Methods of manufacturing an optical fiber preform and an optical fiber, and an optical fiber formed by this method of manufacturing an optical fiber are provided, the optical fiber preform having a desired refractive index profile and being capable of suppressing an increase in loss due to the absorption by OH groups. A pipe is formed by an inside vapor phase deposition method such that glass layer to be formed into a core and a glass layer to be formed into a part of a cladding pipe are deposited in a starting pipe, the glass layers each containing at least one of fluorine, germanium, phosphorous, and chlorine, the starting pipe being made of a silica glass having an outside diameter in the range of 20 to 150 mm and a wall thickness in the range of 2 to 8 mm. The pipe thus formed is collapsed to form a glass rod in which the concentration of hydroxyl groups is 10 weight ppm or less in a region from the surface of the glass rod to a depth of 1 mm therefrom.

In recent optical communication systems, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technique has been increasingly important. In the WDM transmission technique, strict adjustment of the wavelength dependence of dispersion of an optical fiber is strongly desired because it is important to provide uniform transmission properties for each wavelength by decreasing the differences in chromatic dispersion in a wavelength band that is used. Optical fibers in which the wavelength dependence of dispersion is adjusted are, for example, a dispersion shifted optical fiber, a non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber, a dispersion flattened optical fiber, and a dispersion compensating optical fiber. These optical fibers have a complicated refractive index profile in which a plurality of maximum points and a plurality of minimum points are present.
In order to obtain desired dispersion properties in such an optical fiber as described above, it is important to precisely form the refractive index profile. A method suitable to precisely form the refractive index profile is, for example, an inside vapor phase deposition method such as an MCVD (Modified chemical vapor deposition) method or a PCVD (Plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition) method. As described in "Optical Fiber Communications, International Edition 1991", pp. 66 to 67, published by McGraw-Hill Book Co., the MCVD method has been widely used because an optical fiber preform having high quality can be obtained relatively easily with it.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,322 discloses a method of manufacturing an optical fiber, in which method a glass rod formed by collapsing a tube that is provided with glass deposited by an MCVD method is drawn together with an outer portion that is a part of a cladding, while the glass rod and outer portion are being unified together.
Incidentally, in order to obtain a high quality optical fiber, it is important to prevent hydroxyl groups (OH groups) from entering the glass in a manufacturing process. Since an optical fiber in which the wavelength dependence of dispersion is adjusted has a complicated refractive index profile, it is formed by a complicated manufacturing process, and as a result, OH groups are liable to enter the glass. If OH groups are present in a light propagation region of a fiber, light is absorbed by the OH groups, and accordingly the transmission loss increases.

Manufacturing method of optical fiber preform, manufacturing method of optical fiber, and optical fiber


A user provides signature attributes to a computer system for generating a signature, such as content directories, a signature accuracy level, and whether an existing signature database exists. The computer system generates a signature and the user tests the signature against a test file system. Based on the test results, the user may refine the signature using a different file system or a different content installation. In one embodiment, a user may generate a parent signature from existing “child” signatures that correspond to different versions of particular content. For example, a user may wish to generate a “Program” parent signature using children signatures “program v.0,” “program v.1,” and “program v.2.” When the user is satisfied with the signature, the user may use the signature to detect content that is located in a computer device's file system.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a system and method for automatic signature generation for content recognition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for using a selection algorithm to select particular files and directories in a file system, and automatically generate a signature based upon the selected files and directories.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer networks may include hundreds of devices such as servers and clients. Each of these computer devices includes a file system that stores content, such as program files and non-program files. File system content may include word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, database management programs, documentation files, web content, collections of spreadsheets, and program source code files. For asset management, systems management, and configuration management purposes, a system administrator is required to track the content of each of these computer devices.
Tracking the content that resides on a multitude of computer devices, especially those in large computer networks, may be virtually impossible without an automated method. One automated approach is to use a "signature" to detect content that resides on computer devices. A signature includes information about files that correspond to a software program or a non-program content set. A matching algorithm compares the signature with the set of files that reside on a computer device's file system. If the matching algorithm returns a positive result, the computer device is logged as having the software program or non-program content set on its file system corresponding to the signature.
Some signatures include one file with one file size, which may not be an accurate characterization of a software application or another set of files, such as web content or documentation. A challenge found is that existing signatures may be overly sensitive to variations in file name and size due to applied patches and/or installation options. Another challenge found is that existing signatures do not identify partial matches. Meaning, either the signature identifies a match with a file system or it does not.
Yet another challenge found is that when a new version of an application is released, a new signature must be created in order to detect the new application version in a file system. Creating a new signature requires careful examination of the new version and each of its previous versions simultaneously in order to identify a file name and size that reliably differentiates the new version from the old versions, which is difficult and time consuming.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method to automatically generate signatures for use in content identification that resides on computer devices.

Automatic signature generation for content recognition

International Business Machines Corporation


A multiple film integrated infrared (IR) detector assembly 85 consists of detector films 86, 88, 90 having different IR spectral sensitivities which are deposited on a breadboard IR transmissive but electrically insulating substrate 42. Substrate 42 is deposited on an IR filter layer comprising an HgCdTe film 70. By various techniques described, filter film 70 has a varying composition from edge 68 to 72. This compositional gradient of film 70 results in varying IR spectral absorption as shown by IR transmission graphs 10, 12, 14. Film 70 acts as a graded IR filter in concert with the response of the detector films 86, 88, 90. By the proper choice of the compositional gradients in these films, and as a result the IR spectral response, an integrated IR spectrometer may be fabricated whereby each detector 86, 87, 90 detects only specific narrow bands of IR wavelengths.

When materials burn or explode, emission of light in the visible as well as the invisible infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths occur. The chemical composition of the burning flame determines the wavelengths of light emitted. These emissions can be detected by various photosensitive devices for safety, process control or spectroscopic purposes.
Fire detection systems which furnish an electrical output signal in response to a sudden flame or explosion are well known. Such systems are available on the open market, but are high cost items. One of the reasons for this high cost has been the low sensitivity from available detectors as well as the high cost of detector manufacture. The low sensitivity results in low signal to noise ratio of the system which causes a high rate of false alarms. To circumvent the problem of false alarms, the use of individual detectors having different spectral responses has been taught by Kern, et al (see U.S. Patents to Kern et al.: Pat. No. 4,296,324 entitled "DUAL SPECTRUM INFRARED FIRE SENSOR", issued Oct. 20, 1981; Pat. No. 4,691,196 entitled "DUAL SPECTRUM FREQUENCY RESPONDING FIRE SENSOR", issued Sep. 1, 1987; Pat. No. 4,769,775 entitled "MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED FIRE SENSOR", issued Sep. 6, 1988; and Pat. No. 4,785,292 entitled "DUAL SPECTRUM FREQUENCY RESPONDING FIRE SENSOR", issued Nov. 15, 1988). In addition, intensity comparisons have been made between UV and IR wavelengths to further reduce false alarms. Complex microprocessor logic has been employed to analyze the flicker frequency of the radiation to distinguish a flame from background IR emission.
Axmark, et al (see U.S. Pat. to Axmark et al. Pat. No. 4,370,557 entitled "DUAL DETECTOR FLAME SENSOR" issued Jan. 25, 1983) teaches a system using dual, individual, dissimilar detectors for the control of a multi-burner boiler or industrial furnace installation. The detectors used in Axmark were a silicon (Si) detector responsive to visible light and an IR responsive lead-sulfide (PbS) detector with emphasis on the use of both the direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) responses of these detectors.
In medical research and chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy is often useful. Instruments to perform this type of analysis typically cost $10,000.00 in 1994 US dollars.
Military applications are another expensive use of IR detection systems. Such systems are generally used for IR imaging similar to radar or for the guidance of heat seeking missiles. Although many different materials are used for these detectors, one of these is mercury-cadmium-telluride, HgCdTe, hereafter referred to as MCT. MCT detectors are cooled well below atmospheric temperatures, typically 77 Kelvin, to accomplish detectivity of targets near atmospheric temperature.

Mercury cadmium telluride infrared filters and detectors and methods of fabrication


A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving rotary power of an engine, an output gear outputting the rotary power with rotary speed changed, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a third rotating shaft, a fourth rotating shaft selectively connected with the third rotating shaft and a transmission housing simultaneously, a fifth rotating shaft selectively connected with the first rotating shaft and the input shaft simultaneously, a sixth rotating shaft, a seventh rotating shaft selectively connected with the sixth rotating shaft and the transmission housing simultaneously, an eighth rotating shaft selectively connected with the sixth rotating shaft and the output gear simultaneously, and six friction elements.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic transmission for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle which implements forward 11-speeds by a minimum configuration to improve power transmission performance and fuel efficiency.
Description of Related Art
Recently, increasing oil prices have caused vehicle manufacturers all over the world to rush into infinite competition. Particularly in the case of engines, manufacturers have been pursuing efforts to reduce the weight and improve fuel efficiency of vehicles by reducing engine size, etc.
As a result, research into reduction of weight and enhancement of fuel efficiency through downsizing has been conducted in the case of an engine and research for simultaneously securing operability and fuel efficiency competitiveness through multiple speed stages has been conducted in the case of an automatic transmission.
However, in the automatic transmission, as the number of transmission speed stages increases, the number of internal components also increases, and as a result, the automatic transmission may be difficult to mount, the manufacturing cost and weight may be increased, and power transmission efficiency may be deteriorated.
Accordingly, development of a planetary gear train which may bring about maximum efficiency with a small number of components may be important in order to increase a fuel efficiency enhancement effect through the multiple speed stages.
In this aspect, in recent years, 8 and 9-speed automated transmissions tend to be implemented and the research and development of a planetary gear train capable of implementing more transmission steps has also been actively conducted.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for a vehicle


A lowering mechanism for a hand held jacking tool comprises a caulking gun jacking mechanism. The lowering mechanism comprises a lowering plate on top of the holding plate, a pushing lever connected with a hinge attachment to the lowering plate at a rear end, wherein the pushing lever is pivoting around a pivot structure connected to the lever or holding plate a distance backward from the hinge attachment, causing the lowering plate to grip the jacking shaft when the lever is pushed downwards and then, in turn, pushing the holding plate downwards and loosening it from the jacking shaft and moving it down along the jacking shaft a distance determined by the pivoting action of the lever. The lowering plate is held in place by a spring biasing the lowering plate towards the holding plate.

A caulking gun is well known in the tool industry and has been on the market for several decades. They include a pumping or jacking mechanism for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,804. This mechanism is cheap and easy to produce and has minimal friction under operation.
The inventor has invented a hand held tool for jacking and levelling of objects using a caulking gun jacking mechanism. The caulking gun jacking mechanism is a one way jacking system. It is possible to jack a frame with such a jacking mechanism upwards along a jacking shaft. When the frame is released it is 'falling' uncontrollably along the jacking shaft. This invention will control the downward movement of the frame along the jacking shaft in a caulking gun jacking mechanism in an adjustable stepwise manner.

Lowering mechanism for hand held jacking tool


A set of orthodontic brackets is provided in combination with an archwire extending over an arc when fitted to the set of orthodontic brackets. The archwire has at least one radius of curvature over the length of its arc, and each one of said brackets in the set has an archwire slot. Each slot has at least one surface supporting the archwire which is contoured to have a radius of curvature that matches the radius of curvature along the arc of the archwire at that point. A round archwire is preferred and the archwire slots may be formed as tubular channels to provide better torque action for the archwire.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to orthodontic appliances and in particular, to orthodontic brackets having a curved archwire slot that is round in cross section.
Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Orthodontic treatments for the repositioning of teeth employ a combination of appliances that are affixed to the teeth and archwires, which are coupled to the appliances. By placing the correct amount of tension on the archwires, the orthodontist is able to manipulate the position and orientation of a patient's teeth.
Orthodontic appliances, also known as "brackets" each possess an archwire slot, which accommodates an archwire. The archwire is a piece of stiff wire that has a curve that approximates the arc of the teeth in a human mouth. That is, from the rear molars of the left side of the mouth to the rear molars on the right side of the mouth, there is a natural curve that forms an arc of about 180 degrees. The arc is not circular but U-shaped. At the distal ends, the arc barely has any curve at all and is mostly straight. As the arc approaches the front teeth however, its curve becomes more pronounced.
To properly adjust the tension of the archwire, it is necessary that the interaction of the archwire in each archwire slot be as free from extraneous forces as possible. The torque that a properly adjusted archwire places on teeth acts in an inward/outward direction, normal to the surface of the tooth. Forces that act in a side-to-side direction, that is, along the arc of the archwire itself, are undesirable. Such forces can be present, however, because the ends of the archwire slots have edges that contact the archwire and act as a resistance to the movement of the archwire in the slot. This can be the case in locations in the mouth where the curve of the archwire is most pronounced. In some cases, the archwire rests almost entirely across opposite edges of the slot, which results in an unacceptable amount of friction as those edges dig in to the wire. Tightening the archwire then leads to moments with forces directed in undesirable directions.
Archwires may be either round or rectangular in cross section. A rectangular archwire gives more control to the orthodontist, but also presents problems. Rectangular archwires in rectangular slots produce friction. Each surface in the slot is a bearing surface that can produce friction and retard desired application of forces. In certain phases of the treatment, it may be advantageous to use one type versus the other. For example, the end phases of treatment frequently call for the use of a round archwire. Round archwires are chosen for this phase because there is less friction between a round wire and an archwire slot. However, archwire slots are made rectangular to accommodate rectangular or square archwires. Round archwires are commonly used in rectangular or square slots but this arrangement is less desirable than it could be. There is still friction produced by the round archwire engaging the straight walls of the slot. Additionally, round archwires do not torque well in rectangular slots because of the lack of contact between the wire and the walls of the slot.
Typically, orthodontic brackets have profiles that cause irritation of the inner lip surfaces of a patient because the bracket is rectangular in cross section and its edges protrude too far above the top of the tooth. Typical orthodontic bracket designs are shown in various U.S. patents such as Wildman et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,850), Damon (U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,151) and in published application no. US2004/0072117 to Farzin-Nia et al. (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,375).

Orthodontic applicance with radiused wire slot


An apparatus and system for evaluating winter transportation infrastructure maintenance operations includes a quantification component and a simulation component. Input data representative of collected winter transportation infrastructure maintenance data and observed transportation infrastructure data are modeled in a comprehensive data processing mechanism to measure and carry out effective and efficient winter maintenance planning and operations.

Historically, agencies and entities that undertake or are responsible for winter transportation infrastructure maintenance activities have measured resource utilization in the performance of such winter maintenance activities in several ways. At the lowest level, deicer, abrasive, equipment, and labor usage are estimated and logged by individuals performing winter maintenance, or by their direct supervisors. At the highest level, an agency or entity may also wish to track resource utilization through its procurement and/or payroll processes (e.g. the agency may have direct information as to the quantity of a particular resource it has purchased over a given time frame). In many cases, both approaches are utilized, with ad-hoc methods used to address the potentially substantial differences which inevitably result when trying to integrate data from bottom-up and top-down measurement methods.
In addition to tracking resource utilization, many agencies also define goals for the results of winter maintenance activities, and then attempt to measure the over- or under-achievement of these goals. This may be considered as an attempt to measure the 'effectiveness' of winter maintenance operations, and is a far more difficult step due to the inherent subjectivity involved in assessing road conditions, much less the difficulty of tracking changes to the road conditions over time in response to maintenance activities performed in the face of changing weather conditions.
Taken together, knowledge of winter maintenance resource utilization and winter maintenance effectiveness permit the determination of winter maintenance efficiency. There are inherent tradeoffs between resource utilization and the road conditions resulting from it, and efficiency measurement permits evaluation of these tradeoffs.
Complicating an efficiency measurement for winter maintenance activities is the variability of weather conditions. When comparing data from one area to another, or one storm or weather pattern to another, the variability of weather conditions makes it very difficult for winter maintenance managers to know whether the maintenance response was appropriate for the weather conditions being treated. This hinders management's ability to identify which practices and approaches are more effective or efficient, since it is difficult to ascertain whether any particular comparison over time, or between maintenance jurisdictions, is appropriate. Naturally, this impedes the ability of the agency or entity to identify and implement practices and policies which improve winter maintenance effectiveness and efficiency.
The traditional approach to addressing this problem is to develop a winter severity index, which is an attempt to quantify, in a single figure, the impact of varying weather conditions on winter maintenance. There are, however, numerous problems with such an approach to quantification. One problem is that this approach is developed by drawing simplified and often statistical relationships between past weather conditions and historical agency resource utilization. Thus, such indices are typically simply a reflection of an agency's historical response to weather conditions, and thus not a reliable independent metric.
This is reflected in the fact that there are few, if any, instances of an agency successfully adopting and applying a winter severity index developed within another agency. Almost invariably, each agency will change the index, or develop a new index altogether, that better explains the relationship it has historically experienced between weather conditions and maintenance data. This ad-hoc, agency-to-agency approach makes cross-jurisdictional comparisons of maintenance efficiency very difficult. Additionally, the value of winter severity indices is inherently limited because of the gross oversimplification of the underlying relationships. The same weather conditions may elicit an entirely different (yet still appropriate) winter maintenance response depending upon traffic patterns, maintenance policies and resources, and the characteristics of the ambient environment the roads are embedded in. None of these factors can be accounted for by a normalizing metric that is based upon weather alone.

Management tools for quantification and simulation of performance and outcome of winter transportation infrastructure maintenance activities


A power device temperature monitor is provided. The power device temperature monitor includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is configured to output a current as directed by a voltage of the control terminal. The power device temperature monitor includes an inductor coupled to the output terminal of the power device and an amplifier coupled to the inductor. The power device temperature monitor includes a computing device that receives an output of the amplifier, the computing device is configured to derive a temperature of the power device based upon the output of the amplifier.

Electronic devices generate heat during operation. Overheating of electronic devices can cause problems ranging from performance degradation to irreversible damage of the device. Temperature monitoring of electronic devices, particularly semiconductor devices such as power transistors is often desirable, as damage can occur rapidly and with little advance notice. Conventionally, a thermocouple or a thermistor is attached to an electronic device in order to monitor operating temperature of the device. In electrically noisy environments, the output of a thermocouple or a thermistor may be difficult to determine accurately. Also, there is a time delay between a temperature increase of internal regions of an electronic device, such as a semiconductor region or junction, and a corresponding temperature increase of the package or case of the device. Because of this time delay, damage to the semiconductor junction in a power transistor or other semiconductor device can occur before a temperature increase is noticed externally to the device.
It is within this context that the embodiments arise.


Erbium doped fiber amplifiers for dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) metro area optical networks may be configured as either high gain amplifiers or power amplifiers. The erbium doped fiber type, length, and pump power level are selected so that the shape of the gain spectra is approximately the same for single channel or multi-channel operation. In one embodiment, the same erbium doped fiber type and length is used for both power amplifiers and high gain amplifiers, reducing manufacturing costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to erbium doped fiber amplifiers for optical networks, particularly dense wavelength multiplexed networks.
2. Description of Background Art
Dense wavelength multiplexed (DWDM) networks are of interest for a variety of applications. Conventionally, for example, optical multiplexers with a low insertion loss are used to multiplex wavelength channels, resulting in a high cost for each optical multiplexer. Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are commonly used to amplify bands of wavelength channels. For example, a single EDFA may be configured to provide power amplification for a band consisting of a few closely spaced wavelength channels (e.g., 3–5). Alternatively a single EDFA may be configured to provide high gain at low power levels. Consequently, a conventional DWDM network may use several different types of EDFA amplifiers, such as pre-amplifiers, post-amplifiers, and EDFAs for providing amplification to a small number of wavelength channels.
The component cost of DWDM networks is greater than desired, particularly for DWDM networks designed to accommodate 20 or more wavelength channels. Conventionally, low-insertion loss optical multiplexers are required along with a substantial number of EDFAs of different types. As result, the component cost is greater is greater than desired for many applications.
What is desired is a DWDM network with reduced component cost.

Scalable and exchangeable erbium doped fiber amplifier for DWDM


A motor vehicle axle includes a subframe which has a bushing for linkage to a vehicle body. The bushing defines an axis and includes a bushing body and a face plate which is welded to the bushing body via a weld seam and has a contact surface which is raised in relation to the weld seam, as viewed in a direction of the axis.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle axle with a subframe for linkage to a vehicle body.
The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
Motor vehicle axles are known in the art having a subframe for linkage to a vehicle body, with control arms, wheels and/or shock absorbers being connected to the subframe to produce the chassis. The subframe typically has connecting crossbeams which extend underneath the motor vehicle floor. Connected to the crossbeams are frame components for control arms and/or mounts for attachment of the subframe to the vehicle body. In view of the loads to be expected and in particular because of the influence of gravity upon the vehicle body, the chassis rests upon the subframe.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved motor vehicle axle with subframe to obviate prior art shortcomings and to construct it so as to be easy and cost-effectively to produce and to be reliable in operation.


An isolation assembly for downhole injection use is described that features at least one isolation device mounted on a tubular so that when injection fluid changes the tubular temperature which can cause a length change in the tubular, an anchor for the tubular is provided to resist such a dimension change. The result is that the isolation device such as a packer can be left undamaged and retaining its sealing integrity. The anchor can be an inflatable or telescoping pistons disposed to grab in open hole. When using telescoping pistons, their placement on the liner and their pattern can meet the desired locations where grip is enhanced. Use of cement inflatable anchors is contemplated as an alternative.

Wells are sometimes drilled into a formation so that fluids can be injected into that formation to stimulate production into another well that is drilled into that same formation. These wells are called injection wells. Typically, the injection well is cased and a liner is suspended with a hanger from the cemented casing above. The liner is perforated and one or more zones in the zone in question are isolated with barriers such as packers. The injection fluid is applied between barriers into the formation in question for injection into the formation to stimulate production through another well in that same formation.
The problem that occurs is that the injected fluid between the barriers and into a formation is generally significantly colder than ambient formation temperature. As a result of long periods of injection, the temperature of the liner pipe that supports the isolation packers or other barriers used to direct the injection flow begins to change to the injection temperature. This usually means that the liner between packers cools and as a result shrinks. Just how much is a function of the coefficient of thermal expansion or contraction for the given material of the liner and the temperature difference. It is not unforeseen to have contraction in the order of 0.3 inches per 20 foot of liner length for a temperature difference of greater than 100 degrees Centigrade. Temperature changes of at least 50 degrees Centigrade are all too common. When fairly large packer spacing is employed, the amount of liner shrink can be significant enough to pull one or both packers loose or damage one or more of the packers to the point where they don't hold a seal. Testing has shown that the amount of force required to impose a counteracting tensile force to cancel out the shrinkage effect could be an axial force in the order of over 50,000 thousand pounds.
Telescoping cylinders have been used downhole for centralizing a tubular in a wellbore to leave an annular space around the tubular for a good cement job. These telescoping cylinders can be pushed out when the tubular is in position. Some illustrations of this type of centralizing system can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,228,518; 5,346,016; 5,379,838; 5,224,556; and 5,165,478. In yet another application, these cylinders have been designed with removable barriers to let flow go through them after extension. Extendable elements with flow passages and screens are illustrated in US Publication Number 2006/0108114 A1. In that respect they eliminated a perforating step for casing. Telescoping pistons have also been designed with sensors and are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,520.
The present invention addresses the damage and loss of seal risk to isolation packers in injection service by resisting the induced thermal forces to hold the liner supporting the packers against dimension change that can damage them or make them lose seal through axial movement. These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings that appear below while recognizing that the claims fully define the scope of the invention.

Anchor system for packers in well injection service


A golf ball has a strong durability against the hit by a golf club by preventing the degradation caused by ozone, and has the core having a good elasticity. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the core compositions including a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a filler, an antioxidant, a degradation preventing agent, and a cross-linking reaction initiator, wherein the degradation preventing agent which includes a substituted or unsubstituted paraphenylenediamine derivative represented by Formula 1. And, the core composition maybe comprises a micro crystalline wax with the ozone degradation preventing agent additionally, that has a strong durability against the heat, rubbing and ozone.

The present invention relates to a golf ball including a core and a cover coating the core, and more particularly, to a golf ball with a degradation-preventable core.
A golf ball includes a core formed of a material having good repulsive elasticity as a main component, and a cover protecting the core and having dimples directly involved in flight aerodynamically. The golf ball may include a single core, or may include a dual core, a triple core, etc., to attain diverse performance. Also, the golf ball has a single outermost cover having dimples thereon, however, the golf ball may have various structures, for example, including a double-layered cover in which an inner cover is formed inside an outer cover having dimples, a triple-layered cover having three covers, a quadruple-layered cover having four covers, as occasionally demands.
The core (including the dual core and the triple core, and hereinafter will be referred to as 'core') plays a key role in various golf balls. The core plays a key role in obtaining the driving distance of a golf ball by generating a strong repulsive elasticity when hitting by a golf club. For this reason, as a material for the core, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber (hereinafter will be referred to as 'polybutadiene rubber') having the greatest repulsive elasticity among polymer materials is widely used, and sometimes, other rubber components may be partially mixed therewith. The core is manufactured by using α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an ester of the unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metallic salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid and an additive such as a filler for cross-linking and curing with a base rubber. The core occupies the largest volume in the golf ball and is a very important part. The core is generally distinguished from the cover protecting the core from breaking, involved in flight characteristic, and having a relatively small volume. The cover is formed by using a polymer material having a lower elasticity than the material used for the core, however having an appropriate elasticity and strong physical properties, such as an ionomer resin, polyester, a polyethylester copolymer, a thermosetting or thermoplastic polyurethane, a polyamide resin, a thermoplastic rubber, and the like.
As described above, to manufacture the core which plays the key role in the golf ball, a polybutadiene rubber or a mixture of the polybutadiene rubber and another rubber added thereto, is mixed with α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an ester of the unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metallic salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid, which enables the polybutadiene rubber to be cross-linked and cured, and an additive such as a filler, and an organic peroxide is then added as a reaction initiator to a resultant mixture. The resultant mixture is cut into an appropriate size, and then molded, cross-linked and cured in a heat compression molding machine or a rubber injection molding machine provided with a mold having a certain shape at about 165° C. and above for about 15 minutes or more, thereby forming the core. The polybutadiene rubber generally used for making a core which is light as a specific gravity of about 0.91 g/cm3, and other rubber miscible with the polybutadiene rubber is also considerably light, a heavy filler is necessary to be additionally added to control the weight of the core. When the specific gravity of the filler is low and an added amount of the filler is thus increased, the strength of the core obtained may be degraded, and the core may be easily broken when the golf ball is hit by a golf club. Of course, the decrease of the strength due to the excessive amount of the filler may be prevented by using a filler having relatively high specific gravity to some extent. However, an inhomogeneous mixture may be easily formed even due to a trivial mistake while performing a mixing process, a difference of the specific gravity be caused in the mixture, which makes it difficult to obtain a product having uniform quality. In addition, the cross-linking process is performed at an extremely high temperature using the peroxide as a reaction initiator during a molding process. Thus, the cross-linked and cured rubber becomes weak by repeated stress and is unable to maintain the strength for the desired number of hits. Particularly, the rubber becomes weaker by the hit when the core is the dual core or the triple core than the single core.
As described above, a problem caused by the molding process performed at a high temperature is degradation of the rubber which inevitably occurs as long as the core of a golf ball is produced by using the thermosetting rubber as a base material. The degradation may be reduced by various methods, however the degradation may be inevitable to some extent in a reaction system in which a side chain is developing during the cross-linking and curing reaction. Further, in the case of high stress is applied in one direction to the core during molding in one direction, crack or burst may be frequently generated in a direction perpendicular to the applied stress direction when an external impact is applied to the core taken out from the mold after finishing the molding process. In this case, the core may not be using in a product. If such a core does not found during an intermediate inspection that is applied to a finished product and released in a market, the finished product may be easily broken by a very weak hit. This leads to a user's claim.
Generally, the rubber molecules are degraded by the main chains broken due to deteriorate chemically or physically, that caused the physical properties to be lowered, or the surface of the rubber to be sticky and weakened. During chemical bonding, cross-linking may occur at the partially broken site by the attack of oxygen to an α-hydrogen site or a double bond site, and flexibility and elongation of the rubber molecule may be further decreased. Generally, natural or synthetic rubbers virtually include some chemically unsaturated bonds liable to be attacked by the oxygen, therefore, when a metal compound is included in a mixture, the degradation may proceed more rapidly around a metal compound part, because of the strong catalytic reaction of the metal compound. However, the reaction is mostly focused on the main chain during cross-linking and curing of the polybutadiene rubber having a long linear bonding, and the degradation may be considerably decreased. The molding at the high temperature is preferably finished after conducting the reaction under appropriate conditions for a certain time period. If the reaction is performed for a prolonged time period exceeding an appropriate time period, an excessively high temperature heat may be applied to the cross-liked and cured core, which accelerating the degradation of the rubber. Thus, it is necessary that the reaction time period be accurately kept and the cooling process be performed. Moreover, strong static electricity generated by the polybutadiene rubber when mixing a mixture which may allow oxygen, present in the air directly above the rubber molecules that converted into ozone. When the mixture is subjected to the cross-linking reaction with the ozone mixed therein, linear main chain of the rubber may be partially broken first to accelerate the degradation. Furthermore, later, the ozone remaining during molding may also react with an organic peroxide which is added in the mixture as a reaction initiator, and may trigger a violent reaction throughout the core when a temperature reaches a certain temperature and more. In this case, carboxyl radical may not participate in the cross-linking reaction, and may partially cleave the main chain of the rubber molecule and unsaturated carboxylic acid at an undesired site. This may accelerate degradation having certain directivity afterward. The degradation due to the ozone may not be restrained by using a general antioxidant, and the degradation of a product may not be prevented. So, a golf ball having a core preventing the above-described degradation and a strong repulsive elasticity when hitting by a golf club that has been disclosed.

Golf ball with degradation-preventable core


Systems and methods of processing video streams are described. A face is detected in a video stream. The face is tracked to determine a video clip associated with one of a plurality of individuals. The video segment is assigned to a group of video clips based on the associated individual. A significant face is detected in the group of video clips when the detected face meets one or more significance criteria. The significance criteria describes a face-frame characteristic. A representation of the significant face is displayed in association with a representation of the group of video clips. The order of the significance criteria is adjusted through a user interface.

With the widespread use of digital cameras, many individuals turn to image management tools to archive and organize their digital photographs and video clips. Image management tools found on the market offer various features, including image organization. The organized images may then later be viewed by the individual or published for others to view. A user may also use image management tools to locate images of a particular individual within a collection of photographs or video clips, by viewing each photograph or clip and tagging it (e.g., with an individual's name). Conventional approaches to tagging require a user to open a particular photograph or to play a video clip in order to locate a particular individual. When a large volume of photographs or clips is involved, this process is time consuming, since each photograph or clip may contain multiple individuals, some of whom are not important to the viewer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods of detecting significant faces in video streams


A network manager for a telecommunications network having a client-server architecture is provided. The components of the network manager include a set of clients which form part of the application programs of the network manager, a user interface, a database containing details of the network and a communications stack for communicating with exchanges managed by the network manager. The clients generate requests to run jobs on the servers. The jobs which are run on certain servers are eventually destined for a resource in the form of a database, while the jobs which are run on other servers are eventually destined for resources in the form of exchanges. The requests are initially passed to a module JBM. This module checks if the resource for which the job is destined is free and, if not, puts the job on a holding queue. If the resource is free, it checks whether the job is scheduled for immediate execution or execution at a future time. If it is scheduled for execution at a future time, it is put on a queue of scheduled jobs. If the job is scheduled for immediate execution, the module JBM checks if a server is free to accept the job. If no server is free, the job is put on a queue of jobs awaiting immediate execution. If the server is free, the module JBM instructs a module SMAN to load the job into the free server.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computer system having a client-server architecture and also to a method of operating a computer system having this architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
A computer system having a client-server architecture comprises a set of software modules known as clients and a further set of software modules, known as servers, for serving requests from the clients to run jobs on resources accessed by the servers. This type of architecture enables jobs from the clients to be distributed among the servers. The servers may be of similar or differing types. With this type of architecture, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for controlling the scheduling of requests by the clients to run jobs on resources accessed by the servers.
An example of a computer system having a client-server architecture is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,527.

Computer system having client-server architecture

British Telecommunications public limited company


A method of controlling bus arbitration using an arbitration bit to lock ownership of the bus and prevent bus grants pending completion of a predetermined sequence. In a data processing system (15) having multiple potential bus masters, competing bus ownership requests are resolved by an arbiter (9) resident on one of the bus masters (11). In one embodiment, for execution of a sequence of inseparable cycle data accesses, a central processing unit (3) causes an arbitration bit (22) in a control register (20) to be set. Once the arbitration bit (22) is set, the arbiter will effectively lock the bus, and will not provide a bus grant signal until the arbitration bit (22) is cleared. A timer (7) counts to a predetermined value, where upon completion the arbitration bit is cleared allowing arbiter (9) to provide bus grant signals. The present invention allows locking of bus arbitration during a pending inseparable sequence of data accesses without the use of special instructions or external signals.

Many data processing systems contain multiple bus masters. Bus arbitration logic is typically used to select one out of the several requesting masters. The selected request will then gain bus mastership. The selection may be made in any of a number of ways, including, round-robin, fairness, strict priority, or any of a number of selection methods. Selection algorithms can range from the extremely complex to the extremely simple. Once a bus arbiter assigns bus mastership to a master, that master is said to "own" the bus.
In many systems a need arises for a master to hold ownership of the bus for the duration of several transfers. This holding of ownership is necessarily without interruption of ownership. It is often necessary to ensure an indivisible sequence of accesses for a given sequence of transfers. One example of the necessity of ownership holding is in a semaphore operation. Semaphore operations involve a series of read and write accesses. Typically, an indication is provided, such as a LOCK attribute, to an initial portion of the sequence of transfers. The indication prevents bus arbitration logic from reallocating ownership of the bus. Once locked, the current master holds ownership for the duration of the locked transfers.
Another example of necessary bus ownership holding is for a read-modify-write cycle. The read-modify-write cycle performs a sequence similar to the following steps: initially read a memory location, then conditionally modify the data in the arithmetic logic unit, and finally write the data out to the same memory location. Motorola Semiconductor located in Austin, Tx. produces several devices having these type of operations. In Motorola's MC68020 processor, the read-modify-write operation is indivisible, providing semaphore capabilities in multi-processor systems. During the entire read-modify-write sequence, the MC68020 asserts a signal to indicate that an indivisible operation is occurring. The MC68020 does not issue a bus grant (BG) signal in response to a bus request (BR) signal during this operation. The MC68020 has two instructions which utilize read-modify-write operations. The first is the test-and-set (TAS) and the second is the compare-and-swap (CAS).
Consider a simple system, having two possible bus masters. One of the masters is designated as the default bus master and a second master is designated as the higher priority master. The default bus master has the lowest priority and grants bus ownership to the higher priority master in response to receipt of a bus request. In this case bus arbitration logic is integrated into the lower priority master or default bus master. Upon request the bus is granted to the higher priority master.
When a sequence of indivisible accesses is required, granting of the bus is withheld until completion of the indivisible accesses associated with the instruction. An example is the TAS instruction where granting of the ownership of the bus to the other master is withheld until completion of all accesses associated with the TAS instruction. The granting of the bus is effectively blocked. The blocking is intrinsic in the TAS instruction. In other words, execution of the TAS instruction includes a block to the granting of bus ownership until completion of the TAS instruction. In each of these cases, granting of bus mastership is effectively locked until some criterion is satisfied.
Many CPUs have no explicit instruction which performs a locked sequence of accesses (i.e. a TAS type instruction), however, emulation of such a locked sequence is desirable. One implementation is in a LOCK/UNLOCK instruction. The LOCK/UNLOCK instruction causes the CPU to present a bus indicator or signal for interpretation by bus arbitration logic. The LOCK indication will allow the CPU to perform a sequence of indivisible accesses. The UNLOCK indicator will allow the bus arbiter to grant ownership to an alternate master.
Existing methods for allowing performance of a sequence of indivisible accesses prior to arbitration of the bus implement special instructions or external signals. Both of these methods require extra processor cycles to affect the bus blocking. It is desirable to implement a bus locking capability without the use of additional special instructions and/or external signals. The ability to implement a locking capability without additional external means will greatly simplify a data processing system.

Method and apparatus for controlling bus arbitration in a data processing system


A circulating fluidized bed boiler having improved reactant utilization. The circulating fluidized bed boiler includes a circulating fluidized bed having a dense bed portion and a lower furnace portion above the dense bed portion. At least one secondary air and recirculated flue gas injection device is downstream of the circulating fluidized bed for providing mixing of the reactant and the flue gas in the furnace above the dense bed. The present invention also includes methods of operating a fluidized bed boiler.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present inventions relate generally to circulating fluidized bed boilers, and more particularly to circulating fluidized bed boilers having improved reactant utilization and/or reduction of undesirable combustion products.
(2) Description of the Related Technology
The combustion of sulfur-containing carbonaceous compounds, especially coal, results in a combustion product gas containing unacceptably high levels of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas, which is moderately soluble in water and aqueous liquids. It is formed primarily during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuel or waste. Once released to the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide reacts slowly to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), inorganic sulfate compounds, and organic sulfate compounds. Atmospheric SO2 or H2SO4 results in undesirable "acid rain."
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, also contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.
Air pollution control systems for sulfur dioxide removal generally rely on neutralization of the absorbed sulfur dioxide to an inorganic salt by alkali to prevent the sulfur from being emitted into the environment. The alkali for the reaction most frequently used include either calcitic or dolomitic limestone, slurry or dry quick and hydrated lime, and commercial and byproducts from Theodoric lime and trona magnesium hydroxide. The SO2, once absorbed by limestone, is captured in the existing particle capture equipment such as an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse.
Circulating fluidized bed boilers (CFB) utilize a fluidized bed of coal ash and limestone or similar alkali to reduce SO2 emissions. The bed may include other added particulate such as sand or refractory. Circulating fluidized bed boilers are generally effective at reducing SO2 and NOx emissions. A 92% reduction in SO2 emissions is typical, but can be as high as 98%. In most instances, the molar ratio of Ca/S needed to achieve this reduction is designed to be approximately 2.2, which is 2.2 times the stoichiometric ratio of the reaction of calcium with sulfur. However, due to inefficient mixing, the Ca/S molar ratio often increases to 3.0 or more to achieve desired levels of SO2 capture. The higher ratio of Ca/S requires more limestone to be utilized in the process, thereby increasing operating costs. Additionally, inefficient mixing results in the formation of combustion "hotspots" that promote the formation of NOx.
FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a conventional circulating fluidized bed boiler 1. Circulating fluidized bed boiler 1 typically includes furnace 2, cyclone dust collector 3, and seal box 4. Often times, these units include external heat exchanger 6.
Air distribution nozzles 7 introduce fluidizing air A to furnace 2 to create a fluidizing condition in furnace 2. Nozzles 7 are typically arranged in a bottom part of the furnace 2. Flue gas generated by combustion in furnace 2 flows into cyclone dust collector 3.
Cyclone dust collector 3 separates particles from the flue gas. Particles caught by cyclone dust collector 3 flow into seal box 4. External heat exchanger 6 performs heat exchange between the circulating particles and in-bed tubes in heat exchanger 6. Air box 10 is arranged in a bottom of seal box 4 so as to intake upward fluidizing air B through air distribution plate 9. The particles in seal box 4 are introduced to external heat exchanger 6 and are in-bed tube 5 under fluidizing condition.
Cyclone dust collector 3 is also connected with heat recovery area 8 and some flue gas generated by combustion in furnace 2 also flows into heat recovery area 8. Heat recovery area 8 typically includes a super heater and economizer. As depicted, furnace 2 also includes a water cooled furnace wall 2a.
In a conventional CFB boiler, there may be good mixing or kinetic energy in the lower furnace (e.g., in the dense bed). Applicant has discovered, however, that there may be insufficient mixing in the upper furnace (e.g., above the dense bed) to more fully utilize the reactants added to reduce the emissions in the flue gases. As used herein, the dense bed is generally where the gas and particle density is greater than about twice the boiler exit gas/particle density.
In the lower furnace, which is typically just in front of the coal feed port, volatile matter (gas phase) from the coal quickly mixes and reacts with available oxygen. This creates a low density, hot gaseous plume that is very buoyant relative to the surrounding particle laden flow. This buoyant plume quickly rises, forming a channel, chimney or plume from the lower furnace to the roof. Limestone, which absorbs and reduces the SO2, is absent in the channel. After hitting the roof of the furnace, it has been discovered that this high SO2 flue gas may exit the furnace and escape the cyclone without sufficient SO2 reaction. Measurements of the furnace exit duct have shown nearly 10 times higher SO2 concentrations in the upper portion of the exit duct relative to the bottom of the duct.
In the furnace of a conventional circulating fluidized bed boiler, bed materials 11 which comprise ash, sand, and/or limestone etc. are under suspension by the fluidizing condition. Most of the particles entrained with flue gas escape the furnace 2 and are caught by the cyclone dust collector 3 and are introduced to the seal box 4. The particles thus introduced to the seal box 4 are aerated by the fluidizing air B and are heat exchanged with the in-bed tubes 5 of the optional external heat exchanger 6 so as to be cooled. The particles are returned to the bottom of the furnace 2 through a duct 12 so as to re-circulate through the furnace 2.
Applicant previously discovered that high velocity mixing air injection may be used above the dense bed to both reduce limestone usage and reduce the NOx emissions in a circulating fluidized bed boiler, see, for example, the teachings contained in commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/281,915 filed Nov. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7, 410,356, issued Aug. 12 2008. In the current application, this technology is generally referred to as Over Dense Bed Air (ODBA) technology. FIG. 2 shows an example of ODBA technology. In system 100, which is similar to the circulating fluidized bed boiler described above, furnace 2 is fitted with secondary air injection ports or devices 20 injecting the ODBA into the fluidized bed above the dense bed. Applicant typically places these injection devices in a spaced-apart manner to create rotational flow of the fluidized bed zone. For example, the secondary air injection devices are spaced asymmetrically to generate rotation in the boiler. Since many boilers are wider than they are deep, in an embodiment, a user may set up two sets of nozzles to promote counter rotating. As set forth in the previous application, Applicant found that such systems provide vigorous mixing of the fluidized bed space, resulting in greater reaction efficiency between the SO2 and limestone and thereby permitting the use of less limestone to achieve a given SO2 reduction level. Applicant also believes the enhanced mixing permits the reduction of the stoichiometric ratio of Ca/S to achieve the same level of SO2 reduction. The utility and efficacy of this technology was explained in part, based on a computational fluid dynamics analytic software program, FLUENT, available from Fluent, Inc. of Lebanon, NH.
FLUENT, a computational fluid dynamics analytic software program available from Fluent, Inc. of Lebanon, N.H., was used to model two-phase thermo-fluid phenomena in a CFB power plant. FLUENT solves for the velocity, temperature, and species concentrations fields for gas and particles in the furnace. Since the volume fraction of particle phase in a CFB is typically between about 0.1% and 0.3%, a granular model solving multi-phase flow was applied to this case. In contrast to conventional pulverized-fuel combustion models, where the particle phase is solved by a discrete phase model in a granular model both gas phase and particle phase conservation equations are solved in an Eulerian reference frame.
The solved conservation equations included continuity, momentum, turbulence, and enthalpy for each phase. In this multi-phase model, the gas phase (>99.7% of the volume) is the primary phase, while the particle phases with its individual size and/or particle type are modeled as secondary phases. A volume fraction conservation equation was solved between the primary and secondary phases. A granular temperature equation accounting for kinetic energy of particle phase was solved, taking into account the kinetic energy loss due to strong particle interactions in a CFB. This model took five days to converge to a steady solution, running on six CPUs in parallel.
While ash and limestone were treated in the particle phase, coal combustion was modeled in the gas phase. Coal was modeled as a gaseous volatile matter with an equivalent stoichiometric ratio and heat of combustion. The following two chemical reactions are considered in the CFB combustion system:CH0.85O0.14N0.07S0.02+1.06O2→0.2CO+0.8CO2+0.43H2O+0.035N2+0.02SO2 CO+0.5O2→CO2
The chemical-kinetic combustion model included several gas species, including the major products of combustion: CO, CO2, and H2O. The species conservation equations for each gas species were solved. These conservation laws have been described and formulated extensively in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) textbooks. A k-ε turbulence model was implemented in the simulation, and incompressible flow was assumed for both baseline and invention cases.
All differential equations were solved in unsteady-state because of the unsteady-state hydrodynamic characteristics in the CFB boiler. Each equation was solved to the convergence criterion before the next time step is begun. After the solution was run through several hundred-time steps, and the solution was behaving in a "quasi" steady state manner, the time step was increased to speed up convergence. Usually the model was solved for more than thirty seconds of real time to achieve realistic results.
The CFD computational domain used for modeling is 100 feet high, 22 feet deep, and 44 feet wide. The furnace has primary air inlet through grid and 14 primary ports on all four walls. It also has 18 secondary injection ports, 8 of them with limestone injection, and 4 start-up burners on both front and back walls. Two coal feeders on the front wall convey the waste coal into the furnace. The other two coal feeders connect to each of the cyclone ducts after the loop seal. Two cyclones connecting to the furnace through two ducts at the top of the furnace collect the solid materials, mainly coal ash and limestone, and recycle back into the furnace at the bottom. The flue gas containing major combustion products and fly ash and fine reacted (and/or unreacted) limestone particles leaves the top of the cyclone and continue in the backpass. Water walls run from the top to the bottom of all four-side walls of the furnace. There were three stages of superheaters. The superheater I and II are in the furnace, whereas the superheater III is in the backpass.
The cyclone was not included in the CFB computational domain because the hydrodynamics of particle phase in the cyclone is too complex to practically include in the computation. The superheat pendants are included in the model to account for heat absorption and flow stratification, and are accurately depicted by the actual number of pendants in the furnace with the actual distance. Note that the furnace geometry was symmetric in width, so the computational domain only represents one half of the furnace. Consequently, the number of computational grid is only half, which reduced computational time.
Table 1 shows the baseline system operating conditions including key inputs for the model furnace CFD baseline simulations. In the baseline system, some secondary air is injected into the dense bed.
TABLE 1ParameterUnitValueSystem loadMWgross122Net loadMWnet109System firing rateMMBtu/hr1226System excess O2%-wet2.6System excess Air%14.9System coal flowkpph187Total air flow (TAF)kpph1114Primary air flow rate through bed gridkpph476Primary air flow rate through 14 portskpph182Primary air temperature° F.434Secondary air flow rate through 18 injection portskpph262Secondary air through 4 start-up burnerskpph104Secondary air through 4 coal feederskpph65Air flow rate through limestone injectionkpph11.5Air flow through loop sealkpph12.8Secondary air temperature° F.401Limestone injection ratekpph40Solid recirculation ratekpph8800
Table 2 shows the coal composition of the baseline case.
TABLE 2Sample TimeProximate analysisVolatiles Matter[wt % ar]15.09Fixed Carbon[wt % ar]35.06Ash[wt % ar]42.50Moisture[wt % ar]7.07HHV (Btu/lb)[Btu/lb]6800.0Ultimate analysisC[wt % ar]41.0H[wt % ar]2.1O[wt % ar]1.2N[wt % ar]3.5S[wt % ar]2.63Ash[wt % ar]42.5H2O[wt % ar]7.07
In FLUENT, the coal is modeled as a gaseous fuel stream and a solid particle ash stream with the flow rates calculated from the total coal flow rate and coal analysis. The gaseous fuel is modeled as CH0.85O0.14N0.07S0.02 and is given a heat of combustion of −3.47×107 J/kmol. This is equivalent to the elemental composition and the heating value of the coal in the tables.
The high velocity injection was found to improve the mixing by relatively uniformly distributing air into the furnace. The mixing of the furnace was quantified by a coefficient of variance (CoV), which is defined as standard deviation of O2 mole fraction averaged over a cross section divided by the mean O2 mole fraction. The Coefficient of Variance (σ/ x) in O2 distribution for the baseline case and the previous invention case over four horizontal planes are compared in Table 3. As can be seen, CoV is lower relative to the baseline, indicating improved mixing.
TABLE 3Furnace Height [ft]Baseline caseODBA3366%43%4984%40%66100% 47%8080%46%
Somewhat similarly, FIG. 3 shows the mass weighted CO relative to the baseline case. As seen in the low bed below the high velocity air injection ports, the CO concentration is higher relative to the baseline case. Above the high velocity air injection ports, the CO concentration rapidly decreases, and the furnace exit CO is even lower than that in the baseline case. The rapid reduction in CO relative to the base line indicates better and more complete mixing.
FIG. 4 shows the particle fraction distributions relative to the baseline case. The solid volume fraction in the upper furnace is between 0.001 to 0.003. As seen, the lower bed is more dense than the dilute upper bed. The distribution also reveals particle clusters in the bed, which is one of the typical features of particle movement in CFBs. The air and flue gas mixtures move upward through these clusters. Similar particle flow characteristics can be seen relative to the baseline case, however, it is also observed that the lower bed below the high velocity air injection is slightly denser than the baseline case, due to low total air flow in the lower bed. The upper bed shows similar particle volume fraction distribution relative to the baseline case.
FIG. 5 shows turbulent mixing of air jets and bed particles relative to the baseline case. As seen, in the baseline case, a maximum turbulent kinetic energy appears in the dense bed in the lower furnace and rapidly diminishes as jets penetrate into and mix in the furnace. With ODBA technology, the peak kinetic energy is located well above the dense bed, which allows for significant penetration and mixing. Applicant believes that turbulence is dissipated into the bulk flow through eddy dissipation, e.g., a large amount of kinetic energy results in better mixing between the high velocity air and the flue gas.
The calculated results for the reduction of SO2 and other chemical species by limestone reaction were better than would be expected. The enhanced mixing achieved using this technology is predicted to reduce the stoichiometric ratio of Ca/S in the CFB from ˜3.0 to ˜2.4, while achieving the same level of SO2 reduction (92%). The reduction in Ca/S corresponds to reduced limestone required to operate the boiler and meet SO2 regulations. Since limestone for CFB units often costs more than the fuel (coal or gob), this is a significant reduction on the operational budget for a CFB plant.
Despite these benefits, Applicant discovered ways to improve upon the ODBA technology while maintaining the above-discussed benefits. For example, Applicant discovered that after a certain amount of secondary air is injected over the dense bed as a percentage of total air flow (TAF), limestone savings and SOx reduction began to diminish. It is to these, and other, problems that the present invention is directed.

Circulating fluidized bed boiler and method of operation


A method for an aircraft may include determining a transition from an airplane mode to a helicopter mode for a propulsion system of the aircraft, wherein the propulsion system comprises a plurality of rotor blades; determining whether a descent rate condition is satisfied, wherein the descent rate condition is associated with a maximum allowable descent rate for the aircraft; and controlling a collective pitch angle for the plurality of rotor blades based on the descent rate condition.

There are numerous considerations involved in the design of aircraft, such as unmanned tiltrotor aircraft, including size, weight, power efficiency, vibration, structural loads, and so forth. In particular, remote pilot control for unmanned aircraft can be limited by a lack of vestibular (e.g., spatial) and/or haptic (e.g., tactile) feedback provided to the pilot, which can result in loss of control and/or catastrophic failures, such as a crash, for such unmanned aircraft. Accordingly, flight control systems for unmanned aircraft can implicate numerous considerations and is often an extremely challenging aspect of designing aircraft systems.

System and method to provide descent rate limiting for an aircraft


5-(Difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, which is a raw material for the construction of 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide, which is a common partial structural motif of the compound having an Aβ production inhibitory action or a BACE1 inhibitory action, can be industrially advantageously produced by decarboxylating 5-[carboxy(difluoro)methyl]pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, which is obtainable from 5-chloropyrazine-2-carboxylate.

Alzheimer's disease is a disease characterized by senile plaque formation and neurofibrillary tangles associated with nerve cell degeneration and nerve cell loss. At present, treatment of Alzheimer's disease is limited to symptomatic treatment with symptom-ameliorating agents represented by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and no radical therapeutic agent for suppression of disease progression has been developed. Development of a method for controlling the etiology of the pathological condition is necessary for creation of a radical therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease.
The Amyloid β (hereinbelow, referred to as Aβ) protein, which is a metabolite of APP, is assumed to be largely associated with nerve cell degeneration and nerve cell loss, and further, the expression of symptoms of dementia (see, for example, Non Patent Literatures 1 and 2). The Aβ protein is mainly composed of Aβ40, which is composed of 40 amino acids, and Aβ42, which is composed of the 40 amino acids plus two additional amino acids at the C-terminus. The Aβ40 and Aβ42 are highly likely to aggregate (see, for example, Non Patent Literature 3), and are the main components of senile plaques (see, for example, Non Patent Literatures 3, 4, and 5). Moreover, mutation in the APP and presenilin genes observed in familial Alzheimer's disease is known to increase the Aβ40 and Aβ42 (see, for example, Non Patent Literatures 6, 7, and 8). Accordingly, a compound capable of reducing the production of Aβ40 and Aβ42 is expected to serve as an inhibitor or preventive drug for the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Aβ is produced by cleavage of APP by a beta-site amyloid β precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (hereinbelow, referred to as BACE1 or beta-secretase), followed by further cleavage by gamma-secretase. In light of the above, with an aim to inhibit the production of Aβ, creation of a gamma-secretase inhibitor and a beta-secretase inhibitor has been attempted. Condensed ring compounds having a beta-secretase inhibitory action have been reported in literatures such as Patent Literatures 1 to 9 shown below, and especially, Patent Literatures 1 to 6 describe condensed aminodihydrothiazine derivatives and compounds having a BACE1 inhibitory activity.
The aforementioned Patent Literatures 1 to 5 and 7 to 8 describe a number of amide compounds represented by the following formulae, which are important compounds in the production of pharmaceutical products.
In the above formulas, R represents hydrogen, fluorine, methyl, ethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, ethoxyl, methoxymethyl, and the like.
The aforementioned compounds share, as a common partial structural motif, 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide, and these compounds are produced from the intermediate of 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid. As to the method for producing 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (CAS Registry Number: 1174321-06-2), Production Example 17 of Patent Literature 1 describes that 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid can be produced by production steps such as ones illustrated in the following scheme using 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid as a starting material.

Method for producing 5-(difluoromethyl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid and production intermediate thereof


The invention concerns a device with a supervising unit arranged to handle a rule system for the behavior of an entity. The supervising unit comprises at least one storage member in which a set of rules for the behavior is stored. The device also has a user interface comprising a presenter for presenting information, preferably concerning decisions which are made and/or recommended, to a user. The device is arranged with a first and a second rule handler which can work in parallel with each other. The presenter can simultaneously present information concerning the rule handling which is carried out by the first rule handler and the rule handling which is carried out by the second rule handler. The invention also concerns a use, a system comprising a device according to the invention as well as storage media with computer programs for implementing the invention.

The present invention relates to a device for generating decision support for decisions which determine the behavior of an entity and/or for controlling the behaviour of an entity. In one embodiment, the device includes a supervising unit arranged to handle a rule system for the behavior, wherein the supervising unit includes at least one storage member in which a set of rules for the behavior is stored, and a user interface including first means for presenting information to a user of the device and second means for inputting instructions to said supervising unit. The device is arranged with a first automatic rule handler which automatically executes said rules according to a predetermined program for the rule handling.
The invention also relates to a use, a system of which the device forms a part and storage media for storing a computer program. The supervising unit may suitably consist of a computer. The first means may, for example, be a viewing screen or other projection device, loudspeakers, or other means. The second means may consist of a keyboard, computer mouse, joystick, microphones etc.
WO 01/52008 A1 and WO 01/52221 A1 describe a device and a system with a rule system concerning the behavior of a real or a simulated vehicle. These documents describe different advantageous manners to construct and to implement the rule handling for such behavior. However, there is a continuing need for further improvements in the art of such rule handling.

Device, use, system, and storage medium concerning decision support for, or the control of, the behavior of an entity


Disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of a wide array of cancers and tumors. In illustrative embodiments, diindolylmethanes, C-substituted diindolylmethanes, and analogs thereof have been described, which when administered either alone, or in combination with other anti-cancer or anti-tumorigenic compounds, provide new therapies for the treatment of cancer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,790 (issued May 14, 1996) suggests a method of inhibiting estrogen activity by administering a biologically active amount of a substituted dibenzofuran or substituted dibenzodioxin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,808 (issued Sep. 7, 1999) offers compounds and compositions of substituted indole-3-carbinols and diindolylmethane suitable for treating estrogen-dependent tumors along with methods of treating such cancerous-conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,845 (issued Oct. 24, 2000) suggests methods and pharmaceutical combinations for inhibiting estrogen-dependent tumors via the co-administration of antiestrogen triphenylethylenes, including tamoxifen and alkyl PCDFs.
Brockman, et al. ("Activation of PPARγ leads to inhibition of anchorage independent growth of human colorectal cancer cells" Gastroenterology 115:1049–1055, 1998) suggests that PPAR agonists will be effective antitumorigenic agents for treatment of colorectal cancer.
Chen, et al. ("Aryl Hydrocarbon receptor-mediated antiestrogenic and antitumorigenic activity of diindolylmethane," Carcinogenesis, 19:1631–1639, 1998) states that DIM represents a new class of relatively non-toxic AhR-based antiestrogens that inhibit E2-dependent tumor growth in rodents.
Chen, et al. ("Indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane as aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonists and antagonists in T47D human breast cancer cells" Biochem. Pharmacol. 51:1069–1076, 1996) suggests that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced CYP1A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in human breast cells, and co-treatment with TCDD plus different concentrations of I3C or DIM resulted in a significant decrease in the induced response at the highest concentration of I3C or DIM.
Duan, et al. ("Estrogen receptor-mediated activation of the serum response element in MCF-7 cells through MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of Elk-1" J. Biol. Chem. 276:11590–11598, 2001) suggests that transcriptional activation of the serum response element by E2 was due to ERalpha activation of the MAPK pathway and increased binding of the serum response factor and Elk-1 to the serum response element.
Elstner, et al. ("Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and retinoic acid receptor inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of human breast cancer cells in vitro and in BNX mice" Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 95:8806–8811, 1998) suggests that combined administration of troglitazone and all-trans-retinoic acid causes prominent apoptosis and fibrosis of MCF7 tumors in triple immunodeficient mice without toxic effects on the mice.
Garcia, et al. ("Constitutive activation of Stat3 by the Src and JAK tyrosine kinases participates in growth regulation of human breast carcinoma cells" Oncogene 20:2499–2513, 2001) suggests that tyrosine kinases transduce signals through Stat3 protein that contribute to the growth and survival of human breast cancer cells in culture and potentially in vivo.
Jeng, et al. ("Role of MAP kinase in the enhanced cell proliferation of long term estrogen deprived human breast cancer cells" Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 62:167–175, 2000) suggests that the MAP kinase pathway is, in part, involved in the adaptive process which results in enhanced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in the absence of exogenous estrogen in estradiol long term cells.
McDougal and Safe ("Methyl-substituted diindolylmethanes as AhR-based antitumorigenic/antiestrogenic compounds" Organohalogen Compounds, 37:253–256, 1998) suggests that methyl substituted DIMs inhibit estrogen induced breast cancer growth.
McDougal, et al. ("Inhibition of carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor growth and other estrogen-dependent responses by symmetrical dihalo-substituted analogs of diindolylmethane" Cancer Letts., 151:169–179, 2000) suggests that dihalo-substituted analogs of diindolylmethane significantly inhibited mammary tumor growth while no significant changes in organ weights or liver and kidney histopathology were observed.
Michaud, et al. ("Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of bladder cancer in a male prospective cohort" J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 91:605–613, 1999) suggests that high cruciferous vegetable consumption may reduce bladder cancer risk, but other vegetables and fruits may not confer appreciable benefits against this cancer.
Mueller, et al. ("Terminal differentiation of human breast cancer through PPAR" Mol. Cell 1:465–470, 1998) suggests that the PPAR gamma transcriptional pathway can induce terminal differentiation of malignant breast epithelial cells.
Ramamoorthy, et al. ("AhR-mediated antiestrogenicity of diindolylmethane and analogs in vivo and in vitro," Organohalogen Compounds, 37:321–324, 1998) suggests that DIM and substituted DIMs inhibit estrogen-induced uterine activities and breast cancer cell growth.
Safe ("2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related environmental antiestrogens: characterization and mechanism of action," in Endocrine Disrupters, Naz (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., pp. 187–221, 1999) suggests that selective Ah receptor modulators (SahRMs) are effective inhibitors of mammary tumor growth with clinical potential for treatment of breast cancer.
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Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature death in most developed countries. Since 1990, more than five million people have died from various forms of cancer. Presently, many cancer treatments are ineffective, or display significant negative side effects. Thus, there exists a need for the development of new and more effective treatments of cancer.

Compositions containing C-substituted diindolylmethane compounds


A melting disposal apparatus for injection needles having a unit for generating electromagnetic microwave, unit for generating a plasma discharge with high temperature by being irradiated with the electromagnetic microwave, and moving unit for automatically inserting the injection needle into the zone in which said plasma discharge is produced, and automatically releasing the injection needle from the zone after the injection needle has been molten.

The present invention relates to an apparatus in which injection needles are melted through high temperature thereby safely and easily disposing them.
Hitherto, the injection needle used in hospital or the like has been inevitably disposed in a specific root that the injection needles are collected in a predetermined vessel with sufficient carefulness so as not to inject fingers of person or the like. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the used injection needle very carefully so as to produce bacterial infection.

Melting disposal apparatus for injection needles


Crab sections are held in stacks of nested baskets detachably mounted on opposite sides of a lift tree which is adapted to be hung from an overhead hoist and conveyed from a loading station to processing stations and then to an unloading station. At the loading and unloading stations the lift tree is held vertically on a turntable which is preferably adjustable in height.

Commonly, in the processing of fresh crab after it has been cleaned and cut into sections, the crab sections are loaded into heavy-duty galvanized-steel wire-mesh baskets which are then conveyed along an overhead track by carriage-mounted lifting winches to various processing stations for cooking and freezing. The baskets are then unloaded and the frozen modules of crab sections are packed in suitable fibreboard cartons.
The baskets were at one time made with large foldable rectangular sides, and had a wire grid top provided with a lifting eye and pawl type top lock mechanisms, so that when the basket was folded to the upright position and the lid placed on top, a lock-up would be completed. Generally the basket had two interior chambers, separated by a wire grid divider. The basket was generally made to the maximum practical size useable in the customer's processing tanks and became known as a bulk pack basket.
There was no attempt to equalize the weight of product in the bulk pack baskets. The principal focus was to jam as much crab into the baskets and through the processing system as possible. As time went by the bulk type basket was improved to include flow-through dividers,
The next step was the introduction of a double stack basket to facilitate handling and packing. This basket retained the same concepts as the bulk pack baskets except that it had added thereto a light angle iron base frame to permit stacking and add strength. This model resulted in the development of a lid lift yoke consisting of a lid whereon there was welded a lift backbone combined with two offset hinged wire arms that stored side-by-side on top of the lid. These arms were arranged to rotate downward 270 degrees and drop over contact pickup arrangements on each individual basket within the stack to lock the baskets as a unit for pickup on the overhead lifting mechanism to convey the stack unit through the processing system.
As time went by crab processors required various shapes and sizes of basket units. Use of horizontal double compartment baskets with flow through dividers began. These were combined with two stack and three stack modules. Then tapered baskets were introduced having all four sides tapered so that the baskets in a stack could be nested, the nesting being limited to a depth of about an inch by cleats on the baskets arranged to engage the upper rim of the next lower basket. Discharge of the frozen product from a tapered basket is usually achieved by either turning the basket over within a fibre carton, or providing the basket with an ejection bottom which comprises a loose grid in the bottom of the basket. The ejection bottom is elevated upward at an unloading station so that the block of frozen product is positioned on the elevated bottom above the top rim of the basket. The packing operator slips an upside-down fibre box over the product block and turns the box upright with the frozen product block inside.
At about the same time that the commercial use of tapered baskets commenced, the market began to require smaller modules of frozen product and more weight control. This in turn created a need to use smaller baskets in the processing system and to be able to increase the number of baskets contained in each processing module, as, for example, twelve baskets arranged in four stacks, without complicating loading and unloading of the baskets. Furthermore, there was a need to make the multi-basket module as compact as possible so that processing tank sizes could be kept to a minimum, and to do so without sacrificing structural strength and basket durability.

System and apparatus for processing crab sections


A system and method for using a physical layer device to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic, enhanced, and higher power applications. Cable heating in specific sections of a network cable is detected through an automatic identification of a thermal signature in electrical measurements of a network cable. The correlation of the thermal signature to a specific section of the network cable enables network personnel to locate hot spots in the network cable with ease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to network cabling systems and methods and, more particularly, to a system and method for using a physical layer device (PHY) to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic and higher power applications.
2. Introduction
Heat can have a significant impact on the performance of a network cable. One problem that heat presents is the reduced cable operational parametrics for data transmission. In one example, heat can affect the insertion loss of the cable, thereby impacting data transmission on the cable. More generally, heat can affect the lifetime of the cable and its constituent materials and components.
While the general temperature of the entire cable can present an issue, the creation of a hot spot on a cable can also present significant issues. Hot spots on the cable can occur at localized points due to the constricted dissipation of heat caused by physical constraints such as conduits, poor air circulation, etc. Hot spots can be of concern because of the creation of dangerous heat conditions near other active equipment. Additionally, these hot spots can affect the data integrity in neighboring cables. As these examples illustrate, identifying the existence of hot spots in the network infrastructure can be of significant interest to IT personnel that are tasked with managing a data network infrastructure.
Additionally, hot spots are of significant interest to power over Ethernet (PoE) networks, which provide power to remote devices over network cables. The IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at PoE specifications provide a framework for delivery of power from power sourcing equipment (PSE) to a powered device (PD) over Ethernet cabling. In these applications, hot spots can produce reduced cable operational parametrics for power transmission. For example, heat will affect the resistance of the cable, which in turn will have an impact on the power transmission.
Locating hot spots in a network infrastructure is important for data and power transmission network operations. Conventional diagnostic techniques are typically focused on measuring the overall thermal condition of the entire length of cable. What is needed therefore is a mechanism that enables a diagnosis of the cabling infrastructure to identify the existence and location of hot spots in the network cables.

System and method for using a PHY to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic, enhanced, and higher power applications