A signal processing apparatus includes, a receiving unit which receives a stream includes compression-encoded data via a network, the stream being formed by packets to which time stamps are respectively added, a generating unit which generates a first stream from the stream received by the receiving unit, based on the time stamps added to the packets in the stream received by the receiving unit to output the first stream from an output port, a selector to which has a first port that receives the first stream output from the output port and a second port that receives a second stream including compression-encoded data and being transmitted in real time from outside, the selector selecting one of the first stream input to the first port and the second stream input to the second port, and a decoding unit which decodes the one stream selected by the selector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal processing apparatus such as a digital broadcasting receiver and a stream processing method used for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a real-time transmission system for transmitting, in real time, a data stream such as a digitally compression-encoded audio/video signal has been developed. The real-time transmission system executes the transmission of the data stream by using a transport stream. The transport stream is constituted by transport stream packets.
Recently, a system for transmitting groups of packets with time information respectively added thereto has been developed. For example, a data transmitting device for transmitting signal data with a count value of a counter added thereto is disclosed by Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-341234.
In a digital broadcast such as a terrestrial digital broadcasting, broadcast program data is formed by the above-mentioned transport stream.
In the digital broadcasting receiver, a broadcast signal is received and demodulated by a tuner then the transport stream is extracted from the broadcast signal. The transport stream packets constituting the transport stream are transmitted to the decoder in the broadcasting receiver in real time to be decoded there. The decoder is usually designed so that its decoding speed is determined in accordance with the receiving timing of each packet. Since each of the packets is transmitted to the decoder in real time at the timing corresponding to reproduction timing, the decoder can normally decode and reproduce the transport stream.
In the meantime, recently, a home network system capable of connecting a plurality of electrical household appliances with one another has been needed to be realized. The digital broadcasting receiver for use in the home network system needs a function for decoding and reproducing not only the transport stream transmitted in real time like the broadcast program data but also a transport stream transferred at an arbitrary speed via a network from a storage medium.
However, the transport stream read out from the storage medium is transmitted to the digital broadcast receiver at a higher speed than the intrinsic transport rate of the transport stream. Therefore, if the digital broadcast receiver directly inputs the transport stream transmitted from the storage medium via the network into the decoder, a failure such as the reproduction of the transport stream at an abnormally higher speed is caused. Accordingly, it is required for the digital broadcasting receiver to execute particular decode control to switch the operation control method of the decoder in accordance with a kind (real-time stream/non real-time stream) of the stream to be decoded.
The digital broadcasting receiver for use in the home network system also needs a function of recording the transport stream received via the network in an external device such as, for example, an IEEE 1394 standardized digital video cassette recorder (VCR). In this case, the transport stream is needed to be transmitted in real time to the external device.

Signal processing apparatus and stream processing method


Formulations for topical or local administration of drugs directly to the breast or chest to produce a regional or local effect with lower systemic drug levels than when an effective amount is administered systemically are disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the drug is administered to the surface of the breast, areola, or directly to the nipple. The formulations provide increased patient comfort, increased bioavailability and relatively high blood levels in the region to be treated with a reduction of side effects compared to those administered systemically. The preferred formulations contain drugs in the form of micro or nanoparticles, which may be formed of drug alone or in combination with an excipient or carrier. The excipient or carrier may modify the release rates or enhance absorption into the affected area. The drug formulation may be in the form of a cream, lotion or foam.

Breast disorders are so common that B. Smith & W. Souba, Breast disease, p. 1, in Breast Disease 2, D. Wilmore, et al. (eds) (New York, Scientific America) (1995) estimate that one of every two women will consult her physician about a breast disorder at some point in her life. Clinically, the most useful classification system for benign breast disease is based on symptoms and physical findings. The six general categories of symptoms are:    1. Physiologic swelling and tenderness;    2. Nodularity, significant lumpiness, both cyclic and non-cyclic;    3. Mastalgia, severe pain, both cyclic and non-cyclic;    4. Dominant lumps, including gross lumps and fibroadenomas;    5. Nipple discharge, including intraductal papilloma and duct ectasia; and    6. Infections and inflammation, including subareolar, abscesses, lactational mastitis, breast abscesses and Mondor's Disease. See J. Isaacs, Benign Neoplasms, in D. Marchant, Breast Disease, p. 65-68 (WB Saunders, Philadelphia, Pa.) (1997).
Swelling, breast pain, and nodularity (Categories 1 and 2) are often grouped together and referred to as fibrocystic disease or changes. However, aggregating these categories may be problematic as the various causes of these symptoms may be isolated to determine the specific cause of the condition and the resultant treatment option to be undertaken. For example, women on oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy may experience swelling and breast tenderness (Category 1). By reducing or eliminating the estrogen replacement therapy, the breast pain or swelling may be reduced. Alternatively, breast pain may be caused by trauma, chest wall pain, or by costochondritis.
Dominant lumps (Category 4) are generally clinically benign breast lesions that are distinct, persistent, and relatively unchanging. The lesions that are represented by these lumps include macrocysts, galactoceles, and fibroadenomas. These lumps generally do not respond to hormonal therapy that may be effective in treating nodularity or breast pain.
Fibroadenomas (Category 4) represent the most common benign solid tumor of the female breast. They are typically seen in women in the third decade of life although they are sometimes seen in postmenopausal women. Fibroadenomas may respond to hormonal therapy and may change in size throughout the menstrual cycle.
Treatment options for breast disorders fall into two major categories, pharmacologic therapy and surgical approaches. Before initiating any treatment, an assessment of dietary, hormone therapy and other factors must be taken into consideration. Women who use estrogen replacement therapy or oral contraceptives may discontinue therapy. In addition, dietary modification such as a reduction in saturated fat intake and caffeine consumption may reduce breast pain in certain women.
Drug treatment for breast pain is tailored to the severity of pain, chances of improvement with each drug, and potential adverse effects. P. Holland & C. Gately, Drugs, 48(5):709-716 (1994). Women with mild pain may be administered 6-8 capsules of gamma-linolenic acid (also known as "gamolenic acid" or "GLA") (40 mg) per day. The side effects associated with GLA are mild. For severe pain, the only approved treatment option is danazol, which is typically given in a dose of 100 mg to 200 mg per day. Danazol is highly effective, although it causes androgenic side effects which may reduce patient compliance. Controlled trials demonstrate that at oral doses of 200 mg to 400 mg per day, danazol produces a favorable clinical response in 70% to 80% of patients. C. Hinton, et al., British J. Clinical Practice, 40(8):326-30 (1986); R. Mansel, et al., Lancet, 8278: 928-933 (1982); and B. Steinbrum, et al., Postgraduate Medicine, 102(5):183-84, 187-87, and 193-94 (1997). In most instances, breast pain and tenderness are significantly relieved by the first month and eliminated in two to three months. Usually elimination of nodularity requires four to six months of therapy. However, high doses of danazol result in adverse side effects, which may include weight gain, voice change, development of facial and chest hair, loss of libido, acne, and central nervous system ("CNS") symptoms such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea, as well as the inhibition of pregnancy while undergoing treatment. See e.g. Spooner, Classification of Side Effects to Danazol Therapy, Winthrop Laboratories, Surrey, England.
Bromocriptine, tamoxifen, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues are not approved for the initial treatment of breast pain and fibrocystic breast disease, but are used to treat breast pain and fibrocystic disease that are resistant to other forms of treatment. The side effects associated with these drugs are severe.
Bromocriptine, which inhibits release of prolactin, is effective in up to 65% of women treated for cyclical mastalgia, i.e. breast pain which occurs in a regular pattern over time, at doses of 5 mg per day. These results were confirmed in a multicenter, randomized, controlled study. K. Nazli et al., Br J Clin Pract., 43: 322-27 (1989); R. Mansel & L. Dogliotti, Lancet, 335 (868):190-193 (1990). Improvement in symptoms was accompanied by a decrease in serum prolactin level. Mild side effects, including nausea, dizziness, headaches, and irritability have been reported in 30% of women, and 10% have complained of more severe side effects. These side effects can be minimized by altering the dosing regimen or reducing the amount of drug administered. However, R. Mansel et al., BR J Surgery, 65(10):724-27 (1978) noted that bromocriptine did not induce a response in patients with non-cyclical breast pain.
In severe cases of breast pain and fibrocystic breast disease, tamoxifen has been prescribed. Controlled trials demonstrated 80% to 90% success in treatment of cyclical mastalgia. I. Fentimen, et al., Br. J. Clinical Prac. Sympt., 68:34-36 (1989). In addition, no difference in response was noted in women who received daily doses of 10 mg per day versus those who received daily doses of 20 mg per day. A decrease in side effects was noted however, in women who received 10 mg per day. I. Fentimen, et al., BR J Surg., 75(9): 845-46 (1988).
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are sometimes prescribed for the treatment of breast pain. A prospective study of the effectiveness of the topical application of NSAIDs as a gel formulation was carried out in 26 women with severe breast pain. A topical NSAID gel was applied as required and provided rapid relief of pain with no side effects in 81% of the women. A. Irving & S. Morrison, JR Coll Edinb, 43(3):158-9 (1998).
In non-cyclical mastalgia, and especially for chest wall pain, injections of lidocaine 1% (1 ml) and methylprednisone (40 mg) have been shown to be effective. Response rates of 90% have been reported, but about 50% of patients required a second injection 2 to 3 months later. A. Millet & F. Dirbas, Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 57(7): 459 (2002).
Miltefosine (also known as MILTEX® and hexadecylphosphocholine) has been used topically to treat cutaneous manifestations of metastatic breast cancer. See e.g. C. Unger et al., Cancer Treat Rev 17: 243-246 (1990); J. Terwogt et al., Br J Cancer, 79: 1158-1161 (1999); and R. Leonard et al., J Clin Oncol, 19: 4150-4159 (2001). These reports indicate that the cytostatic drug, miltefosine, is useful to treat topical lesions arising from a primary neoplasia event in the breast. However, the drug does not treat neoplastic lesions within the breast tissue and the cutaneous metastatic tissue need not be localized to breast skin. Therefore, the drug is merely acting topically at the site of administration. Further, the drug is not effective at treating the underlying disease of the breast.
Treatment of disorders and diseases of the breast and underlying musculature by traditional methods of oral or systemic administration is associated with a significant number of side effects and other complications that limit their use. For example, the normal digestive process may reduce bioavailability of drugs, requiring a higher dose be administered in order to achieve the desired effect. In addition, passage of the drag from the liver into the systemic circulation may convert the drug into a metabolite of the drug and cause a variety of untoward side effects. Either of these problems may cause patients to avoid their medications and disregard their doctors' treatment regimes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide formulations and methods of administration to increase patient compliance and comfort during the treatment of diseases and disorders of the breast and chest.
It is a further object of the present invention increase the bioavailability of drug administered topically to the breast or chest as compared to drugs administered systemically.

Pharmaceutical preparations for treatments of diseases and disorders of the breast


A magnetic tape cassette capable of improving sealing of the tape cassette when it is out of use, to thereby positively protect a magnetic tape arranged therein. The magnetic tape cassette includes an openable front lid and a rear lid arranged so as to cover a front opening of the tape cassette casing and is so constructed that the front and rear lids are provided with facing portions, respectively, which are arranged so as to face each other along an arc defined by the facing portion of the rear lid when the rear lid is pivotally moved relatively to the front lid to cover the protecting space for the magnetic tape and each lid is formed into an arc or slanting plane, resulting in the lids being closely associated with each other to a degree sufficient to ensure satisfactory sealing of the cassette when the front lid is pivotally moved to cover the opening of the casing.

This invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette suitable for use for a video tape recorder, an audio tape recorder or the like, and more particularly to a magnetic tape cassette which is provided on the front side thereof with a dust cover for selectively covering a front portion of a casing of the cassette.
In general, a tape cassette which has been conventionally used for a video tape recorder, an audio tape recorder or the like includes a cassette casing which is formed at the front portion thereof with an opening to run the magnetic tape. The casette casing is provided at the front portion thereof with a dust cover for selectively covering the front opening of the casing, which dust cover comprises a front lid pivotally mounted on the casing and a rear lid pivotally mounted on the front lid so both lids can be operated in association with each other to enclose the magnetic tape therebetween. The front and rear lids are constantly forced by an elastic force, to thereby close an enclosing space for the magnetic tape when the cassette is not being used. This results in dust or the like being prevented from sticking to the magnetic tape during nonuse of the cassette. Also, this closing allows the front and rear lids to protect the front and rear surfaces of a magnetic tape by interposing the tape therebetween, to thereby prevent a user from contacting the magnetic tape by mistake during handling of the tape cassette, so that the magnetic tape may escape damage, folds, adhesion of foreign matter such as oil or fingerprints thereto, or the like.
Also, in the conventional magnetic tape cassette constructed as described above, when the front lid is operated or pivotally moved to uncover the front opening of the casing, the rear lid is moved away from the magnetic tape, as it is associated with the movement of the front lid. In the operation of covering the front opening, the front lid and rear lid are brought together to envelope and protect the magnetic tape therebetween.
In the conventional tape cassette constructed in such a manner that, as shown in FIG. 1. the front lid 100 and rear lid 102 abut against each other at the association region 104 therebetween. A similar construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,373, FIGS. 4-6.
More particularly, in such prior art, the front lid is continuously biased by spring means to a closing direction, and eventually the lower end thereof comes in contact with the lower end of the rear lid to close the space for the magnetic tape during nonuse of the cassette.
However, when the tape cassette is inaccurately manufactured or assembled, parts other than the lower ends of the front and rear lids come in contact with each other earlier than the lower ends of the front and rear lids do. For example, in the case of FIG. 2, bottom edges of both side ends of the front lid 26 and upper surfaces of the ports 24, and in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,373, inclined surface portions 42, 44, 43 and 45 (FIG. 4, Col. 4, lines 18-20) correspond to the above described "other parts".
In such a case, the lower ends of the front and rear lids are left open, resulting in a sealing effect deteriorating and dust being allowed to enter the space for the magnetic tape during nonuse of the cassette.
In other words, in the prior art, the size of the gap between the lower ends of the front and rear lids changes depending on the relative rotating angle of the front and rear lids. The size of this angle depends on the accuracy of the manufacturing and assembling of the front and rear lids or other parts which will come into contact with each other when the front portion of the cassette is covered by the front and rear lids.
Therefore, in order to maintain the sealing effect of the lower ends of the front and rear lids, it has been necessary to manufacture and assemble the conventional tape cassette with high accuracy, thus causing the manufacturing cost of the tape cassette to increase.
Also, in the conventional magnetic tape cassette of the type, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,377, FIG. 11, and in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-39995, FIGS. 5 to 8, the front lid is formed with a recess by removing the corner of the lower surface of the inner surface of the front lid and the rear lid is engaged with the front lid through the so-formed recess of the front lid to form a labyrinth path when the opening of the casing is closed by the lids, resulting in a disadvantage being encountered in that the front and rear lids are sometimes difficult to separate from each other by lifting up the front lid when preparing to operate the cassette, as labyrinth parts interfere with each other, due to inaccurate manufacturing or assembling.
In order to avoid such a problem, it is required to provide a certain degree of backlash between the front lid and the rear lid. However, the formation of such a backlash likewise deteriorates the form stability of the casing, resulting in a failure to satisfactorily close the casing. In particular, when the tape cassette is subjected to deformation, this clearance is easily increased by a slight movement of the front lid, resulting in a failure to prevent dust or the like from entering the casing and a deterioration in the form stability.
As described above, the conventional magnetic tape cassette fails to exhibit a dust function, due to the increase in the gap between the lower ends of the front and rear lids, which gap is a result of the relative displacement of the front and the rear lids, even if such a displacement is slight.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to develop a magnetic tape cassette which is capable of maintaining the sealing effect of the lower ends of the front and rear lids in good condition, even when the front lid is slightly displaced relative to the rear lid.


A female connector member for towing connector is disclosed to have a light emitting diode indicator light set installed in the locating frame thereof, keeping the light emitting diode indicator lights respectively electrically connected to the left direction light, right directional light, license light (tail light), stop light, battery charger, and back light of the towing truck and protruded over the front side of the locating frame for easy checking of the functioning of the respective signal lights and the battery charger of the towing truck.

The present invention relates to a towing connector and more particularly, to a female connector member for towing connector, which has light emitting diode indicator lights installed therein and respectively connected to the signal lights and battery charger of the towing truck for easy checking of the functioning of the signal lights and battery charger of the towing truck.
FIG. 1 shows a female connector member 6 for towing connector according to the prior art. This structure of female connector member 6 has a plurality of electric wires 71˜76 for connection to the left directional light, right directional light, license light (tail light), stop light, 12V battery charger, and back light of the towing truck. This design of female connector member 6 has no indicator means to help quick examination of the functioning of the respective signal lights and battery charger of the towing truck.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a female connector member for towing connector, which enables the towing truck driver to check the functioning of the indicator lights and battery charger of the towing truck visually conveniently. It is another object of the present invention to provide a female connector member for towing connector, which is easy to install.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the female connector member has a light emitting diode indicator light set installed in the locating frame thereof with the respective light emitting diode indicator lights respectively electrically connected to the signal lights and battery charger of the towing truck for easy checking of the functioning of the signal lights and battery charger of the towing truck. According to another aspect of the present invention, the light emitting diode indicator light set has a shell with a positioning block for quick installation in the locating frame of the body of the female connector member with less labor and installation time.

Female connector member for towing connector


A foldable container comprises a base and two pairs of side plates. The side plates are mounted on the base by means of a hinge mechanism in manner of being foldable relative to the base. The hinge mechanism is provided with an elastic reset structure, thereby the hinge structure on the side plates moves downwards synchronously in the courses that the side plates overturn from a folding state to an upright state. The hinge structure solves the problem of delay in the falling of a hinge in the prior art, is well adapted to the operation habits of various users, and is simple in structure and skillful in the concept.

The current plastic large-sized foldable container is mostly composed of a base and two pairs of side plates, which are connected to the base by a hinge mechanism so that each side plate can be rotated relative to the base then be folded to the base. In general, one pair of the side plates is longer and the other is shorter, and an optional side plate can be provided with a small door. The hinge mechanism is often designed such that the side plates can be folded disorderly, i.e., the two opposite side plates can be folded in any order at the time of folding so that user is not necessary to consider about the order of folding when folding the side plates, and the folding action would be accomplished no matter which one of the opposite side plates is folded first. Therefore, the hinge mechanism is also referred to as a disordered hinge. The above design reduces the cost of production, and eliminates the inconvenience of production and management resulted from the different opposite side plates of the conventional ordered hinge folding container. Such inventions are known as the patent applications such as CN201110295485.8 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,059A, and so on.
However, the applicant have found that there is a drawback to the above disordered hinge mechanism that after the opposite side plates using the disordered hinges are folded, the later folded side plate lies on the first folded side plate, and the hinge mechanism is lifted by a height. When the side plates are required to stand upright, the hinge portion of the side plate placed at the top is required to fall to the beginning position on the base during rotation from the lying position to the upright position. If the upper side plate overturns to upright or near the upright but the hinge portion is not fully fallen, some of the structures on the side plate, such as the latch of the side plate engaging with the base, would interfere with the base, and the hinge mechanism of the side plate or parts of the base may be damaged.

SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO., LTD.


A patient positioning wedge, mattress, pillow, pod, or other surface or apparatus for preventing or relieving pressure ulcers or other types of wounds through low air loss therapy, alternating pressure therapy, or both, and the ports, controllers, and manifolds used in combination. The mattress includes a plurality of perforated or otherwise porous air cells for supporting the patient's body weight. The mattress further includes valves and accessory ports to pump air into accessories, such as patient positioning wedges, pods, and pillows. Each accessory also includes perforated or otherwise porous air cells. The air cells in the mattress and accessories allow for low air loss therapy and/or alternating pressure therapy by passing air between the contact surface of the mattress or accessory and the contact surface of the patient, thus helping alleviate pressure, heat, friction, and moisture, while maintaining support and stability of the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to patient positioning devices. More specifically, it relates to a combination supportive wedge and aircushion that provides patients with low air loss therapy and/or alternating pressure therapy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Patients immobilized or who suffer from certain medical conditions can suffer serious destruction of the skin and soft body tissue. This often results in the formation of pressure ulcers, i.e., bed sores. A pressure ulcer is a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure, shear and/or friction, which causes partial or complete obstruction of the blood flow to the soft tissue. Immobility, heat, moisture, continence, medication, poor nutrition, and certain medical conditions may all contribute to development of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers most commonly occur at the bony prominences, including the sacrum, coccyx, heels, elbows, knees, ankles or the back of the head, and often result in chronic wounds. Pressure ulcers are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expense worldwide. In the United States alone, chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million patients, with over 1 million new cases of pressure ulcers developing each year. Complications related to pressure ulcers cause an estimated 60,000 deaths and cost over $1.3 billion annually in the United States. Worldwide, approximately 20% of hospital patients develop pressure ulcers each year. However, most pressure ulcers are treatable and even preventable.
Low air loss therapy is used for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers as well as other types of wounds, including venous stasis ulcers, surgical wounds, trauma wounds, lower extremity wounds, and diabetic wounds. Low air loss therapy also provides increased patient comfort for burn patients and patients with certain medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. Low air loss therapy reduces skin interface pressure by allowing the patient to rest or "float" on air-filled, perforated cells, while circulating air across the skin of the patient to reduce moisture.
Currently there exist two methods of providing low air loss therapy: (1) fully integrated bed frames, in which the low air loss surface and bed frame are constructed as a single unit; and (2) a mattress replacement system, in which the mattress lays over or replaces the mattress on the bed. Although these systems are beneficial in preventing pressure ulcers, there are several limitations.
First, situations exist in which the source of the pressure to the skin is from something other than the mattress underneath the patient. For example, patients lying on their sides suffer serious problems with skin-to-skin contact (e.g., between the patient's legs), which, in turn, causes pressure, friction, and moisture between the touching skin regions (e.g., legs). As another example, bariatric patients have an increased risk of pressure ulcers and chronic wounds between skin folds (e.g., skin folds in the abdomen or hips) because the weight of the skin folds and the skin-to-skin contact can create forces that enable pressure ulcers to develop.
Second, due to human anatomy, low air loss mattresses do not provide sufficient relief for certain areas, 'particularly the bony prominences. For example, even when using a traditional low air loss mattress, a patient may experience sufficient pressure on the heels, sacrum, or other bony prominences to develop pressure ulcers in those areas. Due to this issue, many hospital protocols require caregivers to reposition the patient to attempt to reduce the pressure on the bony prominences. For example, many hospital protocols require caregivers to elevate the patient's heels to relieve pressure to the heels or turn the patient onto his side to relieve pressure to the sacrum. This is conventionally accomplished by placing a traditional pillow or a foam or gel positioning device under the patient's legs to elevate the heels or behind the patient's back to position him on his side. However, this methodology blocks the low air loss mattress's effectiveness and creates a new pressure point between the patient's heels/legs/back and the traditional pillow, foam or gel positioning device.
Third, some patients require very particular positioning. For example, patients who suffer from pulmonary complications due to immobility, such as nosocomial pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome ("ARDS"), experience a greater likelihood of survival if they can be placed in the prone position. Caregivers generally accomplish the positioning using foam or gel positioning wedges. These types of wedges actually create pressure, friction, and moisture along the skin region that is contacting the foam or gel positioning wedge, resulting in an increased risk of development of pressure ulcers. Further, some positions when accomplished with traditional foam or gel positioning wedges cause a risk of development of other types of complications. For example, prone positioning with a foam or gel wedge can result in damage to the facial nerves or blindness.
Fourth, surgical patients often require special positioning during or after the surgical procedure. Patients undergoing surgical procedures, particularly long surgical procedures, are at increased risk of developing pressure ulcers due to increased pressure on the capillaries when a patient is immobile because of sedation. Currently, surgical and post surgical positioning is accomplished using foam or gel positioning devices. These devices can create pressure points between the patient's body and the foam or gel positioning device, causing greater risk to a patient already at risk of developing pressure ulcers due to the surgical procedure.
Fifth, low air loss mattresses are very costly for the user/hospital and only provide low air loss therapy to the portion of the patient's anatomy that comes in direct contact with the mattress and thus provide only incomplete coverage as well.
The prior art has seen various types and configurations of aircushions. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 1,382,831 to Hilker; U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,645 to Boland; U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,489 to Winkler; U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,286 to Biolik; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,705 to Greenawalt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,089 to Laviero; U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,875 to Bennett; U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,979 to Nennhaus; U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,520 to Kunz; U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,499 to Vaughn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,112 to Colavito; U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,999 to Priolo; U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,425 to Davis; U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,057 to LeVert; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2008/0178390 to DuDonis; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2009/0000037; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D587,507 to Martin.
However, none of these aircushions are structured or designed for low air loss or alternating pressure therapy to relieve pressure ulcers or other wounds. Further, many of the references do not include supportive (e.g., foam, air cells, etc.) bases for added support when positioning patients. If supportive bases are included, the supportive base directly contacts the patient, which causes a pressure point which could result in further damage of pressure ulcers. Additionally, none of the prior art addresses the patient microclimate, or the air entering the area to help tissue remain dry and cool, which is one of the most significant factors contributing to development of pressure ulcers. Direct contact between any support base and the patient actually teaches away from the current invention.
Accordingly, what is needed is an economic device that can be easily positioned to support patients while still providing low air loss therapy and/or alternating pressure therapy. However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art how the limitations of the art could be overcome.
All referenced publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicants in no way disclaim these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.
The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein.
In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Configurable air diffusion body supports


A backlight device includes: a light emitting unit that includes a plurality of light sources having different light emission colors from each other; a detection unit that detects light emission states of the plurality of light sources; a temperature sensor that measures a temperature in a proximity of the plurality of light sources; a brightness conversion unit that converts values indicating the detected light emission states to obtain a detection value for each color of the light emission colors; and a calculation unit that corrects the obtained detection value for each of the light emission colors by using information indicating a relationship between the measured temperature and a correction value, and determines drive values for the light sources based on the corrected detection value.

Liquid crystal display devices of conventional art include an RGB color filter substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a backlight device. It is proposed in the backlight device of this type of liquid crystal display device that red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors are mixed to emit white color light to improve the display color reproduction range in the liquid crystal display device.
In the backlight devices of the conventional art, brightness of emitted light is detected by color sensors with color filters that comply with spectral characteristics corresponding to each color of RGB LEDs (light emitting diodes). Then, a calculation means of the backlight device controls output to the backlight of each color so that the brightness and chromaticity of the mixed white color light take predetermined values. After light emission is started, the temperature of a connection unit in the light emitting diode interior rises due to the heat generated by the light emitting diode itself, causing the brightness of each light emitting diode to change. Consequently, there is a device in which the current light emission amount is controlled to be a predefined standard light emission amount (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Backlight device and backlight control method


A home device authentication system and method, wherein the home device authentication system includes one or more home devices each having device information including coding information for authentication and information on a service provider providing authentication services; and a home gateway including decoding information corresponding to the coding information of the home devices, and for authenticating the home devices by using the decoding information. Further, if there exists no decoding information in the home gateway, the home gateway requests the decoding information from the service provider. Accordingly, privacy and security for the home network is secured.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a home network system, and more particularly, to a home device authentication system and a method performing a home device authentication process for home network system security.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-speed access to the Internet, which is possible with x-Digital Subscriber Lines (xDSLs) or cable modems spread over many homes, together with development of the Internet in recent years, have explosively increased access to the Internet from personal home computers.
Users want to do more than merely access the Internet, and many users expect to control and communicate with devices at home through personal computers. On the other hand, home network systems have been developed that enable the users to communicate with home devices and receive new services from outside their homes.
In general, a home network system refers to a network that incorporates home information devices including personal computers into one system to enable communications therebetween. The home network system has rapidly spread together with developments in networking technologies, support software, and information appliances.
Wirings built into homes, such as existing phone lines (Home PNA: Home Phoneline Networking Alliance), electric power outlets (power line LAN), coaxial cables for TV, and so on, are utilized to build such a home network system, and FIG. 1 is a view for conceptually showing such a home network system.
First and second home gateways 110 and 210 are provided in first and second home networks 100 and 200, respectively. Home devices 111, 113, 115, and 117, and home devices 211 and 213 are respectively interconnected to the first and second home gateways 110 and 210 for networking, and connected to external networks through the first and second home gateways 110 and 210.
If a new device is connected to a home network in such a conventional home network, there is no authentication process for the device in general. That is, in the event that a new device 113 is connected to the first home network 100, the new device 113 is physically connected to the first home gateway 110 and transfers connection information, so that the new device 113 is connected to the first home gateway 110. Thus, the conventional home network has a unilateral structure in that only the first home gateway 110 authenticates the new device 113. Therefore, the connection information of the new device 113 is transferred to the second home gateway 210 of the second home network 200 adjacent to the first home network 100, through the wirings such as phone lines, electric power line LAN, TV coaxial cables, and so on. Accordingly, either by accident or on purpose, the home device 113 of the first home network 100 is connected to the second home network, by which the first home network 100 is exposed to the second home network 200.
As described above, the conventional home network has a problem with respect to privacy and security since it has no authentication process for home devices connected thereto.

Home device authentication system and method


A method to classify source data in a processor in response to a vector floating-point classification instruction includes specifying, in respective fields of the vector floating-point classification instruction, a source register containing the source data and a destination register to store classification indications for the source data. The source register includes a plurality of lanes that each contains a floating-point value and the destination register includes a plurality of lanes corresponding to the lanes of the source register. The method further includes executing the vector floating-point classification instruction by, for each lane in the source register, classifying the floating-point value in the lane to identify a type of the floating-point value, and storing a value indicative of the identified type in the corresponding lane of the destination register.

Modern digital signal processors (DSP) face multiple challenges. DSPs may frequently execute software that requires emulating floating-point operations, such as division or trigonometric operations (e.g., sin, cos, tan). When performing such emulation, "special" floating-point value such as zero values, subnormal values, +/− infinity values, and not a number (NaN) values may need to be handled as special cases. However, determining whether a floating-point value is a special value often requires several instructions to extract fields from a floating-point value (e.g., a fraction field or an exponent field) and to test or compare those fields to properly classify the floating-point value. Considering that DSPs may be frequently required to emulate floating-point operations, such instruction and computational overhead is not desirable.


A measurement method or system for measuring a physical value comprises, during a same clock cycle, forming an input signal, a reference signal and an offset signal, the input signal including a parasitic value and a useful measurement value. A relationship between the input signal where the parasitic value has been cancelled out, and the reference signal is derived. From this relationship, a value relating to the physical value is determined. The input signal, reference signal and offset signal are respectively associated with an input element, a reference element and a parasitic element. All elements have a common driving signal, and the parasitic value is depending on the common driving signal. The fact that different signals are formed during a same measurement cycle, and that these signals are sufficient to obtain the desired physical value, makes the measurement method or system of the present invention faster than prior art measurement methods or systems: only one conversion cycle is needed against two cycles needed for dual slope analog-to-digital conversion.

Standard methods for measuring a physical value use measuring of a characteristic parameter of a sensing device, which characteristic parameter is dependent on the physical value to be measured. For example, for measuring a temperature or pressure, a resistance of a temperature or pressure dependent sensing element may be measured by measuring current through or voltage over a sensing element. The accuracy of the measurement is proportional to the accuracy of a reference voltage or reference current and to the accuracy of the sensing element.
Most known standard methods use analog-to-digital conversion based on a dual slope integration method, which makes the conversion speed slower.
For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,875,503 and 4,217,543 both describe a principle using a dual slope integration cycle. This means that two integration frames are needed for getting the desired result.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,503 an integrator first integrates an unknown analog signal for a predetermined time period and then integrates a reference signal of inverse polarity with respect to the analog signal until the integrator is restored to its initial value. Digital counting means digitally measure a time interval ending when the integrating means-is restored to its initial value.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,543, during a first cycle, a voltage drop over a reference resistor is integrated, and during a second cycle, a voltage drop over a sensing resistor is integrated.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,305, the sensing element is a part of a bridge resistor network. The analog-to-digital converter is again using a dual slope integration method.
In EP-1102405 use is made of a three-port sigma-delta modulator having an input port, a reference port and an offset port. Only one conversion cycle is used for evaluating an unknown resistance value. A bridge topology is used for the sensor, from which a differential signal to be fed to the input port is derived. A differential signal driving the reference port is derived as a fraction of the bridge supply voltage to make accuracy of the measurement independent on it. An input at the offset port is used to indirectly correct the sensor (bridge) offset: the offset voltage must be determined before the measurement cycle.
If a parasitic resistance is present in any of the above measurement devices, such as a parasitic resistance due to a sensing element boding contact for example, then this cannot be remedied.

Fast, high-resolution, indirect measurement of a physical value


An arbiter system may include a first arbiter, a second arbiter, and selection logic. The first arbiter may be configured to select a first data identifier from among a group of data identifiers that are associated with a first bandwidth. The second arbiter may be configured to select a second data identifier from among another group of data identifiers that are associated with a second bandwidth. The selection logic may be configured to periodically select the first data identifier and the second data identifier so that the first data identifier and the second data identifier are respectively selected in proportion to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to data processing, and more particularly, to arbitration among units of data.
2. Description of Related Art
Routers receive data on a physical media, such as optical fiber, analyze the data to determine its destination, and output the data on a physical media in accordance with the destination. Routers were initially designed using a general purpose processor executing large software programs. As line rates and traffic volume increased, however, general purpose processors could not scale to meet these new demands.
To meet the new demands, purpose-built routers have been designed with components optimized for routing. These routers not only handle higher line rates and higher network traffic volume, but they also add functionality without compromising line rate performance.
A purpose-built router may include a number of input and output ports from which it transmits and receives packets. The packets may arrive and depart on a number of associated channels. The channels of data may have different bandwidths associated with them, and purpose-built routers may process data based on these channel bandwidths.
It may be desirable to perform weighted arbitration for access to a "shared resource" among units of data (more generically, "requesters" of the shared resource) according to channel bandwidths associated with the units of data. For example, a first group of data (e.g., from a first channel) may have a first associated bandwidth and a second group of data (e.g., from a second channel) may have a second associated bandwidth. It may be desirable to arbitrate fairly (i.e., round robin) within the two groups of data, but to output data from the two groups in proportion to their bandwidths. If the first bandwidth is twice the second bandwidth, for example, units of data from the first group should be output twice as often as units of data from the second group.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an arbiter 100 for performing weighted round robin arbitration among data units according to channel bandwidths associated with the data units. Arbiter 100 may include a table 110 and a counter 120. Table 110 may contain all data to be arbitrated among. Data associated with higher-bandwidth channels may be distributed more frequently throughout table 110. For example, data units from a channel with a bandwidth ten times greater than that of another channel may appear ten times as often in the table as data units from the other channel. To ensure fair arbitration among data units associated with a given channel bandwidth, those data units should be uniformly spaced throughout table 110.
Counter 120 may be configured to sequentially step through table 110 at periodic intervals and cause data at the current location to be output. When counter 120 reaches the end of table 110, it may begin traversing table 110 at the other end. Such a sequential traversal of table 110 results in fair (i.e., round robin) arbitration among the elements in table 110. Causing the data to be distributed throughout table 110 with a frequency proportional to its channel bandwidth results in a weighting of the arbitration outputs according to their associated channel bandwidths.
The size and complexity of arbiter 100 shown in FIG. 1, however, may increase with both the number of different bandwidths and the ratio of the highest bandwidth to the lowest bandwidth. For example, if this ratio is 50, then fifty elements in table 110 would be needed for the higher bandwidth channel to every one element for the lower bandwidth channel.
Thus, there exists a need for a weighted arbiter that efficiently handles data at a number of different bandwidths and ratios of bandwidths.

Programmable systems and methods for weighted round robin arbitration


A display unit with an LED matrix, particularly for outdoors, with display points arranged in lines and columns, which can be triggered by a control device and which are monitored for display errors by a monitoring device. A simple design provides a dependable function because the monitoring device has a current monitoring device with a current sensor, by which a trigger current for each display point can be detected and assigned to the respective display point by the monitoring device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display unit with an LED matrix, in particular for outdoors, with display points arranged in lines and columns, which can be triggered by a control device and which are monitored for display errors by a monitoring device.
2. Description of Prior Art
It is assumed that a display unit with an LED matrix with a monitoring device for display errors is known. There, the monitoring device is elaborate and not capable to detect the exact location of an erroneous display.
A monitoring unit for display errors in connection with an LED display device in the form of a display with seven segments is disclosed in German Patent Publication DE 27 27 800, which has a current sensor transistor. The use of such a monitoring device in connection with an LED matrix does not recommend itself since, because of the plurality of display points, a large outlay would be required. A similar monitoring device for an LED display device in connection with a segment display is also disclosed in German Patent Publication DE 36 20 584 A1, wherein the open collector output of the segment display is uscd. This type of monitoring device also is not suitable for a display unit with an LED matrix.
A matrix display device is known from German Patent Publication DE 40 24 499 C1, wherein the display points are formed by means of the light output ends of optical fibers. Bistable closing elements are arranged over the light output ends of the optical fibers for creating various displays. For opening, or respectively for closing the closing elements, setting and resetting pulses are applied to the letter in lines and columns and are monitored by respective optical couplers. A separate monitoring circuit is required to determine whether the display points are actually illuminated.
It is one object of this invention to provide a display device with an LED matrix, which offers dependable functional monitoring along with a simple construction.
This object is attained as discussed in the specification and required by the claims. Accordingly, the monitoring device has a current monitoring device with a current sensor, by means of which a trigger current for each display point can be detected and assigned to the respective display point by the monitoring device. With these measures, every display point of the display device is monitored and a localization of the defective display point is available.
The outlay for triggering the display device and the required output, along with simultaneous dependable functional monitoring of the individual display points, is reduced because one current sensor is provided per line or per column. The columns and lines corresponding to the coordinate points of the display points to be activated can be triggered cyclically in multiplex operation with a frequency which results in an activation of the LEDs to be triggered above the flicker fusion frequency of the eye. In the process an optimal display quality is maintained, wherein it is possible to achieve a high luminance by the level of the triggering pulses, which can be tuned to the existing exterior light conditions by means of a modulation of the pulse width.
The location of the respectively activated display point can be simply determined because current signals of the current sensors in the control device returned by an acknowledgment line can be evaluated in respect to an error of the display point to be activated on the basis of the time information of the line triggering present in the control device, together with the time information of the column triggering. By the step the current sensors are constituted by an optical coupler, which is connected in parallel with the line triggering lines, or respectively the column triggering lines, and it is possible to detect the triggering current free of potential and to return the information regarding this to the control device for evaluation without triggering being affected.
Different evaluations and reactions in case of an error are made possible in a simple manner because the control device has an error memory in which error reports can be deposited. An error indication and/or switch-off of the display device can be controlled on the basis of the deposited error reports. For example, it is possible to make the error criteria a function of several successive measurements. It can be decided whether an error report should be made when one or several illuminated points fail, or whether, with a defined, predeterminable number of missing illuminated points, the display device should be switched off because of displays which can no longer be clearly recognized (garbling).
In order to make possible a large-area display with dependable operation, the display can be composed of several display modules, that display module can have a control unit with an error memory, which is part of the control device. Each display module is controllable and the total display can be put together from the displays of the individual display modules by means of the control device. It is also possible with these measures to determine whether a display module needs to be replaced.
The monitoring device can be completed because a reference element per display module is provided, by which a long-term change of the display properties of the display module can be detected, and/or because a temperature sensor per display module is provided, and that by means of the control unit a reference element signal, or respectively a temperature sensor signal, can be evaluated in respect to a deviation from a set value.
For example, if the achievable luminance is reduced below a predeterminable threshold, or if the color values of a color display device change by a predeterminable value in relation to a reference value, it is possible to output corresponding information for replacing the display module. It is, for example, possible to switch on a ventilator on the basis of the signal from the temperature sensor.


A method for moderating an electronic message includes intercepting the electronic message at a server computing device, and evaluating content of the electronic message at the server computing device to determine if the electronic message is required to enter a moderation workflow prior to delivering the electronic message to at least one recipient. The method also includes sending an approval request message from the server computing device to at least one moderator device, receiving a first moderation decision message at the server computing device from the at least one moderator, sending an update message from the server computing device to the at least one moderator to update the approval request message to include one or more properties of the first moderation decision, and removing the approval request message from the moderation workflow.

In large organizations, it is sometimes necessary for certain communications to go through an approval process prior to being delivered to a final destination. For example, it may be desirable to evaluate the content of an e-mail message sent to a large distribution list to ensure compliance with appropriate usage policies. The evaluation process can require designated moderators to view the content of the respective communication and makes decisions about whether the communication should be allowed to the destination. Such a manual review process can be opaque and time-consuming.


A new and distinct cultivar of Pieris plant named ‘Shy’, characterized by its compact plant habit; freely branching habit; leaves that are initially purple red in color and with development become green in color; inflorescences that are initially upright; relatively late flowering response; numerous deep purplish pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pieris plant, botanically known as Pieris japonica, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Shy'.
The new Pieris plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hopewell, Oreg. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact Pieris plants with upright inflorescences, stable and attractive flower color and good garden performance.
The new Pieris plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in February, 1988, in Hopewell, Oreg., of Pieris japonica var. japonica 'Reversal', not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Pieris japonica var. taiwanensis 'Shears', not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Pieris plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Hopewell, Oreg. in March, 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new Pieris plant by cuttings propagated in a controlled environment in Hopewell, Oreg. since 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Pieris plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A portable high air volume electrostatic collection precipitator for analyzing air is provided which is a relatively small, self-contained device. The device has a collection electrode adapted to carry a variety of collecting media. An air intake is provided such that air to be analyzed flows through an ionization section with a transversely positioned ionization wire to ionize analytes in the air, and then flows over the collection electrode where ionized analytes are collected. Air flow is maintained at but below turbulent flow, Ionizable constituents in the air are ionized, attracted to the collection electrode, and precipitated in the selected medium which can be removed for analysis.

Electrostatic precipitators, or collectors, are known to the art. In the simplest form, an electrostatic precipitator has a collection electrode that is charged to a relatively high electrostatic potential. Adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the collection electrode is another surface that is electrostatically charged. The collection electrode and the adjacent surface are oppositely charged by a power source, thereby creating an electrostatic field. As air and any constituents of the air move into the electrostatic field, the ionizable constituents of the air are ionized or charged. The ionizable constituents then are attracted to and collect on the collection electrode or in an associated collection medium.
There are two main types of electrostatic precipitators. Dry precipitators perform essentially as described above. Constituents collected on the electrode must be periodically wiped off or otherwise removed from the electrode, or the electrode must be replaced. Wiping mechanisms may be used, or the precipitator must be periodically shut down for cleaning.
Wet or liquid electrostatic precipitators also make use of collection electrodes. In this type of precipitator, however, the collection electrode is periodically or continually washed with a liquid. In these types of precipitators, the collection electrodes are generally tubular or are planar sheets or plates that are arranged either horizontally or vertically. In a vertical arrangement a liquid such as water is conveyed along the upper edges of the sheets or plates such that it flows down the electrodes. The liquid serves to clean the collection electrode(s) on a continuous or periodic basis, avoiding the need to stop the operation of the precipitator to clean or replace electrodes. The liquid is typically conveyed to a disposal system where it can be filtered and otherwise cleaned. Examples of wet precipitators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,667 to D. D. Mullen and in U.S. Publication No. 2004/0083790A1 of Duane C. Carlson, et al.
There are numerous designs of the two types of precipitators briefly described above and known to the art. The large precipitators are typically used in industrial and commercial applications to clean ventilation air in buildings of dust and other constituents, or to clean exhaust air from chemical and other manufacturing processes. To accomplish this, the precipitators are designed to provide the greatest surface area possible for collection electrodes to increase the efficiency of the cleaning process. These structures require correspondingly large enclosures. Also, precipitators of this size for these purposes require significant amounts of electrical power to create and maintain the electrostatic fields. An industrial device of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,230 to Robert Leonard.
For the foregoing reasons, electrostatic precipitators known to the art are generally limited to use in fixed locations. They are also limited to use at locations having space available for such apparatus, and at locations having sufficient resources, such as available power. These requirements also limit use of such precipitators to locations and to uses justifying the expenditures necessary to install, operate, and maintain such devices. While most precipitators known in the art are limited to specific uses such as cleaning air that is being taken in to a facility or to air that is being exhausted from a facility, there are also sampling precipitators that are used for removing ionized particles for identification.

High volume, multiple use, portable precipitator


A utility knife which includes a feature for presenting a user with a replacement blade holder containing replacement blades when the separate halves of the knife body, referred to as handle portions, are opened to expose an interior cavity is disc losed. A pivotable latching lever selectively movable between a latched position and an unlatched position permits the two handle portions to pivot relative to one another about a pivot axis when the lever is in the unlatched position so that the replacement blade holder may be presented to the user. The disclosed utility knife having a replacement blade holder and a latching lever is capable of very economic manufacture, yet is dependable in operation.

Utility knives are widely used in construction, business and hobby applications for cutting such materials as paperboard, wallboard, string and other objects. Commonly, such utility knives are in the form of an elongate hollow housing that can be gripped by the user along an intermediate portion thereof and into which there are placed trapezoidal flat cutting blades. The blades typically have a single cutting edge. The blade is typically slidably mounted between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position in which the cutting edge is at least partially exposed through a front end aperture or slot, the slot being coupled to a manually operated element, such as a button positioned in a manner convenient to be actuated by the user's hand.
Some utility knives include two mating halves secured to one another with a screw. A blade is fixed between the two halves and is released and replaced by removing the screw and separating the two halves. The screw is typically removed by using a screwdriver. Also, the two halves of these utility knives are often made from metal material.
The flat cutting blades used in utility knives are most useful and are easiest to use when the blades are extremely sharp. These blades, therefore, are frequently replaced once they become dull. For this purpose, known utility knives provide storage within the handle for additional blades so that these will be readily available when needed. In order to facilitate this replacement procedure, some utility knives provide a blade holder which stores the plurality of blades and which may be removed from the utility knife handle. However, these are disadvantaged in that once the holder is removed from the handle, there is nothing to prevent one or more of the blades from falling out. In the situation where the blade holder is not removable, the blade holder is not positionable to permit quick and convenient access to the replacement blades.
Thus, there is a need for a utility knife that presents a user with replacement blades contained therein by providing a replacement blade holder pivotally connected internally to the utility knife. A further need exists for a utility knife that includes a latching lever selectively movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein handle portions of the utility knife can pivot relative to one another about a pivot axis when the lever is in the unlatched position.


Cells and methods of using these cells for expressing a transgene expressing a protein that is aberrantly expressed in a metabolic disorders from a safe harbor locus.

Gene therapy holds enormous potential for a new era of human therapeutics. These methodologies will allow treatment for conditions that have not been addressable by standard medical practice. Gene therapy can include the many variations of genome editing techniques such as disruption or correction of a gene locus, and insertion of an expressible transgene that can be controlled either by a specific exogenous promoter fused to the transgene, or by the endogenous promoter found at the site of insertion into the genome.
Delivery and insertion of the transgene are examples of hurdles that must be solved for any real implementation of this technology. For example, although a variety of gene delivery methods are potentially available for therapeutic use, all involve substantial tradeoffs between safety, durability and level of expression. Methods that provide the transgene as an episome (e.g. basic adenovirus, AAV and plasmid-based systems) are generally safe and can yield high initial expression levels, however, these methods lack robust episome replication, which may limit the duration of expression in mitotically active tissues. In contrast, delivery methods that result in the random integration of the desired transgene (e.g. integrating lentivirus) provide more durable expression but, due to the untargeted nature of the random insertion, may provoke unregulated growth in the recipient cells, potentially leading to malignancy via activation of oncogenes in the vicinity of the randomly integrated transgene cassette. Moreover, although transgene integration avoids replication-driven loss, it does not prevent eventual silencing of the exogenous promoter fused to the transgene. Over time, such silencing results in reduced transgene expression for the majority of random insertion events. In addition, integration of a transgene rarely occurs in every target cell, which can make it difficult to achieve a high enough expression level of the transgene of interest to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
In recent years, a new strategy for transgene integration has been developed that uses cleavage with site-specific nucleases to bias insertion into a chosen genomic locus (see, e.g., co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,888,121). This approach offers the prospect of improved transgene expression, increased safety and expressional durability, as compared to classic integration approaches, since it allows exact transgene positioning for a minimal risk of gene silencing or activation of nearby oncogenes.
One approach involves the integration of a transgene into its cognate locus, for example, insertion of a wild type transgene into the endogenous locus to correct a mutant gene. Alternatively, the transgene may be inserted into a non-cognate locus chosen specifically for its beneficial properties. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No. 20120128635 relating to targeted insertion of a factor IX (FIX) transgene. Targeting the cognate locus can be useful if one wishes to replace expression of the endogenous gene with the transgene while still maintaining the expressional control exerted by the endogenous regulatory elements. Specific nucleases can be used that cleave within or near the endogenous locus and the transgene can be integrated at the site of cleavage through homology directed repair (HDR) or by end capture during non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The integration process is determined by the use or non-use of regions of homology in the transgene donors between the donor and the endogenous locus.
Alternatively, the transgene may be inserted into a specific "safe harbor" location in the genome that may either utilize the promoter found at that safe harbor locus, or allow the expressional regulation of the transgene by an exogenous promoter that is fused to the transgene prior to insertion. Several such "safe harbor" loci have been described, including CCR5, HPRT, AAVS1, Rosa and albumin. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,951,925 and 8,110,379; U.S. Publication Nos. 20080159996; 20100218264; 20120017290; 20110265198; 20130137104; 20130122591; 20130177983 and 20130177960 and 20150056705. As described above, nucleases specific for the safe harbor can be utilized such that the transgene construct is inserted by either HDR- or NHEJ-driven processes.
An especially attractive application of gene therapy involves the treatment of disorders that are either caused by an insufficiency of a secreted gene product or that are treatable by secretion of a therapeutic protein. Such disorders are potentially addressable via delivery of a therapeutic transgene to a modest number of cells, provided that each recipient cell expresses a high level of the therapeutic gene product. In such a scenario, relief from the need for gene delivery to a large number of cells can enable the successful development of gene therapies for otherwise intractable indications. Such applications would require permanent, safe, and very high levels of transgene expression. Thus the development of a safe harbor which exhibits these properties would provide substantial utility in the field of gene therapy.
A considerable number of disorders are either caused by an insufficiency of a secreted gene product or are treatable by secretion of a therapeutic protein. Clotting disorders, alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency, lysosomal storage diseases and Type I diabetes, for example, are fairly common genetic disorders in which expression of certain proteins is aberrant in some manner, i.e., lack of expression of a protein or production of a mutant protein. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20130177983 and 20130177960.
Metabolic diseases are those in which an enzyme involved in a metabolic process is aberrant, resulting in either a build-up in a metabolic precursor and/or lack of production of a needed metabolic product. These diseases are often autosomally recessive. Metabolic diseases that are caused by aberrant protein production include, methylmalonic acidemia, propionic acidemia, glycogen storage diseases type 1, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic and metabolic disease, urea cycle disorders (e.g., citrullinemia or OTC deficiency), Crigler Najjar Syndrome (CNS), Gilbert syndrome, hepatorenal tyrosinemia, primary hyperoxaluria. transthyretin gene (TTR)-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR), Wilson's disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), and familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD).
Treatment options for metabolic disorders are currently very limited. For instance, in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH patients, several defects can cause an abnormal level of serum cholesterol and can be associated with early onset cardiovascular disease. Treatment for FH usually involves the use of statins, but even when statins reduce the patient's serum cholesterol down to a normal level, the patients still have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, statin use in FH patients that are heterozygous for their defect may be more successful that treatment of patients that are homozygotes. In another example, PKU patients must follow a strict diet avoiding foods containing aromatic amino acids, sometimes for life to avoid the build-up of phenylalanine, since these patients are unable to expression the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxyylase and convert phenylalanine to tyrosine naturally.
Albumin is a protein that is produced in the liver and secreted into the blood. In humans, serum albumin comprises 60% of the protein found in blood, and its function seems to be to regulate blood volume by regulating the colloid osmotic pressure. It also serves as a carrier for molecules with low solubility, for example lipid soluble hormones, bile salts, free fatty acids, calcium and transferrin. In addition, serum albumin carries therapeutics, including warfarin, phenobutazone, clofibrate and phenytoin. In humans, albumin is highly expressed, resulting in the production of approximately 15 g of albumin protein each day. Albumin has no autocrine function, and there does not appear to be any phenotype associated with monoallelic knockouts and only mild phenotypic observations are found for biallelic knockouts (see Watkins et at (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91:9417). See, also, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20130177983 and 20130177960.
Albumin has also been used when coupled to therapeutic reagents to increase the serum half-life of the therapeutic. For example, Osborn et al (J Pharm Exp Thera (2002) 303(2):540) disclose the pharmacokinetics of a serum albumin-interferon alpha fusion protein and demonstrate that the fusion protein had an approximate 140-fold slower clearance such that the half-life of the fusion was 18-fold longer than for the interferon alpha protein alone. Other examples of therapeutic proteins recently under development that are albumin fusions include Albulin-G™, Cardeva™ and Albugranin™ (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, fused to Insulin, b-type natriuretic, or GCSF, respectively), Syncria® (GlaxoSmithKline, fused to Glucagon-like peptide-1) and Albuferon α-2B, fused to IFN-alpha (see Current Opinion in Drug Discovery and Development, (2009), vol 12, No. 2. p. 288). In these cases, Albulin-G™, Cardeva™ and Syncria® are all fusion proteins where the albumin is found on the N-terminus of the fusion, while Albugranin™ and Albuferon alpha 2G are fusions where the albumin is on the C-terminus of the fusion.
Thus, there remains a need for additional methods and compositions that can be used to express a desired transgene at a therapeutically relevant level, while avoiding any associated toxicity, and which may limit expression of the transgene to the desired tissue type, for example to treat metabolic diseases.

Isolated mouse or human cell having an exogenous transgene in an endogenous albumin gene


Methods and systems are provided for detecting a fuel system leak. One or more of a boost pressure from a compressor and vacuum from an intake manifold is sequentially applied on a fuel tank. A leak is detected based on a subsequent change in fuel tank pressure.

Vehicles may be fitted with evaporative emission control systems to reduce the release of fuel vapors to the atmosphere. For example, vaporized hydrocarbons (HCs) from a fuel tank may be stored in a fuel vapor canister packed with an adsorbent which adsorbs and stores the vapors. At a later time, when the engine is in operation, the evaporative emission control system allows the vapors to be purged into the engine intake manifold for use as fuel. However, leaks in the emissions control system can inadvertently allow fuel vapor to escape to the atmosphere. Thus, various approaches are used to identify such leaks.
One example leak detection method is described by Hassdenteufel et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,376. Therein, during engine operation, fuel systems leaks are detected by applying either a negative pressure or a positive pressure on the fuel system. In particular, the fuel tank is either over-pressurized by applying positive pressure from an air pump, or under-pressurized by applying an engine intake vacuum. Based on a change in the fuel tank pressure, relative to a pressure change obtained across a reference leak/orifice, leak detection is determined. In still other approaches a vacuum pump may be used to apply a negative pressure on the fuel system for leak detection.
However, the inventors herein have identified potential issues with such an approach. To perform the leak detection routine, an air pump or a vacuum pump is operated. As such, operation of the pump may consume vehicle power and reduce fuel economy. In addition, the need for a dedicated pump increases component costs. As another example, some leaks may be masked in the presence of positive pressure while others may be masked in the presence of negative pressure. If the leak goes undetected, exhaust emissions may be degraded.
In one example, the above issues may be at least partly addressed by a method for a boosted engine. The method comprises, indicating fuel system degradation in response to a change in fuel system pressure following application of each of a positive pressure generated at a turbocharger and a negative pressure generated at an engine intake. In this way, a pump-less system is provided wherein existing engine turbocharger hardware is used to perform an engine leak test.
For example, when leak detection conditions are met while the engine is operating with boost, a positive pressure leak test may be performed. Therein, each of a regulator valve and a canister purge valve may be opened to draw a portion of the boosted intake air (compressed by a turbocharger compressor) and apply it on a fuel tank via a canister. After applying the positive pressure for a duration (e.g., until a target fuel tank pressure has been achieved), the applying of positive pressure may be discontinued, and a change in the fuel tank pressure may be monitored. If the fuel tank pressure falls from the target pressure to atmospheric pressure at a fast rate (e.g., higher than a threshold rate), then it may be determined that a leak is present in the fuel system.
However, even if the fuel tank pressure falls at a slow rate, a leak may be present but may be masked by the positive pressure. Thus, to confirm the presence of no leaks, a negative pressure leak test may also be performed. Therein, the canister purge valve may be opened to draw a portion of the engine intake manifold vacuum and apply it on the fuel tank via the canister. After applying the negative pressure for a duration (e.g., until a target fuel tank vacuum has been achieved), the applying of negative pressure may be discontinued, and a change in the fuel tank vacuum may be monitored. If the fuel tank vacuum rises from the target vacuum to atmospheric pressure at a fast rate (e.g., higher than a threshold rate), then it may be determined that a leak is present in the fuel system. In other words, positive boost pressure is opportunistically used during boosted engine operation to perform a positive pressure leak test while natural engine vacuum is opportunistically used during naturally aspirated engine vacuum conditions to perform a negative pressure leak test.
In this way, positive pressure from an existing engine turbocharger can be used to perform a positive pressure leak test. By using the boosted intake air generated by the turbocharger compressor to perform the leak test, existing hardware may be used and the need for a dedicated positive pressure pump is reduced. As such, this provides component and cost reduction benefits. By using both positive and negative pressure to determine fuel system degradation, leaks masked by the presence of positive pressure can be identified by the negative pressure leak test, while leaks masked by the presence of negative pressure can be identified by the positive pressure leak test. By improving leak detection, exhaust emissions can be improved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


A system for capturing carbon dioxide in flue gas includes a fuel cell assembly including at least one fuel cell including a cathode portion configured to receive, as cathode inlet gas, the flue gas generated by the flue gas generating device or a derivative thereof, and to output cathode exhaust gas and an anode portion configure to receive an anode inlet gas and to output anode exhaust gas, a fuel cell assembly voltage monitor configured to measure a voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and a controller configured to receive the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell assembly voltage monitor, determine an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and reduce the carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly when the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is above a predetermined threshold utilization.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of fuel cell power production systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods useable in a fuel cell power production system for controlling carbon dioxide capture and utilization.
A fuel cell, such as a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), is a device which directly converts chemical energy stored in hydrocarbon fuel into electrical energy via an electrochemical reaction. Generally, a fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte layer or matrix which conducts electrically charged ions. To increase power production or output, multiple fuel cells are arranged in series (also known as a fuel cell stack), with an electrically conductive separator between each individual cell.
As a molten carbonate fuel cell generates an electrical current, carbon dioxide is transferred from the cathode (or oxidant) side to the anode (or fuel side) of the fuel cell. At the cathode side, the carbon dioxide is dilute and accordingly more difficult to separate from other gaseous substances (such as nitrogen or oxygen). At the anode side, the carbon dioxide is more concentrated and accordingly more easily separated from the primary co-component of water and hydrogen.
When the MCFC is operated in a carbon capture mode, flue gas containing carbon dioxide from an external source (such as exhaust from a carbonaceous-fuel-fired power plant) is fed to the cathode side of the fuel cell. The fuel cell is operated to maintain a predetermined carbon capture rate, but there may be variability in the carbon content of the flue gas as it is introduced to the cathode side of the fuel cell. If carbon dioxide over-utilization occurs (such as removal of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide from the system), the fuel cell(s)′ durability and/or life could be affected.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods useable in a fuel cell system for preventing carbon dioxide over-utilization by controlling a carbon capture rate from the flue gas provided to a cathode of a fuel cell and ensure that a high percentage of the total available carbon in the flue gas is captured while achieving efficient operation of the fuel cell system.

System including fuel cell assembly voltage monitor


A display device having driving circuits one for each of its light-emitting elements permits easy inspection of the driving circuits. The display device is formed as a fluorescent display tube that has an array of light-emitting units each consisting of a light-emitting element and its driving circuit. The display device further has a multiple-stage AND circuit consisting of 2-input AND circuits connected sequentially. One input of each stage is connected to the output of one of the driving circuits, another input of the first stage is connected to a power line, and the output of the last stage is connected to an inspection terminal, so that inspection is performed by checking whether a driving voltage appears at the inspection terminal. By activating all the driving circuits, whether they are functioning properly when they are in operation is checked globally; then, by deactivating one of the driving circuits, whether they are functioning properly when they are not in operation is checked individually. Instead of the multiple-stage AND circuit, a multiple-stage OR circuit may be used, in which case the other input of the first stage is grounded, and the output of the last stage is connected to the inspection terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device that drives a plurality of light-emitting elements individually through driving circuits provided one for each light-emitting element, and to an inspection circuit suitable for the inspection of such driving circuits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Display devices are known that are provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a predetermined pattern or in a regular matrix (array) and that for desired displayed images by controlling the turning on and off of the light-emitting elements individually.
A typical example of a display device hating light-emitting elements arranged in a predetermined pattern is a 7-segment light-emitting diode (LED) display device that displays numerals and alphabets with seven picture elements. With such a display device, which has a relatively small number picture elements, it is customary to control the turning on and off of the light-emitting elements individually through driving circuits provided one for each light-emitting element.
Another example is a fluorescent display tube, which is a display device that has not only light-emitting elements arranged in a matrix but also fluorescent spots serving as picture elements arranged in rows and columns and that makes them emit light by the action of thermoelectrons. Conventionally, in a fluorescent display tube, picture elements that are to be turned on are selected through time-division driving achieved by the use of strip-shaped electrodes. In recent years, however, to avoid inconveniences inherent in time-division driving, it is common to provide driving circuits one for each picture element to control the turning on and off of the light-emitting elements individually.
By providing driving circuits one for each picture element, it is possible to reduce the driving voltage, which leads to many advantages such as reduction in the power consumption, reduction in the heat generated, simplification of the driving circuits, and an extended working life of the fluorescent spots. On the other hand, however, exactly because this construction requires as many driving circuits as picture elements, it inevitably requires too many driving circuits to display high-resolution images.
A fluorescent display tube that has driving circuits one for each picture element is constructed as follows. On a semiconductor chip, driving circuits and electrodes are formed in a matrix, and, over the surfaces of these electrodes, fluorescent material is applied. A hot cathode is placed opposite this semiconductor chip, with a grid between them, and all of these components are housed in a tube, which is then evacuated of air. The electrodes are formed on the surfaces of the semiconductor layers at the top of the driving circuits, and the voltages at the electrodes are varied by the driving circuits. Such changes in the voltages at the electrodes cause changes in the number of thermoelectrons striking the fluorescent spots, and thereby the emission of light is controlled.
Usually, driving circuits formed on a semiconductor chip are inspected by touching the output pad of each driving circuit with a probe to measure the voltage there. However, in the fluorescent display tube described above, it is extremely difficult to use this inspection method, because the driving circuits are connected directly to the electrodes without using pads or the like, that is, the electrodes are formed immediately on the top of the driving circuits, and therefore touching the electrodes with a probe results in damaging the driving circuits.
For this reason, in a fluorescent display tube of this type, the driving circuits are inspected by checking actual emission of light, that is, by feeding driving voltages to the electrodes to actually drive the driving circuits and checking whether each fluorescent spot emits light or not through observation with the unaided eye or through measurement with an optical instrument.
However, in a fluorescent display tube, emission of light is possible only after the application of fluorescent material to the electrodes, the arrangement of the hot cathode, and the evacuation of air from the tube. In other words, the fluorescent display tube can emit light only after it has been finished as an end product. This means that it is practically impossible to inspect the driving circuits in the middle of manufacture. As a result, it is inevitable to finish a product first of all by going through all manufacturing steps even if there are defects in the driving circuits, and thus it is impossible to improve productivity.
In addition, it is not easy to check emission of light with the unaided eye. In a display tube with a relatively small number of picture elements over a relatively wide area, it is possible to observe emission of light from all picture elements at a time. However, in a display tube with many picture elements arranged close to one another, when all picture elements are turned on at a time, some defective picture elements may go unnoticed even if they do not emit light. Accordingly, it is necessary to make the picture elements emit light individually, and thus inspection requires much labor and time. Using an optical instrument for light detection improves inspection efficiency, but, in a fluorescent display tube with many picture elements arranged close to one another, it is all the same necessary to make the picture elements emit light individually, and thus inspection requires much time.
On the other hand, with the 7-segment LED display device mentioned earlier, where the driving circuits are provided with output pads, it is possible to adopt the inspection method that uses a probe. Accordingly, it is possible to inspect the driving circuits without actually effecting light emission. However, it is necessary to measure the voltage at the output of each driving circuit by touching one output pad after another with the probe, and therefore inspection requires more time as there are more picture elements.
As described above, in a conventional display device that has driving circuits one for each light-emitting element, inspection of the driving circuits is not easy, and, depending on the light emission method that the display device adopts, inspection of the driving circuit is simply impossible until the completion of manufacture. In addition, in a display device that has a large number of light-emitting elements, inspection requires too much time.

Display device and an inspection circuit


Baffle inserts or shims are disclosed for controlling the flow circuiting in plate or tube type heat exchangers of the kind having a plurality of stacked, hollow plate pairs or tubes including mating end bosses or areas or spacers having communicating openings formed therein to form a manifold for the flow of fluid through the plate pairs. The baffle inserts are located between preselected adjacent end bosses in the area of the end bosses only, to define different flow circuits through the plate pairs or tubes without having to use specially shaped plates or inserting obstructions into the flow passages inside the plate pairs or tubes. A method of using the baffle inserts is disclosed in which the baffle inserts are inserted during preassembly of the heat exchanger prior to the brazing operation.

Plate or tube type heat exchangers have been produced in the past which are made up of a plurality of stacked, hollow plate pairs or tubes for the flow of one fluid therethrough. The plate pairs or tubes often have end bosses located at opposed ends to form common flow manifolds for feeding fluid through the plate pairs or tubes. The plate pairs or tubes also allow for the transverse flow of another fluid, such as air, between the plate pairs or tubes, and cooling fins are often located in between the plate pairs or tubes to enhance the heat transfer co-efficient of the heat exchanger.
It is sometimes desirable to be able to force the fluid to flow along a predetermined path or circuit using a preselected combination or order of flow amongst the plate pairs or tubes. It is also desirable sometimes to divide the stack of plate pairs or tubes into separate modules, each having its own inlet and outlet, so that there is, in effect, multiple heat exchangers or modules in one unitary structure.
One way of accomplishing these desired results in the past has been to use special or unique plates or tubes for some of the plate pairs or tubes, where the end bosses in the special plates or tubes are closed. Another way is to use special blank plates between or inside some of the plate pairs or tubes. A difficulty with these methods, besides causing inefficient flow obstructions, is that several unique or odd-shaped components are necessary which make it difficult to assemble the heat exchangers and result in many errors being made by positioning the wrong components in the wrong locations. The result is many defective or inoperative heat exchangers being produced.
The present invention eliminates the need for special plates or tubes and unwanted flow obstructions yet easily accommodates different flow circuit configurations by using a simple baffle inserted between the plate or tube end bosses prior to brazing the heat exchanger.