A method and apparatus is provided for distinguishing blood pressure sounds from noise in an automatic blood pressure monitoring system using the information contained in two microphone signals. Two microphones are placed on a patient along an axis of an artery to pick up blood pressure sounds. Pressure is applied to the artery such that the artery opens and closes during each heart cycle, the opening snap of the artery producing a blood pressure sound. The two microphone signals are sampled, filtered, and multiplied together to produce a microphone signal product. The microphone signal product is wave width filtered to remove therefrom portions of the signal having a wave width which is less than a selected minimum wave width value. A blood pressure sound is indicated as being detected when an amplitude of this wave width filtered microphone signal product exceeds a noise signal threshold level. The microphone signal product is also wave width filtered to remove therefrom portions of the signal having a wave width which is greater than a selected maximum wave width value. The amplitude of the resulting noise amplitude signal is used to adjust dynamically the noise signal threshold level in response to changing noise conditions. The detection of blood pressure sounds at a range of applied pressure levels is used to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels of the patient.

A common method for measuring the blood pressure of a patient employs an inflatable cuff (sometimes referred to as a Riva-Rocci cuff) wrapped around the upper arm of the patient whose blood pressure is to be determined. As the cuff is inflated, the cuff pressure, and the pressure applied to the arm of the patient, increases. As the pressure applied to the arm is increased beyond the highest blood pressure level in a brachial artery located in the arm beneath the cuff, the artery is forced closed.
The blood pressure in the brachial artery is not constant, but varies with time in relation to the beating of the heart. Following a contraction of the heart to pump blood through the circulatory system, the blood pressure first increases to a maximum level, then reduces to a minimum level. The maximum blood pressure level between heart beats is known as the systolic blood pressure level. The minimum blood pressure level between heartbeats is known as the diastolic blood pressure level.
As the pressure in the inflatable cuff is reduced from a high level above the systolic blood pressure level, where the brachial artery is forced permanently closed, to a pressure level below the systolic blood pressure level, the brachial artery beneath the cuff will begin to open and close with each heart beat as the blood pressure level first exceeds the cuff pressure, and then falls below the cuff pressure. The arterial wall acts in a non-linear fashion with respect to the blood pressure level. Thus, as the blood pressure exceeds the cuff pressure, the artery will literally "snap" open, producing a low frequency blood pressure sound. This blood pressure sound may be detected using a microphone placed under the cuff against the patient's arm. The turbulent flow of blood through the artery following the opening snap also produces sounds, known as Korotkoff sounds, that may be detected using a stethoscope or microphone placed near the down-stream end of the cuff on the patient's arm. The highest cuff pressure at which Korotkoff sounds or blood pressure sounds are detectible thus corresponds to the systolic blood pressure level of the patient.
As the cuff pressure is gradually reduced further, the cuff pressure will be brought below the diastolic blood pressure level through a gradual pressure change. At this pressure level, the brachial artery beneath the cuff remains open throughout the heartbeat cycle. Blood pressure sounds, caused by the opening of the artery, and Korotkoff sounds, will, therefore, not be produced. The lowest cuff pressure at which blood pressure sounds or Korotkoff sounds can be detected thus corresponds to the diastolic blood pressure level of the patient. The determination of blood pressure levels in this manner, based on the detection of the onset and disappearance of Korotkoff sounds or blood pressure sounds as varying pressures are applied to an artery, is known as an auscultatory method of blood pressure determination.
In manual auscultatory blood pressure measurement methods, a stethoscope is used to detect the onset and disappearance of Korotkoff sounds. Thus, manual blood pressure measurements are highly dependent on the skill and hearing ability of the person taking the measurement. To overcome this dependence on human skill and judgment, and to automate the process of determining a patient's blood pressure, automatic blood pressure monitoring systems based on the auscultatory method of blood pressure determination have been developed. These automatic systems employ one or more microphones placed in or under an automatically inflatable and deflatable cuff to detect blood pressure sounds. However, movement of the patient, such as during exercise, vibration during transport, and other activity around the patient, will cause noise to be picked up by the blood pressure monitor microphones along with the blood pressure sounds. The automatic blood pressure monitoring system must, therefore, be able to separate the noise from the blood pressure sounds in order to accurately determine the patient's blood pressure levels. This has been achieved, for example, by filtering the microphone signal using a band pass filter whose pass band corresponds to a known frequency range of blood pressure sounds. This eliminates much of the noise from the microphone signal.
Some automatic blood pressure monitoring systems employ two microphones for detecting blood pressure sounds. For example, two microphones may be placed under the inflatable cuff separated by a distance such that a low frequency blood pressure sound will reach the first microphone approximately 180.degree., but at least more than 90.degree., out of phase from the second microphone. Noise signals will tend to reach each microphone essentially simultaneously, and in phase. Therefore, subtracting the two microphone signals from each other will tend to enhance the useful data and diminish unwanted noise. The two microphone signals can be added and subtracted from each other to create signal and noise detection thresholds. Microphone signals are considered to be valid blood pressure sound detections if they meet the detection thresholds.
Another method that makes use of two microphones relies on using a first microphone placed on the arm of the patient upstream from a second microphone to provide a time gate for the second microphone. Once again, this method relies on the fact that blood pressure sounds will propagate down the arm of the patient from the first microphone to the second microphone, whereas a noise signal will likely be picked up by both microphones simultaneously. When a sound signal exceeding a certain threshold is picked up by the first microphone, a time gate is opened which causes the downstream microphone to "listen" during a time interval a few milliseconds later, corresponding to the estimated propagation time of a blood pressure sound between the two microphones. If a sound signal is picked up by the second microphone during the gate period, the signal may be considered a valid blood pressure sound detection. A similar gating scheme may be used for blood pressure monitors employing a single microphone. Since the time delay between the contraction of the heart and the appearance of a blood pressure sound at a microphone placed on the arm of a patient can be estimated, the signal from a ECG heart monitor may be used to generate a delayed gate for the blood pressure monitor microphone. A sound signal picked up by the microphone during the gate period may be considered a valid blood pressure sound detection.
An effective automatic blood pressure monitoring system and method is described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,286, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Detecting Blood Pressure by Blood Pressure Sounds in the Presence of Significant Noise", filed Jun. 17, 1996, by the inventors of the present invention. This method for accurately detecting the blood pressure sounds produced by the opening snap of a patient's artery in the presence of significant noise levels uses the phase information contained in two microphone signals. Two microphones are placed on a patient along the axis of an artery, with their centers separated by a distance such that blood pressure sounds picked up by each of the microphones will be approximately 180.degree., but at least more than 90.degree., out of phase with each other. Noise picked up by the microphones will typically be in phase. The two microphone signals are filtered using band pass filters having pass bands corresponding to the frequency range of the blood pressure sounds. This removes some of the noise from the microphone signals. The filtered microphone signals are then sampled and multiplied together, or convolved in the frequency domain, to generate a microphone signal product. If the microphone signal product is negative, indicating that the microphone signals are out of phase at the sample time, the detection of a valid blood pressure signal for that sampling time is indicated. A selected number of consecutive valid blood pressure signal detections indicates the detection of a blood pressure sound. The detection of blood pressure sounds at a range of cuff pressures is used to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels of the patient. This blood pressure monitoring method enables accurate blood pressure measurements to be made during the extremes of noise interference encountered during patient movement, shivering, or exercise, or caused by ambient vibrations encountered in highly noisy environments. However, even this highly effective method for monitoring blood pressure may be improved. Since this method relies on the phase information, rather than the amplitude information, contained in the two microphone signals, a false blood pressure sound detection may be indicated in certain situations. For example, if two independent noise signals are separated in time by an amount corresponding to the expected phase difference of the blood pressure sounds, the product of the two microphone signals will be negative, and the detection of a blood pressure sound may be erroneously indicated. This may occur even if the amplitude of the noise signals is relatively low.

Blood pressure monitoring with improved noise rejection


Provided is image forming system wherein an image forming apparatus (IFA) being able to print a document even when a battery exhaustion attacks on a mobile communication terminal (MCT). A battery residual electric charge detection part of the MCT is configured to detect a residual electric charge of the battery. A print operation process part of the MCT is configured to transmit, prior to transmitting print setting data, a document priority transmission signal and the document data to the IFA, in a case where, based on the detected residual electric charge of the battery and a data size of the document data, the residual electric charge of the battery is recognized insufficient. A remote control operation receiving part of the IFA is configured to, when receives the document priority transmission request, receive the document data prior to receiving an unreceived data based on another transmission request.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming system that includes a mobile communication terminal and an image forming apparatus that is operable from the mobile communication terminal, and an image forming method.
Recently, a technology is known in which an image forming apparatus is operable using a terminal device, such as, for example, a smart phone or a tablet terminal. A user can transmits, from the mobile communication terminal to the image forming apparatus, a printing data set including, for example, print settings, such as image quality and image size, and a document data including, for example, text data and image data, thereby making it possible for him/her to enjoy increased convenience by causing the image forming apparatus to print a document pursuant to the print settings.
On the other hand, due to that fact that the mobile communication terminal is of a battery powered configuration, it is requested to avoid, for example, an abrupt and extreme lowering convenience caused by a battery exhaust attack on the mobile communication terminal. To avoid this, some techniques have been proposed which include, for example, switching the communication control mode between the mobile communication terminal and the main machine from a bidirectional control mode to a single directional control mode, and a notification that the battery of the mobile communication terminal is exhausted or reduced to near the operating voltage of the mobile communication terminal.
Some electronic devices having such a self-diagnosis function have functions that include, for example, an on-screen display of a service call (a request for the supervisor to recover the copy function) and an internal record keeping of the log (history) of the self-diagnosis.
However, even the known arts have drawbacks that include, for example, a battery exhaustion attack on the mobile communication terminal before the transmission of the printing data set completes may result in that a longer time is necessary for starting printing a document and/or a cumbersome operation is requested. For restarting an operation at the mobile communication terminal side, the battery has to be recharged such that the residual electric charge of the battery becomes a minimum specific amount for transmitting the printing data set, and therefore a longer time is required. In addition, executing the reoperation after coming to near the image forming apparatus requires both a reentry of the printing settings and a preparation of the document data to reload into the image forming apparatus, which necessitates cumbersome operations.

Image forming system and image forming method which allow image forming apparatus to print documents even when battery exhaustion attacks on mobile communication terminal


Pseudomorphic and dislocation free heteroepitaxial structures are formed in which pseudomorphic and heteroepitaxial layers of any desired thickness are grown on thin, free-standing substrates. In the case of pseudomorphic structures, the substrates are chosen to have a thickness less than the critical thickness above which misfit dislocations will form between the pseudomorphic layers and the substrate. Use of thin substrates in this manner prevents the overall strain energy between the two layers from ever becoming large enough to generate misfit dislocations, regardless of the pseudomorphic layer thickness. This concept can also be employed in the formation of defect free heteroepitaxial layers. If a heteroepitaxial layer is grown on a very thin substrate, an effect known as dislocation gettering will cause any dislocations between the two layers to propagate into the substrate, thus leaving the heteroepitaxial layer defect free. Multiple layer superlattice structures can also be formed which either have a very large lattice mismatch between the top and bottom layers, or strain compensation between the layers and the bottom substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally toward pseudomorphic and dislocation free heteroepitaxial structures, and methods of forming the same. In particular, the subject invention relates to such structures in which pseudomorphic and heteroepitaxial layers are grown on thin, free-standing substrates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the semiconductor industries, many devices, such as lasers and transistors, of very high performance and of peculiar characteristics are made of a class of materials called heteroepitaxial or pseudomorphic structures. A heteroepitaxial structure is one in which a semiconductor is epitaxially grown on a substrate of different lattice constant. If the heteroepitaxial layer is thinner than a certain dimension, the so called "critical thickness," the elastic energy in the system is not large enough to create misfit dislocations, and a pseudomorphic structure is produced. Such dislocations, if produced, would detrimentally effect device performance.
Since the introduction of pseudomorphic epitaxy, this structure has been widely applied to high performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. Because of the extra degree of freedom offered by the pseudomorphic structure, researchers can do ingenious bandgap engineering to not only improve existing device performance but also to create new devices. For all the high quality pseudomorphic structures so far reported, the pseudomorphic layer thickness is thinner than the critical thickness, thus preventing the formation of misfit dislocations. For example, in devices such as quantum well lasers, the strained active layers are made thinner than the critical thickness. However, for many other applications, such as detectors and modulators, pseudomorphic layers much thicker than the critical thickness are desirable.
Another critical problem for many semiconductor heteroepitaxial devices is the density of threading dislocations. The existence of threading dislocations is detrimental for many devices, such as lasers and photodetectors. In conventional growth conditions, once the misfit dislocations are developed, they are driven towards the layer surface by an image force, resulting in an undesirable situation.
It is clear from the foregoing that there exists a need for pseudomorphic and heteroepitaxial structures which can be grown or formed of any arbitrary thickness without the formation of misfit or threading dislocations, regardless of the critical thickness of the structure.


The present invention relates to compositions comprising the botanicals from the Family Ranunculaceae, Subclass: Dicotyledonae; Crassinucelli, Superorder: Ranunculales. Examples of these botanicals include but are not limited to; Actaea, Anemone, Ranunculus, and Nigella, or extracts thereof, which are useful in treating liver diseases, particularly those with viral etiology. More specifically, the compositions of the present invention are derived from various botanicals or medicinal plants. The compositions of the invention have demonstrated outstanding efficacy for treatment of patients with hepatic disorders. Compositions of the present invention have also exhibited immunomodulatory activities. The preferred compositions contain the botanical ingredients in concentrations of not less than 20% w/v. The treatment can be therapeutic or prophylactic and may be administered orally, parenterally, as suppository or via nasal mucosa. The treatment may be delivered in a single dose, multi-doses or via a slow release mechanism.

Modern medical science is constantly searching for new and more powerful agents to prevent, treat, or retard infections and cure the diseases they cause. The cost of treating theses infections is astronomical, and can be in the range of billions of dollars every year. Vast sums of money are spent each year by pharmaceutical companies to identify, characterize, and produce new drugs. Reliable prophylactic treatments for disease prevention are also of major interest. Yet, despite the costs and the efforts to identify treatments for viral infections such as hepatitis, effective therapies remain elusive.
Hepatitis is a disease of the human liver. It is manifested with inflammation of the liver and is usually caused by viral infections and sometimes results from exposure to toxic agents. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through blood. It can infect people for long periods of time without causing obvious symptoms, but prolonged inflammation eventually damages the liver. Healthy liver cells are replaced by scar tissue that can keep the organ from functioning properly. Hepatitis may progress from fibrosis to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and eventually death. Death from the disease could triple over the next twenty years, as old infections reach clinical stages. Twenty percent of the carriers suffer acute viral hepatitis, 60-70% chronic hepatitis, and 30% cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer (Chen, D. S. et al. (1996) Medical Assoc., 95(1):6-12).
Four millions Americans (about 1.8% of the USA population) have antibodies for HCV. Hepatitis C causes an estimated 8,000-12,000 deaths per year in the USA. The total deaths expected to be more than triple by the year 2010, which are about 38,000 per year, unless more effective treatments are found. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 170 million people, 3% of the world's population are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis, and/or liver cancer. The prevalence of HCV-infection in some countries in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific is high compared to some countries in North America and Europe. The following Table 1 shows Hepatitis C estimated prevalence and number infected by WHO Region.
TABLE 1Hepatitis C Prevalence and Number Infected by WHO RegionNumber ofcountriesby WHOTotalHepatitis CInfectedRegion whereWHOPopulationPrevalencePopulationdata areRegion(Millions)(Rate %)(Millions)not availableAfrica 6025.331.912Americas 7851.713.17Eastern 4664.621.37MediterraneanEurope 8581.038.919South-East Asia15002.1532.33Western Pacific16003.962.211Total58113.1169.757
Currently there is no effective cure or vaccine for HCV. Medications are available to slow down or stop the damage to the liver caused by HCV. The therapy for chronic hepatitis C has evolved steadily since alpha interferon was first approved for use in this disease more than 10 years ago. At the present time, the optimal regimen appears to be a 24- or 48-week course of the combination of pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin. Treatment of HCV with interferon alone results in only about a 50% success rate. However, half of those responding relapse after cessation of interferon treatment. Therefore, only about 25% of the patients have a sustained response. It also gives rise to several side effects that cannot be tolerated by about 10% of the patients. Such side effects include severe flu symptoms. Many patients will consider stopping treatment because of these very troublesome symptoms, which include lethargy, hair loss, neuropsychiatric side effects, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin reactions, hormonal and metabolic symptoms, and undesirable tastes in the mouth. Some rare side effects can cause death from acute myocardial infarctions, strokes, suicides and sepsis.
Two forms of peginterferon have been developed and studied in large clinical trials: peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys: Hoffman La Roche: Nutley, N.J.) and peginterferon alfa-2b (Pegintron: Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, N.J.). These two products are roughly equivalent in efficacy and safety, but have different dosing regimens. Peginterferon alfa-2a is given subcutaneously in a fixed dose of 180 micrograms (mcg) per week. Peginterferon alfa-2b is given subcutaneously weekly in a weight-based dose of 1.5 mcg per kilogram per week (thus in the range of 75 to 150 mcg per week).
Ribavirin is an oral antiviral agent that has activity against a broad range of viruses. By itself, ribavirin has little effect on HCV, but adding it to interferon increases the sustained response rate by two- to three fold. For these reasons, combination therapy is now recommended for hepatitis C, and interferon monotherapy is applied only when there are specific reasons not to use ribavirin. Ribavirin is given twice a day in 200-mg capsules for a total daily dose based upon body weight. The standard dose of ribavirin is 1,000 mg for patients who weigh less than 75 kilograms (165 pounds) and 1,200 mg for those who weigh more than 75 kilograms. In certain situations, an 800-mg dose (400 mg twice daily) is recommended. Interferon acts against the virus via the immune system and does not reverse any physiological abnormalities or damage caused by the infection itself, e.g. hepatic cirrhosis.
In the United States three different regimens have been approved as therapy for hepatitis C: monotherapy with alpha interferon, combination therapy with alpha interferon and ribavirin, and pegylated interferon therapy. Interferon therapy costs $480/month ($5,760/year), Rebetron Combination therapy costs $1,560/month ($18,720/year), PEG-intron therapy costs $960-$1,114/month ($11,544-$13,368/year).
Prior to the availability of liver transplantation, the management of end-stage liver disease was limited to efforts to correct and control the complications associated with cirrhosis, and to comfort measures when all avenues had been exhausted. In the last decade, however, orthotopic liver transplantation has become an accepted treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, management of the patient following transplantation has led to a wide variety of new challenges. The serious complications of end-stage liver disease and the decreased quality of life is the primary cause for the indication of liver transplantation. Clearly, patients with variceal bleeding, refractory ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, osteopenia, and malnutrition have a decreased quality of life due to the significant morbidity and potential mortality of each of these complications. In most cases, the indication for transplantation is easily recognized by the referring physician. The timing of referral for liver transplantation plays a crucial role in the management and survival of patients with end-stage liver disease. As the waiting lists and waiting times lengthen, the condition of the patient at the time of referral is of critical importance. Unfortunately, the number of patients dying on transplantation waiting lists is increasing (Todo, S. et al. (1991) Hepatology 13:619-626).
Table 2 summarizes transplantation data for the entire United States, including the number of candidates currently on the waiting list, by organ type. Included in this table are the totals for the number of transplants performed and donors recovered during the time periods specified.
TABLE 2Transplantation Data for the United StatesWaiting list candidates as of Mar. 25, 2003All80,639Kidney53,843Pancreas1,404Kidney/Pancreas2,403Liver16,957Intestine187Heart3,760Lung3,817Heart/Lung198*All candidates will be less than the sum due to candidates waiting formultiple organsTransplants performed January-December 2002Total25,765Deceased Donor19,160Living Donor6,605Donors recovered January-December 2002Total12,794Deceased Donor6,184Living Donor6,610*Based on OPTN data as of Mar. 21, 2003
Viral hepatitis has become a difficult problem for transplant centers before and after transplantation. Hepatitis B recurs in the transplanted liver in 80%-90% of patients. Hepatitis C is found in 20%-30% of patients at most transplant centers, and infection of the allograft occurs in 40%-45% of patients at one year post-transplant. These figures have led to the exclusion of hepatitis B patients from transplantation at many centers and careful consideration of patients with hepatitis C.
Post liver transplantation has led to a wide variety of new challenges; Infection of the allograft with hepatitis C leading to recurrent of disease, Cholestatic liver disease, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Biliary complications, Hyperlipidemia and Obesity, Graft-versus-Host Disease, and Chimerism (Liver Transplantation: The Hepatology Perspective by Jeffrey S. Crippin).
If the hepatitis virus could be eradicated prior to the time of transplantation, post-transplantation morbidity would likely be decreased. Unfortunately, therapeutic options are limited to interferon, an agent used with limited success in the non-transplant setting.
Immunological disorders have long been known as one of the serious health problems in the world. While the percentage of affected population and severity of the diseases are rising, current methods of treatment still primarily depend on empirical and serendipitous findings rather than from a scientific approach. At present, most patients are treated with drugs that aim at controlling symptoms resulted from the release of mediators by the effector cells. Although some drugs appear to be effective over a short-term and with few occurrence of adverse effects, long-term effects for preventing disease progression and permanent destruction are still largely unknown. For example, long-term oral therapy, such as steroid therapy, for treating asthma, is known to be associated with multiple debilitating effects such as growth delay, osteoporosis, and adrenal suppression. (Janeway, C. A. et al. (1994) Current Biology Ltd.).
Most of the marketed immunomodulators show non-reproducible and ambiguous results. Isolated or recombinant peptides and protein molecules (interferons, interleukins, antibodies, and vaccines) are very expensive and demonstrate many side effects and uncertain activities.
Immunomodulators offer a powerful tool for the control of host immunity by amplification or by suppression of the body's immune system. Stimulation of immunity is important in the host's defense against infectious diseases and cancer. Immunomodulators may activate macrophages that subsequently release mediators, including growth factors and cytokines. Immunomodulators may be used in the treatment of individuals with compromised immune system in order to enhance their immune response (Paul, W. E. (1989) Raven Press Ltd.). On the other hand, certain diseases may benefit from treatment with agents that down-regulate the immune system. For example, in patients suffering from autoimmune disorders, or in patients undergoing a transplant, it would be beneficial to treat with an agent that suppresses the immune response.
There is a great need to develop new immunomodulators which have significant immunomodulating activities, while at the same time exhibiting less toxicity, and which are readily accessible as compared to the marketed agents.

Botanical drug compositions for treatments of liver and immunological disorders


A mud flap mounting system for connection to a mud flap mounting bracket of a vehicle that allows release and reinstallation of mud flap when it is pinched between a rotating tire and an obstruction. The system includes a flexible sheet of mud flap material with a top edge defining at least two mounting boles with both mounting holes to include a bolt hole and either a slot or a first slit extending from the top edge and to its corresponding bolt hole, at least a second slit may be used in conjunction with sheet having a first slit. The second slit or plurality of second slits extend from the bolt hole, parallel to, or away from the top edge of the mud flap material. The threaded distal end of a bolt extends through the mounting hole in the sheet and extends through a bracket hole in the mounting bracket.

The utilization of mud flaps on trucks and semi-tractor/trailers and the like is required by law in most states. Mud flaps are made of a sheet of flexible material. The top edge of the mud flap has mounting holes to receive mounting bolts and nuts. The mud flap is secured to a mounting bracket which is attached to the vehicle chassis. A critical stress occurs when the mud flap is unintentionally pinched between a rotating tire and a curb or other obstruction while backing up the vehicle. This extremely high instantaneous tensile stress usually tears the mud flap off its mounting bracket, destroying the mud flap and often times destroying or at least bending the mounting bracket as well. The damage must then be repaired and the mud flap replaced. What is desired is an improved apparatus for attaching mud flaps to their mounting brackets that incorporates simple methods of releaseability and reinstallation if the mud flap is backed over. A number of mud flap mounting arrangements are disclosed in the following U.S. and foreign patents.

Mud flap mounting system and method for use thereof


A flexible circuit breaker includes at least two semiconductor switches, at least one input and at least two outputs. Each of the at least two semiconductor switches can carry a defined current, and each of the at least two semiconductor switches is monitored individually in relation to the current flowing therethrough, the first output is assigned to a first semiconductor switch, where by a selection using a selection device on the flexible circuit breaker, one can select whether the current flowing through a second semiconductor switch is assigned to the second output or the first output.

In many areas of electrical engineering, there is a need for circuit breakers, which protect one or more downstream loads/equipment against excess currents.
A wide variety of circuit breakers were developed for this purpose in the past.
For example, a single-channel circuit breaker for a load having two semiconductor switches is known from DE 20 2016 102 848 U1.
Single and multi-channel electronic equipment circuit breakers are developed and sold by the applicant, for example. One example of a multi-channel electronic equipment circuit breaker is the CBM E4 24DC/0.5-10A-type, for example.
Depending on the intended use, it is necessary here to select and install an equipment circuit breaker to match the desired nominal current.
However, it is often the case that various different equipment circuit breakers are required in larger electrical systems. The production of various equipment circuit breakers is generally expensive. In addition, it is crucial to install the correct equipment circuit breaker during assembly. In particular when a plurality of equipment circuit breakers are utilized, the risk of faulty equipment increases. For one thing, this can result in a system stoppage because the equipment circuit breaker is configured for a nominal current that is too low; for another, it may also result in the system being insufficiently protected so that the protective function is only present to a limited degree or not at all.
Multichannel equipment circuit breakers differ from the single-channel equipment circuit breakers by the fact that multiple independent similar equipment circuit breakers are combined in one device.


Systems and methods for providing data protection operations including cyber-threat protection operations. A sentiment analysis may be performed using language analysis to identify or determine a general or specific sentiment with or without intent to do harm. A score of the sentiment is then determined to assess risk. The data backup policy can be updated based on the assessed risk.

Data stored in computing systems, in addition to being subject to failure or corruption. As a result, data protection is an important aspect of computing systems. For example, a typical aspect of data protection is to generate a backup of the production data. Backup data protects the computing system when there is a problem with the primary or production data and the backup data can be used for recovery purposes.
However, data protection has many facets. In addition to failure or corruption, data is also subject to security threats. In fact, bad actors do not limit their attacks to production data. Some threats are also directed at the backup data. A ransomware attack, for example, may target both the primary data and the backup data. Consequently, there is a need to not only protect production data or primary storage, but also to reduce the risks faced by backup data or secondary storage.

Leveraging sentiment in data protection systems


The invention concerns a method of operating a communications network of a network operator (OPA), which is interconnected with one or more further communications networks of one or more further network operators (OPB to OPZ) via one or more gateways respectively, as well as such a communications network and an interworking facility (GATECEN) for such a communications network. For each gateway, a gateway switching center (GATE.sub.-- EX) exchanges information-bearing data with a switching facility (GATE) of the respective further communications network via at least one bearer channel. Furthermore the interworking functions (STP, KDE, TAR, FUNC1 to FUNC3) are performed for all connections via the one or more bearer channel(s) which support the interconnection of the communications network via the respective gateway with the respective further communications network of the respective other network operator (OPB to OPZ). The interworking functions (STP, KDE, TAR, FUNC1 to FUNC3) for all connections of two or more spatially distributed gateway switching centers (GATE.sub.-- EX) to at least one of the other communications networks (KN2 to KN3) are provided hereby in a common interworking facility (GATECEN).

A key element for the operation of a communications network is the availability of gateways to communications networks of other network operators. Presently such gateways are principally provided by operators of national telephone networks for routing calls to other national telephone networks. It can be expected that such gateways will also be found increasingly between telephone networks of private network operators as well as between telephone networks of public network operators.
The invention starts with the presently usual provision of a gateway between two national telephone networks, such as are described for example on pages 54 to 64 of the magazine "Trends in Telecommunications", 1992, Vol. 8, No. 1.
The gateways between two national telephone networks which are operated by two different network operators always comprise two switching facilities, one of which is assigned to one of the telephone networks and the other is assigned to the other telephone network. The two switching facilities are interconnected by a bearer channel and by signalling channels assigned to the bearer channel. Interworking functions for connections via the respective bearer channel to a gateway switching center of another network operator are performed in parallel to the exchange, and to establish the connection. Such interworking functions are for example a protocol conversion for different signalling methods in both telephone networks, functions for the provision of services of the other telephone network and the acquisition of communication events for the billing between network operators. These interworking functions are integral components of the respective gateway, which make it even possible to interconnect the two telephone networks through the respective gateway.
There is a problem in that the increasing number of network operators and telecommunications services made available in a telecommunications network further increase the complexity of the gateway switching facilities.

Method of operating a communications network as well as a communications network and an interworking facility

Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite


Systems and methods for enhanced quantitative analysis of hybridization intensity measurements obtained from oligonucleotide probes and other probes exposed to target samples are provided by virtue of the present invention. One embodiment ameliorates the effects of high frequency noise superimposed on a hybridization intensity measurement signal measured over successive probe alignments to a target sample sequence. Detection of expressed genes and ESTs and quantitative measurement of expression level may be improved. Mutation detection and base calling may be improved.

The present invention relates to computer systems and more particularly to systems and methods for analysis of hybridization of samples to oligonucleotide probes or other polymer probes.
Devices and computer systems for forming and using arrays of materials on a substrate are known. The VLSIPS(trademark) and GeneChip(trademark) technologies provide methods of making and using very large arrays of polymers, such as nucleic acids, on very small chips. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854 and PCT Patent Publication Nos. WO 90/15070 and 92/10092, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. Nucleic acid probes on the chip are used to detect complementary nucleic acid sequences in a sample nucleic acid of interest (the xe2x80x9ctargetxe2x80x9d nucleic acid). It is also possible to employ other types of probes or probes that are not included in arrays or chips.
Such probes are used for, e.g, base calling, detection of mutations, and analysis of gene expression. For all of these objectives, a typical technique is to expose the probes to target nucleic acid samples that have been marked with fluorescent or otherwise radioactive labels. For each probe or group of probes, a hybridization intensity is determined based on observed fluorescence or radioactivity. The hybridization intensity may also be measured in some other way.
These hybridization intensities are the basis for further analysis including base calling, mutation detection, and evaluation of expression of genes or expressed sequence tags. See European Patent Office Publication No. 0717113A and European Patent Office Publication No. 0848067, the contents of both publications being incorporated herein by reference.
Expression evaluation makes use of hybridization intensities determined from pairs of probes where each pair includes a perfect match probe and a mismatch probe. The term xe2x80x9cperfect match probexe2x80x9d refers to a probe that has a sequence that is perfectly complementary to a particular subsequence of a sequence of interest in a target nucleic acid. The term xe2x80x9cmismatch controlxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cmismatch probexe2x80x9d refer to probes whose sequence is deliberately selected not to be perfectly complementary to a particular target sequence.
For example, to determine the concentration of a particular mRNA sequence indicative of expression of a gene or EST of interest, a series of pairs of perfect match and mismatch probes may be provided. Each pair may include a perfect match probe perfectly complementary to a subsequence of interest. The mismatch probe may differ in one position from the perfect match probe. Each probe may include a series of e.g., 25 bases. The mRNA sequence may be interrogated by a series of probe pairs having successive alignments to the mRNA sequence.
After hybridization intensities are obtained, the number of instances of when the perfect match intensity is greater than the mismatch intensity is obtained, along with the average of the logarithm of the perfect match to mismatch ratios for all the probe pairs. To determine the quantitative abundance of mRNA, the average of the difference between perfect match and mismatch hybridization intensity is also computed.
Further opportunities exist, however, to improve the accuracy of assessments of expression levels. High frequency noise can result from variations in probe alignment to mRNA sequences, causing hybridization intensity to exhibit spurious peaks rather than smooth variation. This high frequency noise is especially prevalent in array designs where there are relatively small number of probes per gene and therefore less opportunity to average out the high frequency noise over results from large number of probes.
What is needed are systems and methods for reducing the deleterious affects of the high frequency noise found in the hybridization intensity measurements.
Systems and methods for enhanced quantitative analysis of hybridization intensity measurements obtained from oligonucleotide probes and other probes exposed to target samples are provided by virtue of the present invention. One embodiment ameliorates the effects of high frequency noise superimposed on a hybridization intensity signal measured over successive probe alignments to a target sample sequence. Detection of expressed genes and ESTs and quantitative measurement of expression level may be improved. Mutation detection and base calling may be improved.
A nonlinear lowpass filter may be used to remove the effects of spurious peaks in this signal. Also, a hybridization spectrum including the hybridization intensities measured over a series of probes may be compared to a reference hybridization spectrum to obtain a measure of similarity. The measure of similarity may indicate expression or non-expression of a particular gene or EST, or a point mutation.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method for analyzing a nucleic acid sequence includes: inputting a plurality of hybridization intensities of probes exposed to the sample nucleic acid sequence, and applying a non-linear filter to the plurality of hybridization intensities.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for analyzing a sample nucleic acid sequence includes: inputting a plurality of hybridization intensities of probes exposed to the sample nucleic acid sequence, the plurality of hybridization intensities forming a hybridization spectrum of the sample nucleic acid sequence, and comparing the hybridization spectrum of the sample nucleic acid sequence to a reference hybridization spectrum to obtain an indication of similarity.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the inventions herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings.

Quantitative analysis of hybridization patterns and intensities in oligonucleotide arrays


A method for tracking a moving object in a sequence of images is provided, comprising: partitioning each of said images of said sequence into blocks, identifying blocks which have moved between consecutive images of said sequence, grouping adjacent blocks, which have moved in a same direction by a same distance, into a first group of blocks, initializing an initial template for said moving object with said first group of blocks and tracking said template in said sequence of images. A corresponding system for tracking moving objects is presented as well.

In image processing template tracking is used e.g. for tracking of faces in videos, or for satellite surveillance. Also in front view cameras in automotive applications template tracking is used for tracking movements of vehicles in front of an own vehicle. The templates are usually initialized manually or by classification, which is possible, since the perspective does not change in front view applications. However, in side-view applications or blind spot monitoring for vehicles, the perspective changes and commonly used classification cannot be performed.
It is an object of the invention to provide a improved method and an improved system for initializing templates of moving objects.
The object is solved by a method, a system and a computer program product according to claims 1, 9 and 12.
Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
Further details of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

Method and system for initializing templates of moving objects


A bent heat exchanger is provided. The bent heat exchanger includes: a first header and a second header; a plurality of flat tubes, two ends of the flat tube being connected to the first header and the second header respectively; and fins, each disposed between adjacent flat tubes, extending in a corrugated shape along a length direction of the flat tube. The first header and the second header each have a slot running through a wall thereof and a protrusion arranged to an inner surface of the wall thereof. The protrusion includes an arc portion connected to the edge of the slot, and an extension portion protruding inwards from the arc portion. An arc radius of the arc portion is less than or equal to and greater than 0.6 times a thickness of a wall of the corresponding first header or second header.

A heat exchanger, for example a parallel-flow heat exchanger (such as a multi-channel heat exchanger), is broadly applied to a refrigeration system, and in some application situations, the heat exchanger needs to be bent, that is, a header of the heat exchanger needs to be bent. However, when the heat exchanger is bent along a length direction of the header, if bent improperly, a performance of the heat exchanger will be affected adversely, or application requirements cannot be met. Thus, there exists a demand for improving the bent heat exchanger.

SANHUA (HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD.


Disclosed is: (i) a method of a molding system, (ii) a method of a controller of a molding system, (iii) a method of an article of manufacture of a controller of a molding system, (iv) a method of a network-transmittable signal of a controller of a molding system, (v) a method of a molding system having a controller, (vi) an article made by usage of a method. The method includes an operation of identifying quality of the molded article that was molded in a mold based on a determination of whether a plug blew, at least in part, from a melt passageway to the mold prior to a molding material entering the mold.

Examples of known molding systems are (amongst others): (i) the HyPET™ Molding System, (ii) the Quadloc™ Molding System, (iii) the Hylectric™ Molding System, and (iv) the HyMet™ Molding System (which is a metal-molding system), all manufactured by Husky Injection Molding Systems (www.husky.ca).
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0189781 (Inventor: Shibata et al; Published: Jun. 19, 2002) discloses a method for manufacturing a mold of a metal hot-runner injection molding machine. The method includes: (i) measuring a temperature gradient of metal disposed in a nozzle between heating means of the nozzle and a tip of the nozzle, (ii) selecting an area in the nozzle based on the measurement of the temperature gradient such that the metal in the nozzle upon a mold opening has a temperature at which a solidified condition of the metal can be stably maintained, said temperature being close to a melting temperature of the metal, and (iii) determining a gate cut portion in the area.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,796 (Inventor: Kroeger et al; Published: Mar. 4, 2003) discloses an injection mold apparatus that has multiple injection zones, each zone having at least one heater and at least one temperature sensor generating a temperature indicating signal. A power source provides power to the heaters. A controller controls the temperature of at least some of the zones. For efficiency, the controller has two separate processors, a data-receiving processor for receiving temperature indicating signal from each sensor as well as power signals, and a control processor for receiving data from the data-receiving processor and for controlling the amount of power provided to the heaters. Preferably, the control is in a housing, with the housing mounted directly on the mold. Modified PID calculations are utilized. Power calculations for the amount of power to the heaters utilizes a modulo based algorithm.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2003/0206991 (Inventor: Godwin et al; Published: Nov. 6, 2003) discloses an improved mold manifold and hot runner nozzle using thin film elements include at least one active or passive thin film element disposed along a melt channel between the manifold inlet and the hot runner nozzle. Preferably, the thin film element may comprise a thin film heater in direct contact with the molten resin and position to aid in the heat and flow management of the resin within the melt channel. Thin film temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and leak detectors may also be provided in the vicinity of the melt channel to enhance process control in the injection molding machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,021 (Inventor: Shibata et al; Published: Mar. 18, 2003) discloses a mold for a metal hot-runner injection molding machine. The mold includes a movable mold plate, a fixed mold plate having a nozzle for injection molten metal into said cavity, and a heating device disposed outside the nozzle for heating metal. A gate cut portion is situated in the nozzle between the heating device and the tip. A temperature measurement device is arranged adjacent to the gate cut portion for measuring the temperature of the metal in the gate cut portion. A heating control device is connected to the heating device for controlling a temperature of the nozzle on a basis of the temperature measurement device. A heat insulation device is arranged on the nozzle to cover at least an area where the gate cut portion is formed. By controlling the temperature of the nozzle, metal injection molding without runner can be made.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,095 (Inventor: Buja; Published: Nov. 18, 2003) discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a mold flow process using inner (impinge) and/or edge temperature sensors, wherein articles processed in a constraining mold cavity, having a constant melt "shrink" quality, can be obtained even with fluctuations in resin "melt" properties (flowability). At least one temperature-dependent output or "trigger" signal is sampled, and the level of the signal (e.g., temperature) initiates at least one step in the molding cycle. Using a sampling circuit, thermal waveforms are obtained from thermal sensor array data such that if a sequence of melt temperature set-point trigger times fluctuates outside control limits, then the process melt-flow is judged as a hotter/faster melt-flow or cooler/slower melt-flow injection process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,259 (Inventor: Shibata et al; Published: Dec. 23, 2003) discloses a method for manufacturing a mold of a metal hot-runner injection molding machines. The method includes: (i) disposing at least one temperature control target point, as a reference for a temperature control by heating means for heating a nozzle, between the heating means and a tip of the nozzle, (ii) controlling said heating means such that upon a mold opening, at least a portion of metal adjacent to the heating means becomes a molten state and that a temperature of said temperature control target point is kept at a constant level which is lower than a melting point of the metal, (iii) measuring a temperature gradient between the heating means and the tip of the nozzle when the temperature of the temperature control target point is kept constant, (iv) selecting an area in the nozzle based on the measurement of the temperature gradient such that the metal in the nozzle upon a mold opening has a temperature at which a solidified condition of the metal can be stably maintained, said temperature being close to a melting temperature of the metal, and (v) determining a gate cut portion in the area.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2004/0032060 (Inventor: Yu; Published: Feb. 19, 2004) discloses a method of controlling a shut-off nozzle for hot runner systems of injection molding machines, the shut-off nozzle heaving a heating unit and a cooling unit around a gate tip thereof. The method includes the steps of: (i) heating a nozzle body to a predetermined high temperature by turning on a heater which is provided in the nozzle body, (ii) heating the gate tip having a nozzle gate, by turning on the heating unit provided around the gate tip, (iii) injecting a molten resin into a cavity of a mold through the nozzle gate, (iv) turning off the heating unit, after an injection of a predetermined amount of the molten resin into the cavity of the mold is completed, thus allowing the gate tip to start to cool, (v) operating the cooling unit provided around the gate tip, thus quickly cooling the gate tip, and (vi) opening the mold to remote a molded product from the cavity of the mold.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,199 (Inventor: Olaru; Published: Aug. 30, 2005) discloses an injection molding apparatus that includes a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of molten material under pressure and delivering the melt stream to a nozzle channel of a nozzle. A mold cavity receives the melt stream from the nozzle and the nozzle channel communicates with the mold cavity through a mold gate. A thermocouple is coupled to the mold core of the mold cavity in order to measure the temperature of the molten material in the mold cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,669 (Inventor: Suzuki et al; Published: Sep. 6, 2005) discloses a mold-clamping process in which the mold is closed and (i) the injection-pressure increase (solidifying) process, (ii) the gate-melting process for heating the hot runner to melt the plug (metallic material) of the gate, (iii) the mold-lubricant coating process for spraying the lubricant onto the wall surface of the cavity, and (iv) the material-metering process are simultaneously carried out in parallel to each other. Thus, the molding cycle time can be reduced to a great extent.

Identifying quality molded article based on determination of plug blow


The object of the invention is to execute a program installed additionally on an in-vehicle unit, realizing improved visual recognition while the vehicle is driving.

These days, in-vehicle units that connect with TV tuner and display TV screen and/or connect with mobile phone and provide hands-free phone function in addition to providing navigation function have become popular. For safety, these in-vehicle units are designed to restrict screen display such as TV that draws user's visual attention as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 06-99778. On the other hand, the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-207219 discloses an in-vehicle unit on which a program for in-vehicle use is obtained from a center by telecommunication and installed additionally.

In-vehicle unit and service center system

Abstract: A program 7 to be installed additionally is downloaded along with its attribute data 8 from the service center system 10 into the program administrating section 202 of the in-vehicle unit, and they are managed in relation to each other. When the program is executed, the vehicle condition 1 is compared with the attribute data 8 related to the program and the program operation is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: When executing a program installed additionally on an in-vehicle unit, visual recognition of the display screen can be maintained even while the vehicle is driving.


An intelligent assistant device is configured to communicate non-verbal cues. Image data indicating presence of a human is received from one or more cameras of the device. In response, one or more components of the device are actuated to non-verbally communicate the presence of the human. Data indicating context information of the human is received from one or more of the sensors. Using at least this data one or more contexts of the human are determined, and one or more components of the device are actuated to non-verbally communicate the one or more contexts of the human.

Intelligent assistant devices, such as voice command devices or "smart speakers" and their virtual assistants, may receive and process verbal queries and commands to provide intelligent assistance to users. These devices are typically activated by speaking a keyword and provide verbalized responses to requests via computerized speech that is broadcast to a user. However, these devices do not provide non-verbal communication in the absence of user commands or requests.

Intelligent assistant device communicating non-verbal cues


An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit which develops toner to form an image, a transfer unit which transfers the image onto a printing medium, and a fusing unit to fuse the image transferred onto the printing medium, wherein the transfer unit includes a belt, a plurality of rollers which rotatably supports the belt, and a belt tension applying unit which moves a first roller of the plurality of rollers between a belt tension release position at which a tension of the belt releases and a belt tension applying position at which the tension of the belt applies by the interlocking motion between the belt tension applying unit and a second roller of the plurality of rollers.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a belt driving device, a transfer unit using the same and an image forming apparatus using the transfer unit, and more particularly, to a belt driving device having a structure capable of automatically applying tension to a belt in a loosened state when the belt begins to move, a transfer unit using the belt driving device and an image forming apparatus using the transfer unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a belt driving device drives at least one of a plurality of rollers which are disposed at an inner circumference of a belt, thus driving the belt to rotate by friction generated between the belt and the at least one roller. The belt driving device is extensively used in various types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as a laser printer, a laser facsimile, a digital copying machine and other known image forming apparatuses in the art. These image forming apparatuses include various types of belts, such as a photosensitive belt, a transfer belt which transfers a toner image onto a photosensitive medium, a conveying belt which conveys a printing medium, and other known belts in the art.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a conventional belt driving device. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional belt driving device is embodied as a device which drives a transfer belt used in the image forming apparatus. The conventional belt driving device includes a plurality of rollers rotatably supporting a belt 10 which performs image transferring to and conveying of a printing medium (not shown), a frame (not shown) which supports the rollers, and an elastic member 25 which applies tension to the belt 10. The rollers include a driving roller 21 which drives the belt 10 to rotate, a tension roller 23 which is elastically biased by the elastic member 25 so that the belt 10 maintains a predetermined tension, and an auxiliary roller 27 which supports the belt 10 to prevent the belt 10 from interfering with other elements.
In this conventional belt driving device, image transferring is performed at a surface of the belt 10, in a location between the driving roller 21 and the tension roller 23. To this end, each of a plurality of transfer rollers 30 is disposed at a position where a color image is transferred to the printing medium.
According to the belt driving device having the above structure, if the predetermined tension is continuously applied to the belt 10 for a long time in a state where the belt 10 is not driven, for example, when the belt driving device is manufactured and then inserted into a product, such as image forming apparatus, which is distributed or kept in a warehouse, the following problem may occur. Parts of the belt 10 which are in contact with the rollers, such as the driving roller 21 and the tension roller 23, are kept in a state where the parts are bent to have a shape of a circular arc according to the shape of the rollers. Accordingly, concentrated deformation of the belt 10 occurs at these parts. As a result, this belt deformation has an adverse effect on printing quality when an image is transferred to the printing medium.
Therefore, to avoid this problem, the tension applied to the belt 10 should be removed during a period of non-use, specifically until a user starts to use an apparatus including the belt driving device. To this end, a conventional belt driving device has been introduced as shown in FIG. 2. This belt driving device additionally includes a release spacer 50 capable of releasing the tension applied to the belt 10 during the period of non-use.
The release spacer 50 is capable of removing the belt tension during the period of non-use of the product, for example, while the product is kept in a warehouse, until the product is used for the first time. To this end, the release spacer 50 is inserted between a bushing 24 which supports the tension roller 23 and the frame 1. In this configuration, the elastic member 25 maintains a state of being pressed by the release spacer 50, so that the elastic pressure of the elastic member 25 is not transferred to the tension roller 23. Accordingly, the release spacer 50 prevents the tension from being applied to the belt 10 during a period of non-use.
According to the above structure, when the image forming apparatus is to be used for the first time, the user should remove the release spacer 50 from the belt driving device in direction A shown in FIG. 2 by hand, so that the elastic pressure of the elastic member 25 can be transferred to the tension roller 23, thus enabling the tension to be applied to the belt 10. However, a user who does not have knowledge about products using the belt 10 and the release spacer 50, such as an image forming apparatus or other known apparatuses in the art, may forget to remove the release spacer 50. Even if an installing method is described in detail in a user manual or other set of instructions, the user may install the belt 10 or product using the belt 10 without reading the manual or instructions carefully. Accordingly, the product may be used in a state where the release spacer 50 is not removed.
In this case, since the belt 10 is driven in a state where the tension is not applied to the belt 10, the belt 10 is not driven normally, thus preventing printing and other operations from being performed normally. Also, internal components of the belt driving device may be damaged, thus causing damage to the entire product.

Belt driving device, transfer unit using the same and image forming apparatus using the transfer unit


A nutritionally complete animal food including, vitamins, and minerals to sustain the animal's health and wellness. The one or more ingredients containing cannabinoids added to the nutritionally complete animal food at the time of manufacturing. These cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of Cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), Cannabinolic acid (CBNA), Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCVA) and combinations thereof. The concentrations of each of the cannabinoids are each less than 100 parts per million (ppm) in the at least one ingredient. In an alternate embodiment, the one or more ingredients have cannabinoids include in an aggregate concentration of less than 100 parts per million (ppm).

Cannabinoids are substances capable of activating receptors in the endocannabinoid system of many animals including humans. Over a hundred different cannabinoids can be isolated from cannabis and these each exhibit varied effects. Many animals are sensitive to cannabinoids, and like many nutrients, a threshold amount to achieve bioactivity is desirable, but with many cannabinoids, high concentrations can be toxic.
Classical cannabinoids, as defined herein, are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A), although many other cannabinoids have been well documented and researched. The acid forms of theses classical cannabinoids predominate in the Cannabis sativa plant and other plants.
The seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant are rich in essential fatty acids, that are beneficial in animals including humans. These fatty acids are associated with reduction in inflammation and may address other health issues including obesity. Seeds of Cannabis sativa, namely industrial hemp, are often cold pressed to extract oils rich in essential fatty acids.
The flowers, leaves, seeds, stalks and stems of Cannabis sativa can be processed to extract oils containing various cannabinoids. The stems, leaves and seeds contain detectable amounts of certain cannabinoids. Cannabinoids and essential fatty acids, are known to have health benefits, including the reduction of inflammation.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant classical cannabinoid in hemp oil (making up over 90% of the cannabinoid content). CBD has little affinity for CB1 or CB2 receptors, which are the main points of interaction for cannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system. CBD does act as an antagonist of cannabinoid agonists and thus has an indirect effect on the endocannabinoid system. CBD may temper the "high" caused by THC. CBD includes CBD-C1: Cannabidiol-C1, CBD-C4: Cannabidiol-C4, and CBD-A: Cannabidiolic Acid.
Cannabigerol is a precursor to other cannabinoids. Most CBG is transformed into other cannabinoids like CBD or THC by the plant or through other external processes. Natural CBG levels are very low in most cannabis plants. CBG has been isolated in its acid and non-acid forms.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is an abundant classical cannabinoid found in most medical and recreational marijuana strains. THC mimics the action of anandamide, a neurotransmitter naturally produced in the human body, and binds to CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system found mostly in the brain. However, in industrial hemp THC is a minor constituent and appears only in trace amounts under 3000 ppm (0.30%) by dry weight, as required by the regulations of many countries. Hemp oil derived from industrial hemp is non-psychoactive—due to its low THC content. THC has numerous forms and iso-forms including acid and non-acid forms. Examples include: THC-A-A: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid A, THC-A-C 1: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiorcolic Acid, THC-A-C4: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid C4, THC-A-B: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid B, THC-C 1: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiorcol, THC-C4: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol C4, iso-THC: iso-Tetrahydrocannabinol.
Cannabinol results from the degradation of THC. There is little Cannabidiol in the fresh plant, but decarboxylation often raises the amount of CBN in the plant. CBN is only mildly psychoactive and has a higher affinity for the CB2 receptor than the CB1 receptor, linking CBN to the body's immune system. In hemp oil, CBN is present in levels of 2000 ppm (0.2%) or lower. Other forms can include: CBN-C1: Cannabiorcol, CBN-C2: Cannabinol-C2, CBN-C4: Cannabinol-C4, CBND: Cannabinodiol.
Along with the primary cannabinoids and their variants, there are a number of minor cannabinoids whose benefits have not yet been thoroughly studied. Even in low quantities, these cannabinoids may interact with the endocannabinoid system and some of these minor cannabinoids include: CBC: Cannabichromene, CBL: Cannabicyclol, CBT: Cannabitriol, CBE: Cannabielsoin, CBR: Cannabiripsol, DCBF: Dehydrocannabifuran, CBF: Cannabifuran, CBCN: Cannabichromanon, and CBT: Cannabicitran. These minor cannabinoids, may be associated with the "Entourage Effect".
Like THC-A and CBD-A, there are other non-decarboxylated forms of cannabinoids present in cannabis. Once exposed to heat, light, or alkaline conditions, these cannabinoids lose a carboxyl group. The following acidic cannabinoids are typically found in Cannabis: CBCA: Cannabichromenic Acid,
CBL-A: Cannabicyclolic Acid, CBEA-A: Cannabielsoic Acid A, CBEA-B: Cannabielsoic Acid B, CBNA: Cannabinolic Acid.
The "varin" type cannabinoids have the suffix -varin in their names. These differ in length from common cannabinoids, replacing the typical 5 carbon chain with a 3 carbon chain. These include: CBV: Cannabivarin, THCV: Tetrahydrocannabivarin, CBDV: Cannabidivarin, CBCV: Cannabichomevarin, CBGV: Cannabigerovarin, CBLV: Cannabicyclovarin, CBVD: Cannabinodivarin, CBTV: Cannabitriolvarin.
The following acidic forms of varin type cannabinoids are non-decarboxylated: CBGV-A: Cannabigerovarinic Acid, THCVA: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid, CBDVA: Cannabidivarinic Acid, CBCVA: Cannabichromevarinic Acid.
Various ether form cannabinoids have been discovered. These include: CBG-AM: Cannabigerolic Acid Monomethyl Ether, CBGM: Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether, CBDM: Cannabidiol Monomethyl Ether, CBNM: Cannabinol Methyl Ether, CBTVE: Ethoxy-cannabitriolvarin. While trace quantities of these ether form cannabinoids found in hemp oil, some believe that these ether form cannabinoids are partially responsible for the entourage effect and may influence bio-activity of the other cannabinoids.
The endocannabinoid system includes receptors that bind cannabinoids. CB1 and CB2 are well-documented receptors for cannabinoids. The CB1 receptors are present in the brain. The CB2 receptors are not fully mapped but are believed to be concentrated in the immune and hematopoietic systems. Cannabinoids can cause biological effects by binding to these and to additional receptors.
The endocannabinoid system also includes enzymes that make or degrade endocannabinoids from arachidonate-based lipids. Agonistic activity by endocannabinoids on the CB1 and CB2 receptors yields many well-documented health benefits.
Phytocannabinoids are plant-derived cannabinoids that modulate the endocannabinoid system. Although phytocannabinoids are found in many plants, the highest, known concentrations are found in Cannabis sativa. Common names for the well-known varieties in the cannabis family are hemp and marijuana. The most abundant acidic classical phytocannabinoids typically found in freshly harvested Cannabis sativa are Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A) and Cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A), although others also exist.
The term phytocannabinoids should be broadly understood to refer to any plant derived compound that affects the cannabinoid regulatory system and found in Cannabis sativa or other plants. In addition to the classical cannabinoids, phytocannabinoids also include some terpenes (e.g. caryophyllene), alkylamides (e.g. isobutylamide) and polyynes (e.g. falcarinol).
According to some research, CBD has minimal affinity for CB1 or CB2 receptors, and may act as an indirect antagonist of cannabinoid agonists.
CBD may also be a 5-HT1a and 5-HT2a receptor agonist. Interactions between receptors and cannabinoids are continually being discovered. As the science evolves there is mounting evidence that the ability of being able to select and optimally deliver a preferred cannabinoid mixture is desirable. Recent research provides surprisingly beneficial health effects achieved through the utilization of micro doses of cannabinoids on a regular basis for long continuous periods, i.e. several months.
The term "entourage effect" is applicable to cannabinoids because combinations of cannabinoids have been found to be more bioactive than individual cannabinoids.
While the health benefits of consumption of phytocannabinoids are well documented, there are drawbacks of smoking cannabis. Many medical marijuana patients prefer edibles over smoked marijuana because smoking is not typically associated with improved health and may aggravate certain health conditions. Unfortunately, intense processing of edibles is especially common. In particular, many edibles that include cannabinoids are cooked, pasteurized, sterilized, baked, heat dried, or extruded. These processes will typically convert a significant portion of the classical cannabinoids from their acidic forms to into the non-acidic decarboxylated forms.
Edible cannabis infused products include cannabis extracts as an ingredient. However, the processes used to extract the cannabinoids may also convert a high percentage of the naturally occurring acid forms of the primary phytocannabinoids into non-acid forms through the process of decarboxylation. Decarboxylation causes THC-A, for example, to convert to THC. THC is associated with increased psychoactive effects when compared to its precursor THC-A. While THC may occur naturally, decarboxylation of cannabinoids, including THC-A and CBD-A can occur by various mechanisms. While there are many health benefits to both acid and non-acid forms of these molecules, acidic cannabinoids have different pharmacologies and therapeutic effects than the decarboxylated forms.
According to some researchers, there are limits to the rate that fully decarboxylated THC that can be absorbed by the body. Since THC-A and CBD-A have different pharmacologies than their decarboxylated counterparts, it's preferable to control the amounts of acidic and non-acidic cannabinoids in edible products.
Many cannabinoids, including terpenes, are volatile or unstable in the presence of heat or intense processing. Current ways of processing and delivering cannabinoids through food products may volatilize or change the molecular structures of some cannabinoids. Accordingly, an intensely processed food with cannabinoids in an oil may have different therapeutic outcomes than a less processed food.
Typically, products derived from hemp that contain less than 3000 ppm (0.30% dry weight) of tetrahydrocannabinoids are exempt from the legal definition of marijuana in the United States, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,872 to Mechoulam et al. describes a way of converting CBD into THC under lab conditions using a specialized reaction mixture an organic solvent and NaHCO3. There is anecdotal evidence that similar reactions may occur in the gastric juice of humans. Gastric juice, or gastric acid, contains hydrochloric acid (HCl), potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NACl) along with numerous enzymes that are activated by these acids. Molecules including CBD may convert into THC in the presence of gastric acid.
While the amount of CBD that may convert to THC under gastric conditions may be small, some consumers may wish to consume products that are less capable of producing THC.
Patients may also prefer that their medical marijuana be optimized for potency through the entourage effect by the full inclusion of the naturally occurring array of cannabinoids. Further, cannabinoids in the acid forms are preferred because the higher therapeutic doses are possible without negative side effects such as psycho activity. A patient can typically tolerate higher and more effective doses of cannabinoids without the psychoactive side effects associated with the decarboxylated (non-acid) forms.
What is desired is: 1) food manufacturing processes that yield functional foods having micro-doses of cannabinoids and that enable an entourage effect in vivo, 2) functional foods that predominately include acidic forms of cannabinoids. 3) food manufacturing processes that yield food products for humans or animals, where the food products have a more controlled composition of cannabinoids, 4) food products that include predominately the acid-form of at least one desired cannabinoid.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Complete animal food having cannabinoids in trace concentrations to avoid toxicity


The invention provides compositions, kits, and methods for performing colorimetric analysis. A substrate is reacted to generate a chromogenic reaction product, and a reaction stop reagent that is a sulfonic acid is added to stop and stabilize the reaction product. The absorbance properties of the chromogenic reaction product can be maintained over significantly longer periods of time of that of conventional reagents and methods. The sulfonic acid can be used in assays such as ELISAs in order to provide a more accurate and safer detection of analytes in a biological sample.

Research and diagnostic procedures require rapid, accurate and qualitative and/or quantitative determinations of substances ("analytes") that are present in biological samples, such as biological tissues or fluids, at low concentrations. For example, the presence of drugs, narcotics, hormones, steroids, polypeptides, prostaglandins or infectious organisms in blood, urine, saliva, dental plaque, gingival crevicular fluid, and other biological specimens is desirably determined in an accurate and rapid fashion for suitable diagnosis or treatment.
In many cases, an analyte is identified in a sample using a compound that specifically recognizes the chemical features of the analyte. Often, monoclonal antibodies specific for one or more chemical epitopes on an analyte are used. The complex formed between the antibody and analyte can be detected by a variety of known methods. The most commonly used methods employ a signal generating moiety of some type which is either already attached to the antibody, or becomes attached to the antibody through further reaction. For example, in the formation of a complex of biotin with avidin, the complex may be detected using a label on either the avidin or biotin molecule. Such a label can be a radioisotope or an enzyme conjugated with the avidin or biotin. Alternatively, the avidin-biotin complex might be detected by further reaction with a labeled molecule which is specific to either or both parts of the complex. It is commonly known to do the same with antigens and their corresponding antibodies.
In diagnostic tests designed to be rapid and easy to use with moderate training in a doctor's office or clinic, the specific binding ligand of interest (such as an antigen from an infectious agent) is often detected using colorimetric, fluorescent or chemiluminescent signals resulting from reaction of the enzyme label with its corresponding substrate.
There is a need to produce the signal quickly and intensely if the ligand is present. This is commonly done using a colorimetric detection reagent. Upon addition of the detection reagent a colored product is produced. In many types of assay, the generation of color is not limited. In order to optimally quantitate the result, a stop reagent is employed to stop the formation of color and hold it at a stable level to allow for accurate quantitation. Acids such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid can be used to stop the production of detectable signal when peroxidase is used as a label in specific binding reactions. However, the use of these acids has problems associated with it, namely corrosivity, short signal duration, and toxicity.
The investigator has discovered there is a need to provide a non-corrosive stop reagent and a stop reagent that allows for an extended dynamic range and a longer, more stable signal time than previous acids have provided.

Compositions and methods for in vitro diagnostic tests including sulfonic acid compound


A system providing a Print Manager having a Form Designer which assists a user with mapping user data (e.g., "cardfile" or database data) onto a formatted output, such as a commercial form, is described. During system operation, the user employs the Form Designer as a free-hand tool for placing fields and other information anywhere on a form (e.g., label) in a WYSIWYG ("what you see is what you get") fashion. In this manner, the user can create a content description which describes how contents (i.e., user data) are laid out. The system maintains, independent of the content descriptions, a set of templates which define print styles or layouts for particular forms, such as envelopes, address labels, and the like. The content description, once defined, can be applied against various templates in a generic fashion. An interface is provided which allows the user to cycle through various templates, with the content description being automatically applied against each template.

The present invention relates generally to information processing environments and, more particularly, to the task of generating a hard copy or "printout" in such environments.
With the advent of the personal computer, the use of computer systems is becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life. Today, computers can be seen on the desktops of most business professionals. Running software applications such as word processors and spreadsheets, for example, even the average business professional can realize substantial productivity gains. Besides the business environment, computers can also be found in wide use both at home and at school.
In practically all computer applications, the user eventually needs a "printout" of some type. Such printouts or hard copies may take the form of paper printouts, slides, photos, and the like. Desktop users, in particular, prefer to print out information into one of a number of commercially-available formats, including address book formats (e.g., Daytimer), label formats (e.g., Avery), envelopes, and the like. Expectedly, one finds that present-day application software, particularly word processors and PIMs (Personal Information Managers), include the capability to output user data to pre-defined formats, such as those described above.
The present-day approach to the task of printing or outputting information within the constraints of a pre-defined format has distinct disadvantages, however. The problem may be viewed as follows. For any printing task or job, a system must contend with three issues: (1) the actual contents (i.e., the actual user data), (2) how the contents are to be laid out in the final printout, and (3) how individual items within the data contents are repeated. The third item concerns the repeating groups of items to be printed to a sheet of labels--how the individual groups are laid out.
In present day products the user is constrained in how he or she can lay out information in, for example, a label printout. Both WordPerfect.TM. for Windows and Ecco.TM. Pro are typical in this regard. Although each product provides the flexibility to include certain fields (i.e., define a repeating group) for a label printout, the user really has no free hand at specifying how the contents are laid out. In the instance of Ecco Pro, for example, pre-defined templates are provided which basically mandate the layout of the contents. The user is constrained to work within these format pre-defined by the vendor. Quite simply, the user does not have the flexibility to place information content in the layout anywhere he or she really wants.
Additionally, present day systems compromise the actual layout of the labels. For instance, certain commercial formats require data to be printed in a mirror fashion. Here, the page must be, in effect, "flipped over" to print the mirror image. Present-day systems, namely word processors and label-printing programs, do not support this functionality. Part of the problem of these programs is that they do not store (i.e., as their own native data) information about the content which is to be rendered on a label, address book, or the like. Instead, the user data is imported at final print time, for example, via a mail merge operation. This greatly restricts the ability of the user to adjust the layout of the contents since, beforehand, it is not known exactly what kind of data will be received upon import. Using a special envelope-printing function, for instance, the user might set out a very nice layout for an envelope, but at import/print time the actual data received might be too much or too little for the user's design.
What is needed is a system with interface and methods which give users the flexibility to choose how contents are laid out, despite the fact that the actual contents might not be known beforehand. More particularly, such a system should provide the user with the ability to position content in a free-form manner, yet have that data printed out in the appropriate manner for the target commercial form.

Information management system with improved methods and interface for printing data


A system for washing the air in a coastal environment in which a volume of air moves from a land mass to a water mass. The system includes a plurality of fountains 12 mounted offshore which spray a volume of water into the path of the air flow. Water is stored under pressure and selectively released to form the spray. In specific embodiments, wave motion is used to provide the power to pressurize the stored water. Wave power is extracted by dual reciprocating pumps 50 and 51 connected to a float 40. Wave power is amplified by lenses 20 which focus the waves onto the floats 40. A control system 100 senses pollution and controls the generation of the spray. In addition, wave motion is sensed and used to control the position of the lens 20 for optimum performance and minimum wear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pollution control systems and techniques. More specifically, the present invention relates to techniques for abating air pollution in coastal areas.
While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Los Angeles and other cities, pollution levels are currently so high, that national pollution level goals will not be attained in the near future. In addition to the obvious adverse impact on health, property and the environment, governmentally imposed caps on pollution have limited new business growth in these "nonattainment" areas. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the level of air pollution in these areas.
Accordingly, many techniques are under consideration for reducing air pollution. Most of these techniques involve pollution control at the source, are prohibitively expensive and impact personal and industrial operations.
Thus, there is an ongoing need for an inexpensive technique for reducing air pollution which does not adversely impact personal and industrial operations.


An eye tracking system employs a first line camera that is configured to track horizontal eye motion and a second line camera that is configured to track vertical eye motion. Output signals from the two line cameras are applied to a processor which identifies and tracks eye motion, using a correlation or edge detection algorithm on boundaries between the sclera, iris and pupil. The system includes multiple controlled light sources and the horizontal and vertical line cameras are configured to track eye motion in response to light stimulus provided by the light sources according to a programmed algorithm. Eye motion for an individual is collected and compared to a model in order to obtain a measure of fitness for the individual. The device may also be used to derive inputs to a computer system based on eye motion or gaze direction.

Eye tracking and the measurement of eye response to visual stimulus has applications in many fields including public safety, employee monitoring, computer gaming and computer interfaces for the disabled. It is well known that drug use or alcohol impairs the reaction time of an individual. This reaction time is apparent in the saccades eye movements and in the speed at which the pupils of the impaired person contract.
Saccades are the principal method for moving the eyes to a different portion of a scene. They are sudden, rapid movements of the eyes. While saccades can be initiated voluntarily, once initiated (with a path and terminal point) they must complete the process; thus the path and terminus cannot change "on the fly" during the motion. The delay from stimulus to initial eye motion is in the range of 100-300 ms. Eye motion time is in the range of 30-120 ms and dependent on the angle to be traversed. It is noted that the visual image is suppressed during the saccade, and the retina processes images only during the non-motion time (dwell time) between saccades which may last from 200 to 600 ms.
Pursuit motion can be described as a motion that keeps a moving object foveated (i.e. in the high resolution area of the retina). Contrasted to a saccade motion pursuit motion is smoother and slower. Pursuit motion, however, requires a moving object in the field of vision and cannot be generated voluntarily.
An article by L. Schovanec entitled "Ocular Dynamics and Skeletal systems," IEEE Control Systems Magazine, August 2001, pp 70-79, describes various models of ocular dynamics along with references. For discussion purposes, one eye plant model for horizontal movement can support saccadic, pursuit, vestibular, vergence or optokinetic.
For public safety applications, a measurement of saccadic velocity, pupil diameter, pupil latency constriction, and constriction amplitude are used by the Fit 2000 device, manufactured by Pulse Medical Instruments Inc., to determine whether an individual is "fit for duty.". This device takes a series of measurement including pupilary response and saccadic motion. The system accumulates statistical data from personnel who are deemed fit for duty and, when sufficient measurements have been acquired, it compares new measurements against the stored statistics to determine if the individual falls into or out of the range deemed fit for duty.
This device, however, is rather costly and requires a certain amount of user habituation. In many cases the device will not be able to make measurements if the user does not exactly follow the lights by focusing on a green led either at the left or right. This device measures pupil diameter at a 60 Hz rate while eye position is measured at 600 Hz.
It has also been recognized that eye motion may be used for a computer interface. It may be used as an auxiliary input channel, for example, to replace a pointing device such as a mouse, or it may be used as the primary input device by a disabled person. The use of eye motion as a computer interface is described in an article by R. J. K. Jacob entitled "Eye Movement-Based Human-Computer Interaction Techniques: Toward Non-Command Interfaces," available at the web site of the NEC Research Institute CiteSeer as jacob93eye.html.
The system described in this paper uses a video camera with infrared illumination to track motion of the eye using an image of the cornea plus a "bright-eye" effect generated by a reflection from the retina through the dilated pupil. This apparatus is relatively large and, due to the relatively slow rate of the video camera (e.g. 30 frames per second), may not be able to accurately track eye motion.

Apparatus to detect and measure saccade and pupilary changes