A method of regeneration of a SCR catalyst for use in a power plant facility burning fossil fuels, bio-based fuels, or a combination thereof, wherein poisons are removed from the catalyst. The method is suitable for use during neutralization using C1 to C8 carboxylic acids.

High temperature thermal processes, for example, the generation of steam for the production of electricity in power plants utilizing fossil fuels, often create environmentally harmful by-products. These compounds, specifically nitrous oxides (NOx), have to be removed from the flue gases of the high temperature thermal process before being discharged to the environment. The standard for removing NOx from flue gases is the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process, where a reducing reagent, typically ammonia, is injected, mixed into the flue gas, and sent through a catalytic reaction chamber where the catalyst facilitates the reduction of NOx with the reducing agent to form elemental nitrogen and water. The catalyst, often referred to as a DeNOx catalyst, aids these reactions and is typically constructed of titanium dioxide containing the oxides of transition metals such as, for example, vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten to act as catalytically active components. The catalyst is arranged on plates, in a honeycomb fashion or as a corrugated structure and placed parallel to the direction of flue gas flow. However, during operation, the catalyst undergoes a loss of activity and efficiency as a result of plugging with ash and deactivation of the active components from certain compounds contained in flue gas which are poisonous to the catalyst. Among these are, for example, sodium (Na), potassium (K), arsenic (As), phosphorous (P) and many others.
It is generally known in the regeneration of SCR catalysts, that inorganic acids may be used to clean and restore a catalyst such as in a soaking step and a neutralization step. Typically, inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) are commonly used inorganic acids in such steps. Sulfuric acid is relatively inexpensive and readily available. Inorganic acids are typically odorless which is another reason why they are commonly used. H2SO4 is also used due to the fact that SO2 and SO3 is present in the flue gas and collected by the catalyst during operation in a power plant facility and when a catalyst is submerged in an aqueous solution such as water, it is removed from the catalyst forming a diluted sulfuric acid. Thus, it is already present in the catalyst and new contaminants via other acids are not being introduced into the catalyst. However, the known methods are also disadvantageous because diluted H2SO4 also corrodes the steel casings of the catalyst. This provides water soluble iron substances which can penetrate in the inside of the pores of a SCR-catalyst. These iron ions are probably the main cause of enhancing some of the undesired side reactions during regular SCR operations in a power plant. During the most undesired of these side reactions, the contents of SO2 in the flue gas can be partially oxidized to SO3, which reacts with water (H2O) in the flue gas to produce H2SO4. Corrosion of all steel surfaces at temperatures below the H2SO4 dew point is a problem for all equipment downstream of the catalyst. Furthermore, the possible emission of visible H2SO4 aerosol particles into the atmosphere may not be desirable.
Thus, there is a need for an alternative method of regeneration of SCR catalyst that provides the optimum performance of the catalyst yet minimizes or reduces the amount of SO2 oxidized to SO3 in a power plant. Of particular importance is the composition of the regeneration solution during the neutralization stage of the regeneration process.


A method and system are provided for managing files which are modified while the contents of the files are being viewed in a browser window in a data processing system. During execution of the browser, if a request to close a window in the browser is received, it is determined whether a file which was displayed in the window was modified since a last save operation for the file. If the file was modified, and the file had not been saved with the modifications, then an indicator of the modified file is included in a modification list with a reference to enable access to the modified file. The modification list is then sent to a user of the file so that the user may select options for saving the modified file, discarding the modifications, or resuming editing of the file. Thus, integrity of file modifications is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates generally to a method and system for managing files which are modified while the contents of the files are being viewed in a browser window in a data processing system.
2. Background of the Invention
Data processing devices are used for a wide range of versatile applications, providing services which may range from editing of text documents or spreadsheet applications to complex software systems, for example, for computer aided design or manufacturing, purchasing, computer aided banking applications, entertainment applications, and numerous other application areas. Increasingly complex software applications are employed in the field of personal services, for example, for personal data organization and mobile communication applications such as mobile telephones or hand-held computing devices, or communication services and other services provided over computer networks, such as the Internet.
As more elements are included in computer aided applications and as more computing devices are involved in providing a particular service, for example, over a computer network, it becomes more important to ensure that all elements of the computerized application know about relevant operations and statuses of the other elements of the application.
For applications involving a plurality of data processing devices cooperating with one another, a user may input instructions at one data processing device for effecting operations at another data processing device. Further, in a complex application executed on a single data processing device, one element of the application may issue an instruction to another element of the application to perform certain services. In any of these cases, it is important that all elements of the application or data processing devices are aware of these commands or operations.
As an example, if a user of a text processing application or another type of service application selects a text document and issues an instruction to open the document, the text processing application may obtain and effect a display of the document. The user may then edit this document using a graphical user interface. For example, a user may enter text through a keyboard, while reviewing the changes to the text document on a display. Periodically, or after the last modifying operation, the user may choose to save the text document.
If, however, during editing and before saving changes to the text document, the user decides to interrupt the text editing operations by terminating the processing of the document, by launching another application, or by performing any other activity, it is desirable to notify the text processing application regarding this new activity of the user, i.e., that the text editing operation has been interrupted or terminated. The text processing application may then either remain active in the background, invisible to the user, awaiting renewed activation, or may be terminated.
If the application is terminated, it is desirable to provide the user with an option to either save the modifications to the text document, to discard the modifications, or to resume editing of the text document, i.e., to abort the termination procedure.
While the above functionality can be implemented in a "closed" environment, such as within an application executing with an operating system on a personal computer, where all applications and interactions can be easily tracked, implementing the functionality described above may be difficult in distributed applications such as applications which are carried out using a plurality of data processing devices in a computer network. In the above example, if a user interacts with the text processing application through a graphical user interface residing on one data processing device, while the main part of the text processing application is located on another data processing device, the user could intentionally or accidentally terminate the graphical user interface part of the application during an editing process before saving changes to the text document, in which case the modifications may be lost, or forcedly saved without offering the user any options. This problem may be particularly severe in distributed applications involving the Internet, or any computer network, where communications between data processing devices controlling parts of an application, such as the above text processing application or applications involving distributed databases, could be interrupted, or where the parts of the application could be independently terminated.
Therefore, a need has long existed for a method and system that overcome the problems noted above and others previously experienced.

Method and system for managing documents modified while being viewed in a browser window


A search is performed for information of other products associated with a question about a specific product.

<Prior Art 1>
A product search function is provided in an Internet auction management service (e.g., cf. Non Patent Literature 1).
For example, if a desired product is decided, a user can conduct a search using a product name or the like as a keyword (cf. "Search" in the same literature). Furthermore, the user can add another keyword or select a product category to narrow down desired products (cf. "Narrow" in the same literature).
<Prior Art 2>
A function to ask a question to a seller about a specific product is provided in an Internet auction management service (e.g., cf. Non Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
For example, a user considering making a bid for a specific product is allowed to ask a question to a seller through a question entry page for the product (cf. "Ask a question to the seller" in Non Patent Literature 1). When the seller gives an answer to the question, the question and answer are published on a product page (cf. "What will happen with your question about the product" in Non Patent Literature 2).
FIG. 14 shows a display example of the question entry page.
A user considering making a bid for a specific product is allowed not only to ask a question, but also to make a demand (request) about a product to a seller through the entry page for the product. In this manner, a user desiring to purchase a product from an online shop using the Internet such as Internet auction and electronic mall makes an inquiry to a seller by entering a text such as a question, a demand, or a desire about a specific product.

Server system, product recommendation method, product recommendation program and recording medium having computer program recorded thereon

Abstract: A server system 10 searches for information of other products associated with a question about a specific product, in accordance with the following procedure. [1] The server system inputs a product ID and a question text (text) related to a question (S405). [2] The server system extracts a product name corresponding to the product ID from product basic information (FIG. 2(b-1)) in an auction DB 12 (S410). [3] The server system analyzes each of the product name and the question text to specify one or more keywords (S415). [4] The server system sets a search condition for a search for products associated with each specified keyword (S420) and extracts necessary items out of the product information satisfying the search condition, from the product basic information, display information, and product price information (FIGS. 2(b-1) to (b-3)) in the auction DB 12 (S425). [5] The server system outputs the extracted necessary items out of the product information (S430).


A database is partitioned into a plurality of sorted runs, wherein each sorted run includes a set of sorted segments of data records. One of the sorted runs preferably includes more than half of the records of the database, and the other sorted runs are progressively smaller. A query is processed by searching each of the sorted runs. Writes are effected by appending a new sorted run to the database. Sorted merges are used to combine the smaller sorted runs. Deletions are effected by marking the deleted record in the sorted run. Modifications are effected by deleting the original record and writing the modified record to the database. The larger sorted runs are only re-sorted or merged when the sorted run includes a substantial number of deletions. Two merge queues are maintained to enable rapid merges of the smaller sorted runs while a merger of larger sorted runs are occurring.

This invention relates to the field of database query systems, and in particular to a column store method, system, and architecture that facilitates low latency queries and incremental on-line data ingestion.
A database typically comprises a multi-dimensional arrangement of data items, such as a two-dimensional array comprising rows and columns. Each row of data values is commonly referred to as a 'data record', or merely 'record', and each column of data values is commonly referred to as a 'data field', or 'attribute'. That is, a record comprises a value corresponding to each attribute (where the value may be 'nul').
In reality, the data items are stored sequentially in a memory, and may be stored with each record following each other (row store) in memory, or with all of the values of an attribute following each other (column store) in memory. For ease of reference herein, the term 'memory' includes any form of storage, including discs and solid-state storage devices.
FIG. 1A illustrates a visualization of a matrix of information, such as might be found in a database of employees. In this example, the 'attributes' of each record are an employee identifier (EmpID), the employee's name (LName, FName), gender (Gen), age (Age), and hourly wage (Hrly$). FIG. 1B illustrates this information being stored in a row store memory structure wherein the value of each attribute of each record is stored sequentially. FIG. 1C illustrates this same information being stored in a column store memory structure, wherein all of the values of each attribute are stored sequentially.
Because read and write memory operations facilitate the entry or retrieval of a sequence of data values, row store facilitates the entry, deletion, and retrieval of records, but is inefficient for operations such as searches. A search for records that have a particular value, or range of values of a given attribute requires either a read of the entire record, from which the attribute value is extracted, or an individual read of each attribute value, spaced apart by the length of the record.
Column store, on the other hand is very efficient for search operations, but inefficient when a record needs to be added, deleted, or retrieved. A search for records that have a particular value, or range of values of a given attribute can be performed by sequentially reading the attribute values. This efficiency is further enhanced if the values in the given attribute are sorted. Retrieving the corresponding record, however, requires an individual read of each attribute value of the record, spaced apart by the distance between each attribute value of the record. Column store is particularly well suited for applications such as statistic and demographic analyses, financial services, fraud detection, and other real-time analytics applications.
Column store also enables a variety of data compressing techniques. For example, because the range of values of an attribute may be limited (e.g. gender: male or female; age: 0 to 120; and so on), techniques such as run-length encoding, dictionary encoding, and so on can provide substantial memory savings. The compression efficiency is further improved if the values of the attribute is sorted, or if the data includes many null values (sparse matrix).
As noted above, sorted attribute values improve the search efficiency of a column store. However, to maintain the sorted order, each newly added record needs to be inserted in the proper order, and each change of the attribute value of a record may necessitate a re-sort of the database. In a system comprising millions of records, such a re-sort with every insertion would introduce an unacceptable delay, particularly if the database is locked during the re-sort. In many embodiments, modifications and additions are performed in cache, then the cache is batch-loaded into the database as required.
In a large database, updates to the database may include thousands of changes or additions. Maintaining a sorted column store as the data is ingested presents a major challenge, and most large column store databases do not support sorted column stores. Consequently, searches of these databases consume a substantial amount of time. Alternatively, to provide efficient searches, the database may be sorted after the data is ingested. Such a batch-sort approach will generally require taking the database 'off-line' for the duration of the sort and introduces substantial delays when on-line changes are made that introduce a change in the sort order.
It would be advantageous to provide a database structure that provides the search efficiency of sorted column stores while also providing an efficient technique for data ingestion and on-line changes.
These advantages, and others, can be realized by partitioning the database into a plurality of sorted runs, wherein each sorted run includes segments of data that are sorted internally (within segments) and externally (between segments). Preferably, one of the sorted runs includes more than half of the records of the database, and the other sorted runs are progressively smaller.
A query is processed by searching each of the sorted runs for a target search value, but because the search attribute of each sorted run is sorted, this search is substantially faster than a search through unsorted attributes.
Writes to the database are effected by appending a new sorted run to the database. To control the number of sorted runs in the database, sorted merges are used to combine the smaller sorted runs.
Deletions from the database are effected by marking the deleted record.
Modifications to a record in the database are effected by deleting the original record and writing the modified record to the database.
The larger sorted runs are only re-sorted or merged when a substantial number of records within the sorted run are marked as deleted, or when the database grows substantially.
Two merge queues are maintained to enable rapid merges of the smaller sorted runs while a merger of larger sorted runs is occurring.
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions. The drawings are included for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Fast incremental column store data loading


In a data transmission apparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data, a block forming circuit forms a plurality of data blocks of transmission data composed of at least one of digital video data, digital audio data, and digital auxiliary data related to the digital video data and the digital audio data. Thereafter, a grouping circuit groups a plurality of data blocks outputted from the block forming circuit so as to form transmission group data of one transmission unit block having a time length of approximately one three-hundredth second, and then transmits the transmission group data. Further, a classifying circuit preferably classifies the transmission group data into a plurality of sections, by adding section identification data to each transmission group data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transmission apparatus and a method for transmitting data, and in particular, to a data transmission apparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data between respective audio visual apparatuses, such as a digital video cassette recorder (referred to as a digital VCR) or the like, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been currently under development of digital VCRs for recording video and audio in a form of digital signals expressed by 0s and 1s, respectively, for the purpose of achieving high-quality video and audio. One of major features of the digital VCRs is that the qualities of video and audio signals are not deteriorated through dubbing these signals. In the digital VCR, an audio signal, a video signal and the other control signal or the like are recorded in a form of digital signals on a magnetic tape, respectively.
Since transmission of data is executed in a form of a digital signal between the digital VCRs, the transmitted data does not change in the transmission stage. Therefore, the recorded data can be transmitted as it is from an audio visual apparatus to another audio visual apparatus.
In particular, in a digital VCR for consumer use, the video signal is recorded onto the magnetic tape in a form of a compressed video signal so that the amount of data to be recorded thereonto can be reduced for the purpose of reducing the amount of consumption of the magnetic tape. In order to transmit a video signal reproduced by a digital VCR therefrom to another digital VCR in a form of an analog signal and to record the transmitted video signal in the latter VCR, the reproduced video signal is decompressed so as to be converted into an analog video signal. The analog video signal is inputted to the digital VCR in which the video signal is to be recorded. In the digital VCR, the analog video signal is converted into a digital video signal so as to be compressed again. Through the above-mentioned compression and decompression processes, the quality of the image of the video signal may deteriorate.
In the case when transmitting the video signal in a form of a compressed digital signal, there is a great advantageous effect of causing no deterioration of the quality of the image thereof due to the transmission process because the compression and decompression processes are not required.
For the digital VCR is defined a digital interface for transmitting video and audio signals in a form of digital signals. In the digital VCR, one track is segmented into a plurality of sectors, and then a subcode for the video and audio signals, time code, and the like are recorded in respective sectors. In a general digital interface, data to be recorded in the sectors are transmitted in a predetermined order.
The first problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows. When one field is a transmission unit, the period of one field is greatly different between the television broadcasting system having a frame frequency of 25 Hz such as SECAM system, PAL system or the like and another television broadcasting system having a frame frequency of 30 Hz such as NTSC system. Therefore, a time interval required for transmitting one transmission unit is greatly different depending on the television broadcasting system.
When transmitting data of a plurality of television broadcasting systems by means of an identical transmission medium between a plurality of audio visual apparatuses such as digital VCRs or the like, there is such a problem that the time interval for transmitting one transmission data unit is required to cope with a plurality of types of the transmission time.
The second problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows. In the case of implementing a digital VCR for consumer use, it may be required to transmit video and audio signals of both of the high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting system such as High-Vision system or the like and the current television broadcasting system such as NTSC system or the like between a plurality of digital VCRs or the like. In order to achieve cost reduction, it is required to provide an identical transmission path line in both of the case where the signals of the current television broadcasting system are transmitted and the case where the signals of the high-definition television broadcasting system are transmitted. However, the amount of information of the video signal of the high-definition television broadcasting system is much greater than that of the current television broadcasting system. Since the amount of data is greatly different between the signals of the high-definition television broadcasting system and the signals of the current television broadcasting system, there is such a problem that data of the signals of the current television broadcasting system and the data of the signals of the high-definition television broadcasting system are compelled to be transmitted in different manners.
The third problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows. Since any conventional digital VTR copes with only the standard television signal such as an NTSC television signal, a SECAM television signal, a PAL television signal or the like, then the other type of inputted signal cannot be recorded in the conventional digital VTR. On the other hand, in order to increase the number of types of signals which can be inputted and recorded onto a magnetic tape, there has been suggested a method of changing either the number of sectors or the structure of sectors in each track. In this case, not only a track structure flag representing the number, arrangement and the like of sectors in a track, but also a sector structure flag representing, for each sector represented by the track structure flag, the structure of the sector are to be recorded within the track on the magnetic tape.
However, the conventional digital interface has such a problem that it cannot cope with the change of such track structure as described above since it communicates with other apparatuses always in a previously fixed format. Furthermore, since all the data including the other sectors are required to be transmitted even in the case where the data of a specified sector is desired to be transmitted, there is such a problem that the excessive transmission band for unnecessary transmission must be provided.
The fourth problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows. In the digital VCR, other than the video and audio signals, not only VAUX (Video Auxiliary) data representing the type, kind or the like of the television broadcasting system of the video signal, but also AAUX (Audio Auxiliary) data representing the sampling frequency or the like of the audio signal are additionally recorded onto the magnetic tape. The above-mentioned these information data are very important data necessary in reproducing the recorded video and audio signals in the reproduction stage. Therefore, the information data are repetitively recorded a plural of times in one frame period of the video signal. In transmitting the video and audio signals from the digital VCR to another digital VCR, the VAUX and AAUX data corresponding to the video and audio signals must be additionally transmitted thereto. In general, the data are transmitted a plurality of times in one frame period in conformity with the recorded tracks.
However, in a bad reproducing condition, the probability of occurrence of the phenomenon becomes higher that an error correcting process is executed by an error correcting function, wherein the phenomenon is referred to as an "error correction" hereinafter). Since the error-corrected data does not allow its error to be detected any more, then the error data is transmitted as it is. When there is no error or when an error has occurred and then appropriately corrected, the identical VAUX and AAUX data are transmitted a plurality of times in one frame period, and therefore, the proper process is required to be executed in response to the received data on the receiver side.
However, when the error correction is performed, there is such a possibility that different VAUX and AAUX data or the like are transmitted in one frame period. In such a case, it is impossible to discriminate which VAUX and AAUX data are correct on the receiver side, and then this results in such a problem that the television broadcasting system can not be correctly selected, and the sampling frequency can not be correctly set.

Data transmission apparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data between respective audio visual apparatuses, and method therefor

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An information embedding apparatus (200) which embeds information in each character in an original document includes an extraction unit (202) which extracts the circumscribed rectangles of characters from the original document, a selection unit (203) which selects, based on a predetermined condition, a character in which information is to be embedded, from the characters included in the respective circumscribed rectangles, an information embedding unit (204) which embeds information in a character selected by the selection unit (203) as the character in which information is to be embedded, a character generation unit (205) which generates a character not selected by the selection unit (203) at a lower pixel density per unit area than that of the character in which the information embedding unit (204) embeds the information, and an output unit (206) which outputs the original document processed by the information embedding unit (204) and the character generation unit (205).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of embedding information in a document and a technique of extracting embedded information.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days, it is very easy to copy, using a copying machine or the like, a document created by another person. Even a document which inhibits copying without permission, such as a document (to be simply referred to as a confidential document hereinafter) describing confidential matters, is highly likely to be easily copied. For example, when confidential information described in a confidential document is output as a printed material, the printed material is often copied. To prevent this, there have been proposed a variety of techniques for inhibiting arbitrary and intended copying operations or restricting them to a predetermined range.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-231384 (reference 1) discloses a technique of generating a pattern image by image processing to obtain the same effects as those of copy forgery-inhibited paper. The copy forgery-inhibited paper has a special pattern image printed in advance. The pattern image is, for example, a hidden word of warning which is hardly seen by the human eye, but appears when copied by a copying machine. If a copying machine copies a document printed on copy forgery-inhibited paper, a word of warning such as "copy protected" appears conspicuously in the copy. Such a word of warning psychologically deters the user from illicit copying, and can distinguish a copy from the original. Reference 1 also discloses a technique of superposing the images of a warning word and background having undergone different dither processes at a specific common density, thereby compositing input image data and a pattern image capable of obtaining the same effect as that of copy forgery-inhibited paper.
Japanese Patent No. 3879552 (reference 2) discloses a technique of embedding mechanically readable copy protection information in a confidential document in advance, detecting it from an image read by a copying machine, and controlling the copying operation of the copying machine based on the detection result.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-221773 (reference 3) discloses a technique of creating an original by generating, with small independent dots, characters selected by the user from a document. When the original is copied, the characters disappear.
However, according to reference 1, when a copying machine copies a document, a word of warning appears in the background of the copy to psychologically deter the user from illicit copying. However, this is merely a deterrent effect, and cannot prevent illicit copying.
According to reference 2, it can be controlled to inhibit an image reading apparatus such as a copying machine from copying. However, the user can easily copy with popular image reading apparatuses which do not comply with the invention of reference 2. That is, if the user knows this fact and intentionally copies with a copying machine which does not comply with the invention, he can easily get a copy.
According to reference 3, when an original is copied, characters generated with small independent dots always disappear. Hence, even when the user legally copies, he cannot accurately reproduce the original, resulting in inconvenience. Every time the user creates an original, he needs to select characters to be generated with small independent dots. This puts a heavy burden on the user.

Information processing apparatus and method


A power consumption measurement and control apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium thereof are provided. The power consumption measurement and control apparatus includes a power input line, a power output line, a sensing interface, a processing unit, a button, and a power consumption measurement and control unit. The power consumption measurement and control unit has a logic switch. When the logic switch is off and the processing unit receives an identification signal from the sensing interface, the logic switch is turned on. When the logic switch is on and one of the following conditions happens, the logic switch is turned off: (a) another identification signal from the sensing interface is received, and (b) the power consumption amount flowing out the power output line is below a predetermined threshold over a predetermined time interval.

As the shortage of resources becomes increasingly severe and the energy prices increase continuously, energy management has become a great concern of the public. A commonly-used power energy management method works in the following way: the power consumption conditions of users are measured, recorded, and analyzed and then the analysis result is provided to users for reference so as to help users change their power consumption behaviors and save power consumption. Generally, a clearer responsibility division of power consumption will lead to a higher energy-saving motivation and a better energy-saving effect.
In conventional technologies, some power consumption management mechanisms can only measure and record the total power consumption of individual electric apparatuses but can not measure and record the power consumption of an individual user. Meantime, some other power consumption management mechanisms can only measure and record the power consumption of a single user at a time but can not support sharing/apportioning of power consumption. For example, if four students live in a same dormitory, then the conventional technologies can not calculate the individual power consumption of each student living in this dormitory because every one has his/her own work-and-rest schedule and the time he/she spends in the dormitory is different from that of others. Since the conventional technologies can not manage the power consumption of each individual user, the energy-saving motivation and effect are relatively poor.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need in providing a power consumption measurement and control mechanism which can be shared by several users and is capable of calculating and apportioning the power consumption among individual users.

Power consumption measurement and control apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium thereof


The present invention relates to a biodegradable sustained release preparation for treating periodontitis, especially containing polysaccharide. The core of the preparation according to the present invention consists of medicine and polysaccharide, i.e. sodium alignate, and is coated with cationic chitosan. By the function of chitosan building the coating of the preparation, the medicine is slowly released, and the carrier is completely decomposed by lysozyme in vivo after the release of the medicine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a biodegradable sustained release preparation for treating periodontitis. More specifically, this invention relates to a biodegradable sustained release preparation for treating periodontitis characterized in that the core, which is further coated with chitosan, of the preparation contains medicine and polysaccharide, i.e. sodium alginate.
Periodontitis, an inflammation of periodontium caused by anaerobic bacteria, is a periodontal disease exacerbated from gingivitis. Because periodontitis destructs collagen supporting alveolodental membrane and dissolves alveoru, periodontal ligament are dissociated and periodontal cyst, an important clinical symptom, is invaded. In serious symptom, teeth are lost. The pathogenetic bacteria causing periodontitis are mostly gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. Those bacteria destruct desmoplasm and periodontal ligament of alveolodental membrane a side effect of migrating polymorphonuclear cell depravates inflammation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The general therapy of periodontitis in the prior art includes apparatotherapy such as scaling, curettage or root planing. However, these therapies are used only as a supplementary method due to high recurrens. Therefore, in order to treat periodontitis, pharmacotherapy have to be used primarily.
Examples of pharmacotherapy includes antibiotic therapy for controlling gram-anaerobic bacteria and therapy of using antiphlogistic for laxation of inflammation. Among the various antibiotics, tetracycline-type medicines are preferred because they are used widely and have low toxicity for human beings. Since the MIC (minimum inhibition concentration) 90% value is 8 .mu.g/ml, the effectiveness of these medicines is high enough to be maintained for 6 months per only a dose.
With regard to antibiotic therapy, in case of systemic medication, since an excessive amount of antibiotics have to be used for maintaining the effective concentration of medicine in the palatal bursa of gingiva, the side effect and manifestation of tolerance are occurred.
Alternatively, in case of the generally preferred topical therapy, oral irrigation is preferred in order to administrate the antibiotics topically. However, this therapy is unsuitable because the medicine can not satisfactorily pass through periodontal cyst. Also, a method of direct injection of medicine with a syringe is only effective for a short-term-therapy but not for a long-term therapy.
In these circumstances, a sustained release preparation which can slowly release medicine in periodontal cyst by inserting a carrier into periodontal cyst has been recently developed in order to solve these problems.
This method has been disclosed in the documents as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,099 capsules and tablets of prolonged effects; U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,518 a buccal implant of which medicine is released by saliva; U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,360 topical gel; U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,546 bandages containing topical medicine; U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,164 plastic mass containing medicine; U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,527 medicated periodontal dressing; U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,392 topical dressing containing medicine dispersed in microparticulated carrier; U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,333 droplet of medicine microcapsulated; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,286 foam film devices containing medicine.
While collagen film containing tetracycline developed by Minabe etc., is a biodegradalde preparation of which effective concentration is prolonged over 10 days in palatal bursa of gingive, it has a disadvantage of causing immunoreaction due to hetero antigen-protein.
While filamentous devices containing medicine, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,179, U.S. Pat. No. 2,667,443, U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,781 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,539 and hollow fiber device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,326, both made of cellulose acetate, are effective in inclusion of medicine but not in control of releasing medicine.
In case of hollow fiber, the. elution of 95% of medicine is completed in 2 hours, while in case of monolith fiber, that is completed in one day. Also, monolith fiber made of ethylene vinyl acetate polymer is excellent as a sustained release preparation because the elution of medicine is prolonged for 9 days.
However, since the carrier is insoluble so that it can react as a physical promoter in inflammation reaction, and it should be removed after treatment due to its undegradability, they are disadvantageous to be used.
As a filamentous biodegradable medicine, polyglycolic acid fiber containing medicine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,766. Besides, there is soluble hydroxypropyl cellulose strip, as a soluble carrier, developed by Niguchi. Although there is not disadvantage of removing after treatment because of its high solubility, it is unsuitable for long-term therapy since the elusion of medicine is completed in 24 hours due to dissolution of carrier. Further, hydrophilic paste preparation to be injected to periodontal cyst with syringe containing tetracycline has been developed. However, the dependency between the clinical effect and change in concentration of tetracycline has not yet been determined.

Biodegradable sustained release preparation for treating periodontitis


A method and system for searching for information is disclosed. The method includes storing a plurality of content categories and identifying, according to properties returned by a plurality of search engines, at least one search engine suited to service a query where the query has at least one content category of the plurality of content categories. The system includes a processor and a machine-readable medium including instructions that when executed by the processor result in performance of the disclosed method.

Searching is one of the most popular applications available on computer networks such as the Internet and corporate intranets. Traditionally, there are two options for providing search applications. The first option is to purchase or license proprietary search technology. It may be very expensive to install and maintain search technology on private servers. Additionally, a customer may be "locked in" to the technology of a particular vendor, making it difficult or impossible to build integrated search solutions, or to switch vendors. The second option is known as the application service provider (ASP) model. With the ASP model, search technology is installed and maintained on the servers of a third party, the service provider. Search queries to the customer's servers invoke the search functionality of the ASP, which searches the third party servers and returns results. The ASP option may make it easier to switch search vendors and may reduce the initial expense and ongoing maintenance costs.
Neither of the traditional search options enables the selection of the best available search technology for a particular search query. This lack of flexibility leads to a "one-size-fits-all" approach to searching. Applications built with search technology cannot be designed in a vendor-independent manner. Therefore, a need exists for inter-search technology protocols to locate and match the best search technologies to service a particular query.

Method and apparatus to search for information


A method, system and computer program product for efficiently identifying images, videos, audio files or documents relevant to a user using binary search trees in attribute space for guiding relevance feedback. A binary tree is constructed for each relative attribute of interest. A “pivot exemplar” (at a node of the binary tree) is set for each relative attribute's binary tree as corresponding to the database image, video, audio file or document with a median relative attribute value among that subtree's child examples. A pivot exemplar out of the available current pivot exemplars that has the highest expected information gain is selected to be provided to the user. Comparative attribute feedback is then received from the user regarding whether a degree of the attribute in the user's target image, video, audio file or document is more, less or equal with the attribute displayed in the selected pivot exemplar.

In information retrieval, users have a mental picture of content, such as images, desired to be retrieved. For example, a shopper wants to retrieve those catalog pages that match his/her envisioned style of clothing. In another example, a witness wants to help law enforcement locate a suspect in a database based on his/her memory of the face of the suspect. In a further example, a web page designer wants to find a stock photograph suitable for his/her customer's brand image. Oftentimes, such images are attempted to be retrieved based on simple keyword searching. However, such content or images (e.g., illustrations, photographs, products) are not easily identified and retrieved based on simple keyword searching In a similar manner, in other domains, such as video, document, or music retrieval, it is difficult to accurately meet a user's search needs if relying on keyword search alone.
As a result, interactive search techniques have been developed to attempt to identify and retrieve the content envisioned by the user by allowing the user to iteratively refine the results retrieved by the system. The basic idea in such techniques is to show the user candidate results, obtain feedback, and adapt the system's relevance ranking function accordingly. However, existing retrieval methods provide only a narrow channel of feedback to the system. Typically, a user refines the retrieved images (or videos, audio files, or documents) by providing binary relevance feedback (i.e., informing the system which examples are "relevant" or "irrelevant") on exemplars provided to the user, or else attempts to tune the system parameters, such as weights on a small set of low-level features (e.g., texture, color and edges in the case of image searches). The latter is clearly a burden for a user who likely cannot understand the inner workings of the algorithm. The former feedback is more natural to supply, yet it leaves the system to infer what about those images the user found relevant or irrelevant, and therefore can be slow to converge on the user's envisioned content in practice.
A further deficiency in interactive search techniques involves the examples (images, videos, audio files, or documents) that are selected to be provided to the user for feedback. Typically, the system simply displays a screen full of top-ranked examples, leaving a user free to provide feedback on any of them. This strategy has the appeal of simultaneously showing the current results and accepting feedback. However, the examples believed to be the most relevant need not be the most informative for reducing the system's uncertainty in selecting the examples that are the closest to the user's envisioned image. As a result, the approach may fail to explore relevant portions of the feature space, and can waste interaction cycles eliciting redundant feedback. Hence, such techniques are inefficient in terms of the system's selection time as well as the user's feedback effort as a result of not providing examples to the user for which feedback would be most informative for reducing the system's uncertainty (i.e., improve the system's notion of relevance).

Efficiently identifying images, videos, songs or documents most relevant to the user using binary search trees on attributes for guiding relevance feedback

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


An optical character recognition system identifies a font type for an image of a block of text. Key characters matching characters in a pre-defined character set are located in the text block. The image of the text block is partitioned into plural image segments where, for example, each image segment is an image of one line of text. Each image segment is evaluated to determine whether the characters in the image segment have fixed pitch or variable pitch. For each key character in the image segments designated as variable pitch, a determination is made whether a gap exists between a left edge of the key character image and the left border of the key character. A font type is identified for the characters in the image data based on the fixed pitch determinations and the gap determinations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical character recognition systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for identifying character font type in an optical character recognition system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Character recognition systems have become widely available in recent years. A conventional character recognition system first obtains a computerized image of a document, such as by scanning in a paper copy of a document, receiving a document image that has been transmitted by facsimile, or obtaining a document image from a server via a local network. Once the document image is obtained, the portions of the document image corresponding to text areas of the document are then analyzed so as to recognize individual characters in those text areas and form a computer readable file containing character codes (e.g., ASCII character codes) corresponding to the recognized characters. Such a file can then be manipulated in word processing, data compression, or other information processing programs.
Conventional character recognition systems are advantageous because they eliminate the need to retype or otherwise reenter text data of the document. However, if an attempt is made to reproduce (such as by printing out) the document based on the computer readable file of character codes, important visual information present in the original document can be lost if font type is not identified as well. For example, FIG. 1 shows a representative document 1 containing various font types, including block 2 containing sans serif proportionally spaced characters, blocks 7 containing serif proportionally spaced characters, and block 5 containing serif fixed pitch characters. A conventional character recognition system would not recognize the differences among these various font types, but instead would reproduce the entire document in a single font, as such shown in FIG. 2.
The problem is especially relevant where the recognition processed document is printed or where, for example to conserve storage space, only the recognition processed document is retained, and the original scanned document is discarded.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved character recognition system that incorporates font type identification techniques.
In one aspect, the present invention uses an image of a character to determine whether the character has a serif font or a sans serif font. A left border is obtained for the image of the character, a determination is made as to whether a gap exists between the character""s left edge and its left border, and the font type of the character is identified as serif if a gap exists and sans serif if no gap exist.
In another aspect, the present invention determines a font type for a group of characters from image data that include images of the characters. Key characters are located in the image data, where each key character matches a character in a pre-defined character set. A left border is then obtained for each key character. A determination is made whether a gap exists between the left edge and the left border of each key character. The font type for characters in the image data then is identified based on the gap determination.
In still another aspect, the present invention determines a font type for a group of characters from image data that include images of the characters. Key characters are located in the image data, where each key character matches a character in a pre-defined character set. The image data are partitioned into image segments. For each image segment a determination is made whether the image segment is fixed pitch or variable pitch. A left border is obtained for each key character in the image segments designated as variable pitch. A determination is made whether a gap exists between the left edge and the left border of each key character in the image segments designated as variable pitch. Finally, the font type for characters in the image data is identified based on the gap determination and the fixed pitch determinations.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the attached drawings.


This invention is related to a liquid developer dispersion for use in a digital printing apparatus comprising a non volatile carrier liquid, a marking particle and a dispersing compounds, wherein the marking particle in the liquid developer dispersion is stabilized during storage and wherein at fusing two phases are formed. The invention is also related to the use of the developer in a digital printing apparatus and to a method for preparing the liquid developer dispersion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a liquid developer dispersion, a method for preparing the liquid developer dispersion, a printing process using the liquid developer dispersion and an image forming apparatus using the liquid developer dispersion.
2. Description of Related Art
Liquid developer dispersions are known in the art and are used for electrophotography and developing electrostatic latent images formed on a latent image carrying member in a digital printing process using a digital printing apparatus. An example of such printing apparatus is provided in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,995,953 the content of which is incorporated into this application in its entirety by this reference. Liquid developer dispersions, also called liquid toners are usually made of a carrier liquid and a marking particle. The carrier liquid is a non-aqueous solvent carrier.
A problem of known liquid developer dispersions, is that the carrier liquid in the liquid developer dispersion is often volatile so that during transfusing or fixation of the marking particle on a transfer medium such as paper, the carrier liquid vaporizes in the atmosphere, which is harmful for the environment if the condensation of the carrier liquid is not fully controlled.
Another problem of liquid developer dispersions which are currently used is that the carrier liquid stays present after fusing in the final substrate. The remaining carrier liquid on the paper substrate accumulates during paper recycling, which causes disadvantages in paper recycling processes. In addition, the remaining carrier liquid can migrate to foodstuffs, when the paper is used for food packaging.

Liquid developer dispersion for digital printing process


Systems and methods for cache optimization are provided. The method comprises monitoring cache access rate for a plurality of cache tenants sharing same cache mechanism having an amount of data storage space, wherein a first cache tenant having a first cache size is allocated a first cache space within the data storage space, and wherein a second cache tenant having a second cache size is allocated a second cache space within the data storage space. The method further comprises determining cache profiles for at least the first cache tenant and the second cache tenant according to data collected during the monitoring; analyzing the cache profiles for the plurality of cache tenants to determine an expected cache usage model for the cache mechanism; and analyzing the cache usage model and factors related to cache efficiency or performance for the one or more cache tenants to dictate one or more occupancy constraints.

In computing systems, a cache mechanism may be utilized to improve data access speeds. This is accomplished by way of temporarily copying certain target data stored in a primary data storage area (i.e., auxiliary memory) to a secondary data storage area (i.e., cache memory). Cache memory can be accessed faster than the auxiliary memory, thereby supporting faster data processing speeds.
Due to cost issues, size of cache memory is generally substantially smaller than the auxiliary memory. Therefore, when the cache gets full, a caching algorithm or policy is used to evict older cached data in order to provide room for new data that needs to be copied to the cache. Caching algorithms are utilized to determine a replacement policy that would optimize the use of the caching mechanism with an eye toward increasing the underlying system's performance.
In a cache environment in which multiple tenants (e.g., services, applications, processors or machines) compete for cache space, it is important to implement a cache allocation or cache replacement policy that would allocate the available cache space to the more deserving tenants (e.g., tenants defined as having a higher priority over the others) while maintaining the overall optimization in the cache environment and without substantially or disruptively affecting the individual efficiency of the other tenants or the system as a whole.

Allocation enforcement in a multi-tenant cache mechanism

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed are structures and methods for generating a Nyquist superchannel.

Optical superchannel is an emerging technology that supports optical transport data rates in excess of 100-Gb/s by combining multiple optical subcarriers to create a composite optical signal exhibiting a desired capacity. Advantageously, optical superchannel technologies may provide increased capacity sufficient to support the ever-increasing video and mobile traffic demands imposed on the Internet. Accordingly, methods, systems or structures that facilitate the development and/or deployment of optical superchannel technologies would represent a welcome addition to the art.

Optical nyquist superchannel generation using microwave low-pass filtering and optical equalization


Systems and/or methods (“tools”) are described that enable indexing and storing verbal content, and other techniques. Some of these tools may be enabled using a computer-implemented method that includes receiving events that result from detecting keywords within a stream. In a first operating mode, the tools may create metadata in response to the event. The metadata includes an indication of the detected keyword and a time index indicating where in the stream the keyword was detected. The tools may also merge the metadata with a portion of the stream where the detected keyword occurred. In a second operating mode, the tools may associate data representing the keyword with the time index, and may store a record that includes the keyword and the time index in an output file.

Events such as meetings, conferences, presentations, or the like may be recorded and archived, so as to provide permanent records of discussions, interactions, information provided, or decisions made during such events. These recorded events may include audio and/or video content.
The records of these events may be replayed as desired to review or to refresh recollections of what transpired during these events. However, recordings of these events are typically quite large, and consequently may be difficult to search and navigate. In many instances, a reviewer may be reduced to fast-forwarding or rewinding repeatedly through a large recording to locate a given portion of interest.
The time and effort involved in locating a portion of interest in a non-indexed recording of an event may make the bulk recording alone unattractive for use as an archiving and reviewing tool.


The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for displaying a picture search result page, a device and a storage medium, wherein the method comprises: obtaining a search term input by a user; determining a timeliness event corresponding to the search term; displaying a search result page corresponding to the search term, and increasing a display effect corresponding to the timeliness event on the search result page. The solution of the present disclosure may be applied to enhance the display effect.

In the prior art, a user may use a picture search engine to search for pictures, for example, the user inputs a search term "Yiyangqianxi(Jackson Yee)" in a search input box, and then a series of Yiyangqianxi-related pictures are displayed in a search result page.
However, the above display manner can only display pictures themselves and cannot show more content, for example, cannot show recent event information related to "Yiyangqianxi". Therefore, the display effect is undesirable.

Method and apparatus for displaying a picture search result page, device and storage medium

BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


Optionally substituted cyclohexylamine and optionally substituted dicyclohexylamine can be obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of optionally substituted aniline, a catalyst being employed which contains ruthenium, palladium or a mixture of both metals, which are applied to a support of niobic acid or tantalic acid or a mixture of both. The catalyst contains the noble metal(s) in a total amount from 0.05 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the catalyst. In the case of the use of both noble metals, their weight ratio to one another is 1:9-9:1.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a supported catalyst which contains ruthenium, palladium or a mixture of both metals and has a support of niobic acid, tantalic acid or a mixture of both. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of such a catalyst and to a process for the preparation of a mixture of optionally substituted cyclohexylamine and optionally substituted dicyclohexylamine by catalytic hydrogenation of optionally substituted aniline using the catalyst according to the invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to prepare cyclohexylamine and other ring-hydrogenated amino compounds by catalytic hydrogenation of aniline and other aromatic amino compounds. Catalysts which are known for this purpose are: cobalt catalysts which contain a basic additive (GB 969,542), Raney-Kobalt (JP 68/03180), ruthenium catalysts (German Auslegeschrift 1,106,319), ruthenium catalysts doped with alkali metal compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,108) or nickel catalysts (German Patent Specification 805,518).
Most of the processes mentioned are carried out under pressure and give mainly cyclohexylamine apart from only a little dicyclohexylamine. Dicyclohexylamine is therefore frequently prepared by other processes, for example by pressure hydrogenation of diphenylamine using a ruthenium catalyst (German Auslegeschrift 1,106,319). Dicyclohexylamine is additionally formed in the reaction of cyclohexanone with cyclohexylamine in the presence of a palladium/carbon catalyst under a hydrogen pressure of about 4 bar (FR 1,333,692). The process of German Patent Specification 805,518 mentioned is mainly directed to the production of dicyclohexylamine, but is carried out with troublesome returns of by-product.
Other disadvantages of the processes mentioned consist in some cases considerable amounts of cyclohexane waste products, as well as in the unsatisfactory working life of the catalysts employed. There was therefore the desire to develop a process which can be used on an industrial scale, in which the loss due to the formation of cyclohexane is decreased and the working life of the catalyst used is improved, and also to develop a process in which cyclohexylamine and dicyclohexylamine are jointly formed in amounts which are variable according to the demand for the two substances mentioned.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the demands mentioned can be met by the use of the supported noble metal catalyst described in the following.

Process for the preparation of a mixture of cyclohexylamine and dicyclohexylamine using a supported noble metal catalyst


A vehicular seat belt assembly can include a pair of lateral webbing strips configured to extend laterally across a first portion of vehicular passenger, distal ends being statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and proximal ends being selectively connected to and disconnected from each other. A pair of upper body strips can be configured to contact a second portion the passenger. An anchor can be statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and configured to guide each of the upper body strips so as to enable a change in a direction of extension of the upper body strips, and to thereby absorb a portion of a load created by the force applied to the passenger and applied to the upper body strips. A retractor assembly can be configured to enable length adjustment of the upper body strips if the load is below a certain threshold level.

The disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for restraining vehicular passengers. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to vehicular seat belt assemblies, vehicular seating and restraining systems, methods of restraining vehicular passengers, and methods of manufacturing vehicular seat belt assemblies as well as vehicular seating and restraining systems.
Vehicles can be provided with various systems and apparatus for restraining vehicular passengers, such as during an impact event. For example, some related art vehicles are provided with seat belt assemblies that help to restrain the movement of a vehicular passenger in the event of contact with another object or other event that may transmit potentially harmful forces to the passenger. Under these conditions, the seat belt assembly restrains the vehicular passenger to hold the passenger in the passenger's seat to reduce or prevent injuries, such as by impeding or preventing the passenger from contacting other objects, e.g., portions of the vehicle's interior. As one example, in the event of a frontal impact, the forces resulting from the impact could otherwise cause the passenger to move forward and contact a portion of the vehicular interior immediately in front of the passenger. However, the seat belt assembly instead restrains the passenger in the passenger's seat to impede or prevent this contact, thereby reducing, mitigating or preventing passenger injuries.

Methods and apparatus for restraining vehicular passengers


A child distance and alerting system comprising a transmitter unit to be attached to a child's clothing and a receiver unit to be carried by a parent or guardian supervising the child, for preventing the child from wandering too far and becoming vulnerable to predators. The transmitter unit includes a disc-shaped body, a pin portion extending outwardly therefrom for piercing an article of clothing, and a pin-receiving component adapted for releasably clamping the pin portion so that the transmitter unit can be attached to the child's clothing. Once the pin portion and the pin-receiving component are properly joined, the transmitter unit cannot be removed from the child's clothing except by use of a special tool. The transmitter unit is designed to transmit radio frequency signals when it is attached to the child's clothing and remains activated until the pin-receiving component is removed from the pin portion. The receiver unit receives the radio frequency signals sent by the transmitter unit and produces either an audible warning sound or a silent vibrating warning whenever the transmitter unit has traveled outside the predetermined distance from the receiver unit. The receiver unit will also alert the user when an unauthorized attempt has been made to remove the transmitter unit from the child.

This invention relates to a child distance monitoring and alerting system. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which employs a transmitter unit to be worn by a child, and a receiver unit to be worn by a parent, for alerting the parent when the child has wandered out of range. Further, the invention relates to the transmitter unit having a temper-resistant fastening means incorporated therein for preventing unauthorized removal of the transmitter unit from the child's clothing.
Various references uncovered in the prior art provide devices that utilize a transmitter and receiver arrangement for monitoring or locating a child. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,915 to Chen discloses a child separation alarm comprising a first safety pin to be worn by a person for transmitting a wireless signal which is to be received by another person wearing a second safety pin for receiving the wireless signal and initiating a buzzer when no wireless signal is received thereby. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,074 to White discloses a child finder constructed as a watch or jewelry to be worn by a child in which a transmitter is mounted for sending a monitoring signal to a conventional receiver so that the child's location can be continually monitored.
Most of these prior art devices may not provide adequate protection against perpetrators, including kidnappers, since these devices, when worn by a child, can be easily removed therefrom by a perpetrator before the child is forcibly taken away. Therefore, there is still a further need to provide an improved child distance monitoring and alerting system for alerting a guardian that the supervised child has wandered off too far. Such a child distance monitoring and alerting system should incorporate a tamper-resistant fastening feature within the transmitter unit so that it can be securely attached to an article of clothing worn by a child, thereby making removal of the transmitter unit therefrom difficult to accomplish without having a special tool to detach it. Moreover, such a child distance monitoring and alerting system should initiate an alarm or a vibrator within the receiver unit worn by a parent whenever a child with the transmitter unit wanders beyond a predetermined distance or whenever the transmitter unit becomes detached from the child's clothing.
While these units mentioned above may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

Child distance monitoring and alerting system


A sample inlet liner includes a novel matrix that serves to retain an injected sample. The preferred inert matrix is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that serves to retain an injected sample and is provided in lieu of a conventional packing material. The contemplated inert matrix may be selected from a range of configurations of PTFE so as to provide a supporting material capable of retaining an ample quantity of injected sample in the sample inlet liner. The contemplated matrix nonetheless provides a tortuous path for the retained quantity of injected sample so as to facilitate known injection techniques such as split/splitless injection and large volume injections.

The present invention relates to chromatographic analysis systems and, more particularly, to a sample introduction system and related apparatus for analyzing a sample comprised of one or more components to determine the identity and concentration of each component in the sample. More specifically, this invention is related to a sample inlet liner and related apparatus fabricated from inert material(s) to reduce sample adsorption or decomposition.
Chromatography is a known method of analyzing a sample comprised of one or more components to qualitatively determine the identity of the sample components as well as quantitatively determine the concentration of the components.
A typical chromatographic apparatus includes: a sample introduction system having an injection port, into which the sample is injected and mixed with an inert fluid at high temperature; a column through which the various dissolved components of the sample will travel at a rate related to the characteristics of the specific components; and a detector for measuring the presence of each component.
Analytical chromatography involves a series of steps: sample collection, sample preparation, sample introduction into the chromatographic system, chromatographic separation into individual components, detection of those components, and data acquisition and reduction. For each step, the analyst must make appropriate choices among accepted procedures and available instrumentation. Improper selection or use of the sample introduction system can dramatically limit the performance of the system and, therefore, the ultimate performance of the analytical method. Because of the great variety of columns and the diversity of samples that can be analyzed with modern chromatography, several sample introduction systems and related injection modes are known; no single system can best satisfy all analytical requirements.
However, a common function of the sample introduction system is to provide accurate, reproducible, and predictable introduction of sample into the column. Usually the sample introduction system includes a device known as a sample inlet, whereby a quantity of sample in a liquid form is injected using a syringe. There are other sample introduction devices that introduce samples into the chromatographic column when syringe injection is inappropriate (for example, with solid samples): a gas or liquid sampling valve, head space autosampler, thermal desorber, purge and trap sampler, or pyrolyzer.
Sample inlets are usually divided into two major categories: packed column inlets and capillary column inlets. The types of capillary column inlets are known to include: capillary direct, split/splitless, programmed temperature vaporizing (PTV), and cool on-column direct. Nearly all capillary inlets are vaporizing, including on-column direct injection, except for cool on-column injection, which deposits condensed sample directly into the column.
A useful technique for introducing a liquid sample into a chromatographic system is by injection into a hot inlet wherein it is quickly vaporized (flash vaporization). The benefits of flash vaporization includes the transfer of the liquid sample to a gas and a quick transfer of a sample into the column. However, typical problems associated with vaporizing inlets include band broadening, needle discrimination, inlet discrimination, and sample decomposition. Sample decomposition is indicated by lost or misshapen peaks, or by the generation of unwanted peaks. Decomposition is exacerbated by high inlet temperatures, long residence time of the sample in the inlet, and chemical activity of the sample with the inlet. These problems are exacerbated by the use of high inlet temperatures and low boiling point solvents.
Accordingly, an inlet liner may be positioned in the inlet to reduce chemical activity between the sample and the inlet. The selection and construction of the inlet liner has a direct effect on the success of an analysis, and each type of inlet is designed to function best with a certain type of liner. For example, splitless inlets may require straight liners with no packing, whereas liners constructed for other techniques, such as programmed temperature vaporization, require baffled or packed liners to retain a liquid sample during cold sample introduction.
The inlet liner and any packing material therein is expected to be non-reactive with respect to the compounds and solvents that may be present in an injected sample. One conventional approach is to chemically deactivate the liner and its contents. Deactivation reagents such as hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), dimethyldichlorosilane (DMDS), and polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) are typical examples. In another approach, a stationary phase coating may be applied to a particulate (such as Dexsil-300 on Chromosorb 750) to achieve a deactivated surface. Such a procedure may only be effective for a limited series of analytical runs, after which the liner must be cleaned and again be deactivated. Thus, conventional approaches can be unsatisfactory, as will now be described.
Note that any sample decomposition will undesirably degrade the minimum detectable level (MDL) of the chromatograph. Low detection levels are important in environmental, pharmaceutical, food analysis, and other gas chromatography applications. Improvements in sample handling, sample injection techniques, and detectors have all contributed to the ability to measure compounds at decreasing levels.
Sample decomposition is especially undesirable in large volume injection (LVI), which is an important technique for lowering the minimum detection level. In LVI, a large volume of sample is injected. The bulk of the solvent is evaporated before the transfer of the sample to the analytical column is initiated. Large volume injection is especially useful in trace analysis to improve analyte detectability, for analysis of, e.g., pesticides and pollutants. Very often it can replace an off-line evaporation step carried out to concentrate a diluted sample extract.
New inlets and injection techniques supporting large volume injection (LVI) have been developed in recent years. Accordingly, there are two primary techniques used to eliminate solvent: 1) via a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) inlet; and 2) via a cool on-column injection with solvent vapor exit (COC-SVE). Programmed temperature vaporizing injectors (PTV) have been shown to be well-suited for large volume sample introduction in capillary gas chromatography (cf., e.g., Wilson et al., xe2x80x9cLarge Volume Injection for Gas Chromatography Using a PTV Inletxe2x80x9d, Application Note 228-374, Hewlett-Packard Company, March 1997). LVI with PTV is ideal for trace analysis of later-eluting solutes (i.e., solvents having boiling points approximately 100xc2x0 C. higher than the solvent) and for dirty samples.
Note that the typical injection volume for capillary column analysis is 0.5 to 2 xcexcl. The Hewlett-Packard HP 5890 and HP 6890 series gas chromatographs allow approximately two times the normal injection volume (up to 5 xcexcl, depending on the solvent) using xe2x80x9cpulsedxe2x80x9d splitless injection, injecting still larger volumes with standard techniques can lead to contamination of the system, irreproducible results, and loss of sample. In contrast, the typical injection volumes employed in a large volume, solvent elimination PTV inlet are 25 to 100 xcexcl; even up to 1 ml have been demonstrated. Multiple injections can be used with the PTV inlet when even larger volumes are required.
Hence, for large volume injections, the PTV inlet is often used in a xe2x80x9csolvent ventxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csolvent eliminationxe2x80x9d mode. Sample is introduced into the inlet with the inlet temperature near the boiling point of the solvent and with a relatively high split ratio. The solvent (and low-boiling solutes) is vented while the higher boiling solutes (more than about 100xc2x0 C. above the solvent boiling point) remain and are concentrated in the inlet. After a predetermined period, the split vent is closed and the inlet temperature is increased to transfer the solutes and any residual solvent to a column for separation. Because the sample is evaporated from the inlet, nonvolatile sample components and degradation products remain behind in the inlet, minimizing column contamination. Thus, the PTV inlet is chosen more often than cool-on-column or split/splitless inlet for receiving dirty samples. Hence the PTV inlet is advantageous for cold split or splitless applications and avoids most of the problems associated with hot inlets such as sample discrimination, liner overload, and sample decomposition.
Two injection techniques for large volume injection (LVI) are known: controlled speed injections and multiple injections. In controlled speed injections, the sample injection rate is matched to the solvent vaporization rate such that the liner is not overfilled with liquid during the sample injection. Hence the inlet liner capacity is not a limiting factor, but the injection rate must be slowed to an appropriate speed.
In multiple injections, an aliquot of sample that does not exceed the liquid capacity of the liner is introduced to the inlet. The solvent is allowed to evaporate before the next aliquot is injected. This approach has several advantages over controlled speed injection. However, at least one of the disadvantages of multiple injections is the single shot liner capacity: for a typical liner (e.g., a multibaffle liner) the liner capacity is approximately 5 xcexcl. Thus, to make a 100 xcexcl injection, 20 replicate injections must be made. A larger liner can reduce the number of replicate injections and minimizes adverse effects such as vial cap septum coring and contamination, but such liner construction suffers from other disadvantages, such as its cost, size, etc.
Liner capacity may be increased by packing the liner bore with a support material in order to provide a physical support for retention of the liquid sample in the liner bore after injection. Several materials are known; the typical choice is quartz or glass wool, which provides good permeability as well as a large surface area for holding solvent. A typical liner packed with glass wool has an injection capacity of at least 35 xcexcl. Another approach is to pack the liner with glass beads or particulates used for packing chromatographic columns, such as Tenax TA or Dexsil-300 coated on Chromosorb 750 (commercially available from Chrompack, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands). The small particles (35-200 mesh size) are porous and offer large surface area for holding solvent.
Mol et al., in xe2x80x9cLarge Volume Injection in Capillary GC Using PTV Injectorsxe2x80x9d, J. High Resol. Chromatogr., 18, 124-128, (February 1995), describe use of a variety of packing materials, including silanized glass wool, which is often used and which affords reliable results for thermostable compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorobiphenyls. However, the authors conclude that the use of silanized glass wool as packing material in a large volume sample introduction with a PTV injector causes decomposition of thermolabile or polar compounds because the glass wool exhibits an undesirable interaction between the sample and active sites on the surface of the wool fibers. As a result there is degradation or adsorption of the analytes when present in the liner.
The authors also found certain alternatives to glass wool-packed liners that were more inert than glass wool and were better suited as packing material in large volume sample introduction for analytes covering a broad volatility and polarity range. Their preferred alternative was a PTV inlet packed with PTFE wool or a packing material composed of the above-described Dexsil-coated Chromosorb material. With regard to the packing material composed of Dexsil-coated Chromosorb material, the authors describe only their use of hexane and ethyl acetate as a sample solvent. Neither of these solvents would be expected to dissolve Dexsil; however, other solvents are capable of such dissolution. Accordingly, the Dexsil-coated packing material has limited use as it would not be suitable for use with a solvent capable of dissolving such a coating.
The other preferred packing material. i.e., PTFE wool, is described by the authors as being prepared from a PTFE rod, and is cited as having a maximum inlet temperature of 275xc2x0 C. The authors therefore appear to teach the use of PTFE wool only for use in inlets subject to lower temperatures; in fact, the authors recite the basis of their choice of PTFE as being its water resistance.
Accordingly, for analyses of pesticides and pollutants, wherein polar and thermally-labile compounds are so prevalent, the foregoing approaches are less than satisfactory because of temperature limitations or due to sample decomposition due to interaction of those compounds with the inlet liner and the packing material. For example, the above-described use of PTFE wool is attractive, except that a maximum temperature limit of 275xc2x0 C. which precludes the use of PTFE wool at higher temperatures that would be useful in certain applications. Moreover, the large surface area offered by glass or PTFE wool enhances solvent capacity but nonetheless also offers a multitude of sites for analyte adsorption or decomposition. Organophosphate pesticides such as Guthion, Acephate, and Methamidophos are prime example of difficult compounds that may be subject to adsorption or decomposition. Lastly, it is difficult to pack a typical liner with PTFE wool in a reproducible way such that the maximum sample volumes and solvent vent times do not vary.
For the foregoing reasons, there remains a need for an improved packing material for use in all types of an inlet liners including, but not limited to, split/splitless inlets and PTV inlets. Ideally, the packing should be highly inert and thermostable. The packed liner should retain the high-boiling analytes only as necessary in order to minimize the thermal stress applied to these compounds upon splitless transfer to the column. Furthermore, the packing should be compatible with common organic solvents and the inertness should not be affected by their use. The packed liner should retain a large volume of liquid sample in order to allow rapid introduction of large sample volumes without overloading the liner capacity. The packing material should be applicable to a typical liner in a reproducible way such that the maximum sample volumes and solvent vent times do not vary.
Also for the foregoing reasons, there remains a need for an improved liner for use in all types of an inlet liners including, but not limited to, split/splitless inlets and PTV inlets. Ideally, the liner should be highly inert and thermostable. The liner should be compatible with common organic solvents and its inertness should not be affected by their use. The liner should be amenable to packing so as to retain a large volume of liquid sample in order to allow rapid introduction of large sample volumes without overloading the liner capacity. The liner should also be amenable to receiving packing material in a reproducible way such that the maximum sample volumes and solvent vent times do not vary.
I have determined that a conventional liner is not amenable to deactivation by conventional methods to an extent sufficient for the analysis of certain samples, such as those that traditionally react with the sample inlet liner, such as analytes containing organophosphates (e.g., pesticides) and organochlorines.
I have further determined that the packing material used in conventional liners, such as deactivated glass wool, glass beads, or sintered glass particles, is not amenable to deactivation by conventional methods to an extent sufficient for the analysis of certain samples, such as those containing organophosphates or pesticides.
According to the present invention, a novel sample inlet liner may be constructed according to the present invention to offer improved performance when subjected to certain samples, and generally overcomes the foregoing problems in the prior art.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sample inlet liner may be provided to include a novel matrix that serves to retain an injected sample and is provided in lieu of a conventional packing material.
In another preferred embodiment, a novel sample inlet liner may be constructed to include an internal barrier surface of PTFE and further includes an inert matrix of PTFE that serves to retain an injected sample and is provided in lieu of a conventional packing material.
In another feature of the invention, the contemplated inert matrix may be selected from a range of configurations of PTFE so as to provide a supporting material capable of retaining an ample quantity of injected sample in the sample inlet liner. The contemplated matrix nonetheless provides a diffusion path for the retained quantity of injected sample so as to facilitate known injection techniques such as split/splitless injection and large volume injections.
In another feature of the invention the contemplated matrix avoids the filamentary, or xe2x80x9cwoolxe2x80x9d-like construction of the prior art and therefore is believed to be useful at a higher operating temperature range, i.e., in excess of 275 degrees Centigrade. With respect to the prior art packing materials, the contemplated matrix is expected to be less subject to thermal degradation, adsorption, contamination, and the deleterious effects of mechanical working.
In another feature the invention, the contemplated sample inlet liner may be manufactured easily and inexpensively.
In another feature the invention, the contemplated matrix may be positioned in the bore of the sample inlet liner in an easy, consistent, and reproducible manner, thus allowing more predictable performance in large volume injections.
In another feature of the invention, the contemplated matrix is thermally and mechanically stable to an extent sufficient for use in a traditional hot split/splitless inlet.
In another feature of the invention, the contemplated sample inlet liner is easily manufactured from commercially available tubing stock, or may be applied to the interior of the sample inlet liner according to known techniques such as vapor deposition. Preferred embodiments of the sample inlet liner may be manufactured, cleaned, or replaced in a fashion that is easier and less costly than with conventional liners.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are contemplated for use in a wide range of sample inlets, such as split, splitless, split/splitless, and programmable temperature vaporization (PTV) inlets. Additional applications of the preferred embodiments include other sample introduction systems and thermal desorption systems.

PTFE matrix in a sample inlet liner and method of use


The present invention 10 discloses a bridge cap comprising a compressible resilient material having a substantially oval shape with a planar surface on the distal ends 24 thereof. The bridge cap 10 has a cavity 28 with a pliable material 30 therein whereby the bridge cap can be releasably positioned on protruding pins 16 such that the pins extending from the fixator devices can be covered to prevent inadvertent potentially damaging contact with the protruding pins especially while sleeping.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to end protectors and, more specifically, to a bridge cap comprising a compressible resilient material having a substantially oval shape with a planar surface on the distal ends and wherein said bridge gap has a cavity with a pliable material therein whereby said bridge cap can be releasably positioned on protruding pins, such as the pins extending from fixator devices, to prevent inadvertent potentially damaging contact with said protruding pins especially while sleeping.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other capping device designed for exposed ends. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 184,335 issued to Calmus on Nov. 14, 1876.
Another patent was issued to Murphy on Mar. 28, 1893 as U.S. Pat. No. 494,510. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 666,281 was issued to Morgan on Jan. 22, 1901 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 13, 1925 to Selig as U.S. Pat. No. 1,556,966.
Another patent was issued to Mazurie on Dec. 15, 1931 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,837,169. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,175 was issued to Laemmle on Dec. 8, 1964. Another was issued to Kroll on Sep. 11, 1973 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,826 and still yet another was issued on May 13, 1980 to Bush et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,378.
Another patent was issued to Camilleri on May 2, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,504. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,809 was issued to Tive on Jan. 25, 1994. Another was issued to Underwood on Nov. 18, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,772.


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a fixing device; a main power circuit configured to supply electric power; an auxiliary power circuit configured to store and supply the electric power; a switching device configured to switch between a charge and discharge mode for the auxiliary power circuit; and a control device configured to, when the image is formed by a facsimile function, control the switching device so as to operate the auxiliary power circuit not in the discharge mode so that the electric power of the main power circuit is supplied to the fixing device, and when the image is formed on the basis of other functions, control the switching device so as to operate the auxiliary power circuit in the discharge mode so electric power of the main power circuit and that of the auxiliary power circuit are supplied to the fixing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a storage battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, typically employ an electrophotographic method in view of high speed performance, image quality, cost, and the like, in image formation. The electrophotographic method is a method for forming a toner image on a recording medium, and fixing the formed toner image on the recording medium with heat and pressure. The heat roller method is most widely used as a fixing method for safety purposes. The heat roller method includes a mutual pressure portion, called a nip portion, at which a heating roller that applies heat by way of a heating member such as a halogen heater, is pressed to a pressing roller disposed opposite to the heating roller. The recording medium to which the toner image is transferred passes through the nip portion, and is heated and pressed, so that the toner is fixed on the recording medium.
Recently, with regard to image forming apparatuses, environmental issues have been given more importance. As a result, image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, have been designed to work on energy saving. The key point of energy saving for such an image forming apparatus is power consumption of a fixing device that fixes toner on the recording medium.
To reduce the power consumption of a fixing device in a standby state where image formation is not performed, there is widely chosen a method that the temperature of the heating roller is held at a predetermined temperature that is slightly lower than a fixing temperature in the standby state, and the temperature of the heating roller is raised to the fixing temperature immediately in response to an image formation instruction. In this case, a certain amount of electric power needs to be supplied even when the fixing device is not in use, and accordingly, the image forming apparatus consumes wasteful energy. In particular, the energy consumption in the standby state is as high as about 70% to 80% of the energy consumption of components of the image forming apparatus.
Therefore, it is desirable that the energy consumption is reduced in the standby state, so that the electric power is further saved. In addition, it is desirable that no energy is supplied when the image forming apparatus is not in use. However, since the heating roller of the fixing device mainly employs a metal roller made of iron, aluminum, or the like, which has a large heat capacity, if no energy is supplied in the standby state, the fixing device needs a heating time as long as several minutes to several tens of minutes to be raised to the effective temperature (around 180° C.). This waiting time may deteriorate usability of a user, and accordingly, a heating method which has power consumption as small as possible and has a rising time from the standby state as short as possible is desired.
To reduce the temperature rising time of the heating roller, input energy per unit time, i.e., the necessary rated power can be increased. Namely, even though the temperature of the heating roller is attempted to be raised for a short period of time, the maximum input energy is determined by a power source capacity. However, the available electric power source capacity is limited in most conventional power sources, and special work is necessary for power source equipment to obtain larger electric power. Thus, it is not a common solution.
To address the problem, there has been considered an image forming apparatus that has a secondary battery which may store electric power, as an auxiliary power source. In such an image forming apparatus, the secondary battery is charged in the standby state of the fixing device, and when the fixing device is activated, electric power is supplied to the fixing device from a main power source device, and also from the secondary battery or a primary battery to reduce a rising time of the fixing device (for instance, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-010913).
The secondary battery may be typically a lead storage battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or a nickel hydride battery. Such a secondary battery may be deteriorated in a charging capacity due to repetition of charging and discharging. In addition, the secondary battery has characteristics in that the life thereof becomes shorter as larger electric current is discharged.
When the number of rising of the temperature of the fixing device cycles increases, the repetition of the charging and discharging increases. Accordingly, the secondary battery may be degraded fast, and needs to be replaced frequently. The replacement of the secondary battery is troublesome and increases the cost of batteries to be replaced.

Image forming apparatus having storage battery