Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems are able to provide wireless communications at increased data rates. These systems involve using a plurality of antennas on both the transmitter and receiver and the problem of how to accommodate such structures in user terminals, which are often required to be hand held then arises. An antenna arrangement which is suitable for MIMO communications and which can be incorporated into a user terminal such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) is described. A pair of co-polarised umbrella monopoles and a slot antenna are incorporated into a flap which extends at approximately 90° to the body of the PDA. A fourth monopole is mounted and protrudes from the PDA itself.

The demand for wireless communication systems has grown steadily over recent decades, and has included several technological jumps over this time, particularly in the area of cellular and wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems. Analogue cellular phones have been replaced with digital handsets using for example GSM and CDMA technologies, and so called third generation systems such as UMTS are now being introduced. Similarly WLAN technologies such as HyperLan and IEEE 802.11b are also being introduced. The number of users continues to increase and data traffic is now becoming an important part of the wireless network. Both of these factors mean that it is important for operators to look for methods of increasing the capacity of their networks to meet future demands.
An increasing demand to access the internet and other data networks has led to the need for increased capacity particularly in the downlink direction. That is, increased capacity from basestations to wireless user terminals in order that users are able to download web pages and other information. One way of addressing this problem is to use multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems which are able to provide increased data rates. These systems involve using a plurality of antennas on both the transmitter and receiver and the problem of how to accommodate such structures in user terminals, which are often required to be hand held then arises.
In our earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/765,532, filed on 19 Jan. 2001 and also assigned to Nortel Networks, we describe an antenna arrangement for use in a laptop computer to provide MIMO communications. Three or four antennas are provided around the edges of the screen part of the laptop computer which is preferably oriented vertically when in use. The antennas are all integrated into the body of the laptop where the body includes the screen part. Transmission line loaded antennas are used such as bent folded monopoles or planar inverted F antennas. Each antenna has a monopole section which is perpendicular to a ground plane. Whilst the systems described in Ser. No. 09/765,532 are fully workable the present invention seeks to extend our earlier work.
Considering hand-held user terminals such as personal digital assistants (PDAS) these are currently available from a range of manufacturers such as Palm, Handspring and IBM. Some PDAs such as the Palm VIIx are provided with wireless communications capability, either using a transceiver built into the PDA, or by mounting the PDA in a separate cradle. However, these systems provide a single channel wireless solution in the same way as conventional mobile terminals rather than enabling MIMO communications.
The invention seeks to provide an antenna arrangement suitable for user terminal multiple-input multiple-output radio communications systems which overcomes or at least mitigates one or more of the problems mentioned above.
Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.

User terminal antenna arrangement for multiple-input multiple-output communications


Apparatus for monitoring a subject is described. A sensor detects monitors the subject and generates a signal in response thereto. A control unit analyzes the signal, and in response to the analyzing, identifies a clinical parameter of the subject. The control unit received an indication of a menstrual cycle of the subject. Taking into account the subject's menstrual cycle, the control unit identifies a baseline value of the clinical parameter, compares the identified clinical parameter to the baseline value, and, in response to the comparing, the control unit (a) determines whether a clinical episode is predicted, (b) determines whether a clinical episode is currently occurring, and/or (c) monitors an occurring clinical episode. The control unit generates an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Chronic diseases are often expressed by episodic worsening of clinical symptoms. Preventive treatment of chronic diseases reduces the overall dosage of required medication and associated side effects, and lowers mortality and morbidity. Generally, preventive treatment should be initiated or intensified as soon as the earliest clinical symptoms are detected, in order to prevent progression and worsening of the clinical episode and to stop and reverse the pathophysiological process. Therefore, the ability to accurately monitor pre-episodic indicators increases the effectiveness of preventive treatment of chronic diseases.
Many chronic diseases cause systemic changes in vital signs, such as breathing and heartbeat patterns, through a variety of physiological mechanisms. For example, common respiratory disorders, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF), are direct modifiers of breathing and/or heartbeat patterns. Other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, epilepsy, and certain heart conditions (e.g., congestive heart failure (CHF)), are also known to modify cardiac and breathing activity. In the case of certain heart conditions, such modifications typically occur because of pathophysiologies related to fluid retention and general cardiovascular insufficiency. Other signs such as coughing and sleep restlessness are also known to be of importance in some clinical situations.
Many chronic diseases induce systemic effects on vital signs. For example, some chronic diseases interfere with normal breathing and cardiac processes during wakefulness and sleep, causing abnormal breathing and heartbeat patterns.
Breathing and heartbeat patterns may be modified via various direct and indirect physiological mechanisms, resulting in abnormal patterns related to the cause of modification. Some respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and some heart conditions, such as CHF, are direct breathing modifiers. Other metabolic abnormalities, such as hypoglycemia and other neurological pathologies affecting autonomic nervous system activity, are indirect breathing modifiers.
Asthma is a chronic disease with no known cure. Substantial alleviation of asthma symptoms is possible via preventive therapy, such as the use of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents. Asthma management is aimed at improving the quality of life of asthma patients.
Monitoring of lung function is viewed as a major factor in determining an appropriate treatment, as well as in patient follow-up. Preferred therapies are often based on aerosol-type medications to minimize systemic side-effects. The efficacy of aerosol type therapy is highly dependent on patient compliance, which is difficult to assess and maintain, further contributing to the importance of lung-function monitoring.
Asthma episodes usually develop over a period of several days, although they may sometimes seem to appear unexpectedly. The gradual onset of the asthmatic episode provides an opportunity to start countermeasures to stop and reverse the inflammatory process. Early treatment at the pre-episode stage may reduce the clinical episode manifestation considerably, and may even prevent the transition from the pre-clinical stage to a clinical episode altogether.
Two techniques are generally used for asthma monitoring. The first technique, spirometry, evaluates lung function using a spirometer, an instrument that measures the volume of air inhaled and exhaled by the lungs. Airflow dynamics are measured during a forceful, coordinated inhalation and exhalation effort by the patient into a mouthpiece connected via a tube to the spirometer. A peak-flow meter is a simpler device that is similar to the spirometer, and is used in a similar manner. The second technique evaluates lung function by measuring nitric-oxide concentration using a dedicated nitric-oxide monitor. The patient breathes into a mouthpiece connected via a tube to the monitor.
Efficient asthma management requires daily monitoring of respiratory function, which is generally impractical, particularly in non-clinical or home environments. Peak-flow meters and nitric-oxide monitors provide a general indication of the status of lung function. However, these monitoring devices do not possess predictive value, and are used as during-episode markers. In addition, peak-flow meters and nitric-oxide monitors require active participation of the patient, which is difficult to obtain from many children and substantially impossible to obtain from infants.
CHF is a condition in which the heart is weakened and unable to circulate blood to meet the body's needs. The subsequent buildup of fluids in the legs, kidneys, and lungs characterizes the condition as congestive. The weakening may be associated with either the left, right, or both sides of the heart, with different etiologies and treatments associated with each type. In most cases, it is the left side of the heart which fails, so that it is unable to efficiently pump blood to the systemic circulation. The ensuing fluid congestion of the lungs results in changes in respiration, including alterations in rate and/or pattern, accompanied by increased difficulty in breathing and tachypnea.
Quantification of such abnormal breathing provides a basis for assessing CHF progression. For example, Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR) is a breathing pattern characterized by rhythmic oscillation of tidal volume with regularly recurring periods of alternating apnea and hyperpnea. While CSR may be observed in a number of different pathologies (e.g., encephalitis, cerebral circulatory disturbances, and lesions of the bulbar center of respiration), it has also been recognized as an independent risk factor for worsening heart failure and reduced survival in patients with CHF. In CHF, CSR is associated with frequent awakening that fragments sleep, and with concomitant sympathetic activation, both of which may worsen CHF. Other abnormal breathing patterns may involve periodic breathing, prolonged expiration or inspiration, or gradual changes in respiration rate usually leading to tachypnea.


A driver with the arrangement of the travelling wave amplifier is disclosed. The driver provides n counts of cells each configuring the open collector arrangement and amplifying an input signal. The cells are arranged between an input interconnection and an output interconnection, and powered through the output interconnection. The power supply line to power the output interconnection is connected between m-th and (m+1)-th cells not through the output terminal of the output interconnection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driver for driving a semiconductor optical modulator.
2. Related Background Art
A traveling wave amplifier (hereafter denoted as "TWA") has been well known in the field. A TWA generally provides a plurality of cells each connected in parallel between the input interconnection and the output interconnection and amplifying an input signal coming therein with an input delay time specific to the cell and output an amplified signal to the output terminal with an output delay time also specific to the cell. But the sum of the input delay time and the output delay time is common to respective cells; accordingly, the output signal may be kept in the waveform thereof. The cells are powered through the output interconnection.
When an TWA is utilized in an optical communication, in particular, when an TWA drives an optical modulator types of an electro-absorption (hereafter denoted as "EA") modulator or a Mach-Zehnder (hereafter denoted as "MZ") modulator, a substantial amplitude of the output signal is required, which increases a driving current flowing in the driver. A TWA generally requires delay lines. When the driving current with the substantial amplitude flows in the delay lines, the delay lines are inevitable to be widened in dimensions thereof, which enlarges a size of the TWA.

Driver circuit configured with travelling wave amplifier


An automatic trim control system changes the trim angle of a marine propulsion device as a function of the speed of the marine vessel relative to the water in which it is operated. The changing of the trim angle occurs between first and second speed magnitudes which operate as minimum and maximum speed thresholds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a propulsion system for a marine vessel and, more particularly, to a trim system that is automatically actuated as a function of the speed of the marine vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Those skilled in the art of marine propulsion devices and marine vessels are familiar with many different ways to control the trim angle of a marine propulsion device. The operational position of a marine vessel relative to the water is affected by several parameters. These include the trim angle of the marine propulsion device, such as an outboard motor, the angle of trim tabs if the marine vessel is equipped with trim tabs, and the speed of the marine vessel relative to the body of water in which it is operated. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is related to the trim angle of the marine propulsion device.
Those skilled in the art of marine propulsion and marine vessels are familiar with many different ways in which the marine propulsion device, such as an outboard motor or stemdrive unit, can be moved to affect its angular position relative to the marine vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,528, which issued to Nakase on Jan. 21, 1986, describes a tilting mechanism for a marine propulsion device. Several embodiments of trim and tilt arrangements for outboard drives that adjust the trim condition of the outboard drive unit in response to drive thrust and/or velocity of the boat so as to provide the optimum flow resistance under all conditions are described.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,292, which issued to Griffiths et al. on Aug. 29, 1989, discloses a speed optimizing positioning system for a marine drive unit. A system for optimizing the speed of a boat at a particular throttle setting utilizes sensed speed changes to vary the boat drive unit position vertically and to vary the drive unit trim position. The measurement of boat speed before and after an incremental change in vertical position or trim is used in conjunction with a selected minimum speed change increment to effect subsequent alternate control strategies. Depending on the relative difference in before and after speeds, the system will automatically continue incremental movement of the drive unit in the same direction, hold the drive unit in its present position, or move the drive unit an incremental amount in the opposite direction to its minimum position. The alternate control strategies minimize the effects of initial incremental movement in the wrong direction, eliminate excessive position hunting by the system, and minimize drive unit repositioning which has little or no practical effect on speed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,025, which issued to Torigai et al. on Jun. 5, 1990, describes a posture control device for a marine vessel. A number of embodiments of watercraft propulsion unit controls for optimizing watercraft performance and maintaining stability are described. Performance is optimized in the illustrated embodiments by adjusting the trim angle of the propulsion device and stability is maintained by changing either the trim condition or the speed of the propulsion unit. The desired posture may either be preset in response to an earlier stable condition or may be set upon reaching of optimum performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,660, which issued to Newman et al. on Jul. 3, 1990, discloses a fuel conserving cruise system for a marine drive unit. A system for optimizing the operating efficiency of a boat by balancing fuel consumption against cruising speed utilizes a comparison between engine speed and boat speed to effect automatic positioning of the drive unit. The measurements of boat and engine speed before and after an incremental change in vertical position or trim position are used to calculate the percent changes in boat speed and engine speed which, in turn, are used in conjunction with selected minimum and maximum incremental percentages to effect subsequent alternate control strategies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,137, which issued to Iwai et al. on Oct. 4, 1994, describes an automatic position controller for marine propulsion systems. Several embodiments of automatic position controls for marine propulsion devices, wherein the lift condition of the propulsion device is adjusted in response to a sensed running condition of the watercraft such as changes in acceleration, speed or planing condition, are described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,393, which issued to Uenage et al. on Nov. 22, 1994, describes an automatic trim controller for marine propulsion units. Several embodiments of automatic trim controls for marine outboard drives for maintaining the optimum trim angle under all running conditions are described.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,763, which issued to Kaji on Feb. 14, 2006, describes a running control device. The device sets an optimum trim angle automatically. The running control device includes a propulsion force control section that controls the propulsion force of the propulsion device. The running control device also includes a tilt angle control section that controls the tilt angle of the propulsion device.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
Those skilled in the art of marine vessel propulsion and control are familiar with many different ways in which the trim angle of a marine propulsion device can be used to change the operating characteristics of the vessel. In addition to many different types of automatic trim control systems, many manual trim control systems are known to those skilled in the art. In typical operation, the operator of a marine vessel can change the trim angle of the associated propulsion units as the velocity of the vessel changes. This is done to maintain an appropriate angle of the vessel on the water as it achieves a planing speed and as it increases its velocity over the water while on plane. It would be beneficial if a system could be provided that performs the trim operation automatically, as a direct function of vessel speed, without requiring intervention by the operator of the marine vessel. The change in trim angle of the propulsion unit, if automatically performed, would enhance the operation of the marine vessel as it achieves planing speed and as it further increases its velocity over the water while on plane.

Automatic trim system for a marine vessel


A method of detecting a membrane protein by mass spectrometry comprises: (a) providing a solution comprising a detergent micelle in which said membrane protein is contained; (b) providing a mass spectrometer comprising a nanoelectrospray ionisation source, a mass analyser and a detector; (c) vaporising the solution using the nanoelectrospray ionisation source under conditions such that the membrane protein is released from the micelle; (d) ionising the membrane protein; (e) resolving the ionised membrane protein using the mass analyser; and (f) detecting the resolved membrane protein using the detector; wherein the solution contains a phosphate ester detergent which forms said detergent micelle. Also provided are reagents for use in said method.

Membrane proteins are responsible for a wide range of biological functions. Some of the most prevalent human diseases, including some cancers, result from their dysfunction. Despite representing around a third of the human genome, membrane proteins represent targets for more than half of all current therapeutic agents. As a significant biological target in disease and cancer, their study by traditional structural biology approaches, such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance, has been frustrated by limitations relating to their expression and solubility. Furthermore, X-ray analysis, in the majority of cases, has been limited by crystallographic resolution hindering the assignment of bound moieties.
In contrast to classical structural biology methods, mass spectrometry (MS) of intact complexes, sometimes referred to as "native MS", is a rapid and sensitive technique that can provide invaluable information on protein complexes, such as specifically bound small molecules. MS of intact soluble membrane proteins has emerged as a powerful technique to study the stoichiometry, structure-function and dynamics of protein assemblies. Recent developments have extended this technique to the study of membrane protein complexes, where it has already revealed subunit stoichiometries and specific phospholipid interactions. Consequently, MS of intact membrane protein complexes is set to become an indispensable tool for membrane protein biochemical and structural studies.
Membrane protein MS is normally performed using a detergent micelle in which the protein is contained. The membrane protein may be prepared by buffer exchange of the purified protein into an MS-compatible buffer supplemented with the detergent. The micellar solution is then ionized by means of nanoelectrospray and transmission into the mass spectrometer. Non-ionic detergents such as n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (DDM) are typically used to form these micellar solutions, as high concentrations of non-ionic detergents can be tolerated more readily during the electrospray process.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to the largest family of cell-surface proteins and are involved in a diverse array of physiological processes. The entire GPCR family, which comprises approximately 1000 members, shares the conserved topology with seven transmembrane helices and can be categorised into six classes according to structural and functional criteria. GPCR activation is thought to involve rearrangement of transmembrane helices, induced by ligand binding, and is one of the critical steps that allow interaction with G proteins. This triggers the activation of G protein subunits for downstream signalling and further modulates various aspects of cellular physiology.
GPCRs have become the largest class of drug targets in the human genome due to their intricate roles in numerous physiological events. Understanding the molecular basis of their activation provides invaluable information for therapeutic drug development. However, problems of instability and low expression yields have largely hindered progress and GPCRs still remain one of the most important challenges in pharmaceutical research. It would be particularly desirable to provide methods which allow the analysis of folded GPCRs with ligand binding intact are desired. Methods of studying complexes of GPCRs with ligands such as therapeutic agents, nucleotides and lipids, which are thought to be involved in mechanisms of activating GPCRs, are also desired.
There exists a need for improved MS methods for detecting membrane proteins, especially methods for analysing and studying GPCRs. In particular, there exists a need for improved MS methods which minimise receptor aggregation yet preserve the native oligomerisation, and/or which substantially preserve ligand binding activity.


An organic electroluminescence device including an organic layer having a light emission region and being disposed between an anode and a cathode is provided. The organic layer contains, as an organic light-emitting material, a compound represented by the following formula (1):

The present invention generally relates to an organic electroluminescence device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence device having a layered structure and emitting white or substantially white light.
An organic electroluminescence device is a device which itself emits light, and has features such that it can emit light with wide viewing angle and high luminance and can be reduced in thickness, and therefore, application of the device to next-generation flat display or its flat light source has attracted attention. The method for achieving full-color display using the organic electroluminescence device may be roughly classified into the following three methods.
The first one is a method in which light emitting portions respectively for red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are formed on a flat surface, for example, by a resistance heating deposition method using a metal mask. In the manufacturing process for this display, RGB, i.e., three types of elements (subpixels) are individually formed on the same substrate and combined to form one pixel. Therefore, there is a need to prepare a deposition mask having a fine pattern for pixels and align it on the substrate with high accuracy. This can be problematic in that the productivity is low and the cost is high in the manufacturing process.
The second one is a method in which full-color display is made using an organic light-emitting layer which emits monochromatic light, for example, blue light, and a color changing layer, provided on the forward side as viewed in the light emitting direction, for changing the blue light to red or green light.
The third one is a method in which light emitted from an organic electroluminescence device emitting white light is divided into RGB using a color filter. In the method of obtaining arbitrary light by using the white-light emitting layer and the color filter in combination, there is no need to align a deposition mask to produce individual colors of light, and therefore the number of manufacturing steps may be reduced, making it possible to improve the productivity in the manufacturing process and suppress the cost.
Examples of methods for obtaining white light emission include: (1) a method using RGB light emitting layers in combination; (2) a method for allowing a single or a plurality of light emitting layers to emit light having two wavelengths which have the relationship of complementary colors, such as, bluish green and red light, or blue and yellow to orange light; and (3) a method utilizing exciplex emission. As the method (1) above, a method in which blue-, green-, and red-light emitting layers are stacked on one another to obtain white light has been proposed (see, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-142169). The method (2) above includes a method in which two light-emitting layers for individual colors are stacked (see, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-158038 and 07-65958), a method in which emission of two colors of light is obtained from a single light emitting layer (see, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-208946), and the like. As the method (3) above, a white-light device using a boron-hydroxyphenylpyridine complex (see, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2002, 41, No. 1) and the like have been reported.

Abstract: wherein each of R1 to R26 represents a substituents, such as a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, a nitro group, an amino group, a cyano group, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, a silyl group, an alkylsilyl group, a siloxanyl group, an aralkyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, an ester group, an aryloxy group, a formyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, and a carboxyl group, and n1 is a numeric value from 1 to 3.


A vacuum release container cap comprises a body, a closure device, and a seal member. The body has at least two passages formed therein, a liquid passage for the flow of liquid into and out of the container, and a gas passage for the flow of air. The closure device is mounted on the body for closing each of the passages. The closure device automatically opens the gas passage while opening the liquid passage. The seal member is mounted in the gas passage, which allows the passage of air into the container, but does not allow the passage of liquid out of the container though the gas passage.

It has been constantly experienced by many that, when liquid is drained out of a sealed container, the liquid flow will slow down as vacuum builds up inside the container and eventually the flow will totally stop. This may cause inconvenience and discomfort for the user, particularly when a drinking bottle or a sport bottle is involved. For example, when using a conventional drinking bottle, the user has to stop drinking from time to time to release the built-up vacuum inside the bottle.
Different types of container caps are available in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,500 to Palma discloses a valve used with a bottle. The valve has a built-in lip which allows air to enter the bottle when vacuum is built up in the bottle due to liquid flow out of the bottle. The valve is in the form of a rubber nipple used with a nursing bottle. However, on the nursing bottle disclosed by Palma, the nipple does not seal the bottle, i.e. the passage for liquid and the passage for air are open to the atmosphere all the time. Obviously, for most applications, a container or a drinking bottle needs to be sealed for handling and preventing it from leakage and possible contamination.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,013 discloses a dispensing and closure cap for a liquid container. The cap has a stopper with an outlet hole which engages with a closure pin and a liquid passage. When the stopper is pushed against the bottle, the closure pin is forced into the outlet hole of the stopper, and the flow passage is blocked. When the stopper is pulled outwardly, the hole is out of touch with the closure pin, and thus, the flow passage is opened. Although the cap can seal the container and can be opened easily, this system does not have an air passage for releasing the vacuum generated due to the consumption of the liquid.
Therefore, there exists a need for a container which is sealed when not in use and which can automatically release vacuum during the consumption of the liquid content.


An archery bow having a riser, a pair of flexible limbs extending from the riser, with each limb having a rotating member on an axel secured to the end thereof. At least one of the rotating members is a cam having a module secured thereto. The module is positionable with respect to the cam by translational movement and is also positionable on the cam with an opposite face against the cam to selectively provide a desired draw length.

Archery bows must be customized to fit each specific archer; particularly, each archer has a unique desired draw length and is usually limited to a particular maximum draw weight. Manufacturers and dealers of archery bows thus must produce a variety of bows each having a particular draw weight or draw length so that the archery bow is properly matched to the individual archer. Draw length and draw weight can be changed by archery dealers but such changes are usually limited and require dedicated equipment to accomplish the modifications. Further, such modifications are time consuming and require skill to properly make changes to the draw weight and draw length to fit a particular archer.

Reversible and adjustable module system for archery bow


A system and method for allocating bandwidth in a network node are described. Multiple data units are received along a plurality of virtual connections in a network, each virtual connection having a predetermined unit rate. The data units are subsequently stored. Finally, a data unit of the stored data units having a data unit rate higher than the predetermined unit rate of each virtual connection is transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a switching and multiplexing technique designed for transmitting digital information, such as data, video, and voice, at high speed, with low delay, over a telecommunications network. The telecommunications network, for example an ATM network, includes a number of switching nodes coupled through communication links. In the ATM network, bandwidth capacity is allocated to fixed-sized data units named "cells." The communication links transport the cells from a switching node to another. These communication links can support many virtual connections, also named channels, between the switching nodes. The virtual connections assure the flow and delivery of information contained in the cells.
Each cell contains a cell header and cell data. The cell header includes information necessary to identify the destination of that cell. The components of the cell header include, among other things, a Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI) and a Virtual Path Identifier (VPI), for collectively identifying an ATM connection for that particular cell, and a Payload Type Identifier (PTI), for indicating whether the cell is sent from one user to another, whether cell data refers to administration or management traffic, and whether congestion is present within the network.
The ATM Forum, which is a user and vendor group establishing ATM standards, has also defined several ATM class of service categories, used in characterization of a virtual connection, for example, (1) a Constant Bit Rate (CBR), which supports a constant or guaranteed rate to transport services, such as video or voice, as well as circuit emulation, which requires rigorous timing control and performance parameters; (2) a Variable Bit Rate (VBR), real time and non real time, which supports variable bit rate data traffic with average and peak traffic parameters; (3) an Available Bit Rate (ABR), which supports feedback to control the source rate in response to changed characteristics in the network; and (4) an Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR).

System and method for allocating bandwidth in a network node


A blade engagement apparatus for metering release agent onto an image forming device associated moving surface, such as a Solid Ink Jet drum. The blade engagement apparatus includes a blade positioning mechanism having a blade holder rotated about a fixed pivot point disposed a distance LD from the moving surface. A plurality of metering blades extending from the blade holder each include a blade tip disposed a distance LB from the pivot point such that LB is greater than LD. A replacement blade is brought into a working position in deflected engagement with the moving surface for metering a release agent onto the surface while the used blade is moved into a non-operational suspended position. Various blade replacement strategies are used to initiate a blade replacement operation.

Disclosed in embodiments herein are systems for metering and/or cleaning release agent on an image forming machine moving surface, and more specifically a release agent application apparatus utilizing a fixed rotating blade holder for moving blades between non-operational suspended positions and a common working position.
Image forming machines such as solid ink jet (SIJ) image forming machines generally use an electronic form of an image to distribute ink melted from a solid ink stick or pellet in a manner that reproduces the electronic image. In some solid ink jet imaging systems, the electronic image may be used to control the ejection of ink directly onto a media sheet. In other solid ink jet imaging systems, the electronic image is used to eject ink onto an intermediate imaging member. A media sheet is then brought into contact with the intermediate imaging member in a nip formed between the intermediate member and a transfer roller. The heat and pressure in the nip helps transfer the ink image from the intermediate imaging member to the media sheet.
One issue arising from the transfer of an ink image from an intermediate imaging member to a media sheet is the transfer of some ink to other machine components. For example, ink may be transferred from the intermediate imaging member to a transfer roller when a media sheet is not correctly registered with the image being transferred to the media sheet. The pressure and heat in the nip may cause a portion of the ink to adhere to the transfer roller, at least temporarily. The ink on the transfer roller may eventually adhere to the back side of a subsequent media sheet. If duplex printing operations are being performed, the quality of the image on the back side is degraded by the ink that is an artifact from a previous processed image.
To address these problems, various release agent applicators have been designed, often as part of an image drum maintenance system. These release agent applicators provide a coating of a release agent, such as silicone oil, onto the intermediate imaging member moving surface to reduce the undesired build-up of ink. It is desired to control the amount of release agent applied, since using of too much release agent causes undesirable streaks, also known as oil streaks, on the output prints.
The present application provides a new and improved apparatus for cleaning and/or metering a release agent onto an image forming device moving surface which overcomes these above-described problems.

Blade engagement apparatus for image forming machines


A bimodal heel counter apt for a rapid entry and release footwear devices, that includes a flexible hollow hemisphere portion, a heel tab, a secondary heel tab, a back sole base, an anchor system, and dependent fastening elements. The bimodal heel counter and dependent fastening systems are biased to one of two stable positions, which elastically morphs by stored potential energy with applied force from one position to the other, configured to collectively snap a footwear device between an open and closed position, for donning and doffing, or securing the foot as to enable active footwear use.

It is common for individuals to wear shoes or shoe-like devices for protection, comfort, or in conjunction with a foot related device. A shoe usually has a fastening arrangement that allows a user to fasten their shoe to their foot. For example, such fastening arrangements may include straps, shoe laces, zippers, loop-and-strap, buckles, and others. However, existing shoes are problematic because their fastening is complicated, takes time, requires use of the inconvenient use of hands, or they do not provide sufficient support to portions of the foot for full mobility and a range of activities.
Therefore, there exists a need for an improved shoe that is quick and easy to don and doff, with minimal use of hands, and has a clearly disclosed, defined and functional bimodal system as to enable a person skilled in the art to replicate and manufacture.

Bimodal heel counter and dependent fastening elements for rapid entry and release footwear devices


A magnetic head slider support device is provided for use in a magnetic disc apparatus. The device comprises a magnetic head, a head slider having the magnetic head, a support arm portion which supports the head slider, and a gimbal spring fixed to a forward end of the support arm portion to attach the head slider. The support arm portion includes a load beam support portion for supporting the head slider and gimbal spring. A load beam plate spring portion applies a force to the head slider, towards a recording surface. A pivotal support arm portion has a pivotal movement center, about which the device pivots. The pivotal movement center pivotally supports the load beam support portion and the load beam plate spring portion at the rear of the support arm portion. The load beam support portion, the load beam plate spring portion and the pivotal support arm portion are formed from a single piece of material of constant thickness. The pivotal support arm portion has a flat face and a side face. The side face has a rib formed by folding a part of the flat face approximately perpendicular to the remainder of the flat face. A cut-out portion having a rib is formed in the flat face. The cut-out portion has first and second sides. The first side is closer to the pivotal movement center than the second side, and is smaller than the second side.

The present invention generally relates to a supporting arrangement and more particularly, to a magnetic head slider support device for use in a magnetic disc apparatus.
In a magnetic disc apparatus, in order to cause a magnetic head to stably float or be raised above a medium by a predetermined very small height, there has conventionally been widely used a magnetic head slider support device having a WATORAS type suspension.
In FIG. 3 showing one example of a conventional magnetic head slider support device having the WATORAS type suspension generally employed, it is so arranged that the suspension including a load beam 7 and a mount portion 6 supports a slider 2 and also, applies depressing force towards the disc, with the arm portion 5 pivotally supporting the suspension for keeping the magnetic head 1 to be stably raised by a predetermined small height at a target position.
However, the known magnetic head slider support device as referred to above has such problems that, although the load beam 7 and the mount portion 6 constituting the suspension and the arm portion 5 for supporting the suspension and also for transmitting the pivotal movement by a voice coil motor are joined to each other by spot welding and swaging, since the mount portion 6 and the arm portion 5 are larger in thickness, not only the magnetic disc apparatus becomes large in the direction of its height, but manufacturing cost is undesirably raised by two assembling works for the spot welding of the load beam 7 and the mount portion 6, and swaging thereof with the arm portion 5, with a consequent reduction of the manufacturing efficiency, while designing for higher rigidity is further required by raising resonance frequencies both for the load beam 7 and the arm portion 5.

Magnetic head suspension united support arm with ribbed cut-out


The present invention is directed to a system and method for reducing the size of one or more keys encoded into a link to a target resource. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a request for a target resource, encoding a link to the target resource with one or more key/value pairs and selecting a given key/value pair from among the one or more key/value pairs to identify a key. The key is located in a key map to identify a substitute key, which replaces the key in the link.

Information producers and consumer exchange content items (e.g., web pages) in networked environments, such as over the Internet. When exchanging content items, it is useful to encode information into a link to a given content item such that an information producer, such as an advertiser, may obtain information regarding the request or selection of the given content item by an information consumer, such as a user of a personal computer browsing web pages on the Internet. Information producers, or a third party serving a content item that an information producer creates, may encode information to track the utilization of the content item. The process of encoding information into a link to a given content obviates the need to execute time consuming database lookups for every client action; information is retrieved from a database once and then encoded into the link to make the information available.
Information encoded into a link for a given content item, however, has become an unwieldy process due to the large amount of information encoded into such links. Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods that reduce the size or amount of information encoded into a link to a given content item without eliminating an substantive information encoded into a give link.

System and method for shortening click URLS


The present invention provides a film-forming composition comprising a particulate polymer or emulsified liquid pre-polymer, water and a coalescent aid comprising an ester having the formula RCOOX wherein R and X are independently hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, and at least one of R and X contain at least two unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The coalescent aid helps lower the minimum film formation temperature of low glass transition temperature coatings and high glass transition temperature coatings and allows optimum film formation at ambient temperatures. The coalescent aid of this coating composition is not volatile like conventional coalescent aids but rather remains part of the film and air oxidizes to cure the film. This coating composition also exhibits properties of adhesion and gloss superior to that of coating compositions containing conventional coalescent aids. Additionally, this coalescent aid can be made from natural or synthetic oils.

Aqueous dispersions of particulate polymer or emulsified liquid pre-polymers for use as paints, sealants, caulks, adhesives or other coatings are well-known, widely-used articles of commerce. The effectiveness of the dispersion in forming a film after the polymer dispersion has been deposited upon a surface depends upon the glass transition temperature of the dispersed polymer and the temperature at which the film is allowed to dry. See, for example, Conn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,564 and Emmons et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,580.
Coalescent aids have been used in such aqueous dispersions to soften, i.e., plasticize, the particulate polymers and facilitate the formation of a continuous film with optimum film properties once the water has evaporated. In addition to increasing the ease of film formation, the coalescent aid also promotes subsequent improvements in film properties by coalescing the particulate polymers and liquid pre-polymers and forming an integral film at ambient temperatures. Without the coalescent aid, the films may crack and fail to adhere to the substrate surface when dry.
Coalescent aids are particularly helpful in assisting the formation of particulate polymer films possessing a high glass transition temperature, that is, the temperature which defines how easily the particles of the polymer diffuse at the temperature at which the film-forming composition is applied. The presence of coalescent aids in a particulate polymer film having a high glass transition temperature allows optimum film formation at ambient temperatures.
Various alcohol esters and ether alcohols have been proposed for use as coalescent aids. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,580 Emmons et al. disclose water-based coating compositions based on vinyl addition polymers of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which comprise dicyclopentenyl acrylate and/or dicyclopentenyl methacrylate as a coalescent aid. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,868, Emmons et al. suggest certain ester-ether compounds be used instead. Two of the more widely used coalescent aids are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EB, Union Carbide) and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3 pentanediol monobutyrate (TEXANOL®, Eastman Kodak). While EB and TEXANOL® are useful in facilitating film formation of particulate polymer coatings with high glass transition temperatures and are even useful in facilitating film formation of particulate polymer coatings with low glass transition temperatures if they are being applied at a temperature that is lower than ambient temperature, they are relatively volatile and, as a result, are currently classified as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

The Curators of the University of Missouri


A monoclonal secretory IgA antibody, which binds to and neutralizes a human proinflammatory cytokine or which binds to and blocks a human proinflammatory cytokine receptor. The secretory IgA antibody is useful in treating a variety of inflammatory diseases in humans.

Inflammation represents a key event of many diseases, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and sepsis. Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and platelets, respond to inflammatory stimuli and foreign substances by producing bioactive mediators. These mediators act as autocrines and paracrines by interacting with many cell types to promote the inflammatory response. There are many mediators that can promote inflammation, such as cytokines and their receptors, adhesion molecules and their receptors, antigens involved in lymphocyte activation, and IgE and its receptors.
Cytokines, for example, are soluble proteins that allow for communication between cells and the external environment. The term cytokines includes a wide range of proteins, such as lymphokines, monokines, interleukins, colony stimulating factors, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, and chemokines. Cytokines serve many functions, including controlling cell growth, migration, development, and differentiation, and mediating and regulating immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. Even within a given function, cytokines can have diverse roles. For example, in the context of mediating and regulating inflammation, some cytokines inhibit the inflammatory response (anti-inflammatory cytokines), others promote the inflammatory response (pro-inflammatory cytokines). And certain cytokines fall into both categories, i.e., can inhibit or promote inflammation, depending on the situation. The targeting of proinflammatory cytokines to suppress their natural function, such as with antibodies, is a well-established strategy for treating various inflammatory diseases.
Many inflammatory diseases are treated by targeting proinflammatory cytokines with antibodies. Most (if not all) of the anti-proinflammatory cytokine antibodies currently on the market, and those currently in clinical trials, are of the IgG class. See, for example, Nature Reviews, vol. 10, pp. 301-316 (2010); Nature Medicine, vol. 18, pp. 736-749 (2012); Nature Biotechnology, vol. 30, pp. 475-477 (2012); Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 8, pp. 51-71 (2009); F1000.com/Reports/Biology/content/1/70, F1000 Biology Reports, 1:70 (2009); mAbs 4:1, pp. 1-3 (2012); mAbs 3:1, pp. 76-99 (2011); clinicaltrials.gov (generally), and clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ (generally). These IgG antibodies are administered systemically and thus are often associated with unwanted side effects, which can include one or more of, for example, infusion reactions and immunogenicity, hypersensitivity reactions, immunosuppression and infections, heart problems, liver problems, and others. Additionally the suppression of the target cytokines at non-diseased parts of the body can lead to unwanted effects.
In an attempt to reduce side effects associated with systemic treatment and to eliminate the inconvenience and expense of infusions, an article proposed an oral anti-TNF therapy that could be useful in treating Crohn's disease. Worledge et al. "Oral Administration of Avian Tumor Necrosis Factor Antibodies Effectively Treats Experimental Colitis in Rats." Digestive Diseases and Sciences 45(12); 2298-2305 (December 2000). This article describes immunizing hens with recombinant human TNF and an adjuvant, fractionating polyclonal yolk antibody (IgY, which in chickens is the functional equivalent to IgG), and administering the unformulated polyclonal IgY (diluted in a carbonate buffer to minimize IgY acid hydrolysis in the stomach) to rats in an experimental rodent model of colitis. The rats were treated with 600 mg/kg/day of the polyclonal IgY. The uses of animal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies, however, are undesirable.
In a similar attempt to avoid adverse events associated with systemic administration, another group, Avaxia Biologics Inc., describes a topical (e.g., oral or rectal) animal-derived polyclonal anti-TNF composition that could be useful in treating inflammation of the digestive tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease. WO2011047328. The application generally states that preferably the polyclonal antibody composition is prepared by immunizing an animal with a target antigen, and the preferably the polyclonal antibody composition is derived from milk or colostrum with bovine colostrums being preferred (e.g., p. 14). The application also generally states that the animal derived polyclonal antibodies could be specific for (among other targets) other inflammatory cytokines (e.g., pp. 6-7). This application describes working examples in which cows were immunized with murine TNF and the colostrum was collected post-parturition to generate bovine polyclonal anti-TNF antibodies (designated as AVX-470). The uses of animal-derived antibodies and polyclonal antibodies, however, are undesirable.
IgA molecular forms have been proposed as treatments for various diseases, most notably as treatments for pollen allergies, as treatments against pathogens, and as treatments for cancer.
For example, one article describes anti-AmbαI (a ragweed pollen antigen) humanized monomeric IgA and dimeric IgA antibodies made in murine cells (NS0 and Sp2/0 cells). The dimeric IgA contains a mouse J-chain. The article proposes that the antibodies may be applied to a mucosal surface or the lower airway to inhibit entry of allergenic molecules across the mucosal epithelium and therefore to prevent the development of allergic response. Sun et al. "Human IgA Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for a Major Ragweed Pollen Antigen." Nature Biotechnology 13, 779-786 (1995).
Several other articles propose the use of IgA antibodies as a defense against pathogens.
Two articles proposed the use of an anti-streptococcal antigen I/II secretory IgA-G hybrid antibody. Ma et al. "Generation and Assembly of Secretory Antibodies in Plants." Science 268(5211), 716-719 (May 1995); Ma et al. "Characterization of a Recombinant Plant Monoclonal Secretory Antibody and Preventive Immunotherapy in Humans." Nature Medicine 4(5); 601-606 (May 1998). The hybrid antibody contains murine monoclonal kappa light chain, hybrid Ig A-G heavy chain, murine J-Chain, and rabbit secretory component. The antibody was made by successive sexual crossing between four transgenic N. tabacum plants and filial recombinants to form plant cells that expressed all four protein chains simultaneously. The parent antibody (the source of the antigen binding regions, is identified as the IgG antibody Guy's 13. The group proposes that although sIgA may provide an advantage over IgG in the mucosal environment, such is not always the case (1998 Ma at p. 604, right column).
A related article identifies the anti-streptococcal antigen I/II secretory IgA-G hybrid antibody, which was derived from Guy's 13 IgA, as CaroRx. Wycoff. "Secretory IgA Antibodies from Plants." Current Pharmaceutical Design 10(00); 1-9 (2004). Planet Biotechnology Inc. This related article states that the CaroRx antibody was designed to block adherence to teeth of the bacteria that causes cavities. Apparently, the CaroRx antibody was difficult to purify; the affinity of Protein A for the murine Ig domain was too low and protein G was necessary for sufficient affinity chromatography. Furthermore, the article states that several other chromatographic media had shown little potential as purification steps for the hybrid sIgA-G from tobacco leaf extracts. The article also indicates that the authors were unable to control for human-like glycosylation in tobacco, but that such was not a problem because people are exposed to plant glycans every day in food without ill effect.
WO9949024, which lists Wycoff as an inventor, Planet Biotechnology Inc. as the applicant, describes the use of the variable regions of Guy's 13 to make a secretory antibody from tobacco. The application contains only two examples—the first a working example and the second a prophetic example. Working Example 1 describes the transient production of an anti-S. mutans SA I/III (variable region from Guy's 13) in tobacco. The tobacco plant was transformed using particle bombardment of tobacco leaf disks. Transgenic plants were then screened by Western blot "to identify individual transformants expressing assembled human sIgA" (p. 25). Prophetic Example 2 states that in a transformation system for Lemna gibba (a monocot), bombardment of surface-sterilized leaf tissue with DNA-coated particles "is much the same as with" tobacco (a dicot). The prophetic example also stops at screening by immunoblot analysis for antibody chains and assembled sIgA, and states that the inventors "expect to find fully assembled sIgA."
Another article proposed the use of an anti-RSV glycoprotein F IgA antibodies (mIgA, dIgA, and sIgA). Berdoz et al. "In vitro Comparison of the Antigen-Binding and Stability Properties of the Various Molecular Forms of IgA antibodies Assembled and Produced in CHO Cells." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96; 3029-3034 (March 1999). The sIgA antibody was made in CHO cells sequentially transfected with chimeric heavy and light chains, human J-Chain, and human secretory component, respectively. Single clones were generated to express the mIgA (clone 22), the dIgA (clone F), and the sIgA (clone 6) (p. 3031).
Still other articles proposed, for example: (1) anti-HSV mIgA made in maize (Karnoup et al. Glycobiology 15(10); 965-981 (May 2005)) (which states that at that time there had been little success in the application of IgA class antibodies to therapeutic use because of the difficulty in producing the dimeric form in mammalian cells at economic levels); (2) anti-C. difficile toxin A chimeric mouse-human monomeric and dimeric IgA made in CHO cells (Stubbe et al. Journal of Immunology 164; 1952-1960 (2000)); (3) anti-N. meningitidis chimeric IgA antibodies were produced in BHK cells cotransfected with human J-Chain and/or human secretory component (Vidarsson et al., Journal of Immunology 166; 6250-6256 (2001)); (4) anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa O6 lipopolysaccharide chimeric mouse/human mIgA1 made in CHO cells (Preston et al. Infection and Immunity 66(9); 4137-4142 (September 1998)); (5) anti-Plasmodium mIgA made in CHO cells (Pleass et al. Blood 102(13); 4424-4429 (December 2003)) (which states that unlike their parental mouse IgG antibodies, the mIgA antibodies failed to protect against parasitic challenge in vivo); and (5) anti-Helicobacter pylori urease subunit A sIgA and dIgA (Berdoz et al. Molecular Immunology 41(10); 1013-1022 (August 2004)).
For a review article discussing passive and active protection against pathogens at mucosal surfaces, see Corthésy. "Recombinant Immunoglobulin A: Powerful Tools for Fundamental and Applied Research." Trends in Biotechnology 20(2); 65-71 (February 2002).
Still other articles propose the use of IgA antibodies as a treatment for cancer.
For example, one article describes a Phase Ia trial of a muring anti-transferrin receptor IgA antibody (Brooks et al. "Phase Ia Trial of Murine Immunoglobulin A Antitransferrin Receptor Antibody 42/6." Clinical Cancer Research 1(11); 1259-1265 (November 1995)). Another article describes a human anti-Ep-CAM mIgA made in BHK (baby hamster kidney) cells (Huls et al. "Antitumor Immune Effector Mechanisms Recruited by Phase Display-Derived Fully Human IgG1 and IgA1 Monoclonal Antibodies." Cancer Research 59; 5778-5784 (November 1999)). Still another article describes an anti-HLA Class II chimeric mIgA antibody made in BHK cells (Dechant et al. "Chimeric IgA Antibodies Against HLA Class II Effectively Trigger Lymphoma Cell Killing." Blood 100(13); 4574-4580 (December 2002)). Yet other articles describe anti-EGFR mIgA or dIgA antibodies made in CHO, including Dechant et al. "Effector Mechanisms of Recombinant IgA Antibodies Against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor." Journal of Immunology 179; 2936-2943 (2007), Beyer et al. "Serum-Free Production and Purification of Chimeric IgA Antibodies." Journal of Immunology 346; 26-37 (2009) (stating that as of 2009, IgA antibodies have not been commercially explored for problems including lack of production and purification methods), and Lohse et al. "Recombinant Dimeric IgA Antibodies Against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mediate Effective Tumor Cell Killing" Journal of Immunology 186; 3770-3778 (February 2011).
For a review article on anti-cancer IgA antibodies, see Dechant et al. "IgA antibodies for Cancer Therapy."Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 39; 69-77 (2001); states that compared with infectious diseases, the role of IgA in cancer immunotherapy is even less investigated).
It is desirable to have alternative antibody treatments for inflammatory diseases that preferably avoid the disadvantages of current systemic and previously-proposed topical treatments of inflammation.

Monoclonal antibodies to human proinflammatory cytokines and methods for treating inflammatory diseases


A seat belt anchorage plate for a seat belt device formed with a plate shaped member (base) 2 is provided with a slot 6 into which a belt (waist belt) 13 is inserted and which has long edge parts opposed with each other. The belt 13 is folded back along the one long edge part 691 of the opposed long edge parts in the slot 6 so that the one long edge part 691 bears the tension of the belt 13. The one long edge part 691 is formed so as to expand in the direction opposite to that of the tension of the belt 13 toward a central part from both ends in its longitudinal direction.

Conventionally, as such kind of seat belt anchorage plate, a plate illustrated in FIG. 38 has been well known. That is, a seat belt anchorage plate comprises a base (plate shaped member) 2 having a bolt hole 3 and a slot 69 formed thereon and is designed to be secured to a fixed part such as a vehicle body through the bolt hole 3 and to be connected to a belt 13 through the slot 69.
The belt 13 employs a thin band shaped woven fabric in which for example, polyester fibers are woven and is folded back in one long edge part 691 of the slot 69, so that tension is exerted on the one long edge part 691 which is linearly formed.
Since the above mentioned conventional seat belt anchorage plate has one long edge part 691 formed in a straight line, when the tension of the belt 18 is not exerted in the direction perpendicular to the one long edge part 691, the belt 13 is liable to laterally slide on the one long edge part 691 and come together to the end part of the long edge part 691. In other words, there has been encountered a problem that the belt is apt to be gathered to the end part of one long edge part 691. Even if the tension of the belt 13 is exerted in the direction perpendicular to the one long edge part 691, for example, according to an examination through a strength measuring test, the belt 13 itself will be thinly converged and tend to meet at one part on the one long edge part 691 when the tension is exerted on the belt 13. Further, since the one long edge part 691 is elastically bent and slightly recessed by virtue of the tension of the belt 13, the belt 13 is undesirably liable to be gathered to one part on the long edge part 691 in addition to the defect that the belt 13 itself thinly converges into one part.
Further, the belt 13 is advantageously curved so as to be folded along a center line in its longitudinal direction in order to maintain the flat state of the belt 13. Therefore, the belt 13 is normally inserted into the slot 69 under its curved state as stated above. However, when the belt 13 is curved in such a way, there arises a problem that both ends at the right and left sides of the belt 13 abut against, for example, both right and left ends of the one long edge part 691, and therefore, the belt 13 is inserted into the slot 69 with difficulty. As shown in FIG. 38, when both the end parts of the belt 13 swell out roundly, there also arises a problem that these swelling parts tend to more easily abut against both the end parts of one long edge part 691.
Still further, the slot 69 is formed by a press working. In this case, burs are liable to be formed at the corner parts in the side punched out by a press. When such burs are left as they are, they have possibility to cause an action similar to that of a cutter. Accordingly, the corner parts are ordinarily subjected to a rounding finish independent of a press working process or a coating works to cover the entire comer parts with vinyl chloride or polyethylene or the like. As a result, there has been encountered a problem in terms of cost-up owing to such a finishing work or a coating work.
Additionally stated, as illustrated in FIG. 39, since a seat belt anchorage plate is formed with a plate shaped base 2, the area of one long edge part 691 for holding the belt 13 is small, so that surface pressure exerting on the belt 13 is disadvantageously increased.
The present invention was made by taking these problems into account and an object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt anchorage plate for a seat belt device and a method for manufacturing it capable of completely reducing surface pressure to be exerted on the belt even when tension acts on the belt.

Sent belt anchorage plate for seat belt device and method of manufacturing same


A sensor for attachment to an inflatable air cell cushion to detect a change in immersion depth and bottoming out of the user seated on the cushion. The sensor includes an airflow conduit for attachment to the cushion inflation tube. The airflow conduit comprises a cylindrical body having a longitudinal inner bore. There is an opening through the conduit body in fluid communication with the bore. A transducer is positioned at the opening to detect changes in air pressure within the airflow conduit. The transducer is operatively connected to a warning light, an audible sensor and a mode set button. The functions of the electronic components are preprogrammed into a computer chip. A battery powers the sensor. The recited components are secured within a housing.

The invention relates generally to seating cushions for the prevention of pressure sores and, more particularly, to a sensor for connection to an inflated air cell cushion that detects a loss of air pressure in the air cell cushion resulting in a change in immersion depth of the seated patient and possible "bottoming out" on a relatively hard support surface.
Air cell cushions are known to the art. Generally air cell seat cushions are used by individuals who must remain seated for extended periods of time, for example, a disabled individual who uses a wheelchair for locomotion. Larger air cell cushions, generally configured as mattresses, are used by non-ambulatory or bed ridden individuals. In any event, inflatable air cell cushions are employed to prevent pressure sores on the buttocks. These air cell cushions provide support, while distributing weight, generally uniformly through a multiplicity of interconnected air cells.
The typical air cell cushion includes a base, and an array of interconnected, upstanding individual air cells, usually arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows. An air inflation tube is in fluid communication with one of the cells. The inflation tube includes a screw type valve. The air cell cushion generally has a stretchy cover. A representative embodiment of such an air cell is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,136, which is incorporated herein by reference.
For proper seating on the cushion, the cushion is placed on a relatively firm or hard support surface, such as a wheel chair seat or other type of seat or chair. The user or caregiver opens the valve and pumps air into the cushion until it is well inflated. The user then sits on the cushion and air is released through the valve until the user is optimally immersed in the air cell cushion. The valve then is closed. Generally, proper immersion occurs when the buttocks of the user are immersed about a half-inch to at the most an inch above the bottom. Proper immersion optimizes weight distribution.
In rare instances, the air cell cushion loses air pressure. The user sinks into the cushion, changing his or her immersion depth until he or she "bottoms out". That is, the user's buttocks rest directly on the support surface. Many of the individuals who use these cushions have a loss of feeling in the buttocks. Consequently, the user cannot feel that he or she has bottomed out. If the user remains in a bottomed out position, pressure sores can develop on the buttocks, particularly in the ischial area.
Even absent complete bottoming out, a change in immersion depth can change the optimum force distribution characteristics thereby reducing the effectiveness of the cushion in preventing or treating pressure sores.
It would be advantageous, therefore, to have an apparatus that can detect the loss of air pressure in the cushion, change in immersion depth, and the bottoming out of the user and also emit a warning to alert the user or caregiver.


An apparatus may include a root of trust for measurement (RTM) module coupled to a verified platform security property policy module and a comparison module. The comparison module may operate to prevent transfer of control to an operating system (and/or halt the boot process) if a policy included in the platform security property policy module is violated. A system may include a memory coupled to a processor, a platform security property policy module, and a comparison module. The memory may include an RTM. A method may include beginning execution at an entry point within an RTM, determining that the RTM is trustworthy, determining that a main initialization code associated with a platform is trustworthy and transferring control to the main initialization code, and otherwise, refraining from transferring control to the main initialization code.

In a world increasingly influenced by the existence of networks connecting a widespread array of computing resources, the topics of data security, information protection, and user privacy have never been more important. Personal computers (PCs) typically offer an open architecture as an industry standard which can be used to build a ubiquitous computing platform. Trust in the platform, however, has not commonly been part of such designs. As used herein, the term "platform" can be taken to mean any type of device, including hardware, firmware, software, or any combination of these, whose activity is directed according to a plurality of programmed instructions.
Typically, platforms execute under the control of an Operating System (OS) when applications are to be executed. Operating Systems and pre-Operating System components are complex and require a loading (i.e., "boot") process to load them into the platform's memory. The platform loads the OS when the platform transitions from a power-off or suspend state to a power-on state, or when a reset signal is applied to the platform's reset line. Herein, the term "platform reset" may be used to refer to any of these conditions. The platform initialization code includes two components: the Platform Initialization Boot Block (PIBB) and the Main Platform Initialization Code (MPIC). After a platform reset occurs, the central processing unit (CPU) begins execution at a well known and defined location within the PIBB. This code is intentionally small, robust, and secure. The PIBB executes code to enable devices on the platform necessary for the Main Platform Initialization Code to execute. The PIBB then passes control of the platform to the Main Platform Initialization Code.
The Main Platform Initialization Code performs necessary functions to complete the initialization of the platform. Such functions may include initializing devices embedded within the platform, and locating and initializing optional plug-in or embedded adapters (having their own device initialization code). After this, the Main Platform Initialization Code locates the OS Loader and executes it. The OS Loader, in turn, loads the OS into memory and begins executing the OS. At this point, the platform is considered in the OS-present state and is fully under control of the loaded OS.
Whenever an untrusted platform loads an OS, violations of security policies can result without ever connecting the platform to a network. Thus, trusted computing is gaining importance in all aspects of computational operations, even when such operations are conducted apart from a network.

Trusted platform apparatus, system, and method


A digital single-lens reflex camera determines whether a predetermined time has passed since the start of display. If the predetermined time has not passed yet, the camera performs face detection to determine if a user is looking into an optical finder of the camera. When the face detection is performed, a system control circuit identifies the present content displayed. When the displayed content is an ordinary image, photographing information, or attention-seeking alert, display of the content is immediately stopped. When the displayed content is alert prohibiting imaging, it is checked whether a switch operation has been performed. If the switch operation has not been performed at all, or a switch operation for canceling the displayed alert has not been performed, timer counting is cleared before the timer counting is initiated again.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus including a display device for displaying images and information of states of the image pickup apparatus, and a method for controlling the image pickup apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reduction in camera size has produced a type of camera that displays information (such as a shutter speed and an aperture value) necessary for imaging and a captured image on the same display device. The information, which is hereinafter referred to as "photographing information", such as the shutter speed and the aperture speed, needs to be set depending on circumstances and needs to be displayed before and after imaging.
Regarding the display device for use in image display, a liquid crystal display device such as a TFT (thin-film transistor) liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL (electroluminescence) device or the like are known. Each device is disposed on a back surface of a camera similarly to a finder because of its size and its configuration in which the device uses predetermined luminance light to allow a user to confirm an image displayed by the device in a display mode. This causes problems in that, when the user looks into the finder, the user cannot see the image displayed on the display device, and in that, when the display device shines with a predetermined luminance or greater, the user feels that the light is too bright. In addition, for power saving, when it is not necessary to display an image, it is preferable to stop display operation of the image displayed on the display device.
Accordingly, there has been proposed a camera in which, by detecting whether a user looks into a finder, that is, whether the user brings the user's eye or face to the finder, the camera can automatically stop display operation of a display device simultaneously with the user's holding of the camera. A control operation of the display device of the above camera is described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8.
When the display device is controlled to initiate display of an image or camera-state information (step S801), timer counting is initiated by activating a timer (step S802). The timer counting is performed in order to determine timing with which display of a displayed image is stopped or to periodically detect whether the user's face is brought to the finder (hereinafter referred to as "face detection" in this specification).
In step S803, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed since the start of display. If the predetermined time has not passed yet, in step S804, face detection is performed.
When, in step S804, the face detection has been performed, in step S806, display of the image is immediately stopped. Conversely, when, in step S804, the face detection has not been performed, in step S805, it is determined whether a switch operation has been performed. If the switch operation has not been performed, the operation returns to step S802 and the timer counting is continuously performed. If the switch operation has been performed, in step S806, display of the image is stopped in order to perform processing in response to the switch operation.
If, in step S803, the predetermined time has passed, in step S806, display of the image is immediately stopped.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-201104 discloses control of an image pickup apparatus so that, when an eye-proximity sensor detects proximity of user's eyes to an EVF (electric view finder), an image is displayed by the EVF, and, when the eye-proximity sensor does not detects the proximity, an image is displayed on a back LCD (liquid crystal display).

Image pickup apparatus for displaying images and information of states and method for controlling the same


A security bench for use as a seat and as a defensive barricade against vehicles and explosive force comprises a support base, a framed screen securely attached to and overlapping the top of the base, and a seating surface attached to the top of the framed screen. The base, made of granite, concrete, or the like, is relatively massive, providing resistance to vehicular and explosive force. The frame portion of the framed screen, made from structural steel, reinforces the structural integrity of the base, and, along with the screen (and potentially the seating surface) acts to repel or absorb explosive force or debris.

Squat, wall-like, concrete traffic barricades have long been used for temporarily dividing road lanes and cordoning off construction areas. After the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and even more so after the events of Sep. 11, 2001; however, such barriers were put in place around most key government buildings, e.g., the White House area and federal courthouses. This was done to prevent vehicles from being easily parked in close proximity to buildings for nefarious purposes, except at designated areas where illegal activity could be identified and prevented, e.g., guarded entryways and loading docks.
While conventional concrete barricades work fairly well, they are completely functional in nature and, as such, quite unattractive and unpleasing from an aesthetic sense. In fact, put frankly, the prolific use of concrete barricades around government buildings (mostly located in heavily traveled downtown areas) has resulted in something of an urban blight. For example, while the typical federal courthouse might be architecturally attractive or at least inoffensive, deploying an array or line of standard concrete barriers around such buildings results in the unpleasant appearance of a construction area or "war zone."
Because of this, it became apparent that there was a need for "hardened" street furniture and "transparent defenses" meeting certain criteria including: simplicity; attractiveness; capability for use as a perimeter barrier around secure locations; ability for appearance modification; ability for mass production using a number of materials; the possibility of different component dimensions; rigidity; and the ability to convert the materials to meet varying security requirements.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a security bench with the above-noted qualities that functions as an improved barrier against vehicular access and explosive force, and that acts as a functional and comfortable street bench.


An apparatus for controllably charging and discharging individual battery cells or groups of battery cells in a string of batteries employed as a back-up power supply is provided. The apparatus comprises an isolation circuit for at least partially isolating the battery string from the load bus and primary supply; a switching network including at least two controlled switches arranged to selectively form circuits for discharging one or more cells; and a logic circuit for selecting which of the cells will be discharged. In certain disclosed embodiments, the logic circuit and switching network combine to apportion charging current to individual battery cells or groups of cells in accordance with their charging needs.

In telephone switching equipment, communication equipment, computer equipment, and in many other applications, the need for an uninterrupted source of DC power is critical. Rectified commercial AC power is typically used as the primary source of DC power for such equipment.
To avoid any interruption or outage in power service, it is common practice to employ a battery back-up for the primary DC source. Back-up battery systems typically include strings of batteries or cells connected in parallel with the primary DC source and the load. In the event of a drop in the load bus voltage below a predetermined threshold, the back-up battery supplants or supplements the primary source of DC power. Back-up battery systems are designed to replace the primary DC power source for a predetermined period of time within which resumption of primary power is expected to occur.
In conventional back-up battery systems, the nominal system load bus voltage has typically been dictated by battery characteristics. For example, in a telephone switching plant, back-up batteries are commonly employed which have a design cell voltage of -2.26 volts, for optimum health of the battery cell. Twenty-four cells are typically combined in a string, resulting in a nominal load bus voltage of approximately -54 volts. A bank of strings supplies the necessary back-up DC power.
As the back-up batteries are placed across the load, the full 54 volts of system DC voltage are placed across the battery string. This design architecture of a typical back-up battery system presents a number of potential problems. Certain batteries, due to their electrochemical constitution, will draw more current than other batteries. All batteries, as they age, will experience increasing internal resistance and will draw more charging current from the main DC supply.
About a decade ago, a new type of lead acid battery was introduced into the marketplace. The battery is sealed, and allegedly requires no maintenance. In this type of battery, oxygen and hydrogen produced during electrochemical reactions in the battery recombine to maintain an aqueous liquid electrolyte at a constant level within the cell. As a result, these batteries have only a small amount of liquid electrolyte. These batteries have become known as "valve regulated", or "recombinant"or "electrolyte-starved" batteries.
This type of lead acid battery (hereinafter termed "valve regulated lead acid " or "VRLA" batteries) has often failed well before their design life, which is typically 10 years.
A particular battery may, for various reasons not clearly understood, begin to take on more amperage to maintain its charge. The increasing charging current will elevate the temperature of the battery. The chemical recombination of the oxygen and hydrogen gases also creates heat. As the internal battery temperature increases, the current demand increases disproportionately. For every 10 degrees centigrade of increase in the battery's internal temperature, the current demand doubles. A battery in this condition will have one of two failure modes, the most damaging being "thermal runaway." Thermal runaway may lead to an explosion of the battery, with likely destruction or severe damage to any nearby equipment. Alternatively, the battery may experience a "melt down" and produce noxious gases which are also apt to damage or destroy neighboring equipment.
The rectified AC source provided in typical telephone switching plants has more than ample capacity to supply any one or more batteries demanding abnormal charging current, thus encouraging the aforedescribed thermal runaway or meltdown failures.
With the advent of fiber optic signal distribution, switching equipment has been decentralized, introducing a need for DC power supplies in unattended satellite installations distributed throughout the territory served. In these unattended installations, the equipment is often closely packed, leading to hostile thermal operating conditions for the equipment and increased occurrences of thermally induced failures.
In less severe conditions, the placement of the back-up batteries directly across the load is apt to result in dry-out (loss of electrolyte), positive grid corrosion, and other problems which may lead to premature battery failure and/or sub-normal power performance.
Back-up battery systems must be monitored to determine the health and capacity of the batteries. The need to perform battery tests is particularly troublesome in systems which require the supply of an uninterrupted source of DC power. Testing of the vital statistics of a battery affecting output capacity, predicted life, etc. is presently done by taking the battery strings off-line and testing them in one of two ways. The test procedure recommended by battery manufacturers as being the most reliable is to discharge the battery into a load while measuring the response of the battery. The ability of a battery or battery string to hold a predetermined current level for a predetermined time is a reliable measure of the health and capacity of the battery. However, such discharge tests in the field require experienced personnel and are difficult and costly. Further, conventional battery testing, requiring the batteries to be taken offline, suffers a loss of standby battery protection for the telephone plant or other equipment being supplied while the tested batteries are off-line.
To avoid the cost and inconvenience of a discharge test, it is commonplace to employ special field test equipment which tests for battery resistance, impedance, inductance, and other parameters and characteristics without discharging the battery. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,904. However, as noted, tests which do not involve discharging the battery are apt to be less reliable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,851 to Joseph M. McAndrews, one of the present inventors, discloses a back-up battery system for telephone central office switching equipment. The back-up battery system includes one or more rechargeable batteries having cells floated at a given float voltage. The cells are of a number such that when the batteries are switched in circuit across the load, the cumulative voltage of the batteries exceeds a predetermined load voltage for a preselected period. The over-voltage that results from the switching in of extra cells across the load is down converted by a converter. The converter, a sensor for sensing the system discharge bus voltage, and a switch may be formed as a single unit using MOSFET technology. It is said that in such case a fail-safe contact switch might also be provided to parallel the MOSFET switch and be operated in the event of its failure.

Back-up battery management apparatus for charging and testing individual battery cells in a string of battery cells


A device implementing a system for notifying a first device of availability of a service on a second device includes a processor configured to receive, from the first device of a first user, a first request with respect to whether a service is available on the second device of a second user, and to determine that the service is not available on the second device. The processor is further configured to send, to the first device and in response to the determination, an indication that the service is not available on the second device and an indication of a minimum amount of time before the first device can submit a second request with respect to whether the service is available on the second device. The minimum amount of time is based at least partially on an amount of time that has elapsed since the service was made available to the devices.

A service may be available on a device of a user, the service providing for the user to interact with other users on their respective devices. The user may wish to interact with the other users via the service, thereby requiring that the service also be available on the respective devices of the other users.

Notification of service availability on a device


An elastomeric butadiene copolymer prepared by a process which comprises copolymerizing butadiene, a polyvinyl aromatic compound and optionally styrene in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an organolithium polymerization initiator and subjecting the resulting copolymer having lithium at the polymer end or ends to a coupling reaction with a trifunctional or tetrafunctional coupling agent, said butadiene copolymer satisfying the following conditions: (a) the content of styrene is at most 50% by weight, (b) the content of vinyl bonds in the butadiene portion is from 10 to 90% by weight, (c) the molecular weight distribution curve obtained by a high performance liquid chromatography has at least three peaks, and 5 to 60% by weight of all the polymer chains have a molecular weight which is at least 5 times the molecular weight in terms of standard polystyrene corresponding to the peak appearing on the lowest molecular weight side of the high performance liquid chromatogram, and (d) the Mooney viscosity (ML.sub.1+4, 100.degree. C.) is from 30 to 200. The butadiene copolymer has an improved processability with excellent resilience, wet grip property, abrasion resistance and mechanical properties, and is suitable for tire use.

The present invention relates to a butadiene copolymer, and more particularly to a butadiene copolymer suitable for use in tires, which is remarkably improved in processability with keeping resilience, wet grip property, abrasion resistance and mechanical properties on high levels.
A rubber well known as a rubber for tires is an emulsion styrene-butadiene copolymer prepared by an emulsion polymerization. However, this copolymer has the disadvantage of being poor in resilience and, therefore, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of energy saving.
Natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber and high-cis polybutadiene rubber are known as rubbers having a good resilience. However, these rubbers are poor in wet grip property, and accordingly are not preferable from the viewpoint of running stability on wet roads.
As a rubber having both good resilience and good wet grip property, there is known a rubber prepared by polymerizing butadiene alone, or butadiene and styrene, in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an organolithium compound as the polymerization initiator and a Lewis base such as an ether compound or a tertiary amine as an agent for controlling microstructure. However, this rubber has the deficiency that the processability is insufficient. In order to improve the processability, it is also proposed to convert the polymer into a branched polymer by acting a tri- or tetrafunctional coupling agent on the active ends of the polymer. However, the processability is not sufficiently improved even by this method. In particular, in case of processing the rubber by a method using a large amount of a filler which is adopted in producing automobile tires superior in high speed running characteristics, the processability is unsatisfactory.
Abrasion resistance and mechanical properties are also required as the characteristics of rubbers for tire use in addition to the above-mentioned resilience, wet grip property and processability. However, any rubber which satisfies all of these characteristics, has not been proposed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rubber suitable for use in tires and having excellent general characteristics required for tire use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a butadiene copolymer suitable as a tire rubber, which is remarkably improved in processability with keeping resilience, wet grip property, abrasion resistance and mechanical properties on high levels.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing the above-mentioned butadiene copolymer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition suitable for producing tires such as automobile tires and having an excellent processability.
A still another object of the present invention is to provide a tire having excellent characteristics such as resilience, wet grip property, abrasion resistance and mechanical properties.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

Butadiene copolymer and process for preparing same