A system for producing a security feature on a physical printed document that has a first image printed on a first side of a piece of medium is provided. The system includes a security portion forming device that melts a marking substance that forms the security portion of the first image such that the security portion soaks into the piece of medium and is visible from a second side of the piece of medium, the second side being opposite to the first side. The security portion is less than the entire first image, and a remainder portion of the first image is equal to the entire first image less the security portion.

Disclosed herein is a method and system for creating a security pattern on a printed page by remelting ink within a printed area.
Document security/product authentication has been a challenging issue for digital printing. Various image security features have been developed to strengthen the security of a digital print with a print length of one. It has been recognized that the level of security of a physical printed document is not determined by one or few features, but rather by the collection of many features. In addition, adding digital security features at a late stage of security document creation has been challenging.

Security pattern applied by selectively remelting ink within printed areas


A fixing unit adapted to fix a developing agent onto an image forming medium by way of a heat roller containing a heater and a press roller conducts a warming up operation for the optimum warming up time as determined based on the temperature and the humidity of ambient air detected by a temperature/humidity sensor.

This invention relates to a fixing apparatus that can typically be used in an image forming apparatus for the purpose of fixing a developing agent such as toner to the image forming medium.
Conventionally, a fixing apparatus for fixing the toner on an image forming medium is driven for warming up (a pre-run) prior to the fixing operation, in order to secure the ratio of fixing toner on the image forming medium to a required level. For warming up, the heater is turned on and the heat roller is driven to rotate. As a result, the heat roller and the press roller that is held in contact with the heat roller are warmed. The fixing ratio of fixing the developing agent to the image forming medium is secured to a required level by such a warming up operation.
The major objective of such a warming up operation is to secure the fixing ratio to a required level. The warming up time of the warming up operation that is performed for the entire apparatus is reduced as much as possible in fixing apparatuses that have been marketed in recent years. However, as the warming up time is reduced, the risk of producing a large curl on the sheet of paper coming out of the fixing apparatus rises. It is believed that the sheet of paper is curled by the fixing apparatus because the developing agent is fixed to the sheet of paper by applying both pressure and heat by means of the heat roller and the press roller.
As the extent of curl of the sheet of paper increases, so does the likelihood of it being jammed in the conveyance path after the fixing process, thus it may not be properly delivered onto the delivery tray. Other problems may also arise. Therefore, some conventional fixing apparatuses are provided with a mechanism specifically designed to physically reduce the risk of curling sheets of paper, and is arranged on the conveyance path of sheets of paper coming out of the fixing apparatus.


The invention relates to a method for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), prostate cancer and β-globin disorders such as sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia, comprising administration of a mycelium extract from at least one higher Basidiomycetes medicinal mushroom selected from the group consisting of Ganoderma adspersum, Hypsizygus ulmarium, Kuehneromyces mutabilis, Omphalotus olearius, Panus conchatus, Piptoporus betulinus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Trametes zonata.

Higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms (HBM) represent a major and still largely untapped source of potent new pharmaceutical products. Of approximately 15,000 known species, 2,000 are safe for human consumption, and about 650 of them possess medicinal properties (Wasser et al., 2000; Hawksworth, 2001; Kirk et al., 2001; Wasser, 2002). Of about 650 mushroom species with known medicinal properties, only about 20 species are in use at the present (Chang, 2001). Most traditional knowledge about medicinal properties of HBM comes from the Far East (China, Japan, Korea, Russian Siberia). Many pharmaceutical substances with potent and unique properties have recently been extracted from mushrooms and have made their way all around the world. Unique anticancer medicines were prepared from these extracts such as polysaccharides lentinan, krestin, and schizophyllan (Mizuno, 1999).
Present studies suggest that HBM are probiotic, i.e., they help the body to strengthen itself and fight off illness by maintaining physiological homeostasis, restoring the body's balance and natural resistance to disease. The compounds they contain have been classified as Host Defense Potentiators (HDP), which can have immune system enhancement properties. That is one of the reasons why they are currently used as adjuncts to cancer treatments in many countries (Tomatis et al., 2001). In Japan, Russia, China, and the USA, several polysaccharide anticancer and immunomodulating agents have been developed from the fruiting body, mycelia, and culture medium of various medicinal mushrooms (Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes versicolor, Inonotus obliquus, Hypsizygus marmoreus, and Flammulina velutipes) (Ikekawa, 2001).
Mushroom HDP include hemicellulose (AHCC), polysaccharides, polysaccharide-peptides, nucleosides, triterpenoids, complex starches, and other metabolites. It is believed that combinations of these products target the human immune system, and also aid neuron transmission, metabolism, hormonal balance, and the transport of nutrients and oxygen. Through a host-mediated (T cell) immune mechanism, they help the body regulate the development of lymphoid stem cells and other important defense responses (Mizuno, 1999).
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a member of a group of diseases classified as myeloproliferative disorders, which account for 20% of all leukemias. CML is a clonal disorder that is usually easily recognized because the leukemia cells of more than 95% of patients suffering from CML have a distinctive cytogenetic abnormality, the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph), that results from a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22. This translocation results in the transfer of the Abelson (Abl) oncogene on chromosome 9 to an area of chromosome 22 that includes the breakpoint cluster region (Bcr) gene. This results in the presentation of a leukemia-specific fusion gene (Bcr-Abl) which gives rise to an abnormal tyrosine kinase protein, p210 (Bcr-Abl), with increased activity (Clarkson et al., 1997; Cortez et al., 1997). In addition, the Ph chromosome is also found in a sizeable portion of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients (25-30%) and in a small number of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases (Drexler et al., 1999). Bcr-Abl expressing leukemic blasts are highly resistant to different classes of chemotherapeutic drugs. K562 cells, derived from patients with CML in blast crisis (Lozzio and Lozzio, 1975), which express p210 Bcr-Abl, have been shown to be highly resistant to apoptosis induced by many chemotherapeutic agents (McGahon et al., 1994). Overexpression of Bcr-Abl has been implicated in inhibiting apoptosis induced by cytokine deprivation, DNA damage, and a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs (Cortez et al., 1997). Thus, the Bcr-Abl fusion protein has been suggested to function as an antiapoptotic factor, and overexpression of the Bcr-Abl protein in K562 cells may, in part, account for the resistance of these cells to apoptosis, thereby leading to the accumulation of leukemic blasts in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (Urbano et al., 1998).
Gleevec (imatinib mesylate, also known as STI-571), is being used as oral treatment for patients with CML. It is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase.
Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is a genetically controlled ablation of cells during development. It is characterized by chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, cell membrane blebbing, apoptotic body formation, and mitochondrial changes, including enhanced membrane permeability, fall of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Induction of apoptosis is the principal mechanism by which the majority of chemotherapeutic agents exert their function. Consequently, failure to undergo apoptosis is the likely mechanism mediating drug resistance in tumors.
Antitumor and anticancer properties have been studied in mushrooms. The three mushrooms which have the broadest range of action are Shiitake (Lentinus edodes), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa). Another popular mushroom is Coriolus versicolor, also known as Trametes versicolor.
Among the main active substances found in medicinal mushrooms are:
(i) lentinan, a highly purified polysaccharide fraction extracted from Shiitake mushrooms, is an approved drug in Japan. It is generally administered by injection and has been used as an agent to prolong survival of patients in conventional cancer therapy, for example, in bowel cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer; it also stimulates the production of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells and can potentiate the effect of AZT in the antiviral treatment of AIDS;
(ii) a substance known as activated hexose-containing compound (AHCC) or 1,3-beta glucan is an active fraction found in shiitake mushrooms which has shown anti-cancer properties in some human, animal and lab studies in Japan;
(iii) polysaccharide-peptide or PSP, a proteoglycan from Trametes versicolor, also known as Coriolus versicolor, has been widely used in China as anticancer and immunomodulatory agent in the treatment of patients with cancer of the stomach, esophagus, lung, ovary and cervix;
(iv) the immunostimulating polysaccharide krestin, polysaccharide-K or PSK is a popular Japanese extract made from Trametes versicolor. PSK has been shown in several studies to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and significantly extended survival at five years or beyond in cancers of the breast, liver, prostate, stomach, colon-rectum, esophagus, nasopharynx, and lung (non-small cell types). PSK acts directly against tumor cells as well as indirectly in the host to boost cellular immunity by increasing white cell activity and increasing natural killer cell function. The list of cancers for which it is known to be useful in animals includes adenosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, mastocytoma, plasmacytoma, melanoma, sarcoma, carcinoma, mammary cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer; and
(v) a dietary supplement prepared from extracts of Trametes versicolor is in use for general health purposes. Ethanol extracts (70%) of Trametes versicolor dietary supplement reduced LNCaP cell growth and down-regulated the levels of secreted prostate specific antigen (PSA), raising the possibility of chemopreventive potential for hormone-refractory prostate cancer (Hsieh and Wu, 2001).
We have not found in the literature any publication disclosing the activity of mushroom extracts on CML cells.
Although most bioactive substances isolated from mushrooms are high-molecular-weight (HMW) polysaccharides, our interest is in low-molecular-weight (LMW) compounds capable of exhibiting antitumor activity. We have thus focused on the search for novel compounds that induce apoptosis in CML cells and might be useful in the therapy of patients with CML.

Mushroom extracts having anticancer activity


A postal type scale, such as an electronic scale, capable of weighing a plurality of different size packages is provided. The scale includes a weighing mechanism in its base, a platform for supporting a package thereon in a weighing relationship, and an extendable input/output unit (e.g., weight display and keypad) removeably attached to the scale and extendable therefrom. The input/output unit includes a weight display, such as an LCD display, and an input device such as a keypad or touchscreen or the like. When attached to the scale, weight display and keypad form a compact unitary design. When extended away from the scale, the display and keypad may be located at a position remote from the scale on any plane.

Postal scales are well known in the art as are portable weighing scales which can be moved from place to place or left on a counter or other surface at a particular location. These postage scales are typically equipped with means of weighing packages including letters and parcels, and capable of combining the weight and the shipping rate information stored therein to determine the postage and other charges for shipment of the packages.
Many of the scales are also equipped with means of displaying the weight of a package, along with the postage and other shipping charges during the weighing process. For aesthetic reasons, the display screens of such scales are compact and relatively small. As such, the amount of information displayed on one such screen is extremely limited. Moreover, in use, when a large package is weighed, the display and keypad may be visually blocked and inaccessible if the package has a dimension larger in size than the position of the display and keypad. Such displays are typically fixed and non-adjustable. Such displays also present problems when, for example, there is insufficient light or when there is a glare present on the display screen due to overhead lights or sunlight. In addition, for those fixed displays which employ liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, they normally afford an extremely limited viewing angular range, outside which the display contrast deteriorates substantially. Since a user cannot adjust a fixed display to improve the lighting condition or to increase the viewing range, the user under these unfavorable conditions tends to be inefficient and susceptible to eye strain.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,579 discloses a portable weighing device, namely an electronic balance, in which the horizontal display pivots about the weighing area and telescopes merely to adapt to the contour of the weighing area. However, the display is not longitudinally extendable so as to be able to be viewed from above irrespective of the size of the package placed on the scale.
Other scales are known in the art, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,043,438, 6,013,878, 5,203,419, 4,979,579, 4,632,199, 3,838,744, 2,805,055, and D358590. All patents listed herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Thus, none of the prior art portable scales known to applicant is capable of providing a compact postal type scale of unitary design capable of weighing a plurality of different size or dimension packages in which the display and keypad (input and output unit) are selectively extendable from the scale so as to be visible and accessible no matter what the size of the package placed on the scale throughout a given size range, while also being retractable into a compact unitary rest position with the scale for normal size packages. These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention.

Postal scale with extendable input/output unit


A filter unit heat exchanger is provided that may include a housing substantially surrounding a heat exchange assembly. Provided through the housing are one or more tortuous fluid flow paths used to direct airflow therethrough around portions of the heat exchange assembly for efficient operation. The tortuous path(s) may be provided by one or more nozzle openings on an input side of the housing and one or more diffuser openings on an output side of the housing, where the nozzle openings and diffuser openings are offset to cause desired airflow deflection. The filter unit may include desired symmetries to improve manufacturability and/or installation.

Commercial or institutional kitchens generally include cook stoves, hot plates, deep fat fryers, and other cooking devices that produce heat energy and particulates, i.e. grease. The extreme heat and particulates must be exhausted to atmosphere usually through flue chimneys or similar venting devices for the safety and comfort of the kitchen workers. This process replaces the hot kitchen air with cooler, clean outside air. Although this circulation process is necessary to provide a constant source of clean air to the kitchen environment, it is inefficient and uneconomical, especially in colder climates where the cost to heat internal air and water is significant.
Another problem encountered in commercial kitchens is that the generated particulates must be filtered. The particulates, that most commonly includes grease can eventually cause malfunction of air ventilation systems, which may create fire hazards. Accordingly, air filters located in flume hoods positioned over cooking surfaces must be cleaned often, which is time-consuming and expensive.
Venting and filtering systems may employ heat exchangers to capture thermal energy from the hot gases. For example, some systems employ a heat exchanger positioned downstream of a grease filter. This configuration is unfavorable for many reasons. First, these designs may be inefficient as the heat exchanger is usually located a significant distance from the heat source, which means heat is lost before the hot air encounters the heat exchanger. That is, the thermal energy is lost through heat dissipation before the heat exchanger is reached. Second, the existing grease filters significantly impede air flow, especially when congested with grease, which reduces the efficiency of the air ventilation system as heat is absorbed by the filter before the hot air reaches the heat exchanger. Third, when the heat source is turned off, the grease quickly solidifies within existing filters, which usually include fins that capture and maintains the particulate matter.
Many existing kitchens fail to incorporate any kind of heat exchanger because of integration costs. Retrofitting existing kitchen equipment with heat exchanger systems may require an entirely new flue hood assembly and substantial piping and accessories. Thus, conversion is time-consuming and expensive.
While some improvements have been made to combine a filter and heat exchanger, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,244, there remains a need to provide a filter system of simplified construction and that provides more efficient heat transfer than existing devices. To address this long-felt need, one embodiment of the present invention is a system for filtering and heat capture that is efficient and that may be retrofitted into existing flue systems.


An analog circuit controller having fewer signal paths and elements is disclosed herein. A microcomputer has a first D/A converter for generating control voltages variable into a plurality of levels in a time-divided manner and a second D/A converter for generating switching signals of various levels each indicative of the type of a control voltage. The analog circuit controller receives the outputs of the first and second D/A converters and responds to the output of the second D/A converter to select the necessary circuit to be controlled to which the control voltage is to be applied. As a result, a plurality of circuits to be controlled can be controlled through only two signal lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog circuit controller and particularly a controller for controlling a plurality of analog circuits in an analog IC through two different analog signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
TV receivers and audio instruments may control an IC for processing analog signals through control signals from a microcomputer. In a TV receiver, for example, commands from a TV viewer which are indicative of tint, color density and others, in television signals, may be temporarily taken by a micro computer and then applied from the microcomputer to an analog IC.
One of such controllers is shown in FIG. 1. It comprises a microcomputer 1 including a plurality of PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) circuits 2-4 located therewithin and integrating circuits 5-7 for converting the modulated pulses from the PWM circuits into analog signals which are in turn applied to circuits to be controlled 9-11 in an analog IC (8). However, the controller of FIG. 1 requires one control line for every control function to be carried out. If the number of pins in the microcomputer and IC is increased, the wiring in such a controller will become undesirably complicated.
To overcome such a problem, there has been proposed a method of time dividing digital signals and transmitting the divided digital signal through clock and data lines, as shown in FIG. 2. Digital data are applied from a microcomputer 1 to an analog IC 8 in synchronism with clock signals. The analog IC 8 includes an address control circuit 12 for decoding the incoming digital data and for judging which circuit to be controlled the data are to be transmitted to, so that the digital data will be distributed to an appropriate circuit to be controlled. The digital data are converted into analog signals through D/A conversion circuits 13-15 before they are applied to circuits to be controlled 9-11.
The method of FIG. 2 can transmit different types of control signals through only two signal lines. However, the method of FIG. 2 requires a plurality of D/A conversion circuits 13-15 in the analog IC 8. In general, an analog IC having many D/A conversion circuits, each of which is also formed having an increased number of elements, raises a problem in that the chip area increases.
On the other hand, the microcomputer 1 is formed by MOSIC and therefore does not raise any problem even if there are many D/A conversion circuits. It is therefore desired that a transmission process for performing the D/A conversion in the microcomputer using less signal lines is provided.

Analog circuit controller using signals indicative of control voltage and type of control voltage


Techniques for providing incremental backup restoration are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a computer implemented method for providing incremental backup restoration comprising setting one or more allocated electronic storage indicators each indicating an allocated portion of electronic storage, comparing the one or more allocated electronic storage indicators with one or more prior backups in reverse chronological order starting from a most recent backup and proceeding until all of the one or more allocated electronic storage indicators have been identified in the one or more prior backups, and restoring the one or more prior backups corresponding to the one or more allocated electronic storage indicators.

Backup systems may use incremental backups which may back up only changed data since a last backup. This may require less time, less input/output (I/O) processing, and less storage than a full backup.
In a traditional backup strategy, a backup system may perform a full backup periodically, such as once a week, and may perform incremental backups at regular intervals between full backups. In the event a system restoration is desired (e.g., after a system crash), a backup system may restore the system to a desired recovery point using the most recent full backup, and any incremental backups that occurred after the full backup.
For systems relying on incremental backups, a backup chain (i.e., the number of backups required to restore a system) may get long if a full backup is not performed regularly. Thus, it is typically inefficient to rely exclusively on incremental backups.
However, some backup systems may create a synthetic full backup (i.e., a full backup generated from portions of several incremental backups) and thus may enable the use of incremental backups without using periodic full backups (e.g., "infinite incrementals"). Users of backup systems may prefer incremental backups and thus may use "infinite incrementals" or other backup strategies which may rely on incremental backups.
However, incremental backups may increase a risk of data integrity problems. That is, if a portion of a backup is corrupted or incorrectly captured, it may not be fixed by a later synthetic backup. For example, if one or more blocks are corrupted in an incremental backup and the one or more blocks are not changed again, subsequent incremental backups may not capture a new copy of the one or more corrupted blocks. Thus, these subsequent incremental backups that reference the one or more corrupted blocks may be corrupt as well. Even a synthetic full backup may not remedy this, because the one or more corrupted blocks of the prior incremental backup may be used for the generation of the synthetic full backup. Thus, the corruption may persist for an extended period of time and may have serious implications.
Furthermore, current restoration technologies for restoring a system using incremental backups may require restoring a long backup chain (i.e., a large number of backups to comprise a full set which may be necessary to restore a system). Not only is there risk of corruption in one or more portions of the incremental backup chain, but a long backup chain may increase the number of incremental backups to be processed by a restoration system or process. Processing a larger number of incremental backups may take more system memory and a longer time.
In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with current system backup technologies.

Techniques for providing incremental backups


The composite resin powder having particle diameter range capable of being applied by way of fluidization dipping or electrostatic spray coating for forming a fluoro resin surface coating which melts at a lower temperature. 3.0 to 20 parts by weight of EAA resin is added to 100 parts by volume of xylene (86 parts by weight), the mixture is heated at 120.degree. to 125.degree. C. with stirring to dissolve, simultaneously PTFE powder with a particle diameter of 5 to 50 .mu.m is added in an amount of 5 to 25% by weight to that of said EAA resin, then the temperature of the mixture was cooled to a temperature of 40.degree. C. or lower to generate particles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a composite resin powder and manufacturing thereof for forming tetrafluoroethylene surface coating on a metal surface by way of fluidization dipping or electrostatic spray coating.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A composite resin comprising a mixture of tetrafluoroethylene particles in modified saturated polyester resin has been known as a composite powder for forming tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer surface coating which adheres on a metal surface applied by heat melting (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-339828).
Though this composite powder adheres to the metal surface, the composite is expensive and requires a special high-temperature stove for applying it. In detail, it is necessary to heat a coating surface to a temperature as high as 320.degree. C. or higher in stoving treatment of the composite powder, and to realize this stoving condition, a high-temperature stove which is capable of being maintained at a temperature of as high as 450.degree. C. or higher in the stove, such temperature is higher than normal temperature, is required, and this requirement leads to high processing cost. Further, mixed solvent is used as a solvent, and the mixed solvent involves disadvantageously troublesome solvent recovery.

Composite powder and manufacturing thereof for forming fluoro resin surface coating


The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies, antigen binding fragment and recombinant binding proteins specific for human gp39. These antibodies are specific for at least eight different epitopes on gp39. Hybridomas secreting specific antibodies which bind to these epitopes are also provided. Further, the present invention discloses the amino acid sequence of immunoglobulin light and heavy chain variable regions which bind to epitopes of gp39 and provide sFv and humanized antibodies which bind gp39. Also, provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the monoclonal antibodies, antigen binding fragments and recombinant binding proteins which bind gp39 and methods for using these compositions in diagnosing disease states, inhibiting B cell activation and for treating immunological disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, allergic responses, organ rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Antibodies of the present invention can also be used to image cells which express gp39 on their surface, such as tumor cells (e.g., lymphoma) and to target therapeutic agents to target cells.

A successful immune response requires coordinated interaction of multiple cell types. The interaction between T-helper cells (Th) and antigen-presenting cells (APC) such as B cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells results from complex communications involving signals received through soluble cytokines or membrane-bound proteins as well as adhesive interactions. Many of these signals are not specific to a directed immune response and the proteins are broadly distributed.
A number of important T cell surface proteins involved in cell-cell interactions have been identified including CD2, CD4, CD8, CD28, LFA-1, CTLA-4 and gp39. These proteins participate in cell-cell contact by binding to their counter-receptors on APC and provide important costimulatory signals to T cells which modulate signals received through the T-cell antigen receptor. These costimulatory signals are necessary for the T cell to become fully engaged and express both membrane-bound and soluble factors required for the proper activation of the T cell-dependent effector cells (B cells, natural killer cells, monocytes, neutrophils, etc.). The gp39/CD40 T cell ligand/B cell receptor pair plays a critical role in the humoral immune response. In vitro studies have shown that this receptor/ligand pair is involved in B cell proliferation, antibody and cytokine production and cell viability. Studies in vivo, both through blocking with a monoclonal antibody or by observation of a genetic defect in gp39, have validated the in vitro results, and extended them to the requirement for a functional gp39 for germinal center formation during immune response to antigen.
CD40 is a 50 kDa type I membrane glycoprotein expressed by B cells, macrophages, follicular dendritic cells, thymic epithelium, normal basal epithelium, some carcinoma and melanoma-derived cell lines (Clark and Ledbetter 1986, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4494; Paerlie et al. 1985, Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 20:23, Ledbetter et al. 1987, J. Immunol. 138:788; Young et al. 1989, Int. J. Cancer 43:786; Galy and Spits 1992, J. Immunol. 149:775, Alderson et al. 1993, J. Exp. Med 178:669) and recently has been reported to be expressed on T cells (Armitage et al. 1993, Eur. J. Immunol. 23: 2326). It has been shown to be an important signaling molecule with a range of downstream effects in multiple systems. Early studies showed that CD40 was involved in B cell activation. Crosslinking CD40 with anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody induces B cell aggregation via LFA-1 (Gordon et al. 1988, J. Immunol. 140:1425, Barrett et al., 1991, J. Immunol. 146:1722), increases Ser/Thr (Gordon et al. 1988, supra) and Tyr (Uckun et al. 1991, J. Biol. Chem. 266:17478) phosphorylation of a number of intracellular substrates and provides a "competence" signal that allows B cells to proliferate and undergo class switching when stimulated with the appropriate second signal. For example, anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody can synergize with PMA (Gordon et al. 1987, Eur. J. Immunol. 17:1535) or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (Clark and Ledbetter 1986, supra) to induce B cell proliferation, with IL-4 to induce B cell proliferation (Gordon et al. 1987, supra; Rousset et al. 1991, J. Exp. Med. 172:705) and IgE secretion (Jabara et al. 1990, J. Exp. Med. 172:1861; Gascan et al. 1991, J. Immunol. 147:8; Rousset et al. 1991, supra; Zhang et al. 1991, J. Immunol. 146.1836, Shapira et al. 1992, J. Exp. Med. 175:289) and with IL-10 and TGF-.beta. to induce IgA secretion by sIgD.sup.+ B cells (DeFrance et al. 1992, J. Exp. Med. 175:671).
Isolation of a cDNA clone encoding human CD40 (Stamenkovic et al. 1989, EMBO J. 8:1403) shows that CD40 has a significant homology to the nerve growth factor receptor family. Using a soluble form of CD40, CD40-immunoglobulin fusion protein (CD40-Ig) (Armitage et al. 1992, Nature 357:80; Lane et al. 1992, Eur. J. Immunol. 22:2573; Noelle et al. 1992, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6550), it was found that the CD40 ligand (gp39, CD40-L), a protein of approximately 39 kDa, was expressed by activated human and murine T cells. In addition, blocking studies with CD40-Ig (Fanslow et al. 1992, J. Immunol. 149:655; Noelle et al. 1992, supra) or an anti-murine gp39 monoclonal antibody (MR1) Noelle et al. 1992, supra) showed that preventing gp39-CD40 binding resulted in inhibition of B cell biological responses.
Complementary DNA encoding both murine (Armitage et al. 1992, Nature 357:80) and human (Hollenbaugh et al. 1992, EMBO J. 11:4313; Spriggs et al. 1992, J. Exp. Med. 176:1543) gp39 or a soluble recombinant form of gp39 and IL-4 or gp39 and IL-10 can drive human B cells to secrete IgE and IgA, or IgG and IgM, respectively (Aruffo et al. 1993, Cell 72:291). Taken together, these results suggest that gp39 may be a T cell "switch" responsible for some aspects of B cell differentiation and isotype switching (Noelle et al. 1992, Immunol. Today 13:431).
Recently, the gene encoding gp39 was mapped to Xq26, the X chromosome region where the gene responsible for hyper-IgM syndrome (HIM) had previously been mapped (Aruffo et al. 1993, Cell 72:291). The gp39 molecules in the HIM patients were found to be functionally abnormal. Activated T cells have been found to produce normal levels of mRNA, but the gp39 encoded is defective (Aruffo et al. 1993, supra; DiSanto et al. 1993, Nature 361:541).
Hyper-IgM syndrome is one of at least seven inherited immunodeficiencies mapped to the X-chromosome (Kinnon and Levinsky 1992, J. Inherit. Metab Dis. 15:674). The disease is characterized by low or absent IgG, IgA and IgE levels, normal or elevated levels of IgM, normal numbers of recirculating B cells, susceptibility to bacterial and opportunistic infections (including Pneumocystic carinii), no germinal centers, autoimmunity, neutropenia, X-linked and autosomal forms, and gp39 ligand gene defects in the X-linked form of the disease. Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVI) is another group of immunodeficiency disorders characterized by abnormal antibody responses and recurrent bacterial infections. Clinical presentations of CVI are diverse, as the disorders described by the term include a wide variety of as yet uncharacterized defects. Disease states described as CVI commonly show decreased or absent serum IgG and IgA, while the levels of IgM may be normal or decreased. Although most CVI patients have normal T cell numbers and responses, some may have decreased numbers, abnormal CD4/CD8 cell ratios or abnormal T cell function. There is also an increased probability of autoimmune antibodies in this patient population.
Mutations in the gene encoding gp39 result in deletions giving rise to frame shifts and premature stop codons, or point mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions (Allen et al. 1993, Science 259:990; DiSanto et al. 1993, supra; Fuleichan et al. 1993, supra, Korthauer et al. 1993, supra; Aruffo et al. 1993, supra; Collard et al. 1993, Immunol. Today 14:559). The effect of these mutations on expression of gp39 by activated T cells has been examined using soluble CD40-Ig, polyclonal antibody raised against a gp39 bacterial fusion protein (anti-TRAP) (Grafet al. 1992, Eur. J. Immunol 22:3191; Korthauer et al. 1993, Nature 361:539) and a gp39 specific monoclonal antibody 5c8 (Lederman et al. 1992, J. Exp. Med. 75:1091). Staining with soluble CD40-Ig, gp39 expression was found to be absent, while that for anti-TRAP was normal on T cells from one out of three patients tested, which was confirmed using the monoclonal antibody. These results show that expression of gp39 is variable in HIM patients and it has been suggested that further work is needed to determine whether the variation in surface expression of mutant forms of gp39 correlates with HIM disease severity. In the absence of a family history of X-HIM, the disease is difficult to distinguish from CVI. The methods currently used to identify a defect in gp39 as the causative agent in X-HIM include the sequencing of nucleotides comprising the gp39 gene from cDNA formed from mRNA isolated from in vitro activated lymphocytes that do not bind CD40, but do contain mRNA encoding gp39. This method has been used to show one patient diagnosed with CVI actually suffers from hyper IgM syndrome. However, the methods are laborious and would be very expensive to use on a more generalized basis.
What is needed in the art are additional monoclonal antibodies reactive with different epitopes of gp39 which can be easily used to assay for mutant forms of gp39 and for other purposes in diagnostics to distinguish between common variable immunodeficiency and X-linked hyper-IgM, and in therapeutic methods to modulate disease states responsive to interactions between CD40 and its ligand gp39.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for different epitopes of human GP39 and methods for their use in diagnosis and therapy


A method for controlling acceleration of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes determining a first demand limit based on a smoke limit of the engine; determining a second demand limit based on a user-selected acceleration profile; retrieving a previous demand limit from a memory; and determining a third demand limit by adding a predetermined step quantity to the previous demand limit. The method further includes outputting the lesser of the first demand limit, the second demand limit, and the third demand limit as a subsequent demand limit. The method further includes controlling the engine with a control circuit to achieve the subsequent demand limit such that the vehicle accelerates from a speed associated with the previous demand limit to a speed associated with the subsequent demand limit.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,110 discloses an acceleration control system which allows an operator of a vehicle to select an acceleration profile to control the engine speed of a vehicle from an initial starting speed to a final desired speed. When used in conjunction with tow sports, such as wake boarding and water skiing, the use of an acceleration profile provides consistent performance during the period of time when a water skier is accelerated from a stationary position to a full speed condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,270 discloses a method and apparatus for controlling the torque or fuel quantity limit to an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine, at least partly as a function of the sensed level of smoke in the exhaust gas stream of the engine. An open-loop preliminary fuel quantity limit signal is provided as a function of engine speed. The actual smoke level is compared with a smoke limit value for the particular operating condition, and an error signal indicates the sense and possibly the magnitude of any difference. The error signal is the basis of a compensating signal which is added to the open-loop preliminary fuel quantity limit signal such that the resulting fuel quantity limit signal provides for maximum torque without exceeding the smoke limit. The smoke level is obtained by a direct measurement of the particulate level or the like in the exhaust gas stream. An alarm may be provided for indicating when the actual smoke level exceeds some threshold relative to the smoke limit.

Systems and methods for controlling acceleration of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine


A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying content on a computing device. A selection of an intended recipient of an electronic message is received. The content is transmitted from the computing device to a first mobile computing device. The content is transmitted from the first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device via the electronic message.

Communication between two or more users may be accomplished using many different mediums. For example, a first user may utilize their PC to communication with a second user by sending, e.g., electronic mail (email) or instant messages, to the second user's PC. Similarly, the first user may utilize their mobile phone to communication with the second user by sending, e.g., electronic "text" messages, to the second user's mobile device. However, it may be more difficult for the first user to utilize their PC for communication with the second user if, for example, the second user is utilizing their mobile device.

Chat interaction between mobile phone and non-mobile phone devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A power generation predicting apparatus includes an estimator estimates a maximum power generation amount capable of generating by a photovoltaic power generation system at each time, a first estimating unit estimates a power generation inhibitor total amount being a total of power generation inhibiting substances which are present until a solar light reaches the system, at each time, a weight calculating unit calculates a solar radiation weight for each of three-dimensional cells at each time, based on a straight line passing through the cells forming a three-dimensional space above a prediction target area at which the system is placed, a second estimating unit estimates a power generation inhibitor amount at a prediction target time for each of the cells, and a predicting unit calculates a power generation inhibitor total amount at the prediction target time, and predicts a power generation amount at the prediction target time.

The power generation amount of a photovoltaic power generation system is susceptible to solar radiation and is unstable, and therefore, attention is paid to an apparatus that predicts a short-term power generation amount. Concerning the short-term power generation prediction of a photovoltaic power generation system, the following method is known. The method is for predicting a power generation amount by performing short-term prediction of a solar radiation value of a prediction target time by using a regression model from meteorological forecast data in a range of the prediction target time from a certain time, and solar radiation value time series up to the time. As the regression model, a linear model, a neural net and the like can be used. Further, the method of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-29211 estimates a situation of clouds from a power generation situation at a certain time, and performs short-term power generation amount prediction by using spatial information. However, as the cloud situation, processing as three-dimensional spatial information is not described.
According to the technique using the regression model described above, it can be expected that prediction with accuracy to some degree is enabled by combining a meteorological prediction result which is estimated from various meteorological data and actual power generation data. However, the meteorological conditions vary depending on the installation situations of photovoltaic power generation systems, seasons and time zones, and construction of a regression model which is compatible with any situation is difficult. Therefore, there arises the problem that the prediction accuracy is limited. Further, according to the technique of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-29211 described above, it can be expected that prediction of a power generation amount by using spatial information such as clouds is enabled. However, in the movements of clouds, movements in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of a cirrus cloud, a cumulus cloud and the like have to be considered. Therefore, there arises the problem that accurate estimation of a cloud situation and power generation amount prediction are difficult unless three-dimensional spatial information cannot be dealt with.

Power generation predicting apparatus and method thereof


In a method for the continuous production of a running mat (6) of stocked particles (2) of different dimensions by the use of a conveyor spreading method, for the production of wood material boards or similar boards by subsequent pressing of the mat, for the solution of the problem of having a well-defined supporting plane for the spread material independently of the rotary speed of the spreading rolls, it is proposed that, during the conveyor spreading action (11), at first holdouts be formed deliberately and continuously over the entire spreading width and the entire spreading length of the conveyor spreading mechanism, out of which individual spreading is done for the continuous formation of the advancing mat (6); at the same time an apparatus is proposed for the practice of the method for the performance of the already-named tasks.

The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of a moving mat from a stock of particles of different dimensions by means of a conveyor spreading mechanism for the manufacture of wood boards or the like by means of subsequent pressing of the mat.
By the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,933 a method and an apparatus for the segregation of excessively thick wood material has been made known, in which material that did not pass in the grading process was segregated by means of grading cylinders, and then was returned again to the grading process after regrinding. A grading of the material was achieved by the fact that, in a first step, a cylinder grader was used, in which the cylinders are at distance apart which increases in the direction of conveyor movement, and the material of excessively great size was discharged at the end of the first set of cylinders, while the remainder, still containing particles of the correct size and smaller, was graded in a second step to remove the fines. At the end of the cylinder train the oversize pieces were fed directly to grinders to be reground.
In a second grading process, which took place below the first grader, a separation was made again between fine material and usable material; the fines in this stage were dumped by the cylinder grader into a hopper, while the material needed for the manufacture of paper was delivered to another hopper for further processing. With a grading procedure of this kind, no mat such as can be used for the production of wood boards or the like can be built up by means of the conveyor spreading mechanism disclosed.
In German Auslegeschrift 1205274 an apparatus has been disclosed in which throw-scattered wood chips or other such spreadable particles are formed on a strand support (shaping band) into a strand which is fed continuously or in sections into a press which makes them into solid products, especially flake boards in which the particles are randomly oriented. Then, on the way from the throwing point to the strand support either one or more spring frames or one or more special throw cylinders, or one or more vortex blowers, or a combination of these or other apparatus producing the same effect, the particles coming from the throwing point have to pass by them for orientation in substantially different directions. With an apparatus of this kind it is difficult to produce a mat for the production of wood or other such boards in which wrong-size particles must not be carried into the mat. Attempts have also been made to achieve an improvement by rotary speed variations, in order to remedy such deficiencies. These attempts, however, fail.
Setting out from here, the present invention is addressed to the problem of having a well-defined throw-down plane for the particle material independently of the speed of the scatter cylinders, so that not only will no wrong particles enter the spread, but also a build-up of the particles passing through the rolls will be achieved, that will be uniform over the entire field. The definition of a space between the scatter plane and the mat plane will furthermore counteract a faulty spread.
This problem is solved by the present invention in that, during the conveyor spreading, holdout pockets are first created deliberately and continually over the entire width and length of the conveyor spreading mechanism, and from them individual spreading actions are performed for the continuous formation of the advancing mat. This brings it about that, for one thing, both the space between the starting point of the scatter and the deposition of the spread material in the mat are very well defined, and that, on the other hand, a virtually equal amount of the particle stream being spread is discharged throughout the scattering procedure.
For the embodiment of this inventive method, it is proposed that the intentional formation of the holdouts over the spread length of the conveyor spreading mechanism be made controllable. Thus it is possible, for example, in the case of a section-by-section pressing of a mat to wood flake boards, to control the density and thus the strength of the board in the lengthwise direction.
An embodiment of the inventive method consists in the fact that the intentional formation of the holdouts over the spreading width of conveyor spreading mechanism is controllable. By such control the density and thus the strength also transversely of the finished flake board can be influenced, so that in the end effect a wood material board can be produced in which predetermined strength properties can be produced both lengthwise and transversely.
In still another embodiment of the inventive method, particles unsuitable for the conveyor spreading mechanism are carried away by a conveyor separately from the conveyor spreading mechanism. By this conveyor process a definite separation of the material is achieved, which is necessary in order to produce boards of predetermined properties, and which at the same time offers the possibility for reusing the segregated material either by returning it into the spreading procedure, or in case the material is not usable, for example when glue lumps occur, of separating this material before it becomes embedded in the board, as it is claimed in the inventive characteristic of claim 4.
In a preferred embodiment the rejected particles are fed to a re-grinding apparatus, at the end of which usable particles are recycled, and unusable particles are separated out. In this way a reduction of waste is achieved, and the recycling of such material is made possible, for example in the use of wood which has a very slight thickness, yet in other dimensions has a considerable surface area.
In still another embodiment of the method, depending on the particles to be spread, and depending on how the advancing mat is formed by conveyor spreading, a predetermined separation of the particles is accomplished. Merely by means of the predetermined separation of the particles based on the particle stream and the throughput of the conveyor spreading mechanism, it is possible to produce predetermined cross-sectional patterns through the thickness of the mat.
Setting out from an apparatus with a bunker for spreading particles which discharges to an adjoining spreading station whose width corresponds to the width of the mat and has a series of revolving spreading rolls disposed in the spreading station and provided with a texture, plus a support continuously moving under the spreading station for receiving a spread flake mat that is to be pressed for the production of wood or similar boards, it is proposed that the circumferential surfaces of each spreading roll have first equally long, channel-like pockets in a plurality of rows alternating in the circumferential direction, and offset therefrom a plurality of rows with second, equally long, channel-like pockets, that each row of the channel-like pockets be separated from the next row by lands on the circumferential surface, and that the first and second equally long, channel-like pockets in the axial direction of each spreading roll be separated by lands over the entire length of the circumferential surface of the spreading roll, so that each channel-like pocket constitutes a separate indentation in the circumferential surface. With this apparatus according to the invention, predetermined amounts of the particles issuing from the bunkers can be formed, and at the same time cause, by the rotation of the series of spreading rolls, a transport by which also the other, distinct indentations in the spreading rolls are filled simultaneously, so that, upon the continued rotation of the spreading rolls a conveyor spreading mechanism results, in which substantially equal amounts of spread material can be let out of the rotating spreading rolls at the same time and be deposited on the continuously advancing support.
As an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention each spreading roll bears second equally long channel-like pockets at an angle to its axis, that offset therefrom several rows are provided with second, equally long channel-like pockets whose channel axes are at an angle to the slanted channel axes of the first equally long channel-like pockets. By the arrangement of equally long channel-like pockets at an angle to one another, but which do not run through one another, it is brought about according to the invention that, especially in the case of rotating spreading rolls that are directly in contact with one another at their surfaces, any pinching or jamming of chip material before it reaches the channel-like recesses is prevented, and also that the transport through the entire array of revolving spreading rolls disposed in tandem operates faultlessly. Thus a still further improved holdover in the channel-like pockets is achieved, which then, as the spreading rolls continue to rotate, permits a precise distribution from these holdover pits onto the support running along thereunder.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the angle between the first and second equally long channel-like pockets is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Thus, in the case of a plurality of tandem rotating spreading rolls configured according to the invention, a row of pocket-like pits which are closed off from the particles dropping from above, i.e., from the bunker, in the area of contact of the circumferential surfaces, by lands running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spreading rolls and in the direction of the circumference of the spreading rolls. The slanting of the spreading pits at the angle specified by the invention, facilitates the filling of the pits.
In yet another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the channel-like pockets have semicircular curves at their extremities on the circumference of the roll. The semicircular curve facilitates the intertwining of particles during the filling and emptying of the channel-like pockets.
In yet another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the channel-like pockets are rounded off from the circumference of the roll to the bottom of the channel, perpendicular to the direction of the channel axis. This configuration of the channel also promotes both the filling and the emptying of the channel-like pockets; it serves also to facilitate a squeezing of the particles being fed through the cylinders against the adjacent rolls of the conveyor spreading apparatus which produces the conveyor spreading mechanism.
In another embodiment of the channel-like pockets according to the invention the channel-like pockets have rounded cross sections. This embodiment of the invention contributes to keeping the channel-like pockets clean.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention is characterized in that each spreading roll consists of two cylinder sleeves arranged in tandem along the axis and having channel-like pockets of equal length, and in that the lands between them are continuous over the entire length of the spreading roll. By making the spreading rolls from sleeves, in the first place a considerable saving of weight is achieved in comparison with solid rolls based the same outside diameter, and in the production of the surface of the roll considerable savings are achieved by the fact that any desired spreading roll lengths can be made up of individual roll sleeve units in the manner of a modular system, without the need to invest in more tooling for the manufacture of exceedingly long and slender spreading rolls. Also, dividing the total length of the spreading rolls into sleeve units of different lengths counteracts the flexure of a spreading roll made up of sleeves.
In further development of the apparatus visible circumferential abutting edges occurring between at least two tandem spreading roll sleeves are not in alignment with one another. This brings it about that no harmful effects will be propagated from the abutting edges through the entire series of the rotating spreading rolls.
In a preferred embodiment visible abutting edges occurring between the sleeves run spirally over the circumferential surface of the single spreading roll. This embodiment also serves to prevent any sources of error that might be created by the abutting edges.
In a preferred embodiment, there are provided of two sleeves an abutting edge between the sleeves is disposed away from the center between the two sleeve surfaces. This constitutes an especially preferred embodiment of the invention for the prevention of the sagging of spreading rolls in sleeve form.
In regard to the configuration of the channel-like pockets, the distance (depth) between the spreading roll's circumferential surface and the bottom of the channel-like pockets differs from roll to roll. This makes it possible to hold out additional material in the channel-like pockets of the downstream and upstream pairs of spreading rolls through the transport section, i.e., during the conveyor spreading action. Thus on the one hand the throughput in such conveyor spreading mechanisms is increased while the quality of the spreading remains the same, and on the other hand any influence on the spreading quality is avoided.
In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus the distance (depth) between the circumferential surface of the spreading roll and the bottom of the channel-like pockets differs over the length of the length of the individual spreading roll. By this arr transversely of the direction of the advance of the mat in formation, which is then processed to wood or other such boards, serves to produce a greater density in the marginal area of these wood material boards, which can be of advantage in the case of a spline-and-groove design of such boards.
In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus it is proposed that the uninterrupted lands on the surface of the spreading roll terminate in cutting edges. Thus, the particle throughput can be increased considerably, no pinching of the particles occurs, and furthermore a well-defined discharge from the pockets takes place uniformly.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the rolling process, the pressure-casting or injection molding process is used in the preparation of the surfaces of the spreading rolls according to the method for the continuous production of a mat according to the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, spreading rolls made according to the invention are characterized in that their circumferential surface is then subjected to a machining procedure. The machining of the circumferential surface makes it possible for the first time for spreading rolls designed for a conveyor spreading system to provide for the positive and smooth control of the particle stream needed for the spreading, even in the case of direct contact of their circumferential surface.
Therefore, it is possible for the first time, by means of the sets of spreading rolls with a smooth but indented surface to form continuously a well-defined mat from a stream consisting of particles of different dimensions, wherein, depending upon the direction of movement of the support for receiving the mat and/or the arrangement of the spreading rolls according to the invention disposed in tandem and performing the conveyor spreading mechanism, to produce a mat on the support, the cross section of which is continuously formed beginning from a topmost layer with fine particles, then a layer with coarser or coarse particles, and thereafter, again with fine particles, the other outside layer of the mat.
It can, of course, be understood that a mat thus made can be used by itself, or parts of it, for the facing of other mats in order to produce therefrom wood or similar boards by pressing.
The invention will be further explained in the following description of embodiments thereof.

Method for the continuous production of a mat for the manufacture of boards of wood material or the like

Dieffenbacher Schenck Panel Production Systems GmbH


A method and apparatus suspend a load on an arcuate shaped lift arm, which is attached to a body of a lifting apparatus in such a manner that the lift arm is movable with respect to the body of the apparatus along an arc, for selectively engaging and disengaging the load. The lift arm is locked against movement while the lift arm is supporting the load, and a remote release apparatus is provided for moving the lift arm along the arc. A second locking apparatus selectively locks the lift arm in place along the arc at an open position of the apparatus. The lifting apparatus may also include one or more remote release apparatuses, in combination with other elements such as a spreader bar, slings, and control elements.

It is common practice in the construction of buildings and the like to use a lifting mechanism, such as a crane, to lift structural beams, trusses, or other loads to a location that is often high above the ground. Often the load is attached to a lifting hook of the crane by one or more slings positioned to support the load while it is being lifted into place.
Once the load has been moved to the desired location, it is necessary to release it from the slings. Particularly where the load is being placed at an elevated location, it is highly desirable that an apparatus and method be provided for remotely releasing the load from the slings, so that, for example, a workman standing on the ground can release the load.
Safe practices and regulations typically make it inadvisable to have a workman located in the area where the load is to be placed, while the load is being lifted into place, particularly where the load is to be placed in an elevated location. As a result, if no apparatus or method is provided for remotely releasing the load, a workman may need to climb the structure to release the load after it has been set in place, and then descend to the ground before another load can be lifted into place. This results in considerable lost time and effort, particularly where a large number of heavy loads, such as beams and trusses, must be lifted into place and properly positioned at an elevated level.
It is also highly desirable that a remote release apparatus and method provide positive locking of the release apparatus whenever the slings are supporting the load, so that it cannot be inadvertently released while being lifted into place. It is further desirable, in some circumstances, that such a remote release apparatus and method include other components, such as spreader beams, slings, and control components, to form a lifting apparatus.
Prior approaches to providing such a remote release apparatus, and lifting apparatuses including such a remote release apparatus, have not been entirely satisfactory for meeting the needs outlined above. Such prior approaches are exemplified by: U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,836, to Barnes, entitled Structural Member Lifting And Releasing Device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,389, to Marler, entitled Apparatus For Latching And Unlatching A Load Suspended From A Lifting Crane; U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,710, to Marler, entitled Apparatus For Latching And Unlatching A Load Suspended From A Lifting Crane; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,394, to Marler, entitled Apparatus With A Centering Member For Latching And Unlatching A Load Suspended From A Lifting Crane;
It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus and method for lifting a load, and for remotely releasing the load once it has been set in place, in a manner that better fulfills one or more of the needs described above.

Remote release apparatus and method for lifting and releasing a load


Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for determining acoustic feature vectors of query and target items in a first vector space, and mapping the acoustic feature vectors to a second vector space having a lower dimension. The distribution of vectors in the second vector space can then be used to identify items from the same songs, and/or items that are complementary. A mapping function is trained using a machine learning algorithm, such that complementary audio items are closer in the second vector space than the first, according to a given distance metric.

In digital music, songs are often made up of an assembly of various preexisting and/or new audio stems. An audio stem is a discrete or grouped collection of audio sources mixed together to be dealt with downstream as one unit. For instance stems may consist of all of the string instruments, a full orchestra, just background vocals, only the percussion instruments, a single drum set, or any other grouping of audio sources that make up a music track. Stems prepared in this fashion may be blended together to form a music track. The arrangement of the stems and the stems themselves can be modified using various audio manipulation tools such as mixers. Stem-mixers, for example, are used to mix audio material based on creating groups of audio tracks and processing them separately prior to combining them into a final master mix. Stems are also sometimes referred to as submixes or subgroups.
Audio stems can be stored, for example in a database. Such a stem database of audio stems can be built by collecting songs made from an initial database of stems which keeps growing. It can also be built or populated by source separation on existing songs (e.g., a catalogue of songs from a media distribution service).
One technical problem that arises relates to determining which audio stems in the stem database have been used to make a music track. This problem becomes more apparent as the stem database grows as users cannot listen to all the stems in the database to determine which stems have been used.
Solutions currently offered to creators include services such as Splice, or within DAWs (i.e. Digital Audio Workstation) like Apple Logic or Ableton Live are based on a search which is powered by tags. However, there exists no known technical solution to the above-described identification problem.
Accordingly, given a database of audio content including stems and/or combinations of stems, a user may wish to find which of the audio stem(s) in the stem database have been used to make a music track upon providing a query.

Audio stem identification systems and methods


A cartridge magazine for firearms comprises a key insertable through a slot in the end panel of the magazine for engaging the spring engaged elevator upon which the shells are supported. The slot includes a series of transverse or lateral branches spaced longitudinally on the panel for receiving the key and locking the elevator in position. The magazine thus may be loaded with cartridge shells in stages as defined by the lateral locking branches. After loading is completed, the key may be removed from the magazine and clip so that the latter may be inserted into the firearm with which it is used. In an alternatively preferred embodiment, optional marking means are positioned on top of the magazine for placing an identifying marking on each cartridge shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cartridge magazines for firearms, and more particularly, to a cartridge magazine having means for facilitating the easy and rapid loading of cartridge shells therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional method of loading cartridge shells or bullets into the magazine or clip of a firearm comprises the progressive compression of the magazine's spring and the insertion of one bullet at a time against the increasing spring resistance. Usually the bullet being loaded is pressed against the previously loaded bullet requiring considerable dexterity and force. Unaided, the loading of a magazine in the prescribed manner, is difficult, time consuming, and may lead to misalignment problems and consequent jamming of the bullets in the loaded clip. In order to overcome the foregoing problems in loading cartridges into a magazine, various mechanical appliances have been proposed. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,651 there is disclosed a loading aid for facilitating the insertion of bullets in a magazine one at a time by exerting finger pressure on the ledge of the device fitted over the top of the magazine. While this prior art device helps to make the loading process somewhat easier, a separate mechanical device is required and the problem of loading subsequent bullets against increasing spring resistance still is not overcome. A need exists therefore, for an improved cartridge magazine which overcomes the problems of the prior art by facilitating the loading of the magazine without requiring external mechanical aids or attachments and which overcomes the problems occasioned by the progressive resistance of the magazine spring.
The foregoing need is met by the cartridge magazine of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


A base crystal layer is formed on the surface of a basal body by growing, e.g., GaN comprising a III-V compound by MOCVD and then the base crystal layer 12 is etched. An intermediate crystal layer is formed by laterally growing GaN from windows formed in the base crystal layer by etching. In the intermediate crystal layer, an inner layer made of, e.g., AlGaN is formed. Then, the intermediate crystal layer is further etched and a top crystal layer is formed by laterally growing GaN from windows formed in the intermediate crystal layer by etching. An inner layer made of, e.g., AlGaN is formed in the top crystal layer. Development of dislocations is suppressed to some extent by the lateral growth when forming the intermediate crystal layer and the top crystal layer. Further, development of dislocations is suppressed by the inner layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a device such as a semiconductor laser device, a crystal substrate of III-V compounds of the nitride system and a crystal film of III-V compounds of the nitride system which are used in the method of manufacturing a device and a method of manufacturing a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the manufacturing process of a device such as a semiconductor laser device or a light-emitting diode (LED) involves the deposition of semiconductor films or the like laid one upon another over the surface of a crystal substrate or a crystal film comprised of III-V compounds of the nitride system, e.g., gallium nitride (GaN). A desirable method to obtain a crystal substrate or a crystal film for the use in the manufacturing process is to form a bulk of a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system, but the manufacture of a bulk of a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system is difficult. Thus, it has been the practice to grow epitaxially a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system on a basal body made of sapphire (Al2O3).
However, the difference in the crystal structures of the basal body and the crystal formed thereon, or the small interaction between the basal body and the crystal formed thereon causes dislocations to occur from the interface. Such dislocations develop in the direction of crystal growth, piercing the crystal to reach its surface. This causes a problem that crystal substrates or crystal films thus grown have numerous defects in the surface.
To overcome the problem, Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10-312971 proposes a method in which a gallium nitride (GaN) base layer is formed over the surface of a sapphire (Al2O3) basal body, and a mask pattern made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) is formed over the base layer, and then a gallium nitride (GaN) crystal is grown over the base layer with the mask pattern in between. According to the method proposed, the development of dislocations is prevented by the mask pattern, resulting in a reduction in the number of dislocations piercing the crystal to reach its surface. The method, however, cannot sufficiently reduce the number of dislocations in crystal substrates or crystal films because some dislocations develop through windows of the mask pattern to pierce the crystal.
According to Extended Abstracts (The 46th Spring Meeting, (1999); The Japan Society of Applied Physics and Related Societies, page 416, disclosed is a method such that a recessed region is formed on the surface of an base layer made of GaN or the like formed on a basal body made of Al2O3 and GaN crystals are re-grown on the surface of the base layer. Since the method causes a change in the direction of the development of dislocations at the recessed region of the base layer, the number of dislocations piercing the crystal reduces to some extent. In the method, however, dislocations propagate through the portion other than the recessed region of the base layer. Thus, the method has a problem that the number of dislocations piercing the crystal cannot be reduced sufficiently.
On the other hand, according to MRS Internet J. Nitride Semicond. Res. 4S1, G3. 38 (1999) and MRS Internet J. Nitride Semicond. Res. 4S1, G4. 9 (1999), proposed are methods of preventing dislocations piercing the crystal using lateral growth. In the former method, a groove is formed in a gallium nitride (GaN) crystal as a seed crystal, and the crystal growth is re-started in the lateral direction from the walls of the groove. In the latter method, after a mask pattern is formed on the surface of a gallium nitride (GaN) crystal as a seed crystal, the gallium nitride (GaN) crystal is etched to form a groove, and the crystal growth is re-started in the lateral direction from the walls of the groove, while the mask pattern prevents the crystal growth over the surface of the seed crystal. However, with the former method, there is a possibility that dislocations will develop from the surface of the seed crystal. With the latter method, there is a possibility that other dislocations will develop above the mask pattern. Thus, both methods have a problem that defects in the surface of the crystal cannot be prevented sufficiently.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above problems. It is an object of the invention to provide a crystal substrate of III-V compounds of the nitride system and a crystal film of III-V compounds of the nitride system, a method of manufacturing a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system used in the manufacture of the crystal substrate of III-V compounds of the nitride system and the crystal film of III-V compounds of the nitride system, and a method of manufacturing a device employing the method of manufacturing a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system.
The method of manufacturing a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system of the present invention comprises a step of forming a crystal layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system on a surface of a basal body, and the crystal layer is provided with at least one inner layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system having a different composition from the composition of the crystal layer.
According to the method of manufacturing a device of the invention, a device is manufactured by forming a device film on a surface of a crystal substrate or a crystal film. This method includes the step of growing a crystal layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system on a surface of a basal body, and the crystal layer is provided with at least one inner layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system having a different composition from the composition of the crystal layer.
The crystal substrate of III-V compounds of the nitride system of the present invention comprise a crystal layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system on a surface of a basal body, and the crystal layer is provided with an inner layer made of III-V compounds having a different composition from the composition of the crystal layer.
According to a crystal film of III-V compounds of the nitride system of the present invention, a crystal layer made of III-V compounds of the nitride system is formed on a surface of a basal body, and the crystal layer is provided with an inner layer made of III-V compounds having a different composition from the composition of the crystal layer.
According to the method of manufacturing a crystal of III-V compounds of the nitride system, the method of manufacturing a device, the crystal substrate and the crystal film of the present invention, an inner layer having a different composition is formed in the crystal layer. Thus, propagation of dislocation bends by the inner layer, and the number of dislocations which propagates crystals is greatly reduced due to the interference between dislocations. Further, the inner layer is made of III-V compounds, so that further propagation of dislocations does not occur at the interface between the inner layer and the crystal layer.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CRYSTAL OF III-V COMPOUNDS OF THE NITRIDE SYSTEM, CRYSTAL SUBSTRATE OF III-V COMPOUNDS OF THE NITRIDE SYSTEM, CRYSTAL FILM OF III-V COMPOUNDS OF THE NITRIDE SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DEVICE


A work vehicle includes an engine, an injector injecting a reducing agent to an exhaust gas exhausted from the engine, a determination portion determining whether or not a temperature of the injector is high, a stop determination portion determining whether or not the engine has stopped while the injector is in a high-temperature state as a result of determination by the determination portion, a counter counting the number of times of stop of the engine while the injector is in the high-temperature state based on a result of determination by the stop determination portion, and a warning portion giving a warning in connection with stop of the engine when a count value of the counter exceeds a first prescribed value.

An exhaust treatment apparatus is mounted on such a work vehicle as a hydraulic excavator, a bulldozer, and a wheel loader. As the exhaust treatment apparatus, for example, a diesel particulate filter apparatus (DPF), a diesel oxidation catalyst apparatus (DOC), a selective catalytic reduction apparatus (SCR), and the like are available.
In this regard, in an exhaust gas guided to the selective catalytic reduction apparatus (SCR), a reducing agent is injected from a reducing agent injector in advance and mixed.
Since a temperature of the exhaust gas is high, a temperature of the reducing agent injector may also increase. In order to suppress increase in temperature, a coolant is commonly circulated for cooling.
A coolant, however, is supplied by a cooling pump with the use of engine output, and circulation stops as the engine stops. If the engine stops while the reducing agent injector is in a high-temperature state, a cooling function may not effectively be exhibited.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-137037 proposes a scheme for giving notification to prevent an engine from stopping when solidification of a reducing agent is likely because of a possibility of solidification of the reducing agent around an injection valve due to heat and resultant clogging in case of engine stop while a reducing agent injector is in a high-temperature state.


Aqueous nasal spray compositions containing:. 0.001-2% by weight/volume of a medicament selected from the group consisting of chlorpheniramine maleate, oxymetazoline hydrochloride and mixtures thereof; PA1 0.50 to 15.00% by weight/volume of a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 360,000 and mixtures thereof; PA1 2.5 to 10.00% by weight/volume of polyethylene glycol; PA1 1.00 to 10.00% by weight/volume of a moisturizing agent other than polyethylene glycol; PA1 0.01 to 0.05% by weight/volume of disodium edetate; PA1 0.001 to 0.3% by weight/volume of an antimicrobial preservative; PA1 0.20 to 5.00% by weight/volume of an aromatic alcohol; PA1 a sufficient amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer to maintain the pH of the composition within the range of about 4.0 to 8.0; and PA1 QS water.

This invention relates to aqueous nasal compositions comprising a medicament in an aqueous carrier containing a water soluble polymer selected from the group of polyvinylpyrrolidone and mixtures thereof. The combination of water soluble polymers provides unexpected properties which enhance medicinal efficacy and promotes organoleptic acceptance of the compositions
One of the major hindrances to effective systemic absorption of medicaments such as chlorpheniramine maleate in the nose is due to anatomical features of the epithelium within the nasal cavity. The constant beating of the nasal cilia causes the mucus film to continually move toward the nasopharynx. This action, in about 8 to 10 minutes, will remove the medicament from the nasal mucosa reducing the time for effective systemic absorption.
Certain medicaments are active topically and are not systemically absorbed, such as the topically active nasal decongestant oxymetazoline hydrochloride. This medicament is a vasoconstrictor that increases nasal airway volume by reducing blood flow to the nasal capillary bed. Oxymetazoline hydrochloride also reduces blood flow to the muco-secreting cells and as a result reduces nasal secretions. This reduction of natural moisture replacement in conjunction with moisture vaporization due to increased air flow volume promotes drying of the nasal cavity. Loss of this protective mucosal film may result in an increased occurrence in nasal sensitivity and associated burning and stinging.
It is known that when a combination of medicaments, such as chlorpheniramine maleate and oxymetazoline hydrochloride are incorporated into typical nasal spray formulations the occurrence of nasal burning and stinging increases.
Nasal drying and the associated stinging within the nasal cavity is one of the most common complaints of patients and consumers that use nasal spray products. Other common nasal product negative attributes include odor, taste and the tendency of the product to run out of the nose.
We have surprisingly discovered that incorporation of a combination of water soluble polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof into nasal spray compositions provide enhanced medicinal efficacy and promotes organoleptic acceptence of the compositions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide nasal spray compositions exhibiting increased nasal retention of medicaments in the nasal cavity for enhanced topical or systemic activity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide nasal spray compositions exhibiting reduced post nasal drip.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide nasal spray compositions exhibiting increased moisturization in the nasal cavity.
A further object of the present invention is to provide nasal spray compositions which reduce the potential of medicament induced stinging, burning, overdrying or irritation.

Nasal spray compositions exhibiting increased retention in the nasal cavity

Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, Inc.


An example method for controlling an electronic compass includes determining compass tracking angles in a coordinate system for magnetic field data points that correspond to magnetic field sensor signals produced as a vehicle rotates relative to a surrounding magnetic field. The magnetic field data points produce an expected curve in the coordinate system. The rotation of the vehicle is tracked relative to the surrounding magnetic field based upon the compass tracking angles and whether the vehicle has rotated a desired amount is determined based at least partially upon the expected curve and the compass tracking angles.

Electronic compass assemblies are often used in vehicles to indicate to a driver or passenger of the vehicle a direction that the vehicle is facing or traveling. A typical electronic compass assembly includes magnetic sensors that detect a magnetic field of the Earth along a first axis and a second, orthogonal axis. A microprocessor represents the magnetic field detected along the first axis and the second, orthogonal axis as a magnetic field data point having X and Y coordinates and plotted on a reference coordinate system, where a positive Y-axis direction represents magnetic north. A line between the magnetic field data point and the center of the reference coordinate system forms an angle with the positive Y-axis. The microprocessor determines the direction that the vehicle is facing or traveling based upon the angle. The direction is displayed to an occupant of the vehicle as one of North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest.
The magnetic conditions of the vehicle and surrounding environment of the vehicle typically change over time. As a result, the magnetic sensors are periodically calibrated to correct the magnetic field data for these magnetic changes. Calibration typically includes collecting magnetic field data from the magnetic sensors through a 360° turn of the vehicle (or a predetermined percentage of a 360° turn). The collected magnetic field data is generally in ellipse-shaped pattern. The microprocessor utilizes a statistical fitting procedure to produce a curve that corresponds to the magnetic field data pattern, an elliptical curve for example. The curve is then mathematically adapted to and centered in a reference system. A reference system where the elliptical curve is transformed into a centered circle is typically used. The reference curve provides a reference correction factor for mathematically adapting, or correcting, magnetic field data points. An angle corresponding to a corrected magnetic field data point therefore takes into account the changed magnetic conditions and provides the basis for determining a more accurate vehicle direction.
The microprocessor continually tracks incoming magnetic field data to identify when the vehicle makes another 360° turn. When another 360° turn is identified, the microprocessor uses the data collected during the 360° turn to compute a new reference correction factor. If the new reference correction factor passes a validity check, it replaces the previous reference correction factor and is then used by the microprocessor to correct magnetic field data points for vehicle heading computation.
One typical method for identifying a 360° turn is commonly referred to as bin tracking. Bin tracking includes estimating a tracking angle from a magnetic field data point without first correcting the magnetic field data point for changed surrounding magnetic conditions using the reference correction factor (e.g., an ellipse). The tracking angle may not be useful for determining an accurate vehicle direction, however, it is useful to determine when the vehicle completes a 360° turn.
The microprocessor separates the 360° turn into "bins." Typically, each bin represents a 12° increment of the 360°. Bin #1 might include the increment 1–12°, bin #2 13–24° and so on up to 360°. The microprocessor catalogues the tracking angles in the bins. When all of the bins (or a selected number of the bins) have a cataloged angle, the microprocessor knows that the vehicle has completed a 360° turn (or selected percentage of the 360° turn).
One typical method of estimating a series of tracking angles without first correcting the magnetic field data points includes plotting an uncorrected magnetic field data point on a reference coordinate system (e.g., a coordinate system of the magnetic sensors). For an initial uncorrected magnetic field data point, an offset point lying on a line between the uncorrected magnetic field data point and the center of the reference coordinate system and at a given distance from the uncorrected magnetic field data point is also plotted. The angle between the line and a north reference line that extends from the offset point parallel to the Y-axis is used as the tracking angle for the uncorrected magnetic field data point.
A subsequent tracking angle is determined the same way by plotting a subsequent uncorrected magnetic field data point on the reference coordinate system. If the magnetic field data point lies within a threshold (the given distance plus or minus a percent of the given distance) of the initial offset point, the initial offset point is still used to compute the tracking angle corresponding to the subsequent uncorrected magnetic field data point. If the subsequent uncorrected magnetic field data point lies outside the threshold of the initial offset point, a second offset point is determined. The second offset point lies on a line between the subsequent uncorrected magnetic field data point and the previous offset point. The angle between the line and a north reference line that extends from the second offset point parallel to the Y-axis is the subsequent tracking angle. Thus, for each new incoming uncorrected magnetic field data point, a new corresponding tracking angle is computed, based on the formerly determined offset point or a new one depending on the fact that the new incoming uncorrected magnetic field data point lies within or without the threshold of the last computed (current) offset point.
Disadvantageously, this typical method allows magnetic field data to be collected that is unsuitable for the statistical fitting procedure. When the vehicle has completed a 360° turn (or selected percentage of the 360° turn), the generally ellipse-shaped pattern of the collected magnetic field data is often unsuitable if the elliptical pattern is too flat (i.e., the ratio of the minor axis to the major axis of the elliptical pattern is relatively small for example). In extreme conditions, the generally ellipse-shaped pattern resembles a line rather than an elliptical shape. As a result, the statistical fitting procedure is unable to accurately or reliably calculate an elliptical curve from the line-shaped magnetic field data pattern, which in turn can result in an erroneous calibration.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electronic compass assembly and method that more reliably tracks vehicle rotation in order to identify suitable magnetic field data when the vehicle rotates a desired amount. This invention addresses those needs and provides enhanced capabilities while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art.

Electronic compass and method for tracking vehicle rotation