An apparatus for reducing surge currents during startup of a voltage regulator is disclosed that includes circuitry for maintaining a voltage at an FB pin of the voltage regulator substantially equivalent to an output voltage of the voltage regulator.

During startup of a voltage regulator, the reference voltage applied to the voltage regulator goes from 0V to 1.2V. If the reference voltage is turned on quickly, surge currents that are induced in the inductor associated with the voltage regulator can damage components of the voltage regulator and additionally cause a collapse of the input power supply by drawing too much current during the turn on process. It is greatly desired to reduce the surge currents during startup of the voltage regulator to prevent these actions from occurring. One method used to prevent surge currents has been the use of a soft start function that slowly ramps the reference voltage of the regulator from 0V to VREF. One problem with the slow startup method is the creation of a voltage offset with respect to VOUT on the FB pin due to initial movement of voltages in the COMP pin at startup enable (open loop operation) which is capacitively coupled to the FB pin. When an error amplifier within a voltage regulator is enabled, the voltage on the COMP pin may jump from 0V to 0.6V. Since the COMP pin is capacitively coupled to the FB pin, this will normally produce a voltage offset at the FB pin. The jump of voltage on the COMP pin is one source of the offset voltage at the FB pin.
During the actual slow start ramp process, the COMP pin will move from 0.6V up to a predetermined voltage level wherein operation of the voltage regulator enters linear operation (closed loop operation). While the COMP pin is moving up to the predetermined level, it will capacitively couple this voltage onto the FB pin. This is a second source of voltage injection into the FB pin. The voltage offset on the FB pin eventually discharges when the system enters closed loop operation. The discharge of the FB pin to VOUT reinforces with the soft start ramp resulting in an increased input current which can be sufficiently large to exceed the surge current specification for the regulator. The voltage charge is impressed onto the compensation loop which impresses the voltage upon the FB pin. When a pre-biased startup voltage is used, this can increase the amount of voltage impressed onto the compensation loop and the FB pin and further increase the surge currents on the FB pin during startup.


Some embodiments determine characteristics related to a theme or branding of an existing website. Characteristics from an existing website may, for example, facilitate theming or branding of a new website or software product to coordinate with the existing website. A characteristic extraction system may optimize an existing webpage based on target characteristics to be extracted from the existing webpage. Optimizing an existing webpage includes manipulating the webpage source code and/or the webpage data to facilitate extraction of the target characteristics. Optimization may result in removal of data or formatting from the existing webpage that is unnecessary for extraction of the target characteristics.

An organization may purchase off-the-shelf software or software as a service (SaaS) solutions. The organization may prefer to customize the look, appearance, or graphical theme of the software applications rather than use the defaults provided by the software applications when purchased. Such customization may include appropriate placement of the organization's logos and trademarks within the software applications. By customizing the software applications, the software applications can be adapted to reflect the brand of the organization that purchased the software applications rather than the organization that developed or sold the software applications.
An organization may customize a website associated with the organization. The organization may adapt a commercially-sold website template to match the organization's branding. Matching an organization's branding may include using colors, fonts, and logos associated with the organization.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, one should not assume that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of being included in this section.

System and method for extracting website characteristics


The invention relates to an improved method and arrangement for controlling a cell change performed by a terminal of a cellular radio system. In particular the invention relates to a cell change in a situation where the terminal is connected to a special service provided by its current cell, e.g. to the GPRS service (General Packet Radio Service). An essential idea of the invention is that in conjunction with a cell change order a base station sends to the terminal information about whether the terminal is allowed not to carry out the cell change order if the terminal does not know the timing information of the new cell assigned to it. This information is advantageously sent in a signalling message of a certain service, such as the GPRS service. It is an advantage of the invention that a terminal connected to a certain service will not make unnecessary cell change attempts which are doomed to fail. The invention helps direct the cell change in such a manner that the load caused by possible repeated cell change attempts on the terminal and radio signalling is low.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for controlling cell change in a service network, in which method a terminal performs neighbour cell measurements for cell change, the network makes a decision about the cell change on the basis of the results of said measurements, current network load and the service needs of the terminal, and the network sends to the terminal a cell change order instructing it to switch over to a new cell. The invention additionally relates to a base station of a cellular radio system, which base station comprises means for providing service and means for receiving signalling messages from a terminal as well as means for generating signalling messages and sending them to terminals. Furthermore, the invention relates to a terminal of cellular radio system, which terminal is equipped with means for connecting to a certain service and which comprises means for receiving signalling messages from base stations and means for performing cell specific measurements in order to find a suitable serving cell. In addition, the invention relates to a cellular radio system comprising base stations and associated cells as well as terminals, wherein the base stations are equipped with means for conveying signalling messages between the base station and a terminal, and the terminals are equipped so as to operate at a certain service level and to convey signalling messages between the terminal and base station.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
To provide background for the invention we will next describe some examples of prior-art solutions for changing the active cell in GSM (Global System for Mobile telecommunications) and in the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) associated with it. FIG. 1 illustrates the basic structure of a GSM network. The mobile communication network typically comprises at least one core network (CN) and one or more radio access networks (RAN). Core networks comprise various switching systems which may offer different value-added services in addition to the versatile communications features. A core network comprises mobile services switching centres (MSC), other network elements, which in GSM include e.g. the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), and the associated transmission systems. The radio access networks are located between the core network and the terminals. A radio access network comprises base stations (BS) and a radio network controller (RNC). Each base station is connected via a fixed line to the radio network controller. The radio network controllers in turn are connected via fixed lines to at least one core network node. Between the terminals and core networks there may operate one or more radio access networks, and a terminal may be connected to a plurality of core networks via a radio access network.
A terminal of a cellular radio system always attempts to choose a base station in the coverage area, or cell, of which it camps. In the exemplary situation depicted by FIG. 2, a need for a change of cells arises at least at points P2 to P7. Conventionally, the cell change has been based on measuring the strength of the received radio signal from neighbouring cells 1 to 11 either at the terminal or base station. In GSM, for example, each base station broadcasts, at a so-called broadcast frequency, a signal which has different frequencies for the adjacent base stations. In GSM, a base station sends to a terminal, on the so-called broadcast control channel (BCCH), the parameters used by the terminal to calculate the so-called C values. Most commonly, the so-called C1 value is used in the calculation. The calculation of the C1 value is described in more detail in Michel Mouly, Marie-Bernadette Pautet, "The GSM System for Mobile Communications", section 188.8.131.52.
Terminals have to measure the reception levels of the received broadcast signals in order to be able to calculate the C1 values of the cells. The cell with the highest C1 value is the most advantageous for the radio connection. In order to optimize cell changes the network may also send additional parameters which make possible to use so-called C2 values. A more detailed description of the use of these parameters is given in reference [1]. The base stations also send to terminals information about the BCCH frequencies used in the adjacent cells so that the terminals know what frequencies they have to listen to in order to find the BCCH broadcasts of the adjacent cells.
GSM system cells provide users with basic services: audio transmission, slow data transmission, and various short message services. GSM operation has been standardized by the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). In GSM, the cells overlap with respect to their coverage areas, so at a cell boundary a decision has to be made about which one of the cells the terminal is to use. In addition to the quality of the connection the decision is based on other factors, too, such as the traffic load of the different cells of the network, for instance. In the active state, the decision about which cell the terminal is to use, as well as the decision about the cell change timing is made by the network, which then informs the terminal. According to an ETSI standard, a terminal in the active state cannot by itself make a decision to start using the service of another cell. A terminal in the idle state makes the decision about which cell it belongs to based on the cells' C1/C2 values which it has calculated. From the terminal's standpoint the moment of cell change is then not of great significance as all the system's cells offer the same basic services and the user of the terminal will not notice the cell change.
FIG. 3 shows as an example a flow diagram of prior-art operation in a cell change situation in connection with a basic GSM service and GPRS service. While in the idle/active state 30 the terminal performs, in the example case depicted by FIG. 3, neighbour cell measurements on the basis of which the network may estimate 31 the need for a cell change. If the result of the estimation is that a cell change is not needed, operation returns to the initial state 30. If a cell change is needed the network chooses in step 32 one of the neighbour cells as the new target cell and sends to the terminal a cell change order 33. This order may be conveyed to the terminal in the basic GSM on the common control channel (CCCH) or Slow Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) advantageously using a RR_CELL_CHANGE_ORDER message, in which the new serving cell is described in more detail by means of a base station identity code (BSIC) and at least the information about the absolute radio frequency number (ARFCN) of the new cell's base station. If the terminal at the initial stage 30 is connected to a GPRS service on a cell supporting PCCCH, the cell change order is conveyed on the packet common control channel (PCCCH), advantageously using a PACKET_CELL_CHANGE_ORDER message. Having received one of the above-mentioned messages the terminal must immediately attempt 34 a cell change if the operation takes place in a system according to the prior art. If the terminal does not know the timing information of the new cell, it is not possible to immediately get synchronized to the timing used by the new cell, which is indicated at step 35. In this situation the terminal returns to using the original cell and informs 37 the network that the cell change was unsuccessful using e.g. a PACKET_CELL_CHANGE_FAILURE message if the terminal is connected to a GPRS service. After that the network may give a new cell change order to the terminal, possibly targeted at the same cell. In the worst case, there may be several failed cell change attempts and returns to the original cell before a successful cell change. If, however, the terminal knows the new cell's timing information and is thus able to immediately synchronize to the cell's timing, it starts to use the new cell already at step 34. Succesfull step 35 is then followed by the active/idle state 36.
The prior-art approach described above has many drawbacks. The cell change fails if the terminal does not know the timing information of the new cell. If the cell change fails, a service used by the terminal, which is above the basic service, such as e.g. GPRS, may be disconnected because of the failed cell change. In any case the terminal may have to make several attempts to change cells, which adds to the cell change related signalling between the terminal and the base station in the serving cell.
An object of this invention is to provide a cell change procedure which minimizes unsuccessful cell change attempts to cells with which the operation of the terminal cannot be immediately synchronized at the moment of receiving the cell change order.

Method and arrangement for controlling cell change and a terminal of a cellular system


A preparation process is provided for preparing a novel flavonoid compound having a high level of antioxidative action. The flavonoid compound is obtained by subjecting hesperidin to microbial fermentation treatment with Aspergillus saitoi.

The present invention relates to a novel flavonoid compound and a process for preparing the same.
Hesperidin, conventionally known as vitamin P, is a glycoside of hesperetin, and a flavonoid compound that is contained in large amounts in oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits, and particularly in the rind of unripe fruit. Hesperidin is found in abundance in nature, and even though it possesses physiological activity such as antiallergic action, antiviral action and capillary reinforcing action, the range of its utilization has been limited. For example, since it is difficult for hesperidin to be absorbed by the body, the resulting antioxidative effects are extremely low, thereby preventing it from being used as an antioxidant. It is therefore expected that hesperidin will be used more effectively in the future.

Flavonoid compound and process for producing the same


A pattern buffer apparatus for a dynamic write strategy, which buffers non return to zero (NRZ) data patterns in order to generate a recording pulse in a compact disc system, includes a pattern detector which detects a pattern edge and a pattern from the NRZ data; a write address generating unit which generates a write address indicating a pattern buffer which stores the pattern in response to a write enable signal; the pattern buffer which has a plurality of registers and stores the detected pattern according to the write address; and a read address generating unit which generates a read address in response to a read enable signal, and reads the current pattern stored in the pattern buffer indicated by the read address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact disc (CD) and digital versatile disc (DVD) system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for generating a pulse for recording data on an optical disc in a rewritable CD/DVD (hereinafter referred to as "a CD-RW/DVD-RW").
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical discs such as a CD-RW/DVD-RW are used in storing a large amount of audio, video and/or data. A process for recording data on an optical disc includes encoding and modulation. Referring to FIG. 1, the process for recording data on an optical disc will now be described. FIG. 1 shows non return to zero (NRZ) data in a CD-RW/DVD-RW system and a pulse signal for actual recording together with a clock signal.
The CD-RW/DVD-RW system uses an eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM)/EFM+ method as a modulation method. EFM/EFM+ modulated data is non return to zero inversion (NRZI) data. NRZI data formed of '1' and '0' is converted into NRZ data which is inverted whenever an event (a time when transition from '1' to '0' or from '0' to '1' occurs) occurs. NRZ data has a pattern formed with a mark and a space. Data which is actually recorded on the optical disc is a pulse (WRTE_PULSE) generated based on the mark of NRZ data. A write strategy in the CD-RW/DVD-RW system means how the pulse (WRITE_PULSE) for recording data on the disc is generated.
In the prior art low-speed CD-RW/DVD-RW system, the location and size of a write pulse (WRITE_PULSE) are adjusted only with the size of the current mark (CM). That is, with respect to the size of the current mark, a pulse having a different delay (Td, Tf) is generated. Generally, delay information (Td, Tf) with respect to the size of a mark is stored in a table in advance, and a write pulse (WRITE_PULSE) is generated by reading delay information corresponding to the size of the current mark (CM).
Recently, in order to enable high speed CD-RW/DVD-RW disc write, a dynamic write strategy has been used. The dynamic write strategy is a technology capable of generating a write pulse considering not only the size of the current mark (CM) but also the sizes of spaces (PS, FS) adjacent to the current mark (CM) and the sizes of marks (PM, FM) adjacent to the current mark (CM).
In an ordinary write strategy, the sizes of a mark and a space are found in an EFM modulated NRZ pattern which is generated and output, and a needed write pulse is generated by reading delay data needed in a corresponding mark. However, in the dynamic write strategy, adjacent marks and spaces should be considered, and buffering of a pattern is needed.
Therefore, an apparatus for pattern buffering is needed. In order to minimize the needed hardware structure and efficiently improve the performances such as the operation speed, a buffering apparatus having a minimum buffering delay and minimum size and a buffering method therefor are needed.

Minimum delay buffering method, minimum delay buffer device for dynamic write strategy, and CD-RW/DVD-RW system having the same


Methods and apparatuses that enable memory devices to inform graphical processing systems about the results of WRITE de-skew training. A WRITE-TRAINING mode is added to a memory device. When the WRITE-TRAINING mode is asserted the memory data mask (DM) pin is converted to an output port. Incoming WRITE data is strobed-into the memory device and the resulting data pattern is compared to a desired pattern. If the incoming WRITE data and strobed-in data match, that result is sent to the graphical processing system by setting the DM pin HIGH. If the incoming WRITE data and the strobed-in data do not match, that result is sent to the graphical processing system by setting the DM pin LOW. Beneficially, the incoming data and the desired pattern are derived from pseudo random bit sequence (PRBS) sources.

The present invention relates to high speed data interfaces, and more particularly to using a modified Data Mask (DM) pin as an error flag when de-skewing communications.
Graphics processing is an important feature of modern, high performance computer systems. Some graphical processing systems render high-resolution, real-time graphical images on display devices by using special high-performance computational circuitry that is incorporated into or that is otherwise mated with graphical processing units (GPUs).
In addition to GPUs and computational circuitry, graphical processing systems also require memory devices, usually high speed static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). While SRAM and DRAM devices have been used with GPUs for many years, current demands for high resolution, high performance, real time graphics processing requires very fast memory devices. To that end, faster memory devices, such as double data rate random access memory, have been developed. A double data rate memory device clocks data into or out of memory on both the rising and falling edges of a clocking signal.
While double data rate memory devices are very useful, the sheer speed required to render high resolution digital images in real time can make the basic task of communicating with memory difficult. This is because high speed data accessing takes place over individual data lines that can differ. For example, individual data lines can have different lengths, distributed impedances, and end terminations. Those differences can cause individual bits of a data byte to arrive at a receiver at different times. Furthermore, individual receivers and drivers have transition speeds that can differ. For example, a GPU could send a data byte to a memory device with a first pattern, say 1111 0000, which, when clocked into a memory, could be recognized as 1011 0001 because the clock signal arrived before the data byte was ready to be clocked. This temporal problem is referred to as skew.
In some high speed interface circuits, for example double data rate memory, the actual clocking of data into and out of a memory device is performed using a strobe signal that is derived from a master clock. By selectively delaying the strobe signal relative to the data byte the strobe signal's edges can be shifted such that they occur after the data byte is ready. Reference U.S. provisional application No. 60/539,787 filed Jan. 27, 2004, incorporated by reference, which describes how to automatically shift strobe timing such that the strobe edges occur at times that avoid skew.
While the teachings of U.S. provisional application No. 60/539,787 filed Jan. 27, 2004 are beneficial, implementing those teachings are subject to practical constraints. For example, when adjusting strobe timing relative to data packets during WRITE de-skew training, some method of informing the GPU about the results of strobe timing is required. A straightforward way to do that would be to add a new "result" pin to the memory device and another to the GPU. Unfortunately, SRAM and DRAM memory devices, particularly, their input/output (I/O) pin configurations, are relatively standardized. While adding internal circuitry to a GPU and to a memory device to implement de-skew training is relatively straight forward, adding a new I/O pin is contrary to accepted standards.
Therefore, a method and apparatus that enables a memory device to inform a graphics processing system about the results of de-skew training during WRITE operations would be beneficial. Also beneficial would be a method and apparatus that enables a memory device to signal a graphics processing system about strobe timing relative to data packets during WRITE operations using existing memory pin-outs.

Data mask as write-training feedback flag


The present invention discloses a CMP abrasive comprising cerium oxide particles, a dispersant, an organic polymer having an atom or a structure capable of forming a hydrogen bond with a hydroxyl group present on a surface of a film to be polished and water, a method for polishing a substrate comprising polishing a film to be polished by moving a substrate on which the film to be polished is formed and a polishing platen while pressing the substrate against the polishing platen and a polishing cloth and supplying the CMP abrasive between the film to be polished and the polishing cloth, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of the above-mentioned polishing method, and an additive for a CMP abrasive comprising an organic polymer having an atom or a structure capable of forming a hydrogen bond with a hydroxyl group present on a surface of a film to be polished, and water.

Current ultra large scale integrated circuits tend to enhance packaging density, and various microscopic processing technologies have been studied and developed. Thus, the design-rule has reached a sub half micron order. One of the technologies which have been developed to satisfy requirements for such severe fining is a CMP technology. This CMP technology can fully smooth a layer to be exposed, reduce the load of an exposure technology, and stabilize the yield in steps for manufacturing semi-conductor devices. Thus, the CMP technology is an essential technology for smoothing an interlayer insulating film and a BPSG film, and performing shallow trench isolation, for example.
In steps for manufacturing semiconductor devices, as a CMP abrasive for smoothing inorganic insulating films such as silicon oxide insulating films formed by a plasma-CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, a low pressure-CVD method or the like, fumed silica series abrasives have been generally studied. The fumed silica series abrasives are produced by causing grain growth by a process of subjecting to pyrolysis of silica particles into silicic tetrachloride or the like and by performing pH adjustment. However, such an abrasive incurs technical problems that the polishing speed for inorganic insulating films is not sufficient, causing a low polishing speed in practical use.
In a conventional CMP technology for smoothing an interlayer insulating film, there are technical problems that high level smoothing cannot be realized in the entire surface of a wafer since the dependency of polishing speed on the pattern of a film to be polished on a substrate is great, the polishing speeds in projected portions are largely differentiated due to the magnitude of the pattern density difference or the size difference, and the polishing of even recessed portions proceeds.
Further, in the CMP technology for smoothing the interlayer film, it is necessary to finish polishing in the middle of the interlayer film, and a method for controlling a process of controlling the amount of polishing by polishing time has been generally carried out. However, since the polishing speed is remarkably changed not only due to the change in shapes of pattern steps, but also due to the conditions of polishing cloth and the like, there is the problem that process management is difficult.
LOCOS (Local Oxidation of Silicon) had been used for element isolation in integrated circuits in the generation of a 0.5 μm or more design-rule. As the working size becomes finer thereafter, technologies of narrower width of element isolation have been required and shallow trench isolation is being used. In the shallow trench isolation, the CMP is used for removing excess silicon oxide films formed on a substrate and a stopper film having a slow polishing speed is formed beneath the silicon oxide film to stop the polishing. As a stopper film, silicon nitride and the like are used, and preferably, the ratio of the polishing speed between the silicon oxide film and the stopper film is large. Conventional fumed silica series abrasives have a polishing speed ratio of as small as about 3 between the above-mentioned silicon oxide film and the stopper film, and the fumed silica abrasives have a problem that they do not have properties endurable for practical use for shallow trench isolation.
On the other hand, as the glass-surface abrasive for photomasks, lenses, and the like, a cerium oxide abrasive has been used. As cerium oxide particles have lower hardness than silica particles or alumina particles, they tend to cause few scratches on a surface to be polished so that they are useful for finishing mirror polishing. However, since the cerium oxide abrasive for glass surface polishing uses a dispersant containing a sodium salt, it cannot be applied to an abrasive for semiconductors as it is.
An object of the present invention is to provide a CMP abrasive which is capable of polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicon oxide insulating film at high speed without causing scratches while attaining high level smoothing and has a high storage stability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for polishing a substrate which is capable of polishing a surface to be polished of a substrate at high speed without causing scratches while attaining high level smoothing with easy process control.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which is capable of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a high reliability with high productivity and good yield. A still further object of the present invention is to provide an additive for a CMP abrasive, which CMP abrasive is capable of polishing a surface to be polished at high speed without causing scratches while attaining high level smoothing, and particularly capable of providing the CMP abrasive with an excellent storage stability.

Abrasive compound for CMP, method for polishing substrate and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the same, and additive for CMP abrasive compound


Disclosed are a monochrome facsimile apparatus capable of supporting communication of color information in sYCC color space, and a color-information communication method that uses this facsimile apparatus. If a compact flash card has been inserted into the monochrome facsimile apparatus, which is capable of communicating color file information, the facsimile apparatus notifies the transmitting side, by prescribed bits of the FIF of a DIS signal, that it has a function for receiving JPEG-coded information, lacks a function for receiving full-color information in Lab color space, and has a function for receiving full-color information in sYCC color space. If the facsimile apparatus senses, by prescribed bits of the FIF of a DCS signal, that a designation to transmit full-color information in sYCC color space has been received from the transmitting side, then the facsimile apparatus is allowed to receive color information, which is then stored on the compact flash card without being printed, by information receiving means having the function for receiving JPEG-coded information and the function for receiving full-color information in sYCC color space.

Facsimile machines used heretofore have mainly been for monochrome communication. In recent years, however, the growing popularity of ink-jet printers, digital cameras and personal computers has been accompanied by a sharp increase in the handling of color information. These changing circumstances have given rise to the need for communication of color information.
First, communication of color information at the present time in accordance with the recommendations of the ITU-T will be described.
Transmission of full-color information is executed in Lab color space of ITU-T Recommendation T.82 by JPEG coding stipulated by ITU-T Recommendation T.82. Both a transmitter and a receiver execute facsimile communication of color information by a stand-alone facsimile apparatus.
In the example of the prior art described above, the color space of transmitted color facsimile information is Lab color space, but the color space of color information captured by, e.g., a digital camera is sYCC. Further, color space in a case where color information is displayed by a personal computer also is sYCC. That is, the need for color information communication in sYCC color space is growing in view of the recent popularization of digital cameras and personal computers.
In a facsimile apparatus, however, higher price results when it is attempted to cover both color reading and color printing. Accordingly, users are looking forward to the appearance of a monochrome facsimile apparatus that is capable of supporting communication of color information in sYCC color space.

Facsimile apparatus and color information communication method using same


The invention relates to a method of detecting the coincidence of two biomolecular structures in a solid phase sample, said method comprising: (i) providing a first and a second fusion protein, each fusion protein comprising (a) a detection domain, said detection domain comprising a DNA binding domain; said detection domain capable of binding a cognate specific nucleotide sequence in co-operation with a further detection domain; (b) a recognition domain, said recognition domain capable of binding a target biomolecular structure; and (c) a connector domain; said connector domain being fused at one end to the detection domain and being fused at the other end to the recognition domain; wherein at least two of (a), (b) and (c) are heterologous to one another; wherein the recognition domains of said first and said second fusion proteins are capable of binding to first and second biomolecular structures; (ii) contacting the sample with said first and second fusion proteins; (iii) incubating to allow binding; (iv) removing unbound fusion protein; (v) contacting the sample with nucleic acid comprising said cognate specific nucleotide sequence; (vi) incubating to allow heterotrimeric binding of the nucleic acid; (vii) detecting nucleic acid bound to the sample wherein detection of nucleic acid in step; (vii) indicates that the two biomolecular structures are present coincidentally in said sample.

A significant challenge of biomedical research is the identification of biological markers (biomarkers) that can be used to predict and better understand the molecular basis of disease. A biomarker is defined as a substance or an event used as an indicator of a biological state that we want objectively to detect, measure and assess as a marker of a normal state, a pathological state (whether for predictive, prognostic or diagnostic purposes), or a pharmacologic response to a therapeutic intervention (a pharmacodynamic marker). The strong need to assess known biomarkers and discover new ones is because even in patients with the same disease altered molecular events in cells are not always similar; tumours, for example, are not the same at the molecular level even if they share common histological features. Thus, there is the need to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the development of diseases, to define specific molecular events, in order to recognize the molecular differences for each patient. In this way, patients can be stratified to receive the most appropriate therapies.
Nowadays, most of the data for pharmacological treatment efficacy or patient prognosis are based on statistical studies. As a result, the accuracy for predicting drug efficacy or prognosis in a single patient depends on the probability that he/she is near to the mean in large cohorts of patients. This approach is based on two approximations: "same tumour histotypes are equally responsive to therapy" and "each individual is pharmacologically equal to another". It is now widely documented that both the above assumptions are incorrect and there is an increasing need for personalised treatments.
Proteomic approaches attract increasing interest to identify and investigate biomarkers. A major advantage of measuring protein expression instead of their gene transcripts (using for example cDNA arrays) is that there is a variable correlation between mRNA expression levels and protein functional states and it is the latter that typically drive pathogenesis. Moreover, an important advantage of proteomics is the possibility of analysing post-translational modifications which are known to be important biomarkers since they can be altered in many diseases, such as cancer. However, due to the dynamic and complexity of protein networks, the technical difficulties encountered in specifically monitoring such changes in particular proteins are a challenge. Thus, this approach is still fraught with problems. One difficulty is to discover simple non-invasive diagnostic, prognostic and/or predictive methods to detect protein biomarkers and/or their post-translational modifications. It is thus of fundamental importance that the detailed knowledge surrounding molecular pathways responsible for the disease can be monitored in patient samples, such as the concentration of the proteins in these pathways and/or the knowledge of their functional states inside cells.
The most common and easy way to detect a protein is using antibodies, and there are commercially available antibodies that bind phosphorylated proteins. However, these antibodies in several cases are not mono-specific (i.e. recognise modifications on multiple proteins) and they are frequently polyclonal reagents with inherent batch variation issues (monoclonals have been difficult to produce). These issues pose problems when we want to investigate specific modifications such as phosphorylations associated with specific proteins.
Mass Spectroscopy (MS) is a different analytical technique that analyses complex protein samples. It is used to identify proteins, to identify post-translational modifications, to investigate protein interactions and to quantify protein expression. However, standard MS is used following isolation of the proteins from cell lysates or tissue samples and it does not provide any information on cellular localisation. On the other hand, a newer technology called Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI IMS) combines the sensitivity and specificity of MS with imaging capabilities allowing the investigation of the spatial distribution of proteins, or phospho-proteins or many other biological molecules, from intact cells and tissues. The resolution here is limited to cells and is not subcellular. Furthermore, this approach demands very expensive equipment and is difficult to implement as a standard and routine laboratory procedure. In addition, the methodology is intrinsically limited by sensitivity and coverage—the modifications of choice may not be detected.
Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is an alternative coincidence detection technique which involves the transfer of energy from an excited donor fluorophore to an acceptor fluorophore which has an excitation spectrum that overlaps with the donor emission spectrum and is 59 nm away. Based on this principle, one of its applications is to fuse the donor and the acceptor fluorophores separately with two different target molecules. In the circumstances where these two molecules interact with each other, the donor and the acceptor fluorophores will be close enough to generate a FRET signal. FRET biodetectors can be easily introduced into cells and they are well suited for molecular imaging. However, FRET technology also requires a very expensive equipment set-up and substantial analytical resources, which is a problem.
Development of new techniques which require inexpensive technology are still a challenge and there is still a pressing need for high-throughput assays which are required to be inexpensive for standard and routine laboratory procedures.
A different kind of technology is the Duolink in situ Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA). Duolink in situ PLA is from the Swedish company Olink Bioscience. This technology enables detection, visualisation and quantification of individual proteins, protein modifications and protein interactions in tissue and cell samples prepared for microscopy. The assay is described below from an extract taken from the Duolink in situ PLA user manual (http://www.olink.com/). The six steps required are described:                Primary Antibody Step—The sample of interest is incubated with two primary antibodies that bind to the protein/s to be detected. These antibodies have to be from two different species (e.g. mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal).        Secondary Antibody Step—Secondary antibodies are added which have been conjugated with two oligonucleotides named Proximity Ligation Assay probes (PLA probes) MINUS and PLUS.        Hybridisation Step—Two other oligonucleotides are added which will hybridise to the two PLA probes only if they are in close proximity.        Ligation Step—A reaction using ligase will then join the two hybridised oligonucleotides to form a closed circle.        Amplification Step—Polymerase and nucleotides are added and the oligonucleotide arm of one of the PLA probes acts as a primer for a rolling-circle amplification (RCA) reaction using the ligated circle as a template. This generates a concatemeric (repeated sequence) product extending from the oligonucleotide arm of the PLA probe.        Detection Step—Fluorescent labelled oligonucleotides are added which will hybridise to the RCA product. The signal is visible as a distinct fluorescent dot and can be analysed by fluorescent microscopy.
Thus the duolink technology is a complex multi-stage process. Moreover, duolink requires multiple antibodies from different species. In addition duolink relies on oligonucleotides conjugated to antibodies which can be a difficult and inefficient reaction. Thus duolink exhibits a number of drawbacks as well as being labour intensive and complicated to use.
The present invention seeks to overcome problem(s) associated with the prior art.


A device for making security marks by means of a plurality of simultaneously backing and printing dies, each with a pre-designed image. The device makes it possible to subject a sheet of paper to a novelty simultaneous abrasion and printing method of a security mark using the dies previously and smoothly inked by means of inking rollers with either one or more inks not visible to the naked eye, but revealable by one or more temporarily applicable revealing stimuli, wherein the security mark shows as authentication evidence a pre-designed image invisible to the naked eye, but which becomes visible in many different ways, and at least one second form of verification under a revealing stimulus, wherein all forms in which the images are revealed on the paper have an absolute matching location because they are produced simultaneously and by the same backing and printing die.

The present disclosure relates to a device which allows to obtain at least a double visual validation security mark, that is, revealed when held against the light, and by the incidence or application of a means to temporarily reveal the security mark, as for example, ultraviolet light, polarized light, infrared light, heat, and/or other revealing means. Said security mark is applicable on the most varied layered substrates such as cotton-, flax-, cellulose-produced paper, a combination of the above or of any other type. This type of device may be used for an industrial application according to the method disclosed in this same document in order to produce the security marks that are applicable and which are difficult to reproduce by an unauthorized person so that they serve as a security measure against counterfeiting, allowing a person to authenticate the origin of the paper received. A clear object of incorporating this type of security marks is to prevent counterfeiting of certificates, official documents, documents of value, e.g., banknotes, postage stamps, passports, tickets, bonds, certificates, and the like. In response to the continuing evolution of developments in this field of art, bellow there is a brief overview or reference framework that is considered relevant to demonstrate the advantages obtained by the present invention.
Among the many and ever-increasing security measures designed to prevent counterfeiting of certificates, official documents, passports, tickets, banknotes, documents of value, and the like, it is well known the continuing, widespread and reliable use of the so-called watermarks. Said watermarks are basically an image formed by a subtle difference of thicknesses and/or densities in a sheet of paper obtained during paper manufacturing process, more specifically when the paper pulp that is still wet is pressed against a roller having a relief or depression with the image to be incorporated on the paper as a watermark.
A watermark becomes visible when said type of paper is held to the light. It is noteworthy that for the purposes of the present invention when referring to paper, a person skilled in the art understands that this is for the purposes of descriptive clarity and simplicity, and said term "paper(s)" shall include herein any type of layered substrate, such as any sheet of paper, which for practical purposes, and in order to obtain a high mechanical strength, is obtained with cotton or flax fibers, or combinations thereof. At present, the main interest of using said watermark is to demonstrate the authenticity of the paper or print origin. Basically, a watermark, when applied to documents and certificates of value, especially when applied to documents of value, such as those mentioned above and equivalent embodiments, it prevents obtaining counterfeited documents by photocopying, scanning and printing them. This makes it a durable, easy to verify and hard to counterfeit security feature, which may contain an image such as a very simple drawing, sign, symbol or otherwise incorporate a highly detailed image displaying multiple tones when viewed against the light.
When this security technology is applied to documents of value, the image displayed by the watermark usually varies according to the type of paper document in which it will be applied, whether a certificate, banknote, bond, etc. Usually, the watermark image is related to the rest of the figures, decorations, symbols and images that are obvious on casual inspection.
While this particular and mutual relationship between the image of the visible printing of the document of value and the watermark image (only visible when held to the light) represents a very efficient security feature against counterfeiting, from the practical point of view during the manufacture of said certificates, official documents, documents of value such as bonds, passports, tickets, banknotes and the like, their use requires special care since each sheet of paper must be properly combined with the watermark which comes from the manufacturer with the subsequent permanent and usually two-sided printing visible with traditional ink, to match each watermark image with the correct traditional visible printing.
A person skilled in the art, for example, engaged in manufacturing documents of value and/or the like, knows that they not always have enough sheets of paper with a particular watermark design for a production batch, and at the same time they can have an idle number of sheets of paper with another watermark design that is not in use for some time, or even that has become obsolete.
In response to said problem, the inventor of the present invention has proposed in the past a method to produce a sheet of paper with a positionable security stamp. Said positionable stamp can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. DE 3,718,452 of this same inventor, wherein it has been proposed to obtain an optical effect similar to that of a watermark, but with the advantage that the stamp can be produced in a sheet of paper already manufactured and therefore avoiding the logistics and storage limitations mentioned above. Therefore, said proposal offers a significant advantage over its background since it allows to incorporate security marks which can be seen when held to the light through a new method applicable in the press itself which then will continue with the rest of the visible printing of the document of value. Thus, the press itself is capable of providing as many authenticated sheets of paper with this special marking as needed, wherein said marked sheets of paper then comprise the specific security stamp of each document of value, document and/or the like.
In short, the method proposed in said disclosure, is performed based on the use of a mold with projections in relief corresponding to a previously engraved design or drawing in said mold; the engraving mold is mounted on a carrier so as to be able to put the sheet of paper on the mold such that thus mounted the sheet of paper is subjected to the pressure of a roller and thus causing the deformation of the sheet of paper with recesses and projections similar to those of the die where it rests. Eventually, was proposed to reduce the thickness of the ridges of the paper by means of a rotary grinding wheel, which partly wears out paper thickness. Said proposal can be seen in the disclosure of said U.S. Pat. No. DE 3,718,452, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, the invention continues obtaining as a result a mere emulation of a watermark only visible when held to the light, which can even coexist with other preexisting watermarks, but which does not add any further feature for authentication of documents of value.
Further developments of the same inventor of the present invention, take into account the need to solve some problems such as avoiding paper shifting when the paper is rolled in the stamping cylinder, as well as preventing the formation of undesirable creases in the paper and the consequent paper breakage, among other things which are reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,022, of the same inventor; wherein and all which is therein disclosed is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In said disclosure the inventor focuses on incorporating paper adjustment means on the surface of the peripheral wall of the support cylinder comprised in a pneumatic circuit and arranged adjacent to the area between the support cylinder and the grinding wheel; and on incorporating brushes (acting as paper-pressing means) projecting against the peripheral wall of the cylinder. Thus, the invention proposes an obvious improvement of the method for fixing the paper on the roll; however, the type of security mark obtained remains the same type known in the prior U.S. Pat. No. DE 3,718,452, not bringing substantial improvements on the antifraud qualities of the security marks obtained.
It can be seen therefore that successive proposals have allowed to avoid the need to purchase the specially marked sheet of paper from the manufacturer capable of incorporate a watermark at the time of production of the same from the pulp, but they have not provided any advances regarding devices and methods directed to obtain more complex security features in order to obtaining a more secure authentication. It is understandable, therefore, the continuing need for new devices and methods for obtaining new types of security marks applicable to documents of value, and the like. Security marks increasingly demand high standards of antifraud security and the capacity of coexisting with other preexisting security measures or being subsequently inserted into the sheet of paper, among which there are holographic bands, fluorescent fibers, transparent windows, and even watermarks. A person skilled in the art knows that incorporating new antifraud security elements in a document of value and/or the like, is not an easy task considering that each security element incorporated must be able to be applied with absolute precision on the sheet of paper (substrate), be compatible with other security elements already present and stand the test of time by the constant manipulation and without adding significant costs.
Based on the above, and as will be shown in detail below in the section directed to the detailed description, the present invention has offered significant advantages over all the prior art known, since it proposes a new device for producing a suitable security mark for obtaining a new and accurate abrasive gravure printing of a pre-designed image on the front (obverse) of the substrate and a simultaneous printing of the same pre-designed image on the back (reverse) of the same substrate.
While for purposes of clarity the invention will be better described with reference to a sheet of paper and obtaining documents of value, the description, when made in singular regarding each element extends also to the description in plural of a plurality of said elements and the particular description referred to a document of value is equivalent and can be applied to certificates, official documents, passports, banknotes, tickets, bonds, and the like without any limitation, formed on a sheet of paper with the extent of the definition given above.

Device and method for producing a security mark on a sheet of paper


A contact center system and method employing a plurality of agent workstations, and which includes a queuing component, capable of receiving contacts of different media-types, such as telephone calls, e-mails, facsimiles, web chat, voice over internet protocol, and so on, and maintaining the different media types contacts in a common queue while awaiting routing to the agent workstations. The system further comprises a routing component which routes the queued contacts to the agents based on criteria of the contacts, criteria of the agents, or both. A media changing component of the system is capable of changing a media-type of any of the media-type contacts to generate a changed media-type contact, while the queuing component is capable of entering the changed media-type contact in the common queue, and the routing component is capable of routting the queued changed media-type contact to at least one of the workstations. A contact handling component initiates an event at any of the workstations in response to the contact being routed to the workstation, so that an agent at the workstation can handle the contact as appropriate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact center system capable of handling different types of media contacts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a contact center system capable of receiving contacts of different media types, such as telephone calls, e-mails, facsimiles, web chat, voice over Internet protocol, and so on, maintaining the different media-type contacts in a common queue, and distributing the queued contacts to appropriate agents in the contact center for handling based on criteria associated with the contacts and the available agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many businesses such as commercial retailers, financial institutions such as banks and lending companies, credit card companies, telemarketing companies, and so on, employ customer service representatives or agents who assist customers by telephone. Generally, the agents are grouped into a particular environment commonly known as a "call center". Typically, each agent is assigned to a telephone having a particular extension number. The telephones are connected to a telephony switch, such as a private branch exchange (PBX), or preferably, an automatic call distributor (ACD) which functions to distribute incoming calls to the agents.
That is, a call center will typically have one or more telephone numbers, such as toll-free numbers, which customers can call to place a purchase order, register a complaint, or conduct other business with an agent. When the telephony switch receives an incoming call, the telephony switch searches for an extension number that is available, and transfers or switches the incoming call to that extension number. The phone assigned to that extension number rings, and when the receiver is taken off-hook by the agent, the agent is connected with the incoming call.
The agent can then take the caller's information over the phone, and manually enter that information into a computer terminal. The information is then handled in the appropriate manner by the computer system assigned to the call-center. For instance, if the caller wishes to place an order, the agent may enter the information in a computer-generated order form which appears on the agent's computer display screen. Also, if the caller is a repeat customer, the agent can use the computer terminal to access the caller's files, based on the caller's name, telephone number, credit card number, or the like.
In recent years, technology has developed to enable computer terminals in call centers to display information in response to incoming calls being handled by the telephony switch. For example, an article by Dialogic Corporation entitled "An Introduction to Computer Telephony", published in IEEE Communications Magazine in May 1996, describes a computer telephony system which controls an agent's computer terminal to display or "pop-up" certain information in response to an incoming telephone call routed to that agent.
That is, when the incoming call is received at the agent's telephone, the system also sends a telephone event message to the agent's computer terminal. The telephone event message is processed by a program running at the agent's computer terminal, which enables the program to retrieve desired data from a database. The computer terminal can display the retrieved information on the computer display screen when the agent answers the incoming call. Accordingly, the agent can receive information over the phone from the caller, and enter that information into the computer at the appropriate positions on the display screen. The agent can also use the information displayed on the display screen to assist the caller with his or her particular problem.
Although known computer telephony call centers provide some benefit in enabling an agent to handle incoming calls, traditional call centers are incapable of efficiently handling requests made in media other than telephony. For example, traditional call centers are incapable of efficiently routing customer request or complaints that are received, for example, via facsimile. Also, although the agent's individual computer terminals may be equipped with e-mail, these traditional call centers generally do not have a mechanism for routing customer e-mails to the agents for handling. Furthermore, call centers of this types are incapable of supporting any internet-based activity from customers, such as voice over Internet protocol (voice over IP) communications, web chat communications, and so on.
With the proliferation in use of the Internet, many businesses have found traditional call centers to be unsuitable for servicing their customers. Accordingly, call centers are being expanded to be capable of handling other types of Internet-based media, such as e-mail and web-based communications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,032 to Bateman et al. describes a call center having some limited web-browser based capabilities. Specifically, the patent describes a call center which allows a customer to submit a call-back request to the call center via an entry on the call center's web page. The call center will then place the call back to the customer, and establish a telephony connection between the customer and an agent in the call center, so that the agent can service the customer.
However, the call center disclosed in the Bateman patent, as well as other call centers having limited web-browser based capabilities, are incapable of sufficiently handling contacts from customers that are received over different types of media, such as via facsimile, e-mail, Internet-based media, and so on. In particular, these conventional call centers are incapable of collectively routing the different types of media contacts to the appropriate agents in a timely and organized manner.
Accordingly, a need exist for a call center that is capable of receiving contacts over various types of media, such as telephony, e-mail, facsimile, Internet-based media, and so on, and efficiently routing the received contacts to the appropriate agents in the call center for handling for handling in a timely manner.

Contact center system capable of handling multiple media types of contacts and method for using the same


The CT threat resolution system includes an primary EDS scanning process to identify threats and the nature of threats and a plurality of secondary CT scanning processes to resolve threats. The primary EDS scanning process and secondary CT scanning processes can be either separate machines or multiple processes within a single scanner. The secondary scanning process may utilizes dual energy scanning and/or high resolution scanning to resolve threats based upon the nature of the threat. An alarm indicates threats which cannot be resolved by the secondary CT scanning process for further operator investigation. Threats may be reviewed and resolved by an operator before the secondary CT scanning process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Computed Tomography (CT) Explosives Detection System (EDS) for inspecting baggage for explosives or other contraband. More particularly, it relates to novel Computed Tomography (CT) scanners and processes to resolve threat alarms.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Following the terrorist attacks on Sep. 11, 2001, the United States government decided to implement additional airport security. One of the security measures which were to be implemented was inspection of all checked baggage for explosives. Implementation of this security measure using existing technology will be cumbersome and expensive.
Known Explosives Detection Systems (EDS) utilize either x-ray or computed Tomography (CT) technology to create an image of the contents of a bag.
The Transportation Security Act of 2001 significantly changed the manner in which airports must screen checked baggage. As of December 2001, all checked baggage must be screened for explosives by a technology certified by the newly formed Transportation Security Agency (TSA). To date, the only technology certified by the TSA is Computer Tomography (CT).
A Computed Tomography (CT) machine has been designed to perform automated explosives detection for passenger baggage, parcels, mail, and small cargo prior to loading onto an aircraft. CT technology has been proven to successfully meet the US FAA Certification requirements for automated explosives detection (EDS) in airline checked baggage. Most modern CT machines incorporate a rotating ring or "gantry" on which the X-ray source and detectors are mounted. The gantry rotates continuously, moving the X-ray source and detectors around the object under inspection to make cross sectional "slice" images through the object.
Given the current design of CT technology, the baggage scanners are quite large and cannot process baggage quickly. FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional CT scanner 10. The CT scanner 10 includes a gantry 11 surrounding a tunnel 20. A conveyor (not shown) moves baggage through the tunnel 20 for scanning. The gantry 11 rotates about the tunnel, producing one slice of data for each rotation. An x-ray source 30 produces a narrow angle beam 40. A detector 31 is positioned on the gantry 111 to intersect the x-ray beam 40 passing through the tunnel. The detector 31 may consist of multiple detectors which are located equal distances from the x-ray source. The x-ray source 30 and detector 31 must be sized and positioned so that the entire tunnel falls within the x-ray beam. The data from the detector is analyzed using a computer to generate a three-dimensional representation of the contents of the baggage being scanned. The conveyor must move at a slow speed to generate sufficient data for reconstruction of the contents of the baggage from the slices.
Furthermore, the use of CT technology as currently implemented has significant limitations. Specifically, a significant number of false positives (false alarms) are automatically generated by this technology. Anywhere from 10–40% of the bags that are screened alarm current machines. These bags need to be further reviewed to determine whether an actual threat is present. The TSA has suggested new procedures for operators to review the images produced by a CT machine and clear some bags that do not present a threat. Even with these new procedures early tests have shown that anywhere from 8–15% of the bags screened can not be resolved by the machine and the operator. This creates an enormous operational problem for airports.
Under TSA protocol any bag that can not be cleared either automatically by the certified machine or by an operator under their new procedures, must be opened and inspected. The bag opening time varies from about 1.5 minutes up to 20 minutes depending on the location of the bag, the location of the passenger, number of threats in the bag, local airport procedures for opening and inspecting the bags, and whether the bag is locked or not. Not only is the bag opening process time and labor consuming but is intrusive to the privacy of the passenger. It is desirable for airports to achieve as low as possible bag opening rate while maintaining high detection standards. The goal of most airports is to achieve a bag opening rate of under 1% of the screening bags.

System and method for resolving threats in automated explosives detection in baggage and other parcels


The invention relates to a neutral electrode for HF surgery and to an electrically conductive gel. The neutral electrode comprises at least one electrically conductive section that can be brought into contact with a section of a patient's body. In order to enable the contact resistance to be reduced in a simple and economical manner, in particular in cases of problematic skin and/or tissue conditions, the neutral electrode comprises circulation-promoting means that enhance blood flow through the section of the body that is in contact with this electrode section. The invention also relates to a conductive gel for application of a neutral electrode to a section of a patient's body that contains capsaicin or similar means for promoting circulation.

The present invention relates to a neutral electrode for HF surgery and to a conductive gel for use with such a neutral electrode.
When employing neutral electrodes care should always be taken to keep the contact resistance between the skin and the electrode apposed thereto from becoming too high, so as to prevent excessive warming of the human tissue by a flowing HF treatment current. High contact resistances occur primarily in patients with extremely dry skin, in adipose patients because of the high fat content of the tissue, or in some cases of very hairy skin, when the dense hairs prevent complete contact between electrode and skin. The hairs can easily be removed by shaving. To deal with the problems of dry skin or adipose tissue, however, is distinctly more difficult. In order to prevent severe warming or even burning of the human tissue, therefore, the customary neutral electrodes have large surface areas, which counteract high current densities. Often several electrodes are employed in order to enlarge the effective area and thus reduce the current density.
The reduction of contact resistance, in particular when there are problematic skin and/or tissue conditions, can often be accomplished only by the use of multiple electrodes or by making an electrode larger. However, this increases the costs and furthermore makes it more difficult to manipulate the electrodes.


An improved abdominal binder is provided. The abdominal binder can include at least one external securing mechanism for holding a drainage bulb. In one embodiment, the securing mechanism can include one or more strips of hook or loop type material. In another embodiment, an improved abdominal binder that can support multiple drainage bulbs externally of the abdominal binder is provided. The improved abdominal binder can further include one or more openings to receive a drainage tube of a bulb held external to the abdominal binder.

In the course of many abdominal surgeries, patients will have a large incision across or along a significant part of the abdominal wall. The incision may pass through the supporting fascia, resulting in potential weakening of the abdominal wall. At the conclusion of the surgical operation, the incision is closed with sutures and/or staples. However, after the surgery, the area of the incision can cause significant pain. Further, this closure is typically not as strong, at least initially, as the original, uninterrupted abdominal fascia. Therefore, the region of incision provides a potentially weak area in which the abdominal wall may reopen, a process known as dehiscence, thereby causing pain and potential infection risk to a patient.
After surgery, additional abdominal support may be desirable to reduce pain and prevent dehiscence. One device typically used for abdominal support is an abdominal binder, which includes a flexible piece of cloth or elastic material that can be wrapped snuggly around the abdomen of the patient to provide support to the abdominal wall. Use of such abdominal binders helps to promote earlier ambulation, enhance pulmonary function, and alleviate incisional pain. A variety of different abdominal binders are known in the art. Such binders can be made from a number of different materials and can be secured to the patient's abdomen using a number of mechanisms.
In addition to abdominal binders, surgical patients may also have additional medical instruments that must be carried around for some time after surgery. For example, for some surgical patients it is necessary to provide drainage to a wound to remove fluid that may accumulate after surgery. Typically, drainage is provided through a drainage bulb, which can include a tube that extends into a wound and an external bulb that provides suction to the wound to collect fluid. These drainage bulbs must be supported through clips or tape that secure the bulbs to the patient's clothing or directly to the patient's skin. Further, patients with abdominal binders may secure a drainage bulb beneath the binder. However, the use of tape, pins, and clips can be inconvenient, and securing the drainage bulb beneath an abdominal binder can be uncomfortable. For example, as the drainage bulb begins to fill, the drainage bulb can become relatively bulky and can exert uneven pressure against the patient's skin. In addition, some patients need multiple drainage bulbs, and it may be difficult to secure multiple bulbs beneath a single abdominal binder.
Accordingly, there is a need for abdominal binders that provide improved mechanisms for securing drainage bulbs or other medical devices that may be used post operatively.

Abdominal binder with improved drainage bulb holding system


A method, system, and program product includes an interactive network-based site that permits a user to specify, compile, analyze and export memory configuration data associated with at least one memory component manufactured in a manufacturing environment. Such memory configuration data can be specified, compiled analyzed or exported in response to a particular user input through the interactive network-based site.

ASIC designs are becoming more memory dependant. It is a common design practice in all market segments to embed as much memory as possible to increase the performance of the design. Even though memory content per design increases between technology nodes, maximum compilable memory macro per instance is decreasing. With these diverging factors, large memory instances are implemented through numerous smaller instances. This implementation method can create a number of issues during front-end and back-end design phases. During the front-end design phase, for example resources are required to select the correct smaller configuration to assemble the original large memory configuration. Such a phase can result in an iterative process because this technique does not take into account design priorities such as performance, density, and power considerations. Multiple implementations must be considered before selecting an approach based on the priorities of a particular design. At the back-end, using numerous small instances to form a large instance can require that designers create muxing circuitry to tie-up such instances. In addition, the higher the number of small instances utilized, the higher the routing complexity, and routing overhead that result.
To improve the turn-around-time (TAT) both at the front-end and back-end design phases, a tool that automatically selects the proper implementation of a large memory instance based on design priorities is necessary for improving design efficiency and maximizing the use of limited resources, particularly form a customer perspective
A number of problems are associated with existing approaches. For example, the lack of a user friendly automation process for assisting a designer in selecting memory instance implementation for a design based on functional memory requirements is one problem. For a given memory instance, for example, RFQs typically specify the type of memory (single, dual, two port, etc.), configuration (words×bits), and operating frequency. In a manufacturing environment, for example, is typically the responsibility of the ASIC engineer or FAE (Field Application Engineer) to determine the best implementation to meet the performance requirements while minimizing the die area. The response to the RFQ will require die area, performance, and power estimations. Note that as utilized herein the acronym "RFQ" refers generally to a "Request for Quotation" and is typically implemented as a solicitation document used in purchasing. A RFQ is requested for information. Quotes submitted in response to it are not offers that the buyer will normally accept without some confirmation or discussion with offerors.
Existing tools must be manually iterated by using different options to understand the best implementation based on the design goals. For large memory macros, for example this task becomes even more challenging, as FAEs must now determine the partition method for combining multiple instances to meet the original configuration and performance requirements. The process is tedious, time consuming, and not the efficient way to utilize FAE resources.
Although a recommended implementation method is given to the customer by the work FAEs has done, many customers are required to utilize the same process if their memory requirements change. In this case, the process is even more problematic because the customers do not have the familiarity with LSI memory compilers and tools that our FAEs do.
Other problems associated with existing solutions is the lack of a capability to input, generate, store and manage a large number of memory configurations/instances in a database and reduce TAT by automating and improving process of memory selection. Additionally, latch-based memory (LBRAM) flow for generating size, timing and power information uses a number of 3rd party tools. There is no tool to assist the designer in deciding whether particular memory configurations should be generated using SRAM or LBRAM. In addition to such problems, the overall memory selection decisions at the pre-sales stage based on design priorities: density, performance, power cannot be easily made due to the many memory compiler options. Additionally, present solutions do not provide a robust capability for "what if" and tradeoff analysis, suggestion of memory tiles for large Megabit memories. No mechanism for store memory instances in a reusable manner is presently available in the context of such existing solutions.
Current solutions are limited in scope and applicability. For example, the only current available option involves manually running a number of tools in order to generate G12/Gflx SRAM, LBRAM and G90 SRAM memory configuration data, such as, for example, Isimemory Gflx/G12 SRAM's, and Virage tools for G90 SRAM's. In such scenarios, FAE's must manually run a compiler application to generate LBRAM's, then use a complex characterization flow to generate timing and power information for the LBRAM's. Data must be manually inserted into the DieSize spreadsheet. Such a process is highly inefficient and takes a great deal of time (e.g., days), thus impacting the turn around time to get a quote back to the customer.
Determining valid compiler options to be specified to Isimemory is time consuming. Generating datasheets through current applications takes 10 times longer than through the use of extraction engines. In general, FAE's are forced to pull together information from many sources and manually enter the data into a "die size" spreadsheet.
Generating LBRAM timing data also requires 3rd party software. The flow for generating power parameters is very complex and time consuming for FAE's to run on a daily basis. Additionally, Virage tools are not available at every design center site. Because Virage tools are not yet available for general release, there also exists very little in the way of training and documentations for FAE's other than what is provided by the software supplier. Extracting data from such output files requires that certain pieces of data are estimated, rather than generated by running tools resulting in grossly inaccurate data or overestimated values. For example, SRAM power numbers are also utilized for LBRAM's. In effect, such existing solutions result in an inefficient use of the FAE, the design center and customer resources during the manufacturing process.

Web-enabled solutions for memory compilation to support pre-sales estimation of memory size, performance and power data for memory components


A method for summarizing image content from video images received from a moving camera includes detecting foreground objects in the images, determining moving objects of interest from the foreground objects, tracking the moving objects, rating movements of the tracked objects, and generating a list of highly rated segments within the video images based on the ratings.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, and more particularly to presentation of events or objects captured by the vehicles.
2. Discussion of Related Art
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone is an aircraft without a human pilot on board. Its flight is either controlled autonomously by computers in the vehicles, or under the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle. UAVs are predominantly deployed for military applications, but are also used in a small but growing number of civil applications, such surveillance of pipelines, natural resource exploration, livestock monitoring, wildfire mapping, transport of medical supplies, etc.
A UAV may be fitted with one or more high definition cameras that can send streaming video to a remote computer for storage thereon. An operator of the remote computer can then review the stored video to determine whether any events of interest have occurred. For example, if the UAV is being used by police to investigate a drug smuggling operation, an event of interest might include images of armed people moving containers into a suspected drug storage facility. While the entire video captured by the UAV may include several hours or days worth of footage, the event of interest may only comprise a few minutes. Thus, it could take an operator manually reviewing the video several hours to determine whether the event of interest has occurred. Further, since the event of interest may occur in a short period of time, the operator can easily miss the event.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that can automatically summarize the events of interest.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Summarizing salient events in unmanned aerial videos

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A linear regulator integrated circuit may be formed having four external terminals including a voltage input (Vin) terminal, a voltage output (Vout) terminal, a Set terminal, and an operational amplifier (op amp) power terminal. A user connects an external resistor to the Set terminal for creating a reference voltage. An op amp controls a pass (or series transistor) to cause an output voltage at the Vout terminal to equal the reference voltage. The op amp has a first power supply terminal internally coupled to the Vin terminal and a second power supply terminal coupled to the op amp power terminal. The op amp power terminal allows a user to externally couple the op amp second power supply terminal to either the Vout pin (for high voltage applications), system ground (for medium voltage applications), or another voltage (to provide additional headroom in very low voltage applications).

FIG. 1 illustrates one representative prior art linear voltage regulator 10, which is an LT3080 low dropout (LDO) regulator manufactured by Linear Technology Corp. An LDO regulator is generally synonymous with a linear voltage regulator, and the term "low dropout" refers to the small minimum voltage differential that can occur between the input voltage terminal and the regulated output voltage terminal while still achieving regulation.
LDO regulators operate by varying the conductivity of a pass (or series) transistor, connected between the input terminal and output terminal, to achieve a predetermined output voltage. The output level of an operational amplifier (op amp), which is a type of differential amplifier, controls the conductivity of the pass transistor. Typically, the regulator's output voltage is fed back into one input terminal of the op amp, and the conductivity of the pass transistor is controlled to match the output voltage to a reference voltage applied to the other input of the op amp. The user selects the reference voltage. Alternatively, a divided output voltage is fed back and matched to a fixed reference voltage, where the user selects resistors for the divider to achieve the desired output voltage.
In FIG. 1, the power supply voltage may be applied to both the Vin pin 12 and the Vcontrol pin 14 of the IC package. The user connects an Rset resistor 15 between a Set pin 16 and system ground to set the output voltage Vout provided at the Vout pin 18. A fixed precision current source 20 supplies a fixed current through the Rset resistor 15 to generate a reference voltage Vref at the non-inverting input of the op amp 22. The output voltage Vout is applied to the inverting input of the op amp 22. The terms inverting and non-inverting simply refer to the two branches of the differential amplifier in the op amp 22, shown in FIG. 2. It is assumed that the op amp 22 includes a driver supplying the required current for driving the base of the pass transistor 24.
Using an internal current source 20 and Rset resistor 15 to set the reference voltage is preferred to dividing the output voltage and matching the divided voltage to a fixed bandgap reference voltage source (typically about 1.2 volts), since, by using the current source, the loop gain and bandwidth of the regulator are not affected by the output voltage, as the regulator will always be in a unity gain configuration.
The op amp 22 controls the conductivity of the pass transistor 24 so that Vout matches Vref. Such an op amp in a regulator application is also referred to as an error amplifier.
In one application of the regulator 10, the op amp 22 has its power terminals connected to the Vout pin 18 and to the power supply voltage Vin, by externally shorting the Vcontrol pin 14 to the Vin pin 12. This allows the regulator to be "floating" and used in high voltage applications.
In a typical example, the op amp 22 needs about 1.4 volts across its power terminals in order to operate properly. Accordingly, when the Vcontrol pin 14 is tied to the Vin pin 12, the LDO regulator 10 (a positive voltage regulator) can only regulate Vout to within 1.4 volts of Vin in order for the op amp 22 to be adequately powered. It would be desirable for various reasons, including efficiency and battery life, to enable regulation within 1.4 volts of Vin. Accordingly, for non-high voltage applications, the data sheet for the LT3080 (FIG. 1) describes the option of connecting the Vcontrol pin 14 to a voltage higher than Vin so that the differential between Vin and Vout can go down to the Vce saturation voltage of the pass transistor 24 (typically 100-500 mV, depending on the load current), while still providing at least 1.4 volts to power the op amp 22. However, most applications do not already have a separate voltage source higher than Vin.
The LT3080 does not allow any power terminal of the op amp 22 to be tied to system ground. Being able to ground the op amp 22 provides various advantages, including low dropout voltage and independence from Vout.
Other types of voltage reference-based regulators always require the ground pin to be tied to the system ground, so there is no versatility in the ground pin coupling.
What is needed is an LDO regulator IC that has more versatility in the connection of its ground pin. This would allow the regulator's ground pin to be connected in a way that is most optimal for the particular application, such as low input voltage, high input voltage, low output voltage, regulation close to Vin, regulation close to ground, etc. Further, the concept should be applicable to both positive voltage regulators and negative voltage regulators.

Linear regulator IC with versatile ground pin


A vibrating gyrosensor includes a support substrate on which a wiring pattern having a plurality of lands is formed, and a vibrating element mounted on a surface of the support substrate. The vibrating element includes a base part having a mounting surface on which a plurality of terminals, and a vibrator part integrally projected in a cantilever manner from one of the sides of the base part and having a substrate-facing surface coplanar with the mounting surface of the base part. The vibrator part has a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer, which are formed on the substrate-facing surface in that order. Furthermore, a reinforcing part is formed at the base end of the vibrator part so that the sectional area of the vibrator part gradually increases toward the base part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular velocity sensor used, for example, for detecting motion blurring of a video camera, detecting a motion in a virtual reality device, detecting a direction in a car navigation system, and the like. Specifically the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a small vibrating gyrosensor and a vibrating element each including a cantilever vibrator.
2. Description of the Related Art
As consumer angular velocity sensors, so-called vibrating gyrosensors are widely used, in each which a cantilever vibrator is vibrated at a predetermined resonance frequency, and Coriolis' force produced by the influence of an angular velocity is detected by a piezoelectric element to detect the angular velocity.
The vibrating gyrosensors have the advantages of a simple mechanism, a short starting time, and a low manufacturing cost. For example, vibrating gyrosensors are mounted on electronic devices, such as a video camera, a virtual reality device, and a car navigation system, for detecting motion burring, an operation, and a direction, respectively.
A usual vibrating gyrosensor includes a vibrating element which is manufactured by machine-cutting an appropriate piezoelectric material to form a predetermined shape. A vibrating gyrosensor is required to have a smaller size and higher performance with reduction in size and weight and increases in functionality and performance of a main body device on which vibrating gyrosensor is mounted. However, it has been difficult to manufacture a small vibrating element with high precision due to the limit of machining precision.
Therefore, there has recently been proposed a vibrating gyrosensor including a cantilever vibrating element formed by laminating a pair of electrode layers with a piezoelectric thin film layer provided therebetween on a silicon substrate using a thin film technique for semiconductor processes (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-113643). Such a gyrosensor may be reduced in size and thickness and thus complexed or increased in functionality by combination with a sensor for other purposes.

Vibrating gyrosensor and vibrating element


A dispensing container is provided which is capable of enclosing strip packages of medication while allowing relatively easy access for the dispensing of said medication. The dispensing container is dimensioned such that the dispensing unit is capable of being stored and transported within a drawer of a medication cart without necessitating substantial modification to the drawer.

The present invention relates in general to a dispensing container and more specifically to a disposable dispensing container for strip packages used to package and dispense medication. The dispensing container and packaging of this invention is an improvement over packaging in that it allows a strip package or packages of medication to be easily stored in strips that can be stored in a serpentine fashion within the dispensing container and dispensed from the container while the strip is in its serpentine arrangement. The container itself may be stored and carried within a drawer of a standard medication cart or "pill cart" typically utilized by pharmacists, nursing professionals, other professionals and facilities, including acute care facilities.
These "pill carts" have drawers typically dimensioned for the storage and transportation of 9".times.6" card packages of medication (e.g. "pill cards" or "blister cards"). A drawback of dispensing packaging and containers for strips of pills relates to the lack of an efficient means to daily dispense the medication from the pill strips to the patients as the size and drawer dimensions of pill or medication carts will not allow accommodation of other medical packaging or containers.
Preferred embodiments of the dispensing container of the present invention are dimensioned such that both single and multi-unit configurations of the present invention are capable of fitting within the confines of these "pill cart" drawers while still allowing easy access to the medication. The present invention overcomes another drawback of the packaging and pill strip dispensing systems by providing pharmacists, nursing professionals, and/or acute facilities with the option of dispensing strip packages of medication or card packages of medication from the same medication cart without having to modify the physical dimensions of the drawers themselves.
Current Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) regulations introduce another drawback into the packaging, storage and distribution of medications. These regulations may require that partially used multi-dose "pillcards" or "blister cards" cannot be re-used and must be destroyed. The unused individual pills on each "pillcard" can be re-used only if the cards are cut open and the pills re-packaged in a new "pillcard" with the required F.D.A. markings.
However, partially used strip packages of medication can be re-used without having to undergo the additional expenses of repackaging required with card packages of medication.

Dispensing container for use with one or more strip packages of medication


An F3 hybrid geranium plant named `Solo`, from an initial cross of `Nicor Star`.times.`Tang`, characterized particularly by its compact but freely branching habit; dark brown zoned, deep green, attractive and unusually dense foliage; and, prolific presentation of attractive umbels. Individual flowers are single, having five petals, and are uniquely large and individually discernable due to the predominant pale pink petal color which contrasts with the deep pink coloration of petal bases and basal margin portions which give each flower a conspicuous eye.

The present invention, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name "Solo" relates to a new and distinct geranium. "Solo" is a new and improved plant resulting from a planned breeding program as performed by me in my greenhouse at 821 Walnut Street, Batavia, Ill. My breeding program began in March 1977, and has been ongoing since that time. This seedling was originally identified in my records by 87 S 010 and was an f3 seedling of Nicor Star, an unpatented Dwarf geranium that resulted from a cross between Tang (the seed parent), an unpatented Dwarf geranium and Red Star (the pollen parent), an unpatented Zonal geranium. Being a cross between two market class zonal geranium plants, it is believed that the botanical classification Pelargonium.times.hortorum would be appropriate for this plant.
Upon recognition of the outstanding characteristics of this plant, it was selected from the progeny of the stated cross, and was set aside for further observation and testing and was subsequently named "Solo." Asexual reproduction of "Solo" has been repeatedly accomplished by the rooting of vegetative cuttings in my greenhouse in Batavia, Ill. Examination of the plants so propagated through a series of propagations has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for "Solo" are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations through asexual reproduction.


An improved basket for the preparation of fried food products includes a wire mesh bottom wall and three upstanding wire mesh side walls. A perforate gate is pivotally attached along the fourth side of the basket and is secured in a closed configuration by a latching arm pivotally attached to a top edge of each side wall. Handles including a grip are also attached to the top edge of the side walls and can be used for the insertion and removal of the basket containing food products from a hot oil bath. The fried food products can be gently removed from the basket and deposited onto a worktable by conveniently tilting the basket to an inclined orientation so that the latching arm disengages from the gate either by gravity or by downward pressure on a lever arm attached thereto. Once the latching arm disengages from the gate, the gate is free to swing to an open position and the food products are gently deposited from the basket to a worktable through the /pening created at the bottom of the gate without damaging the food or coatings thereon.

This invention relates to a metal basket, and more particularly, to a metal basket for use in the frying of food products.
A common method of food preparation is to immerse the food products into a bath of hot oil for a specified length of time. Once the food is done, it is removed from the hot oil bath and the excess oil is drained from the food prior to the serving or continued preparation thereof. For example, many so-called fast food outlets serve fried chicken, french fries, or other food products prepared by immersion and frying in hot oil. After the chicken or the like has been prepared, such as by being dipped or encased in batter, it is placed in a wire mesh basket. The basket is then immersed in the hot oil for the required amount of time until the chicken is done. The basket is then removed from the hot oil and the excess oil is drained prior to removal of the chicken or other food products from the basket.
Currently, the fried chicken and other food products are removed from the basket after cooking by inverting the basket and dumping the contents or by individually scooping the items from the basket onto a worktable or other receptacle for further preparation or serving to the customer.
However, a problem with the fry baskets currently in use is that when the fry basket is removed from the hot oil bath and inverted to dump the fried chicken or other food products onto the worktable, the food products are damaged in the dumping process. Specifically, the batter or other coating applied to the chicken, which is often a significant flavor feature, is damaged or knocked from the chicken in the dumping process.
One method of removal from the basket to avoid such harsh treatment of and damage to the food is to individually scoop or remove the items as with a spoon or tongs. This method avoids the damage to the food products associated with dumping the contents from the fry basket; however, individually handling the items is very time consuming and labor intensive and is not consistent with the service goals of many fast food establishments.
Therefore, a need exists in the food service and preparation industries for a fry basket which is capable of containing food items while being immersed in the hot oil bath and permits the removal of the undamaged food in a safe and efficient manner.


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for distributing tasks using a blockchain network. A method includes generating a task for completion via an interactive application and distributing, using the blockchain network, the task via a block in a blockchain associated with the blockchain network. The blockchain network includes a plurality of nodes and is accessible by a plurality of client devices associated with the interactive application. The method further includes receiving, from one or more of the client devices, data associated with results of processing the task via the interactive application and validating completion of the task based on the received data. Validating completion of the task may include receiving a set of user inputs from a set of the client devices, respectively, as to whether the task was completed and making a consensus determination as to whether the task was completed based on the received set of user inputs.

As the demand for cloud-based computing and data processing of large data sets grows so too does the demand for computer resources. Grid or distributed computing is a solution for generating enormous computing power that can be used to process large datasets. Grid computing or distributed computing is a type of computing that utilizes a collection of computer resources from multiple locations (i.e., different, remotely located computing devices) to perform related tasks. Volunteer computing is a type of grid computing in which computer owners or users donate their computing resources (e.g., processing power and storage) to one or more projects.
A blockchain is a distributed list or database of records or blocks that are linked and secured using encryption. The blockchain is maintained by computer systems or nodes in the blockchain network (e.g., called miners) that each has their own copy of the blockchain. Records for which miners reach consensus on are added to the blockchain, which preserves the integrity of the blockchain.

Task completion using a blockchain network