An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic elastomer composition which is highly flexible while maintaining vibration damping properties, as a feature of an isobutylene polymer, and is excellent in moldability and rubber-like properties, and also has particularly improved permanent compression set. The object is achieved by a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising (A) a composition obtained by crosslinking an isobutylene polymer having an alkenyl group at the molecular ends with a hydrosilyl group-containing compound while melt-kneading in the presence of at least one kind selected from an aromatic vinyl-containing thermoplastic elastomer and an olefinic resin, and (B) at least one kind selected from the group consisting of an aromatic vinyl-containing thermoplastic elastomer and an olefinic resin.

As a polymer material having elasticity, those obtained by mixing rubbers such as natural and synthetic rubbers with crosslinking agents and reinforcers and crosslinking the mixture at high temperature under high pressure have commonly been used, heretofore. However, these rubbers require the step of crosslinking and molding at high temperature under high pressure for a long time and are therefore inferior in processability. Since the crosslinked rubbers exhibit no thermoplasticity, recycle molding can not be conducted, unlike thermoplastic resins. Therefore, there have recently been developed various thermoplastic elastomers which can be easily processed into formed articles by employing common melt-molding techniques such as hot-press molding, injection molding, and extrusion molding in the same manner as in case of conventional thermoplastic resins. As these thermoplastic elastomers, various polymers such as olefinic, urethane, ester, styrene and vinyl chloride polymers have been developed and are put on the market at present.
Among these polymers, styrenic thermoplastic elastomers are highly flexible and are excellent in rubber elasticity at normal temperature. As these styrenic thermoplastic elastomers, for example, there have been developed styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS) and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS); styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) and styrene-ethylenepropylene-styrene block copolymer (SEPS) obtained by hydrogenating the above polymers. However, these block copolymers were insufficient in permanent compression set.
Also Kohyo Publication (National Publication of Translated Version) of WO93/14135 discloses an isobutylene block copolymer comprising a polymer block composed mainly of isobutylene and a polymer block composed mainly of an aromatic vinyl compound as a thermoplastic elastomer which is highly flexible and is excellent in rubber elasticity at normal temperature, and is also excellent in vibration damping properties, gas barrier properties and hermetical sealing properties as features of an isobutylene polymer. However, this isobutylene block copolymer is also insufficient in permanent compression set, like the above-described styrenic thermoplastic elastomers.
As a technique for improving the permanent compression set of this isobutylene block copolymer, Kohyo Publication (National Publication of Translated Version) of WO98/14518 discloses a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising an isobutylene block copolymer containing a polymer block composed mainly of isobutylene, and crosslinked article of a rubber, while Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-293083 discloses a composition comprising an isobutylene block copolymer, a crystalline polyolefin and a plasticizer (softener). Although these composition have improved permanent compression set while maintaining features of the isobutylene polymer, thermoplastic elastomer compositions having more excellent permanent compression set are required.


A sever apparatus is configured to transmit designated image information including designated preview image data having a generally used format and is used to previewing designated image based on the designated proprietary data and designated accompanying information having a generally used format and is accompanying information of the designated image to the communication apparatus that output the designated proprietary data through the network interface. When the network interface obtains the modification information output by the communication apparatus after the designated image information is transmitted, and represents modifications to the designated image, the server apparatus retrieves the designated proprietary data from the storage device, and obtains modified designated image information reflecting the modification information based on the retrieved designated proprietary data and obtained modification information with use of the deciphering program, and transmits the modified designated image information to the communication apparatus that output the modification information through the network interface.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relate to a server apparatus, a communication apparatus, a computer-readable medium storing programs for each of the server apparatus and communication apparatus.
2. Related Art
There are apparatuses in which an editing program designed to edit print data can be executed, and there are many kinds of platforms on which such an editing program runs.

Server apparatus, communication apparatus, and computer-readable medium storing programs therefor


Disclosed is a method for preparing an aromatic carboxylic acid comprising oxidizing in the liquid phase an aromatic feed compound containing at least one alkyl or acyl group with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in a solvent comprising a low molecular weight aliphatic carboxylic acid, and in the presence of a heavy metal oxidation catalyst, thereby forming an oxidation reaction product mixture comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid; subsequently heating the oxidation reaction product mixture at a temperature of at least about 500.degree. F. to form a second product mixture; and recovering from the second product mixture the aromatic carboxylic acid. The method of this invention provides for purer, larger particle size aromatic carboxylic acid product.

Aromatic carboxylic acids are highly useful organic compounds. Some are used as intermediates for the preparation of other organic compounds, and some are used as monomers for the preparation of polymeric materials. For example, terephthalic acid is used to prepare polyethylene terephthalate, a widely used polyester material and the naphthalenecarboxylic acids (i.e. the naphthoic acids) are used for preparing photographic chemicals and dyestuffs. Additionally, naphthalenedicarboxylic acids can be used to prepare a variety of polyester and polyamide compositions. One such naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, is a particularly useful aromatic carboxylic acid because it can be reacted with ethylene glycol to prepare poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalate) (PEN). Fibers and films manufactured from PEN display improved strength and superior thermal properties relative to other polyester materials such as polyethylene terephthalate. High strength fibers made from PEN can be used to make tire cord, and films made from PEN are advantageously used to manufacture magnetic recording tape and components for electronic applications.
In order to prepare high quality PEN most suitable for the aforementioned applications, it is desirable to use purified 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. Similarly, it is desirable to use purified forms of other aromatic carboxylic acids when using these compounds for the hereinabove mentioned applications.
Aromatic carboxylic acids, and particularly 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, are conveniently prepared by the liquid phase, metal catalyzed oxidation of an alkyl or acyl substituted aromatic compound. During this oxidation, the alkyl group (for example a methyl, ethyl or isopropyl group) or acyl group is oxidized to a carboxylic acid group. Although this is an effective oxidation reaction it nevertheless has some drawbacks. For example, when a 2-alkyl or 2-acyl substituted naphthalene compound is oxidized, the naphthalene ring itself is susceptible to oxidation and trimellitic acid is produced. Incomplete oxidation of a methyl group produces an aldehyde group instead of a carboxylic acid group. Furthermore, when a promoter such as bromine is used during the liquid phase oxidation, brominated aromatic carboxylic acids are produced. Although all of these impurities are undesirable, trimellitic acid is particularly troublesome because it tends to complex tightly to the metal oxidation catalysts. Such complexed metal is difficult to remove from the aromatic carboxylic acids and, additionally, any process streams containing trimellitic acid are not readily returned to the oxidation reaction mixture because the trimellitic acid complexes to and consequently deactivates the oxidation metal catalysts. Such a recycle stream may originate from oxidation reaction mixture mother liquor that is separated from the aromatic carboxylic acid after the alkyl or acyl group is oxidized. Such recycle stream can also be a wash stream that is formed by washing the aromatic carboxylic acid with a suitable solvent. Thus, a method that provides for an aromatic carboxylic acid having a reduced level of trimellitic acid and/or other impurities, or that reduces the level of trimellitic acid in a process stream so that it can be more effectively recycled to the oxidation reaction mixture is desirable. The present invention provides such a method.

Method for preparing aromatic carboxylic acids


A shaft for a turbine engine, the shaft having a cavity subdivided axially into first and second chambers. The shaft also includes a distributor member having an axial duct, a first radial orifice, and a second radial orifice. The axial duct has an open first end and a second end closed in the axial direction. The first radial orifice connects the second end of the axial duct to the first chamber in order to feed a first bearing with lubricating fluid, and the second radial orifice connects the second end of the axial duct to the second chamber to feed a second bearing with lubricating fluid. The first radial orifice and the second radial orifice of the distributor member are at substantially equal axial distances from the lubricating fluid inlet.

The present invention relates to the field of turbine engines, and more particularly to their lubrication.
In the present context, the term "turbine engine" covers any machine operating on the principle of transferring energy between at least one rotor and a flowing fluid. Among turbine engines, the present invention relates more particularly to engines having a gas turbine, and in particular to turboshaft engines, to turbojets, and to turboprops for aviation applications, for the purposes both of propulsion and of generating electricity.
In operation, turbine engines of such a type typically rotate at very high speeds, of the order of several tens of thousands of revolutions per minute. It is thus most important to ensure that they are lubricated in order to limit friction, in particular in bearings for supporting rotary parts. For that purpose, it is common practice to feed the bearings via lubricating ducts within the rotary parts they support.
When such a turbine engine has a plurality of bearings, it is normally appropriate to maintain a flow of lubricating fluid at a constant rate to each of the various bearings, independently of the speed of the engine, so that all of the bearings receive a sufficient flow of lubricating fluid. Nevertheless, when the bearings are fed with lubricating fluid via ducts in rotary parts, centrifugal forces can affect the distribution of lubricating fluid. There is thus a risk, at certain speeds, of a bearing being fed with too little lubricating fluid, while another bearing is fed with too much.


In a socket for electrical parts having a socket body, a number of contact pins contacting a number of terminals of an electrical part is arranged on the socket body in which the electrical part is accommodated, an operation member is provided for the socket body to be vertically movable in an installed state, and when the operation member is vertically moved, a movable member is moved through lever members to thereby displace the contact pins to be electrically contacted to or separated from the terminals of the electrical part. The socket body is formed with boss portions to which base end portions of the lever members are secured to be rotatable and the socket body is formed with guide wall sections so as to guide side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to thereby prevent the lever members from coming off from the boss portions.

The present invention relates to a socket for electrical parts for detachably accommodating and holding an electrical part such as a semiconductor device (called as xe2x80x9cIC packagexe2x80x9d hereinafter) and also relates to a method of assembling such socket for electrical parts.
As a conventional xe2x80x9csocket for electrical partsxe2x80x9d of this kind, there has been provided an IC socket for detachably accommodating and holding an IC package as xe2x80x9celectrical partxe2x80x9d.
The IC package includes, for example, a BGA (Ball Grid Array) type of IC package in which solder balls as a number of terminals are provided to the lower surface of the package body so as to protrude downward in a grid (lattice) arrangement having vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) rows.
The IC socket is provided with a socket body, a number of contact pins disposed to the socket body so as to contact the terminals of the IC package, respectively. Furthermore, a movable member for contacting or separating the contact pins to or from the solder balls of the IC package, through elastic deformation of the contact pins, is also arranged to be vertically movable.
Furthermore, the socket body is provided with lever members to be rotatable (pivotal) about pivotal shafts so as to vertically move the movable member, and an operation member for rotating the lever members is also provided for the socket body to be vertically movable.
When this operation member is vertically moved, the lever members are rotated (pivoted), and according to this rotating motion, the movable member is vertically moved, thus contacting or separating contact portions of the contact pins to or from the solder balls of the IC package.
However, in such conventional IC package as mentioned above, a base end portion of the lever member is secured to the socket body to be rotatable through a rotation shaft and an E ring is also provided for preventing the lever member from coming off from the socket body, so that the number of elements or parts is increased and the assembling working is hence increased, thus being inconvenient and disadvantageous.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the front end portion of the lever member from falling sideways, the front end portion of the lever member is coupled to the operation member to be rotatable through a support shaft, so that, in this meaning, the number of elements or parts is increased and the assembling working is hence increased, thus being inconvenient.
An object of the present invention is to substantially eliminate defects or drawbacks encountered in the prior art mentioned above and to provide a socket for electrical parts and a method of assembling the same, by which the number of elements or parts to be utilized can be effectively reduced as well as reduction of the assembling workings.
This and other objects can be achieved according to the present invention by providing, in one aspect, a socket for electrical parts in which a number of contact pins contacting a number of terminals of an electrical part is arranged to a socket body in which the electrical parts is accommodated, an operation member is provided for the socket body to be vertically movable in an installed state, and when the operation member is vertically moved, a movable member is moved through lever members to thereby displace the contact pins to be electrically contacted to or separated from the terminals of the electrical part,
wherein the socket body is formed with boss portions to which base end portions of the lever members are secured to be rotatable and the socket body is formed with guide wall sections so as to guide side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to thereby prevent the lever members from coming off from the boss portions.
In a preferred embodiment of the above aspect, the operation member is formed with guide grooves into which front end portions of the lever members are inserted so as to prevent the lever members from falling sideways.
The socket body is formed of synthetic resin, the boss portions are integrally formed with the socket body and the lever members are formed of metal material. The base end portions of the lever members are formed with holes into which the boss portions are fitted. The terminals of the electrical part are solder balls. The socket is an IC socket and the electrical part is an IC package.
In a modified aspect, there is provided a socket for electrical parts comprising:
a socket body to which an electrical part having a number of terminals is accommodated;
a number of contact pins arranged to the socket body so as to accord with the arrangement of the terminals of the electrical part;
an operation member disposed to the socket body to be vertically movable in an installed state;
lever members provided for the socket body to be rotatable in association with the vertical movement of the operation member; and
a movable member disposed to the socket body to be movable in accordance with the movement of the operation member through the lever members to thereby displace the contact pins so as to contact or separate the contact pins to or from the terminals of the electrical part,
the socket body being formed with boss portions, the lever members being formed with base end portions which are fitted to the boss portions to be rotatable, and the socket body being formed with guide wall sections so as to guide side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to thereby prevent the lever members from coming off from the boss portions.
In another aspect, there is also provided a method of assembling a socket for electrical parts in which a number of contact pins contacting a number of terminals of an electrical part is arranged to a socket body which accommodates the electrical part and which is provided with an operation member and a movable member which is operatively connected to the operation member through lever members,
wherein the lever members are fitted to the boss portions of the socket body to be rotatable, when the lever members are rotated while being guided along guide wall sections of the socket body and the operation member is disposed to the socket body to be vertically movable.
The operation member is formed with guide grooves into which front end portions of the lever members are inserted so as to prevent the lever members from falling down sideways.
According to the present invention of the characters mentioned above, the base end portions of the lever members are fitted to the boss portions of the socket body to be rotatable and the guide wall sections are formed to the socket body so as to guide the side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to prevent the lever member from coming-off from the boss portions. Accordingly, it is not necessary to specifically locate any member for preventing the coming off of the lever members, thus reducing the number of parts or elements to be assembled and improving the assembling working of the lever members and others. Furthermore, the formation of the guide grooves eliminates the location of any member such as a support shaft for supporting the lever members.
Moreover, the socket body is formed of synthetic resin and the lever members are formed of metal material. Accordingly, the boss portions can be easily molded integrally with the socket body and the lever members can ensure the good rigidity thereof.
The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made more clear from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Socket for electrical parts with guide wall section to keep lever members from coming off


A hydroponic conduit can be converted to drainage conduit by providing an attachment on which a plant container can be supported. The attachment comprises a circular plate on which the plant containers sits, drainage means (ribs, grooves etc.) and a central aperture in the circular plate to allow water to drain from the circular plate, and a short collar or spout on the bottom of the circular plate which passes into an opening in the hydroponic conduit to allow water to drain into the conduit. A second support means can be provided which is attached to the hydroponic conduit and which provides additional support to the attachment.

Hydroponics involves growing plants in the absence of soil. Typically, the required nutrient and water is delivered to the plant root system in the form of an aqueous nutrient solution that passes over the root ball of the plant. Hydroponic techniques have certain advantages over more conventional agriculture that includes the ability to carefully control optimum feeding, the elimination of weeds, and improved control of pests and diseases.
Typically, a channel or conduit is provided through which the nutrient solution passes. The channel or conduit may comprise a closed pipe or tube, a closed channel or drain and the like. If a pipe or tube is provided, this may have various shapes including circular, oval, rectangular, square, irregular configurations and the like. The pipe or tube may be formed of a semirigid material such as PVC plastic, or may be formed from a very flexible plastic bag-like material. If the material is very flexible, it is generally required to fill the bag with a medium other than soil. These mediums can include sand, gravel, fibre mediums and the like. The medium will provide dimensional stability to the bag, but can interfere with flow-through of nutrient solution and the like. Therefore, it is generally preferable to have a semi rigid conduit typically formed of polyvinyl chloride, such that a growing medium is not required to provide shape and stability to the conduit.
Earlier filed USA patent application 09/196638 has matured into U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,292, granted Jan. 8, 2002, to Desmond J. Boxsell. Such patent describes an elliptical conduit for use with a hydroponic apparatus. The elliptical conduit provides an ideal cross-section for root growth that was similar to normal root growth in soil. It was found that the elliptical conduit provides a faster and better growth of plants.
Some plants are best grown in pots or planter bags as opposed to in a hydroponic system. For instance, the plant might be too large to grow properly in a hydroponic system. Alternatively, the plant may not be suited for growing in a medium devoid of soil. A disadvantage of growing and maintaining plants in pots or planter bags is in dealing with the used water that drains from the pot or bag. In some countries, this water can contaminate aquifers, creeks, streams and rivers. In other countries, water is precious and should not be merely drained away. Many countries have introduced legislation to penalise growers who contaminate ground water with run-off.
A hydroponic system efficiently reuses and recycles water. Therefore, there would be an advantage if part of a hydroponic system could be used for plants grown in pots or planter bags.


A heat dissipating device includes a sealed container having hollow floors and floor-spacing assemblies. Each floor-spacing assembly includes hollow spacing walls. Each hollow spacing wall extends from a respective hollow floor and is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the hollow spacing walls of an adjacent one of the floor-spacing assemblies by an air gap. Each two adjacent ones of the hollow floors are interconnected through the hollow spacing walls disposed therebetween. The sealed container defines a liquid reservoir, a condensate reservoir, and a plurality of fluid passages extending through the hollow spacing walls and the hollow floors that are disposed between the liquid reservoir and the condensate reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heat dissipating device, more particularly to a heat dissipating device including a sealed container of a multi-level structure that is formed with a plurality of fluid passages and a plurality of air gaps among exteriors of walls confining the fluid passages.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional heat dissipating device, such as a heat pipe, normally includes a sealed container with a working fluid and a wick structure received therein. The heat pipe is attached to a heat source, such as an integrated circuit component, for absorbing heat generated by the heat source and transferring the heat to the outside environment. In use, an amount of the working fluid is vaporized at a hot end of the sealed container that is attached to the heat source, and carries the heat from the heat source to a cold end of the sealed container. The vapor of the working fluid is subsequently condensed at the cold end to form a condensate which is returned to the hot end through the wick structure. However, the sealed container of the conventional heat dissipating device normally has only one fluid passage for passage of the vapor from the hot end to the cold end of the sealed container and for passage of the condensate from the cold end to the hot end of the sealed container. As a consequence, the cooling area provided by the sealed container for cooling the vapor generated in the sealed container is relatively limited.


A method for performing a system level backup of a log-ahead database management system (DBMS) without suspending updates by application programs is described. The DBMS comprises a database mainline system, a backup utility and a restore utility. The data and log records are stored on separate storage volumes. Log records are written to identify objects that require special handling during the point-in-time recovery. The database engine operates normally during a backup except for suspending actions that would alter the file system catalog or write updates across a storage volume boundary; and by freezing the REDO log point in its checkpoint information. The backup utility copies the data volumes first and optionally the log volumes second while updates are allowed. The resulting inconsistencies are resolved either during a DBMS restart or during a point-in-time (PIT) recovery performed by the restore utility.

In general, most, if not all, DBMS systems are required to recover without loss of data or transactions after some types of system failures without the need to reference system backup data sets. This recovery capability is a normal part of the operation and restarting of the DBMS. Obviously for those failures of a more catastrophic nature, use of backup data is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,751, Gawlick et al., entitled Method and Apparatus for Logging Journal Data Using a Write Ahead Dataset, issued Mar. 25, 1985, exemplifies a transaction management system wherein all transactions are recorded on a log on a write-ahead dataset basis. As described in this patent, the protocol requires a change to the database is first recorded on the log and only then written to its external storage. The computing apparatus includes volatile storage for storing a log buffer and a non-volatile storage for storing a journal log. Non-volatile storage means are provided for storing in a write-ahead dataset a plurality of short data blocks. The log buffer contents are written to the write-ahead data set responsive to a process epoch occurring before the log buffer is filled. The log buffer contents are written to the journal log upon the log buffer being filled. The redoing or undoing of database changes is made with reference to the write ahead dataset only in the case of a system failure resulting in loss of log buffer data not yet written to the journal log; otherwise database changes are redone or undone with reference to the log buffer or journal log. The method described by Gawlick, et al. includes the requirement that upon the being restarted, the DBMS must have a way to restore the integrity of the data based on the logs.
When a data processing system is in the process of backing up data in either a streamed or batch mode system, each process, task or application within the data processing system is affected, since the processes supporting streamed or batch mode operations are suspended for the duration of the copying. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this event is typically referred to as a "backup window." In contrast to batch mode operations, log based or transaction management applications are processed in the interactive mode. Such transaction management applications eliminate the "backup window" by concurrently updating an on-line dataset and logging the change. However, this type of backup copying results in a consistency described as "fuzzy." That is, the backup copy is not a precise "snapshot" of the state of a dataset/data base at a single point in time. Rather, a log comprises an event file requiring further processing against the database.
As is well known in art, the steps in a computer implementable method can be used to create a computer program product stored on a portable computer usable media. The media with the computer program product stored thereon is an article of manufacture capable of causing a computer system to execute the computer program product and thereby to perform the method. The computer program product may also be transmitted electronically to a computer which stores the program on its media for recall and execution as required.

DBMS backup without suspending updates and corresponding recovery using separately stored log and data files

International Business Machines Corporation


A plurality of tracks on an optical disk are optically read to obtain a signal containing a plurality of LOW segments. Each of the plurality of LOW segments should correspond to a certification pit. Accordingly, if the interval between LOW segment Xj and nth succeeding LOW segment Xj+n exceeds the length of one track, a defect pit that could be confused with a certification pit is judged as being present between two certification pits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device that can appropriately check parts of an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD, which were processed for copyright protection purposes during the manufacturing of the optical disk.
2. Background Art
To meet the needs of the market for large amounts of low-priced digital works, manufacturers of optical disks run round-the-clock manufacturing for greater output. A manufacturing procedure of an optical disk is roughly made up of the following steps: (1) substrate formation; (2) reflective film application; (3) protective film coating; (4) substrate bonding; and (5) label printing. In recent years, a processing step that is intended for copyright protection is often added to this manufacturing procedure. The processing step writes special pits, which cannot be made by commercially available recording devices, onto an optical disk on which a digital work is recorded. The special pits serve as pits for certifying the authenticity of the optical disk (certification pits). With the provision of such certification pits, a reproduction device can distinguish original optical disks that record authentic digital works, from optical disks that record copies of the digital works. As one example, a pit having a length of 15T or more (T denotes a channel bit period) is used as a certification pit.
When manufacturing an optical disk, a defect which the reproduction device could confuse with a certification pit may naturally occur. Such a naturally-occurring defect causes the reproduction device to commit false recognition. Which is to say, the reproduction device may judge the optical disk as authentic at some time, but judge the same optical disk as not authentic at other times. Such false recognition can even lead to a quality dispute in the market. Therefore, optical disks should not be shipped without removing such naturally-occurring defects that are confusable with certification pits.
This problem can be overcome by introducing a step for checking the presence or absence of naturally-occurring defects. However, only a limited time can be spent for such a step. In manufacturing of optical disks that require mass production, if too much time is spent on the check, the production schedule would not be met.

Device and program for checking optical disks

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A playback synchronization method and device and a USB sound card are disclosed. In the technical solutions according to the present disclosure, the number of writes for writing data into the audio data buffer by the write pointer of the master device and the number of reads for reading data from the audio data buffer by the read pointer of the slave device are acquired, and it is determined whether the data transmission of the master and slave devices is synchronized or not by judging the magnitude relationship between the number of writes and the number of reads. If it is not synchronized, the position of the read pointer is adjusted so that the write pointer and the read pointer are synchronized again, i.e., the write data and the read data are synchronized again. Thus, the problem that the clocks of the master and slave devices are relatively independent and the data transmission is not synchronized due to the clock deviation is solved.

The playback of video or audio in a device typically involves signal conversion and data transmission operations between two devices. The two devices for data transmission are a master device and a slave device. When data is transmitted between the master device and the slave device, since the clock sources of the master device and the slave device are relatively independent, the clock deviation of the master device and the slave device may cause the data transmission to be out of synchronization, which may further lead to problems such as sound loss or distortion. With respect to the problem of clock non-synchronization between the master and slave devices, there have been many methods proposed in the prior art such as adding peripheral circuits. However, the addition of peripheral circuits will increase the design complexity and costs of the master and slave devices.

Playback synchronization method and device and USB sound card


A washing method of red mud that is produced when an alumina-containing ore having a goethite to hematite mass ratio of 60/40 (goethite/hematite) or more in the iron component thereof is heat-treated with an alkaline solution at a temperature of 110° C. to 160° C. to obtain an aluminate liquor, including: mixing the red mud with a diluting fluid to obtain suspension that has an aluminum concentration of 95 g/L or less in terms of Al2O3; adding a flocculant to the suspension, wherein, the flocculant includes a polymer having a repeating unit derived from (meth)acrylic acid or a salt thereof and being substantially free from a repeating unit derived from vinylhydroxamic acid compound or a salt thereof; and settling and separating the red mud so as to wash the red mud.

As a method of extracting alumina from an alumina-containing ore, the Bayer process is generally adopted. In the Bayer process, generally as the alumina-containing ore, bauxite, which is so called because of the geographical name of the origin thereof, after wet-grinding, is mixed with an alkaline solution to obtain slurry; the slurry is treated at high temperature so as to extract an alumina component that is contained in bauxite; after that, bauxite residue (extraction residue: usually called as "red mud" because of its red color provided from an iron component and humin contained therein) that is an undissolved component is subjected to solid-liquid separation. Aluminum hydroxide is precipitated out of an alumina-extracted liquid (aluminate liquor) from which red mud has been removed. Then, the aluminum hydroxide is calcinated so as to obtain alumina.
Separation of the residue (red mud) that is the undissolved component of bauxite is performed by cooling, at around 100° C. under atmospheric pressure, the extracted slurry that has been heat-treated at high temperature. As a separation apparatus, usually a thickener equipped with a mud collector is adopted. The solid-liquid separation requires long time because the particle size of the residue is extremely small as 10 μm or less. Therefore, in order to promote settling of the bauxite residue, conventionally a water-soluble polymer flocculant is used. In Patent Document 1, as the polymer flocculant, sodium acrylate, a copolymer of sodium acrylate and amide acrylate, or the like is used. In this document, in order to improve settling rate of the residue and to enhance the level of concentration to solid of the lower liquid of the thickener and the clarification of the upper liquid, a flocculant including starch and slaked lime is also used. Patent Document 1 further describes that alumina-containing ores produced from Australia and Jamaica are used, wherein the polymer flocculant used in the initial process of an alumina recovery circuit is different from the polymer flocculant used in the following process.
However, these polymer flocculants are not always effective for the separation of extraction residues obtained from all of the alumina-containing ores. For example, it is known that these are effective for promoting settling of the red mud obtained from bauxite produced from GOVE ore in Australia, but these are not effective for the red mud obtained from bauxite produced in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia. This is because, while bauxite residue contains mainly such components as iron, silica, aluminum, titanium, and sodium, these components have different crystal morphologies depending on the kinds of bauxite, whereby settling rate, level of concentration to solid, clarification, and others are affected. Examples of compositions that exhibit an adequate settling rate include hematite (Fe2O3), anatase (TiO2), and boehmite (γ-AlOOH). On the other hand, examples of compositions that exhibit poor settling rate include goethite (FeO(OH)), sodalite (Na4ClSi3Al3O12), rutile (TiO2), and gibbsite (Al(OH)3) (Non-Patent Document 1).
Alumina-containing ores represented by BINTAN ore and TAYAN ore of Indonesia are imported in a large amount to Japan. These ores contain a trihydrate (gibbsite) as an alumina component and FeO(OH) (goethite) or (Fe,Al)O(OH) (goethite aluminum) as an iron component. When such ores are treated by conventional Bayer process, because goethite that has a slow settling rate is contained in the extraction residue (red mud), settling separation with a conventional flocculant is difficult. In view of the above circumstances, there have been various kinds of proposals to improve settling property of such bauxite extraction residues that have a high content of goethite.
Patent Document 2 describes a process of converting goethite that is contained in bauxite into magnetite (Fe3O4) by rising alumina extraction temperature. In this process, alumina extraction is performed in the presence of a reducing organic substance and at an extraction temperature of 270° C. or higher so as to convert goethite into magnetite that has an adequate settling property, whereby settling is improved. This process has a problem of being not economically advantageous in view of energy consumption or requiring expensive materials for apparatuses.
Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 describe a process of combining substances that have an adequate settling property. In the process, a substance that contains a composition having an adequate settling property is added and mixed, so that the composition ratio in the residue is changed and that substances having poor settling property are separated adequately. However, in the process, the composition having an adequate settling property is required to be ready for use at any time, whereby the process becomes complicated and is not economically advantageous.
Furthermore, Patent Document 5 describes a proposal of using starch that is cationized into a quaternary ammonium type as a flocculant. Settling property is somewhat improved by using the flocculant for the separation of red mud obtained from an alumina-containing ore that involves goethite therein, however, it is considered not to be sufficient for an industrial treatment.
As described above, in the red mud separation treatment for alumina-containing ores that are imported into Japan in a large amount, particularly the ores that are produced in Indonesia and involve goethite therein, a flocculant that has both adequate settling separation performance and economical advantages and exhibits sufficient practical performance by itself has not been known so far.
In view of the above circumstances, Patent Document 6 describes a proposal of using a water-soluble polymer flocculant that contains, as an effective ingredient, a copolymer having a repeating unit derived from a vinylhydroxamic acid compound in the separation treatment of red mud obtained from alumina-containing ores that involve goethite therein.

Washing method of goethite-containing red mud


An electrowetting display device comprising at least one picture element with a first support plate including a first electrical element, a second electrical element and a through-connection electrically connecting the first electrical element to the second electrical element. The through-connection is arranged outside a projected display area of the at least one picture element.

An electrowetting display is known which comprises a plurality of picture elements having a first support plate, a second support plate and a space between the first support plate and the second support plate, the space including at least one first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with each other. Each of the plurality of picture elements includes an electrode for applying an electric field in the element. The electrode may be connected to underlying picture element circuitry by a through-connection, also known as a via, formed in the first support plate. A display effect may be created in a display area of each picture element by applying the electric field.
It is desirable to provide an improved display device.


The present invention relates to a valve assembly for sealing a through passage of a catheter introducing device, comprising a sealing unit having a movable closing member connected to a biasing means, and a seat member arranged with a sealing surface around the aperture of the through passage, wherein the biasing means is arranged to urge the closing member to sealably abut against the sealing surface, corresponding to a closed position, so as to prevent flow of fluid through the valve. The invention also relates to a catheter introducer assembly comprising a valve assembly.

Many medical situations and treatments are associated with the need for conveying fluid media into or out of the body of a patient. Access to a person's circulatory system, such as the cardiovascular or the cerebrospinal fluid system, is often achieved by means of introducing a catheter tube into the patient in a subcutaneous, intravascular or intramuscular way. Insertion of a catheter is done by means of a needle element, wherein the needle point is used for punctuating e.g. a vein and subsequently introducing the catheter before withdrawing the needle, leaving only the soft catheter tube which for instance may be connected to a source of fluid to be administered into or from the vein.
A typical example of such medical situation is blood dialysis (usually hemo-dialysis), which sometimes is required as a consequence of kidney malfunction. In dialysis, two catheter tubes are inserted into a so called fistula which is created by connecting an artery to a vein. One catheter is used for withdrawal of blood and the other for reinserting it into the patient. Dialysis treatment is a rather delicate and exposed situation for the patient and it is desired to provide a very cautious and careful handling during the penetration of the patient's skin or fistula wall or during the continued treatment.
A common problem related to dialysis treatment (as well as to any situation involving insertion procedure for a catheter tube) is the risk of blood leakage, particularly when connecting the dialysis equipment to the fistula. Typically, the needle used for connecting the assembly to a fistula has quite a large diameter (often larger than 1.6 mm) in order to provide for sufficient volume of blood passage during the time dialysis is run, and at the same time avoiding rupture of the blood cells which are passing at a high flow rate. The large needle in combination with the high pressure in a fistula leads to the risk that blood from the circulation system often escapes, either when connecting the catheter to the fistula or during treatment, resulting in a leakage of blood which is of course highly undesired as it makes an already uneasy and exposed situation even worse for the patient, and also leads to a risk for blood contamination for health care providers.
As the blood pressure within a fistula is very high, penetration will lead to a heavy and immediate outflow of blood. This naturally puts extremely high demands on the equipment/catheter assemblies which are intended to be used for transferring the blood from the patient to the dialysis equipment and again back to the patient. A catheter assembly used in dialysis should be designed to handle over—as well as subpressure since each fistula is connected to two catheters: one for the withdrawal of blood and one for reintroducing it into the patient. The assembly through which blood will be withdrawn will be subjected to a subpressure and the assembly through which blood is to be transferred back to the patient will be subjected to a overpressure. In each of those situations there is a risks that the pressure difference inside the catheter hub compared to the ambient pressure leads to failure of the assembly components with leakage as consequence.
Another risk associated with extracorporal treatment is the occurrence of turbulence in the blood flow leading to risk of damage to the blood cells (hemolysis) which, as a result of the frequently reoccurring treatments that the patient is subjected to, gradually would degenerate the patient blood and in the long run represent a serious health risk.
Another problem which may pose a serious problem during a dialysis treatment is the risk of clotted/coagulated blood which sometimes is formed inside the catheter introducer assembly running the risk of entering into the dialysis equipment and/or into the patients. A blood clot unintentionally entering a blood circulation system of a patient could lead to serious health risks and even be fatal.
In one type of catheter assembly, the fistula is penetrated by a needle which is subsequently withdrawn only leaving the catheter tube for transferral of blood or liquid. This is advantageous since a soft catheter tube will not run the risk of damaging the patient's fistula/skin the way a dialysis needle could. However, retracting the cannula (often a metal needle) out of the instrument sometimes gives rise to undesired friction drag between the needle and the assembly wherefrom it is to be removed, which in its turn may lead to an inert or even irregular retraction motion which is of course a disadvantage: preferably connection of a catheter tube should be performed smoothly and without sudden interruptions.
Many examples of sealing devices for assemblies exist, aiming to prevent leakage in various forms, e.g. leakage of blood. For instance in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,412, there is seen a catheter introducing system with a so called "duckbill"-solution, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,284 there is described an automatic shut-off mechanism for a catheter tube assembly. However due to the specific circumstances related to certain treatments such as dialysis, according to our knowledge, no prior art arrangement has yet presented a fully satisfactory solution for connecting to a catheter assembly. Existing catheter introducing assemblies are often quite complicated to handle, and may e.g. require at least two hands during the introducing procedure which makes the connection of the catheter laborious for the professional health care provider as well as it eliminates the possibility of self-treatment at home: the operation is simply too difficult to perform by oneself.


Systems and/or apparatus are provided for automotive electrical systems having power converters that are coupled by using a transformer. An electrical system comprises a boost converter, wherein a first winding of a transformer is coupled between the input node of the boost converter and a first reference node. The boost converter further includes a switch coupled between the first reference node and a second reference node and a diode coupled between the first reference node and the output node of the boost converter. An energy source is coupled between the input node and the second reference node and a first electrical load is coupled between the output node and the second reference node. The electrical system further comprises a voltage converter having an input coupled to a second winding of the transformer, and a second electrical load coupled to the output of the voltage converter.

In recent years, advances in technology, as well as ever evolving tastes in style, have led to substantial changes in the design of automobiles. One of the changes involves the power usage and complexity of the various electrical systems within automobiles, particularly alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles.
Many electric-powered vehicles require a high primary operating voltage, e.g., 400 volts DC. Typical fuel cells provide less than one volt DC under load. Therefore, a large number of individual fuel cells are often configured or "stacked" in series to provide a fuel cell stack capable of providing the high primary operating voltage required by the vehicle. Power converters, such as direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) boost converters, are typically used to raise the voltage level of a fuel cell stack up to the level required on the high-voltage bus.
Most vehicles also include one or more auxiliary electrical systems which operate at a lower voltage. For example, most vehicles include one or more auxiliary electrical systems adapted to operate at 12 volts DC. Often, a step-down DC/DC converter (or buck converter) is used to reduce the high-voltage bus voltage down to the operating level required by the auxiliary electrical systems. Although commonplace, the use of additional power converters increases the component cost, size, and complexity of the vehicle electrical system.

Automotive electrical system for coupling power converters with a transformer


An optical interference display cell is described. A first electrode and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a transparent substrate and at least two openings are formed in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer to define a position of the optical interference display cell. An insulated heat-resistant inorganic supporter is formed in each of the openings. A second electrode is formed on the sacrificial layer and the supporters. Finally, a remote plasma etching process is used for removing the sacrificial layer.

In a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), the development of a sacrificial layer technique has become a key factor for manufacturing a suspended structure, such as a cantilever, a beam, a membrane, a channel, a cavity, a joint or hinge, a link, a crank, a gear or a rack, to name a few. A structure release etching process is adapted for removing a sacrificial layer, so a structure of a structure release in a micro electro mechanical system has a critical influence on the process of removing the sacrificial layer.
A conventional structure release etching process is first introduced with an interference display cell as an example. The interference display cell, a kind of a micro electro mechanical system, is used to fabricate a planar display. Planar displays have great superiority in the portable display device and limited-space display market because they are lightweight and small. To date, in addition to liquid crystal displays (LCD), organic electro-luminescent displays (OLED), and plasma display panels (PDP), a mode of optical interference display is another option for planar displays.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a method for manufacturing a conventional optical interference display cell. Referring to FIG. 1A, a first electrode 110 and a sacrificial layer 111 are formed in sequence on a transparent substrate 109, and openings 112, each suitable for forming a supporter therein, are formed in the first electrode 110 and the sacrificial layer 111. Then, a supporter 106 is formed in each of the openings 112. Next, an electrode 114 is formed on the sacrificial layer 111 and the supporter 106. Subsequently, referring to FIG. 1B, the sacrificial layer 111 shown in FIG. 1A is removed by a release etching process to form a cavity 116, which is located in the position of the sacrificial layer 111, and the length D of the cavity 116 is the thickness of the sacrificial layer 111.
In a micro electro mechanical process, a micro suspended structure is fabricated by the use of a sacrificial layer. A suspended movable microstructure is fabricated by a selective etching between a device structure layer and the sacrificial layer to remove the sacrificial layer and leave the structure layer, and this process is called a structure release etching. The difference between the structure release etching process and an IC process is that in the structure release etching process, the selective etching is an isotropic etching, so that an undercut or an under etching is formed in the structure layer for smooth separation of the structure layer and the substrate.
The most popular structure release etching process is a wet structure release process. In the wet structure release process, a rinsing step and a drying step usually have to be performed after etching, and a microstructure can substantially be suspended above the substrate. However, during the wet structure release process, it is quite easy for the structure and the substrate to stick together, thereby resulting in failure of the device. A dry etching process using xenon difluoride (XeF2) as an etchant can be used to solve the problems due to the wet etching process.
Xenon difluoride is in a solid state at normal temperature and normal pressure, and is sublimated into the gaseous state at low pressure. Xenon difluoride has a high etching rate for silicon materials such as monocrystalline silicon, polysilicon and amorphous silicon, and some metals such as molybdenum (Mo), molybdenum alloy and so on. Xenon is an inert gas, and xenon difluoride is quite unstable. The etching mechanism of xenon difluoride is that two fluorine free radicals are brought to the reaction positions by xenon, and when xenon difluoride contacts the material to be etched, xenon difluoride decomposes to release these two fluorine free radicals. Because the isotropic etching effect of xenon difluoride is great, xenon difluoride has an excellent capacity for lateral etching. In a micro electro mechanical system process, xenon difluoride is used as an etchant to remove a sacrificial layer in a structure release etching process. Typically, since the activity of xenon difluoride is quite high, i.e., the activation energy of the decomposition of xenon difluoride into fluorine free radicals is quite low, and a reaction occurs almost immediately as soon as xenon difluoride contacts the material to be etched even at room temperature. Therefore, raising the etching temperature can hardly increase the etching rate of xenon difluoride. A xenon difluoride etching process is typically conducted at a temperature lower than 70° C.
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a conventional optical interference display cell 200. The optical interference display cell 200 includes separation structures 202, as indicated by dotted lines 2021, located on two opposite sides of the optical interference display cell 200, and supporters 204 located on the other two opposite sides of the optical interference display cell 200. The separation structures 202 and the supporters 204 are located between two electrodes. There are gaps between the supporters 204, as well as between the supporters 204 and the separation structures 202. The gaseous xenon difluoride 206 permeates through the gaps and etches a sacrificial layer (not shown in FIG. 2). The etching rate of a structure release etching process using an etchant of the gaseous xenon difluoride 206 depends on the material of the sacrificial layer desired to be etched. Typically, the etching rate exceeds 10 micrometers per minute, and can be up to 20-30 micrometers per minute for some materials. So far as the size of the present optical interference display cell is concerned, one structure release etching process only takes dozens of seconds to 3 minutes.
Although the structure release etching process performed with the etchant of gaseous xenon difluoride has the aforementioned advantages, the structure release etching process has a drawback: the cost can't be reduced due to the character of xenon difluoride itself. Xenon difluoride is expensive, is particularly sensitive to moisture and is unstable. When xenon difluoride contacts moisture, hydrogen fluoride is produced. Hydrogen fluoride is not only dangerous, but also reduces efficiency of etching. Besides, the structure release etching process performed using xenon difluoride as an etchant is rarely found in semiconductor processes and typical planar display processes, so etchers that are well developed in current semiconductor processes and liquid crystal display processes are unsuitable for the structure release etching process using xenon difluoride etchant. Most of the main manufacturing processes of the optical interference display can continue using conventional semiconductor or planar display processing equipment, but the structure release etching process needs a totally different apparatus design. To reorganize and consolidate the processing equipments would be an obstacle to the development and mass production of the optical interference display.

Optical interference display cell and method of making the same


A group of fuel gas system devices are provided at a first end plate of a fuel cell system through a block member. A cover member is provided at the first end plate to cover the group of the fuel gas system devices. Support rod members are provided at the first end plate. The support rod members protrude outward in a stacking direction to support the cover member at the front ends of the support rod members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells in a stacking direction and end plates provided at both ends of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. Each of the fuel cells generates electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is a polymer ion exchange membrane. In the fuel cell, the electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between a pair separators to form a power generation cell. In use, in the fuel cell, generally, a predetermined number of power generation cells are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack, e.g., mounted in a vehicle.
In the case where the fuel cell stack is used, in particular, in a vehicle as an in-vehicle fuel cell stack, it is desired to provide components such as fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) system devices and oxygen-containing gas (e.g., air) system devices in a small space efficiently. In this case, it is necessary to protect the fuel gas system device preferentially against possible collisions of the vehicle.
For this purpose, for example, piping structure of a fuel cell disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3671864 is known. In the piping structure, the stack is placed in a casing to mount the fuel cell stack in a vehicle. In the casing, fuel gas pipes, oxygen-containing gas pipes, and coolant pipes connected to the stack are provided. In comparison with the oxygen-containing gas pipes and the coolant pipes, inlet side fuel gas pipe and outlet side fuel gas pipes as the fuel gas pipes are provided closely to the stack, at positions closest to the stack in the stacking direction of cells.
In the piping structure, coolant pipes for supplying a coolant into or discharging the coolant from a coolant manifold in the fuel cell stack, and gas pipes for supplying reactant gases into or discharging the reactant gases from gas manifolds in the fuel cell stack are connected to an end plate provided at one end of the fuel cell stack. The gas pipes include fuel gas pipes for supplying a fuel gas into or discharging the fuel gas from a fuel gas manifold in the fuel cell stack, and oxygen-containing gas pipes for supplying an oxygen-containing gas into or discharging the oxygen-containing gas from an oxygen-containing gas manifold in the fuel cell stack. Further, among the fuel gas pipes, the oxygen-containing gas pipes, and the coolant pipes, the fuel gas pipes are provided at the innermost positions of the vehicle.


According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a decoder for decoding a demodulated signal that has been subjected to a CDM demodulation, the decoder comprising a Viterbi decoding section that subjects a convolutional code to a soft decision Viterbi decoding; a soft decision data acquisition section that acquires soft decision data corresponding to a interval to which the demodulated signal belongs, using soft decision information in which a plurality of intervals obtained by dividing between a highest level and a lowest level according to a plurality of thresholds correspond to pieces of soft decision data to be input to the Viterbi decoding section, respectively; and a threshold changing section that determines whether a situation of a transmission line is suitable, and that changes threshold intervals in the soft decision information if the state of the transmission line does not satisfy a predetermined reference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a decoder and a receiver employed in a satellite broadcasting system, a satellite communication system, a terrestrial broadcasting system, a terrestrial communication system, or the like.
2. Related Art
A receiver in a satellite broadcasting system, a satellite communication system, a terrestrial broadcasting system, or a terrestrial communication system using code division multiplex access (CDMA) down-converts a signal of a radio frequency (RF) received from a transmitting station, and subjects the down-converted received signal to a code division multiplex (CDM) demodulation. The receiver calculates soft decision data (multivalued input level) to be input to a Viterbi decoder based on a CDM-demodulated signal. More specifically, the receiver calculates the soft decision data by applying the demodulated signal for a soft decision table (soft decision information) in which intervals obtained by dividing between a highest level and a lowest level according to a plurality of thresholds corresponds to pieces of soft decision data. The Viterbi decoder in the receiver performs a Viterbi decoding based on a Viterbi algorithm using the calculated soft decision data.
The conventional receiver has, however, the following disadvantages. Since each threshold interval is fixed in the soft decision table, an optimum coding gain is not always obtained on a low-quality line (e.g., in case of great influence by fading or in case of many multipaths).


A stabilized high-vinyl polybutadiene composition comprising a high-vinyl polybutadiene, and an antioxidant defined by the formula

Two forms of commercially useful high-vinyl polybutadiene include syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and atactic 1,2-polybutadiene. Syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is a high-vinyl polybutadiene that has a stereoregular structure in which the side-chain vinyl groups are located alternately on the opposite sides in relation to the polymeric main chain. Although syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is a crystalline thermoplastic resin, which results from its stereoregular structure, it uniquely exhibits the properties of both plastics and rubber, and therefore it has many uses. For example, films, fibers, and various molded articles can be made from syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. It can also be blended into and co-cured with natural or synthetic rubbers in order to improve the properties thereof. For example, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be added to rubber stocks for the manufacture of tires.
Atactic 1,2-polybutadiene is an amorphous, rubbery elastomer that has a stereoirregular structure in which the side-chain vinyl groups are located randomly on the opposite sides in relation to the polymeric main chain. Atactic 1,2-polybutadiene is utilized in a variety of applications. For example, atactic 1,2-polybutadiene is useful in tire tread compositions because it provides a good balance of traction and rolling resistance.
Due to its high-vinyl structure, high-vinyl polybutadiene is prone to thermal crosslinking to form a gel, i.e., an insoluble and non-processable material. Unfortunately, after being synthesized, high-vinyl polybutadiene is often isolated and dried at high temperatures. Or, when used as an additive in the manufacture of tires, it is subjected to compounding temperatures that can reach 165–180° C. During the compounding, it is critical that high-vinyl polybutadiene is not gelled before it is mixed with other ingredients. Otherwise, good dispersion of the polymer in other ingredients cannot be achieved. Also, especially in the case of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, molding, such as injection or compression molding, typically takes place at temperatures higher than the melting point of the polymer, which can exceed temperatures of 100–200° C. Therefore, the stabilization of high-vinyl polybutadiene is very critical for its utilization.
Many antioxidants have been employed in the art to prevent problems such as thermal crosslinking. The selection of a useful antioxidant, however, is unpredictable, especially when the amount of antioxidant employed is a factor. For example, when high-vinyl polybutadiene is compounded with a rubber for the manufacture of tires, the type and amount of antioxidant employed can deleteriously impact vulcanization of the tire rubber. Further, antioxidants are costly and therefore it can be advantageous to employ a minimal amount of antioxidant.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to find effective stabilizers for preventing the thermal crosslinking of high-vinyl polybutadiene.

Abstract: where each R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are mono-valent organic groups, or where each R1, which may be the same or different, is a mono-valent organic group and the two R2 groups join to form a divalent organic group.


The present invention provides a human regulator of gene transcription (HRGT) and polynucleotides which encode HRGT. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antisense molecules, antibodies, or antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of HRGT.

Regulation of gene transcription is the primary process by which a cell controls the appropriate expression of the multitude of genes necessary for growth and differentiation. The selective expression of genes at appropriate times is highly specialized in cells of multicellular organisms and permits the cells to perform "housekeeping" functions and respond to changes in their environment. These changes involve extracellular signals from a variety of sources such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth and differentiation factors.
Gene transcription is controlled by proteins termed regulators of gene transcription (RGT). RGTs act by binding to a short segment of DNA (transcription control element, TCE) located near the site of transcription initiation. Binding of an RGT to the target TCE activates transcription of the gene. RGTs contain a variety of structural motifs that, alone or in combination with one another, permit them to recognize and bind to the wide variety of TCEs. Two motifs common to many RGTs are the Helix-Loop-Helix (HLH) and leucine zipper (LZ) motifs. These motifs are found in the large myc family of proteins that function in the control of normal cell growth and differentiation and in oncogenesis (Katzav, S. et al.(1991) Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:1912-20).
The HLH motif is found in the C-terminal portion of the RGT and is characterized by a short .alpha. helix. Connected by a flexible loop to a second, longer .alpha. helix. This structure binds both to DNA and to other HLH containing proteins. Dimer formation between RGTs permits a stronger binding to TCEs than would result from monomer binding. The LZ motif works in a similar way to strengthen the DNA binding capacity of two RGT monomers. LZ binding is characterized by the interaction of hydrophobic amino acids (usually leucine) extending from one side of the a helix of each monomer that permits them to dimerize forming a Y-shaped structure. The ends of the Y bind cooperatively to the TCE.
Several HLH proteins are truncated in the .alpha. helical region responsible for binding to DNA. These truncated HLH proteins act as negative regulators of other full-length HLH proteins by binding to them and forming inactive heterodimers. Mouse Id (inhibitor of DNA binding) binds to various HLH proteins (MyoD, E12, and E47) and inhibits their ability to bind to DNA and activate gene expression (Benezra, R. et al. (1990) 61:49-59). Vav is a novel oncogene expressed in cells of hematopoietic origin. Loss of the N-terminal HLH domain from a murine or human vav proto-oncogene activates its transforming potential. Katzav et al. (supra) suggest that this N-terminal region of 60-90 amino acids may act as a negative regulator of the expression of vav and possibly of other genes.
The discovery of a new regulator of gene transcription and the polynucleotides encoding it satisfies a need in the art by providing new diagnostic or therapeutic compositions useful in the treatment or prevention of cancer and immune disorders.


A rotary assembly for attachment to a rotary shaft includes a rotary body; and a bore hole extending in the rotary body from one end thereof for coaxially receiving a rotary shaft. The bore hole has a longitudinal axis coinciding with a rotary axis of the shaft when received in the bore hole. A parting split defining a clearance extends in the rotary body from one end thereof. The parting split extends in a plane which contains the longitudinal axis. A slot extends in the rotary body from the parting split on either side of the bore hole. The slot defines a dividing plane which traverses the longitudinal axis and which divides the rotary body into first and second axially adjoining body parts. The bore hole extends consecutively in the first and second body parts, and the bore hole which extends in the first body part is circumferentially closed. Two clamping wings are defined in the second body part by the parting split, the slot and the bore hole extending in the second body part. Two clamping bolts pass through the second body part and traverse the parting split for tightening the clamping wings to a rotary shaft passing through the bore hole.

This invention relates to an adjustable coupling between a rotary component and a cylindrical shaft wherein the rotary component has a parting split along a plane containing the axis of the shaft. Further, two clamping screws tighten the rotary component to the shaft in a direction transverse to the parting split.
To provide an adjustable coupling between a shaft and a rotary body it is known to divide the rotary component into two halves along a parting split which contains the shaft axis and to use two tightening screws on either side of the shaft for clamping the two halves together in a clamping direction which is perpendicular to the shaft axis. For obtaining a positive, frictional connection, the two component halves have to be at a slight distance from one another in a direction perpendicular to the parting split. Such distance varies, dependent from a deviation of the shaft diameter from a nominal value. In case the rotary component is a cam disc, the course of the cam track changes dependent on the shaft diameter and, dependent upon the inclination of the cam track to the radial direction, sudden changes (jumps) in the course of the cam track in the parting split may also be present. Thus, precision cam track discs have to be paired off with designated shafts; it is thus not possible to replace such discs with pre-made, other discs that are not associated with the same shaft.

Adjustable coupling between a rotary component and a cylindrical shaft


An optical waveguide probe comprises a cantilever having a longitudinal axis, a fixed end and a free end, the free end being elastically displaceable by application of a force to the cantilever. A probe is disposed on the free end of the cantilever for undergoing displacement in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of a sample during elastic displacement of the cantilever. The probe extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cantilever. An optical waveguide is disposed in the cantilever and extends from the fixed end of the cantilever to the probe for transmitting light applied to or detected from the surface of the sample. The optical waveguide has a first optical waveguide portion extending generally along the longitudinal axis of the cantilever and a second optical waveguide portion extending generally in the direction of extension of the probe.

The present invention relates to a scanning near-field interatomic force microscope for observing the topography of a substance to be measured by utilizing interatomic force which acts between substances and, at the same lime, observing optical characteristics in a minute region of the substance to be measured with a probe that is made of a light propagation material. The invention also relates to an optical system for optical writing to and reading from an optical recording medium in a near field.
In conventional scanning near-field microscopes, an optical fiber is used as an optical waveguide probe which is processed, i.e., sharpening its tip. Although this near-field optical effect can be utilized for not only scanning near-field microscopes but also high-density recording apparatuses, the method of processing an optical fiber probe is disadvantageous in productivity.
To solve this problem, Fujihira et al. (Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNo. Hei. 5-099641), J. P. Fillard et al. (WO 95/03561), and C. F. Quate et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,985) disclosed inventions relating to interatomic-force-controlled waveguide probes using a thin-film process. In each of these inventions, a waveguide is formed from on a substrate to be parallel with a sample surface to the tip of a probe that is formed on the substrate in the form of a protrusion.
A waveguide probe having this type of structure has a problem that it is difficult to keep the waveguide characteristic of the waveguide, i.e., the efficiency high because the waveguide is bent three-dimensionally. Further, in a case that an optical detection method is used for positional control of an optical waveguide probe, an optical system of the detection method produces disturbance light for light that is detected as near field light. And the system needs optical axis alignment for the positional control.

Optical waveguide probe and optical system and atomic force microscope using the optical waveguide probe


Provided is an access point capable of handling a connection request exceeding the throughput while maintaining a communication state of a wireless communication terminal. The access point has a notification unit 212 for notifying the server 11 of a bandwidth deficit if, in response to a connection request including a required bandwidth received from a wireless communication terminal 31, the required bandwidth cannot be secured, and a request unit 211, based on information on a specific wireless communication terminal 32 capable of changing an access point transmitted from the server 11 in response to a notification by the notification unit 212, for requesting the specific wireless communication terminal 32 to change the wireless IF being used.

The wireless communication system has been developed in a variety of manners in recent years. As for a service, for example, browse of websites and VoIP (Voice over IP) may be included. In addition, as for a hardware, multimode terminals have been popularly used, which have a plurality of wireless interfaces (hereinafter, an interface is appropriately abbreviated to an IF) corresponding to different wireless communication networks such as, for example, a combination of a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
On the other hand, the wireless communication system, for normal connection services except for a leased circuit connection service, generally employs a best effort type. The best effort type is a type of a communication system which does not guarantee quality of service although making an effort to maintain a good communication service. For example, if there are only a small number of wireless communication terminals connecting to an access point (hereinafter, appropriately abbreviated to AP) which is a base station, a sufficient bandwidth is assigned to each wireless communication terminal. However, the more the wireless communication terminals connect to the AP, the narrower bandwidth is assigned to each wireless communication terminal, which makes a communication speed slowed down. Additionally, if a communication amount reaches the trunk capacity of the AP, the wireless communication system rejects a connection of a new wireless communication terminal.
Accordingly, it is concerned for the communication system of the best effort type that, in proportion to the increase in users in the recent years, the bandwidth assignable to each wireless communication terminal becomes narrower and thus it is often occurred that the communication speed slows down or connection is rejected.
In order to solve such problems, there is known a communication system which, for example, prioritizes wireless communication terminals in order to control connections based on the priority (For example, see Patent Document 1). In this communication system, if a connection exceeding throughput is requested, a gatekeeper refers to the priorities of the wireless communication terminals in communication and the priority of the wireless communication terminal requesting the connection and, within a range maintaining a total communication amount equal to or less than the throughput, sequentially selects wireless communication terminals with higher priorities to perform communications. Then, it is controlled such that the wireless communication terminals selected connect in a conventional manner, whereas wireless communication terminals unselected search for indirect routes to find another access point. Accordingly, the wireless communication terminals with higher priorities can achieve a bandwidth requested by a user. In addition, if there is an indirect route, more wireless communication terminals than ever before can perform communication.
In addition, there is known another wireless communication system for controlling connections of multimode terminals having a plurality of wireless IFs, which selects another wireless IF to make the wireless communication terminal perform handoff when a communication environment of the wireless IF used by the wireless communication terminal is deteriorated (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this wireless communication system, the server selects a wireless IF which can be used by the wireless communication terminal based on terminal management information and network management information in response to a request for handoff from the wireless communication terminal, and notifies the wireless communication terminal of the wireless IF. Thereby, the wireless communication terminal performs control for handoff to the wireless IF in such notification. Therefore, according to this wireless communication system, if wireless communication terminals in the network performs handoff actively, the number of terminals connected to one AP is reduced, which increases the possibility that each wireless communication terminal can obtain a desired bandwidth.

Access point, wireless communication terminal and server


Embolic protection devices and systems capture and/or deflect emboli from entering one or more arterial branches of the aorta. An embolic protection device may include an anchor section that is positionable within an arterial branch of the aorta and a shield section that is operatively coupled to the anchor section. The shield section is positionable relative to one or more ostia of the aortic branches and is held in that position by the anchor section.

The present disclosure generally relates to devices and systems for use within blood vessels, and more particularly to devices and systems for use within blood vessels that deflect and/or trap emboli.
Arterial embolism is a sudden interruption of blood flow to an organ or body part due to an embolus, e.g., debris or a clot. During a medical procedure, thrombi may form and emboli may move, dislodge or break free within arteries. As used herein, the term emboli refers generally to any particles or debris moving within the bloodstream. These emboli are capable of traveling far from their origins, migrating to other sites of the vasculature where they may obstruct the flow of blood. For example, an embolus may travel through the carotid artery and inhibit the flow of blood to the brain, which may result in the death of brain cells, i.e., cause a stroke. Blockage of the carotid arteries is the most common cause of a stroke.

St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.


An emergency vehicle traffic signal preemption system using existing inductive traffic loops that is either “car-active” or “car-passive”. In the “car-active” system, a passive element having position information transmits an ID tag and the position information to a transceiver in the vehicle when an emergency vehicle is detected by the existing inductive traffic loop. In the “car-passive” system, a transceiver at the intersection is activated to send an excitation signal to a transponder on the emergency vehicle. The transponder responds with the emergency vehicle ID. The transceiver in the vehicle in the “car-active” system or the transceiver at the intersection in the “car-passive” system, transmit position information to the traffic controller to preempt operation of the traffic signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to emergency vehicle control systems for providing warnings of approaching emergency vehicles at intersections and more particularly relates to an emergency vehicle control system that utilizes traffic loop for preemption of traffic signals at an intersection.
2. Background Information
Using existing technology current traffic loops are normally used to detect the presence of cars at an intersection. These traffic loop detectors activate and control the operation of traffic lights at intersections according to the approach of vehicles.
In the past decade, several approaches have been taken to provide traffic signal preemption for emergency vehicles. Existing systems use strobe lights to activate optical receivers at an intersection. Other systems use noise pattern recognition to preempt based on approaching sirens. Recent systems have been developed using Global Positioning Systems (GPS); this has shown to be very effective in light metropolitan and rural areas. However each of these systems have drawbacks.
The strobe phase preemption system has the drawback that an optical line of sight is required. Further the viewing angle of the optical receiver (problems with hills and turns) and range preemption is limited to a few hundred feet. Also the receiver units and installation in vehicles are expensive.
Noise pattern detection systems use siren noise detection and recognition for preemption. This is not advantageous because the direction of the sound is required. Also ambient noises can diminish the detection of siren noise such as traffic, horns, general traffic noises at intersections. Another drawback is that the siren noise recognition is of course severely limited by distances.
GPS based preemption systems while effective also have some drawbacks. Such systems because they are very technical inherently require very expensive equipment. The system can also have difficulties because of vehicle position (buildings, bridges, large cities, etc.) can occlude the signal. Further the system is entirely dependent upon GPS satellites and selected positioning modes.
Investigations have determined that GPS (when available) is very effective at the timing and determination of vehicle position. Original versions of software (and hardware) designed for highly accurate map-matching have precise location determination of the emergency vehicle. The timing of the pedestrian and clearing phases at an intersection was incorporated into calculations of when to start preemption at any given intersection. There was concern that GPS-based system would not be accurate enough based on the limited selected positional accuracy. However even when the selected position was still activated (at an accuracy of no more than ±50 meters), it was found the system could adapt effectively. Therefore the approach to the preemption algorithm became more of a statistical calculation rather than a precise estimated-time-to-arrival calculation. In other words, given occasional accurate positioning the system could effectively compensate for large deviation between accurate position locks.
One of the reasons the system could accept such large deviations in the system of the car was due to the appearance of normal behavior at any given intersection. When pedestrians and motorists are not aware that an intersection was preempted, they simply didn't care. As long as a traffic light was returned to normal operation within approximately two minutes, this was seemingly no awareness of any problem. Given the infrequency of an emergency vehicle passing through a given intersection throughout the day, the frequency that related delays would exceed two minutes is negligible. This allows loose margins on when to start preempting. In other words even if a system determines there is only a 50 percent probability that a vehicle is going through an intersection, it could still preempt without noticeable disruption in traffic.
It is important to note that an emergency vehicle warning system such as that disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,704,610 and 4,775,865 has two components: (1) the preemption of a traffic light and (2) a visible LED sign that alerts motorists to oncoming emergency vehicles. If the LED sign is used in conjunction with the invention disclosed herein, the motorist is aware of an act of preemption. Thus, the two-minute limitation does not apply. The LED sign requires much more active positioning to avoid "false warnings" (and likewise) "late-warnings".
In designing a preemptive system it was apparent that the system of the patents disclosed hereinabove would not function effectively in congested areas such as: large metropolitan cities, tunnels, and under bridges. When the lessons learned about accuracy are applied to the GPS limitations, it is clear that a truly effective preemption system only requires accurate vehicle positioning at critical nodes in the system (nodes being key signal equipped intersections). Between intersections, even using rough calculations based on dead reckoning, a system can produce highly effective predictions on when to preempt oncoming lights without causing unnecessary disruption in traffic flow.
Accordingly it is one object of the present invention to provide a traffic light preemption system for use in emergency vehicle warning system utilizing current traffic loops normally used to detect the presence of cars at an intersection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a traffic signal preemption system utilizing existing traffic loops having a "car-active" system that relies on an on-board car computer to relay real-time vehicle positioning and travel information to surrounding intersections.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a traffic light preemption system utilizing existing traffic loops that is "car-passive" and relies on road-based detection and communications to identify vehicles as they pass.

Emergency vehicle control system traffic loop preemption


The disclosed device controls a cable associated with a bicycle gearshift and is particularity configured for securing the body of the device on the forward-facing end of racing bicycle handlebars. A cable winding bobbin, having an internally toothed crown, is provided in the device's body and a drive mechanism rotates the bobbin in the chosen direction to achieve predetermined angular positions. A ratchet mechanism, located between the lever and the toothed crown, includes opposite rocker arms with cam profiles curved away from each other, and a toothed sector for engaging the toothed crown. A pointer is located to be selectively engaged with at least one of the rocker arms so that engagement results in the rocker arm's toothed section being away from the toothed crown, and disengagement results in the rocker arm's toothed section being engaged with the toothed crown.

The present invention concerns an actuation device for a control cable for a bicycle gearshift, in particular a so-called bar-end device suitable for being mounted on the forward-facing end of racing bicycle handlebars.
A bicycle is normally provided with a rear derailleur associated with the chainset, which consists of a series of coaxial gear wheels (pinions), having different diameters and numbers of teeth, fixedly connected to the hub of the rear wheel.
A bicycle is typically also provided with a front derailleur associated with the crankset, which consists of a series of gear wheels (toothed crowns) having different diameters and numbers of teeth, associated with a pin of the bottom bracket assembly set in rotation by a pair of pedals.
In both cases, the derailleur engages a transmission chain extending in a closed loop between the chainset and the crankset, shifting the chain on gear wheels having different diameters and numbers of teeth, so as to obtain different transmission ratios.
In particular, the expression downward gearshifting is used when the chain goes from a gear wheel having a larger diameter to a gear wheel having a smaller diameter, and the expression upward gearshifting when the chain moves from a gear wheel having a smaller diameter to a gear wheel having a greater diameter. Regarding this, it should be noted with reference to the front derailleur that downward gearshifting corresponds to passing to a lower transmission ratio and upward gearshifting corresponds to passing to a higher transmission ratio, vice-versa with reference to the rear derailleur, downward gearshifting corresponds to passing to a higher transmission ratio and upward gearshifting corresponds to passing to a lower transmission ratio.
The movement in the two directions of a derailleur is obtained through an actuation device mounted so as to be easily operated by the cyclist; in the case of a so-called bar-end device, mounting takes place on the handlebars, at the ends thereof.
Conventionally, the actuation device for the front derailleur is located on the left handgrip of the handlebars, and vice-versa the actuation device for the rear derailleur is located on the right handgrip.
More specifically, in a mechanical gearshift, each derailleur is moved between the gear wheels, in a first direction by a pulling action exerted by a normally sheathed inextensible cable (commonly called Bowden cable), and in a second opposite direction by releasing the traction on the cable and/or by the elastic return action of a spring provided in the derailleur itself.
Normally, the direction in which the movement is caused by the release of the traction of the cable and/or by the return spring is that of downward gearshifting; vice-versa, the pulling action of the control cable takes place in the direction of upward gearshifting, in which the chain moves from a wheel having a smaller diameter to a wheel having a greater diameter.
In the actuation device, the control cable is actuated in traction or in release through winding and unwinding on a rotor element, commonly called cable-winding bobbin, the rotation of which is controlled by the cyclist with a suitable control lever. Single-lever control is made necessary by the positioning at the end of the handlebars, where it would be complex and not very practical to use two control levers, as it occurs—on the other hand—for different types of devices, located in different parts of the handlebars.
In any case, the actuation device must ensure that the bobbin is held still in rotation in a number of predetermined angular positions, corresponding to the different positions of the derailleur required by the different ratios, i.e. on the different gear wheels of the gearshift. This function is obtained with so-called indexers, a great many types of which are known in the field, variously acting between the bobbin and the fixed casing of the device.
In more conventional so-called bar-end devices, the single-lever control acts substantially directly on the cable-winding bobbin, so that each angular position of the cable-winding bobbin, as defined by the indexing means, corresponds to a precise angular position of the control lever.
The search for better aerodynamics in a competition has led to the provision of a quite complex control device, described in EP-1837275-A2, which is intended to return into the neutral position. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a simplified device that allows the return of the control lever into its neutral position.

Actuation device for a control cable for a bicycle gearshift


The present invention provides a dehydrating agent which is less poisonous and which can be easily handled in producing a polyisoimide by dehydrating a polyamic acid. A process is also provided for producing a polyisoimide without requiring the separation of by-products.. That is, the process for producing the polyisoimide of the present invention includes the step of using a dihyroquinoline derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## (wherein each R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently a monovalent organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms) as the dehydrating agent in producing the polyisoimide by dehydrating the polyamic acid.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a polyisoimide.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
It is well known that a polyisoimide can be manufactured by the action of a dehydrating agent on a polyamic acid. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 60-170683, 61-254547, 63-118329, 63-118330 and 63-223746, Japanese Patent Disclosure Nos. 61-500851 and 61-500997, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,366, 3,282,898 and 4,699,803, there are used, as dehydrating agents, an N,N'-dihydrocarbyl-substituted carbodiimide such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (hereinafter referred to as "DCC"), a halogenated lower fatty acid anhydride such as trifluoroacetic acid anhydride, and a lower fatty acid halide such as thionyl chloride or acetyl chloride.
However, in the case that N,N'-dihydrocarbyl-substituted carbodiimide is used, a urea compound which is insoluble in the solvent used is formed as a by-product by a dehydration reaction. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the urea compound which is the by-product, which complicates the manufacturing process Furthermore, the halogenated lower fatty acid anhydride and the lower fatty acid halide as well as the above-mentioned N,N'-dihydrocarbyl-substituted carbodiimide are very poisonous, and hence much attention must be paid to the handling of these dehydrating agents.