The present invention generally relates to air sampling of biological compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for sampling the ambient air for detecting microbial propagules, microbial propagules being any spore, vegetative cell, or virion of microbiological origin including all bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoans, molds, slime molds, chlamydospores, hyphae, and cysts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to air sampling of biological compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a composition, device, and method for sampling the ambient air for detecting microbial propagules, microbial propagules being any spore, vegetative cell, or virion of microbiological origin including all bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoans, molds, slime molds, chlamydospores, hyphae, and cysts. In particular, the present invention discloses a biological compound that can be used for collecting mold spores that allows for the increase of detection accuracy. By using this invention, mold spores can be detected with heretofore unprecedented qualitative and quantitative accuracy when submitted to a biological laboratory for subsequent analysis.
2. Description of the Related Art
At the present, all air sampling for detecting microbial propagules require extensive sample preparation for capturing a sample, carefully preserving the sample, and subsequently submitting this sample to a biological testing laboratory for later analysis. Further, current capture media are not well suited for the identification of microbial propagules. This is because current adhesive technologies are incompatible with the molecular techniques most suited for identification, for example, DNA. The most important of these properties include the capture and stabilization of cells in situ for molecular manipulation using a wide variety of genetic and protein techniques. Thus, present detection of microbial propagules cannot easily be accomplished with both speed and accuracy. There is therefore a great need in the art for the capture of mold spores from air samples with the subsequent accurate determination, identification, and quantification of the microbial propagules.
Accordingly, there is now, provided with this invention, an improved method and device effectively overcoming the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in current capture matrices. These problems have been solved in a simple, convenient, and highly effective way by which to create a medium for the accurate collection, identification, and quantification of microbial propagules from an on-site air analysis.
The current invention combines purified water, a synthetic polymer and connective tissue proteins. The combination of which comprise a biomixture with novel properties; properties that allow for adhesion and manipulation of microbial propagules. The properties of the biomixture provide advantages not available with current adhesive technology. Compatibility with molecular techniques provides the present biomixture invention with the advantage of precision DNA diagnostics including PCR, QPCR, and MSQPCR. DNA diagnostics are extremely sensitive in their ability to detect and quantify microbial species including identification of pathogenic microbial strains or chimeric mutants. However, the biomixture's properties provide scientist with a tool that goes beyond identification purposes. These include manipulation of cells stabilized in the biomixture. Since connective tissue proteins bind to surface receptors it may be possible to design molecular tools to activate microbial cells or genetically transform cells to produce novel products; a valuable tool for the pharmaceutical and biofuel industries.

Composition, device, and method for biological air sampling


In a fuel cell unit 16 that constitutes a fuel cell module 2 of an SOFC device 1, a collector cap 86a is connected to an inner electrode layer 90 via a seal material 96 as an Ag seal portion. A glass coating 30 (dense body) is filled up between the inner electrode layer 90 and an electrolyte layer 94 and the collector cap 86a to cover an upper end surface 96a of the seal material 96. As such, the fuel cell unit 16 includes the seal material 96 constituting as an Ag seal portion that separates a fuel gas from an oxidant gas, and a glass coating 30 at least partially formed to over at least either the fuel gas side surface of the seal material 96 or an the oxidant gas side surface of the seal material 96.

A solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter also referred to as "SOFC") is a fuel cell device including an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte as an electrolyte, and two electrodes that are mounted to opposite sides of the electrolyte. Fuel gas is supplied to one electrode, and oxidant gas (air, oxygen, or the like) is supplied to the other electrode, and a power generation reaction is caused at a relatively high temperature to thereby generate power.
Specifically, the SOFC generally includes a fuel cell assembly (fuel cell stack) having a plurality of tubular fuel cells each including a fuel electrode (anode) layer, an air electrode (cathode) layer, and a solid electrolyte layer held therebetween. The SOFC is actuated by fuel gas and oxidant gas (air, oxygen, or the like) flowing from one side to the other side of the fuel cells. Unreformed gas (city gas or the like) as source gas is supplied from outside the SOFC. The unreformed gas is introduced into a reformer containing a reforming catalyst and reformed into fuel gas rich with hydrogen. The fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell assembly.
The SOFC is configured to perform, as a starting step for reforming the unreformed gas with the reformer, a plurality of steps that includes a partial oxidation reforming (PDX) reaction step, an auto thermal reforming (ATR) reaction step, and a steam reforming (SR) reaction step, and then move to a power generation step. The SOFC can sequentially perform these steps to heat the reformer, the fuel cell stack, or the like to an operation temperature.
In such an SOFC, a gas seal structure that isolates a fuel gas channel from an oxidant gas channel is generally provided in order to separate a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. Various types of these gas seal structures have been studied. For example, a seal material made of silver (Ag) or mainly composed of Ag is desirably used for a gas seal structure because of high compactness (gas impermeability). Ag is also desirably used because Ag degradation due to oxidation or the like practically does not occur at a normal operation temperature (about 500° C. to 700° C.) of the fuel cells in the SOFC. Such an Ag seal material can be formed by sintering a brazed material on an area on which the Ag seal material is to be placed, and Ag is not oxidized even at a sintering temperature (about 1000° C.) at the time.
However, for example, as shown in Non Patent Literature 1, pores will be generated wholly inside the Ag due to water (water vapor) which is generated by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen that are diffused in the Ag, when the Ag, which is contacted by both reducing atmosphere and oxidizing atmosphere, is heated to about 500° C. The pores, which are mainly formed along a grain boundary, will cause cracks to occur and develop in the Ag due to contact between the pores and portions where water (water vapor) occurs. Thus, the Ag degrades over time while the Ag expands (in other words "the porosity with Ag expansion"), leading to leaks of fuel gas and oxidant gas. The two gases, which are mixed and reacted to produce water, are consumed ineffectually, resulting in remarkable deterioration of power generation efficiency.


A cosmetically acceptable medium containing a component and an aqueous gel that includes water and:                (a) a cationic polymer;        (b) an anionic surfactant having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, where the amount of the anionic surfactant is less than the amount of the cationic polymer;        (c) an amphoteric surfactant, where the amount of the amphoteric surfactant is less than the amount of the cationic polymer; and        (d) optionally a long chain amine oxide, where the amount of said long chain amine oxide is less than the amount of the cationic polymer.The component is selected from a cationic surfactant, a conditioning agent, a synthetic amphoteric polymer, a synthetic ampholytic polymer, a synthetic non-ionic polymer, an amino acid, a protein, an oxidizing agent, a hair dye, dyes, pigments, a fragrance, one or more vitamins, and mixtures thereof. The cosmetically acceptable medium can be used to treat keratin-based substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel keratin-treating compositions containing polymer-surfactant compositions and methods for using such compositions in personal care applications. The compositions are useful in treating keratin-containing substrates. Keratin substrates include, but are not limited to, animal and human skin, hair and nails. More specifically, the present invention relates to cosmetically acceptable compositions containing the compositions and methods for treating keratin.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art
There has been a long-standing desire to discover new ingredients and formulations that will improve the topical and bulk condition of keratin-based substrates such as hair, skin and nails. For example, such ingredients must have adequate adherent properties, so that they are not only adsorbed initially, but are also retained on exposure to water. This property is referred to as "substantivity," i.e., the ability of a material to be adsorbed onto keratin and to resist removal by water rinse-off.
Hair is composed of keratin, a sulfur-containing fibrous protein. The isoelectric point of keratin, and more specifically of hair, is generally in the pH range of 3.2-4.0. Therefore, at the pH of a typical shampoo, hair carries a net negative charge. Consequently, cationic polymers have long been used as conditioners in shampoo formulations or as a separate treatment in order to improve the combability of both dry and wet hair. The substantivity of the cationic polymers for negatively charged hair coupled with film formation facilitates detangling during wet hair combing and a reduction in static flyaway during the combing of dry hair. Cationic polymers generally also impart softness and suppleness to hair.
When cationic polymers are added to shampoos (or to skin care products such as cleaning compositions) containing anionic surfactants, the formation of highly surface active association complexes generally takes place, which imparts improved foam stability to the shampoo. Maximum surface activity and foam stability, or lather, are achieved at near stoichiometric ratios of anionic surfactant to cationic polymer, where the complex is at least water soluble. Generally, cationic conditioners exhibit some incompatibility at these ratios. Compatibility gives a clear formulation, which is more desirable commercially. Incompatibility leads to a haze or precipitation, which may be aesthetically less desirable in some formulations.
Hair fixative properties, such as curl retention, are believed to be directly related to film-forming properties of cationic polymers, as well as to molecular weight, with performance generally increasing with increasing molecular weight. However, the fixative properties conferred by cationic polymers generally tend to have a reciprocal relationship to other conditioning properties, i.e., good curl retention usually means that properties such as wet combability will suffer and vice versa.
Keratin conditioning additives generally are of three primary types: cationic polymers, proteins or protein derivatives, and fatty quaternary ammonium compounds. Commonly used cationic polymers include: quaternary nitrogen-containing hydroxyethyl cellulose compounds, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and dimethylamino-ethylmethacrylate and mino functional polydimethyl-siloxane. Hydrolyzed animal protein has been frequently used as a keratin conditioner. Also used are natural products such as collagen and casein. Suitable quaternary ammonium compounds include such products as stearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.
Generally, two broad areas of skin care products have been recognized as skin conditioners: emollients and humectants. Emollients generally provide improved moisture retention in the skin and plasticization or softening of the skin. Common commercial emollients include mineral oil, petrolatum, aliphatic alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, lanolin and its derivatives, glycol stearate, and fatty acids such as triethanolamine oleate. Humectants generally attract moisture, retard evaporation of water from the skin or hair surface and plasticize/soften skin. Common commercial humectants include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitols and polyethylene glycols.
A desirable skin conditioner should impart at least some of the attributes of an emollient or a humectant, as well as provide improved lubricity and feel to the skin after treatment and/or reduce the skin irritation caused by other components in the conditioner such as, for example, soaps, detergents, foam boosters, surfactants and perfumes. It is known by those skilled in the art that cationic polymers may be employed as skin and nail conditioners.
Sometimes, it is also desirable that the ingredients of skin and nail care products have adequate adherent properties, so that they are not only adsorbed initially, but are also retained upon exposure to water. In hair care applications, this property is referred to as "substantivity," i.e., the ability of a material contacted with keratin of skin or nails to resist removal by water rinse-off. Generally, in the pH that is typical of use conditions, the skin and nails carry a net negative charge. Consequently, cationic polymers have long since been used as conditioners in nail and skin care formulations. The substantivity of the cationic polymers for negatively charged skin and nails leads to film formation that facilitates lubricity, moisturizing and feel.
The skin and nail conditioning properties of lubricity, moisturizing and feel are related to the film-forming properties of the cationic polymers, as well as to molecular weight, with performance increasing with increasing molecular weight, generally.
Conditioning additives including copolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and other monomers are well known; see, e.g., EP 0308189 (with acrylamide) and EP 0308190 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,071 (with hydroxyethyl cellulose). Amphoteric betaines have also been employed in cosmetic compositions; see GB 2,113,245 which discloses use of betainized dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylate together with a cationic polymer.
The use of polymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) in the treatment of keratin is also known and disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,572 and 3,986,825.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,694 to Shih et al. discloses copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and (meth)acrylic cationic monomers that are useful for treating hair. These polymers are able to provide good hair styling properties at low concentrations of cationic monomer, but provide limited substantivity due to their low cationic charge density. When the cationic charge density is increased, the polymers disclosed by Shih et al. become difficult to formulate with because of their decreasing compatibility with anionic surfactants.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,576 to Walsh, an excess of anionic surfactant is required when formulating with cationic polymers. The amount of the surfactant is in the range of 0.9 to 2.0 moles times the amount of the surfactant necessary to result in complete neutralization of the charges on the polymer.
There remains a need for a polymeric conditioning additive for keratin-based substrates that is easy to formulate with (easy to make clear surfactant-based formulations), provides excellent hair styling properties as well as excellent conditioning properties to hair, skin and nails.

Polymeric gel system and compositions for treating keratin substrates containing same


An approach is provided in which the approach constructs a 3-dimensional (3D) matrix based on a plurality of historical transactions performed by a user. The 3D matrix includes a set of features, a set of rows, and a set of channels. The approach trains a convolutional neural network using the 3D matrix, and then uses the trained convolutional neural network to predict a risk level of a new transaction initiated by the user. The approach transmits an alert message based on the predicted risk level.

Financial risk management is the practice of protecting economic value in a firm by using financial instruments to manage exposure to risk, such as operational risk, credit risk, market risk, business risk, and legal risk. Similar to general risk management, financial risk management requires identifying the risk sources, measuring the risk, and plans to address the risk. Similar to risk management, financial risk management focuses on when and how to hedge using financial instruments to manage costly exposures to risk.
Industries have witnessed a surge in the reliance on financial services (e.g., banking, credit cards, insurance) over the last few decades, while the advent of the Internet has led to a sharp rise in the number of online transactions. Both of these factors are driving an increase in the prevalence of financial fraud. Some of today's approaches to detect financial fraud include data mining, which involve transaction sample analysis and adding individual labels to individual transactions that appear fraudulent.

Financial risk management based on transactions portrait

International Business Machines Corporation


A board stacking connector chip, which is interposed between opposed first and second printed boards, for stacking both the printed boards, comprises an upper joint portion joined to a connection terminal of the first printed board, a pair of side portions which extend downward from terminal portions of the upper joint portion and are opposed to each other, and a pair of lower joint portions which extend by being bent inward transversely from the lower ends of side portions, being opposed to each other, and are joined to a connection terminal of the second printed board, the upper joint portion, paired side portions, and paired lower joint portions being formed into a substantially rectangular shape in section by bending a plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a board stacking connector chip, which is interposed between two opposed printed boards, for stacking the printed boards.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic equipment such as personal computers and telephone sets incorporates a large number of electronic components. For this reason, these electronic parts are generally contained in an equipment housing by being mounted dividedly on a plurality of printed boards. In order to achieve space saving and easy assembly, when a plurality of printed boards on which electronic components are mounted are contained in a housing, they are often contained in such a manner that the boards are arranged so as to be opposed to each other.
To arrange two printed boards so as to be opposed to each other, a system is possible in which connectors are interposed between the printed boards. Specifically, male connectors and female connectors are fixed at predetermined positions of the opposed surfaces of the respective two printed boards, and these connectors are fitted to each other, whereby the two printed boards are arranged oppositely. If each of the connectors is connected electrically to a conductor pattern on the printed board, the electrical conduction between the two printed boards can be achieved simultaneously.
As another system for oppositely arranging two printed boards, a system in which pins are interposed between the boards is also possible. With this system, the base of a pin is mounted on one of two opposed printed boards, and an insertion hole through which the tip end of the pin is inserted is formed on the other thereof. The pin is inserted through this insertion hole, and the tip end thereof and the periphery of insertion hole are joined by soldering. Thus, by interposing the pins between the boards as spacers, the two printed boards can be arranged oppositely. If the pin is a conductor, the electrical conduction between the conductor patterns of the two printed boards can be achieved simultaneously via the pin.
In recent years, the demand for high-density mounting of electronic components on a printed board has increased with the advance of the downsizing of electronic component and the improvement in component mounting technology. To meet this demand, as the electronic component mounting method, the surface mounting system has been used in place of the conventional insertion mounting system. The conventional insertion mounting system is a system in which the components are fixed by inserting the lead wires of electronic components through the holes in the printed board. In contrast, the surface mounting system is a system in which the electronic components such as chip components are directly mounted and soldered to the surfaces of conductor patterns on the printed board, such as FP (Flat Package) and SOP (Small Outline Package).
The surface mounting system, in which the aforesaid electronic components are soldered to the conductor patterns on the printed board while being brought into direct contact, has an advantage that the electronic component need not have a lead wire for mounting on the board. Moreover, the printed board need not be formed with a hole through which the lead wire passes, so that this system also has an advantage that a process of drilling holes in the board can be omitted. Further, since the electronic components can be mounted directly onto the conductor patterns on the printed board, the height of the electronic component from the board surface can be decreased, so that this system has an advantage that the clearance between the opposed printed boards can be reduced. Therefore, the space occupied by the printed boards can be saved.
However, in the conventional system in which two boards are arranged oppositely by interposing male connectors and female connectors between the printed boards, the clearance between the boards is determined by the heights of these connectors. Therefore, the clearance between the opposed printed boards cannot be decreased, so that the above-described advantage peculiar to the surface mounting method cannot be utilized.
Meanwhile, in the conventional system in which pins are interposed between the opposed printed boards, holes for inserting lead wires must be formed in one of the boards, so that an excess drilling process is required. For this reason, the advantage peculiar to the surface mounting method not requiring excess working on the printed board cannot be utilized. Also, stresses are concentrated at the solder joint portion of lead wire and conductor pattern by a deformation (for example, deflection of board) of printed board occurring with the passage of time, so that the solder joint portion is liable to be separated.

Board stacking connector chip and tape cartridge containing the chip


Methods useful for treating cancers are disclosed. The methods involve administering human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or human luteinizing hormone (hLH) to patients having cancers. Articles of manufacture that are useful for carrying out the described methods are also described. The claimed methods are effective against breast, prostate, ovary, and stomach carcinomas, as well as neuroblastomas, and Kaposi's sarcoma, among others.

Treatment of tumors, including cancers, is an area of clinical medicine that remains fraught with complications and often presents an array of suboptimal treatment choices. A major problem in treating cancer is that most or all of the known therapies have serious adverse side effects. For example, surgery is commonly employed to remove a cancer from a patient. However, surgery often disfigures the patient or interferes with normal bodily functions. Other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation treatment also cause undesired side effects.
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is one example of a cancer that is difficult to treat. Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common malignancy in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States. KS occurs in approximately 30% of male AIDS patients, but only 3% of female AIDS patients Elford et al. (1991) AIDS 7: 1667-1671!. The exact mechanism by which KS develops is unknown. Kaposi's sarcoma is a multifocal neoplasm, consisting of several cell types and abundant angiogenesis. The tumor cell is believed to be a spindle-shaped cell and is usually considered to be of endothelial origin Rutgers et al. (1986) Am. J. Pathol. 122: 493-499!. However, its precise cellular origin and even its classification as a true monoclonal malignancy versus a polyclonal hyperplasia have remained elusive Shaw et al. (1984) Science 226: 1165-1171; Holden et al. (1989) J. Invest. Dermatol. 93: 119S-124S; Hashimoto et al. (1987) Pathol. Res. Pract. 182: 658-668!.
Existing Kaposi's sarcoma treatments often cause myelotoxicity and neurotoxicity see, e.g. Northfeldt et al. (1991) Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America 5: 297-310, which is incorporated herein by reference!. Presently available Kaposi's sarcoma therapies can also induce immunosuppression, compounding the pre-existing immunodeficiency that is usually present in AIDS patients.
Thus, a great need exists for a treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma and other cancers that does not cause severe adverse side effects. Hormonal treatments offer promise of such a treatment.
Many cancers secrete hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and/or an hCG subunit. Indeed, elevated hCG serum concentration is considered a reliable indicator of the presence of some tumors see, e.g., Bagshawe (1992) Acta Oncol. 31: 99-106; Stenman et al. (1993) Scand, J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl. 216: 42-78; Mann et al. (1993) Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl. 216: 97-104!. Elevated serum levels of hCG or an hCG subunit are found in patients having gestational trophoblastic tumors and testicular germ cell tumors, as well as nongonadal and nontrophoblastic tumors such as cancers of the bladder, pancreas, cervix, lung, liver, and stomach Bidart et al. (1993) TEM 4: 285-291; Marcillac et al. (1992) Cancer Res. 52: 3901-3907; Alfthan et al. (1992) Cancer Res. 52: 4628-4633!.
Human chorionic gonadotropin belongs to a family of glycoprotein hormones, human luteinizing hormone (lutropin, hLH), follitropin (FSH), and thyrotropin (TSH). Each of these hormones is composed of two dissimilar, noncovalently bound subunits, .alpha. and .beta.. The hormones share a common .alpha. subunit, while the .beta. subunits differ slightly in length and amino acid sequence Ryan et al. (1988) FASEB J. 2:2661-2669; Ward et al. in Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 4th ed., Cuppos, PT, ed., pp. 25-80, Academic Press, N.Y. (1991)!. The most closely related of the .beta. subunits are those of hCG and hLH, which are 85% identical, except for an approximately 20 amino acid extension on the carboxy terminus of hCG. Indeed, hCG and hLH act through a common receptor Loosfelt et al. (1989) Science 245:525-528; McFarland et al. (1989) Science 245:494-499! and elicit identical biological responses Pierce and Parsons (1981) Ann. Rev, Biochem. 50:466; Strickland et al. in Luteinizing hormone action and receptors, M. Ascoli, Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton Fla., 1985, p. 1!
The present invention is based on the discovery that hCG and related hormones are useful not only as a marker for detecting cancers, but also as a treatment for cancers. Provided herein are an effective methods for treating cancers using human hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin or human lutropin, and articles of manufacture that are useful for carrying out these methods.

Treatment of cancer with human chorionic gonadotropin

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


An exercise device having dual pedals wherein each pedal operates in a rotary manner in a vertical plane parallel to the bilateral axis of the user with each of the user's feet disposed, respectively, on a different one of the dual pedals.

1. Field of the Invention
The device of this invention resides in the field of exercise machines and more particularly relates to a leg-exercising device having pedals that is operated by the bilateral pedaling action of a user moving each pedal in a lateral rotary motion.
2. History of the Prior Art
Pedaling structures for leg exercise are well known. They usually consist of bicycle-like structures having pedals arrayed for movement of each leg of the user which leg movements are generally in a plane that is parallel to the vertical dorsal-ventral axis plane of the user such that the user pushes on each pedal in a circular motion, each of which moves in a vertical plane parallel to the vertical dorsal-ventral axis plane of the user.


P-channel MOSFETs in a fully CMOS-type memory cell are formed by a thin film (polysilicon), and portions that serve as source and drain regions of the thin-film p-channel MOSFETs are thickened by a conductor layer having a small resistance value. Further, the thin film and the conductor layer having a small resistance value are formed in common with a base lead-out layer of an npn bipolar transistor constituting a peripheral circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, particularly, to technology that can be effectively adapted to a static random access memory (hereinafter referred to as SRAM) which is constituted by forming bipolar transistors and complementary MOSFETs (hereinafter referred to as CMOSs) in an integrated form on the same semiconductor substrate.
A Bi-CMOS has been described in, for example, "Nikkei Electronics" published by Nikkei McGrow-Hill Co., Mar. 10, 1986, pp. 199-217. According to the above literature, the memory cell is constituted by a flip-flop type memory cell made of polysilicon having a high resistance load, and peripheral circuits such as the address circuit and the timing circuit are constituted by Bi-CMOS composite switching circuits in order to accomplish an SRAM which operates at high speeds while consuming small amounts of electric power.
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 202858/1989 (corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 274,490, filed in the U.S.A. on Nov. 22, 1988, inventors: Meguro et al., assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.), the memory cells in the CMOS-constituted SRAM are constituted by fully CMOS-type memory cells constituted by two CMOS inverters whose inputs and outputs are cross-coupled to each other, though they are not Bi-CMOSs. The above publication further describes an SRAM which includes fully CMOS-type memory cells in a highly integrated form by forming the source-drain regions and channel regions of p-channel MOSFETs of the CMOS inverters using a polysilicon film.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,640 (Sachitano et al: Date of Patent, Feb. 20, 1990) discloses a Bi-CMOS which includes a vertical npn bipolar transistor having a base drawing layer made of p.sup.+ -type polysilicon formed to surround a p-type intrinsic base region, an n-type emitter region provided in the intrinsic base region, and an emitter drawing layer made of n.sup.+ -type polysilicon connected to the n-type emitter region. The above bipolar transistor having independent polysilicon layers as base and emitter drawing layers is also called double-polysilicon self-aligned transistor and features high-speed operation.

BiCMOS semiconductor memory device using load transistors formed on an insulating film


Disclosed is a keyless system for operating and accessing a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, minivan, bus, airplane, train, boat, etc. Preferably, the user's fingerprint is his or her “right of passage” into the vehicle. The system includes fingerprint triggered access to the physical inside space of a vehicle and along with other commands, preferably voice activated and/or card/card reader, control the vehicle's various systems. The system is designed to perform optimally in less than perfect environmental conditions and is preferably provided with its own source of energy. The system also includes a controller and interface in communication with a fingerprint sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the operation of vehicles and particularly to the keyless system for operation, accessing and entry of a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Approximately, ten to fifteen years ago, several different keys were required to gain access to the different systems of a car: (1) one for entering the car, (2) one for the gas tank, and (3) one for the trunk. Eventually, the three keys were replaced by only one for all three functions. The function of the key was further reduced by allowing the trunk and gas tank to be opened from the inside of the car either mechanically or electrically. Currently, the elimination of key functions have advanced for some cars by permitting entry (i.e. unlocking the doors) into the car by the use of a code or remote control. However, there is still a need in the art for a vehicle which is operated entirely without a key. It is to this effective resolution that the present invention is directed.

Biometric system and method for vehicle security and operation


A toner binder for electrophotography excellent in low temperature fixing properties and anti-hot offset properties comprising styrene (co)polymer(s) (A) comprising a modified styrene (co)polymer modified by unsaturated dicarboxylic acids of C4 to C30, ester-forming derivatives thereof, (meth)acrylic acid, or alkyl (meth)acrylates (alkyl group of C1 to C24); said modified styrene (co)polymer containing constituent units derived from a monomer used in the modification is 0.1 to 9 wt %, and a toner using the toner binder. The (co)polymer(s) (A) includes a species that shows at least one GPC peak each in the regions of the molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000 and 50,000 to 5 million.

Methods have widely been adopted that use a heated roller in order to fix a toner-visualized electrostatic latent image in electrophotography.
For the use of this method, it is desired that the lowest fixing temperature (Tf: the lowest temperature of a heated roller at which a fixing level of 70% is obtained) of a toner is low, and that the hot offset temperature (Th: the lowest temperature of a heated roller at which the hot offset occurs) is high. To meet these two needs, the molecular weight distribution of a toner binder has been frequently proposed to be made to widely range from low molecular weights to high molecular weights (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,147 and 4,486,524).
However, attempts to render the molecular weights of the low molecular weight region to make lower and to increase the low molecular weight ratio for the purpose of lowering the lower limit of the fixing temperature poses the problem of the image deterioration being likely to occur during running of the toner.

Toner binder for electrophotography and toner


The present invention relates to crimping pliers in particular used for forming at least three recesses at a contact element housing an electrical conductor.

EP 0 732 779 B1 discloses crimping pliers for crimping a wire end sleeve with a conductor with removed insulation. The crimping pliers comprise a pliers head. The pliers head is built with a base body. The base body is rigidly connected with a rigid hand lever. A pivoting ring is pivotable with respect to the base body around a die axis. In the region of its inner ring the pivoting ring comprises radial recesses building a kind of spline profile. Six crimping plugs are regularly distributed at locations around the die axis. The die plugs are each pivotably linked with a pivoting bolt held by the base body. In the end region facing away from the die the crimping plugs are each housed in the recesses of the spline-profiled recesses of the pivoting ring. The pivoting movement of the pivoting ring causes a common pivoting of the crimping plugs. The die is built from the radial inner die surface of the crimping plugs and is almost closed in the circumferential direction. The cross-sectional area of the die reduces with the pivoting movement of the pivoting ring and the caused rotation of the crimping plugs so that the crimping of the wire end sleeve is caused. The actuation of the pliers head by causing a relative pivoting movement of the pivoting ring with respect to the base body is done by a drive bolt or pivoting bolt linked with the pivoting ring. The drive bolt or pivoting bolt is a component of a pivoting link. By the pivoting link an end region of a movable hand lever is linked at the pivoting ring. At a location with a small distance from the afore mentioned pivoting link a pressure lever is linked at the movable hand lever by another pivoting link. This pivoting link builds a toggle joint. In the end region facing away from the toggle joint the pressure lever is linked at the fixed hand lever. For building this link, the pressure lever forms a bearing sphere which is housed in a bearing shell formed by the rigid hand lever. A return spring acting in opening direction of the crimping pliers is with one spring base directly linked at the pivoting ring, whereas the other spring base of the return spring is linked at the fixed hand lever. Remote from the connecting region between the toggle joint and the bearing sphere the pressure lever comprises a circumferential section comprising teeth which cooperate with a latching element. The latching element is pivotably linked at the movable hand lever. The latching element is biased towards an equilibrium position by a spring acting between the latching element and the movable hand lever. With the teeth of the pressure lever and the latching element a forced locking mechanism is built. Once arriving at a crimping step of the crimping pliers the forced locking mechanism guarantees that the reached crimping step is also secured when reducing the actuation forces applied upon the hand levers wherein no opening movement of the pliers head takes place. Instead, an opening movement is only possible if the pressure lever has completely passed the predetermined overall crimping stroke.
EP 0 732 779 B1 describes the problem that generally for crimping pliers with a forced locking mechanism the forced locking mechanism defines an end state which correlates with a predetermined end size of the die. When crimping workpieces of different sizes (e.g. due to tolerances from the manufacturing of the workpiece or due to the use of different types of workpieces) with the crimping pliers, the crimping process ends with the afore mentioned predetermined end size of the die. Accordingly, independent from the size of the workpiece the overall crimping stroke is always the same, whereas the effective crimping forces depend on the size of the workpiece. This might in some case deteriorate the uniformity and quality of the crimping result. It is also possible that damages up or even a breakage of components of the crimping pliers result which is due to an overload.
On this background, EP 0 732 779 B1 proposes not to rigidly support the bearing stud of the pressure lever. Instead, according to EP 0 732 779 B1, in the connecting region between the base body and the bearing shell the fixed hand lever is flexible. Dependent from the amount of the effective crimping force, the bearing shell is deformed. The deformation of the bearing shell provides a movement of the hand levers towards each other without a pivoting movement of the pivoting ring relative to the base body without any further reduction of the cross-sectional area of the die. Accordingly, for a larger workpiece according to EP 0 732 779 B1 it is possible to arrive at an end state of the forced locking mechanism. Here, in the beginning in a crimping stroke the crimping plugs move towards each other in an extent which is smaller than the extent of the movement of the crimping plugs towards each other for a smaller workpiece. An additional movement of the hand levers towards each other then does not result in an additional movement of the crimping plugs towards each other but in an elastic deformation of the fixed hand lever. Also a superposition of the movement of the crimping plug and the deformation of the fixed hand lever is possible.
For providing a sufficient elasticity for the support of the bearing shell, the fixed hand lever is built with two hand lever parts which are connected with each other in an end region having a V-shape. In another end region one hand lever part builds the bearing shell, whereas the end region of the other hand lever part is fixedly linked with the base body of the pliers head or builds the same. The two hand lever parts are flexible. For this purpose, the hand lever part forming the bearing shell is tapered towards the bearing shell, whereas the other hand lever part comprises a constriction or narrowing having an extent so that the constriction or narrowing is elastically deformable by applied hand forces. The rigid connecting region of the two V-shaped hand lever parts has to be designed such that in this end region the actuation of the crimping pliers is possible by the hand of the user. According to EP 0 732 779 B1, the connection of the two hand lever parts is provided by a connection with a positive lock via a transverse bolt and knops embossed in longitudinal direction. The effect caused by the elastic support of the pressure lever in the region of the bearing shell is in EP 0 732 779 B1 also denoted as "force-displacement-compensator".
Further prior art concerning a pliers head with an actuation of more than two crimping plugs by a pivoting movement of a pivoting ring is disclosed in the patent publications DE 101 40 270 B4 and DE 10 2005 003 615 B3. However, in these patent publications the crimping plugs are not pivotably held at the base body but are guided for a displacement in radial inner direction relative to the base body. Here, a differing drive kinematic is used for the actuation of the pliers head.
Also EP 0 158 611 B1 proposes to elastically support the linking point of the pressure lever at the fixed hand lever. This is done by the arrangement of a bearing bolt supporting the pressure lever in an elongated hole of the fixed hand lever. The bearing bolt is able to move along the elongated hole under the bias of a spiral spring.
DE 31 09 289 C2 also proposes to elastically support a pressure lever (here for crimping pliers with scissor-like crimping jaws). In this case, the elastic support of the pressure lever is provided by a narrowing in the form of a slot of the hand lever in the region of the linking point for the pressure lever. The slot results in a bifurcation of the fixed hand lever. In the region of the bifurcation the material of the fixed hand lever comprises a reduction of the cross-section. The reduction of the cross-section causes an elastic deformation of the fixed hand levers for the effective crimping forces.

Abstract: The inventive crimping pliers (1) comprise a toggle lever drive (6). The toggle lever drive (6) is built with an elastic pressure lever (18). The pressure lever (18) is preferably built with an offset or cranking (33) so that with the application of a longitudinal force the pressure lever (18) is biased by a bending. The flexible design of the pressure lever (18) provides a variable crimping stroke (in particular also in connection with a forced locking mechanism (28)) for different dimensions of the contact elements to be crimped.


The present invention relates to a composite magnetic bearing having an auxiliary bearing coupled thereto, which has an improved structure for minimizing a length of a rotor and a system volume. The composite magnetic bearing of a radial type provided around a rotor having an auxiliary bearing coupled thereto for reducing friction, includes a magnetic bearing, and an auxiliary bearing fixed in the empty space in an inside of the stator cores on an inner side of a position the coils and the permanent magnets are provided thereto.

There have been different bearings provided to components having movement, such as a rotational or reciprocating movement (Rotor shaft or a moving shaft), for resolution of different problems liable to take place in movement of the component due to friction, such as problems of abrasion, damage, a problem of noise, and a problem of energy waste. In general, in the bearings used widely, there are sliding bearings, rolling bearings, wherein the sliding bearing is mounted to surround a shaft with lubricating oil provided to a portion in contact with the bearing, and the rolling bearing has rotatable components, such as balls or rollers, placed in a portion in contact with the bearing for minimizing the friction.
Those bearings used widely classically have a contact with the shaft taken place at any of the portion of the bearing without fail. Recently, use of a magnetic bearing is expanding in different fields for having no contact with the shaft, thereby minimizing the friction, really. As disclosed in the Korea Laid Open Patent No. 2009-0070178 ("A system for measuring cylindrical radial direction displacement of a magnetic bearing which uses capacitance and a method for determining whether the magnetic bearing has a fault taken place or not therein", Laid Open on Jul. 1, 2009), the magnetic bearing is made to serve as a bearing by arranging a magnet having a strong magnetism or an electro-magnet around a shaft to make the shaft to be buoyant by magnetic levitation. Since the magnetic bearing has no contact with the shaft at all to make the friction to be zero, causing no abrasion or damage to the component, the magnetic bearing has many advantages, such as a long life time and a very low noise. However, in general, rather than designing the magnetic bearing to support the shaft only with the magnetic bearing, the auxiliary bearing which has direct contact with the shaft is provided in addition to the magnetic bearing for making securer supporting of the shaft, actually.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rotor having a related art magnetic bearing provided thereto. As shown, in general, the rotor 1 rotated by a motor 2 has a plurality of bearings 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and gap sensors 5, 8, 10 provided thereto. Since the rotor 1 has a columnar shape extended in one direction, in general, the rotor 1 has at least two radial bearings provided to an upper side and a lower side thereof respectively, and a thrust bearing provided to one side. In FIG. 1, since the radial bearings and the thrust bearing are the magnetic bearings 3, 6, and 9 for supporting the rotor 1 by the magnetic levitation, the radial bearings and the thrust bearing have no direct contact with the rotor 1.
When all of the rotor and the magnetic bearing system are in regular operation, the radial magnetic bearings 3 and 6 are in operation to support the rotor 1 by the magnetic levitation. However, if the system is stationary, since no power is supplied to the radial magnetic bearings 3 and 6 to generate no magnetic force, the radial magnetic bearings 3 and 6 cannot support the rotor 1. Consequently, for this case, the rotor 1 is provided with radial auxiliary bearings 4 and 7 in a mode of a general contact type bearing, such as the ball bearing. The radial auxiliary bearings 4 and 7 serve, not only to support the rotor 1 when the system is stationary, but also to support the rotor 1 even at the time of fault of the system for the rotor 1 to come to a safe stop of the rotation without damage thereto as far as possible. Accordingly, such radial auxiliary bearings 4 and 7 are essential components to be provided to the rotor. Though it has a mode different from FIG. 1, but has a structure similar to FIG. 1, a device is disclosed in Korea Laid Open Patent No. 2010-0054243 (Touch down ball bearing having a spring-damper system, Laid Open on May 25, 2010) of a mode in which the ball bearing is provided to a rotatable body in supplementation of the magnetic bearing together with the magnetic bearing.
In order to secure a space for providing the radial auxiliary bearings 4 and 7, the rotor 1 is designed to increase a length of the rotor 1 as much as a volume the radial auxiliary bearings 4 and 7 are to occupy. However, there is a problem in that, since the longer the length of the rotor 1, the larger the volume of the system itself. In addition to this, since there is a problem in that, since the longer the length of the rotor 1, the lower a critical speed of the rotor 1 in a bending mode, there is a limitation in increasing an operation speed of the rotor 1.

Composite magnetic bearing having auxiliary bearing coupled thereto

KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS


A scoop includes a molded one-piece plastic scoop body having a bottom wall portion and a sidewall portion that extends from the bottom wall portion and that cooperates with the bottom wall portion to confine a material-holding space for holding granular material to be transferred. A metal reinforcing member is provided on the bottom wall portion of the scoop body for strengthening the scoop body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a scoop, more particularly for a scoop that is suitable for use when transferring granular material and that has a reinforced structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional transfer apparatus for transferring granular material is shown to include a plurality of scoops 10 on a moving scoop-mounting surface 11 of the same. Each scoop 10 includes a molded one-piece scoop body 101 that confines a material-holding space 102 for holding the granular material (not shown) to be transferred by the transfer apparatus.
The scoop body 101 may be made of plastic or metal. Metal scoop bodies 101 are heavy and expensive. On the other hand, plastic scoop bodies 101 wear out easily at surfaces that confront the material-holding space 102 due to friction with the granular material. Wear of plastic scoop bodies 101 is worse at the open side of the material-holding space 102 due to scooping of the granular material. When the thickness of the plastic scoop body 101 is reduced due to wear, the load that can be carried thereby without breaking becomes lighter. Hence, because plastic scoop bodies 101 have relatively short service lives, frequent stopping of the operation of the transfer apparatus becomes necessary for replacing broken scoops 10.

Scoop for transferring granular material


A system and method for automatically processing and responding to large volumes of customer complaints regarding Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) and other service disruptions. The complaints include one or more electronic mail (email) documents, each email document including a header and body portion. The process parses the header and body portions from each email document, normalizes the header and body portion by stripping unwanted characters, and extracts specific information relating to the email document from the source of the complaint. The extracted information can be input to a database that can be accessed by the Customer Support Center (CSC) of the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the distribution of information over a computer network, and in particular, to a system and method for processing customer complaints by parsing of nested electronic mail documents over a computer network, such as the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is fast proving to be one of the most significant technological developments of the current era. Originally developed in the United States as a cooperative effort of the United States Government known as the Advanced Research Project Agency Network (ARPANET) to tie universities and research and development organization to their military customers, the Internet has now exploded to link computer users world-wide. The Internet is an interconnected system of computer networks of varying types with terminals, usually computer stations, communicating with each other through a common communication protocol, e.g. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Through this interconnected system of computer networks, the Internet serves as the underlying infrastructure that facilitates a global system of communication known as the world wide web.
Piggy-backed input on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet is available to anyone with a telephone line and a computer with modem. Both businesses and private users are taking advantage of the Internet in rapidly increasing numbers for communications of a diverse nature.
One reason for the rapid integration of the Internet into daily activities is that the Internet provides improved efficiencies in communication. For example, messaging over the Internet is very quick, even to remote locations throughout the world. Responses are also typically very quick.
Internet communication has been minimally regulated and continues to involve lowering costs, typically requiring only the cost of a computer terminal and a periodic Internet Service Provider (ISP) fee. Additionally, Internet communications are pervasive, providing easy access from every user on the Internet to millions of other users, almost regardless of physical location.
Because of these efficiencies, one form of communication that has quickly migrated to the Internet is advertising. Advertisers are able to generate and send bulk mailings at a fraction of the cost of mail, telephone, radio, and other commonly accepted types of advertising. Programs exist that quickly merge commercial advertisement messages with reference lists of Internet user addresses and automatically send out many thousands of advertisements in a single day at almost no cost to the sender. Instead, a substantial portion of the costs is born by the intermediary transmission entities and the end users.
Unfortunately, the indiscriminate nature of broadcast advertising over the Internet has led to many problems. To deliver a message in volume and thereby take advantage of the efficiencies of the Internet, senders frequently use commercially generated reference lists of Internet user addresses. These reference lists are very labor intensive and costly to compile in any manner other than randomly. Thus, many Internet broadcasters use random lists of user addresses to send their advertising, transmitting unwanted messages to a large number of disinterested Internet users for every interested Internet user.
Internet users typically resent this random "junk mail" cluttering up their cyberspace mailboxes. Consequently, random advertising over the Internet in the form of electronic mail is commonly referred to, rather unaffectionately, as "spamming." Angry recipients of this type of Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) advertising have gone so far as to react in simultaneous, damaging, electronic backlashes aimed at particularly notorious junk mail-generating entities.
Large volumes of electronic customer complaints (several thousand per month) sent to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding UCE advertisements and other service disruptions are handled by a help desk or Customer Service Center (CSC). The CSC employs full-time staff to analyze and respond to the large volume of complaints. Each complaint requires review, logging, trouble ticket review, correlation with other complaints, response to the complainant, categorization, validation, distribution to appropriate staff, and resolution. Currently, electronic customer spam complaints are manually processed by the ISP. However, the volume of complaints is large and growing.
Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have recognized a need for automating a significant portion of the manual processing of spam complaints by developing a method and system for the parsing of nested Internet electronic mail documents.

Parsing of nested internet electronic mail documents


A management apparatus, which manages a wireless network constituted by a plurality of wireless communication devices each capable of performing a wireless communication using TDMA system, is characterized by comprising an extended link management unit that manages an extended link obtained by setting, to a link for which a channel and time slots to be used for wireless communications using the TDMA system are specified and for which a communication direction is determined, attribute information that characterizes the wireless communications performed by the wireless communication devices by use of the link.

To achieve a high degree of automation at plants, factories, and such like, it is conventional to construct a distributed control system (DCS), in which devices known as field devices such as measuring devices and manipulating devices, and a control device for controlling them, are connected via a communication means. While most of the communication systems that form the foundation of such distributed control systems use wire communication, recently, some are being realized using wireless communication compliant with wireless communication standards for industrial automation, such as ISA100.11a and WirelessHART (Registered Trademark).
ISA100.11a is a wireless communication standard for industrial automation established by the International Society of Automation (ISA). WirelessHART (Registered Trademark) is a wireless communication standard established by the US Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) Communications Foundation. Communication systems compliant with these wireless communication standards use time division multiple access (TDMA) as a media access control method, and provide a management apparatus known as a system manager (or a network manager) for managing the communication resources such as channels and timeslots in the TDMA.
This communication system is characterized in that, since the management apparatus mentioned above manages the communication resources, multi-hop connection is possible in addition to single-hop connection. In a single-hop connection, a wireless device (e.g. a field device capable of wireless communication) and a wireless relay device (e.g. a backbone router or a wireless access point device) are connected directly. In a multi-hop connection, the wireless device is connected to the wireless relay device via another wireless device.
The communication system described above is characterized in that connection information managed by the management apparatus (information for connecting a new wireless device to the wireless network) is supplied as advertisements from an advertisement router, thereby making it easy to connect a new wireless device to the wireless network. The non-patent document 1 discloses a method of managing communication resources in ISA100.11a.

Management apparatus and communication system


A differential mechanism has a differential casing for receiving drive power from an engine and a pair of output members for distributing the received drive power to road wheel ends. A pair of drive power control mechanisms each respectively comprise a combination of a speed change mechanism and a friction clutch for a serial connection between the differential casing and either output member or between the output members and an actuator for actuating the friction clutch to be let in. A controller controls a pair of the actuators to have a pair of the friction clutches periodically let in and let out in an alternating manner with a relatively short period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential apparatus for vehicles.
2. Description of Relevant Art
There has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 7-156681 a differential apparatus of an arrangement shown in FIG. 1, where it is designated by reference character 201.
The differential apparatus 201 includes a differential mechanism 207 for distributing drive power from an engine to a pair of left and right drive axles 203, 205, a pair of left and right drive power control mechanisms 215 each comprising a combination of a multi-plate clutch 211 and a speed change mechanism 213 for a serial connection between a differential casing 209 of the mechanism 207 and the left or right axle 203 or 205, and a hydraulic actuator 220 for actuating the clutch 211 to be internally coupled for the connection, and a hydraulic controller 230 for controlling the actuator 220 to have the clutch 211 coupled.
If the multi-plate clutch 211 of the left drive power control mechanism 215 is coupled, drive power distributed to the left axle 203 has its fraction fed back via the speed change mechanism 213 and that clutch 211 to the differential casing 209, with the more distributed drive power at the right axle 205 end. To the contrary, if the multi-plate clutch 211 of the right drive power control mechanism 215 is coupled, drive power distributed to the right axle 205 has its fraction fed back to via the speed change mechanism 213 and this clutch 211 to the differential casing 209, with the more distributed drive power at the left axle 203 end.
The controller 230 is thus adaptive for coupling the multi-plate clutch 211 of the left or right drive power control mechanism 215 to control a yaw momentum of a vehicle body, securing a stable straight forward travel as well as a comfortable steering to turn.
More specifically, when the vehicle body in travel has entered a yawing due to a slipping road wheel at the left or right axle 203 or 205 end, the drive power control mechanisms 215 are controlled to stop the slipping.
It therefore is impossible for the differential apparatus 201 to limit a developing difference at the differential mechanism 207 before the road wheel slips, and to effect a prevention of a wheel slippage before a development of yaw momentum on the vehicle body in a straight forward travel.
The respective multi-plate clutches 211, which are arranged between the differential casing 209 and the left and right axle 203, 205, might have been operated for a use of their frictional torque to limit a difference development at the differential mechanism 207. However, if the clutches 211 were both coupled for the difference limitation, those fractions of drive power fed back from the left and right axle 203, 205 ends would have canceled each other. Still worse, during such the limitation, the multi-plate clutches 211 should have stood with a big burden due to slippage, resulting in a reduced service life.
In addition, associated drive torque to be fed back is subjected to an amplification at the speed change mechanism 213 adversely affecting the vehicle body in performance, rendering control of difference limitation very difficult.
The differential apparatus 201 may involve a difference limiting mechanism, with an arrangement the more complicated, large sized, increased in weight and dear of cost.
There has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 5-345535 another differential apparatus shown in FIG. 2, where it is designated by reference character 301.
The differential apparatus 301 comprises an input part 302 for inputting drive power from an engine, a differential mechanism 303 of a planetary gear type, and a drive power control mechanism 305.
The drive power control mechanism 305 includes a speed changing mechanism 313 as an integrated combination of a speed increasing mechanism 313a for transmitting a fraction of drive power of a left drive axle 307 to a first intermediate shaft 311, with an increased revolution speed, and a speed decreasing mechanism 313b for transmitting a fraction of drive power of the left axle 307 to a second intermediate shaft 315, with a decreased revolution speed. The control mechanism 305 further includes a hydraulically actuatable first multi-plate clutch 317 to be coupled for interconnection between the first intermediate shaft 311 and a right drive axle 309, and a hydraulically actuatable second multi-plate clutch 319 to be coupled for interconnection between the second intermediate shaft 315 and the right axle 309.
In other words, the drive power control mechanism 305 is adaptive for a serial connection between the left and right axles 307, 309 with the first and second multi-plate clutches 317, 319 controlled to be either coupled by a hydraulic controller 330 to achieve a secured stable straight forward travel as well as a comfortable steering to turn.
This differential apparatus 301 has similar issues to that differential apparatus 201.


The present invention is directed to an inflatable device or a body support device, and, specifically, to an inflatable device including two or more fluid chambers. One embodiment of the device includes a first fluid chamber comprising a first outlet, and a second fluid chamber comprising an inlet, wherein the second fluid chamber is fluidly connected to the first fluid chamber by a one way valve arranged to allow fluid to pass from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber. The invention is also directed to a method of providing adjustable support.

1. Field of the Application
The present invention is directed to inflatable devices, and, specifically, to an inflatable device including two or more fluid chambers that may be fluidly connected by a one way valve such that each chamber may be inflated through a single inlet and exhausted through a single outlet, and such that the amount of fluid in one of the fluid chambers may be adjusted independently of the other.
2. Related Art
Inflatable devices are used in a variety of contexts where buoyancy or a cushioned support is needed, where space is limited, or portability is desired. For example, inflatable mattresses, cushions and other body supports are used for applications such as camping, hospital bedding, and both occasional and everyday bedding in the home. Other uses of inflatable devices may provide support, health, comfort, and safety.
Such inflatable devices are often provided with a mechanism to adjust a degree of inflation of the inflatable device to adjust the amount of support and comfort provided by the inflatable device. However, such inflatable devices typically comprise a single bladder and there is a trade off between the amount of support that the device can provide based on the degree of inflation and the comfort of the device. For example, the device may be fully inflated to the maximum pressure to provide maximum support, but a user may find that the device lacks comfort. In contrast, the user may adjust the inflatable device to a degree of inflation less than a maximum inflation level providing a desired comfort, but the amount of support provided by the device is compromised. For example, the under-inflated inflatable device tends to sag, such as, an inflatable mattress may sag in the middle when supporting the user.
Alternatively, one example of a sleep support system including more than one inflatable chamber for sleep surface adjustment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,419 B1(the '419 patent). The '419 patent discloses a sleep support system that includes a first fluid chamber positioned side-by-side with a second fluid chamber and separated by a foam center wall. The first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are surrounded by an upper wall, lower wall and side walls structure. In addition, the sleep support system comprises a base pad which may be a foam such as an L9 foam or alternatively an additional fluid chamber that is placed below the first and second fluid chambers and that is used to lift the fluid chambers to a level that is substantially even with the top wall of the side walls.
One embodiment of the sleep support system includes one of the fluid chambers coupled to the base pad fluid chamber through an external fluid pump and hand control. In this embodiment, the first fluid chamber can be inflated to its maximum firmness while maintaining the base pad fluid chamber essentially void of any pressurization. Then, a user can flip a switch on the hand control to change the flow of air from the fluid pump so that the fluid pump no longer supplies the fluid to the first fluid chamber, but rather fluid is now directed from the first fluid chamber to the base pad fluid chamber with the idea of maintaining the height of the combination of the first fluid chamber and the base pad fluid chamber, even though the first fluid chamber is reduced in its fluid volume. Similarly, the hand control and fluid pump can be used to cause fluid to flow from the base pad fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber thereby maintaining the height of the overall combination of the first fluid chamber and base pad fluid chamber. With this embodiment of the disclosed sleep support system, the fluid chambers are linked through the external fluid pump such that fluid from one chamber is directed into another chamber to change the pressurization in one chamber. In other words, each chamber cannot be independently pressurized and adjusted.

Fluidic chambers fluidly connected by one way valve and method for use


Embodiments of the invention provide methods, assays, and kits for detecting HPV infection and HPV associated epithelial cell abnormalities, most notably those associated with pre-malignant and malignant epithelial cell lesions. Detection of HPV DNAs, genomes, and/or oncoproteins by nucleic acid hybridization assays and immunological assays can be used in early clinical screening for HPV infection and diagnosis for cervical cancer. The polypeptides, recombinant proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, and various detection methods thereof are particularly useful for diagnosing carcinomas of the uterine cervix and those at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Cancer of the uterine cervix or cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Although screening programs to identify precursor lesions of cervical cancer have contributed to a reduction in mortality and morbidity, 500,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed worldwide and 230,000 women die of cervical cancer annually. Early detection and diagnosis is critical for survival of cervical cancer.
Infection by human papillomaviruses (HPV) at specific epithelium cells to induce epithelial proliferations plays an important role for cervical carcinogenesis. About 99 percent of confirmed cervical cancer cases are found to be associated with HPV infection with biopsy-confirmed squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The incidence of HPV infection, primarily transmitted through sexual contact, is highest among young women and about 20 millions of sexually active men and women worldwide are currently infected. Approximately 1% of the population has genital warts and 4% of women have cervical precancerous lesions, such as low grade of squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL) or high grade of squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The presence of these lesions, preferentially observed in women aged 35-40 yrs, are at high risk of progression toward invasive cancer.
There are more than one hundred genetic types of human papillomaviruses identified so far and only a relative few types of HPV, such as HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -35, -45, -51, -52 and -56, etc., involve high risk of progression from HPV infected genital tissue lesions to invasive cervical cancer. Infection with the vast majority of HPV types, such as HPV-6 and -11, etc., are transient with no permanent changes in genital tissues and are at low risk for developing into invasive cervical cancer. However, the development of cervical cancer is a multiple step process that cannot be explained simply by infection with specific types of HPV. Persistent infections with HPVs in high risk group are essential but not exclusively required for the initiation of cervical carcinogenesis. It is found that younger age group women are often infected with HPV; however, clinical information reveals that most latent or asymptomatic infections with high risk HPV types as well as early dysplastic lesions (CIN 1) are usually self-limited and regress spontaneously. There is a high level of correlation between long term persistent infections with only few high-risk HPV types and the induction of advanced CIN 2/CIN 3 lesions and/or the progression to invasive cancer.
One additional event that appears to play a role in tumor progression is the integration of HPV DNA genome into host genome, which frequently disrupts the open reading frame for an early viral gene, E2, resulting in over-expression of two important viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins and transformation of the host cells. Since almost all cervical cancer cases harbor high risk-HPV genomes, screening with HPV infection is important, especially long term infection with high risk HPV types. Other factors and mutational or secondary genetic events may also be important in the progression and pathogenesis of invasive cervical cancers, including recombination, integration of viral genes to host cell chromosomes, chromosomal rearrangements, loss of constitutional heterozygosity, and proto-oncogene activation.
In the past, screening for cervical cancer is based on conventional cytology by papanicolaou (Pap) smear and suspicious smears are followed up with colposcopy, and/or histological biopsy. The use of cytological screening lead to a remarkable reduction in the mortality of cervical cancer. However, due to subjective test criteria, drawbacks of pap smear tests include difficulty in obtaining samples, poor inter- and intra-observer agreement, a high rate of false negatives (up to 20%) and false positive, the requirements for specialized labs staffed with highly trained personnel, and inability to identify a large proportion of HPV-infected persons. More reproducible assays are needed to improve the current screening method and avoid unnecessary medical intervention and psychological distress for the affected women. Nucleic acid methods, such as "DNA Hybrid Capture", have been developed, but are not ideal primarily due to their high cost, assay operation procedures, and the requirements for facility, equipment, and highly trained personnel. What is needed is a low cost, simple, sensitive and specific assay that can be performed on routine practice of a clinical lab or doctor office.
Attempts to detect the presence of HPV related antibodies in a human subject by ELISA (enzyme linked immunoabsorbant assays) generally lead to extremely low assay sensitivity and thus can not be developed into a commercially suitable diagnostic test. Most of these ELISA assays target a single viral protein or short peptide fragments, which were not able to interact well or bind strongly and specifically to antibodies from the human subject. The assay specificity and sensitivity are so low such that even using samples from patients confirmed with HPV associated invasive cervical cancer, only 53% of the patient samples were found positive for HPV infection. Thus, there is no successful ELISA assay available as a diagnostic tool for clinical samples.
Therefore, there is a need to develop methods and assays for early detection of HPV infection and assisting in diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Detection method for human pappilomavirus (HPV) and its application in cervical cancer


A rectangular microwave applicator operating at a predetermined frequency and comprising a microwave enclosure forming a cavity having first and second transverse dimensions and a longitudinal dimension n the direction of propagation of microwave energy, wherein said dimensions are such that a main power-transferring Teym1n mode with a long vertical wavelength is enhanced, and a significant amplitude of a complementary Teym2n mode is created, wherein m1, m2 and n are positive odd integers and m2 and n are both less or equal to m1-2.

Prior art applicators of the kind within the field of this invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,040 and EP-A2-0,746,182 (commonly referred to as PAT in the following). The particular single hybrid mode applicators of this prior art solve a major problem with still earlier prior art: that of uneven heating as evidenced by a patchy and quite unpredictable heating pattern with hot and cold spots (caused by multimode action) and that of excessive edge overheating of loads with high permittivity such as typical compact food items (caused by strong electric horizontal field components which are then parallel to the major edges of the food item).
The particular type of hybrid mode in the applicator described in PAT is characterised by very low vertically (z-) directed impedance, which results in low horizontal (x;y) electric field strengths in relation to those of perpendicularly (z-directed) impinging plane waves. By the choice of a TEy hybrid mode (the feed orientation determines if the mode becomes a TEy or TEx mode), the y-directed electric field component in the applicator becomes zero, which is still more advantageous since edge overheating of y-directed load edges will then not occur.
The particular low impedance applicator mode has preferably its low horizontal index 1 in the direction of transport, since microwave leakage in that direction from the applicators is then minimised. This results in minimum inter-applicator interaction (cross talk) along this direction, and reduces the complexity of the tunnel end microwave choking structures. With the load transport hence in the y direction, the heating pattern of each individual applicator in moving loads becomes striped. This is compensated for by sideways (in the x direction) staggering of following applicators or applicator rows.
The particular low impedance TEy mode has a tendency to create a trapped surface wave mode (a so-called longitudinal section magnetic, LSM, mode) in the region including the undersides of the load items and the metal bottom structure of the tunnel. Even if these modes result in a favourable heating from below in typical food items of about 15 mm or more in height, a problem when several staggered applicators are used is that a significant part of the heating pattern is determined by x-directed standing LSM waves between the sidewalls of the tunnel oven and not only by the fields of the individual applicators.
If the particular TEy mode is used, there may be a tendency of both spreading-out of the applicator fields in the x direction and of inter-applicator crosstalk (i.e. unwanted power transfer between adjacent applicators, either by direct coupling or by LSM mode coupling through the load region). None of the above-mentioned patent documents referred to as PAT do provide any remedy to these imperfections.
In those documents, the preferred embodiments are slot feeds in the top of the applicator sidewalls and the applicator has the TEy11 or TEy21 modes. However, there are cases when larger applicator openings are preferred, in order to achieve a lower power flux density to the load items without a need for reducing the output power of each microwave generator (magnetron). In order for applicators for higher modes, e.g. TEy31 or TEy51 to be successfully designed, other microwave feeding means become necessary.
If the tunnel height is large, there will be an increased likelihood of microwave leakage through the tunnel ends into ambient. For fixed tunnel heights one may then use various kinds of prior art chokes, such as delay lines, quarterwave chokes and chokes which act by mode mismatching. Absorbing media may also be used. Such chokes or absorbers are normally only applied to the horizontal surfaces (top and bottom) of the tunnel opening, but may also be used at the vertical sidewalls in the tunnel opening and choking region. However, if the tunnel height is to be variable, prior art choke structures in the vertical walls become very difficult to employ.


The present disclosure provides tunable fluoropolymers and methods for making them.

Fluorinated polymers have diverse applications spanning many industries due to the inert, non-polarizable nature of perfluorocarbons. Fluoropolymers benefit from high maximum operation temperature, high chemical resistance, and high electric resistivity. These attractive physical properties also make fluoropolymers difficult to work with. Processibility of these polymers is difficult due to low solubility and high melting points. Solubility of fluoropolymers produced on an industrial scale has been improved through use of various functional groups being attached to the core of the polymer, but these processes use expensive starting materials. The materials typically used in industrial-scale fluoropolymer synthesis are also corrosive and generate hazardous by products. Accordingly, new methods of preparing fluoropolymers are needed.

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention relates to a cherry tree, Prunus avium, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, moderately vigorous, hardy, self unfruitful, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid May, with first picking on May 17, 2013. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, very sweet in flavor, somewhat oblate in shape, clingstone in type, very firm in texture, red to pink in flesh color, and very dark red in skin color, and it has a short but strongly attached stem.

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a smaller number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits, usually to capture recessive traits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of cherry tree, which has been denominated varietally as 'El Capitan'.
During a typical blooming season we isolate as seed parents individual cherry trees by covering them with screen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, and bouquets to provide pollen from different cherry trees are placed in buckets near the trees approximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2004 one such house containing 'Glenrock' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,512) cherry tree was crossed by us in this manner. To pollinate this cherry, we selected bouquets from several sources of cherry trees without keeping specific written details. Upon reaching maturity the fruit from this cherry tree was harvested and the seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label "Glenrock House". They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of our experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the summer of 2008 the claimed variety was selected by us as a single plant from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of cherry tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of 'Colt' (unpatented) rootstock, upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.
The present variety is most similar to its seed parent, 'Glenrock' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,512) cherry, by being self unfruitful, by having reniform glands, and by producing fruit that is dark red in skin color, firm, sweet, and fairly crack resistant, but is distinguished therefrom by blooming about seven days later, and by producing cherries that are slightly larger, that ripen about six days later, and that have a shorter stem.


A self-cleaning advanced hot tub-bath tub, pool with dispensing functions for providing a hot tub with the functionality to automatically cleanse itself and to inject bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other items to the hot tub as desired either automatically through memory circuits or manually. A consumer can release bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the hot tub as are desired either manually for each individual item desired, or the consumer depresses the automatic setting and the hot tub prepares the bath as automatically set by the consumer from water temperature, to jet cycle time, pressure strength, and which nozzles will be on or off, including what items if any will be injected into the water including but not limited to bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other items.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of hot tubs, baths, and pools and more specifically to a machine and or a process that will provide self cleaning advanced hot tubs, baths, and pools, with dispensing functions and automatic scrubbing systems.
The present invention relates generally to advanced hot tub-bath tub, pool with dispensing functions and more specifically it relates to a self-cleaning advanced hot tub-bath tub, pool with dispensing functions, for providing an advanced hot tub and or bath tub with the functionality to automatically cleanse itself and to inject bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub, bath, or pool as desired by the consumer either automatically through memory circuits when a consumer presses a button or manually. Upon depressing a button, a consumer releases bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub as are desired either manually for each individual item desired, or the consumer depresses the automatic setting and the hot tub prepares the bath as automatically set by the consumer from water temperature, to jet cycle time, pressure strength, and which nozzles will be on or off, including what items if any will be injected into the water including but not limited to bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
It can be appreciated that hot tubs, bath tubs, and pools have been in use for years. Typically, hot tub-bath tub, pools are comprised of hot tubs, bath tubs, and pools used for bathing and relaxation for leisure, cleansing, and for medical purposes.
The main problem with conventional advanced hot tub-bath tubs, and pools are that they do not have the functionality to automatically clean themselves or sanitize themselves after or before use. Another problem with conventional hot tubs, bath tubs, and pools are that they do not have the automatic functionality to dispense bath oils, bubble bath formulas, liquid soaps, lotions, liquids, powders, flakes, beads, or other ingredients into the water for use by consumers. Another problem with conventional hot tubs, bath tubs, and pools is that they do not have the automatic functionality to allow users to program the bath tub or the hot tub to preset temperature, fill level(s), and jet level(s), and store these setting(s) in different ways in memory for later recall for multiple users.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing an advanced hot tub, bath tub, or pool with the functionality to automatically cleanse itself, scrub itself, and or to heat sanitize itself, and to inject bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub as desired by the consumer either automatically through memory circuits when a consumer presses a button or manually. Upon depressing a button, a consumer releases bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub as are desired either manually for each individual item desired, or the consumer depresses the automatic setting and the hot tub prepares the bath as automatically set by the consumer from water temperature, to jet cycle time, pressure strength, and which nozzles will be on or off, including what items if any will be injected into the water including but not limited to bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items etc.
The main problem with conventional hot tubs, bath tubs, and pools is that they do not have the functionality to automatically clean themselves or sanitize themselves after or before use. Another problem is they do not have the automatic functionality to dispense bath oils, bubble bath formulas, liquid soaps, lotions, liquids, powders, flakes, beads, or other ingredients into the water for use by consumers. Also, another problem is they do not have the automatic functionality to allow users to program the bath tub or the hot tub to preset temperature, fill level(s), and jet level(s), and store these setting(s) in different ways in memory for later recall for multiple users.
In these respects, the self-cleaning advanced hot tub-bath tub, pool with dispensing functions according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an advanced hot tub, bath tub, and or pool with the functionality to automatically cleanse, automatically scrub, and automatically heat sanitize itself and to inject bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub as desired by the consumer either automatically through memory circuits when a consumer presses a button or manually.
Upon depressing button(s), a consumer can release bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items to the bath or the hot tub as are desired either manually for each individual item desired, or the consumer depresses the automatic setting and the hot tub prepares the bath as automatically set by the consumer from water temperature, to jet cycle time, pressure strength, and which nozzles will be on or off, including what items if any will be injected into the water including but not limited to bath oils, perfumes, soaps, bubble baths, medications, and or other luxury items etc.

Machine and or a process that will provide self cleaning advanced hot tubs, baths, and pools, with dispensing functions and automatic scrubbing systems