In a method and apparatus for detecting tumorous cell tissue in a gastrointestinal tract, electromagnetic radiation is emitted in a locally defined manner from an endoscope onto cell tissue and, after deactivation of the radiation, the decay of the inherent fluorescence intensity of the irradiated cell tissue, excited by the electromagnetic radiation, is detected, with temporal and spectral resolution and with a known scanning rate for at least one wavelength. From the intensity measurement values obtained in this manner, the difference autocorrelation function of the intensity decay is determined, from which a fractal dimension for the irradiated cell tissue is determined. The value of the fractal dimension is used to classify the irradiated cell tissue as to a degree to which the cell tissue is tumorous.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method to detect tumorous cell tissue in the gastrointestinal tract with the use of an endocapsule.
To detect carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract—for example in the course of a stomach endoscopy—tissue samples are extracted and examined for the presence of a carcinoma. A number of biopsies are frequently required. In order to reduce their number, a procedure known as auto-fluorescence endoscopy is used in which the fluorescence of substances inherent to the body is utilized, which substances occur in an increased concentration in malignant tissue due to increased metabolic activity. An additional possibility for biopsy control is the application of endomicroscopy, i.e. an examination with the aid of a microscope integrated into an endoscope, wherein a contrast agent must be administered to the patient to stain the tissue. However, biopsies continue to be necessary in both cases.
The extracted tissue samples are histologically examined in a laboratory. For example, slices are produced from the deep-frozen tell tissue samples, which slices are then assessed by the pathologist. A high time cost is necessary for this since not only the sample preparation, but rather also the documentation and the transport require time. Wait times also cannot be avoided. The results are often only present a few days later, which leads to a large psychological stress for the respective patient.
In addition to the aforementioned assessment of tissue samples, it is also known to conduct a fluorescence cystoscopy for a tumor diagnosis. Tumorous cell tissue is thereby made light-sensitive with suitable chemical substances, and fluorescence at the cells prepared in such a manner is excited upon exposure with light. The light for excitation has a different color than the fluorescence light. However, the substances that are used are strongly phototoxic and can cause necrosis at the correspondingly treated tissue. This can also be utilized for a therapy against carcinomatous tumors, but the knowledge of the positions and the propagation of tumorous cell tissue is required.
A technique known as 5-ALA induced detection (in which 5-aminolevulinic acid is injected), or methods that are commercially known as Hexvix and TOOKAD and in which other photoactive substances are used, are used to detect tumorous cell tissue.
It is disadvantageous that substances that are stressful to the respective patient immediately (but also subsequently over a longer time period) must be introduced into the body of the patient. After the injection of the substances, the examinations cannot be implemented immediately afterward since a reaction time (that can vary from patient to patient) must elapse.
A method for a laser-induced fluorescence of tissue is moreover known from DE 689 25 586 T2, in which method it should be possible to conclude the respective cell tissue type via a fluorescence excitation and the detection of specific characteristic wavelengths in the detected wavelength spectrum of the fluorescence light.
However, it has been shown that the inherent fluorescence of the body's own chromophores that can be excited to fluorescence in cell tissue (that can be tumorous or healthy) using the occurrence of a wavelength (or possibly also multiple wavelengths) that occur in the fluorescence light spectrum is not unambiguous since a cooperative response of the examined cells cannot be disregarded. These different factors and the biomolecular cell structure have a strong influence, and an association as to whether it is healthy or tumorous cell tissue is not possible with sufficient certainty.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and device for detecting tumorous tissue in the gastrointestinal tract with the aid of an endocapsule


Power switching apparatus comprising switch means having a control terminal and output terminals for connection in series between a power supply and a load. The switch means is responsive to a control signal applied to the control terminal to switch between an ON-state in which it supplies power supply current from the power supply through the output terminals to the load and an OFF-state in which it interrupts the supply of power through the output terminals to the load. The apparatus includes detection means for detecting an open-load condition of the load at least during the ON-state of the switch means, comprising detection control means operable in the ON-state of the switch means for modifying the control signal so as to start switching the switch means to the OFF-state during a lapse of time substantially less than the time required for the switch means to reach the OFF-state and for restoring the control signal to a value corresponding to the ON-state at or before the end of the lapse of time, and comparator means responsive to variation of voltage at the output terminals during the lapse of time. The duration of the variation of voltage during the open-load detection is too short and its magnitude too small for the variation of load current to be perceptible, notably in the case where the load is a lamp.

Power switching apparatus with open-load detection, referred to as a 'smart power switch', is used in many applications, including automotive equipment, especially to control vehicle lighting, for example. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, usable in such applications.
Integrated smart power switches use different strategies to detect the disconnection of an output load.
The simplest strategy is to monitor the status of the output during the OFF-state. In a known system of this kind, a very small test current is fed to the output line and the voltage across the load is monitored by a voltage comparator. With a normal load, the low impedance of the load ties the output voltage close to ground level (in the case of a high-side switch), in case of load disconnection or open circuit the output is tied to high voltage level by the current source.
The disadvantage of this solution is that it is not acceptable for detection of open-load during the ON-state of the switch, which is a particular disadvantage in many applications, such as switching automotive lighting, for example incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes ('LED's). To generate an information using this type of solution during the ON-state, the load must be switched OFF temporarily, which is visible as a flickering of the lamp. Even measurement during the OFF-state of the load can only be performed when the output is energised at least at low current levels but which may also generate unacceptable visible light, especially when using LED light sources.
Another technique to monitor a load disconnection or open circuit condition is to measure the load current in the switch. This can be done with a dedicated magnetic coupler or a shunt resistor based current measurement circuit. However, such circuits introduce not only additional cost and space requirements but also an additional voltage drop.
Another solution to measure the load current in the switch, especially where the switch comprises a MOS transistor is to mirror the output current during the ON-state by a regulated current source. This common and effective solution suffers mainly from a poor precision of the circuit recopy at small output currents. When the voltage drop across the switch is of the same magnitude as the offset of the regulating amplifier the error of the circuit can exceed 100% and adequate current measurement is no more possible.
Fast open-load detection is often required during ON state to get a quick reaction in case of dead bulbs on a car for example in order to be able to react by substituting emergency lighting for the normal lighting with a minimum of disruption. The open-load current detection threshold must be lower than the minimum acceptable current for a normal load. In the case of a standard driver used to drive a wide spread of loads this minimum current becomes difficult to measure. For example: A MOSFET (metal-oxide field-effect transistor) switch driver can be designed in terms of the drain-source resistance Rdson in the On-state to drive a 27 Watts incandescent bulb (Rdson: 40 mOhm typical, 20 mOhm minimum, for DC current of 2 amps from a nominally 12 volt power supply).
However, incandescent bulbs are more and more being replaced by an array of LEDs with minimum current around 100 mA. It is desirable for the same switch and driver to be used for both incandescent bulbs and LEDs so that the openload threshold current has to be adjusted below this 100 mA. Measuring 100 mA on a minimum Rdson of 20 mOhm (during ON state) means an absolute signal of 2 mV to be measured in a harsh environment (fast transients on supply), which is simply not a realistic solution in most applications of this kind.


A system for automatic storage and withdrawal of products, including a storage facility with a plurality of storage locations arranged in rows and columns. A picking arrangement is selectively movable between the plurality of storage locations and a delivery location to pick one or more products contained in selected storage locations and deliver the product(s) to the delivery location according to a selected order. A computer is provided to control movement of the movable picking arrangement according to an order sequence. A number of adjacent storage locations are enclosed in an armored module having armored back, side, and top wall and a front access opening closed by a movable closure which is normally closed and which is selectively opened when the picking arrangement is to pick one or more products contained in any one of the adjacent storage locations within the armored module.

Typical examples of products subjected to security restriction are regulatory controlled drugs, commonly also known as narcotics, in a system for storage and withdrawal of pharmaceutical products. These controlled substances are subjected to strict controls on their storage and withdrawal, which can be effected only by authorized persons under rigid procedural rules, authentication and prescriptions.
In the field of management systems for the automatic storage and retrieval of products, numerous automated stores operating with transfer devices of various types are in fact known. The principal functions which must be performed by such devices are those of receiving an order for the retrieval or the storage of one or more specific products, verifying and selecting the area of the store in which to deposit or retrieve said products, operating the necessary devices so that they move to the locations established according to a particular sequence, actuating the devices so as to withdraw or deposit every product listed in the order to be dealt with and, finally, actuating the devices so that they deposit the withdrawn products at the outlet of the store, or return to the entry of the store to take up a new group of products to be stored.
One of these system for automatic storage and withdrawal of products, particularly but not exclusively pharmaceutical products, is known from WO 03/043912 by the same Applicant, Swisslog Italia S.p.A., whose content is here acknowledged and incorporated by reference.
It is an aim of the present invention to improve the above-mentioned system so that it can accommodate the management of products subjected to security restrictions, such as, but not limited to, controlled substances in a pharmaceutical store.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a system and a method for the automated delivery of products comprising products subjected to security restrictions, which makes it possible to optimize and speed up the operations of storage and retrieval of these products.
A further aim of the present invention is that of producing a store system which is simple, economic and capable of managing large quantities of objects, without jeopardizing the security measures necessary for the secure storage and delivery of products subjected to security restrictions.

System and method for automatic storage and withdrawal of products with security restrictions


An authentication method between a server and a client is provided. The authentication method includes transmitting, to the client, an inquiry message including a first modified secret key generated based on a first secret key and a first blinding value, receiving, from the client, a response message including a response value generated based on the first blinding value, a second secret key, and an error value, calculating the error value from the response value, and determining whether authentication of the client has succeeded based on the error value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lightweight authentication technique. More particularly, the present invention relates to an authentication method using a reduced number of resources.
2. Description of the Related Art
Authentication refers to a process of verifying whether a user or other object is real and is authorized to gain access. Authentication typically includes determining whether the object to be authenticated and the object requiring the authentication are aware of a secret key that they have previously shared. Authentication methods typically include a challenge-response scheme in which, if the object requiring an authentication sends an inquiry value to the object to be authenticated, the object to be authenticated generates a correct response value by using a secret key and returns the generated correct response value, so as to prove that the object to be authenticated is aware of the secret key.
Authentication methods using such a challenge-response scheme are classified into a method using an open key (or non-symmetric key) encryption system, a method using a secret key (or symmetric key) encryption system, a method using a Hash function, and a method using a logical operation. However, an apparatus having limited resources, and therefore typically having a very low calculation ability and storage capability, cannot use an authentication method requiring a large quantity of calculation, such as a symmetric key encryption system.
Among such apparatuses having limited resources, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) apparatus corresponds to a non-contact recognition medium which can provide various services, including services for circulation, distribution, inventory management, etc. In an RFID system, messages are exchanged using a non-contact RF communication between an RFID apparatus and a reader, and the reader uses an authentication method in order to identify whether the RFID apparatus is approved or not. In some cases, an inter-authentication method between a reader and an RFID apparatus is used.
However, current RFID systems suffer various security problems and user privacy violation problems. To address these problems, various lightweight authentication methods have been proposed. Since authentication methods based on a mathematically hard problem using a logical operation are mainly based on the difficulty of the problem of the Learning Parity with Noise (LPN), which is a Nondeterministic Polynomial-Hard (NP-Hard) problem, it is possible to prove the theoretical safety thereof.
However, the conventional authentication methods based on a mathematically hard problem using a logical operation are problematic in that they are vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle-attack. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for providing an authentication that is safer against a man-in-the-middle-attack than the conventionally presented lightweight authentication techniques, that can provide a resource efficiency through minimization of storage quantity/operation quantity/transmission quantity, and that can provide safety based on a mathematically hard problem.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Authentication method between client and server, machine-readable storage medium, client and server

Korea University Research and Business Foundation


When shifting the condition of a pair of a main volume and a sub-volume from a split condition to a pair condition according to a request from a user, an information processing unit which can access the sub-volume is inquired whether it mounts the sub-volume or not. As a result, if a managing computer receives a notice from the information processing unit that it mounts the sub-volume, the managing computer displays a warning on its display. Thereby, data on the sub-volume can be prevented from being erased by an operation mistake of the user.

In a storage system comprising an information processing unit and a disk array unit connected thereto, it is known a function which stores a duplicate of data stored in a storage volume (hereinafter it is called a main volume) also in another storage volume (hereinafter it is called a sub-volume) to redundantly control data stored in the main volume (hereinafter it is called a duplication management function).
Also, as an operation technique of the duplication management function a technique is known which makes it possible to mutually shift between each condition of a condition in which when data is written to the main volume it is controlled to store a duplicate of the data in the sub-volume in real time (hereinafter it is called a pair condition) and a condition in which the pair condition is suspended and the data is not reflected to the sub-volume (hereinafter it is called a split condition).
Here, the shift from the pair condition to the split condition is performed, for example, when the user wants to use data in the main volume without affecting the information processing unit using the main volume. By shifting to the split condition, the sub-volume can be utilized for a use independent of the main volume. Here, as a process which applied to the sub-volume in the split condition, for example, there are a backup process, a process of accumulation or analysis of data, and the like.
After the process using the sub-volume is performed, the shift from the split condition to the pair condition is performed. Further, at this shift, a process to duplicate data which was not reflected to the sub-volume from the main volume to the sub-volume is performed prior to the shift to make the contents of the sub-volume consistent with the contents of the main volume.
As the prior art, refer to JP-A-2001-318833.

Storage system control method, storage system, information processing system, managing computer and program


Packing according to the invention includes a cylinder portion which extends in a direction of an axis, and in which a diameter of a portion in one end side is increased when the packing is fitted to an object. The cylinder portion includes a fold portion which has a tortuous periphery in a cross section orthogonal to the direction of the axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to packing which is used in a crimp assembly. Also, the invention relates to a production method of a crimp assembly using the packing, a production method of a battery housing lid using the packing, and a production method of a battery using the packing.
2. Description of the Related Art
When producing a crimp assembly by fitting a crimp member to an object by a crimping process, packing may be provided in a space between the object and the crimp member in order to make the space air-tight or fluid-tight. Examples of such a crimp assembly include a sealed secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a battery housing lid thereof. The sealed secondary battery is installed in an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle. Also, the sealed secondary battery is used more and more widely as a power source and an auxiliary power source of the electric vehicle and the hybrid vehicle. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for improving performance of the sealed secondary battery, for example, an increasing demand for high output capacity in the market. Also, there is an increasing demand for improving reliability of the sealed secondary battery, such as an increasing demand for preventing fluid leak even under a severe condition.
For example, a sealed battery disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP (A) 8-77999 includes a battery housing main body which has a bottomed hollow rectangular column shape, and which has an opening portion on one side; and a battery housing lid which closes the opening portion of the battery housing main body, and which has an insertion hole. Further, this battery includes plural electrode plates which generate electromotive force; a current collecting washer which is connected to each of the electrode plates; and a terminal member which is connected to the electrode plates. Among them, the terminal member includes a main body portion having a rectangular column shape; and a cylinder portion having a hollow cylindrical shape. Also, the main body portion of the terminal member is arranged outside the battery housing lid. One end of the cylinder portion of the terminal member is fixed to the main body portion. The other end of the cylinder portion of the terminal member is inserted in the insertion hole of the battery housing lid. Packing is provided between the terminal member and the battery housing lid. The packing is obtained by forming a resin member. The packing is formed so as to cover a surface of the main body portion facing the battery housing lid, and a surface of the cylinder portion facing an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. The packing functions as a seal member that provides air-tight sealing between the terminal member and the battery housing. In addition, the packing function as an insulation member between the battery housing lid and the terminal member. In the cylinder portion of the terminal member, an end portion which protrudes beyond the packing and the current collecting plate inside the battery housing lid is subjected to a crimping process.
However, in the aforementioned sealed battery, since the terminal member is solid except the lower end portion, the weight of the terminal member is heavy. Also, in the battery, the packing is simply compressed between the inside of the battery housing lid and the portion of the terminal member subjected to the crimping process, whereby electrolytic solution is sealed. In this configuration, there are variations in the sealing performance. As a result, it is difficult to reliably maintain high air-tightness and fluid-tightness for a long period.
Accordingly, inventors propose various structures of a sealed battery and various production methods thereof. One of the proposed sealed battery includes a metallic battery housing lid which constitutes a connection terminal with one pole; and a terminal member which is fitted to the battery housing lid in an insulating state, and which constitutes a connection terminal with the other pole. In the sealed battery, packing with an electric-insulating property is provided between the hollow cylindrical terminal member which is closed at one end, and a penetration hole for the terminal member, which is provided in the battery housing lid. Further, in the sealed battery, the packing is compressed by a compression deformation portion which bulges in a radial direction at one end of the terminal member so that sealing performance is obtained and the terminal member is fixed.
In this configuration, the hollow cylindrical terminal member which is closed at one end is used. Also, the sealing performance of the packing is obtained, and the terminal member is fixed by the compression deformation portion formed by deforming the portion at the end of the terminal member. Accordingly, since only the hollow cylindrical terminal member whose weight is light is used, weight and cost can be reduced. Further, high sealing performance can be reliably obtained.
Also, in a production method of the proposed sealed battery, first, the hollow cylindrical terminal member which is closed at one end is inserted in the penetration hole provided in the battery housing lid from the side of the one end, through the packing including the cylinder portion which has a cylindrical shape, and which has an electric insulating property and a plastic property, and a flange portion which is positioned at one end of the cylinder portion, and which expands outward in the radial direction. Next, in the terminal member, a portion at the one end which protrudes beyond the battery housing lid is caused to bulge outward in the radial direction by a bulging process. Subsequently, the portion of the terminal member is compressed in an axial direction to be deformed, whereby the sealing performance of the packing is obtained, and the terminal member is fixed. Further, an electrode plate group is housed in a battery housing main body, and the battery housing lid is joined to the battery housing main body. Finally, one end wall of the terminal member is joined to an end surface of the electrode plate group which has one polarity, and an end surface of the electrode plate group which has the other polarity is joined to a bottom wall of the battery housing main body, whereby the sealed battery is produced.
In this sealed battery, when the terminal member is fixed, the portion at one end of the terminal member is caused to bulge in the radial direction, and then is compressed in the axial direction so as to be deformed. Also, at this time, in the cylinder portion of the packing between the terminal member and the penetration hole of the battery housing lid, a diameter of a portion protruding beyond the battery housing lid is increased in the radial direction. In this case, strong tensile stress in the circumferential direction is applied to the portion whose diameter is increased, in the cylinder portion of the packing. Therefore, the portion to which the stress is applied may be torn or cracked. If such damage occurs in the packing, leakage of gas or fluid may occur at the damaged portion, and thus reliability of air tightness and fluid tightness may be decreased.

Packing, production method of crimp assembly, production method of battery housing lid, and production method of battery


A system for precision cleaning of contaminants from the surface of a substrate, such as delicate surfaces or precision parts, utilizing streams of carbon dioxide snow or other cleaning gas. The system includes an enclosed or sealed cleaning container in which at least one jet spray device is housed for directing a stream of cleaning snow against the surface to be cleaned. During cleaning, the cleaning container holding the substrate to be cleaned is maintained under a vacuum or, optionally, at ambient pressure, filled with a clean dry gas. The dislodged contaminants and spent snow are removed from the cleaning zone and disposed of or recycled. Cleaning is accomplished by pulsed application of the cleaning snow in combination with intermittent or continuous heating of the surface so that the surface is at an elevated temperature prior to and during each application of cleaning snow. The jet spray devices which are utilized in the system are oriented so that the cleaning snow streams contact planar surfaces at grazing angles of 5 to 45 degrees. When non-planar parts are being cleaned, the jet spray devices are adjusted to provide an angle of about 45 to 90 degrees. Monitoring of the cleanliness of the parts is accomplished during the cleaning process, by a light scatter method or by a particle monitor and residual gas analysis of the exhaust gas or other analysis of the exhaust gas. The system is particularly useful in removing contaminants from the delicate surfaces or precision parts which are utilized in precision optical and electronic devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for use in the precision cleaning of substrate surfaces, such as delicate surfaces and precision parts. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved system for removing trace contaminants from the surface of a substrate, such as delicate surfaces or precision hardware, for example, those found in high sensitivity optical, electronic and precision mechanical equipment.
2. Description of Related Art
It is essential that the delicate and precision surfaces of optical-mechanical-electronic equipment be contaminant-free. For example, infrared optical sensor systems use thin film optical coatings to enhance in-band transmittance and reject out-of-band radiation. Even trace amounts of contamination degrade spectral performance by scattering, absorbing, or reflecting incident radiation.
The particulate and molecular contaminants present on optical surfaces can cause problems by changing emittance characteristics thereby increasing thermal noise in optical devices. Dust and debris contamination present on a detector surface may also generate clutter and the appearance of false targets. Further, the presence of molecular contaminants on precision optical equipment surfaces, such as lenses, windows and optical filters, results in the absorption and scatter of incident energy with the resultant decrease in system quality. In addition, in precision computer and gyroscope equipment, particle contamination in a moving disk drive or in a spinning gyroscope stator may damage or disable such a system beyond repair.
A wide variety of cleaning solvents and solutions, such as chlorofluorocarbons and ketones, have been utilized to clean delicate surfaces. However, the majority of these cleaning solutions and solvents are environmentally hazardous. In response to these environmental concerns, a number of environmentally safe cleaning materials have been proposed. One particular cleaning material which has been investigated is carbon dioxide. A variety of investigators have reported cleaning various parts utilizing a stream or jet spray of carbon dioxide. The jet stream of carbon dioxide, also known as "dry ice snow", has been used to remove light oils and particulate contaminants from surfaces. Such carbon dioxide jet sprays have been used to clean contaminants from a variety of surfaces including silicon wafers, telescope mirrors and thin film optical coatings.
The use of carbon dioxide snow to clean delicate surfaces has shown promise. However, as with any new cleaning system, there is a continual need to further develop and improve upon existing systems and procedures. For example, many of the contaminants removed from delicate or precision surfaces during carbon dioxide cleaning contain highly toxic or radioactive materials such as selenium, arsenic, cadmium, thorium and beryllium. There are numerous other organic and inorganic materials and dusts which must be removed from delicate and precision surfaces and which are toxic and unsafe. It is important that these types of contaminants be prevented from escaping into the environment during the cleaning process.
Another area which is in need of continual improvement involves increasing the efficiency of the carbon dioxide cleaning process while at the same time preventing or reducing damage to delicate surfaces. There is also a continuing need to provide improved systems and methods which are capable of utilizing carbon dioxide snow and snow produced by other gases in an efficient manner to provide ultra-cleaning of a wide variety of different contaminants from delicate and precision surfaces. Such systems should not only be versatile and efficient, but should also be capable of preventing the escape of toxic contaminants into the environment. Finally, continued improvement of carbon dioxide cleaning processes requires that a means be provided to monitor the effectiveness of the cleaning process to determine when the part has been adequately cleaned so that the cleaning process can be terminated.

System for precision cleaning by jet spray


Disclosed are a system and a method for providing an advertisement service and a smart card applied to the same. The system includes the smart card to extract meta data by searching for accumulated and processed personalized information according to the request for a personalized advertisement from a user terminal, and to provide the URL information for advertisement contents by searching for the advertisement contents, which are embedded based on the SCWS function, according to the meta data to provide the URL information of the advertisement contents. Personalized information is obtained based on the SCWS function and the USIM, and a messaging advertisement service is realized based on the personalized information, so that information focusing on a use extracted through personal behavior analysis is provided.

An advertisement service using a cellular phone may be a spam or a push-type advertisement service performed by specific companies. In other words, most advertisement services have been unilaterally received in the cellular phone regardless of the intention of a user.
In detail, since most advertisement messages are not intended by the user, the messages may annoy the user. In addition, the messages contain meaningless information which is not useful to the user, so the user who receives the messages may not be interested in the advertisements of the messages. Thus, consumers may not pay attention to the advertisements.
In addition, a significant amount of cost is wasted due to unilateral advertisements that do not attract customers' interest.

Advertisement system based on smart card, a method thereof, and smart card applied to the same


In an embodiment, a 3-dimensional flash memory device includes: a gate extending in a vertical direction on a semiconductor substrate; a charge storing layer surrounding the gate; a silicon layer surrounding the charge storing layer; a channel region vertically formed in the silicon layer; and source/drain regions vertically formed on both sides of the channel region in the silicon layer. Integration can be improved by storing data in a 3-dimensional manner; a 2-bit operation can be performed by providing transistors on both sides of the gate.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a memory device and its method of fabrication, and more particularly, to a memory device and its method of fabrication.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are several types of conventional semiconductor memory devices. For example, read only memory (ROM) type devices are non-volatile and thus stored data are retained even when their power supply is terminated. Random access memory (RAM) devices are volatile, and thus their stored data are erased when their power supply is terminated.
A flash memory device is an example of a non-volatile memory device in which the stored data can be electrically erased or written (i.e., programmable). In practice, flash memory devices are widely used in computers and memory cards because they can be erased in a single process, and are electrically programmable. However, flash memory devices should be more highly integrated with higher capacity to adapt them in commercial memory devices. Accordingly, the area of transistors included in a memory cell array and a peripheral circuit must be reduced in flash memory devices.

3-Dimensional flash memory device and method of fabricating the same


The invention relates to a hot marking method enabling decoration to be made on an article, the method comprising the steps consisting in:                supplying a multilayer structure comprising a layer of varnish that hardens under the effect of radiation, a backing layer, and a layer of decoration, the varnish layer being situated between the backing layer and the decoration layer;        bringing said multilayer structure into contact with the article;        applying pressure and heat to the backing layer at the location where it is desired to transfer the decoration layer onto the article, the varnish layer being such as to be transferred locally onto the article together with the decoration layer;        withdrawing the backing layer; and        causing the layer of varnish that has been transferred onto the article to harden by exposing it to said radiation.

Such a method consists in bringing the article into contact with a multilayer structure having one or more transferrable layers carried by a backing layer, and in applying pressure and heat locally to the structure by means of a gilding iron.
European patent application EP-A-0 668 332 refers to that method in its introduction.
In a later step, the layers transferred onto the article are usually covered in varnish in order to protect the decoration from abrasion.
It is difficult to deposit the varnish exactly on the decoration without spreading any varnish over the article, such that as a general rule the varnish is also present around the decoration, and that can be a drawback from the point of view of appearance.

Method of hot marking, and a multilayer structure for implementing such a method


An image processing apparatus for performing image processes corresponding to input signals of multiple types, includes a luminance correcting unit that performs correction process on an input signal so as to correct for display luminance, a luminance decreasing unit that multiplies the input signal with a gain smaller than “1”, and a gamma correcting unit that performs gamma correction with a gamma value smaller than “1” on the input signal. The luminance decreasing unit and the gamma correcting unit are combined together to execute a first correction process that decreases a luminance of a highlight portion of an image while maintaining or increasing the luminance of a halftoned portion of the image, and the luminance decreasing unit executes a second correction process that decreases the luminance for substantially overall tone levels of the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques of abating so-called "burn-in" in an image display apparatus supporting input signals of multiple types.
2. Description of Related Art
In a flat-panel image display apparatus (flat-panel display) of, for example, a liquid crystal or plasma type, when a same still image is displayed for a long time, so-called "burn-in" occurs. The "burn-in" refers to a phenomenon in which deterioration (reduction in emission luminance) of a part of a screen advances thereby allowing image trails (image lags) to be visible, and the phenomenon tends to appear at, for example, an edge portion of a still image.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Laid-Open No. 4-286275 and No. 5-150729 propose methods of abating the "burn-in" by reducing the luminance level upon detecting a predetermined time of display of still images.
In recent years, image display apparatuses are introduced that support ordinary TV signals and other input signals of various types, such as PC input signals input from PCs (personal computers) and DSC input signals input from DSCs (digital still cameras).
In the case of adaptation of the conventional techniques to an image display apparatus of the above-described type, depending on the type of an input signal (namely, an input mode (port) or image characteristics), a case can potentially occur in which appropriate display is not performed. Particularly, with the luminance level uniformly decreased as in the conventional case, when displaying PC input signals or still images of high luminance and high contrast, problems occur in that the screen is darkened overall, thereby causing deterioration in visibility and operability.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A retractable dual screen system provides auxiliary environmental protection for garage door openings. An upper housing is mounted on an exterior of a garage door, including two rollers and is accessible for maintenance or repair by a removable cover. A first roller is a vinyl insect screening, and a second roller contains polyolefin material to provide an additional layer of insulation to help reduce heat loss and gain through the garage door. The second roller also provides a vapor barrier to help protect the garage door against high winds. A dual track system selectively allows both rollers to be independently deployed over the garage door opening.

People use their garages to perform a variety of functions, other than the typical storage purposes, ranging from a place to do small jobs, hobbies, etc. to a place to sit and enjoy warm summer weather. During the times when people occupy this space, they typically leave the large garage door opened in order to receive fresh air and sunlight. In doing so, however, the space inside the garage is exposed to access by anyone and everything outside, including common insects such as flies, mosquitoes, gnats and the like.
Additionally, garage doors can be subjected to a wide variety of potentially dangerous environmental elements such as temperature extremes, wind, ice, rain, and the like, which, even if not resulting in costly damage, can shorten their useful life. Finally, should the garage be heated in winter months, the heat loss through a standard garage door can be excessive. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which garage doors and garage door openings can be protected against the physical dangers as described above. The development of the garage screen fulfills this need.


A baby diaper changing station comprises a base structure and a support platform hingedly coupled to the base structure. An insulative surface of plastic material is mounted in a trough defined by the support platform and includes a curved portion which extends into the trough to receive a baby. A handle is positioned in the support platform and also extends into the trough opposite the insulative surface. The curved portion extends into the trough and slopes inwardly and transversely to define a space to receive the handle to thereby prevent interference with the handle and to maintain an effective depth in the trough.

Apparatuses for changing the diapers of a baby or "changing a baby", and other small children not yet toilet trained, have become widely used, such as in public restrooms, to assist a parent or other child supervisor when changing a baby's diapers. Such baby diaper changing apparatuses, often times referred to as simply baby changing stations, have taken various forms as evidenced by patents in the field, and are generally mounted onto a horizontal wall surface. A support platform is hingedly mounted to move down from the wall surface and lie generally horizontal to support a baby thereon. While available baby changing stations may operate sufficiently for the primary purpose of offering a generally horizontal surface on which to rest a baby during a diaper change, the currently available stations often do not adequately address the desires of the facility owners who must install them or the requirements of the person using them.
For example, one drawback to existing baby changing stations is the fact that most such stations are fabricated of molded plastic in a single neutral color. This is not a desirable feature of the stations for facilities owners since the stations present a large, unattractive structure on the wall of the restroom facility. Contractors, architects and the owners of many public facilities go to great lengths to present a clean and efficient restroom area with a pleasing design and color scheme. However, existing baby changing stations detract from the overall restroom decor because their large, neutral exposed surfaces clash with other colors within the restroom area. Furthermore, since the off-color baby changing apparatuses are mounted to a wall, they are particularly noticeable, further detracting from the decor. When the supporting platform is in an up and closed position, the large amount of exposed surface area against the wall of the restroom presents a distinct clash with the colors of other restroom apparatuses and surfaces. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to present an improved decorative impression within a public restroom facility utilizing a baby changing apparatus.
Molded plastic stations are also rather subject to vandalism since the plastic is easy to cut into or to permanently mark with a pen or paint. Plastic stations also are particularly susceptible to wear in frequent use environments, such as amusement parks. Therefore, it is another objective to provide a changing station which is less susceptible to vandalism and is able to adequately withstand heavy use.
The existing plastic stations may also project an image of uncleanliness, since molded plastic surfaces are sometimes difficult to clean. Because of structural and molding requirements, plastic stations have plastic that is porous and contains a number of grooves and/or pits. Dirt may become trapped in these small grooves or pits in the plastic and may become very difficult to remove, leaving stains or marks on the station. Plastic is usually not used with a number of traditional restroom fixtures. Rather, ceramic and metal are traditionally used and are readily wiped clean and disinfected. Such materials have heretofore been difficult to utilize in making changing stations. Additionally, the weight of such structures would need to be considered. Furthermore, resting a baby on surfaces formed of those materials might cause discomfort due to the cold feeling on the baby's exposed skin if the station is not warmed. It is, therefore, another objective of the invention to present a changing station which projects a more positive image of a sterile environment which is clean and germ-free. However, it is also an objective to maintain the comfort of a baby on the station.
An additional drawback in some changing stations is the difficulty in opening and closing the support platform once the diaper changing procedure are complete. As may be appreciated, a person closing the station will generally be holding a baby, diaper supplies and possibly a coat. Therefore, they cannot devote a large amount of strength to closing the station. While handle structures are sometimes provided on the changing station, it is desirable that such handles may be utilized without ultimately affecting the operation and safety of the changing station. Furthermore, any such handle structures should not increase the overall depth of the station against the wall, as discussed further hereinbelow, with respect to the ADA regulations. It is, therefore, still another objective of the invention to assist a person in opening and closing the station up against the wall when they are finished using it.
Strength is also a desirable characteristic of a diaper changing stations to ensure the safety of the baby even after vandalism or other inappropriate use, and therefore, it is an objective to maintain the strength of the station while ensuring easy manipulation.
It is also desirable to provide a changing station that may be mounted in a number of different ways. Most changing stations are surface mounted to a wall surface and project outwardly into the restroom. To provide compliance with ADA regulations while enhancing appearance and resisting vandalism, it may be desirable to partially inset a portion of the changing station into the wall to decrease its effective outwardly projected dimension. However, surface mounting may be the only alternative, and therefore, it is a further objective of the invention to be able to alternatively surface mount or inset the changing stations while still maintaining the aesthetic appearance thereof in the restroom facility and without modifying the changing station substantially.
All of the above-stated objectives must be accomplished while meeting specific construction codes and regulations pertaining to baby changing stations and other restroom fixtures. As discussed, the Americans With Disability Act (ADA) states that the projection depth from the wall of a baby changing stations must be four inches or less. Therefore, it is a further objective to provide a baby changing station which addresses the aforementioned objectives while meeting current regulations.


Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to transmit control information in association with a plurality of data packet repetitions. Such methods include selecting, from a plurality of configured starting transmit positions, a starting transmit position for an initial repetition of the plurality. Such methods include selecting a sequence of cyclic shift (CS) values from a plurality of configured CS values. The plurality of configured CS values are less than the plurality of repetitions and/or the plurality of configured starting transmit positions. The sequence is selected based on the plurality of repetitions, and on an identifier associated with the data packet and/or the selected starting transmit position. Such methods include transmitting the data packet repetitions beginning at the starting transmit position, wherein at least a subset of the repetitions are transmitted in association with demodulation reference signals (DMRS) that are cyclic-shifted according to CS values of the selected sequence.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is an umbrella term for so-called fourth-generation (4G) radio access technologies developed within the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and initially standardized in Releases 8 and 9, also known as Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN). LTE is targeted at various licensed frequency bands and is accompanied by improvements to non-radio aspects commonly referred to as System Architecture Evolution (SAE), which includes Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network. LTE continues to evolve through subsequent releases. One of the features of Release 11 is an enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (ePDCCH), which has the goals of increasing capacity and improving spatial reuse of control channel resources, improving inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC), and supporting antenna beamforming and/or transmit diversity for control channel.
An overall exemplary architecture of a network comprising LTE and SAE is shown in FIG. 1. E-UTRAN 100 comprises one or more evolved Node B′s (eNB), such as eNBs 105, 110, and 115, and one or more user equipment (UE), such as UE 120. As used within the 3GPP standards, "user equipment" or "UE" means any wireless communication device (e.g., smartphone or computing device) that is capable of communicating with 3GPP-standard-compliant network equipment, including E-UTRAN as well as UTRAN and/or GERAN, as the third- ("3G") and second-generation ("2G") 3GPP radio access networks are commonly known.
As specified by 3GPP, E-UTRAN 100 is responsible for all radio-related functions in the network, including radio bearer control, radio admission control, radio mobility control, scheduling, and dynamic allocation of resources to UEs in uplink and downlink, as well as security of the communications with the UE. These functions reside in the eNBs, such as eNBs 105, 110, and 115. The eNBs in the E-UTRAN communicate with each other via the X1 interface, as shown in FIG. 1. The eNBs also are responsible for the E-UTRAN interface to the EPC, specifically the S1 interface to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) and the Serving Gateway (SGW), shown collectively as MME/S-GWs 134 and 138 in FIG. 1. Generally speaking, the MME/S-GW handles both the overall control of the UE and data flow between the UE and the rest of the EPC. More specifically, the MME processes the signaling protocols between the UE and the EPC, which are known as the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocols. The S-GW handles all Internet Procotol (IP) data packets between the UE and the EPC, and serves as the local mobility anchor for the data bearers when the UE moves between eNBs, such as eNBs 105, 110, and 115.
FIG. 2A shows a high-level block diagram of an exemplary LTE architecture in terms of its constituent entities—UE, E-UTRAN, and EPC—and high-level functional division into the Access Stratum (AS) and the Non-Access Stratum (NAS). FIG. 2A also illustrates two particular interface points, namely Uu (UE/E-UTRAN Radio Interface) and S1 (E-UTRAN/EPC interface), each using a specific set of protocols, i.e., Radio Protocols and S1 Protocols. Each of the two protocols can be further segmented into user plane (or "U-plane") and control plane (or "C-plane") protocol functionality. On the Uu interface, the U-plane carries user information (e.g., data packets) while the C-plane is carries control information between UE and E-UTRAN.
FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary C-plane protocol stack on the Uu interface comprising Physical (PHY), Medium Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and Radio Resource Control (RRC) layers. The PHY layer is concerned with how and what characteristics are used to transfer data over transport channels on the LTE radio interface. The MAC layer provides data transfer services on logical channels, maps logical channels to PHY transport channels, and reallocates PHY resources to support these services. The RLC layer provides error detection and/or correction, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly, reordering of data transferred to or from the upper layers. The PHY, MAC, and RLC layers perform identical functions for both the U-plane and the C-plane. The PDCP layer provides ciphering/deciphering and integrity protection for both U-plane and C-plane, as well as other functions for the U-plane such as header compression.
FIG. 2C shows a block diagram of an exemplary LTE radio interface protocol architecture from the perspective of the PHY. The interfaces between the various layers are provided by Service Access Points (SAPs), indicated by the ovals in FIG. 2C. The PHY layer interfaces with the MAC and RRC protocol layers described above. The MAC provides different logical channels to the RLC protocol layer (also described above), characterized by the type of information transferred, whereas the PHY provides a transport channel to the MAC, characterized by how the information is transferred over the radio interface. In providing this transport service, the PHY performs various functions including error detection and correction; rate-matching and mapping of the coded transport channel onto physical channels; power weighting, modulation; and demodulation of physical channels; transmit diversity, beamforming multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna processing; and providing radio measurements to higher layers, such as RRC.
Downlink (i.e., eNB to UE) physical channels provided by the LTE PHY include Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH), Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH), and Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH). In addition, the LTE PHY downlink includes various reference signals, synchronization signals, and discovery signals.
Uplink (i.e., UE to eNB) physical channels provided by the LTE PHY include Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), and Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). In addition, the LTE PHY uplink includes various reference signals including demodulation reference signals (DM-RS), which are transmitted to aid the eNB in the reception of an associated PUCCH or PUSCH; and sounding reference signals (SRS), which are not associated with any uplink channel.
The multiple access scheme for the LTE PHY is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) in the downlink, and on Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) with a cyclic prefix in the uplink. To support transmission in paired and unpaired spectrum, the LTE PHY supports both Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) (including both full- and half-duplex operation) and Time Division Duplexing (TDD). FIG. 3A shows an exemplary radio frame structure ("type 1") used for LTE FDD downlink (DL) operation. The DL radio frame has a fixed duration of 10 ms and consists of 20 slots, labeled 0 through 19, each with a fixed duration of 0.5 ms. A 1-ms subframe comprises two consecutive slots where subframe i consists of slots 2i and 2i+1. Each exemplary FDD DL slot consists of NDLsymb OFDM symbols, each of which is comprised of Nsc OFDM subcarriers. Exemplary values of NDLsymb can be 7 (with a normal CP) or 6 (with an extended-length CP) for subcarrier bandwidth of 15 kHz. The value of Nsc is configurable based upon the available channel bandwidth. Since persons of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the principles of OFDM, further details are omitted in this description.
As shown in FIG. 3A, a combination of a particular subcarrier in a particular symbol is known as a resource element (RE). Each RE is used to transmit a particular number of bits, depending on the type of modulation and/or bit-mapping constellation used for that RE. For example, some REs may carry two bits using QPSK modulation, while other REs may carry four or six bits using 16- or 64-QAM, respectively. The radio resources of the LTE PHY are also defined in terms of physical resource blocks (PRBs). A PRB spans NRBsc sub-carriers over the duration of a slot (i.e., NDLsymb symbols), where NRBsc is typically either 12 (with a 15-kHz sub-carrier bandwidth) or 24 (7.5-kHz bandwidth). A PRB spanning the same NRBsc subcarriers during an entire 1-ms subframe (i.e., 2NDLsymb symbols or two slots) is known as a PRB pair.
Accordingly, the resources available in a subframe of the LTE PHY DL comprise NDLRB PRB pairs, each of which comprises 2NDLsymb·NRBsc REs. For a normal CP and 15-KHz sub-carrier bandwidth, a PRB pair comprises 168 REs. These resources are scheduled or allocated on a per-subframe basis, such that the 1-ms subframe duration is also referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI).
One exemplary characteristic of PRBs is that consecutively numbered PRBs (e.g., PRBi and PRBi+1) comprise consecutive blocks of subcarriers. For example, with a normal CP and 15-KHz sub-carrier bandwidth, PRB0 comprises sub-carrier 0 through 11 while PRB1 comprises sub-carriers 12 through 23. The LTE PHY resource also can be defined in terms of virtual resource blocks (VRBs), which are the same size as PRBs but may be of either a localized or a distributed type. Localized VRBs can be mapped directly to PRBs such that VRB nVRB corresponds to PRB nPRB=nVRB. On the other hand, distributed VRBs may be mapped to non-consecutive PRBs according to various rules, as described in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.213 or otherwise known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. However, the term "PRB" shall be used in this disclosure to refer to both physical and virtual resource blocks. Moreover, the term "PRB" will be used henceforth to refer to a resource block for the duration of a subframe, i.e., a PRB pair, unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 3B shows an exemplary LTE FDD uplink (UL) radio frame configured in a similar manner as the exemplary FDD DL radio frame shown in FIG. 3A. Using terminology consistent with the above DL description, each UL slot consists of NULsymb OFDM symbols, each of which is comprised of Nsc OFDM subcarriers.
As discussed above, the LTE PHY maps the various DL and UL physical channels to the resources shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. For example, the PHICH carries HARQ feedback (e.g., ACK/NAK) for UL transmissions by the UEs. Similarly, PDCCH carries scheduling assignments, channel quality feedback (e.g., CSI) for the UL channel, and other control information. Likewise, a PUCCH carries uplink control information such as scheduling requests, CSI for the downlink channel, HARQ feedback for eNB DL transmissions, and other control information. Both PDCCH and PUCCH can be transmitted on aggregations of one or several consecutive control channel elements (CCEs), and a CCE is mapped to the physical resource based on resource element groups (REGs), each of which is comprised of a plurality of REs. For example, a CCE can comprise nine (9) REGs, each of which can comprise four (4) REs.
In LTE, DL transmissions are dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each subframe the base station transmits control information indicating the terminal to which data is transmitted and upon which resource blocks the data is transmitted, in the current downlink subframe. This control signaling is typically transmitted in the first n OFDM symbols in each subframe and the number n (=1, 2, 3 or 4) is known as the Control Format Indicator (CFI) indicated by the PCFICH transmitted in the first symbol of the control region.
FIG. 4 illustrates one exemplary manner in which the CCEs and REGs can be mapped to the physical resource, i.e., PRBs. As shown in FIG. 4, the REGs comprising the CCEs of the PDCCH can be mapped into the first three symbols (e.g., CFI=3) of a subframe, whereas the remaining symbols are available for other physical channels, such as the PDSCH which carries user data. In Release-8 configurations, one such portion of the DL transmission is referred to as a Transmit Time Interval (TTI). Each of the REGs comprises four REs, which are represented by the small, dashed-line rectangles. Since QPSK modulation is used for the PDCCH, in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 4, each REG comprises eight (8) bits and each CCE comprises 72 bits. Although two CCEs are shown in FIG. 4, the number of CCEs may vary depending on the required PDCCH capacity, determined by number of users, amount of measurements and/or control signaling, etc. Moreover, other ways of mapping REGs to CCEs will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. On the uplink, PUCCH can be configured similarly, except that the number of bits per CCE varies because PUCCH uses either QPSK or BPSK depending on particular message contents.
Beginning with Release 11, the 3GPP specifications include an enhanced PDCCH (ePDCCH) in addition to the legacy PDCCH described above. The ePDCCH is intended to increase capacity and improve spatial reuse of control channel resources, improve inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC), and add antenna beamforming and/or transmit diversity support for control channel. Much like the Release 8 PDCCH, the ePDCCH is constructed by aggregating one or more enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs). An eCCE is comprised of one or more enhanced resource element groups (eREGs), each of which is comprised of one or more REs. For example, an eCCE comprised of nine eREGs, each having four REs, may be configured with the same capacity as a CCE. Unlike CCEs, however, eCCEs may be flexibly configured with various numbers and sizes of eREGs.
Moreover, the ePDCCH (i.e., eCCEs) can be mapped to PRBs for transmission either in a localized or distributed manner. The localized mapping provides frequency selective scheduling gain and beamforming gain while the distributed transmission provides robust ePDCCH transmission via frequency diversity in case valid channel state information is not available to the receiver. In order to achieve sufficient frequency diversity, however, each eCCE must be mapped to a minimum number PRBs distributed sufficiently throughout the range of sub-carriers in the physical resource.
A DL subframe also contains common reference symbols (CRS), which are known to the receiver and used for coherent demodulation of, e.g., control information. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary DL subframe with CFI=3 OFDM symbols arranged for control information (e.g., similar to FIG. 4), along with CRS distributed through the subframe in an exemplary manner.
As mentioned above, other DL reference signals can be UE-specific, such as DM-RS that can facilitate particular UEs to coherently demodulate data or control information transmitted to those UEs. Similarly, DM-RS can be transmitted in conjunction with PUCCH and/or PUSCH on the LTE UL. When DM-RS is transmitted in conjunction with PUSCH, the DMRS occupies a full UL symbol (i.e., all subcarriers). The DMRS transmitted in both UL and DL are designed so that a sequence can be cyclically shifted using different cyclic shifts (CSs). Different cyclic shifts are orthogonal to each other (under certain conditions) and can be used to separate users by the receiver (by detecting the CS of the DMRS, in case multiple CSs have been allocated). As defined in 3GPP TS 36.211, a reference signal (e.g., DMRS) sequence ru,v(α)(n) can be defined by a cyclic shift a of a base sequence ru,v(n) according toru,v(α)(n)=ejαnru,v(n), 0≤n<MscRS where MscRS=mNscRB is the length of the reference signal sequence and 1≤m≤NRBmax,UL. Multiple RS sequences can be defined from a base sequence and different values of α.
One feature targeted for LTE Release 15 is shorter transmission time intervals (TTIs), also referred to as "short TTI." With this feature, transmissions can be made with a shorter duration (e.g., as little as one-seventh of the length of a normal LTE TTI). Each of these short transmissions can be scheduled separately with a new DL in-band control channel, with feedback sent in a new UL control channel. The scheduling and feedback can be sent in adjacent subframes for the shortest transmission time, resulting in a total radio access one-way transmission delay of about 0.5 ms, including data processing time. To support short TTI, the concept of a "subslot" is defined to include either two or three OFDM symbols, shorter than the seven-symbol duration of a slot. The varying length of the subslot is due to the need to have an integer split of 14-symbol subframes without crossing boundaries of the seven-symbol slots. With respect to the exemplary subframes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second slot will have more resources available for data than the first slot due to the PDCCH region in the beginning of the first slot.
The DL subslot pattern is dependent on the first symbol in the DL available to map PDSCH to, while the UL subslot pattern is fixed. An exemplary arrangement of UL and DL subslots is shown in FIG. 6. The subslot numbering in each subframe is denoted 0 to 5. In DL subframes where there are only be 5 subslots available for data transmission, the subslot number is defined from 1 to 5).
Transmissions can take place with or without an explicit grant/assignment. In case of UL, the transmission is usually referred to as being "granted by the network" (i.e., "UL grant"), while on the DL the transmission is referred to as taking place on a "DL assignment." In case of a transmission with an explicit grant/assignment, a control message is sent to the UE informing it of the specific radio resources to be used for the transmission. In contrast, a transmission without an explicit grant/assignment is typically configured to occur with a defined periodicity. Given a recurring UL and/or DL configuration, the UE can then initiate a data transmission and/or receive data according to a predefined configuration. Such transmissions can be referred to as semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), configured grant, or grant-free transmissions. In general, however, when referring to an UL transmission without an explicit grant as a "configured grant transmission," this term can include all types of pre-configured transmission patterns, including both SPS and grant-free operation.
To increase the reliability of a transmission, multiple repetitions of the same data packet (transport block, TB) can be configured and/or used. Using repetitions is a simple way to improve coverage and/or increase reliability, since the receiver can combine the multiple transmissions and achieve processing gain as well as a potential diversity gain. As used herein, a "repetition" refers generally to a particular version of a data packet payload that can be transmitted during some selected time interval. As such, different "repetitions" of the same data packet need not be identical but can, for example, utilize a different puncturing scheme and/or redundancy version of encoded bits for each repetition. Moreover, an initially-transmitted version of a data packet can also be considered a "repetition" or, more specifically, an "initial repetition."
Combining UL configured grant transmission with data packet repetitions has the potential to improve reliability and/or reduce latency compared to a grant-based transmission. However, the actual improvements to latency can vary significantly depending on how the transmissions/repetitions are performed. Moreover, some techniques that improve latency can create difficulties in distinguishing between overlapping transmissions of different data packets (e.g., from different senders), which can lead to data packet decoding errors.

Identification of hybrid ARQ (HARQ ID) and repetition window for autonomous repeated uplink transmissions


A carrier comprised of a core and thereover a polymer of (1) methylmethacrylate and a monoalkyl aminoalkyl methacrylate, or (2) a polymer of methylmethacrylate and dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate.

This invention is generally directed to developer compositions, and more specifically, the present invention relates to developer compositions with coated carrier components, or coated carrier particles that can be prepared by, for example, dry powder processes. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions, especially carrier compositions comprised of a core, and thereover copolymers of methylmethacrylate and a mono or dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate.
In embodiments of the present invention, the carrier particles are comprised of a core with a coating thereover of copolymers of methylmethacrylate and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, methylmethacrylate copolymers with substituted alkyl aminoethyl methacrylate, butylaminoethyl methacrylate, and the like. The carrier may include the polymer coating thereover in admixture with other suitable polymers, and more specifically, with a second polymer, such as a fluoropolymer, polymethylmethacrylate, poly(urethane), especially a crosslinked polyurethane, such as a poly(urethane)polyester and the like, and moreover, the copolymer coating may contain a conductive component, such as carbon black, and which conductive component is preferably dispersed in the polymer coating. With the conductive component, there can be enabled carriers with increased developer triboelectric response at relative humidities of from about 20 to about 90 percent, improved image quality performance, excellent high conductivity ranges of from about 10.sup.-10 to about 10.sup.-7 (ohm-cm).sup.-1, and the like. An important advantage associated with the carriers of the present invention with the polymer coatings thereover include a high triboelectrical charge, for example a carrier tribo range of from about a plus (positive charge) 50 to about 150, or to about 95 microcoulombs per gram, and preferably from about a positive 55 to about a positive 90 microcoulombs per gram, and most preferably from about a positive 60 to about a positive 70 microcoulombs per gram. The carrier particles of the present invention can be selected for a number of different imaging systems and devices, such as xerographic copiers and printers, inclusive of high speed color xerographic systems, printers, digital systems, combination of xerographic and digital systems, and wherein colored images with excellent and substantially no background deposits are achievable. Developer compositions comprised of the carrier particles illustrated herein and prepared, for example, by a dry coating process are generally useful in electrostatographic or electrophotographic imaging systems, especially xerographic imaging and printing processes, and digital processes. Additionally, the invention developer compositions comprised of substantially conductive carrier particles are useful in imaging methods wherein relatively constant conductivity parameters are desired. Furthermore, in the aforementioned imaging processes the triboelectric charge on the carrier particles can be preselected, which charge is dependent, for example, on the polymer composition and dispersant component applied to the carrier core, and optionally the type and amount of the conductive component selected.


Retrieving and storing time data in a time management system includes configuring the memory to store time records according to a configuration. The configuration includes: a plurality of time types, each of the time records referencing one of the time types; one or more collision groupings, each of the collision groupings being referenced by one or more of the time types; and one or more collision resolution items, each of the collision resolution items referencing an incoming grouping and an existing grouping. The method further includes receiving an incoming time record which at least partially overlaps an existing time record, the incoming time record having a first time type and the existing time record having a second time type. The method further includes performing a modification to the stored time records based on the incoming time record and the existing time record.

In conventional time management computer systems, employees record time data relating to absences from work according to absence types created by an administrator (e.g., a Human Resources department), such as vacation, educational leave, sickness, leave of absence, sabbatical and maternity or paternity leave. It is often the case that some types of absences have a higher priority than others. For example, in many countries, an employee does not have to use vacation time for time periods in which the employee is sick during a vacation. In such a case, a Human Resources (HR) administrator may record sick leave time for the portion of the employee's vacation during which the employee was sick.
A time management system may have collision checks in place to prevent time records from "colliding," i.e., overlapping in time. This helps ensure a proper handling of the time records, as well as a proper time valuation, because for any specific time period, there should only be one unique time record. Therefore, an HR administrator must modify existing absences in case there is an overlap with a sick leave record. Manual adjustments of this sort are cumbersome and error prone.
A conventional time management system may provide an automated way to adjust overlapping absences. Such systems may specify which types of absences have a higher priority than other types of absences. However, such configurations may be inflexible and hard to maintain. For example, a simple prioritization via a numeric order has the significant disadvantage that a user may have to modify the entire configuration if many absence types are added, deleted, or assigned new priority levels.

Systems and methods for modifying time data in a time management system


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates uploading content from a client to a server. Upon receiving content, the client divides the content into smaller data-blocks of a predetermined size. Once the content has been divided, the client computes a codeword for each data-bock. Next, the client computes a composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords. The client also computes a content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content. Once this is done, the client sends the composite codeword and the content identifier to the server, and receives a response from the server indicating whether or not the content is present on the server. If the content is not present on the server, the client sends the content to the server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for facilitating the process of uploading mass-distributed content to a server.
2. Related Art
The digital media revolution has been fueled in part by the wide availability and ever decreasing costs of CDs and DVDs. The number of different media titles available is growing steadily, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. This fact, along with the increasing popularity of broadband connections, has resulted in numerous copies of the same media being uploaded to numerous locations on the Internet as well as many corporate and private networks.
There are a number of good reasons for uploading media content. Some consumers archive media titles to networked machines for backup purposes. IT technicians upload complete copies of media titles so they will be available on demand to any node on the network. While the systems and resources of today are adequate for handling these tasks, the time to upload the content can be enormous.
Typical CDs can contain up to 800 megabytes of data, and typical DVDs can contain over 4.7 gigabytes. Broadband connections typically provide bandwidth in the 1.5 megabit per second range. Hence, even assuming ideal conditions, an upload can still take hours to complete.
Providing adequate storage space on the systems that store these uploads is another problem. In some cases, precious storage space is wasted in storing numerous copies of identical content.
What is needed is a method and an apparatus that can upload content to a server in a quick and efficient manner while minimizing the problems listed above.

Method and apparatus for uploading mass-distributed content to a server


The present invention relates to a spectral stretching and control device for high peak power pulse lasers, which does not limit the extraction efficiency of the amplifiers in the CPA chain into which said device can be inserted, and it is characterized in that it comprises an acousto-optical device for dispersing light pulses, which is programmable in terms of spectral amplitude, disposed in a multi-pass amplifier.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a spectral stretching and control device for high peak power pulse lasers, as well as to a frequency-drift amplification chain comprising such a spectral stretching and control device.
2. Description of Related Art
The production of pulse lasers, of titanium-doped sapphire type (Ti:Sa), with very high peak power makes it necessary to control very wide spectra so as to decrease the pulse durations on output from the amplifying chain.
Two phenomena greatly limit the production of lasers of this type. The first is of a practical nature and relates to the significant bulkiness of the temporal stretching devices (Öffner type stretcher) making it possible to pass the spectral band. The second is of a physical nature and involves the spectral constriction and shift occurring in the amplifying medium.
A conventional solution for replacing the Öffner stretcher is to use an optical fiber, but recompression is made difficult because of significant spectral aberrations. As regards spectral constriction, the most commonly used solution consists in pre-compensating, at the start of the chain (before the so-called regenerative or multi-pass amplifier), the spectral deformation. This filtering-based solution has the drawback of limiting the extraction efficiency of the amplifiers and is all the less effective the larger the number of passes through the amplifiers.
Currently, lasers providing very high peak powers (of the order of a terawatt or more) for very brief times (of the order of a few fs) are of the frequency-drift amplification type (termed CPA, i.e.: Chirped Pulse Amplification). These lasers are based on the use of a wide spectrum, pulse stretching, amplification and recompression of the pulses thus stretched. Typically, these lasers are Ti:Sa chains which have an oscillator spectrum of from 5 to 100 nm, for compressed pulse durations of from 150 to 10 fs. The ability of an amplification chain to maintain a correct spectrum directly influences the ability of the laser to work with short pulses. The spectral constriction induced by the amplifiers is therefore a key factor for obtaining short-duration performance. Likewise, large deformation of the spectrum, for example asymmetric, will disturb the temporal shape and impair the operation of the laser.
The solution commonly used to temporally stretch the pulses before amplification is based on the Öffner stretcher. Its configuration is well known and makes it possible notably to minimize the spectral aberrations (see for example: G. Chériaux, P. Rousseau, F. Salin, J.-P. Chambaret, B. Walker, L. F. Dimauro: "Aberration free stretcher Design for ultrashort pulse amplification" Opt. Lett 21, 414-1996). The main limitation resides in the fact that, to stretch wide spectra, it is necessary to use optics of large dimensions. Even though solutions exist for limiting the bulkiness of this optical system (see French patent 2 834 080), these solutions are not entirely satisfactory. Specifically, the proposed solutions consist in working on the −1 order of the grating. It is thus possible to decrease the bulkiness of the stretcher for constant stretch. Öffner stretchers are nevertheless bulky and require precise alignment of the angles and length of the afocal setup (distance between concave and convex mirror of the afocal setup). Modification of a parameter of the stretcher acts moreover directly on the way in which the pulse will be recompressed.
In an Öffner stretcher, the pulse duration obtained at output depends on the parameters of the stretcher (focal length of the mirrors, number of lines of the gratings, angle of incidence) but especially on the spectral width of the pulse that is to be stretched. A parameter called the stretching factor and expressed in ps/nm is generally defined. This factor can vary from a few units, to a few tens. For an incident pulse of 100 nm, a stretching factor of 2 to 3 is sufficient to amplify the pulse to several hundred mJ. A smaller factor can be applied if the amplification is in the region of an mJ.
In CPA chains, the amplifiers used are of the type with n passes of the beam through the amplifying medium. When n is small (less than 10) the geometric multi-pass configuration is generally used. The pump laser dispatches a pulse into the crystal and the pulse beam to be amplified is thereafter dispatched into an amplifier stage in which it performs n passes through the laser crystal so as to optimize the extraction in terms of energy. FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts a multi-pass amplifier of this kind, which essentially comprises a crystal 1 (for example Ti:Sa) receiving, from an input mirror ME, input pulses at an angle differing from the normal to its incidence surface, and several reflecting mirrors M1 to M7 disposed on either side of the crystal 1 so as to cause the beam to pass through the crystal at various angles of incidence, the last mirror M7 reflecting this beam to the output via an output mirror MS.
When a large amplification factor is sought, it is necessary to increase the number of passes and the configuration of FIG. 1 is no longer applicable. The configuration generally used is then the regenerative amplifier, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. This type of amplifier makes it possible to readily achieve some thirty or so passes.
The system represented in FIG. 2 comprises a crystal 2 disposed, with a Pockels cell 3, in an optical cavity closed by two mirrors 4, 5 and pumped by a pump 6. A polarizer 7, disposed in the cavity, makes it possible to tap off a part of the intra-cavity beam, the tapped-off beam passing through a half-wave plate 8, a reflecting mirror 9 and a Faraday rotator 10 at the output of which a semi-transparent mirror 11 reflects it back towards the use (beam Eout). Moreover, the polarizer 7 makes it possible to inject an external beam Ein into this cavity.
In both cases (FIGS. 1 and 2), the gain of the amplifier may be written:
      E    OUT    =                    J        SAT            .      S      .              ln        (                                                            J                STO                                            J                SAT                                                                (                                                ⅇ                                                            E                      in                                                              SJ                      SAT                                                                      -                1                            )                                +          1                )              |
JSTO being the stored fluence available for the gain in the medium (the crystal) and JSAT the saturation fluence of this medium. This is the classical equation from the theory of Frantz and Nodvick.
The table below contains a few examples of values of JSAT for various laser materials:
MaterialsJsat in J/cm2Spectral rangeDyes~0.001J/cm2VisibleExcimers~0.001J/cm2UVNd: YAG0.5J/cm21064 nm Ti: Al2O31.1J/cm2800 nmNd: Glass5J/cm21054 nm Alexandrite22J/cm2750 nmCr: LiSAF5J/cm2830 nm
In the small-signal regime, with JIN<<JSAT, the gain relation can be approximated with:
  G  =                    E        OUT                    E        IN              =          ⅇ              (                              J            STO                                J            SAT                          )
The shape of the gain curve of the above-described amplifiers being close to a Gaussian, on each pass through the medium, a constriction of the spectrum due simply to the gain will be observed.
The curve of FIG. 3 shows a typical exemplary gain in a Ti:Sa crystal as a function of wavelength, this curve being centered on the wavelength of 800 nm.
As a result of the amplification in this laser medium, a gain which is non-uniform as a function of wavelength will therefore be applied to an input signal of limited spectrum, the effect of which is to cause an alteration: the spectral constriction. The example of FIG. 4 illustrates this effect, which is accentuated with the number of passes through the amplifier. The curve of the input signal as a function of its wavelength and the curves of the signal after 4, 10 and 30 passes through the crystal, respectively, have been represented in this FIG. 4. The effect becomes very significant when considering the case of a regenerative amplifier (30 passes for example).
It will be noted that when the input signal possesses a spectrum that is non-centered with respect to the maximum of gain of the medium, the spectral constriction is accompanied by a shift effect which tends to return the signal to the maximum gain spike.
To compensate for these effects, a pre-distortion of the input signal is usable by active or passive filtering at the price of a decrease in the efficiency of the laser. Indeed, the filters used have efficiencies of the order of 50% since they act (cut off) spectrally at the energy maximum.

Spectral spreading and control device for high peak power pulse lasers


An inflatable article for a person to rest thereupon and which is capable of generating massage bubbles for the person when the inflatable article is immersed in water. The inflatable article is composed of at least three layers of PVC sheets which include a first layer of PVC sheet, a second layer of PVC sheet, and a third layer of PVC sheet. The first layer and the second layer are heat-sealed together at a plurality of upper joints so as to form at least one inflatable air chambers between the first layer and the second layer, with a plurality of upper and lower vent holes being, respectively, formed in those areas of the heat-bonded first layer and second layer other than the air chamber so as to communicate the water around the inflatable article with the region below the second layer. The second layer and the third layer are heat-sealed together at a plurality of lower joints so as to form at least one air passages which communicate with the water through the vent holes and are connected to an apparatus for supplying pressurized air so that pressurized air thereof may be fed through the air passage and the vent holes into the water to form bubbles in the water.

The present invention relates to an inflatable article for a person to rest thereupon, and more particularly, to an inflatable article which is capable of generating, either by use of pumping means or self-acting means, massage bubbles for the person when the inflatable article is immersed in water.
As is well known, air bubbles generated within a tub or a mattress can result in massage effect to the tub or mattress user, and recover the bodily fatigue of the user. For this end, tubs or mattress of fixed types capable of generating air bubbles have been constructed. As for inflatable tub or mattress, in order to generate air bubbles, it has been proposed to install separate air hoses formed therein with air vents as well as necessary fittings at the bottom of the inflatable tub or mattress. However, on account of the existence of the air hoses and fittings, it is impossible to fold this kind of inflatable tub or mattress, even deflated, to a very compact size. Consequently, this kind of inflatable tub or mattress suffers from the drawbacks of inconvenience in transportation due to its bulky volume and higher cost in production due to the necessity of preparing and installing extra air hoses and fittings.

Massage bubble generating inflatable article


A fuel cell system includes a controller, a fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit operatively connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel inlet conduit adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply, a recycling conduit operatively connecting the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, the recycling conduit adapted to recycle a portion of a fuel exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, and an ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel operatively connected to the fuel inlet conduit via a valve coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the valve to provide ammonia or hydrazine from the ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel into the fuel inlet conduit upon detecting a change in the fuel from the fuel supply.

The present invention relates generally to the field of fuel cell systems and more particularly to fuel cell systems using ammonia, hydrazine and/or methanol fuel injections.
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which can convert energy stored in fuels to electrical energy. High temperature fuel cells include solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells. These fuel cells may operate using hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon fuels. There are classes of fuel cells, such as the solid oxide regenerative fuel cells, that also allow reversed operation, such that oxidized fuel can be reduced back to unoxidized fuel using electrical energy as an input.
Fuel cells may be used as primary and/or backup power sources for critical electrical systems. Typically, natural gas provided from public utilities or other sources is the fuel source for the fuel cells. On occasion, especially in cold weather, public utilities may inject propane and air into the natural gas pipeline to make up for shortages in natural gas (i.e., "peak shaving"). The new natural gas mixture created by injected propane and air (i.e., "peak shaving fuel") may cause coking and possible damage to the fuel cells. Additionally, during emergencies, such as natural disasters, the public utilities may be offline, and natural gas may not be available as a fuel source.
Alternatively, fuel cells may use liquid fuels, such as propane, diesel, liquid natural gas, liquid methane, etc, provided from on-site liquid storage, to generate electricity. However, the use of liquid fuels, such as propane or diesel, may reduce the efficiency of the fuel cells.

Ammonia or hydrazine injection into fuel cell systems


A vertical drive shaft lawn edger is disclosed having a curb support roller system. A support roller is mounted directly behind the blade of the lawn edger. A height adjustment mechanism controls the height of the front wheel and the support roller in unison. The support roller has a smaller outer diameter than the front and rear wheels. Therefore, when edging along side a curb the support roller contacts the curb thereby providing support when the front wheel is suspended above the ground.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lawn edger and more specifically, to a curb support roller for a vertical drive shaft lawn edger.
II. Description of the Related Art
The present invention contemplates a new and improved curb support roller for a vertical drive shaft lawn edger that is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
Lawn edgers are widely used in maintaining the appearance of lawns. They are primarily used to trim grass along the edges of driveways and curbs.
The prior art edgers typically use a horizontal output shaft that rotates a vertical cutting blade. Through the use of a V-belt, a vertical drive pulley rotates a vertical driven pulley. The driven pulley rotates a vertical edger blade, which has a horizontal rotational axis. A vertical drive shaft engine has a horizontal driven pulley with its rotational axis vertical. In this arrangement, the V-belt is twisted to translate the vertical rotation of the drive pulley to the horizontal rotation of the driven pulley. The horizontal drive shaft engine configuration is preferred since the pulleys and the blade are oriented uniformly. However, lawn edgers with a horizontal drive shaft engine are relatively expensive. Lawn mower engines utilize a vertical drive shaft. Because engines or lawn mowers are manufactured in greater numbers, they are less expensive. Therefore, lawn edgers utilizing a vertical drive shaft are desirable, for other reasons in addition to their low cost.
Prior art lawn edgers typically use a three or four-wheeled system to provide stability. However, when using the prior art edgers on inclined surfaces, such as a curbs, the edgers tend to be hard to control. In these conventional edgers some sort of shock means or wheel extension is used to provide stability.
In the typical lawn edger configuration, the rotational axes of the front wheels are substantially in line with the rotational axis of the cutting blade. Prior art vertical drive shaft lawn edgers have the front wheels beside the cutting means. This configuration leads to the edger being unstable while edging along a curb. In operation, the edging or cutting means follows a path along the edge of the grass. Meanwhile, the front wheels follow a path parallel to this grass edge path. Typically, the front wheels do not contact the ground, as the rear wheels and edging means support the edger. While this arrangement has been adequate, the inventive arrangement is believed to offer advantages.

Curb support roller for a vertical drive shaft lawn edger


A MRI sound system transducer and headset provides music and operator communication for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) patient. The inventive system includes a pneumatic, non-magnetic transducer which converts electrical output from a music source or operator microphone to moving air, and delivers this pneumatic audio signal through plastic tubes inside the high magnetic field area to a headset which attenuates the ambient noise in the area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to audio sound systems and headsets, and more specifically to an improved non-magnetic audio sound system and headset apparatus for use in high magnetic field environments such as those created in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are a valuable medical diagnostic tool, and are now in widespread use. However, due to the noise and lack of any visual stimulation (the patient is lying in a narrow tube), many patients don't enjoy the experience of an MRI scan. Thus, it is desirable to provide music or other audio stimulation to the patient during their scan. Unfortunately, MRI magnets create a high magnetic field in the ambient area, which is problematic for standard audio systems. In addition, the noise gradients generated during an MRI scan are very loud, necessitating some form of attenuation of the noise level down to a comfortable level.


The invention provides for antisense oligonucleotides that hybridize to casein kinase 2 nucleic acid sequences and methods of using such antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit expression of casein kinase 2 and reduce the size of solid tumors.

Casein protein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous protein serine/threonine kinase that has been implicated in multiple functions in the cell including the regulation of cell growth and proliferation as well as apoptosis (see, for example, Tawfic et al., 2001, Histol. Histopathol., 16:573-82). CK2 is a highly conserved enzyme, and has been suggested to be essential for cell survival. The kinase is a heterotetramer consisting of two catalytic subunits (α and/or aα′) complexed with two ββ subunits. One means by which CK2 regulates cell growth is through signaling in the nucleus where nuclear matrix and chromatin appear to be its preferential targets.
CK2 has been strongly implicated in the neoplastic process because of its elevated levels in various tumors. Studies involving transgenic expression of CK2 have provided evidence to suggest that modest overexpression of CK2α imparts an oneogenic potential to the cells, and further that the incidence of neoplasia is greatly enhanced in the presence of a second oncogenic signal.