A system, method, and computer program product are provided for immediately updating a materialized view in a relational database management system. The method includes the steps of creating a materialized view defined over a base table, executing an update statement on the base table, computing a delta of the base table by comparing images of the base table before execution of the update statement and after execution of the update statement, computing a delta of the materialized view based on the delta of the base table, and updating the materialized view using the delta of the materialized view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to databases and, more specifically, to relational databases providing materialized views.
2. Description of the Background Art
A relational database management system ("DBMS") is a database model that defines relationships between attributes within a relation table. A query is performed on the DBMS in order to obtain a subset of data within the database that addresses a request represented by the query. A result provided by the DBMS as a response to the query can itself be represented as a table. For example, a query on a table "T" having five columns labeled "A", "B", "C", "D", and "E", respectively, may identify a subset of the five columns as containing desired information. The example query:select A, B from T where A='Sybase'would produce a result that can be interpreted as a two-column table, having columns "A" and "B", which would be populated only by rows in which the value of column "A" was 'Sybase' in base table "T"
A temporary table created as a result of a query is commonly referred to as a "view," although different database vendors may refer to similar such constructs using other names.
Materialized views go one step further and cache or otherwise store the temporary table as its own entity, separate from the underlying base tables which contain the queried data. Again, different database vendors may refer to similar such constructs using other names, including "summary tables," "staging tables," and "indexed views." By caching the results of a query, these results themselves can be the subject of additional queries without resolving the potentially costly original query again. One skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that a number of applications are able to take advantage of materialized views in order to significantly improve performance.
A problem arises when an underlying base table which was queried to create materialized view is itself updated. An update of a base table has the potential to render the materialized view obsolete. While this tradeoff may be acceptable in certain contexts, such as when base tables are rarely updated, or when obsolescence of the materialized view is irrelevant to an operation, other contexts require that the materialized view accurately reflect the current state of the database and its underlying base tables.
One solution is to defer maintenance of the materialized view until some future time. For example, some current systems require a user to initiate maintenance of the materialized view through, for example, a "refresh" statement. Although this may again be acceptable in certain contexts, other contexts may require immediate maintenance of materialized views, or "immediate materialized views" ("iMV"). Again, different database vendors may refer to similar such constructs using other names, including "immediately maintained materialized views."
An iMV is used in contexts where the data within the iMV must always accurately reflect the data in its underlying base tables. Accordingly, when the underlying base tables referenced by an iMV are updated, the iMV should immediately reflect any such applicable changes immediately.
Current database systems implementing iMVs provide for maintenance of the iMVs through either recomputation or incremental maintenance. Recomputation involves the recreation of the entire iMV whenever an underlying base table is updated, typically by recomputing the original query used to generate the iMV. This operation can be costly, and may even defeat the usefulness of the iMV in contexts where frequent updates of the underlying base tables are expected. A preferred solution is to perform incremental updates on the iMV by propagating only the changes caused by an update to an underlying base table to the iMV itself. However, this solution is unavailable in many contexts in current database systems, as it may be difficult to determine precisely what has been updated. For this reason, although incrementally updating the iMV would typically be more desirable than recomputation of the iMV, the option to use an incremental update is often unavailable.
Accordingly, what is desired is a means to enable immediate incremental updates of an iMV that is available in additional contexts with fewer restrictions.

Immediate maintenance of materialized views


Polynucleotides and polypeptides derived from the nucleotide sequence of the IFNα-21 gene comprising SNPs, and their therapeutic uses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to new polynucleotides derived from the nucleotide sequence of the IFNα-21 gene comprising new SNPs, and new polypeptides derived from the natural wild-type IFNα-21 protein comprising mutations caused by these SNPs, as well as their therapeutic uses.
2. Related Art
The interferon alpha 21 gene, hereinafter referred to as IFNα-21, is described in the publications:
Goeddel, D. V., Leung, D. W; "The structure of eight distinct cloned human leukocyte interferon cDNAs"; Nature 290 (5801), 20-26 (1981).
Olopade O I., Bohlander S K.; "Mapping of the shortest region of overlap of deletions of the short arm of chromosome 9 associated with human neoplasia"; Genomics 14 (2), 437-443 (1992).
The nucleotide sequence of this gene is accessible in the HTG section of the GenBank database under accession number AC009445.
The sequence of the messenger RNA of IFNα-21 is mentioned in the database of the NCBI, under accession code NM—002175.
IFNα-21 is a gene possessing a structural and functional homology close to that of human interferons alpha (IFNα), specifically IFNα-2.
The IFNα are known for their cellular antiproliferative effects and their involvements in antiviral and antiparasitic responses.
The IFNα are also known to inhibit the expression of several other cytokines at the level of the hematopoietic stem cells, as well as to inhibit the cellular proliferation of certain tumors.
The IFNα are known for their cellular antiproliferative effects and their involvements in antiviral and antiparasitic responses.
The IFNα are also known to inhibit the expression of several other cytokines at the level of the hematopoietic stem cells, as well as to inhibit the cellular proliferation of certain tumors.
The IFNα are also known to reduce the expression of the receptors to the EGF in renal carcinomas, to inhibit the expression of certain mitochondrial genes, to inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts, monocytes and B lymphocytes, especially in vitro, and to block the synthesis of antibodies by B lymphocytes.
The IFNα are also known to induce the expression of tumor specific antigens on the surface of tumor cells and also to induce the genes placed under the control of promoter regions of the ISRE type (Interferon-Stimulated Response Element) by acting on the specific transcription factors of these ISRE.
It is known that the IFNα are involved in different disorders and/or human diseases, such as the different cancers like for example, carcinomas, melanomas, lymphomas, leukemias and cancers of the liver, neck, head and kidneys, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases such as those that are not connected with the immune system like, for example, obesity, infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C and AIDS, pneumonias, ulcerative colitis, diseases of the central nervous system like, for example, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and depression, the rejection of tissue or organ grafts, healing of wounds, anemia in dialyzed patients, allergies, asthma, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune diseases and disorders, gastrointestinal disorders or even disorders connected with chemotherapy treatments.
The IFNα are particularly used for the treatment of certain leukemias, metastasized renal carcinomas as well as tumors that appear following an immunodeficiency, such as Kaposi's sarcoma in the case of AIDS. The IFNα are also effective against other types of tumors and against certain viral infections. The IFNα are also recognized by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of genital warts or venereal diseases.
More specifically, IFNα-21 was located by in situ hybridization in the brains of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.
Compared to other cells, microglial cells express IFNα-21 in large quantities.
In patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the presence of IFNα-21 was shown in the neurons of the parietal lobes, suggesting that IFNα-21 may be involved in this pathology (See e.g., Kawaguchi N, Yamada T, Yoshiyama Y. No To Shinkei. 1997 January; 49(1): 69-73).
However, the IFNα, and in particular IFNα-21, have numerous side effects when they are used in pharmaceutical compositions, such as reactions of acute hypersensitivity (urticaria, bronchoconstriction, anaphylactic shock etc.), cardiac arrythmias, low blood pressure, epileptic seizures, problems with thyroid functions, flu-like syndromes (fevers, sweats, myalgias), etc.
Furthermore, the patients treated with IFNα can develop antibodies neutralizing these molecules, thus decreasing their effectiveness.
The inventors have found new polypeptide and new polynucleotide analogs to the IFNα-21 gene capable of having a different functionality from the natural wild-type IFNα-21 protein.
These new polypeptides and polynucleotides can notably be used to treat or prevent the disorders or diseases previously mentioned and avoid all or part of the disadvantages, which are tied to them.


A power amplifier with a multi-mode digital bias control circuit is provided. The power amplifier utilizes a complementary reference voltage generation circuit and a bias current-control circuit to generate a plurality of bias current levels for different output power levels. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power amplifier circuit is connected to a reference voltage and two control signals. Depending on the desired output power level, the control signals set the corresponding bias current in the amplifying transistors, to ensure sufficient linearity. The power amplifier is capable of operating at a very low quiescent current level, for example, 5 mA. As a result, a significant improvement in the power amplifier's overall efficiency is achieved, and the battery talk time of a wireless communication device is increased. The invention finds application in wireless communication devices such as CDMA, WCDMA, EDGE and WLAN mobile devices.

The present invention relates generally to the bias control circuitry of multi-mode power amplifiers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bias control technique that significantly improves the efficiency of a low-power mode in a multi-mode power amplifier.
Many wireless communication devices use Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifiers to ensure that RF signals attain sufficient strength to reach a base station. Since a power amplifier is one of the major power consuming components inside a wireless communication device, it is important to minimize its power consumption, and therefore, maximize battery time. A power amplifier usually transmits at various power levels, depending on the distance between the wireless communication device and the base station. The lesser the distance, the less power is required.
A typical power amplifier comprises a few bias circuits, one or two driver stages, an output stage, and a few matching circuits. The bias circuit determines the bias current for each amplifying stage. The driving stages ensure that the power amplifier achieves adequate amplification to achieve sufficient signal strength. The output stage generates the required power; and the impedance-matching circuits are used at the input and output of the power amplifier, to match input and output impedances.
In the operation of a linear power amplifier, sufficient bias current is required to achieve linearity at a given output power level. A linear power amplifier, designed for high-power operation, needs a relatively higher bias current than a linear power amplifier that is designed for medium- or low-power operation. As a result, a high-power linear power amplifier with a fixed bias current is inefficient when it is used at the medium- or low-power level. In general, the power-probability density function of a CDMA power amplifier peaks around 0 dBm during urban as well as suburban operations, i.e., most of the time, the CDMA power amplifier transmits close to 0 dBm power. A CDMA power amplifier, designed for high-power operation with a fixed bias current, will be inefficient at 0 dBm.
Various power amplifiers, which provide high and low quiescent currents for different output power levels, have been developed for high-frequency operations. One such power amplifier is described in US Patent Application Number 20040000954A1, titled 'Power Amplifier Having a Bias Current Control Circuit', assigned to Kim, Ji Hoon, et al. The bias circuit elaborated in this patent is capable of adjusting itself continuously, depending on the output power level. Since the power amplifier has two amplifying stages connected in the form of a cascade, both amplifying stages have to be enabled during high- and low-power operations. As a result, this configuration puts a low limit on bias current adjustment.
Another power amplifier is described in US Patent Application Number 20040056711A1, titled 'Efficient Power Control of a Power Amplifier by Periphery Switching', assigned to TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. This power amplifier divides the output amplifying stage into two sections, with each section having its own separate bias circuit. Both output sections are enabled during high-power operation, whereas only one output section is enabled for low-power operation. Less bias current is required during the low-power mode; therefore efficiency at this mode is improved. The first amplifying stage and the second amplifying stage are always in a cascade configuration in high- and low-power operations. Further, the bias current is reduced only at the output stage and there is no bias current reduction in the first amplifying stage.
Yet another power amplifier is described in US Patent Application Number 20030016082A1, titled 'High Frequency Power Amplifier Circuit Device', assigned to Matsunaga, Yoshikuni et al. This power amplifier provides bias current control at each amplifying stage. Since all the amplifying stages are in a cascade configuration, it is not possible to disable the bias of any individual stage. As a result, the reduction in bias current is limited.
Another bias control circuit is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,321, titled 'Bias Control Circuit for Power Amplifier', assigned to Information and Communications University Educational Foundation Republic of Korea. This bias circuit provides a two-level bias current control for a power amplifier, i.e., a high bias current for the high-power mode and a low bias current for the low-power mode.
In light of the above-mentioned facts, it is desirable to have power amplifiers with multiple bias current levels for different output power levels. Further, in order to enhance overall efficiency, it is desirable to have an optimized low bias current for power amplifiers operating at very low power levels such as 0 dBm or less.

Multi-mode digital bias control for enhancing power amplifier efficiency


A biased door member is provided in an external wall of a drill rod supply magazine mounted on a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine. The door member swings inwardly from a first position parallel to the external wall to a second position within the distal column. At least one cut-out is formed in the external wall at the bottom of the retaining guides located at the longitudinal ends of the magazine. The cut-out creates a window through which the added drill rod is inserted. In operation, a drill rod is moved through the biased door member and window cut-outs into the distal column. The pocket of a rod transfer mechanism is positioned below the last column, and a rod lifter lowers the added drill rod into the pocket. The rod transfer mechanism then moves the added drill rod into alignment with the drill string.

Horizontal directional drilling, commonly referred to as HDD, is a process used in applications such as installing utilities underground. Generally the first step in the HDD process includes boring a pilot hole. In this step a bore hole is created that extends underground—generally horizontally or parallel to the surface of the earth—starting at a launch point and ending at a termination point.
The bore hole is created by a boring machine that rotates and pushes a drill string through the ground. A drill bit is attached to the leading end of the drill string. The drill string is formed by connecting individual drill rods together end-to-end. The connection between the rods is made up, and subsequently broken in a later step, by the boring machine. A typical boring machine includes a gearbox that connects to the drill string, a drill rod storage magazine, and a rod loading mechanism. The rod loading mechanism moves the individual drill rods from the storage magazine into alignment with the drill string and the gearbox where the individual drill rod is connected to and made a part of the drill string.
Rod loading mechanisms typically include a rod transfer mechanism that moves the rod from the storage magazine and positions it with one end in alignment with the drill string and the other end in alignment with the gearbox. The drill rods are typically long, and are stored with their longitudinal axes parallel to one another. There are generally several separated, parallel columns in the storage magazine for storing the drill rods, with each subsequent column further from the drill string. Accordingly, the rod loading magazine is generally heavy and bulky.
The drill rod storage magazine may be interchangeable with other magazines. In this type of arrangement, once all of the drill rods stored in a first magazine are used, the empty first magazine can be replaced with a full second magazine. In this manner, a longer drill string may be formed. However, because of the weight of the magazine, special equipment such as a back-hoe, front end loader or other hydraulic equipment capable of lifting the magazine must generally be employed to remove the empty first magazine and replace it with a full second magazine (e.g., the second magazine has an additional supply of drill pipe located therein).
A drawback exists, however, with these systems since there are occasions when only one (or a relatively few) additional drill rods are required for the drill string. Also, there may be instances when the necessary power equipment is not available to lift and replace the magazine. Still further, there may be instances when specific drill pipe is desired to be inserted into the drill string. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for selectively loading drill rod into a magazine. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and addresses these needs in the art.

Apparatus and method of loading a rod box for a horizontal directional drill


A novel memory module with a multiple-rank configuration is provided to solve the problem that high-speed operation is impossible due to the fact that timing of a data strobe signal input to a memory is deviated from timing of a clock signal input thereto. In the memory module, a load capacity is provided at the vicinity of a clock signal input pin of a phase-locked loop circuit where the clock signal is input to match a time constant of a data strobe signal line with a time constant of a clock signal line. The matching of the input timings of the clock signal and the data strobe signal input to the memory enables the memory module to operate at a high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory module, and in particular to a memory module optimal for use in a multiple-rank memory system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory systems are employed various types of electronic equipment such as personal computers (hereafter, referred to as "PCs"), digital cameras, and printers, and their memory capacity has been increased more and more. One of these memory systems is for example a memory system used in a PC and having a plurality of dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). Each of the DIMMs has terminals on the opposite surfaces of a module board, and is provided with semiconductor memories, a phase-locked loop circuit (PLL) for phase adjustment, a register for supplying a control signal, and so on. The semiconductor memories used here are large-capacity dynamic random access memories (DRAM).
The memory system is optimized for relevant electronic equipment by properly determining a memory capacity, a number of data bits, and a number of ranks, and is provided with a single or a plurality of memory modules. The term "a rank" means a group of memories that can be read and written simultaneously.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a three-slot memory system. The memory system includes a motherboard that is provided thereon with a memory controller 1, and a plurality of wirings including data or data strobe (DQ/DQS) signal lines 2 and clock (CLK) signal lines 3. Because data, data strobe and clock signals are differential or complementary signals, the signal lines 2 and 3 are depicted as signal line pairs.
The memory system of FIG. 1 further includes a connector 4 and a DIMM 5 in each slot. The DIMM 5 has a plurality of DRAMs 6, a PLL 7, and a register 8 mounted on the memory module board. The DIMM 5 is also referred to as the "registered DIMM".
In the memory system shown in FIG. 1, each of the CLK signal lines 3 is connected to one of the DIMMs 5. On the other hand, each of the DQ/DQS signal lines 2 is connected to all of the DIMMs 5 by being branched therefrom. FIG. 2 is a topology diagram illustrating the CLK signal lines 3 in this memory system. FIGS. 3 and 4 are topology diagrams illustrating the DQ/DQS signal lines 2 when one-rank and two-rank DIMMs are used in the memory system, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, the CLK signal lines 3 are connected such that a CLK signal is supplied to the PLL 7 of each DIMM 5 from the memory controller 1 via the corresponding pair of CLK signal lines 3 and the corresponding connector 4 on the motherboard.
The DQ/DQS signal lines 2 are branched from the motherboard wirings and connected to the DRAMs 6 of the entire DIMMs 5 via the respective connectors 4. In the case of the one-rank DIMMs shown FIG. 3, a DQ/DQS signal is supplied to one DRAM of each DIMM 5. In the case of two-rank DIMMs shown in FIG. 4, a DQ/DQS signal is supplied to two DRAMs (RANK0 and RANK1) of each DIMM. The terms "CLK signal lines 3" and "DQ/DQS signal lines 2" are used herein to generally refer to the wirings including internal wirings of the DIMMs 5.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the CLK signal lines 3 in the registered DIMM 5, and FIG. 6 shows an example of the DQS signal lines 2 in the registered DIMM 5. As shown in FIG. 5, a CLK signal output from the memory controller 1 is input to the PLL 7 through CLK terminals 11 of the DIMM 5. The CLK signal is buffered by the PLL 7, and input to the register 8 and to the DRAMs 6 mounted on the front and rear surfaces of the DIMM 5. The CLK signal lines 3 connecting between the PLL 7 and the respective DRAMs 6 in the DIMM 5 are equal in length. Feedback wirings having an equal length to the CLK signal lines 3 connecting between the PLL 7 and the DRAMs 6 are provided to check the delay time in the CLK signal lines 3 of the DIMM 5.
On the other hand, a DQS signal output from the memory controller 1 is input to at least one of the DRAMs 6 via corresponding DQS terminals 12 and corresponding stub resistances 13. The CLK signal input to the DRAMs 6 via the PLL 7 is processed by the PLL 7 to enter the DRAMs 6 at the same timing as the timing when the CLK signal enters the PLL 7. Accordingly, it can be considered that the timing of the CLK signal entering the PLL 7 is the same as the timing of the CLK signal entering the DRAMs 6.
When data is written in the DRAM 6, the DRAM 6 latches the written data transmitted by the data signal DQ in response to the data strobe signal DQS. The CLK signal and the DQS signal are complementary signals (CLK and CLKB, DQS and DQSB), respectively, and their timings are decided based on the respective cross points. Deviation of the cross points that occurs between the CLK signal and the DQS signal when the DRAM 6 latches data during writing is referred to as tDQSS. The tDQSS can be reworded as "[the difference in flight time (propagation time) from the memory controller to the DRAM between the CLK signal and the DQS signal]+[the deviation of timing when the CLK signal and the DQS signal are output from the controller]".
The tDQSS is desirably small. This is because a large tDQSS will disable the normal transfer of data from the DQS signal to the CLK signal within the DRAM. According to the standard JEDEC DDR2 specification, therefore, the tDQSS is limited to ±0.25×tCK (tCK denotes one cycle time of the CLK signal), and the tDQSS is ±750 ps in DDR2-667. The specification means that the tDQSS becomes smaller as the operating frequency becomes higher. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the tDQSS in order to increase the operation speed.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing for explaining relationship among the numbers of DIMMs and ranks forming the memory system and the numbers of CLK and DQS signal loads. Table 1 below shows the numbers of CLK and DQS signal loads. As seen from FIG. 7 and Table 1, in the case (A) of one one-rank DIMM, the number of CLK signal loads is one, and the number of DQ/DQS signal loads is one. In the case (B) of one two-rank DIMM, the number of CLK signal loads is one, and the number of DQ/DQS signal loads is two. In the case (C) of two two-rank DIMMs, the number of CLK signal loads is one, and the number of DQ/DQS signal loads is four. In the case (D) of one four-rank DIMM, the number of CLK signal loads is one, and the number of DQ/DQS signal loads is four. In the case (E) of two four-rank DIMMs, the number of CLK signal loads is one, and the number of DQ/DQS signal loads is eight.
TABLE 1Number of loads when loadof one one-rank DIMM isCasedefined as 1CLKDQS(A)1 one-rank DIMM11(B)1 two-rank DIMM12(C)2 two-rank DIMMs14(D)1 four-rank DIMM14(E)2 four-rank DIMMs18
FIG. 8 is schematic block diagrams showing the memory systems and signal waveform diagrams thereof. The load of the CLK signal is not changed from the number of loads F/O=1 even if the number of the DIMMs inserted into the slots or the number of ranks of DIMMs is increased. In contrast, the load of the DQS signal is increased as F/O=1, 2, 4 onwards along with the increase of the number of DIMMs or the number of ranks of the DIMMs. Accordingly, the DQS signal is delayed by tDQSS1 relative to the CLK signal when the number of loads is one, delayed by tDQSS2 when the number of loads is two, and by tDQSS3 when the number of loads is four.
In general, the same motherboard is used even after various configuration factors of the memory system (e.g., the number of DIMMs and the number of ranks) have been changed. Therefore, the slew rate (gradient) of the DQS waveform becomes low (the waveform deteriorates) as the number of DIMMs and/or the number of ranks is increased, and the timing at the cross point is delayed. However, since the load of the CLK signal is not changed, the waveform of the CLK signal is not changed and the timing at the cross point is not delayed. As a result, the tDQSS is increased along with the increase of the number of DIMMs and/or the number of ranks, eventually exceeding the tDQSS specification that becomes more severe along with the increase of the operation speed. This may result in breakage of the memory system.
The following three patent publications disclose prior arts relating to a memory system having a memory module. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-70800 (Patent Publication 1) discloses a technique in which timing of clocks CLK input to a PLL, a register, and DRAMs is adjusted such that a margin of command and address setup time before the CLK is equal to that of command and address hold time after the CLK. Japanese Patent KOHYO Publication NO. 2004-531981 (published Japanese patent translation of PCT application) (Patent Publication 2) discloses a technique in which a clock CLK is delayed by phase data derived from a data strobe signal DQS. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No, 2005-78547 (Patent Publication 3) discloses a technique in which delay of a DQS signal relative to an internal clock signal is determined to synchronize data DQ to an internal clock.
Additionally, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-138480 (Patent Publication 4) discloses a test system which is design to eliminate effect of wiring impedance in an LSI tester and a performance board by inputting a data signal at a clock to a first-stage register from a clock selection circuit. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-191019 (Patent Publication 5) discloses a clock driver circuit which detects waveform deterioration in an output and changes its drive capacity.
These Patent Publications describe various techniques relating to synchronization to the clock and techniques to correct the output waveform. However, these clock synchronization techniques involve detecting a phase difference, and thus require a circuit for this purpose. None of these Patent Publications describe a technique relating to synchronization to a device to which a clock signal is input, or a technique suggesting solutions of the present invention.
According to the conventional techniques as described above, the tDQSS is increased along with the increase of the number DIMMs and/or the number of ranks, eventually exceeding the tDQSS specification that becomes more severe along with the increase of the operation speed, and resulting in breakage of the memory system.

Memory module with load capacitance added to clock signal input


A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, comprises a multi-part tubular mast having devices for fixing a solar panel and a radar antenna; an elongate radar antenna in an environment-protective casing, which, with an electronics unit, forms a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area; a central processing unit for identifying on the basis of information from the radar system an aircraft which is in a zone of the radar coverage area and which on the basis of radar information such as direction, distance and/or speed computes a collision danger area; and a high-intensity light system and radio transmitter system that can be activated by the central processing unit upon detection of an aircraft in a collision danger area. The radio transmitter system may be a VHF or UHF radio transmitter system for providing a radio signal modulated by an audible warning signal, preferably a voice warning signal, whilst the light system preferably comprises a stroboscope light system. The field unit is arranged for communication with other similar field units for remote activation of light or audio warnings in a neighbouring field unit.

Accidents in which planes or helicopters fly into power lines happen once or twice a year in Norway, and almost weekly in the USA. These accidents often result in the loss of human life and substantial material damage. The accidents are a clear indication that today's marking of power lines and other aerial obstacles is not good enough. Marking of aerial obstacles using a system for avoidance of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, hereinafter called OCAS, can reduce the number of accidents of this type considerably.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,032 discloses a short-range radio system, wherein the system provides both audio and visual warnings to the pilot of an aircraft of an upcoming power line. The system comprises a small narrow-band transmitter which utilises power from the power line, wherein the narrow-band transmitter may be installed on top of a power line tower or within already existing warning balls on the power line. The narrow-band transmitter provides a continuous warning signal to aircraft that approach the deployed narrowband transmitter, and a receiver installed on board the aircraft capable of receiving the warning signal from the narrow-band transmitter will, upon receipt of the warning signal, trigger both an audio and a visual alarm to alert the pilot of the aircraft to the potential hazard. Thus, the system requires that a part thereof, in this case a systemadapted receiver, should be located in the aircraft, and will only be effective in warning aircraft that have a part of the system installed therein. Therefore, aircraft that do not have a receiver of this kind installed will not be able to take advantage of the possible warning that the narrow-band transmitter could give. Furthermore, the system does not include any means for determining the distance between the aircraft and the obstacle, and it will thus be a matter of chance whether the receiver in the aircraft picks up the warning signal at a short or a long distance, which may result in a warning that is too late or in an unnecessary warning to aircraft which are at a great distance, but nevertheless within the maximum range that is determined by the propagation potential of the radio waves, the presence or absence of noise sources and the sensitivity of the receiver in question.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solution that can give a warning to an operator of an aircraft in order to prevent collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, which overcomes the drawbacks of the previously known solutions.

System for avoidance of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle


A method of surgical repair using a surgical retractor device is provided for opening a shallow surgical hernia site, wherein opposite frame members are provided, each of the opposite pairs having either shallow pointed tip hooks or opposite rounded corner blades. A first plurality of pointed tip hooks is movable in an axial direction toward or away from an opposing, stationary set of pointed tip hooks to facilitate axial movement of said first plurality of pointed tip hooks toward and away from said opposing stationary plurality of pointed tip hooks, by means of the movement of said first, movable plurality of pointed tip hooks on a main bar about parallel strut bars. The positioning of the retractor element renders the connection of the retractor irrotational within the surgical site.

The present invention relates to a method of using a retractor device for the surgical repair of shallow body sites, such as inguinal, femoral, and incisional hernias., requiring a special stable retractor which is firmly, but removably fastened to the shallow surrounding tissues of the shallow incision.
Other shallow surgeries for which the present invention is applicable include neck surgeries, wherein shallow tissues such as the platysma muscles and sternocleidomastoid muscles must be held apart. The present invention may also be used in vascular surgeries, such as femoral bypass surgeries, laminectomies, wherein shallow erector-spinae muscles must be retracted, abdominal wall surgeries, thyroid surgeries and skin melanoma excisions.
The retractor includes an adjustable four sided frame with opposing pairs of frame members, each pair having different but cooperative holding elements. One pair of holding elements is for holding open the opposing skin corners of the incision from encroachments by fatty tissues, and the other pair of holding elements is for spreading open the incision and maintaining the fitting of the retractor in place at the incisional site without slippage or shifting. The former includes a pair of holding elements with two extension members with rounded corner blades for wrapping around and gently holding the skin corners apart.
The latter includes another pair of further holding elements, each further holding element including a plurality of pointed tip hooks for anchoring the retractor in place at the incisional site.
Each of the holding elements may be alternately attached to extension members which each have a slot axially extending for a portion of the length of the extension member to vary the distance of the respective holding elements from each other. The movement of one of the holding elements and extension members toward or away from another of the respective other holding elements and extension members thereto is accomplished by the axial movement of a wing nut within the axial slot, within the extension member of each holding element.
To insure stability of the present invention at a shallow surgical site, there is provided a four sided frame with two pairs of opposing generally linear frame elements, including a pair of generally linear parallel main bars, each main bar having two ends, and the pair of generally linear main bars connected at each end to respective ends of a pair of opposing generally linear strut bars holding the rounded corner blade holding elements. The generally linear main bars each have extending generally perpendicular therefrom the aforementioned plurality of pointed tip hooks f or anchoring the retractor in place at the incisional site.
Because hernia surgery requires shallow incisions, it is important that the retractor be held in place without slippage or shifting during the surgery. Unlike deep incision conventional retractors, which have deep scoops for reaching down within the body to anchor the retractor in place around organs, tissue and fascia deep within the body, the hernia surgery incision is quite shallow, with very little tissue for anchoring the retractor in place. Therefore, the present retractor includes the aforementioned opposing pairs of pointed tip hooks which extend generally downward vertically, perpendicular to the plane of the ma]or axis of the main bars of the retractor for a short distance, to limit the vertical distance of the frame from the anchored incisional site, so that the center of gravity of the retractor frame is close to the tissue walls against which the pointed tip hooks contact. These pointed tip hooks curve inward toward the incised walls, so that the hooks can contact and engage the shallow hernia incisional tissues and anchor the retractor in place at the surgical incision without slippage or shifting.
Shallow hernia surgeries are discussed in general in scholarly scientific texts, such as Welsh,"Inguinal hernia repair: a contemporary approach to a common procedure," MODERN MEDICINE, Apr. 1, 1974, pp. 49-54, New York Times Media Company, Inc.; Blakemore, "Should ice repair for inguinal hernia," SURGERY, Aug. 1969, Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 450-459; Wantz, "The Canadian Repair of Inguinal Hernia," HERNIA, Third Edition, Chapter 12, ed. Nyhus, J. B. Lippincott Company, pp 236-248; and Skandalakis et al, "The Surgical Anatomy of the Inguinal Area - Part I, CONTEMPORARY SURGERY, Vol. 38, Jan. 1991, pp. 20-37.
The unpatented prior art includes the Applicant's use of a Vietlander retractor tool, which surgical tool traditionally includes two handles movable about a common hinge, such that manual exertion of force in the scissors-type handles causes opposite teeth-like end portions to hold opposite sites of an incision open during surgery. However, the repeated use of a Vietlander retractor demonstrated that other retractors and assistants were necessary simultaneously, such as a Richardson retractor or a hernia hook, which retractors may be subject to slippage from a desired position at the surgical site.
Subsequent use of a Vietlander retractor in combination with a rounded bladder blade failed to make the incisional site any more stable to any significant decree.
Moreover, the repeated use of a three sided U-shaped Balfour type frame, failed to stabilize the incisional site either. In the Balfour U-shaped frame, there is provided a pair of opposing, parallel frame elements, connected at one end by a third, perpendicular frame member. The two opposing frame members of the Balfour three sided frame each have extending perpendicularly downward further U-shaped retracting elements with rounded edges. These further U-shaped elements may stabilize deep, non-shallow surgical sites, such as abdominal surgeries, because the further U-shaped elements can anchor the prior art retractor in place by pressing against deep organs and tissues.
However, the use of such a Balfour type frame, with a rounded bladder blade extending from the third, perpendicular frame element, failed to significantly stabilize this prior art retractor in place, resulting in loosening of the retractor from shallow surgical sites without other -manual restricting measures.
Prior surgical retractor patents do not achieve the stability of the present invention, which prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No. 1,400,616 of McCrory and Person, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,118 of Mahorner, which both describe the use of teeth-like retractors on frames. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,168,093 of Gauthier, 3,965,890 also of Gauthier, and 4,344,420 of Forder are examples of patents that disclose the use of rounded elements mounted on frames. Other U.S. Pat. Nos., such as Strauss, Pat. No. 1,747,799, Crossley, Pat. No. 1,375,445, Thompson, Pat. No. 3,221,743 and Jensen, Pat. No. 3,572,326, relate to adjustable frames and retractor elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,374 of Alvarez-Jacinto discloses a hernia retractor in an elliptical frame for shallow hernia surgeries. However, the Alvarez-jacinto device uses spring-loaded "clothes pin" types of holders to pinch and grip incised tissues, utilizing complicated mechanisms which may possibly cause ischemia and interfere with blood-flow within the squeezed portions of the incised tissues. In addition, since each pincer tool of Alvarez-Jacinto must be individually applied, the retractor may slip during installation.
While the Mahorner device has teeth-like retractors, and the Gauthier devices show scoop-like retractor blades, none of these prior art patents describe in symmetrical combination opposing pairs of shallow holding elements with different but cooperating-features to open and stabilize a shallow incisional site. None of the prior art patents other than Alvarez-Jacinto teach in combination a retractor applicable for shallow hernia surgery of approximately 3/4" to several inches deep, requiring both a shallow support and stable tissue separation.
For example, while the McCrory and Person retractor utilizes finger hooks, the finger hooks extend from a non-adjustable elliptical frame having a pair of opposing convex ends, adjacent to a pair of concave sides to f it the contour of the abdomen. The drawback to the McCrory and Person device in shallow surgeries is that the "window" of the open surgical site cannot be quickly closed, as is necessary in shallow surgeries where overlaying tissues and musculatures are incrementally sutured in stages. Moreover, while the Mahorner thyroidectomy retractor includes two opposing sets of prongs, the prongs are located upon the apex of two generally upside down U-shaped bars, to drape over and fit the convex configuration of the neck being incised. The Mahorner device does not have rounded blades to assist in anchoring the device, by retracting fatty tissues at the corners of a shallow surgical site, such as a hernia surgery site.
Other retractor instruments are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,412,532 of Anthony, 3,776,240 of Woodson, 3,749,088 of Kohlmann, 4,257,406 of Schenk, 4,337,763 of Petrassevich, 4,784,150 of Voorhies, 4,887,756 of Puchy, 4,610,243 of Ray, and 4,834,067 of Block.
Many of the aforementioned patents are for retractors for deeper surgery, where the holding elements can grab onto deeper tissues and elements, or have complicated holding mechanisms for shallow surgeries, such as eye surgery.
The bladder type scoop-like retractor blades of Gauthier hold skin flaps apart, but do not anchor in place in the same manner as the present invention. The present invention uses rounded bladder type scoop-like blades to hold back movable corner fatty tissues, which must be held back from retreating back towards the surgical site. If so, intruding fatty tissues can obstruct the vision of the surgeon.
Moreover, the prior patents do not describe a retractor which in combination both holds back fatty tissue while stabilizing the retractor within a shallow surgical site, to keep the retractor from slipping and therefore loosening or springing out of its site during surgery.
In addition, the use of the bladder type scoop blades in the present invention isolates the site from migrating fatty tissues, which are much more mobile than deeper internal organs in deeper non-hernia type surgeries, while the retractor is held in place by opposing pluralities of pointed tip hooks engaging the incised tissues.
Furthermore, the prior art patents do not describe a retractor which facilitates the unique suturing of a hernia surgery, which is generally done by repeated suturing of overlapping layers of tissue like flaps of a double-breasted suit, wherein the skin and tissue flaps keep getting smaller until the surgical site is closed.
For example, in shallow hernia surgeries, it is necessary to constantly and incrementally open and close the opening of the visual "window" of the retractor frame in width with adjustment type fasteners until the outer stitching is complete. A typical example of this type of surgery or technique is noted in the medical references as a "should ice Canadian hernia surgery." With the present invention, post incisional stitching is accomplished by incremental reduction in size of the open "window" of the frame, wherein the parallel main bars with the pointed tip hooks may be moved closer together by slidably moving one of the main bars with the pointed tip hooks along the axis of the parallel strut bars toward the other main bar. The gradual closing of the wound is accomplished by the aforementioned techniques, which require a tension-free wound to prevent surgical sutures from ripping or breaking from the wound site.
Optionally the pointed tip hooks may be permanently affixed to the main bars of the present invention, or the pointed tip hooks may be formed integrally with extension members having slots extending axially therein, to permit the adjustable placement of the pointed tip hooks with respect to each other when inserted within the body being incised.


Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention operate to intercept a call directed to a common dialog function and to redirect that call to another more desirable proxy function. An action module providing an internal function that makes a call to the external function is loaded into memory. The action module's import address table is accessed. The external function is identified within the import address table, and an address associated with the external function is replaced with an address to be used to access the proxy function. In one embodiment, the proxy function is designed to utilize settings acquired programmatically and is able to replace a common dialog function, thus, eliminating the need for user interaction to perform a particular task.

In today's computing environments, applications rely on operating systems to function. Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which applications can run. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from a keyboard and mouse, sending output to a display screen, keeping track of files and directories on a hard disk drive, and controlling peripheral devices such as printers. Modern operating systems take a modular approach to supporting various applications. For example, a given operating system may make available a number of functions—those functions residing in a series of programming modules. However, a given application may only need a few of those functions. Consequently, programming for all of the functions provided by the operating system need not be loaded into a computer's memory—only the programming for those functions used by the application.
When an application is executed and loaded into a computer's memory, the operating system identifies and also loads into memory each of the operating system's modules that supply functions needed by the application. Such a module might include a common dialog function for presenting an interface enabling a user to select options for tasks such as opening a file, printing, and page setup. For these purposes, Microsoft Windows® supplies the functions GetOpenFileName, PrintDlg, and PageSetupDlg. All applications compatible with the operating system can call on one or all of these functions. Beneficially, the user need only become familiar with a single interface for completing a particular task regardless of the application being used.
An operating system's common dialog functions require user interaction. For example, a user desiring to print a document using a word processor selects a print icon causing the word processor to call the operating systems common dialog function for printing. The printing common dialog function presents an interface enabling the user to select a printer and other production options such as the number of copies and the page range or ranges to be printed. With the selections made the user closes the interface and the print dialog function returns production data representing the user selections to the word processor. The word processor then directs the selected printer to produce the document accordingly.
Often, however, it is desirable for other programming to provide the necessary interaction needed to utilize a given common dialog function. For example, a user may desire that programming operating on a server print a document. Where the server is geographically separated from the user, the user is not able to provide the interaction needed to direct the programming on the server to print the document. The user must instead rely on other programming operating on the server to supply the needed interaction. Unfortunately, programming designed to mimic human interaction is often cumbersome and unreliable.
This problem reveals a need for a method for intercepting a call to common dialog function and redirecting the call to a module that gathers settings from a programmatic interface and that can return selections normally provided by a user. The same techniques used to achieve this goal can be used for a variety of other purposes such as providing a user with a more specialized interface than those provided by an operating system's common dialog functions.

Intercepting calls to common dialog functions

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Method for configuring, commanding and/or controlling a command and/or control interface (IN) of devices of a home automation installation, comprising the following steps: (E1) collecting a set of status queries (E) relating to at least one possible status of at least one home automation device (3), (E2) constituting a selection of at least one status query (SeIE) of the set of status queries (E), (E3) configuring an interface element (IN) on the basis of the selection of the at least one status query (SeIE), in such a way as to trigger transmission of a collection request (RC) comprising the selection, and obtaining, for each status query (E) of the selection, of at least one corresponding status indication (IDC) relating to at least one current status.

It is known to use home automation equipments, for example, actuators arranged to displace or modify the setting of an element of the building, such as a shutter or a lighting device or still an alarm system.
An actuator may also comprise a sensor.
It is known to use a central entity of the home automation installation intended for home automation equipments or for sensors. This central entity is thus configured to gather information coming from the home automation equipments, for example their positions, if they are operating, in stand-by mode, etc., and from the sensors.
The central entity is also provided with values of physical quantities coming from the sensors. This set of information coming from the home automation equipments and from the sensors defines the overall situation of the building and of the home automation installation.
The central entity is also arranged to exchange data with a remote server. This server also allows relaying the data toward other central entities capable of communicating therewith.
Managing the set of information coming from the home automation equipments and from the sensors seems therefore to be a crucial element for detecting an abnormal operation or an unexpected situation, such as a window left open or a lighting device left turned on.
Nonetheless, verifying the status of each home automation equipment and each sensor turns out to be tedious and difficult to establish in a regular or targeted manner. Under these conditions, it seems difficult to rapidly obtain particular information on the home automation installation or on the building considered as useful by a user.

Method for configuring and method for controlling an interface of home automation equipments


A wheeled carry-on case has a rigid base and a guide extending perpendicular to said base in which a retractable handle is slidably received, the base having wheels positioned along the major dimension of the base at one edge thereof, and having wheels positioned at spaced positions along at least one of the minor dimensions of the base, thus permitting the case to be wheeled over a ground surface in a first direction perpendicular to a front and rear of the case, and also, in a second direction extending parallel to the front and rear wall of the case. A single retractable handle is operably positioned to guide the movement in either of the first or second directions.

Wheeled articles of luggage such as carry-on cases are well known in the art. Those cases incorporate a retractable handle, that when extended can be employed for guiding the case or towing of the case, the case being provided with ground-engaging wheels to permit it to be traversed over a ground surface.
Such cases incorporate a retractable handle positioned adjacent that face of the carry-on case that is provided with the ground-engaging wheels.
However, once the passenger has boarded an aircraft and is towing the carry-on case, the passenger must then re-orient the case 90.degree. to permit the case to be carried up the passenger aisle of the aircraft prior to its storage in a storage compartment of the aircraft.


A method of regulating operation of a hybrid transmission in a vehicle includes determining a desired transmission state using a first module, generating transmission control signals based on the desired transmission state using a second module and receiving at least one transmission parameter signal at the second module. An actual transmission state is determined based on the at least one transmission parameter signal at the second module. Whether a fault is present within the hybrid transmission control system is determined based on the desired transmission state and the actual transmission state at the first control module.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Traditionally, vehicles include multiple systems that regulate overall operation of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle includes a power plant (e.g., an internal combustion engine and/or an electric machine) that generates drive torque, an energy storage device (e.g., battery pack) that provides electrical energy, a transmission that distributes the drive torque to drive wheels and various other systems.
Each of the systems includes an associated control modules or modules that communicate with one another to regulate operation of the vehicle. For example, operation of a hybrid transmission (i.e., a transmission including at least one electric machine for providing drive torque and regenerative braking) is regulated using a hybrid control module and a transmission control module. It is important that each of the control modules is properly functioning to ensure proper operation of the hybrid transmission.
Control module failures (e.g., a software failure, RAM and/or ROM corruption, and/or an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) failure) can be protected against by having a secondary path of calculation for a security-critical variable using a seed and key, or a duplicate path in a separate control module can be implemented. These security methods have to be specifically designed for the particular feature which is identified as a security-critical feature. Furthermore, these security methods increase the complexity, and thus the cost of the individual control modules.

Commanded clutch diagnostic for hybrid vehicles


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of memory cell transistors which are connected in series to one another with a first gate spacing, every two adjacent transistors of the memory cell transistors sharing a source/drain diffusion layer, and a first select gate transistor which shares a source/drain diffusion layer with an endmost memory cell transistor that is located at one end of the series connection of the memory cell transistors and is adjacent to that memory cell transistor with a second gate spacing. The second gate spacing is set larger than the first gate spacing and the source/drain diffusion layer shared by the endmost memory cell transistor and the first select gate transistor contains a region which is higher in impurity concentration than the source/drain diffusion layer shared by two adjacent memory cell transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and more particularly to a flash memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nonvolatile semiconductor memories (for example, flash memories) have been incorporated into various electronic devices because they allow high packing densities.
Therefore, the demand has increased for further scaling down the dimensions of devices used in and increasing the operational reliability of the flash memories (see, for example, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2005/0083744).
In general, the flash memories are structured such that adjacent transistors share their source/drain regions. That is, the drain of a select gate transistor which is adjacent to the source of a memory cell transistor serves as the source of that cell transistor.
In such a structure, gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) occurs at the drain of the select gate transistor adjacent to the memory cell transistor at the non-writing time ("1" programming time) of the cell transistor when the select gate transistor is placed in the off state.
After that, a write voltage is applied to a control gate electrode (word line). This write voltage is also applied to memory cell transistors ("1" programming cells) which do not need to be written to because the control gate electrode is common to memory cell transistors which are adjacent to one another in the row direction (x direction).
Even if the memory cell transistor connected to the drain of the select gate transistor is a "1" programming cell, therefore, there is the possibility that hot electrons resulting from the GIDL are drawn by the write voltage without extinction and then injected into the floating gate electrode. As a result, erroneous writing to the memory cell transistor occurs.
Such erroneous writing due to hot electrons has become remarkable as the dimensions of memory cells have been scaled down and hence the gate spacing has become reduced. In flash memories in which one memory cell has two or more thresholds as with multi-level flash memories, this problem will result in failure to perform precise threshold voltage control, lowering the reliability.


The present invention refers to a plug connection for a mobile terminal. In order to provide an improved plug system which overcomes the problems of known solutions, according to the present invention, a plug connection is provided for electrically connecting a power supply unit which is to be supplied with mains voltage and is arranged within a mobile terminal via a power line carrying mains voltage or via a coupling piece, which can be coupled to a conventional power line to the mains voltage. The preferably flexible power line can be coupled to the power supply unit via a plug system comprising a plug connector and a receptacle, said plug system being dimensioned in a way, that it is smaller than plug systems according to IEC 320, and that it is complying with the valid standards in respect to the contact and handling safety.

The present invention refers to a plug connection for a mobile terminal.
Today, mobile terminals are supplied mostly by external power supplies. Here, normally wall power supplies or table top units are used. Both types of devices generate a safety extra low voltage which is connected to the terminal via an output line and a connector system. Moreover, the table top unit comprises a mostly detachable AC power line for the supply with the main voltage. Further, from the international patent application WO99/43074 A1 a device for converting a voltage is known, wherein the unit for power supply of a terminal is integrated into the (output) plug of the device. Thus, the voltage drop at the output line and the efficiency factor are improved significantly.


A system for providing temporary therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy, to a patient suffering a decompensation event. The system can include a device having an external module for generating electrical stimuli, a first lead coupled to the module and implanted into an atrial region of a patient's heart, and a second lead coupled to the module and implanted into a ventricular region of the patient's heart. The device can also include a storage module coupled to the external module to store data associated with physiological data measured by the device. The external module is configured to temporarily generate electrical stimuli that are delivered by at least one of the first and second leads to provide therapy cardiac resynchronization therapy to the heart. A network can be coupled to the device to allow data stored in the device to be downloaded through the network to a central repository.

The heart is a muscular organ comprising multiple chambers that operate in concert to circulate blood throughout the body's circulatory system. As shown in FIG. 1, the heart 100 includes a right-side portion or pump 102 and a left-side portion or pump 104. The right-side portion 102 includes a right atrium 106 and a right ventricle 108. Similarly, the left-side portion 104 includes a left atrium 110 and a left ventricle 112 separated by an interventricular septum 105. Oxygen-depleted blood returning to the heart 100 from the body collects in the right atrium 106. When the right atrium 106 fills, the oxygen-depleted blood passes into the right ventricle 108 where it can be pumped to the lungs (not shown) via the pulmonary arteries 117.
Within the lungs, waste products such as carbon dioxide are removed from the blood and expelled from the body and oxygen is transferred to the blood. Oxygen-rich blood returning to the heart 100 from the lungs via the pulmonary veins (not shown) collects in the left atrium 110. The circuit between the right-side portion 102, the lungs, and the left atrium 110 is generally referred to as the pulmonary circulation. After the left atrium 110 fills, the oxygen-rich blood passes into the left ventricle 112 where it can be pumped throughout the entire body. In so doing, the heart 100 is able to supply oxygen to the body and facilitate the removal of waste products from the body.
To circulate blood throughout the body's circulatory system as described above, a beating heart performs a cardiac cycle that includes a systolic phase and a diastolic phase. During the systolic phase, or systole, the ventricular muscle cells of the right and left ventricles 108 and 112 contract to pump blood through the pulmonary circulation and throughout the body, respectively. Conversely, during the diastolic phase, or diastole, the ventricular muscle cells of the right and left ventricles 108 and 112 relax, during which the right and left atriums 106 and 110 contract to force blood into the right and left ventricles 108 and 112, respectively. Typically, the cardiac cycle occurs at a frequency between 60 and 100 cycles per minute and can vary depending on physical exertion and/or emotional stimuli, such as pain or anger.
Normally, the muscular walls of each chamber of the heart 100 contract synchronously in a precise sequence to efficiently circulate the blood as described above. In particular, both the right and left atriums 106 and 110 contract and relax synchronously. Shortly after the atrial contractions, both the right and left ventricles 108 and 112 contract and relax synchronously.
The synchronous contraction of the heart can be disrupted in an individual who suffers from congestive heart failure. For example, a patient suffering from congestive heart failure or other similar heart conditions can periodically decompensate to a point at which the individual's heart cannot pump sufficient blood to sustain even mild physical activity. In such a situation, the individual is typically hospitalized and treated with a regimen of drugs to increase hemodynamic performance and reduce cardiac demand. This drug regimen is typically applied for several days to several weeks until hemodynamic performance is improved sufficiently.
Decreased cardiac efficiency can also be treated chronically through implantation of a cardiac rhythm management system including a cardiac resynchronization therapy device. A cardiac resynchronization therapy device can apply cardiac resynchronization therapy, which is a process involving the application of an electrical stimulus to the left ventricle or both the left and right ventricles after pacing has been detected in the atria. This electrical stimulus forces septum 105 and free wall 134 of heart 100 to contract at approximately the same time, thereby resynchronizing left ventricular contraction and improving hemodynamic performance. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,480,742 and 6,622,040, both of which describe cardiac resynchronization devices and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
There is a need for additional systems and methods that can improve an individual's hemodynamic performance after a decompensation event.

Apparatus and method for temporary treatment of acute heart failure decompensation


The present invention relates to fusion proteins suitable as test antigens in the detection of infections with pathogens, particularly of primary infections with pathogens. Further, the invention relates to methods for detecting and differentially determining antibodies, particularly IgM antibodies resulting from an infection with a pathogenic organism. Furthermore, test reagents for carrying out these methods are provided.

Apart from the PCR technology, immunological tests still play a major role in infection serology. By the specific determination of different-immunoglobulin classes, immunology makes it possible to analyze the stage of a disease. By determining IgM and IgG titers against certain viral antigens it becomes possible to distinguish between different infection stages, e.g., acute infections, recurrent infections, chronic/persistent infections or post-infectious disease stages. For instance, IgG molecules against the viral glycoproteins are only generated at a late stage of an infection, with cytomegalovirus (Schoppel et al. JID (1997) 175, 533-544; Eggers et al., J. Med. Virol. (2001) 63, 135-142).
A crucial aspect of a reliable specific detection of IgG and IgM in the presence of the respective other immunoglobulin class is the effective epitope concentration or effective epitope density of the detection antigen. A high effective epitope concentration means that there is a high epitope density and all epitopes are accessible for antibody binding. In contrast to this, also polypeptide aggregates have a high epitope concentration, but the effective epitope concentration is low because the epitopes are partially or completely buried or hidden and thus not accessible for antibody binding. High epitope concentrations are a precondition for specific IgM recognition whereas low epitope concentrations are a precondition for the specific recognition of IgG. In a classic sandwich IgM test, which shall detect IgM molecules against the antigen A, a multimeric antigen A is used as an immobilized capture antigen. The same multimeric antigen A carrying a reporter group is used as a detection antigen. The IgM analyte binds to the capture antigen and the detection antigen whereby the reporter group is immobilized on a solid phase (e.g., beads coated with streptavidin). In order to avoid interferences of IgG molecules directed against A, an unlabelled monomeric antigen A is added as an interference elimination agent to the test (WO 98/23955, U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,129 B1). Correspondingly, a specific IgG sandwich test (WO 98/23961, U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,732 B1) may comprise a monomeric antigen for the detection of IgG and an unlabelled multimeric antigen to avoid interferences with IgM.
The principle which allows a specific detection of IgM and IgG molecules is based on their respective molecular structures. The pentameric IgM has ten identical paratopes for antigen binding whereas the monomeric IgG has only two binding sites per molecule. The detection of IgG is based on the affinity to the analyte whereas the detection of IgM is based on the avidity. In the first case, the binding is achieved by a high affinity interaction between epitope and paratope (i.e., IgG antigen binding site); in the latter case it is achieved by a cooperative enhancement of several low affinity interactions (avidity means that the single dissociation constants are not added but multiplied, i.e., a relatively weak interaction with a kD of ˜10-5 M is increased by two independent binding events to yield a high affinity interaction with a kD of ˜10-10 M). Thus, it can be said as a rule of thumb that monomeric antigens are used for the detection of IgG and oligomeric/multimeric antigens are used for the detection of IgM.
Antigen oligomerization or multimerization may be achieved by chemical crosslinking of monomeric antigens by homo- or heterobifunctional crosslinkers. Generally, the oligo- or multimerization may be optimized by adjusting the reaction conditions (concentration of protein and crosslinker, pH, temperature, agitation rate, reaction time), which is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Nevertheless, different degrees of crosslinking may be obtained in different batches, which require subsequent fractionation and/or calibration procedures. Further, higher degree of crosslinking normally leads to a reduction of solubility, which may lead to problems in the test performance. It is thus desired to find an improved method to provide multimeric antigens in a defined and reproducible manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,420 describes a fusion sequence comprising a carrier protein comprising an E. coli protein having a predicted solubility probability of at least 90% fused to a target heterologous peptide or protein. Preferably, the heterologous peptide or protein is normally insoluble when expressed in bacteria.
WO 03/000878 describes a fusion protein comprising at least one target polypeptide and upstream thereto at least one FKBP chaperone, which is selected from the group consisting, of FkpA, SlyD and trigger factor. The target polypeptide may be a mammalian gene product or a gene product of a mammalian pathogen.

Detection of primary infections with pathogens


Variations of this invention provide durable, impact-resistant structural coatings that have both dewetting and anti-icing properties. The coatings in some embodiments possess a self-similar structure that combines a low-cost matrix with two feature sizes that are tuned to affect the wetting of water and freezing of water on the surface. Dewetting and anti-icing performance is simultaneously achieved in a structural coating comprising multiple layers, wherein each layer includes (a) a continuous matrix; (b) discrete templates dispersed that promote surface roughness to inhibit wetting of water; and (c) nanoparticles that inhibit heterogeneous nucleation of water. These structural coatings utilize low-cost, lightweight, and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly sprayed over large areas using convenient coating processes. The presence of multiple layers means that if the surface is damaged during use, freshly exposed surface will expose a coating identical to that which was removed, for extended lifetime.

Ice-repellent coatings can have significant impact on improving safety in many infrastructure, transportation, and cooling systems. Among numerous problems caused by icing, many are due to striking of supercooled water droplets onto a solid surface. Such icing caused by supercooled water, also known as freezing rain, atmospheric icing, or impact ice, is notorious for glazing roadways, breaking tree limbs and power lines, and stalling airfoil of aircrafts.
When supercooled water impacts surfaces, icing may occur through a heterogeneous nucleation process at the contact between water and the particles exposed on the surfaces. Icing of supercooled water on surfaces is a complex phenomenon, and it may also depend on ice adhesion, hydrodynamic conditions, the structure of the water film on the surface, and the surface energy of the surface (how well the water wets it). The mechanism of heterogeneous ice nucleation on inorganic substrates is not well understood.
Melting-point-depression fluids are well-known as a single-use approach that must be applied either just before or after icing occurs. These fluids (e.g., ethylene or propylene glycol) naturally dissipate under typical conditions of intended use (e.g. aircraft wings, roads, and windshields). These fluids do not provide extended (e.g., longer than about one hour) deicing or anti-icing. Similarly, sprayed Teflon® or fluorocarbon particles affect wetting but are removed by wiping the surface. These materials are not durable.
Chemical character of a surface is one determining factor in the hydrophobicity or contact angle that the surfaces demonstrate when exposed to water. For a smooth untextured surface the maximum theoretical contact angle or degree of hydrophobicity possible is about 120°. Surfaces such a polytetrafluoroethylene or polydimethylsiloxane are examples of common materials that approach such contact angels.
Recent efforts for developing anti-icing or ice-phobic surfaces have been mostly devoted to utilize lotus leaf-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces. These surfaces fail in high humidity conditions, however, due to water condensation and frost formation, and even lead to increased ice adhesion due to a large surface area.
Superhydrophobicity, characterized by the high contact angle and small hysteresis of water droplets, on surfaces has been attributed to a layer of air pockets formed between water and a rough substrate. Many investigators have thus produced high contact angle surfaces through combinations of hydrophobic surface features combined with roughness or surface texture. One common method is to apply lithographic techniques to form regular features on a surface. This typically involves the creation of a series of pillars or posts that force the droplet to interact with a large area fraction of air-water interface. However, surface features such as these are not easily scalable due to the lithographic techniques used to fabricate them. Also, such surface features are susceptible to impact or abrasion during normal use. They are also single layers, which contributes to the susceptibility to abrasion.
Other investigators have produced coatings capable of freezing-point depression of water. This typically involves the use of small particles which are known to reduce freezing point. Single-layer nanoparticle coatings have been employed, but the coatings are not abrasion-resistant. Many of these coatings can actually be removed by simply wiping the surface, or through other impacts. Others have introduced melting depressants (salts or glycols) that leech out of surfaces. Once the leeching is done, the coatings do not work as anti-icing surfaces.
Nanoparticle-polymer composite coatings can provide melting-point depression and enable anti-icing, but they do not generally resist wetting of water on the surface. When water is not repelled from the surface, ice layers can still form that are difficult to remove. Even when there is some surface roughness initially, following abrasion the nanoparticles will no longer be present and the coatings will not function effectively as anti-icing surfaces.
Single layers of protrusions from coatings can show good anti-wetting behavior, but such coatings are not durable due to their inorganic structure. It was also shown recently that these structures do not control icing of surfaces Varanasi et al., "Frost formation and ice adhesion on superhydrophobic surfaces" App. Phys. Lett. 97, 234102 (2010).
There is a need in the art for scalable, durable, impact-resistant structural coatings that have both dewetting and anti-icing properties. Such coatings preferably utilize low-cost, lightweight, and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly (minutes or hours, not days) sprayed or cast in thin layers over large areas using convenient coating processes. These structural coatings should be able to survive environments associated with aircraft and automotive applications over extended periods, for example.

Structural coatings with dewetting and anti-icing properties, and coating precursors for fabricating same


An optical article for playback in a player includes a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article; wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks are in a pre-determined combination of a first state and a second state; and at least one first control logic comprising at least one sector; wherein each optically detectable mark is associated with a particular first control logic; wherein each first control logic is executed only when its associated optically detectable mark is in a pre-determined state; and wherein a customized player-readable code is determined using a combination of the plurality of optically detectable marks and their associated first control logic. A method of making the optical article, a method of customizing the optical article, a method and a system for the playback of the optical article are also included.

The invention relates generally to an optical article for playback in a player. More particularly the invention relates to providing an optical article with a customized player-readable code printed on the optical article that allows for customization and/or enhancing the security of the optical article and the data contained in the optical article.
A variety of methods have been tried in the art to provide optical media with unique identification codes. One such method includes a bar code known as a burst cutting area (BCA) which may be individually written to each replicated optical media. The bar code may be created by a very powerful laser that burns and darkens the reflective metal layer in the center of the bonded optical media, e.g., a DVD, yielding marks with decreased reflectivity. Because there is no player specification, the player would not need a support for reading the bar code. There is, however, a requirement for DVD-ROM drives to support the Mount Fuji specification, which includes a provision to read bar code information within the "read disc info" command. With the exception of the DIVX format, DVD Video players do not read BCA. Further, there are only a few DVD manufacturers equipped to write the bar codes on replicated discs. For these reasons, the universal application of BCA to give a disc a "unique ID" or to implement the BCA for enhanced security as described in this disclosure may not be very practical. In addition, there is no way to link logical decisions or authoring on the disc to the code contained in the BCA. Thus the content on the disc that is displayed during playback may not be customized through use of the BCA.
In certain cases, regional codes installed in the players themselves are checked during disc playback. The original idea behind this was to restrict playback of discs in certain regions of the world. In theory, a disc could be programmed to customize the content based on the regional code detected in the player during playback. In practice this is difficult because the regional codes are very coarse grained (5 regions worldwide), player compatibility to regional code readout is less than optimal, and there is no general control over movement of DVD players throughout regions. In addition, regional codes may often be altered in the players. In practice, regional codes are seldom used to customize content.
Also, there have been other efforts to serialize optical media for copy protection and/or digital rights management. A notable application of this technology is used by Microsoft for the "Product Activation" process for protecting computer software. In this method a laser may be used to burn additional data (Unique IDs) into the data spiral of optical discs. Certain other methods include incorporation of pits and lands on a disc that may be modified to create errors and the subsequent location of these errors can be translated into a unique serial number. Also CD-ROM encryption systems have been described where the information on a CD-ROM is encrypted by a key. The key may be programmed into the CD-ROM after manufacture by damaging selected sectors to be unreadable by conventional read systems. The selected sectors may be physically damaged by a high power laser. Another method includes a novel optical disc made by molding a dye-doped polycarbonate resin and marking marks of specific size and location into the polycarbonate substrate of the disc using a laser. Also, software detection methods for reading the unique identification codes from the disc have been disclosed for computer drives. These serialization techniques require some type of external software or firmware and are not practical on DVDs because the players would need to be modified.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved solution to the long-standing problem. The method described herein fills this need by employing a printing and authoring method that will permit the introduction of customized player-readable identification codes on the optical articles that can be read by using available readers without the need for specialized software or modified drive firmware wherein the authoring may be linked to the code.


Embodiments of various systems and methods described herein provide an identity security database analytics system which is configured to provide security alerts to a user. The security alerts can include for personalized metrics related to potential identity theft incidents. The personalized metrics can include user specific information on security breaches of the user's personal information as well as depersonalized statistics generated based on information of other users having one or more similar characteristics of the user.

Identity theft is one of the largest and expanding forms of crime in the world. Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of information, such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, email addresses, and so forth, and uses it for his or her improper personal gain. The imposters can obtain new accounts; re-direct the mail and telephone calls from existing accounts; sign up for unwanted and often expensive services; order subscriptions; order and take delivery of products; and otherwise "become" the individual whose identity has been stolen, minus the conscience and fiscal responsibility.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Identity security architecture systems and methods


A process for the treatment of anxiety and tension, which comprises administering to a patient in need therefor an anxiolytically effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl residue, or halogen; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently of each other a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-4 hydroxyalkyl, or heteroalkyl residue, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a C.sub.2-6 alkylene residue in which one --CH.sub.2 -- group can be replaced by oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; n is 0 or 1, and m is 0 or a cardinal number from 1-5, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

Anxiety and tension of differing cause and intensity cannot be satisfactorily treated even today in all cases. Since approximately 1960, benzodiazepine derivatives have been employed as a matter of priority for the treatment of anxiety and tension. Substances having such a profile in general have a calming and emotion-damping action. These medicaments are a great help in the short term, but even in therapeutic doses side effects such as sedation, drowsiness and decreased responsiveness occur.
There can be a negative effect on mental processes due to sedation. Partly, ataxia and coordination disorders are to be observed, which affect the functional capacity. On continuous use, these benzodiazopine compounds lead to habituation effects, so-called tolerance. The efficacy of the preparation becomes lower and the dose has to be increased. A psychological dependence, moreover even a physiological dependence, can develop. Complicated withdrawal phenomena therefore occur in withdrawal trials.
The most important representatives of the anxiolytics on the market are the active compounds diazepam, clonazepam and medazepam. Plasma concentrations of 300 to 400 ng/ml are necessary to achieve an anxiolytic action of diazepam. The side effects mentioned, such as sedation and psychomotor disorders, which are manifested in daytime sedation, drowsiness and restricted attentiveness and responsiveness however, also occur, at the same concentrations. Severe "hangover" effects can occur, which are likewise associated with drowsiness, impairment of intellectual and motor capacities, and prolonged reaction time. The anxiolytic action of clonazepam is masked by sedating or hypnotic action. High doses of medazepam are also associated with hypnotic, muscle-relaxing phenomena.
All three anxiolytics potentiate the action of numerous centrally active pharmaceuticals and of alcohol. In this case, after administration of the individual substance seffects can occur which are barely noticeable.
Until now, there has been no success in achieving a satisfactory therapeutic standard in the case of relatively long-lasting anxiety states. A therapy-outlasting action of anxiolytic medicaments is presently also not adequately guaranteed.

For a process for treatment of anxiety and tension