A method of forming a high k gate insulation layer in an integrated circuit on a substrate. A high k layer is deposited onto the substrate, and patterned with a mask to define the high k gate insulation layer and exposed portions of the high k layer. The exposed portions of the high k layer are subjected to an ion implanted species that causes lattice damage to the exposed portions of the high k layer. The lattice damaged exposed portions of the high k layer are etched to leave the high k gate insulation layer.

Silicon dioxide has typically been used as the dielectric material between the electrically conductive gate electrode, often formed of polysilicon, and the semiconducting channel of a transistor, which is typically formed of silicon. Silicon dioxide has provided adequately high capacitance for gate insulation in the past, with devices having gate geometries of about 130 nanometers and greater. However, with the ever increasing demands of scaled-down device geometries and more densely populated integrated circuits, silicon oxide tends to no longer be good enough for the gate insulation layer.
Current transistor geometries use a gate insulation layer of silicon dioxide that is about twelve to sixteen angstroms thick, or the thickness of about six to ten individual silicon atoms. The silicon dioxide layer gates the electrons through the channel, controlling the flow of electricity across the transistor. However, when the transistor is reduced in size, the silicon dioxide gate insulation layer is also proportionally thinned. As gate lengths decrease from one hundred and thirty nanometers to ninety, sixty-five, and even thirty nanometers, the thickness of the silicon oxide gate will be reduced to less than ten angstroms, or to about three monolayers.
Unfortunately, once the gate insulation layer is reduced to less than about twenty angstroms, the silicon dioxide is no longer able to provide effective insulation from the effects of quantum tunneling currents, and the transistor tends to exhibit relatively high leakage.
Thus, the integrated circuit fabrication industry is searching for gate insulator materials with a low equivalent oxide thickness that mimics the electrical properties of very thin silicon dioxide, while providing a thicker physical layer over the channel to prevent quantum-mechanical tunneling. New materials in the form of oxides of heavy and rare earth metals, with higher dielectric constants and higher capacitances have been investigated with some promising results, including HfSiON, ZrO2, HfO2, HfON, La2O3, CeO2, Na2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3.
However, these so-called high k materials have other problems associated with their use. For example, they do not easily form volatile compounds and are relatively difficult to remove by either dry etching or wet etching. Dry etching has been attempted with ion milling or bombardment and sputtering with the use of argon or other inert ions. However, the process is time consuming and can cause extensive damage to the surrounding structures, such as the polysilicon gate electrode. The necessarily extended use of plasma as an etch tends to increase the plasma damage to the substrate itself, as well as to other structures.
There is a need, therefore, for a method whereby such high k materials can be patterned and etched without unduly damaging the surrounding structures that are formed in a conventional CMOS process flow.


Provided in the present disclosure is an outsole including a sheet body which includes a substrate sheet and an injection molded article fixed to the substrate sheet, and a shoe that has the injection molded article having a certain melt viscosity and thereby being excellent in grip performance and long-term durability.

Shoes such as sports shoes conventionally are made up of many members. For example, a sole is composed of members such as an inner sole, a sock liner, a midsole and an outsole. Shoes are required to have functions of not only giving comfortable wearing feeling to the wearer, but also supporting the wearer's motion, such as running and stopping. Therefore, shoes being excellent in functionality, such as grip performance are required so far. A sport shoe has a ground engaging surface that is provided with a tread formed with a plurality of protrusions in order to provide excellent grip performance. In this regard, for example, in Patent Document 1, it is described that an injection molding called a tread element is integrated with a substrate sheet by injection molding. In this regard, for example, Patent Literature 1 below describes that injection molded articles called tread elements are integrated with a substrate sheet by injection molding. JP 2001-510389 T also describes that the outsole is made of a sheet body formed by integrating the substrate sheet with the injection molded articles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Ferroelectric memory using multiferroics is described. The multiferroic memory includes a substrate having a source region, a drain region and a channel region separating the source region and the drain region. An electrically insulating layer is adjacent to the source region, drain region and channel region. A data storage cell having a composite multiferroic layer is adjacent to the electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separated the data storage cell form the channel region. A control gate electrode is adjacent to the data storage cell. The data storage cell separates at least a portion of the control gate electrode from the electrically insulating layer.

Ferroelectric field-effect transistors has been considered to be an ideal technology for nonvolatile memory because of its random access, high speed, low power, high density and simplicity. In addition, the read operation is non-destructive. The device can be considered as a ferroelectric layer inserted in a field-effect transistor between a gate contact and an insulator layer above a channel between a source region and a drain region
When the ferroelectric field-effect transistor (i.e., FeFET) is biased, the existence of a channel current from the source region to the drain region depends on the polarization of the ferroelectric layer. The write operation simply applies voltage on the gate relative to the source region and drain region. When the write voltage exceeds the coercive field of the ferroelectric layer, the polarization will change, writing data to the FeFET.
Although FeFET memory has been researched for a number of year, FeFET memory is not yet commercially available. One problem with FeFET memory is poor data retention, which is understood to be a result of the depolarization field and current leakage, which compensates the ferroelectric polarization. In practice, FeFET memory has not been able to achieve memory retention for more than a couple of days, which is a far cry from the ten year retention standard of many nonvolatile memory devices.


The photo printer has a conveyance unit, a printing unit, line sensors and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a roll paper along a conveyance path. The printing unit has a thermal head that prints images on the roll paper in a main scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the roll paper. The line sensors have a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements disposed so as to span side edges of the conveyance path. The line sensors detect the roll paper on the conveyance path based on an amount of light received by the light receiving elements. The control unit detects a side edge of the roll paper, and also determines that a distal end of the roll paper is detected, based on the amount of light received by the light receiving elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photo printer for printing color images on roll paper, the roll paper being provided with yellow, magenta, and cyan heat-sensitive coloring layers.
2. Background Information
There are photo printers for printing color images on roll paper that is provided with yellow, magenta, and cyan heat-sensitive coloring layers. The following steps (1) to (5) are generally involved in printing color images.
(1) The heat sensitivity temperature for the thermal head is set to a first level, which is a temperature at which the yellow heat-sensitive coloring layer becomes colored, but the magenta and cyan heat-sensitive coloring layers do not become colored. This way, images in yellow are printed on the yellow heat-sensitive coloring layer in a printing region of the roll paper on which the current color image is to be printed.
(2) The yellow images printed in step (1) are exposed to the light of a yellow-fixing lamp.
(3) The heat sensitivity temperature for the thermal head is set to a second level, which is a temperature at which the magenta heat-sensitive coloring layer becomes colored, but the cyan heat-sensitive coloring layer does not become colored. This way, images in magenta are printed on the magenta heat-sensitive coloring layer in the printing region.
(4) The magenta images printed in step (3) are exposed to the light of a magenta-fixing lamp.
(5) The heat sensitivity temperature for the thermal head is set to a third level, which higher than the second level temperature. This way, images in cyan are printed on the cyan heat-sensitive coloring layer in the printing region.
The printing and exposure of images in steps (1) to (5) are performed while the roll paper is being conveyed. The printing region imprinted with the color images is cut off from the roll paper and ejected.
In this manner, yellow, magenta, and cyan images are thus printed in the printing region at different timings in an overlapping manner. The photo printer has a distal end detection sensor for detecting the distal end of the roll paper in order to prevent the images in the printing region from being offset in the conveyance direction of the roll paper. In a known photo printer, the distal end detection sensor is a reflection-type or transmission-type photo sensor disposed substantially in the widthwise middle of the conveyance path, such that the position of the roll paper in the conveyance direction is controlled based on the distal end detection timing, which the distal end detection sensor obtains by detecting the distal end of the roll paper.
The photo printer also has a side edge detection sensor for detecting a side edge of the roll paper in order to prevent printed images from becoming tilted due to slanted movement of the roll paper. The side edge detection sensor also prevents the printing images from being offset from one another in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the conveyance path), which is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the roll paper. The side edge detection sensor includes a line sensor that is disposed so as to span the side edges of the roll paper being conveyed along the conveyance path. The line sensor determines as the border position of the roll paper the position between the light-receiving elements that detected the passage of the roll paper and the light-receiving element that did not detect the passage of the roll paper. In such photo printer, the main scanning direction position in which an image is to be printed with the thermal head is controlled based on the positions of the side edges of the roll paper detected by the side edge detection sensor.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-344295, position adjustment of roll paper in the main-scanning direction is performed by: reading with a scanner or other image-reading device a designated chart that has detection zones marked along the two sides of the roll paper; detecting a gap between the timing at which the line sensor detects the left side of the roll paper and the timing at which the line sensor detects the right side of the roll paper; and adjusting based on the gap in timings the position at which the line sensor starts reading the original image.
A conventional photo printer is disadvantageous, however, in that a distal end detection sensor and a side edge detection sensor need to be separately installed in the above-described manner, which increases the cost of the photo printer.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved photo printer that overcomes the above described problems of the conventional art. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


An X-ray tube has a cathode and an anode arranged in a vacuum housing, the electron beam emanating from the cathode proceeding through a hollow cylindrical housing part of the vacuum housing to the anode. An electromagnet is provided for the deflection of the electron beam. The electromagnet has a U-shaped yoke with two legs having first ends connected to one another by a base section and having a winding surrounding the base section. The legs straddle the housing part and the electromagnet is disposed so that the electron beam is spaced a distance from the second ends of the legs so that from the second ends of the legs so that the electron beam is situated only in the stray field of the electromagnet, rather than in the region of maximum field strength.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an X-ray tube of the type having a cathode and an anode arranged in a vacuum housing, the electron beam emanating from the cathode being incident in a focal spot on the anode at which X-rays are produced, with means for deflecting the electron beam being provided.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The possibility of deflecting the electron beam, and thus the focal spot, is of significance, particularly in conjunction with computed tomography, since an improvement in the image quality can be achieved by the known measure of displacing the focal spot between two limit positions, thereby doubling the data available for the calculation of the image of a body slice.
European Application 0 460 421 discloses an X-ray tube of the type initially described, wherein the means for deflecting the electron beam are formed by a curved deflection coil surrounding a hollow cylindrical housing part, which connects the portion of the housing in which the cathode is disposed to the portion of the housing in which the anode is disposed. A problem arises given this X-ray tube that the deflection coil effects not only a deflection but also a defocusing of the electron beam. As a consequence of activation of the deflection coil, thus, the focal spot which arises on the incident surface of the anode at the point struck by the electron beam exhibits not only a displacement on the incident surface but also an undesired change in size and/or shape.


A system is provided to prevent unauthorized access to computer system resources. The system operates by receiving a section of programming language code to execute on a computer system. This programming language code includes a pragma that defines a set of resources that the programming language code has permission to access. The system analyzes the pragma to determine the set of resources. After analyzing the pragma, the system processes the programming language code in accordance with the pragma. The system can further process the program in accordance with the pragma involves creating a sandbox that includes the set of resources defined by the pragma. The system then executes the programming language code within the boundaries of the sandbox.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer system security. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to computer system resources.
2. Related Art
Databases commonly store highly sensitive data, such as salaries, corporate financial data, and even classified military secrets. Consequently, database systems are typically designed to prevent unauthorized accesses to sensitive data. This problem is compounded by the fact that middle-tier applications often access a database on behalf of various users. Consequently, the database system must often rely on applications to provide access control mechanisms. Although applications that access databases typically ensure that a given query originates from an authorized user, many of these applications are vulnerable to a form of attack known as "SQL injection."
During a Structured Query Language (SQL) injection attack, a hacker provides an input to an application which includes an SQL statement. In doing so, the hacker knows that the application will incorporate this input, which includes the SQL statement, into a query, and that the SQL statement will cause the query to retrieve data which is different from the data that the application intended to retrieve.
SQL injection attacks come in many forms. In a common SQL injection technique, a hacker inserts code into a SQL statement which is intended to return a set of rows R in a set of tables T. However, because of the inserted code, instead of returning R, the database returns a set of rows R′ in a set of tables T′, where T′ is a superset of T.
Another technique employed by hackers to gain control of a system is a buffer-overflow attack. The buffer-overflow attack is typically aimed at programs written in the C or C++ programming languages. During a buffer-overflow attack, a hacker causes a buffer overflow by sending more information to a program than the program can handle. After the buffer overflow occurs, the hacker can then use various tricks to gain control of a computer system. For example, buffer-overflow attacks are commonly used by a hacker to invoke arbitrary programs, such as a shell program, as a privileged user.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to computing resources without the problems listed above.

Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to computer system resources


Herein is disclosed a wireless communication device comprising two or more antennas; one or more transceivers, configured to process wireless signal for one or more processors received via the two or more antennas; and one or more processors, configured to determine a timing of data transmissions within the wireless signal; determine a timing of intervals between beam selection protocol transmissions in the wireless signal; determine a testing period corresponding to an overlap of one data transmission selected from the data transmissions and one interval of the intervals; and measure a signal quality of the selected data transmission during the testing period using a candidate receive-beam setting from a plurality of predefined receive-beam settings for receiving the wireless signals via the two or more antennas.

Standards and discussions for 5th Generation Wireless technology ("5G") include procedures for selection of transmit-beams for transmissions from a base station to a mobile device, as well as selection of receive-beams for receipt of these transmissions. Such selection of transmit-beams may be referred to as Downlink (DL) Beam Management (BM). A goal of Beam Management is to find a best beam pair between the transmit antennas of the base station and the receive antennas of the user equipment. The standards do not prescribe a specific beam management method, but rather provide a flexibility in the implementation of BM. The known methods of beam management may be undesirable for certain circumstances, such as when the user device undergoes a change in direction or location.


A motion estimator has a spatial sub-sampler to receive input images; at least one motion estimator determining motion vectors between input images and sub-sampled motion vectors between sub-sampled images; an up-sampler for up-sampling the sub-sampled motion vectors; and a selector for providing a motion vector output by selecting between the motion vectors and the (up-sampled) sub-sampled motion vectors, according to motion vector confidence.

Motion compensation is applicable to a wide variety of image processing tasks. In a motion compensated process, successive images in a sequence of images are compared and the differences between the positions of portrayed objects or image features between succeeding images are evaluated and assigned as respective motion vectors applicable to those objects or image features. Motion vectors can be used to combine image information from different images in the sequence without creating 'multiple image' artefacts. Typically, succeeding images in a sequence correspond to different temporal samples of a scene, such as film frames or interlaced video fields. However, motion compensation is equally applicable to other image sequences, for example views of a common scene having different viewpoints spaced along a path.
Historically the development of motion compensated video processing has concentrated on processing interlaced television images with temporal sampling rates (i.e. field frequencies) of 50 Hz and above. More recently developments in high definition television and digital cinematography have led to the development of motion compensated processes intended for temporal sampling rates around 24 Hz. At these lower rates the magnitudes of motion vectors are correspondingly greater and the process of motion estimation, in which motion vectors are evaluated, becomes more difficult. The low temporal sampling rate results in large differences between the positions of the same object in succeeding images, and the control of the depth of field for artistic reasons makes it difficult to determine the exact positions of some objects.
Hierarchical methods of motion estimation have been proposed, in which the result of a low-resolution, wide-range motion estimation process is refined according to the result of a higher-resolution, narrower-range process; and that process may itself be refined a number of times. In theory this enables accurate motion vectors to be derived for large inter-image positional differences.
However, these methods are complex to implement, especially if the hierarchy comprises many levels.
The current disclosure teaches techniques to improve motion compensated processing.

Motion estimation with variable spatial resolution


Disclosed are embodiments for automatically resolving faults in a complex network system. Some embodiments monitor one or more of system operational parameter values and message exchanges between network components. A machine learning model detects a fault in the complex network system, and an action is selected based on a cause of the fault. After the action is applied to the complex network system, additional monitoring is performed to either determine the fault has been resolved or additional actions are to be applied to further resolve the fault.

Users of complex wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi networks, may encounter degradation of system level experience (SLE) parameters which can result from a variety of complex factors. To ensure the complex wireless network meets the needs of its user community, it is important to quickly resolve any problems that can arise with the systems operation. Resolving the problems can include identifying one or more root causes of the system level experience problem, and to initiate corrective measures. However, when the network is comprised of a large number of devices, including devices of varying type and functionality, identifying a root cause can take a substantial amount of time. If the system is inoperative or operating in a reduced capacity during this period of time, users of the system can be impacted, in some cases severely. Thus, improved methods of isolating root causes of problems associated with complex network systems are needed.

Network system fault resolution via a machine learning model


A system for processing an optical fiber includes: a draw furnace, the draw furnace containing an optical fiber preform; a bare optical fiber drawn from the optical fiber preform, the bare optical fiber extending from the draw furnace along a process pathway; and a slow cooling device operatively coupled to and downstream from the draw furnace, the slow cooling device exposing the bare optical fiber to a slow cooling device process temperature in the range form 1000° C. to 1400° C., wherein the bare optical fiber passes through the slow cooling device at least two times.

In the manufacturing of optical fibers, optical preforms are heated to temperatures above the glass softening point and then drawn at large draw down ratios to form optical fibers of 125 um in diameter. Due to the high draw temperatures, large draw down ratios and fast draw speeds, the glass is far from the equilibrium state, resulting in a high fictive temperature and hence elevated attenuation. To reduce the fictive temperature and the attenuation in optical fibers, slow cooling of the fibers in the glass transition region and in the sub-Tg region has been used to lower the attenuation in these fibers. However, the residence times where increased relaxation of the glass can be induced, are rather short (e.g. less than 0.2 sec) and only a modest decrease in fictive temperature is achieved.
Accordingly, the inventors have developed improved systems and methods for producing optical fibers.

Systems and methods for processing optical fiber


A system for limiting the amount of time for a database server to perform a crash recovery process. A maximum recovery time for the database server to perform the crash recovery process is specified. An estimated recovery time for the crash recovery process that is less than the maximum recovery time is calculated, based on at least one of a deterministic analysis of cost accumulation during prior instances of the crash recovery process or an empirical analysis of cost accumulation during regular transaction processing in the database server. The crash recovery process is then conformed to the estimated recovery time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing apparatus and methods for the storage and retrieval of data stored in computerized database management systems. More particularly, the invention relates to deterministically controlling the recovery of the data after a crash has disrupted the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A major problem today is providing high availability (HA) of database management system (DBMS) to its users. Increasingly, organizations with DBMSs, such as banks, brokerages, e-tailers, etc., are finding that they cannot tolerate long outages while a DBMS is unavailable or only available at a reduced performance level.
There are two aspects to this problem. The obvious first is the prevention of disruptions or "crashes" of a DBMS to begin with. This is significant, but it is not the subject of this discussion. Rather, we here address the second aspect, the pragmatic fact that disruptions in a DBMS will occur and that the DBMS needs to be recovered rapidly to its full performance level.
FIG. 1 (background art) is a block diagram conceptually depicting the basic elements and operation of a representative DBMS 10. The DBMS 10 includes a database engine 12, a database 14, a buffer pool 16, and a transaction log 18. In operation, pages of data are "paged into" and "paged out" of the buffer pool or cache memory. A "page fault" occurs when a page to be paged into the buffer pool 16 because it is not already there. When a page contains updates that are not yet recorded in the database 14 it is a "dirty page." The operation of paging out a dirty page from the buffer pool 16 into the database 14 is often referred to as "flushing." Conversely, when a page with no updates is paged out, this operation is often referred to as "replacing." Page faults and having to flush dirty pages are generally undesirable because they slow down operation of the DBMS 10.
The buffer pool 16 resides in high speed, volatile memory and the rationale for using it, rather than simply working directly with the database 14, is to increase the efficiency of the DBMS 10 based on the principles of probability. If the DBMS 10 is being used by an application to perform a query or to update a record in a page, that page is likely to contain other records that will soon also be the subject of queries or updates. Accordingly, it is usually desirable to not page out a page after a query or update finishes with it, but rather to retain it in the buffer pool 16 until it has not been accessed for some period of time or until the application using it ends.
Of particular present interest, when an update is performed the database engine 12 needs to page out dirty pages at some point and this is where things get complicated. Unplanned disruptions in the DBMS 10 can occur, causing the contents of the buffer pool 16 to not get properly flushed to the database 14. Such an event is termed a "crash" and the process of restoring the data stored in the database 14 to a transactionally consistent state after such a crash is often referred to as "crash recovery."
To facilitate crash recovery, a logical representation of each of the updates applied to the pages in the buffer pool 16 is entered into a transaction log 18 that resides in persistent storage. In the unfortunate even of a crash, the transaction log 18 can be replayed to redo all of the committed updates that were applied to pages in the buffer pool 16 but not flushed to the database 14. If there is a large number of records in the transaction log 18 to replay during crash recovery or if the records are expensive in terms of system resources to replay, crash recovery can take a long time.
FIG. 2 (background art) is a block diagram depicting the transaction log 18 as a series of log records 20. Here, "recn" represents the log record 20 that dirtied the oldest unflushed page in the buffer pool 16 and the series "recn, recl, . . . recn+m" then represent log records 20 that need to be replayed.
In passing, it should be noted that recovery time after a crash also includes time to roll back any uncommitted transactions that were open at the time of the crash, but this time is generally negligible compared to the time to do the roll forward portion of recovery. This is because in online transaction processing (OLTP) systems, transactions tend to be very short, so only a few seconds worth of rollback is needed, while in decision support systems (DSS), transactions tend to be long but also read-only, and read-only transactions do not generate any log records and require no rollback.
Various technologies have been developed in attempts to improve crash recovery handling. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,820 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,897 by Hermsmeir et al. disclose methods wherein a user chooses a length of time (an external threshold) that he or she is willing to spend recovering a database, and the system dynamically manages the logging of objects to meet this demand. The available CPU to run the process, the number of I/Os the process generates, and the quantity of lock wait time are taken into consideration. The shorter the time the user chooses the more objects the system will log, but the more the system performance is otherwise degraded in a tradeoff for this. As such, these references teach resource management to achieve a desired recovery time, but where resource management is rigid.
U.S. Published App. No. 2003/0084372 by Mock et al. discloses a Method and apparatus for data recovery optimization in a logically partitioned computer system. This is a method wherein a user may specify the maximum recovery time which can be tolerated for compiled data in a computer system having dynamically configurable logical partitions, and a protection utility manages the logging of indexes so that this maximum recovery time is not exceeded yet unnecessary logging is not performed. The compiled data may be multiple database indexes, which are selectively logged to reduce recovery time. Logging is selectively discontinued or extended responsive to changes in partition configuration, allowing a gradual migration to the target recovery time using the new set of configured resources. As such, however, this invention address recompiling database indexes, rather than the whole process of database recovery, and this invention does this in the context of computer system having dynamically configurable logical partitions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,754 by Bridge, Jr. et al. discloses a method for controlling recovery downtime. A checkpoint value is maintained that indicates which records of a plurality of records have to be processed after the failure. The target checkpoint value is determined by calculating a maximum number of records that should be processed after the failure. As such, however, this approach is not deterministic and its checkpoint value may result in an undue allocation of system resources because of this.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,359 discloses a method for performing retroactive backups in a computer system. The retroactive backup mechanism employs a backup policy dictating that certain backups are to be performed at set times and for set backup levels. The total size of a save set is compared to the maximum size threshold and the backup is activated when the threshold is reached. As such, however, this approach is also clearly not deterministic.
In view of the current state of affairs, however, the present inventors determined that the users of DBMSs who have high availability (HA) requirements would still benefit greatly from the ability to specify a maximum crash recovery time (Rmax) that they are willing to tolerate, and to then have the DBMS more efficiently automatically adjust its work of flushing dirty pages to the database after a crash as needed to guarantee that Rmax will not take longer than specified.

System for deterministic database recovery time

International Business Machines Corporation


An MPEG encoder performs, in compliance with the MPEG-2 standard, intra-image coding compression on thumbnail images, selected by an image selector, whose data amount has been reduced by a data reducing unit. The thus compressed thumbnail images together with a record address recorded as coded data in a coded image data area is recorded in a thumbnail image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for recording and reproducing images, and it particularly relates to a technique which records images that a user uses for the search of a desired scene among moving images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of recording moving images used increasingly in recent years is one using such recording medium as DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or hard disk magnetic recording medium (hereinafter referred to simply as "hard disk" also), which facilitates random access to recorded data. Helped by the growing capacity of hard disks and the lowered price thereof, hard disk recorders, which are image recording/reproducing apparatus using hard disks, are now commercially available on the market. There are even cases where a hard disk recorder is built into a television receiver.
Such hard disk recorders, when using a hard disk with a recording capacity of about 80 GB, which can be obtained with relative ease today, can perform about 30 hours of recording with image quality equivalent to a common VTR (Video Tape Recorder). They can even accomplish close to 100 hours of recording if priority is given to the length of recording over image quality.
For an image recording/reproducing apparatus using a recording medium that facilitates random access to recorded data as mentioned above, there is a method using thumbnail images as a technology by which to search for a desired scene among the recorded moving images. In this technique, images, which have been selected at certain time intervals from moving images and reduced to a predetermined size, are displayed in an index in response to the request from the user.

Method and apparatus for recording images, method and apparatus for recording and reproducing images, and television receiver utilizing the same


According to various embodiments, a method for operating a vehicle may include determining a vehicular area having traffic conditions or characteristics different from traffic conditions of a current or previous location of the vehicle; obtaining traffic and driving information for the determined vehicular region; changing or updating one or more of driving model parameters of a safety driving model during operation of the vehicle based on the obtained traffic and driving information; and controlling the vehicle to operate in accordance with the safety driving model using the one or more changed or updated driving model parameters. A vehicle may seamlessly update operational rules and/or handover of traffic and driving information for transitioning from one region to another.

Autonomous driving utilizes reliable driving control and safety systems that process data acquired at a vehicle. Using data acquired at the vehicle, which may include data about the vehicle's environment or data about the vehicle itself, the vehicle may alter its movements, modify its positioning with respect to external elements, and/or respond to newly detected events. Additionally, autonomous vehicles may be configured to communicate with other devices, such as other vehicles, network infrastructure elements, wireless devices, etc., to assist in the mobility control, provide faster information processing, and, generally speaking, communicate information in order to improve overall system performance.

Systems, methods, and devices for driving control


Media selection systems and methods. A media selection system may comprise a coupler mounted on a plunge assembly of a cartridge retrieving device. The coupler slidably engages a storage medium as the cartridge retrieving device moves relative to the storage medium. A method may comprise slidably engaging a storage medium with a cartridge retrieving device as the cartridge retrieving device moves relative to the storage medium.

Media storage systems are commonly used to store large volumes of computer-readable data on removable storage media, such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical storage media, to name only a few examples. Such storage systems may include one or more storage devices with storage locations for the storage media. One or more data access devices may also be included for read and/or write operations on the storage media.
Media storage systems may also include cartridge retrieving devices, also referred to as picker assemblies, which are operable to retrieve and transport the storage media in the storage system. For example, the picker assembly may be used to deliver storage media to the data access device for read and/or write operations. The picker assembly may also be operated to return the storage media to a storage location following the read and/or write operation.
The picker assembly may include a plunge assembly that is configured with a finger that extends under a storage medium and engages an indentation or notch formed on the surface of a storage medium. However, this configuration requires operational clearance, increasing the size of media storage systems. The plunger also requires many moving components (e.g., spring-loaded rotating finger and splaying assembly).

Media selection systems and methods having a coupler for slidably engaging a storage medium in a storage system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A first gain stage and a second gain stage having different gains are linked in cascade to construct a wide range and high resolution programmable gain amplifier. The second gain stage can be used only for low gain and low power consumption. Furthermore, two pairs of chopper circuits are used to shift flicker noise when the programmable gain amplifier is operated.

In modern communication receiver, the received signal is quantized by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) so that complex signal processing can be performed in the digital domain. A delta-sigma modulator is commonly used. It can be easily realized using low-cost CMOS processes, such as the processes used to produce digital integrated circuits. However, an input signal is usually very faint. Therefore, gain amplifiers are used to provide proper inputs for a better performance of the modulator.
A gain amplifier being able to amplify a wide dynamic range of analog input signals is desired. Multiple stage programmable gain amplifiers were invented for this purpose. Take a high gain 2-stage operational amplifier for example. It will have bandwidth up to 3 dB. According to different specific feedback factor and phase margin in a closed-loop configuration, the design of wide range programmable gain amplifiers is very difficult to keep stable for 'wide range'. Another problem usually met in use of ADC is noise. For higher resolution ADC, the error source comes from noise. For lower resolution ADC, the major noise is flicker noise of the operational amplifier. Meanwhile, an offset voltage always exists due to mismatch of the circuit design. Power consumption is also disproportionate in multiple stage amplifiers. Many inventions were invented to solve or eliminate these problems.
Please see FIG. 1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,354 provides a solution to eliminate the inherent offset voltages of the operational amplifiers contained within the circuit. Offset voltages from other causes, including parasitic capacitances, switch operation, and leakage currents are also eliminated.
FIG. 2 shows invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,668. The gain amplifier reduces offset voltage by delaying the phase of clock in the second stage. Two gain stages reduce the total capacitance ratio between input capacitors and feedback capacitor to achieve a desired total gain.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,283 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a single stage programmable gain amplifier. The '283 patent has advantages to reduce power dissipation and thermal noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,626 shown in FIG. 4 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,216 shown in FIG. 5 utilize chopper technique. Usually, chopping techniques for amplifiers have been utilized to modulate the offset and the 1/f noise to higher frequency. With low pass filter, the offset and the 1/f noise can be ideally removed. The '626 patent uses a pair of choppers to reduce the DC-offset and noise caused by amplifier. The '216 patent uses at least two chopping amplifier stages. The effect of the '216 patent can resolve open loop problem, avoid the runaway situation, and reduce aliasing of noise to the frequency baseband and the magnitude of chopping artifacts.
Although these inventions solve some of the problems mentioned above, there is no one able to have a total solution.

Wide-range and high-resolution programmable gain amplifier


A radial adsorber can be configured to facilitate utilization of different layers of material. The radial adsorber, system using at least one radial adsorber, and methods of utilizing embodiments of the radial adsorber can help permit improved efficient operation of fluid purification processing while also being configured to minimize, if not fully avoid, being susceptible to the effect of fluidization.

Thermal Swing Adsorption (TSA) is frequently used alongside technology like Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) as pre-purification to air cryogenic distillation processes. Often process are a combination of TSA and PSA processes (TPSA) using both pressure and temperature to regenerate absorbent beds. The adsorption system's function is to remove components with high freezing point such as ambient moisture and carbon dioxide which would otherwise freeze out in downstream processing, causing operability issue like blockage. Nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, and other impurities can also be removed via front-end purification to avoid these impurities from accumulating in downstream processes.
Historically, adsorber vessels come in three different common configurations: vertical, horizontal and radial. Examples of these types of adsorbers can be appreciated from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,472,178, 4,541,851, 4,784,672, 5,759,242, 5,846,295, 5,917,136, 6,086,659, 6,152,991, 6,506,236, 6,599,347, 6,866,075, 7,022,159, 7,285,154, 7,413,595, 8,206,669, 8,262,783, 8,268,044, 8,404,024, 8,518,356, 8,734,571, 8,814,985, 9,108,145, 9,199,190, 9,631,864, and 9,731,241, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2011/0206581, 2011/0219950 and 2019/0291078 and Canadian Patent Publication No. 2,357,276 A.
The selection on the type of adsorber vessel to use for a particular process can be heavily dependent on the process duty against the flow passage surface area within the vessel. The flow passage surface area on the other hand is impacted by the vessel dimensions, which may be constrained by manufacturing and transportation limitations, based on project and manufacturer locations.
Vertical and horizontal vessels have more simplistic designs than a typical radial adsorber. However, the adsorbent within these two types of vessels are susceptible to the effect of fluidization.
In contrast, the radial adsorber does not usually share this concern. Unlike the vertical and horizontal beds where process fluid typically enters from the inlet of the vessel and exits through the outlet of the vessel, the process fluid enters the radial bed from an outer annulus and the fluid flows in a radial direction into the vessel's axis, or from an inner channel and the fluid flows to the vessel shell, passing through adsorbent layers where separation takes place. As adsorbent is packed in designated containment space by filling these compartments completely, the possibility of fluidization and bead rolling effect is effectively removed. In conventional radial adsorbers, specialized bed supports and vessel heads are an essential addition to the vessel of the radial configuration in their roles in securing the above mentioned adsorbent compartments. Further, adsorbent needs to be loaded effectively into the compartments. These components, together with the need for multiple adsorbents in some processes, adds to the vessel's complexity and cost.

Radial adsorber, adsorption system, and adsorption methods


A push switch includes a case having a bottom face, first and second fixed contacts provided on the bottom face of the case, a movable contact made of metal thin plate, an elastic body, and an operating body. The elastic body includes a cylindrical portion having a hole formed therein, a conical portion provided below the cylindrical portion, a projection located above the movable contact, and a junction portion coupling the projection to the cylindrical portion. This push switch can provide a long over-stroke after being turned on.

With recent downsizing and improvement in quality of electronic devices, electronic components used in the electronic devices, such as a push switch, are required to be small and to provide less strain and good feel to fingers during operation. A push switch is required to be able to be pushed after being turned on, that is, to have a stroke after turning on (hereinafter referred to as "an over-stroke") in addition to an operation stroke until the switch is turned on (herein after referred to as "an on-stroke"), providing a long operation stroke and a good operation feel.
FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of a conventional push switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-92260. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the switch. Columnar caulking projection 1A is provided at each corner of the top surface of box-shaped case 1 made of insulating resin. Central fixed contact 2 coupled to connection terminal 2A and two outer fixed contacts 3 coupled to connection terminal 3A are fixed on the inner bottom face of case 1 by insert molding. Movable contact 4 made of resilient thin metal plate is mounted on outer fixed contacts 3.
Movable contact 4 has outer periphery 4A having a annular ring shape, and tongue 4B extending from outer periphery 4A to the center of the ring shape. Tongue 4B is coupled to outer periphery 4A at junction portion 4C. Tongue 4B is bent at junction portion 4C to incline upward. Outer periphery 4B of movable contact 4 is mounted on outer fixed contacts 3 to electrically contact fixed contacts 3. Tongue 4B faces central fixed contact 2 by a predetermined clearance between tongue 4B and fixed contact 2, providing a switch contact.
Elastic body 5 made of elastic material, such as elastomer, has rod portion 5A at the upper part of body 5, and conical portion 5B at the lower part of body 5. Conical portion 5B which is hollow and thin has an opening which opens downward. Elastic body 5 further has projection 5C projecting downward from the center of conical portion 5B opening downward. Projection 5C faces tongue 4B of movable contact 4 by a predetermined clearance between projection 5C and tongue 4B. Lower end 5D of conical portion 5B is mounted on outer periphery 4A of movable contact 4.
Cylindrical operating body 6 made of insulating resin is mounted on rod like portion 5A of elastic body 5 and has an opening at the lower part of body 6. Operating body 6 includes operating portion 6D, i.e. the upper part of the operating body, sidewall portion 6A extending downward from operating portion 6D, engaging portions 6B protruding outward from sidewall portion 6A, and stopper claws 6C projecting from the lower end of sidewall portion 6A. Each of engaging portions 6B has a predetermined width and extends vertically. Each of stopper pawls 6C projects from a position different from engaging portion 6B at the end of sidewall portion 6A.
Cylindrical cover 7 made of insulating resin has through-hole 7A formed therein. Operating portion 6D, i.e. the upper part of operating body 6, projects upward thorough through-hole 7A. Cover 7 has notches 7B in the lower part of cover 7. Each of notches 7B is engaged with a corresponding projection 1A and attached to case 1.
Grooves 7C extending vertically are formed in the inner wall of cover 7. Engaging portions 6B of operating body 6 are inserted into grooves 7C. Engaging portions 6B are engaged with grooves 7C to allow operating body 6 to be guided to be movable upward and downward smoothly without rattling. In an ordinary status shown in FIG. 7, stopper claws 6C of operating body 6 are engaged with the inner surface of the top face portion of cover 7 around through-hole 7, preventing operating body 6 from dropping thorough through-hole 7A.
Recesses 7D opening inside are formed in portions of the sidewall of cover 7 below stopper claws 6C and extend in vertical directions in which stopper claws 6C are positioned. Each recess 7D receives a stopper claw 6C positioned therein to allow claw 6C to be movable in recess 7D when operating body 6 moves downward. The sidewalls of recesses 7D guide stopper claws 6C. Grooves 7C and recesses 7D restrict engaging portions 6B and stopper claws 6C to be movable only upward and downward, respectively, thereby preventing operating body 6 from rotating or dropping out upward.
An operation of the conventional push switch will be described below.
When operating portion 6D in a turned-off status shown in FIG. 9 is pushed with operating force F1, operating body 6 presses elastic body 5 downward direction D1, thereby causing conical portion 5B of elastic body 6 to deform. Upon deforming, conical portion 5B provides a light click feel, and simultaneously to this, projection 5C of elastic body 5 in a presses tongue 4B downward. This action causes the bottom face of tongue 4B to contact central fixed contact 2, thus establishing electrical connection between central fixed contact 2 and outer fixed contacts 3, that is, between connection terminals 2A and 3A.
When the pressing force applied to operating portion 6D is removed, elastic body 5 and movable contact 4 return to their original shapes shown in FIG. 7 by their own restoring force. Thus, the electrical connection between connection terminals 2A and 3A is broken.
FIG. 10 shows a relation between the operation stroke and operating force F1 in downward direction D1, in which the vertical axis represents the operation stroke, and the horizontal axis represents operating force F1. The switch is turned on when the operation stroke reaches point P. In other words, range A1 where the operation stroke ranges from 0 to point P is the on-stroke. The switch is turned on in a portion where the operation stroke exceeds point P.
The conventional push switch has no portion which deforms further after conical portion 5B of elastic body 5 deforms to cause the switch to be turned on. In other words, as shown in FIG. 10, the switch provides almost no operation stroke in range A2 where the operation stroke exceeds point P, not providing a long over-stroke.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A double-sided cutting insert, for use in a milling cutter, having two identical opposing end surfaces and two opposing identical major side surfaces with a through bore extending between, and opening out to, the major side surfaces. Major cutting edges are formed at the intersection of each major side surface with each end surface. Adjacent each major cutting edge, in each major side surface, is a primary relief surface. In each cross section of the cutting insert taken in a plane generally perpendicular to the major side surfaces, a line tangent to the primary relief surface at the major cutting edge is inclined to a median plane of the cutting insert at an acute interior angle.

There is disclosed in WO 97/17157 a face milling cutter employing a double-sided indexable cutting insert having a prismoidal shape with two opposed generally rectangular rake surfaces connected by side surfaces. The cutting insert has a basic "negative" geometry and therefore in order to provide the necessary clearance between the cutting insert and the workpiece, when mounted in a face-mill, the cutting insert is oriented with a negative axial rake angle. However, negative axial rake angles may be disadvantageous, e.g., they have been found to be deficient in cutting efficiency for applications involving difficult to machine materials.
A double-sided indexable cutting insert for a boring tool head is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,972. The insert is provided at each end with a protruding flat island. Each long cutting edge is inclined at an angle of 3° relative to the protruding flat island, defining an "insert axial rake angle". Rearward of each cutting edge is a descending land surface that merges with an increasing incident angle surface to form a chip breaker groove. Each increasing incident angle surface extends from its associated descending land surface to an adjacent island, at either the top or the bottom of the cutting insert. The cutting insert is left or right handed. It is manufactured to be right-handed and, when flipped around, is left-handed. It will be appreciated that the magnitude of the insert axial rake angle is limited for practical reasons. Any increase in the insert axial rake angle will result in an increase in the "vertical" extent of the increasing incident angle surface (see FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,972) that may have an adverse effect on chip development and evacuation.
There is disclosed in WO 96/35536 a double-sided indexable cutting insert which when mounted in a face-mill has a positive axial rake angle, even when the necessary clearance between the cutting insert and the workpiece is provided. This cutting insert presents two peripheral edges for a right-hand face mill and two peripheral edges for a left-hand face mill. In a side view (see FIG. 9) the cutting insert is generally rhomboidal in shape. The main cutting edges 10 of each end surface are parallel (see also FIGS. 7 and 8) to each other and to a centrally located protruding abutment member 12. The cutting insert is retained in an insert pocket with the abutment member of a non-operative end surface and an adjacent non-operative relief surface in abutment with respective support surfaces of the insert pocket. The abutment member of the non-operative end surface and the adjacent non-operative relief surface merge at an acute-angled mounting corner. In order to change the axial rake angle of the operative cutting edge, either the insert pocket has to be rotated, or a cutting insert having a mounting corner with a different mounting angle has to be used. In either case, a different milling cutter has to be used. Moreover, the axial rake and relief angles are interdependent and any change in the axial relief angle results in a corresponding change in the relief angle, which is not always desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,267 describes a single-sided "reversed-relief" indexable cutting insert having side surfaces with, adjacent to the cutting edges, upper primary reliefs that are inclined to the insert base at an acute interior angle, that is, the reverse of positive inserts. Cutting inserts having side surfaces which are inclined to the insert base at an obtuse interior angle are known as "positive" inserts. Cutting inserts having side surfaces which are at right angles to the insert base are known as "negative" or "neutral" inserts. A principal advantage of negative inserts is that they can be designed to be double-sided and therefore provide twice as many indexable cutting edges in comparison with positive inserts. There are also known in the art double positive inserts, which also provide twice as many indexable cutting edges in comparison with positive inserts. However, the cutting edges of such inserts may be weaker than those of negative inserts since the cutting wedge angles of double positive inserts are smaller than those of negative inserts.
Cutting inserts of the type described in US '267, that is, single-sided reversed-relief inserts, are advantageous in that the cutting edges of these inserts are generally stronger than in negative or positive inserts. However, the cutting insert disclosed in US '267 is a one-sided beveled relief cutting insert. Moreover, the through bore for receiving a clamping screw opens out to the upper chip surface. This sets a limit on the minimum width (distance between the major cutting edges) of the cutting insert. In addition, the cutting insert disclosed in US '267 is "radially" oriented when seated in a milling cutter. In such cutting inserts, the distance between the cutting edges and the base of the cutting insert defines a minimal dimension of the cutting insert. During a cutting operation, the cutting forces are directed generally along the minor dimension. On the other hand, tangential cutting inserts, also known as on-edge, or lay down, cutting inserts, are oriented in an insert holder in such a manner that during a cutting operation on a workpiece the cutting forces are directed along a major (thicker) dimension of the cutting insert. An advantage of such an arrangement being that the cutting insert can withstand greater cutting forces than when oriented in such a manner that the cutting forces are directed along a minor (thinner) dimension of the cutting insert. The present invention relates to double-sided reversed-relief cutting inserts.
Although it is conceivable to obtain double-sided reversed-relief inserts by grinding primary relief adjacent the cutting edges at both ends of a negative insert, grinding is an additional manufacturing operation that increases time and production costs of the cutting inserts.
It is an object of the present invention, to provide a double-sided tangential reversed-relief cutting insert which is preferably pressed or molded into its final shape, having a through bore for receiving a clamping screw which does not pass through the chip surfaces. Since double-sided inserts do not have a base opposite the chip surface, the angle of the primary relief is measured with respect to a median plane of the cutting insert.

Double-sided cutting insert and milling cutter


A hydraulic rotating machine includes a case, a cylinder block housed in the case and having a plurality of cylinders, a piston reciprocatively inserted into the cylinder; a swash plate configured to reciprocate the piston as the cylinder block rotates, a tilt control piston configured to biase the swash plate and control a tilt angle of the swash plate, and a stopper mounted to the case, the stopper being configured to define a minimum tilt angle of the swash plate. The stopper has a sliding surface for slidably supporting the tilt control piston.

There is a hydraulic rotating machine which includes a swash plate which is provided in a casing so as to be tiltable, and a tilt control piston which controls the tilt angle of the swash plate (see JPH8-200209A). In the hydraulic rotating machine described in JPH8-200209A, a cylinder hole is formed in the casing, the tilt control piston is slidably inserted into the cylinder hole.


The present invention includes methods and apparatus for inspecting vicinally illuminated non-patterned areas of translucent materials. An initial image of the material is received. A second image is received following a relative translation between the material being inspected and a device generating the images. Each vicinally illuminated image includes a portion having optimal illumination, that can be extracted and stored in a composite image of the non-patterned area. The composite image includes aligned portions of the extracted image portions, and provides a composite having optimal illumination over a non-patterned area of the material to be inspected. The composite image can be processed by enhancement and object detection algorithms, to determine the presence of, and characterize any inhomogeneities present in the material.

Translucent materials such as ceramics and glasses, are prone to cracking from a variety of stress sources throughout their manufacturing cycle. Detecting cracks, voids and other inhomogeneities in or on a homogenous surface early in the production process, for example of electrical and/or optical components, beneficially avoids detecting a defect later in the production process and losses from the accumulated costs associated with processing an initially defective substrate. Later in the production cycle, pattern recognition methods as known in the art may be applied to a substrate having been processed to have a pattern on or in the surface of the substrate, which are in contrast to the present inventive methods that do not involve pattern recognition techniques and are applicable to otherwise homogenous (i.e. non-patterned) substrates or portions of a substrate's surface not comprising a pattern. It is well known that the application of pattern recognition inspection methods to a non-patterned substrate or non-patterned area of a substrate are fundamentally destined to fail, as there is no pattern to compare to a known-good or expected pattern. Furthermore, the present inventive methods are not applicable to patterned areas of a substrate as the pattern itself would be identified as an inhomogeneity in the surface of the substrate and perhaps falsely indicate a defect, or as well the pattern itself could mask or cover-up a defect in the underlying substrate, which is an object of the present invention to detect.
As defined herein, translucent materials are materials wherein at least a portion of light from an illumination source penetrates the surface of the material. By this definition, translucent materials include transparent and semi-transparent materials, such as glasses, ceramics and combinations thereof. Stresses in these materials can arise from; an inhomogeneous density distribution in the green body during ceramic forming and sintering, component machining and handling, and thermal stresses developed during sudden temperature changes, all of which can result in crack initiation in the material. For piezoelectric ceramic components, electromechanical stresses can also be created during a hot poling process, which can lead to crack formation. Unlike cracks created by forming operations and thermal-shock, cracks generated during machining, handling and hot poling are small and difficult to detect. These cracks can have a crack opening width of less than 1 μm, are typically found near the edges of a component, and can be of concern when their length exceeds about 25 μm. The presence of cracks, defects and other inhomogeneities in glass, ceramic and glass-ceramic substrates, is a potential source of unreliable functionality. Thus routine yet robust inspection methods are needed for crack detection and characterization of non-patterned (i.e. unpatterned) substrates (i.e. or non-patterned portion thereof).
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for inspecting, detecting and characterizing cracks, defects and other inhomogeneities as may be found in the otherwise homogeneous surface (i.e. non-patterned) of glass, ceramic and glass-ceramic materials, that are translucent to an illumination source.

Vicinal light inspection of translucent materials


The invention provides xeno-nucleic acid particle display libraries, methods for identifying functional non-natural nucleic acid (XNA) aptamers using the particle display libraries, and compositions comprising XNA aptamers identified by screening candidate molecules using the xeno-nucleic acid particle display libraries.

Aptamers, nucleic acid molecules that mimic antibodies by folding into shapes with ligand binding affinity (Ellington and Szortak, 1990, Nature 346:818-822), have enormous potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents (Cho et al., 2009, Annu Rev Anal Chem 2:241-264; Zhou and Rossi, 2017, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 16:181-202). Aptamers are generated by in vitro selection or SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) from large libraries of combinatorial sequences (Wilson and Szortak, 1999, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 68:611-647). Similar to natural selection, in vitro selection is a process of selective amplification in which a population of nucleic acid molecules is challenged to bind a desired target or catalyze a chemical reactions. Molecules having a desired fitness are recovered and amplified to generate a new population of molecules that has become enriched in members with a particular activity. Although hundreds of aptamers have been reported in the literature, the vast majority of these sequences are unsuitable for in vivo applications because they are susceptible to digestion by enzymes that degrade DNA and RNA (Keefe et al., 2010, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 9:537-550). Even aptamers with modified bases or expanded genetic letters, which have shown tremendous promise in array-based diagnostics or have achieved high target binding affinity, respectively, are prone to nuclease attack (Gold et al., 2010, Plos One, 5: e15004; Kimoto et al., 2013, Nat. Biotechnol. 31:453-457). One exception is Spiegelmers, mirror-image aptamers composed of L-DNA or L-RNA, but such reagents are currently restricted to achiral targets or targets that can be generated by chemical synthesis, which is a very small fraction (<1%) of the human proteome (Vater and Klussmann, 2015, Drug Discov Today, 20:47-155).
Thus, there is a need in the art for novel methods for synthesis of biologically stable aptamers. The present invention satisfies this unmet need by establishing an XNA aptamer particle display format for rapidly screening aptamers composed of artificial genetic polymers (also known as xeno-nucleic acids or XNAs) for high affinity and high specificity to a desired target.

Screening artificial nucleic acids by particle display

The Regents of the University of California


A phased array antenna includes a plurality of planar panels each having opposing sides and top and bottom edges and forming an antenna face. Each planar panel is disposed circumferentially about a central axis and is connected to adjacent panels along the sides thereof. Each panel is inclined toward the central axis from the bottom edge. A plurality of antenna elements are positioned on each panel. Each panel includes substantially the same number of antenna elements as adjacent panels and forms an antenna array on each antenna face. A plurality of transmit/receive modules generates and receives signals, and each transmit/receive module corresponds to a respective antenna element on an antenna array. Means connects each of the transmit/receive modules to respective pluralities of the antenna elements within each array. A switch collectively controls the connection of the transmit/receive modules to respective antenna elements of one selected antenna array so that the transmit/receive modules are collectively connected to respective antenna elements of a selected antenna array at a selected time.

Radar systems and other communication systems using high frequency signals, such as in the gigahertz range, typically require a sophisticated antenna system that has a very high coverage, including 360.degree. azimuth coverage and a high range in elevation. Some antenna systems provide a 360.degree. azimuth coverage and a high elevation range without having to mechanically move the antenna. Other antenna systems require complicated motors and gears for moving an antenna mast. These antennas may include a plurality of antenna elements positioned on an antenna face, forming an antenna array. Some antenna arrays were mechanically steered, with a power splitter driven by a single amplifier, or a multi-panel phased array having a transmit/receive module positioned behind each antenna element. Some of these systems also required complex controllers or were physically large, and thus, not mobile.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,354 to Stern, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,811 to Chethik, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,798 to Dietrich, et al. all disclose multi-panel antennas for allowing 360.degree. azimuth coverage. In the '798 Dietrich patent, antenna elements are supported by various panels of an antenna mast. The antenna panels enable a spread spectrum communication between terminals over a range of elevation angles. However, the system requires a centralized radio frequency power source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,230 to Hules discloses a radar array using only transmit/receive modules to make it possible to generate a radio frequency signal directly at an antenna element and set the relative phase relationships between the elements. The transmit/receive modules also pre-amplify a receive signal. These transmit/receive modules avoid those problems related to a totally centralized radio frequency power source. For example, those antenna feed systems using a centralized radio frequency power source usually have constrained feed or space feed power distribution systems. Typically, these centralized systems also have dividers and combiners that could introduce undesirable inter-element interference and losses.
In the '230 patent to Hules, these drawbacks of using centralized feed systems are overcome by the use of active transmit/receive modules that generate the radio frequency power directly at the antenna elements. Thus, the relative phase relationship between the elements can be established. Additionally, individual transmit/receive modules allow preamplification of the received signal within an amplifier that is part of the transmit/receive module. However, in many systems, the transmit/receive modules were placed at each antenna element, adding to the production costs, the weight of the overall unit, and efficiency of the design.
The antenna system disclosed in the '230 patent to Hules overcomes this problem by using a switching mechanism that controls the connection of each transmit/receive module to a passive antenna element. Thus, each transmit/receive module is connected to only one antenna element at a time. The switches are controlled so that the active transmit/receive module is connected to desired patterns of passive antenna elements that are circularly arranged in an annular layered configuration. The antenna elements and active transmit/receive modules are positioned along the outer portions of respective antenna layers, with various antenna connecting leaves located in anterior portions of the layers. The switch is operable to connect the active transmit/receive modules with successive patterns of mutually adjacent antenna elements to produce antenna beams with desired directionality and phase relationships.
However, the antenna structure disclosed in the '230 patent to Hules discloses an annular configuration that has only a circular antenna face, and a constant circular arrangement of antenna elements that are organized into three 120.degree. sectors, A, B and C, of four passive antenna elements each. Although a 360.degree. azimuth is covered, the surface of the various sectors forming an antenna face are perpendicular to the ground, and do not appear to provide adequate elevation range. Additionally, the antenna elements are arranged along a 120.degree. sector forming part of the annular face. Thus, none of the different antenna elements forming an array are disposed in one plane, which would aid in beam forming.


A packaging cell line capable of complemention recombinant adenoviruses based on serotypes from subgroup B, preferably adenovirus type 35. The cell line is preferably human embryonic kidney cells and primary human amniocytes) which are transformed by adenovirus E1 sequences either operatively linked on one DNA molecule or located on two separate DNA molecules, the sequences being operatively linked to regulatory sequences enabling transcription and translation of encoded proteins.

The invention relates to the field of biotechnology generally, and more specifically to adenoviral-based complementing cell lines.
Typically, vector and packaging cells have to be adapted to one another so that they have all the necessary elements, but they do not have overlapping elements which lead to replication competent virus by recombination. Therefore, the sequences necessary for proper transcription of the packaging construct may be heterologous regulatory sequences derived from, for example, other human adenovirus (Ad) serotypes, non-human adenoviruses, other viruses like, but not limited to, SV40, hepatitis B virus (HBV), Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV), cytomegalo virus (CMV), etc. or from higher eukaryotes such as mammals. In general, these sequences include a promoter, enhancer and polyadenylation sequences.
PER.C6 (ECACC deposit number 96022940) is an example of a cell line devoid of sequence overlap between the packaging construct and the adenoviral vector (Fallaux et al., 1998). Recombinant viruses based on subgroup C adenoviruses such as Ad5 and Ad2 can be propagated efficiently on these packaging cells. Generation and propagation of adenoviruses from other serotypes, like subgroup B viruses, has proven to be more difficult on PER.C6 cells. However, as described in European patent application 00201738.2, recombinant viruses based on subgroup B virus Ad35 can be made by co-transfection of an expression construct containing the Ad35 early region-1 sequences (Ad35-E1). Furthermore, Ad35-based viruses that are deleted for E1A sequences were shown to replicate efficiently on PER.C6 cells. Thus, the E1A proteins of Ad5 complement Ad35-E1A functions, whereas at least part of the E1B functions of Ad35 are necessary. This serotype specificity in E1B functions was recently also described for Ad7 recombinant viruses. In an attempt to generate recombinant adenoviruses derived from subgroup B virus Ad7, Abrahamsen et al. (1997) were not able to generate E1-deleted viruses on 293 cells without contamination of wild-type (wt) Ad7. Viruses that were picked after plaque purification on 293-ORF6 cells (Brough et al., 1996) were shown to have incorporated Ad7 E1B sequences by non-homologous recombination. Thus, efficient propagation of Ad7 recombinant viruses proved possible only in the presence of Ad7-E1B expression and Ad5-E4-ORF6 expression. The E1B proteins are known to interact with cellular as well as viral proteins (Bridge et al., 1993; White, 1995). Possibly, the complex formed between the E1B 55K protein and E4-ORF6 which is necessary to increase MRNA export of viral proteins and to inhibit export of most cellular mRNAs, is critical and in some way serotype specific.
The present invention provides new packaging cell lines capable of complementing recombinant adenoviruses based on serotypes other than subgroup C viruses, such as serotypes from subgroup B, like adenovirus type 35.
In one aspect of the invention, the new packaging cells are derived from primary, diploid human cells such as, but not limited to, primary human retinoblasts, primary human embryonic kidney cells or primary human amniocytes. Transfection of primary cells with the adenovirus E1A gene alone can induce unlimited proliferation (immortalisation), but does not result in complete transformation. However, expression of E1A in most cases results in induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis), and occasionally immortalisation is obtained (Jochemsen et al., 1987). Co-expression of the E1B gene is required to prevent induction of apoptosis and for complete morphological transformation to occur (reviewed in White, 1995). Therefore, in one aspect of the invention, primary human cells are transformed by expression of adenovirus E1 proteins of a subgroup other than subgroup C, preferably subgroup B, more preferably adenovirus type 35. The combined activity of the E1A and E1B proteins establishes indefinite growth of the cells and enables complementation of recombinant adenoviruses.
In another aspect of the invention, the transforming E1 sequences are derived from different serotypes. As disclosed in European Patent application 00201738.2, Ad35 E1 sequences are capable of transforming Baby Rat Kidney (BRK) cells, albeit with a lower efficiency than that seen with Ad5 E1 sequences. This was also observed for E1 sequences from Ad12 (Bernards et al., 1982). Therefore, in this aspect of the invention, primary diploid human cells are transformed with chimeric E1 constructs that consist of part of the E1 sequences of a serotype that enables efficient transformation of primary human cells and part of the E1 sequences of another serotype which E1 sequences provide the serotype-specific E1B function(s) that enable(s) efficient propagation of E1-deleted viruses of that serotype. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the E1A region is derived from a subgroup C adenovirus, like, but not limited to, Ad5, and the E1B sequences are derived from an alternative adenovirus more particularly from an adenovirus of subgroup B, more particularly from adenovirus type 35. In a more preferred embodiment, the E1A sequences and the E1B-21K sequences are derived from a subgroup C adenovirus, like, but not limited to, Ad5, and the E1B-55k sequences as far as not overlapping with the 21K sequences are derived from an adenovirus of subgroup B, more particular from adenovirus type 35. In an even more preferred embodiment, all E1 sequences are derived from a subgroup C adenovirus, like but not limited to Ad5, except for at least the part of the E1B-55K sequences that are necessary for serotype-specific complementation of an alternative adenovirus subgroup, more particular adenovirus subgroup B, more particular adenovirus type 35, the sequences being derived from the adenovirus.
The primary diploid human cells are transformed by adenovirus E1 sequences either operatively linked on one DNA molecule or located on two separate DNA molecules. In the latter case, one DNA molecule carries at least part of the E1 sequences of the serotype enabling efficient transformation and the second DNA molecule carries at least part of the sequences necessary for serotype-specific complementation. In all aspects, the sequences are operatively linked to regulatory sequences enabling transcription and translation of the encoded proteins.
In another aspect of the invention, new packaging cells are described that are derived from PER.C6 (ECACC deposit number 96022940; Fallaux et al., 1998) and contain Ad35-E1 sequences integrated into their genome. These Ad35-E1 sequences are present in a functional expression cassette, but preferably do not contain sequences overlapping with sequences present in the recombinant viral vector. Preferably, the functional expression cassette consists of a heterologous promoter and poly-adenylation signal functionally linked to Ad35-E1 sequences. More specifically, the Ad35-E1 sequences are functionally linked to the human phosphoglycerate gene promoter (hPGK) and hepatitis B virus poly-adenylation signal (HBV-pA). Preferably, Ad35-E1 sequences comprise the coding regions of the E1A proteins and the E1B promoter sequences linked to E1B coding sequences up to and including the stop codon of the E1B 55K protein. More preferably, the Ad35-E1 sequences comprise nucleotide 468 to nucleotide 3400 of the Ad35 wt sequence. To be able to select for transfected cells, a dominant selection marker like, but not limited to, the neor gene has to be incorporated on the expression vector or the Ad35 expression vector is co-transfected with a separate expression vector mediating expression of the selection marker. In both cases, the selection marker becomes integrated in the cellular genome. Other AdS-E1 transformed cell lines like 293 (Graham et al., 1977) and 911 (Fallaux et al., 1996) or established human cell lines like A549 cells may be used without departing from the present invention.
In another aspect of the invention, PER.C6-derived cells are described that express functional Ad35 E1B sequences. In one embodiment, the Ad35-E1B sequences are driven by the E1B promoter and terminated by a heterologous poly-adenylation signal like, but not limited to, the HBVpA. In a preferred embodiment, the Ad35-E1B sequences are driven by a heterologous promoter like, but not limited to, the hPGK promoter or Elongation Factor-1xcex1 (EF-1xcex1) promoter and terminated by a heterologous pA signal like, but not limited to, the HBVpA. These Ad35-E1B sequences preferably comprise the coding regions of the E1B 21K and the E1B 55K proteins located between nucleotides 1611 and 3400 of the wild-type (wt) Ad35 sequence. More preferably, the Ad35-E1B sequences comprise nucleotides 1550 to 3400 of the wt Ad35 sequence. In an even more preferred embodiment, the E1B sequences comprise the coding sequences of the E1B-55K gene located between nucleotides 1916 and 3400 of the wt Ad35 sequence.
Cell lines subject of this invention are useful for, among other things, the production of recombinant adenoviruses designed for gene therapy and vaccination. The cell lines, being derived from cells of human origin, are also useful for the production of human recombinant therapeutic proteins like, but not limited to human growth factors, human antibodies. In addition the cell lines are useful for the production of human viruses other than adenovirus like, but not limited to, influenza virus, herpes simplex virus, rotavirus, measles virus.


Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring are presented. In representative embodiments, a system is provided that can perform multiple types of measurements of a surface. For example a single system of survey probes and one or more survey controllers can be used to offer both seismic and electrical measurements. A survey controller can be configured to automatically poll survey probes to obtain identifiers of the probes and determine a relative order the probes. Survey probes can be configured to: (a) collect signals associated with a surface; (b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and (c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. Relative positions of survey probes can be automatically determined using a transmitting beacon or other techniques. Survey probes can automatically disconnect from a power conduit while measuring a surface property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected, to reduce noise. The survey controller can be remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes.

This section provides the reader with a brief background of technology in the context of embodiments of this disclosure. Not only does this section provide context for several shortcomings in prior technology, but it also provides context about how the prior technology could, and will, benefit from various techniques described here. Simply because information appears in this section should not be taken as indicating its presence in the prior art. To the contrary, and as described immediately above, this section also provides context for certain significant improvements described and claimed in this disclosure.
Often specific survey objectives cannot be met by applying only one geophysical method. For example, in seismic and sonic reflection surveys, seismic refraction lines provide important information about velocities of near-surface materials which make it possible to apply needed corrections to reflection travel times. As electrical resistivity surveys depend on different physical properties than seismic or sonic surveys, the two taken together can provide important cross checks. If a system could perform multiple survey methods, better information about, for instance, the shallow subsurface could be obtained with a single multi-method survey.
Furthermore, there is developing interest in repeating surveys to observe changes that may occur in the subsurface, such as seasonal changes in groundwater level, effectiveness of subsurface pollutant remedial activities, and soil movement and water penetration under roadways, bridges, and dams. This usually requires that equipment be in place for long periods of time and necessitates frequent visits to the survey sites by geophysical technicians to monitor changing subsurface conditions.
The present state of the art does not provide an effective way to remotely manage field equipment and monitor survey data, much less monitor data in real-time. Field personnel must travel to the sites, perform the survey, collect the data in a temporary data storage device, and carry the data to a data center for processing and analysis. This may be done monthly, weekly, or more frequently depending upon how quickly the subsurface feature being monitored changes.
During a survey, one may discover that equipment performance has degraded or some components are not performing at all. Presently, he or she must then contact a service technician by telephone to report the problem, resulting in lengthy and sometimes confusing attempts to diagnose the problem and repair the equipment. The result is that the service technician must travel to the site to diagnose the problem, or the equipment must be sent to a service center for diagnosis and service.
Often, when equipment is returned to a service center, the equipment is found to be in satisfactory condition, and the problem remains at the site. This results in excessive "down-time" in the field and unplanned and excessive costs. If a means to remotely manage survey equipment and collect survey data were incorporated into a survey system, significant operational and cost advantages would accrue. For example, electrical resistivity strategies could be changed remotely and interactively from Dipole-Dipole to Wenner/Leed by the investigator. Measurement parameters such as injection current magnitude and period, survey frequency and method could be changed. Remote tests and diagnostics could be performed on all equipment to determine their level of operability and specific equipment requiring service.
A further disadvantage of present survey systems, in particular systems for the electrical resistivity, is the lengthy time required to perform a typical survey. Time limitations are due primarily to internal instrument noise caused by conductive coupling between cable conductors and connector pins (signal to noise ratio). The number of receivers active during a survey event is currently limited by the number of conductors in a cable. If a system were to eliminate the coupling noise and to remove the limitations on the number of receivers, shorter survey times could be achieved-from hours to minutes for a typical 100-survey probe system. This could result in survey crew labor savings and overall greater productivity.
Present electrical resistivity survey systems require multi-conductor cabling to simultaneously carry high voltage and low level analog potential signals. Multiple cable segments with integrated survey probes are connected together in the field in preparation for surveys. The cable segments must be connected with very careful attention to the order in which they are connected. Whether passive survey probes or intelligent survey probes, incorrect connections result in unintelligible and useless data. If an electrical resistivity survey system did not require cables to simultaneously carry high voltage and low voltage signals, data accuracy would be improved. Cables could be lighter and easier to handle in the field. Furthermore, if it were not required that cable sections must be connected in specific order, connection errors, survey errors, and field set-up time could be reduced.
Further, if data and control information could be exchanged between survey probes and the survey controller(s) by modulated radio waves a further reduction in cable wiring could be achieved.
Additionally, with the proper radio design, radio receivers associated with each probe could triangulate relative position relative to one or more transmitters and provide precise position location of each survey probe relative to one or more transmitters whose positions are accurately known. Furthermore, knowing the precise locations of each survey probe, each survey probe can be assigned an address based upon it's serial number and it's spatial position. The particular cable segment to which it is connected is not relevant.
Shortcomings mentioned above are not intended to be exhaustive but rather are among many that demonstrate that room for significant improvement remains in the art and that the techniques of this disclosure would be useful and beneficial.


A system and method is provided for monitoring the activities and/or locations of wireless units in a wireless network independent of location-based service preferences of those wireless units. That is, a system and method is provided that allows an authorized requester override location-based service preferences (e.g., privacy settings) that may be set for a wireless unit. In this regard, an authorized entity may be able to effectively locate and/or monitor the activities of a wireless unit associated with an individual of interest. Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user's knowledge and/or consent. For example, in some instances, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to monitor call traffic and/or the location of persons utilizing wireless units.

Wireless communications networks generally allow for voice and/or data communications between wireless units, e.g., wireless telephones (analog, digital, cellular, and PCS), pagers, or data terminals that communicate using RF signals. In recent years, a number of location-finding technologies have been developed that allow for determining the location of such wireless units. These location-finding technologies may utilize any of various location information sources and/or location-finding equipment (LFE) associated with the wireless network.
Due to variations in network environments and location finding technologies, location information for wireless devices is often provided on an application-by-application basis for subscribers of a particular network service application. Moreover, different wireless networks (e.g., CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and iDEN) may require adaptations to the location-based service application and associated interfaces. Accordingly, some applications are specifically adapted for a particular location-finding technology and a particular target network environment. Such location-finding technologies may include, but not be limited to: angle of arrival (AOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), handset global positioning system (GPS), as well as network architecture (cell/sector). These different technologies involve different location accuracies and formats.
More recently, gateway systems have been developed to alleviate some of the difficulties encountered in positioning wireless units in various network environments. For example, these gateways may provide location information in a format that is independent of the source of the location information, and may provide a standardized interface for requesting and obtaining location information. In this manner, applications can be developed substantially independent of the particular network environment of a serviced subscriber. Accordingly, the location of many wireless units may be obtained from such gateway systems utilizing one or more of the above-listed technologies.
Concurrent with the development of location-based service applications, has been the development of privacy settings for wireless units. In this regard, wireless units may request that no location information be provided to location-based service providers or other entities attempting to obtain the location of the wireless unit. Additionally, systems have been developed to allow wireless units to be notified when location information for that wireless unit is requested. Such privacy settings have increased consumer acceptance of a variety of location-based service applications.


A magnetic recording medium is constructed to include a lower magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed on the lower magnetic layer, and an upper magnetic layer disposed on the nonmagnetic spacer layer, where the upper and lower magnetic layers are antiferromagnetically coupled. The lower magnetic layer comprises a stabilization layer and a lower enhancement layer disposed between the stabilization layer and the nonmagnetic spacer layer, and the stabilization layer and the lower enhancement layer are ferromagnetically exchange coupled. The stabilization layer and the lower enhancement layer are made of CoCr alloys such that a Pt content of the stabilization layer is higher than that of the lower enhancement layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to magnetic recording media and magnetic storage apparatuses, and more particularly to a magnetic recording medium having magnetic layers which are antiferromagnetically coupled via a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and to a magnetic storage apparatus which uses such a magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
The storage capacity of longitudinal magnetic recording media has been rising rapidly due to reduction of media noise, the development of high-sensitivity spin-valve heads, and high-magnetization write heads. Recording densities above 100 Gbits/inch2 have been demonstrated and such high recording densities are on the verge of being applied for a commercial hard disk drive. The demand for greater recording densities for better performing computers is, however, showing an increasing trend imposing greater challenges for the recording media and other component design.
Lowering media noise involves writing a sharper magnetic transition in the magnetic layer. This is generally achieved by increasing the media coercivity, decreasing the thickness of magnetic layer, decreasing the grain size and grain size distribution of the magnetic layer, and magnetically isolating the grains of the magnetic layer. Decreasing the grain size or decreasing the media thickness, however, adversely affect the thermal stability of the recording media. The thermal stability of the magnetic layer is normally represented by how large the factor KuV/kT is, where Ku denotes the magnetic anisotropy, V denotes the volume of the grain, T denotes the temperature, and k denotes the physical constant known as the Boltzmann constant.
In order to have small grains which are thermally stable, the magnetic anisotropy Ku has to be increased. The magnetic anisotropy field Hk is defined as Hk=2 Ku/Ms, where Ms denotes the saturation magnetization. A large magnetic anisotropy field Hk means a large coercivity Hc at the nanosecond regime where normally the writing of the information occurs for a high-density media with high-data transfer rates. High coercivity Hc at writing frequencies puts severe limitations on the write heads, as a large write current is required in order to write information on such media. Write currents, which can be produced by write heads, are severely limited due to difficulties in developing high magnetic moment write heads. The overwrite performance, which is the ability to write new data on previously written data, is worse for recording media with higher magnetic anisotropy field Hk. Recording media with a higher magnetic anisotropy Ku increases the magnetic anisotropy field Hk and thus restricts the overwrite performance.
As described above, there is need to decrease the grain sizes of the magnetic layer and the thickness of the magnetic layer in order to achieve low media noise and hence a high density recording performance. However, such reduction of grain size and magnetic layer thickness deteriorates the thermal stability of the recording medium. In order to improve the thermal stability without effecting the overwrite performance, a synthetic ferrimagnetic media (SFM) has been proposed and demonstrated, as discussed by Abarra et al., in Applied Physics Letters, Vol.77, Page 2581, October 2000.
A synthetic ferrimagnetic media (SFM) has at least one pair of magnetic layers, which are separated by a nonmagnetic spacer made of Ru or the like. The magnetization of the upper magnetic layer is partially cancelled by the lower magnetic layer which functions as an initial stabilizing layer. While the read head is sensitive only to the effective magnetization, a total volume of the two magnetic layers contributes to the thermal stability. Using this concept of the SFM, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and thermal stability of the recording media are greatly improved. However, it is desirable to further improve the thermal stability so as to achieve higher recording densities.

Magnetic recording medium and magnetic storage apparatus