement between stations, the article is maintained in the preselected orientation to allow proper heating and spraying of the tapped holes.

This invention generally relates to a mechanism and a process for coating portions of articles have dissimilar external configurations. More specifically, the invention relates to the application of a thermoplastic layer to coat tapped holes in specialty articles such as metal stampings.
It is well known to apply a thermoplastic resin powder such as nylon to threaded articles to form a "patch" which retards disengagement of the patched fastener with a mating fastener, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,787,222 and 3,858,262. Mechanisms have also been developed for applying a protective coating to standard internally threaded fasteners at relatively high production rates, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,214, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Similarly, other mechanisms have been developed for applying coatings to both standard and non-standard fasteners at lower production rates, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,771 and 5,362,327, also incorporated by reference herein.
A common characteristic of the fasteners described in the patents listed above is that they possess only a single tapped hole (e.g., nuts), and their external dimensions are maintained within close tolerances.
There are many specialty articles, such as metal stampings, that contain multiple tapped holes and possess a relatively large variation in their external dimensions. While the tapped or threaded holes of such specialty articles can also advantageously utilize the protective coating or patch described above, prior art coating or patch applicators, including the mechanisms described in the above-referenced prior art patents, typically utilize external dimensions to position the threaded holes with the centerline of corresponding spray nozzles. Unfortunately, this approach is hampered with most stampings, for example, whose external surfaces often have burrs and rough edges which preclude precise positioning from these edges. In the past, to accomplish the coating of articles with varying external dimensions, the coating has been applied to manually positioned articles, at correspondingly low production rates.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an automated process, and an automated mechanism, for applying protective coatings or patches to threaded holes in articles having varying external configurations, while also providing a corresponding increase in production rates.

Mechanism and process for coating threaded articles having varying external configurations


A device including a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive, using a first antenna, according to a first communication protocol, a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive, using a second antenna, according to the first communication protocol, and a third transceiver configured to transmit and receive, using the second antenna, according to a second communication protocol. A controller is configured to select between a first mode where the first, second, and third transceivers are configured to respectively communicate using the first and second antennas at a same time, and a second mode where the first, second, and third transceivers are configured to respectively communicate using the first and second antennas at different times. In the first mode and the second mode, the controller is further configured to selectively allow the second transceiver to transmit and receive using the second antenna at a same time as the third transceiver.

The popularity of various wireless networking technologies for handheld platforms has created a need to integrate multiple networking technologies on a single integrated circuit. Of these networking technologies, the two most widely used are wireless local-area networking (WLAN) and Bluetooth. Both of these technologies use the same un-licensed 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. This situation poses a difficult problem for designing integrated circuits and external logic components that allow both of these technologies to simultaneously coexist.
One solution is temporal coexistence (also referred to as time-multiplex coexistence). A conventional temporal coexistence implementation 100 is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a WLAN transceiver 102 and a Bluetooth transceiver 104 share an antenna 106 using a switch 108 that is controlled by a switch controller 110. Because Bluetooth operates according to a known schedule, switch controller 110 can schedule WLAN transmissions around the Bluetooth transmissions. However, because the Bluetooth schedule is not known to WLAN link partners such as access points and the like, there are frequent collisions on the receive side. These collisions can reduce WLAN performance to one-half of baseline. In addition, it is necessary to include additional protection in switch controller 110 to prevent rate spirals. This additional protection involves additional complexity and cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for selecting between coexistence modes in a wireless device


A method for operating a hybrid vehicle and a hybrid vehicle 10 which operates in accordance with the method. Particularly, the hybrid vehicle 10 includes a pair of torque generators 12, 14 which provide torque by moving in dissimilar directions as the hybrid vehicle 10 is started and stopped, thereby reducing inertia related noise and vibration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for operating a hybrid vehicle and to a hybrid vehicle which incorporates the method and more particularly, to a method which allows a hybrid vehicle to be selectively and smoothly started and stopped.
2. Background of the Invention
A hybrid vehicle typically includes a first and a second source of torque which are selectively activatable and which provide torque to the wheels of the vehicle, effective to allow the vehicle to be propelled and maneuvered. Typically, the first source of torque comprises an internal combustion engine and the second source of torque comprises an electrical generator, although other torque generation configurations may be utilized.
While the foregoing arrangement does provide many desirable benefits, it has some drawbacks. That is, a certain amount of inertial force must be overcome in order to start the hybrid vehicle from rest (e.g., in order to turn or rotate the stationary engine and the generator). This initial activation causes a certain amount of reactive force (which is substantially equal to the amount of the inertial force) to be undesirably communicated into the hybrid vehicle, thereby causing undesirable vibration and noise (e.g., inertia related noise and vibration). Substantially the same type of reaction force is also communicated into the hybrid vehicle as the vehicle (e.g., the engine) is stopped. While various strategies are utilized to overcome this drawback, these strategies are costly, complex, and relatively ineffective.
It is a first non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a method for operating a hybrid vehicle which overcomes some or all of the previously delineated drawbacks associated with prior hybrid vehicle operating strategies.
It is a second non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a hybrid vehicle which overcomes some or all of the previously delineated drawbacks of prior hybrid vehicles.
It is a third non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a method for selectively and smoothly stopping and starting a hybrid vehicle.
It is a fourth non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a hybrid vehicle engine which may be selectively and smoothly started and stopped.
According to a first non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a hybrid vehicle is provided. Particularly, the hybrid vehicle includes a first source of torque which includes a first member which rotates in a first direction at a certain time; and a second source of torque which includes a second member which rotates in a second direction during the certain time.
According to a second non-limiting aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for use in combination with a hybrid vehicle of the type which may be selectively started and stopped and having a first and a second source of torque which respectively rotate in a certain direction, is provided. The provided apparatus comprises an assembly which is coupled to the first source of torque; a controller which is coupled to the assembly and which senses the starting of the hybrid vehicle;
and a reversing gear which is coupled to the controller and to the first source of torque and which is activated by the controller in response to the sensed starting of the hybrid vehicle, thereby causing the assembly to reverse the certain rotational direction of the first source of torque.
According to a third non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a first and a second source of torque, each of the first and second sources of torque having a respective direction of movement is provided. The method comprises the step of reversing the direction of movement of the first source of torque during a certain period of time.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in combination with the following drawings.

Method for operating a hybrid vehicle and a hybrid vehicle incorporating the method


A multi-mode laser-based bar code symbol reading device having a hand-supportable housing with a light transmission aperture, wherethrough visible light can exit and enter the hand-supportable housing. A laser scanning engine, disposed within the hand-supportable housing, is controlled to selectively operate in either an omni-directional reading mode or a uni-directional bar code reading mode. In the omni-directional bar code reading mode, the laser scanning engine projects pattern through the light transmission aperture, an omni-directional laser scanning pattern producing multiple laser scanning lines with substantially uniform spatial and temporal intensity characteristics at any given scanning plane parallel to the light transmission aperture within the working distance of the system, and detects and decodes bar code symbols on objects passing through the omni-directional scanning pattern, and produces symbol character data representative of decoded bar code symbols. In the uni-directional bar code reading mode, the laser scanning engine projects through the light transmission aperture, a visible stroboscopically-pulsed omni-directional laser scanning pattern, against a single laser scanning line having substantially uniform spatial and temporal intensity characteristics at any given scanning plane parallel to the light transmission aperture within the working distance of the system, and detects and decodes bar code symbols on objects passing through the single laser scanning line, and produces symbol character data representative of decoded bar code symbols. A manually-actuatable data transmission switch, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, produces an activation signal in response to the manual-actuation of the data transmission switch. A data transmission subsystem, disposed in the hand-supportable housing, operates under control of control circuitry to communicate the symbol character data produced by the laser scanning engine to a host device operably coupled to the bar code symbol reading device. The control circuitry enables communication of symbol character data produced by the laser scanning engine in the uni-directional bar code reading mode of operation to the host device in response to the activation signal produced by the data transmission switch, and the control circuitry enables communication of symbol character data produced by the laser scanning engine in the omni-directional reading mode of operation to the host device irrespective of the activation signal produced by the data transmission switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in automatic laser scanning bar code symbol reading systems, wherein laser scanning and bar code symbol reading operations are automatically initiated in response to the automatic detection of objects and/or bar code symbols present thereon and are capable of reading bar code symbols in multiple kinds of bar code reading modes of operation.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Bar code symbols have become widely used in many environments such as, for example, point-of-sale (POS) stations in retail stores and supermarkets, inventory management document tracking, and diverse data control applications. To meet the growing demands of this technological innovation, bar code symbol readers of various types have been developed for sending bar code symbols and producing symbol character data for use as input in automated data processing systems.
In general, prior art hand-held bar code symbol readers using laser scanning mechanisms can be classified into two major categories.
The first category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readers includes lightweight hand-held laser scanners having manually-actuated trigger mechanisms for initiating laser scanning and bar code symbol reading operations. The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified distance from the object bearing the bar code symbol, manually activates the scanner to initiate reading, and then moves the scanner over other objects bearing bar code symbols to be read. Prior art bar code symbol readers illustrative of this first category are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,575,625; 4,845,349; 4,825,057; 4,903,848; 5,107,100; 5,080,456; 5,047,617; 4,387,297; 4,806,742; 5,021,641; 5,468,949; 5,180,904; 5,206,492; 4,593,186; 5,247,162; 4,897,532; 5,250,792; 5,047,617; 4,835,374; 5,017,765; 5,600,121; 5,149,950; and 4,409,470.
The second category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readers includes lightweight hand-held laser scanners having automatically-activated (i.e. triggerless) mechanisms for initiating laser scanning and bar code symbol reading operations. The hand-held laser scanner is positioned at a specified distance from an object bearing a bar code symbol, the presence of the object is automatically detected using an infrared (IR) light beam or a low-power laser light beam, the presence of the bar code symbol on the object is detected using a visible laser light beam, and thereafter the detected bar code symbol is automatically scanned and decoded (i.e. read) to produce symbol character data representative of the read bar code symbol. Examples of laser-based bar code symbol reading systems belonging to this second category are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,227; 4,639,606; 4,933,538; 5,828,048; 5,828,049; 5,825,012; 5,808,285; 5,796,091; 5,789,730; 5,789,731; 5,777,315; 5,767,501; 5,736,982; 5,742,043; 5,528,024; 5,525,789; D-385,265; 5,484,992; 5,661,292; 5,637,852; 5,468,951; 5,627,359; 5,424,525; 5,616,908; 5,591,953; 5,340,971; 5,340,973; 5,557,093; 5,260,553.
Such automatically-activated laser scanning bar code symbol readers perform aggressive bar code symbol reading operations that are well suited for POS applications where the laser scanner is configured as a fixed presentation scanner (where the scanner is fixed while the bar coded objects are moved through the scanning field). However, such aggressive bar code symbol reading operations may be problematic in some portable applications (where the scanner is moved or aimed onto a barcode label for reading), for example, when attempting to read a particular bar code from a list of bar code symbols closely printed on a bar code menu or like structure. In this situation, the scan line may scan across two or more bar code symbols at the same time thereby causing an inadvertent bar code symbol reading error. Oftentimes, such bar code symbol reading errors must be corrected at their time of occurrence, wasting valuable time and resources of the user.
In the fixed "presentation" mode of operation, because objects are often swept through the scanning field in random orientations, it is preferable to use an omni-directional scanning pattern; however, such omni-directional scanning pattern exacerbates the menu reading problem as described above.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,247,647, 5,962,838, and 5,719,385 describe bar code symbol reading devices having multiple line and single line scanning modes that potentially combat these problems. However, because such devices fail to provide the user with adequate control over the disposition of the bar code symbol reading process, such devices are susceptible to the menu reading problem as described above when the device (operating in single line scanning mode) is positioned at a large distance from the object and the scan line is large due to the scanning geometry of the scanner.
Also, the laser scanning patterns produced during these modes of bar code reading are often not as visibly discernable as would be desired in demanding ambient lighting environments in which such bar code readers are typically utilized such as, for example, retail and other consumer related applications.
Thus, there is a great need in the art for an improved system and method of reading bar code symbols using automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning mechanisms capable of automatically reading bar code symbols printed on diverse types of objects including, but not limited to, printed bar code symbol menus.

Automatically-activated hand-supportable omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reader having a user-selectable linear scanning menu-reading mode supported by a stroboscopically-pulsed omni-directional laser scanning pattern for improved bar code symbol navigation and alignment during menu-reading operations


An improved thermal swing adsorption process is set forth which addresses the problem of water ingress into the adsorbent by periodically heating the adsorbent to a temperature greater than the temperature used in the normal regeneration cycle.

Thermal swing adsorption (TSA) systems for the removal of contaminant from a gas stream are taught in the art. TSA systems generally comprise a repeating cycle of steps including:                (i) contacting the gas stream with an adsorbent selective for the retention of a contaminant in order to adsorb at least a portion of the contaminant from the gas stream wherein this step (i) is conducted at an initial temperature;        (ii) heating the adsorbent to a regeneration temperature in order to desorb at least a portion of the contaminant adsorbed in step (i); and        (iii) cooling the adsorbent to the initial temperature before starting a new cycle.
The regeneration temperature generally ranges anywhere from 40° C. to 400° C., but once selected, generally remains generally constant from cycle to cycle. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,531,808, 5,689,974, 5,906,675, 6,106,593, 6,273,939, and EP 1226860.
The adsorbent bed in TSA systems typically includes a layer of desiccant (such as silica gel or alumina) to remove water since, even at ppm levels, water adversely impacts the capacity of the adsorbent to adsorb contaminants. Notwithstanding the use of desiccants, water ingress into the adsorbent remains a problem in TSA systems. This is especially true just prior to start-up when the adsorbent is initially loaded in wet ambient air, or during a plant upset in which water breaks through the desiccant layer and into the adsorbent layer. In the past, this type of situation has required that the adsorbent be discarded and fresh adsorbent loaded.
The present invention addresses the problem of water ingress by periodically heating the adsorbent to a second regeneration temperature greater than the first regeneration temperature. The present invention is particularly useful where the TSA adsorbent utilized is particularly sensitive to water, such as where the adsorbent comprises a zeolite molecular sieve.
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems are also taught in the art for the removal of contaminant from a gas stream. PSA systems generally comprise a repeating cycle of steps including:                (i) passing the gas stream through a vessel containing an adsorbent selective for the retention of a contaminant in order to adsorb at least a portion of the contaminant from the gas stream wherein this step (i) is conducted at an initial elevated pressure;        (ii) depressurizing the adsorbent-containing vessel in order to desorb at least a portion of the contaminant adsorbed in step (i); and        (iii) repressurizing the adsorbent-containing vessel to the initial elevated pressure before starting a new cycle.
It can be seen that whereas regeneration of adsorbent in TSA systems is accomplished by a temperature swing, regeneration of adsorbent in PSA systems is accomplished by a pressure swing. Consequently, PSA systems include no cyclical heating of the adsorbent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,022 teaches a PSA system which includes non-cyclical heating of the adsorbent. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,022 teaches periodic heating of the adsorbent to temperatures between 50 and 300° C. to address water ingress into the adsorbent. In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,022, an adsorbent comprising alumina is utilized to remove CO2. The skilled practitioner will appreciate that alumina is easy to dehydrate, at least compared to the zeolite molecular sieve type adsorbent for which the present invention is particularly suited.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,018 teaches a PSA system which utilizes an X type zeolite for N2 removal. This patent recognizes the importance of regeneration gas flow rate to ensure good N2 capacity of zeolites, typically Ca exchanged X zeolites. Table V in this patent shows the importance of regeneration gas flow rate or contact time on the N2 capacity of CaX. At a regeneration gas contact time of 9 seconds (0.15 minutes), the N2 Henry's law constant on CaX was 2.4 mmole/g/atm. When the regeneration gas contact time was increased to 27 seconds (0.45 min), the N2 Henry's law constant was decreased 33% to 1.6 mmole/g/atm. U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,018 does not teach the effect of regeneration gas contact time on CO2 capacity as per Example 4 herein.

Periodic high temperature regeneration of thermal swing adsorption systems


Methods, devices, kits and compositions to treat a myocardial infarction. In one embodiment, the method includes the prevention of remodeling of the infarct zone of the ventricle. In other embodiments, the method includes the introduction of structurally reinforcing agents. In other embodiments, agents are introduced into a ventricle to increase compliance of the ventricle. In an alternative embodiment, the prevention of remodeling includes the prevention of thinning of the ventricular infarct zone. In another embodiment, the prevention of remodeling and thinning of the infarct zone involves the cross-linking of collagen and prevention of collagen slipping. In other embodiments, the structurally reinforcing agent may be accompanied by other therapeutic agents. These agents may include but are not limited to pro-fibroblastic and angiogenic agents.

Ischemic heart disease typically results from an imbalance between the myocardial blood flow and the metabolic demand of the myocardium. Progressive atherosclerosis with increasing occlusion of coronary arteries leads to a reduction in coronary blood flow. Blood flow can be further decreased by additional events such as changes in circulation that lead to hypoperfusion, vasospasm or thrombosis
Myocardial infarction accounts for approximately 20% of all deaths. It is a major cause of sudden death in adults.
Myocardial Infarction (MI) is one form of heart disease that often results from the sudden lack of supply of oxygen and other nutrients. The lack of blood supply is a result of closure of the coronary artery that nourishes the particular part of the heart muscle. The cause of this event is generally caused by arteriosclerosis "hardening of the arteries" in coronary vessels.
Formerly, it was believed that an MI was caused from a slow procession of closure from for example 95% then to 100% but an MI can also be a result of minor blockages where, for example, there is a rupture of the cholesterol plaque resulting in blood clotting within the artery. Thus, the flow of blood is blocked and downstream cellular damage occurs. This damage can cause irregular rhythms that can be fatal, even though the remaining muscle is strong enough to pump a sufficient amount of blood. As a result of this insult to the heart tissue, scar tissue tends to naturally form.
Even though relatively effective systemic drugs exist to treat MI such as ACE-inhibitors and Beta-blockers, a significant portion of the population that experiences a major MI ultimately develop heart failure. An important component in the progression to heart failure is remodeling of the heart due to mechanical forces resulting in uneven stress and strain distribution in the left ventricle. Once an MI occurs remodeling of the heart begins. The principle components of the remodeling event include myocyte death, edema and inflammation, followed by fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition, and finally scar formation. The principle component of the scar is collagen. Since mature myocytes of an adult are not regenerated the infarct region experiences significant thinning. Myocyte loss is the major etiologic factor of wall thinning and chamber dialation that may ultimately lead to progression of cardiac myopathy. Myocyte death can and does occur. In other areas, remote regions experience hypertrophy (thickening) resulting in an overall enlargement of the left ventricle. This is the end result of the remodeling cascade. These changes in the heart result in changes in the patient's lifestyle and their ability to walk and to exercise. These changes also correlate with physiological changes that result in increase in blood pressure and worsening systolic and diastolic performance.
FIG. 1A-1C illustrates blood flow by longitudinal cross sectioning of the artery. FIG. 1A illustrates a normal unobstructed artery. FIG. 1B illustrates artery damage due to a tear or spasm. This FIG. illustrates a minor insult to the interior wall. FIG. 1C illustrates an artery with plaque build-up that reduces the blood flow demonstrated by the blocked blood cell above the atherosclerotic mass. Fat and cholesterol build up at the site of damage. This mass can be detected by methods currently available such as an, ECG, SPECT, MRI, angiogram.
FIG. 2A-2B illustrate the progression of heart damage once the build-up of plaque induces an infarct to occur. The most common pathogenesis of this disease is occlusive intracoronary thrombus where a thrombus is covering an ulcerated stenotic plaque. This causes approximately 90% of transmural acute myocardial infarctions. Other possible triggers of an MI are vasospasms with or without coronary atherosclerosis and possible association with platelet aggregation. Another possible trigger is embolisms from left-sided mural thrombosis, vegetative ensocarditis or a paradoxic embolism from the right side of the heart through a patent foramen ovale. FIG. 2A illustrates a site where blockage and restricted blood flow can occur from any of the indicated causes. FIG. 2B illustrates the extensive damage to the left ventricle that can be a result of the lack of oxygen and nutrient flow carried by the blood to the inferior region left ventricle of the heart. This area will likely undergo remodeling and eventually a scar will form and a non-functional (an area that does not contract) area will exist.
Significant atherosclerotic build-up can reduce the arterial lumen and reduce blood flow. Build-up is capable of rupturing resulting in a total or partial occlusion of the artery. Complete coronary occlusion will lead to an acute MI. Thus the T-cells, platelets, fibrin and multiple other factors and cells are blocked from progression through the blood stream and the result is an inadequate vascular supply as seen. This leads to myocyte death. Myocyte death, in addition to fibrosis in the form of collagen deposition, can lead to a compromised left ventricle and overload on the remaining myocytes. This process is further complicated by compensation of the remaining myocytes that hypertrophy (enlarge). This can cause the left ventricle to enlarge and if the cycle continues can result in eventual heart failure.
The morphological appearance of the infracted heart tissue post M.I. can vary. A transmural infarct involves the entire thickness of the left ventricular wall from the endocardium to the epicardium. It may extend into the anterior free wall and the posterior free wall. This damage may include extensions into the right ventricular wall. A subendocardial infarct may have multiple focal regions and necrosis area may be confined to the inner one-third to one-half of the left ventricular wall. The evolutionary changes in a subendocardial infarct do not evolve the same as in a transmural MI.
Over time post-MI morphological changes occur. The gross morphological changes that occur over approximately a 7-week period are pallor of the myocardium that leads to some hyperemia then a yellowing starts to occur central to the damaged region. At approximately 15 days, the area is mostly yellow with soft vascular margins. This area eventually turns white from fibrosis. On a microscopic level, the initial examination reveals wavy myocardial fibers. Coagulation and necrosis with loss of cross striations occur followed by contraction bands, edema, hemorrhage, and neutrophilic infiltrate. Within 24-72 hours there is total loss of nuclei and striations and heavy neutrophilic infiltrate. Then macrophage and mononuclear infiltration begin resulting in a fibrovascular response. Once this fibrovascular response occurs then prominent granulation of the tissue follows. This ultimately leads to fibrosis and a scar is formed by about 7 weeks post MI.
FIG. 3A-3B illustrate the occlusion of an artery that may lead to an MI. FIG. 3A illustrates the cross-section of a normal coronary artery with unobstructed lumen 301. The normal arterial wall 302 is made up of an intima layer 303, a media layer 304, and an adventitia layer 305. Within the arterial lumen, the intima is in direct contact with the flow of blood. This region is mostly made up of endothelial cells. The media layer is mostly smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix proteins. Finally, the aventitia layer is primarily made up of collagen, nerves, blood vessels and lymph vessels. FIG. 3B illustrates a coronary artery with atherosclerosis. In this example, this artery is about 50 percent occluded (only 50 percent of the arterial lumen is free of obstruction). Thus, the obstructed artery may lead to damage observed in a ventricle of an MI subject.
After an MI has occurred, three layers of tissue can be distinguished. The infarct region has (1) the region of significant necrosis/apoptosis tissue (2) the border zone that consists of a large concentration of apoptotic and necrotic tissue as well as viable tissue and (3) the unaffected region that consists of mainly viable tissue. In the border zone the cells exist in an oxygen-deprived state due to the damage from the MI.
FIG. 3C-3J illustrate the details of a post-MI remodeling of the ventricle. The progression of heart failure after an MI is a result of the remodeling of the heart after the infarct. The remodeling process causes infracted region of the heart to stretch and become thinner causing the left ventricular diameter to increase. As the heart continues to remodel, the stresses on the heart increase. FIG. 3C, on a cellular level, a normal myocardium is illustrated. FIG. 3C illustrates the cross striations 306 and central nuclei 307 of a healthy myocyte population.
FIG. 3D-3J depict the progression of the remodeling of the ventricle post MI. FIG. 3D illustrates an early acute MI. Here, there are prominent pink contraction bands that are indicated by reference number 308. FIG. 3E illustrates the increasing loss of striations and some contraction bands. The nuclei in this illustration are incurring karyolysis (A stage of cell death that involves fragmentation of a cell nucleus. The nucleus breaks down into small dark beads of damaged chromatin) 309. In addition, the neutrophils are infiltrating the damaged myocardial region. FIG. 3F illustrates an acute MI. The loss of nuclei and loss of cross striations are evident. There is extensive hemorrhaging on the infarct border 310. FIG. 3G illustrate the prominent necrosis and hemorrhaging 310, as well as the neutrophilic infiltrate 311. Subsequently, a yellowish center is formed within the damaged area with necrosis and inflammation surrounded by the hyperemic border. After 3-5 days post-MI, the necrosis and inflammation are extensive. There is a possibility of rupture at this point. FIG. 3H illustrates approximately one week after the MI with capillaries, fibroblasts and macrophages filled with haemosiderin (haemosiderin is a long-term reserve (storage form) of iron in tissues) 312. In two to three weeks granulation is the most prominent feature observed. FIG. 3I illustrates extensive collagen deposition 313 seen after a couple of weeks. Collagenous scarring occurs in subendocardial locations in remote myocardial infarct regions. FIG. 3J illustrates the myocytes 314 after several weeks of healing post MI. They are hypertrophied with large dark nuclei 315 and interstitial fibrosis 316. These enlarged cells contribute to the enlarged left ventricle.
A complication of an MI is an aneurysm that looks like a bulge in the left ventricular wall. The aneurysm is made up of non-functional tissue that is unable to contract. Therefore, the ejection and stroke volume of the heart are reduced. Additionally, parts of this mass can form a mural thrombus that can break off and embolize to the systemic circulation.

Methods and compositions to treat myocardial conditions


An artificial eye for use in animated plush toys has a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The eye further includes a shaped member and a retaining post. A crossplate of the shaped member is preferably curved to correspond to the curvature of the eye, and is operative to animate a portion of plush contiguous to the eye. The portion of plush to be animated has an attached elongated flap which includes a forked free end wherein each branch of the forked end includes a hole. The elongated flap is inserted into the doll's body or head cavity, and each branch is tucked under the curved crossplate of the shaped member. The retaining post engages the holes near the ends of each branch, thereby fixedly retaining the flap to the eye. When the eye is rotated the plush portion also moves thereby simulating movement of an eyelid.

Society has seen an evolution of technology in a wide variety of industries, including the toy industry. This evolution in technology is quite apparent in several sectors of the toy industry. For example, technological enhancements have made video games more realistic and lifelike than anyone could have imagined ten years ago. Technological enhancements have also affected other sectors of the toy industry in more subtle ways. For example, board games now come with video displays on a regular basis, baseballs can measure their own velocities when thrown, and dolls can now speak, walk, and even roller skate. Many of these product enhancements have been driven by customer demand. As technology continues to improve, customers want toys that have more capabilities or that are more realistic.
One example of customer driven evolutions in the industry is found in the toys embodied as creatures, animals, dolls and various other life forms real or imagined. Dolls, despite their simplicity, have long been among the most popular toys, especially among younger children. Dolls, however, are not immune to customer demands. As such, customers have continually demanded a more lifelike doll. Therefore, dolls have become more realistic as technologies that have applications in the doll industry have evolved. As alluded to earlier, dolls now have enhanced movement and speaking capabilities that tend to make the doll seem more realistic and lifelike.
One important influence technological advancements have on the doll industry is seen in the development of dolls' eyes, which have evolved quite dramatically. Some of the more recent developments in clear plastic doll eyes relate to hemispherical and semi-spherical shaped eyes. With regard to clear plastic eyes, many variations have developed for representing the pupil and the iris. Some conventional eyeballs have the pupil and iris painted onto a flat back surface of the hemisphere, while others use stickers or emblems instead of paint. However, these technologies cannot be immediately adapted to meet customer demands because of other constraints placed on the industry by customers. One of the most important constraints is cost. Therefore, even though technologies may exist to meet customer demands, those technologies cannot be applied to this industry until they have adapted in such a way as to be more cost effective.
Due to the cost constraints mentioned above, the development of the doll eye itself seems to have reached a plateau. Recent attempts to increase the realism of dolls' eyes have focused on adding additional structure around the eye such as eyelids and eyelashes. One example of an eye with eyelashes is shown in FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,442 to Samo for "Artificial Eye for Doll" issued Dec. 16, 1986. This patent is illustrative of the problems associated with separately added features, such as eyelids and eyelashes. As shown in the figure, the eyelashes are separately formed and attached to the eye through secondary operations. These secondary operations are generally expensive and labor intensive. Additionally, current processes, such as those illustrated in Samo, are relatively expensive because they require additional parts that need to manufactured, stored, and assembled. Other conventional eyes also have separately molded lids that either attach to the eye in a separate operation or that wrap around the eye. These eyes, like the eyes of Samo, are problematic because they increase the part count of the doll and the number of production operations, both of which are costly.
Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an inexpensive, yet realistic eye for use with a life-like moving doll having a flexible or plush covering. One such life-like, animated, moving doll is shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,094 to Maddocks et al. for "Toy With Skin Coupled to Moving Part" issued Apr. 8, 2003 to Applicants' Assignee. As shown, the doll's flexible covering includes integrally molded clips that are used to attach the covering to slots in the body parts (for example, the eyes) to produce realistic animation. While the disclosed clip and slot arrangement effects movement of a flexible elastomeric skin in response to movement of the movable part, the arrangement is disadvantageous for use with a plush covering since it would require attaching a plurality of clips to the plush interior by sewing, gluing, or the like which would increase product cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,856 to Getgey et al. for "Animated Toy" issued May 5, 1987 discloses an animated plush toy with facial features such as a nose and eyes. The facial features have pins that penetrate the plush cover and affix to a plate that is driven by a cam mechanism. The plate moves generally vertically thereby effecting expansion and collapse of the plush cover for creating the impression of a living, breathing animal. Although movement of the plush and features is accomplished, the toy's eyes and movement fall short of the life-like realism demanded by modern consumers.
One artificial eye that overcomes the problems and limitations of the prior art is U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/300,084 for "Artificial Eye With Integrally Molded Eyelid" filed on Nov. 20, 2002 by Applicants' Assignee. The disclosed artificial eye is realistic and well suited for use with life-like creatures and dolls. To further accent its realism, the eye has a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. Additionally, the integrally molded eye and lid reduces the part count of the eye assembly when compared to conventional two-piece eye/lid combinations, which lowers the cost of production by eliminating high cost, labor intensive secondary operations. As disclosed, the eye is highly adaptable for different uses, but is somewhat disadvantageous for use with dolls requiring realistic eye movement and coordinated movement of a covering (e.g., plush) contiguous to the eye for simulating, for example, opening and closing of eyelids.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a life-like, realistic, one-piece molded eye that is operative to coordinate realistic movement of a covering such as plush, contiguous to the eye.

Method and apparatus for attaching plush to an artificial eye


This disclosure provides a capability indication method, a terminal, and a network-side network element. The capability indication method includes: obtaining first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: first indication information of a terminal capability, and terminal capability information mapped to the first indication information; and sending second indication information of the terminal capability based on the first information.

With evolution of network technologies, a terminal needs to support an increasing quantity of capabilities, while the terminal also needs to report an increasing quantity of capabilities to a network. Therefore, air interface load caused by terminal capability reporting is increasing.
However, there is no definite conclusion on how to optimize terminal capability reporting.

Capability indication method, terminal, and network-side network element


An ordered registration of a mobile station (MS) is initiated by a radio access network that includes a base station (BS) in communication with a downstream network entity. The downstream entity conveys a message to the BS requesting that the MS be instructed to register. The BS then transmits a message to the MS that instructs the MS to register. In response to receiving the registration instruction, the MS transmits a registration message to the BS. Upon receiving a registration message, the BS conveys a message to the downstream entity requesting an update of a location of the MS. The downstream network entity updates the MS's location and conveys a message to the BS confirming an updating of the location of the MS. In another embodiment of the present invention, the MS can initiate a user-zone based registration by conveying a user-zone based registration message to the BS.

The TIA/EIA (Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Association) IS-2001-A, or 3GPP2 IOS (Inter Operability Specification), standard provides a compatability standard for cellular mobile telecommunications systems that operate as a cdma2000, IXEV-DO or any other technology supported by an A.S0001/IS-2001 based Access Network. The standard ensures that a mobile station (MS) operating in a cdma2000 system can obtain communication services when operating in a cellular communication system or personal communication system (PCS) manufactured according to the standard. To ensure compatibility, radio system parameters and call processing procedures are specified by the standard, including call processing steps that are executed by an MS and a base station (BS) serving the MS in order to establish a call and digital control messages and analog signals that are exchanged between elements of an infrastructure that includes the BS.
A typical cdma2000 radio access network (RAN) includes a BS in communication with a mobile station (MS). The BS typically includes a base transceiver station (BTS) in communication with a base station controller (BSC). The BS is, in turn, in communication with a mobile switching center (MSC) and/or a packet control function (PCF). In turn, the PCF is typically in communication with a packet data service node (PDSN). An interface between the BS and the MSC includes an A1 interface that provides a call control and mobility management interface between the BS and the MSC, an A2 bearer interface for PCM between a switch component of the MSC and an SDU function of the BS, and an A5 bearer interface for circuit data between a switch component of the MSC and an SDU function of the BS that together provide call switching interfaces between the BS and the MSC. An interface between the BS and the PCF includes an A8 interface that provides a bearer path between the BS and the PCF and an A9 interface that provides a signaling interface between the BS and the PCF. An interface between the PCF and the PDSN includes an A11 signaling connection and an A10 bearer connection.
When an MS is activated by a user, the MS registers with the RAN. Registration initiated by the MS is known as 'autonomous registration.' Registration is a process by which the MS notifies the RAN of, among other things, a location, status, and identification of the MS. As part of the registration process, an MS operating in a slotted mode further provides a slot cycle parameter, so that the RAN can determine which paging channel or forward common control channel slots are being monitored by the MS, and a protocol revision number, so that the RAN knows the capabilities of the MS. The RAN can then use the location information and the slot cycle parameter to page the MS via a serving BS when establishing an MS terminated call.
However, instances exist where it is desirable for the RAN to initiate a registration by an MS, that is, an 'ordered registration.' For example, 'ordered registration' may be desirable prior to intersystem short message service (SMS) delivery in areas where only zone-based registration is enabled to allow for more efficient subsequent delivery of voice or SMS, when a system turns off autonomous registration to reduce common channel traffic, when a timed out VLR record is deleted, or when an update of the MS's location is immediately required. Currently, the IOS RAN specification does not provide for a RAN-initiated location registration.
Therefore a need exists for a method and an apparatus that provides a RAN the capability to support RAN-initiated location registration.

Method and apparatus for registration of a mobile station in a packet data communication system


Techniques for realizing efficient setting and utilization of configuration including storage volumes in a storage system having an initiator and a target, with a low cost configuration not requiring additional equipment such as a LAN and a server without limitations due to a low-transfer rate network are provided. The storage system has, e.g., an IS serving as an initiator, a TS serving as a target, and a frame relay device R for relaying the communication between the devices. The R has a DB for retaining the configuration information including the configuration of storage volumes in plural devices connected via plural ports, and an exclusive control unit for performing an exclusive control process of the configuration information in the DB upon setting for utilizing the storage volumes among the plural devices. According to update of the configuration of each device, the R updates the configuration information in the DB.

The present invention relates to a storage system comprising a storage device (also called as a disk array device) provided with a storage controlling function with respect to storage resources, and particularly, relates to techniques for managing of configuration information including that of, for example, allocation and association of storage resources in the storage system.
In an example configuration of a conventional storage system, a storage device (abbreviated as an IS) serving as an initiator (abbreviated as an I) and a storage device (abbreviated as a TS) serving as a target (abbreviated as a T) are connected via a frame relay device (abbreviated as an R). In the storage system, the I and the T are in the superior-subordinate relationship, and the I unidirectionally accesses a storage volume (abbreviated as a V) which is owned by the T. The terms I and T are according to that of the standard of, for example, SCSI or Fibre Channel (abbreviated as FC). The R is an information processing device for relaying the communication between the I and the T. And, the R is, for example, is a storage device provided with a switch such as a FC-SW (Fibre Channel Switch) and with a relay function. The I is an information processing device such as a storage device (IS) or a host computer (also referred to as a host). The T is, for example, a storage device (TS) which is accessed from the I and responds by performing input/output with respect to the V owned by the T. For example, in response to a data input/output request from the host connected thereto, the IS performs input/output with respect to the V owned by the IS or the V owned by another storage device (TS).
Hereinafter, the V owned by an initiator (I) is referred to as an IV, and the V owned by a target (T) is referred to as a TV. The ID (identification information) or the address of a V is referred to as a VID. The unique ID of an IV is referred to as an IVID, and the unique ID of a TV is referred to as a TVID. The configuration relating to Vs in a storage system is referred to as a V configuration, and the configuration information thereof is referred to as V configuration information.
Recently, in the above described storage system having an I and a T, particularly, various functions such as the function of virtualization of storage resources for integrally handling Vs of the devices, or that for sharing TV(s) by a plurality of Is have been provided. When setting for associating IVs with TVs by, for example, VIDs, as V configuration information in the storage system is performed, the TVs can be utilized through access to the IVs. The R relays I-T communication for performing IV-TV access.
A technique relating to the V configuration information is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-145901. In this technique, conversion of frames is performed in a switch device in accordance with a management table.
In the above described example of a conventional storage system, setting and management of the configuration information of ISs was performed in a configuration wherein a management server connected to the ISs via a LAN or the like and software therefor (storage management program) is introduced. An administrator performed operations including setting of the V configuration by use of, for example, a management server or a management terminal connected to each IS.
Therefore, additional equipment such as the LAN and the server device are required in addition to the elements such as the storage devices and the frame relay device (R) which are essential in the storage system configuration, which results in high cost. Moreover, the above described LAN is the network having a transfer rate lower than the transfer rate of the I/Fs between the storage devices and the R. Therefore, in V setting, limitations are imposed on the system by the above described transfer rate of the LAN. Thus, the performance in exclusive control of the setting of a V using the LAN and the management server becomes low, and the required performance may not be satisfied.
The technique described in above mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-145901 also requires additional equipment such as a management terminal or a management server connected to the switch device, etc.

Storage system, configuration management method, and program


A vehicle charger mounting structure has a system circuit, a charger and a relay. The system circuit constitutes a high-voltage circuit and includes an onboard battery. The charger charges the onboard battery with electric power supplied from an exterior. The relay is provided between the onboard battery and the charger. The relay operates and controls to be in an open state except during charging. The relay is provided to be housed in a casing different from the charger. The charger is provided to be housed in a housing space provided in a vehicle body structure part.

In recent years, attention is attracted to automobiles in which environment is considered, such as a hybrid vehicle (also called "HEV"), an electric vehicle (also called "EV"), and a fuel cell vehicle. Lately, there is a hybrid vehicle (also called "PHEV") on which a charger is mounted. Meanwhile, laws and regulations are being prepared at home and abroad.
When a charger is mounted on a vehicle together with a battery, a circuit configuration is such that an output terminal of the charger is directly connected to a terminal of the battery for reasons such as simplification of a circuit and reduction of an electric power loss. Thus, in a state where the electric power of the battery is in use, such as during traveling of the vehicle, a high voltage is applied to an output section being a DC side of the charger. Since a high voltage is applied to a charger during traveling of a vehicle as described above, a place on which the charger is mounted is required to be a part where predetermined protection can be attained in case of occurrence of an accident. On the other hand, the charger has an insulation structure thereinside, and the electric power does not flow near an external connection terminal of a charging port being an input side, even in a state where the electric power of the battery is in use.
In Patent Literature 1 described later, it is disclosed to provide a relay for cutting off an on-vehicle charger from a high-voltage circuit.


An x-ray CT scanner acquires projection data from a series of projections during a scan of a patient's chest Movement of the patient's chest due to respiration is also sensed during the scan and this acquired motion data is employed along with an warping function which models chest motion to calculate factors which correct the acquired projection data and reduce motion artifacts in an image produced by back projecting the acquired projection data.

The present invention relates to medical imaging, and particularly, to the reduction of motion artifacts in images produced using a projection method of reconstruction.
There are a number of modalities used to produce medical images. These include x-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission computed tomography (PET) methods. In all cases, the data used to reconstruct the desired image are acquired over a period of time in a scan comprised of a series of projections. Each projection is a snapshot of the patient from a different angle, or perspective, and a scan typically includes tens, or hundreds of projections. In the case of x-ray CT the entire data set may be acquired in a few seconds, whereas an MRI scan typically requires a few minutes to complete. The methods used to reconstruct an image from such data sets presume that the patient is motionless during the entire scan and that the same fixed object is the subject of all acquired projections. To the extent this is not true, artifacts such as ghosts, smearing and fuzziness appear in the reconstructed image.
Efforts to reduce patient motion during a scan can significantly improve image quality. However, artifacts caused by respiration are a significant problem in chest scans where suspension of breathing is not possible or poor instructions are provided to the patient by the scanner operator. Children and comatose patients are routinely scanned with no attempt to synchronize respiration with scanning, and it is expected in such cases that a number of poor quality images will be produced and will be discarded.
One approach to reducing motion artifacts in medical images is to retrospectively correct the acquired data to offset the effects of motion. One such method, for example, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,526 and is applied to acquired MRI data. The corrections that are made may be determined from an examination of the acquired raw data itself, or additional information, such as a signal from a cardiac monitor or a respiration monitor, may be used. The manner in which the corrections are made to the acquired raw data is determined by the particular reconstruction technique that is used. In the above patent, for example, a 2D Fourier transformation is used to reconstruct an image from the acquired MRI data, and the correction methods disclosed are limited to that technique.
The back projection method for image reconstruction is employed to some extent in all computed medical imaging modalities. It is the predominant method used in x-ray CT, and there is a need to correct acquired data used in projection imaging for the effects of patient motion.
The related application Ser. No. 07/615,778, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,128, referred to above, provides a method of modifying the back projecting process to accommodate motion of the patient occurring during acquisitions of the projections. In particular, the patient motion is modeled as a two dimensional magnification and offset of the volume elements (voxels) of the patient such as might occur with expansion of the chest during breathing.
The possibility of the above modification to the back projecting process was founded on an analyses of the image reconstruction process as a Fourier transform using the Fourier slice theorem. The results of this analyses were then applied to the more typically used backprojection process. The results suggested that the modification was appropriate provided the motion could be modeled as a simple, global magnification and offset of the voxels of the patient. Nevertheless, in general, the patient motion does not conform to a simple magnification and offset of the patient voxels but is a more complex function of time.

Localized motion artifact reduction in projection imaging


A method for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine. The method includes executing a host machine application on a host computer system, executing a first virtual machine application within a first virtual machine, and executing a second virtual machine application within a second virtual machine. A plurality of TLB (translation look aside buffer) entries for the first virtual machine application and the second machine application are stored within a TLB of the host computer system. At least one of the plurality of TLB entries is a global TLB entry.

Many types of digital computer systems are used to implement virtual machines and support for applications that execute within virtual machines. Generally, the term "virtual machine" refers to a computer system image or process that supports multiple computer system images/processes. Each image can contain an operating system and its associated applications, or alternatively, each image may have the same operating system or different respective operating systems. Some prior art computer systems are specifically built with hardware circuits that support virtual machine capability. These prior art solutions are limited in their performance and usefulness due to fact that their software support for virtual memory requires very slow software-based emulation while the hardware support does not cache virtual-address-to-physical-address translations efficiently in multi tasking, multi context environments. Thus what is required is a solution that can efficiently implement hardware support for virtual machine memory protection and address translation and for applications executing within virtual machines.

Memory protection and address translation hardware support for virtual machines


A grinding agent for refining coarse lime by grinding in an aqueous medium to a microparticulate size, composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer and/or copolymer, wherein, said grinding agent:. a) is formed from a least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and PA1 b) has an average molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole.. Grinding in the presence of the grinding agent allows the production of aqueous lime suspensions which have a high concentration of dry material expressed in weight percent, preferably between 40% and 60%, with particles of a size of less than 4 microns and median diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an agent for grinding coarse lime in an aqueous medium for the production of rheologically stable aqueous suspensions of refined lime. The invention also relates to a method for grinding the coarse lime in an aqueous medium in the presence of the grinding agent, the aqueous suspensions of lime produced thereby, and the new chemical applications of the aqueous suspensions of lime refined by grinding in the presence of the agent.
2. Discussion of the Background
For a long time hydrated lime (or calcium hydroxide) has been used in numerous fields in the form of aqueous suspensions, known under the name of milk of lime, whose particles, often rough and irregular, were responsible for poor reactivity and considerable sedimentation. Such aqueous suspensions of lime were, nevertheless, used as chemical neutralization agents or even as antiseptic agents although the lime had a low coefficient of solubility in an aqueous medium.
Since this mineral substance is obtained first by calcining calcium carbonate at a high temperature, then by refining the calcined product by dry grinding or even by grinding in the presence of a small amount water, the lime produced by said refining, whether or not it is hydrated, is in the form of aggregates whose very rough grain size is in the range of from 5 to 20 microns.
By definition, particles of hydrated lime with such a rough grain size provide low reactivity when they are used in this state, both in a pulverized form and in the form of an aqueous suspension, even in the presence of an additive such as a dispersion agent.
Therefore, in order to be able to increase the reactivity of the lime, over the last few years it has been shown to be desirable to improve the fineness until a particle size of preferably less than 5 microns has been achieved and, where it is in the form of a pigmentary aqueous suspension, to increase the dry matter concentration at the same time as refining the particles.
To achieve the object of a particle size of preferably less than 5 microns, it has been shown to be desirable to carry out more effective grinding using one or other of the wet or dry methods.
Where dry grinding is used, the ground mineral materials must undergo a size selection so as to collect the finest particles desirably sought and to recycle all the particles having too large a size as many times as necessary to convert them to the desired size or, as far as possible, to remove them. Such a recycling and/or removal operation of the oversized particles remains impractical since the cost of the operation would be industrially unacceptable.
Where wet grinding is used, the suspension resulting from said grinding is presently naturally limited to an industrial concentration in dry matter of at most 20% by weight due to the increase noted in the viscosities, whether the grinding is carried out in water alone or in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersion agent of mineral or organic origin.
This second method consists of using, during grinding operations in an aqueous medium, more and more elaborate grinding agents so as to facilitate the carrying out of said grinding, the dispersion of the particles, and the maintaining of the viscosities of the suspensions produced at acceptable levels.
A first type of dispersion agent which could be considered as a grinding agent (described in patents GB 2,127,395 and FR 2,351,706) is composed of alkaline polyacrylates, polyphosphates and lignosulfonates. This agent, which is used in lime and/or calcium carbonate and even other mineral suspensions at a concentration of at least 40% by weight, is introduced after flocculation of the mineral materials with a polymer that is usually of a high molecular weight.
It is certain that the prior flocculating action causes the agglomeration of the particles by providing flakes with lessened chemical reactivity, which are favorably dispersed due to the presence of the dispersion agent.
However, while the purpose of this type of agent is essentially to provide a suspension with a low viscosity and a high concentration of dry material, this agent also provides an increase in particle diameter due to the formation of flakes and not the refining thereof as desired (GB 2,127,395) or due to the inability to refine to a particle size less than 4 microns (FR 2,351,706).
A second type of dispersion agent (described in French Patent 2,387,911) is composed of a salt of acrylic and maleic acid copolymers with an average molecular weight of between 2,000 and 10,000, which enables the production of pigmentary suspensions of calcium carbonate having amounts of dry material of between only 40% and 60% by weight. When such an agent, not in a suspension of calcium carbonate but in a suspension of lime at 40% by weight of dry material, is submitted to a grinding operation, there occurs a very rapid increase in the viscosity of the medium causing the blockage of the industrial grinding without, however, a substantial refinement of the lime particles being observed.
A third type of agent, described as a grinding agent in French Patent 2,539,137, is composed of acrylic acid polymers and/or copolymers simultaneously neutralized using lime and another neutralizing agent with a monovalent function. Such a grinding agent provides the stabilization of the rheological properties of calcium carbonate suspensions over time but, with regard to lime, does not provide the simultaneous increase in the concentration of dry material and a refining of the particles as it causes a large and rapid increase in viscosity, going as far as blocking the industrial grinder.
A last type of dispersion agent (described in European Patent 0,061,354) consists of polyelectrolytes with a low average molecular weight, which, however, is always greater than 2,200, such as carboxymethylcelluloses, acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and lignosulfonates. The dispersion agents belonging to this family lead to good results when they are used for forming suspensions of rough lime particles which are always greater than 5 microns, but they cause a sudden and uncontrollable rise in the viscosity of such suspensions, going as far as blocking the industrial grinder, when they are used as grinding agents at concentrations of dry material on the order of 40% by weight or more.

Agent for grinding lime to augment its reactivity


A II-VI semiconductor laser diode having a semiconductor body comprising a plurality of semiconductor layers forming a pn junction, a facet at one end of the body, and a reference electrode. The laser diode further includes a facet degradation reduction electrode located adjacent to the facet. The facet degradation reduction electrode is electrically isolated from a forward bias electrode. The facet degradation reduction electrode is used to establish an electric field sufficient to reduce facet degradation. In one embodiment, this electric field is established by applying a reverse-bias voltage between the facet electrode and the reference electrode. In another embodiment, this electric field is established by electrically connecting the facet electrode to the reference electrode.

Semiconductor laser diodes are generally known and disclosed, for example, in Chapter 12 of Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 2nd ed. pp. 681-742 (1981). Specifically, a II-VI semiconductor laser diode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,199 issued to Haase et al.
Typically, semiconductor laser diodes include parallel facets that are formed when a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes are formed by cleaving a semiconductor crystal along the crystal's natural cleavage planes. The facets help confine light that is emitted by a pn junction located within the semiconductor laser diode. The facets help confine the emitted light by reflecting back into the semiconductor body a fraction of the light that otherwise would exit the semiconductor body. This reflection of the emitted light promotes a condition where the reflected light oscillates within the semiconductor body. This oscillation condition is necessary for the semiconductor to operate as a laser.
Facet degradation processes are well known in III-V semiconductor laser diodes and are associated with oxidation of the facet. Oxidation is a condition where an oxide film grows on the facet when the facet is exposed to the ambient environment. It is believed that oxidation of the facet is enhanced by laser light that is reflected by the facet. When the facet oxidizes, elements of the semiconductor (e.g., Ga or As) are nonuniformly removed from the semiconductor body to form the oxide film. This leaves behind defects in the semiconductor body which cause a portion of the emitted light to be absorbed in a process referred to as nonradiative recombination. In nonradiative recombination, the energy from the absorbed light is dissipated in part in the form of heat. When the laser diode is operated at high output powers, the temperature increase at the facet due to nonradiative recombination can be large. If the temperature at the facet exceeds the melting point of the semiconductor material used to form the laser, rapid destruction of the facet occurs, which prevents the laser diode from operating. This destruction of the facet is referred to as catastrophic optical damage (COD). When COD occurs, fractures appear on a portion of the facet and a molten region penetrates into the semiconductor laser from the facet. The output power at which COD occurs tends to decrease as the laser ages due to increased oxidation of the facet.
In III-V semiconductor laser diodes, facet degradation is typically minimized by coating the facet with a dielectric material such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 which effectively suppresses oxidation of the facet. This approach is described generally in Fukuda, Reliability and Degradation of Semiconductor Lasers and LEDs, pp. 134-136 (1991).
Conventional II-VI semiconductor laser diodes also exhibit a type of facet degradation. A gradual darkening of the semiconductor laser near the facet has been observed. After many minutes to an hour of operating a II-VI semiconductor at high output powers, it has been observed that this darkened region can extend up to 10 .mu.ms from the facet. Eventually dark line defects usually grow out of the darkened region and result in functional destruction of the laser.
For II-VI semiconductor laser diodes, however, coating the facet with a dielectric, as is done with III-V semiconductor devices, is not sufficiently effective to reduce facet degradation to acceptable levels. Therefore, a new approach is needed to reduce facet degradation in II-VI semiconductor laser diodes.

II-VI laser diode with facet degradation reduction structure