The present invention relates to novel liquid protein formulations, particularly arginine-free liquid pharmaceutical compositions of etanercept. The invention employs particular combinations and classes of buffer systems, tonicifiers, and sugar stabilisers, optionally alongside polar ionisable amino acids (e.g. aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histidine, and lysine), to afford a viable and storable drug product.

Treatment of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-related autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis, has been achieved through the use of FDA-approved drugs such as Etanercept (ENBREL®, Amgen, Wyeth)—CAS Registry Number: 185243-69-0; CAS Name: 1-235-Tumor necrosis factor receptor (human) fusion protein with 236-467-immunoglobulin G1 (human g1-chain Fc fragment)). In particular, Etanercept is a recombinant fusion protein containing the human soluble TNF receptor p75 linked to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G1, which dimerizes via the cysteine residues in the Fc fragment to form an immunoglobulin-like structure. It's preparation and uses have been previously described in the literature, including WO91/03553 and WO 9406476 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,690 (all Immunex), whilst its clinical use is reviewed in B. Goffe, J. C. Cather, J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 49, S105-S111 (2003); S. Nanda, J. M. Bathon, Expert Opin. Pharmacother. 5, 1175-1186 (2004). Etanercept's TNFα-inhibiting properties are believed to be responsible for its clinical effects.
Initially, due to storage stability issues, etanercept (Enbrel®) was provided to medical practitioners and/or patients in multiple-use vials as a sterile, white, preservative-free, lyophilized powder for reconstitution with 1 mL of supplied sterile water for injection containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol prior to subcutaneous injection. Reconstituted solutions had a pH of about 7.4 and were clear and colourless. Each vial contained 25 mg etanercept, 40 mg mannitol, 10 mg sucrose, and 1.2 mg tromethamine.
However, due to the inconvenience of reconstitution to medical practitioners and end-users alike, more stable liquid formulations were developed (see WO03/072060—Immunex) which could be stored for a period of time in single-use preloaded syringes which could be used directly for administration of etanercept via subcutaneous injection. Such liquid formulations of etanercept (Enbrel®) comprise an aqueous solution of 50 mg/mL etanercept, 1% w/v sucrose, 100 mM sodium chloride, 25 mM sodium phosphate, 25 mM L-arginine hydrochloride, having a pH of about 6.3. As explained in WO03/072060, the presence of L-arginine was deemed essential for the stability and viability of the etanercept fusion protein, in particular to prevent aggregation. WO03/072060 describes various analyses, including Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC), Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), to illustrate the effectiveness of L-arginine as an antiaggregant for etanercept.
The elusiveness of viable and stable alternative liquid formulations of etanercept has stimulated interest amongst a variety of researchers. For instance, more recent publications such as WO2011141926 (Intas) describe alternative etanercept liquid formulations which employ a complex array of excipients, including inter alia surfactants and chelators. WO2012165914 (LG Life Sciences) describes alternative etanercept liquid formulations in which sulphur-containing amino acids were considered as possible stabilisers of etanercept. WO2013006454 (Biogen) describes another alternative etanercept liquid formulation in which L-arginine is replaced by a high salt content.
Despite a significant amount of research activity in this area, stable and viable arginine-free formulations still remain highly elusive, no doubt due to the delicate interplay of factors effecting the stability of such formulations. However, L-arginine is desirably avoided, especially in injectable formulations, in view of its well known side effects, including anaphylaxis, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, cerebral edema, hyperkalemia, incompatibilities with certain other classes of drugs (e.g. phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as sildenafil/Viagra®), bloating, diarrhea, hematuria, hives, hormonal changes, increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatine and serum creatinine, increased inflammatory response (e.g. in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis), leg restlessness, lower back pain, nausea, night sweats and flushing (e.g. with arginine withdrawal), numbness (especially with arginine-containing injections), rash, reduction in hematocrit, severe tissue damage (especially with arginine-containing injections), stomach and intestine discomfort, systemic acidosis, and venous irritation.
There is therefore a need for an alternative or improved liquid formulation of etanercept. Desirably, any new formulations would solve at least one of the aforementioned problems and/or at least one problem inherent in the prior art, and may suitably solve two or more of said problems. Desirably, any new formulations would avoid or minimise the emergence of other problems. Desirably, the problem(s) of the prior art may be solved whilst reducing the complexity of the formulation.

Liquid pharmaceutical composition of etanercept with lysine and proline


A shock absorber (100) for suppressing vibration in a vehicle includes a valve disk (1) that delimits the interior of a cylinder (40) in which a working fluid is sealed; a first passage (2a), a second passage (2b) and a third passage (2c), which are disposed in series so as to connect pressure chambers (41, 42) delimited by the valve disk (1); a valve body (10) that selectively opens the first passage (2a) and the second passage (2b); a biasing member (15) that biases the valve body (10) in a direction for closing the first passage (2a) against the pressure in one of the pressure chambers (42); and a bypass passage (10a) that connects the first passage (2a) to the third passage (2c) when the valve body (10), having displaced in accordance with the pressure in the one pressure chamber (42) so as to open the first passage (2a), displaces further so as to close the second passage (2b). The bypass passage (10a) is set to have a smaller flow passage area than a flow passage area when the first passage (2a) and the second passage (2b) are both open.

A conventional shock absorber comprises a piston that is inserted into a cylinder so as to be free to slide and delineates two oil chambers within the interior of the cylinder, a port that penetrates the piston and is capable of connecting the two oil chambers, a leaf valve laminated onto an outlet opening portion of the port, and a spring that biases the leaf valve in a direction for closing the port outlet opening portion (see JP2004-190716, for example).
In this type of shock absorber, the leaf valve is bent by a differential pressure between the two oil chambers, and the flow area of a passage through which a working fluid passes is determined by the bending amount of the leaf valve. A damping force generated by the shock absorber is determined according to the flow passage area.


A system and related techniques generate and encode identification or transactional media such as passports, driver's licenses or others with a symbol set defined in a color space such as 8-bit color or grayscale, 24, 32, 48 or other bit depths or resolutions. Because blocks, lines or other symbol shapes may each take on more than a black or white color value, information density for the resulting bar code, biometric scan or other symbol set may be increased, and likewise take advantage of the resolution of close-contact scanners and other input devices. In embodiments, the symbols may be encoded using a selected subset of the overall color space, for instance by selecting an evenly spaced subset consisting of 4, 8 or 16 color values evenly divided within a 256 tone grayscale space, or using other values or subsets. In other embodiments the selected subset may be selected according to intervals or functions which are not evenly divided, for instance to approximate the gamma curve of a detection device, or according to other functions. The information density of the resulting IDs, credit cards, checks or other objects or media may therefore be increased, while still retaining a high degree of accuracy.

Widespread bar code technologies such as the universal product code (UPC) and others rely upon predefined symbol sets defined for certain positions and sizes within labels and other media. The traditional UPC, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, and related codes however do not achieve a particularly high information density in terms of bits embedded per square inch, achieving on the order of 100-300 bits per square inch. This is due in one regard to the length and width of the code dimensions, which are comparatively elongated. This is also due in another regard to the limitation of the encoding technology to a black and white color scheme, in which the presence or absence of bits is represented by a black or white mark or symbol. While this encoding scheme may enhance detection robustness because the separation between coding symbols in terms of color space distance is greatest, and permit the use of relatively low-cost scanners because only black and white elements need to be discriminated, a price is paid in terms of information density. Simple black and white bar codes have therefore as a rule proved insufficient or impractical for transaction or identification applications which demand greater overall information content, such as driver's licenses or other ID media.
As the pixel resolution of both printing devices such as laser printers and detection devices such as handheld scanners has increased, the possibility has correspondingly arisen to enlarge the color space in which bar codes and other symbol codes may be expressed. Printing devices, and scanning or input devices in particular have become available which are capable of close-contact optical or other scans at color depth resolutions of 8 bits (256 grayscale or color), 24, 32, 48 or greater bit depths. Enlarged color spaces combined with finer spatial resolution creates the potential for greater information density on media, yet encoding, for example, a driver's license at 32 bits per pixel at 200 lines per inch may cause scanning errors from discolored paper, pixelation, misalignment and other problems, so that while information density may increase, accuracy may in cases be compromised. Other problems in bar code and related encoding technology exist.

System and method for selectively encoding a symbol code in a color space


A switched capacitor converter has a supply voltage input, an output circuit with one or more load capacitors, a semiconductor switch network. The switch network is connected at a switch junction point and across the voltage input, and has one or more pairs of said first and second switches. Each pair of switches is associated with one of the load capacitors and each pair is connected in series. The converter also has a charging capacitor network connected across the semiconductor switch network and across the voltage input. The charging capacitor network has one or more charging capacitors and inductances connected between the switch junction point and the output circuit. Each of the charging capacitors and inductances is associated with one of the load capacitors. The load capacitors are each charged by the associated charging capacitor when the associated first switch is closed and the associated second switch is open. And the load capacitors are each discharged by the associated inductance when the associated first switch is closed and the associated second switch is open.

Switched capacitor converters, often referred to as "charge pumps", are generally used for conversion of DC voltages. Basic switched converters generally provide one simple voltage conversion. The most common applications for these circuits are to provide a single output voltage signal that is a doubled, halved or inverted form of the an input voltage signal.
Personal computing devices in general are trending towards smaller sizes while the number of feature sets associated with consumer demands is increasing. The need for single small packages and circuits capable of providing a growing number of voltage conversions in the form of numerous output signals from a single input signal increases with each micro technological advance. Thus there is an as yet unsatisfied need for a power network that efficiently, compactly and cost effectively provides a multitude of various voltage signal conversions.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly.


A receiver system for antenna diversity employing a single backhaul cable. A single backhaul cable couples a receiver to a plurality of antennas. The signals from the antennas are combined onto the single backhaul cable using frequency offsets, spread spectrum code division, time division, or a combination thereof. At the receiver, the signals from the antennas are decoupled. In the case of frequency offsets, the antenna signals are decoupled by splitting the backhaul signal into a plurality of duplicate signals, frequency shifting selected ones of the duplicate signals, and correlating said frequency shifted signals. In the case of spread spectrum code division, the antenna signals are decoupled by splitting the backhaul signal into a plurality of duplicate signals and demultiplexing each of the duplicate signals with a different spread spectrum code. One or more antennas may be selected for communication in response decoupling the antenna signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of communications and, in particular, to combining diverse antenna signals.
2. Description of Related Art
Signals propagating in a near earth environment are subject to fading because of multipath effects, obstructions, antenna nulls, and other effects. One known technique for mitigating fading effects is antenna diversity, also called space diversity. This known technique takes advantage of the fact that signal fading is generally not the same at all locations; rather, signal fading may vary rapidly at a given location due to changes in relative position of a transmitter with respect to a receiving antenna or antennas (some of which may be mobile), interference, signal echoing, and other foreseeable and unforeseeable factors. In some cases, for example, the quality of a received signal at a given antenna location may vary over periods as short as ten milliseconds or less, depending on factors such as vehicle speed (where communication is with a mobile unit.
To mitigate the effects of fading, multiple antennas are used to collect energy at physically separated locations. Subsequent processing may then attempt to select a single antenna providing the best signal/noise ratio, on a dynamic basis. It is also known to combine energy from the multiplicity of antennas to attempt to maximize the signal/noise ratio.
Because antenna diversity relies on the fact that antennas are located in different physical locations, the antennas may be physically separated from each other and from the receiver by large distances. When the antennas are physically separated from the receiver electronics, conventional practice is to run separate cables coupling each antenna to the receiver, called "backhaul cables". While this conventional technique may achieve the purpose of coupling the receiver to all of the antennas, it is subject to the drawback that when a physical separation between the antennas and the receiver is large, running multiple backhaul cables can be costly. For example, it is not unusual for an antenna to be separated from the receiver by as much as five miles. Using multiple backhaul cables to service multiple antennas over such distances may entail substantial expense.
The need for multiple backhaul cables to transmit the signal bandwidths required by multiple antennas has further drawbacks as well. For example, there is presently a desire to utilize the existing cable TV infrastructure to provide various telecommunication and other multimedia services. Thus, backhaul cables associated with existing cable TV systems may be utilized to carry a variety of telecommunications data including, for example, television, video, cellular, fax, voice communication, and other types of data. In many cases, however, the backhaul capabilities of conventional cable TV systems, which often have only a single backhaul cable available, are insufficient to handle the bandwidth required to support antenna diversity for cellular systems or other telecommunication systems.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a technique that minimizes the number of backhaul cables needed to couple a plurality of antennas to a receiver. It would further be advantageous to provide a technique for increasing the amount of data that may be transmitted over existing backhaul cables having limited bandwidth capabilities.


This semiconductor device includes: a first metal plate; a plurality of semiconductor elements mounted on the first metal plate; a spacer that is connected to a surface on the opposite side to the surface where the plurality of semiconductor elements are mounted on the first metal plate; a second metal plate that is connected to a surface on the opposite side to the surface where the spacer is connected to the semiconductor elements; and an encapsulating resin between the first plate and the second plate that seals the plurality of semiconductor elements. Stress due to contraction that occurs in the encapsulating resin between the plurality of semiconductor elements is relaxed to a greater extent than stress due to contraction that occurs in the encapsulating resin in the locations other than the location between the plurality of semiconductor devices.

Among semiconductor devices including a semiconductor element, a pair of heat radiating plates for radiating heat from both surfaces of the semiconductor element, and an encapsulating resin for covering all over the device, there has conventionally been a semiconductor device that further includes a solder layer for bonding the semiconductor element and the heat radiating plates and a polyamide resin that is applied to surfaces of the heat radiating plates and improves adhesion to the encapsulating resin. The heat radiating plate is connected to a terminal of the semiconductor element and also utilized as an electrode (see Patent Document 1, for example).


Purified genes encoding cytokine from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.

Recombinant DNA technology refers generally to the technique of integrating genetic information from a donor source into vectors for subsequent processing, such as through introduction into a host, whereby the transferred genetic information is copied and/or expressed in the new environment. Commonly, the genetic information exists in the form of complementary DNA (cDNA) derived from messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for a desired protein product. The carrier is frequently a plasmid having the capacity to incorporate cDNA for later replication in a host and, in some cases, actually to control expression of the cDNA and thereby direct synthesis of the encoded product in the host.
For some time, it has been known that the mammalian immune response is based on a series of complex cellular interactions, called the "immune network". See, e.g., Paul (1998) Fundamental Immunology (4th ed.) Raven Press, NY. Recent research has provided new insights into the inner workings of this network. While it remains clear that much of the response does, in fact, revolve around the network-like interactions of lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, and other cells, immunologists now generally hold the opinion that soluble proteins, known as lymphokines, cytokines, or monokines, play a critical role in controlling these cellular interactions. Thus, there is considerable interest in the isolation, characterization, and mechanisms of action of cell modulatory factors, an understanding of which will lead to significant advancements in the diagnosis and therapy of numerous medical abnormalities, e.g., immune system disorders. Some of these factors are hematopoietic growth factors, e.g., granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). See, e.g., Thomson (ed. 1998) The Cytokine Handbook (3d ed.) Academic Press, San Diego; Mire-Sluis and Thorpe (ed. 1998) Cytokines Academic Press, San Diego; Metcalf and Nicola (1995) The Hematopoietic Colony Stimulating Factors Cambridge University Press, and Aggarwal and Gutterman (1991) Human Cytokines Blackwell Pub.
Lymphokines apparently mediate cellular activities in a variety of ways. They have been shown to support the proliferation, growth, and/or differentiation of pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells into vast numbers of progenitors comprising diverse cellular lineages making up a complex immune system. Proper and balanced interactions between the cellular components are necessary for a healthy immune response. The different cellular lineages often respond in a different manner when lymphokines are administered in conjunction with other agents.
Cell lineages especially important to the immune response include two classes of lymphocytes: B-cells, which can produce and secrete immunoglobulins (proteins with the capability of recognizing and binding to foreign matter to effect its removal), and T-cells of various subsets that secrete lymphokines and induce or suppress the B-cells and various other cells (including other T-cells) making up the immune network. These lymphocytes interact with many other cell types.
Research to better understand and treat various immune disorders has been hampered by the general inability to maintain cells of the immune system in vitro. Immunologists have discovered that culturing these cells can be accomplished through the use of T-cell and other cell supernatants, which contain various growth factors, including many of the lymphokines.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the discovery and development of new lymphokines, e.g., related to G-CSF and/or IL-6, could contribute to new therapies for a wide range of degenerative or abnormal conditions which directly or indirectly involve the immune system and/or hematopoietic cells. In particular, the discovery and development of lymphokines which enhance or potentiate the beneficial activities of known lymphokines would be highly advantageous. The present invention provides new interleukin compositions and related compounds, and methods for their use.


A collar system for a dust extractor is provided including: a collar including a drill passage extending through the collar and an extension forming an internal passage that connects at one end with the drill passage, the extension being attachable to a housing of the dust extractor to enable the internal passage to connect to a suction passage of the dust extractor; and a cover mounted adjacent an entrance of the drill passage, the cover being moveable between a first position where it covers the entrance and a second position where is remote from the entrance, wherein the cover comprises at least hole that passes through the cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,728, DE202008008561, EP2335869, and EP2474385 all disclose suction cup dust extractors for use with a drill, hammer drill or hammer. Suction cup dust extractors are located on and attached to the surface to be drilled or chiseled by a suction force generated during the operation of the suction cup dust extractor.
EP1245330, EP1459842, DE10 2007000826A1 and EP2174749B1 disclose dust extractors intended to be mounted on and attached to the drill, hammer drill or hammer.
US2009/0288682 discloses a collar system having a collar which comprises a drill passage extending through the collar and an extension forming an internal passage that connects at one end with the drill passage. The extension is capable of attaching to the housing of a dust extractor to enable the internal passage to connect to a suction passage of the dust extractor.


An apparatus includes a first electrode exhibiting a first Seebeck coefficient, a second electrode exhibiting a second Seebeck coefficient greater than the first Seebeck coefficient, and particles between the first and second electrodes exhibiting a third Seebeck coefficient between the first and second Seebeck coefficients. An alternating current power supply is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. Heat is generated due to the Peltier effect at a junction between the first electrode and the particles and at a junction between the second electrode and the particles. Heat is removed due to the Peltier effect at the junction between the first electrode and the particles and at the junction between the second electrode and the particles. The particles are densified due to heating and cooling phase transitions between a higher-temperature solid phase and a lower-temperature solid phase while compressing the particles.

Superplastic forming is an industrial process for creating precise and complex forms out of metallic materials. Some solid, crystalline materials, such as some metals and alloys, exhibit superplasticity and may be deformed beyond expected limits of plastic deformation. Often, the behavior depends on a fine-grained microstructure. The major advantage of this process is that it can form large and complex parts in one operation. The finished product has excellent precision and a fine surface finish. It also does not suffer from spring-back or residual stresses. The biggest disadvantage is its slow forming rate. Completion times vary from two minutes to two hours; therefore, it is usually used on lower-volume products. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that superplastic forming methods and apparatuses that decrease forming rate would be beneficial.


The invention concerns a circular knitting machine for making plush fabric. The circular knitting machine has a needle cylinder fitted with knitting needles, a sinker ring fitted with sinkers, wherein the sinkers have edges adapted to handle a ground yarn and a plush yarn, and at least one knitting system. For independent adjustment to the stitch size and the plush yarn loops, a cylinder cam section has an adjustable cam part which serves to adjust the length of the plush yarn loops. A cam part independent therefrom and also adjustable serves to adjust the stitch size. This cam part can be arranged either in the sinker cam or the cylinder cam.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a circular knitting machine of the kind including a first support knitting implements for making stitches, a second support with implements for making loops, which have elements for handling a ground yarn and a plush yarn, and at least one knitting system which includes a cam part section for control of the knitting implements, a cam part section for control of the loop forming implements, at least one yarn feeder for feeding the ground yarn and at least one yarn feeder for feeding the plush yarn and in which system stitches consisting of the ground yarn and the plush yarn can be formed and loops formed solely from the plush yarn can be formed.
The invention also relates to a sinker with a nose extending in a longitudinal direction and forming with an edge spaced from the underside of the sinker a longitudinal slot likewise extending in the longitudinal direction and forming with its upper edge an middle edge which is spaced from an upper edge of the sinker.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In circular knitting machines of this kind there is frequently the need to preselect independently the size on the one hand of the stitches formed from the ground and plush yarns and on the other hand of the bows or loops formed from the plush yarn alone, in order to match the kinds of yarn used (thick, thin, crimped yarn, etc.) For this it is known (DE-PS 3 035 562) to associate with the knitting needles two-part sinkers mounted slidably in a sinker ring and to use the magnitude of the advance movement of the one sinker part to adjust the length of the plush yarn loop or bow and the magnitude of the advance movement of the other sinker part to adjust the stitch size. Similar possibilities arise in the use of circular knitting machines with dials, in which special hooks are mounted slidably (DE-AS 1 250 587), which are controlled by adjustable cam parts and serve for the selective adjustment of the lengths of the plush bows or stitches.
The use of two-part sinkers has the disadvantage that with high degrees of gauge or fineness (number of needles per inch) mechanical problems arise and the friction between the two sinker parts is appreciable. If however one-piece sinkers are used to avoid this disadvantage (DE-PS 2 824 314), it is not then possible to adjust the size of the stitches and the plush yarn loops independently of one another.

Circular knitting machine for making plush fabric

SIPRA Patententwicklungs-und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH


The present invention provides a high purity silicon production system and production method suitable for using inexpensive metallurgical grade metal silicon as a material and using the slag refining method to produce high purity silicon with a purity of 6N or more suitable for solar battery applications, in particular, high purity silicon with a boron content of at least not more than 0.3 mass ppm, inexpensively on an industrial scale, that is, a high purity silicon production system and production method using the slag refining method wherein a direct electromagnetic induction heating means having the function of directly heating the molten silicon in the crucible by electromagnetic induction is arranged outside the outside wall surface of the above crucible and the crucible is formed by an oxidation resistant material at least at a region where the molten silicon contacts the crucible inside wall surface at the time of not powering the direct electromagnetic induction heating means.

The silicon (Si) used for solar batteries is generally considered required to have a purity of 6N or more, not have various types of metal impurities more than 0.1 mass ppm, and not have boron (B) of at least more than 0.3 mass ppm. Further, as silicon satisfying these conditions, the superhigh purity silicon of a purity of 11N or more used for semiconductor applications is known.
However, this silicon used for semiconductor applications is produced by the so-called Siemen's process of converting metallurgical grade metal silicon of a purity of 98 mass % or so obtained by reducing silica to silicon chloride, next distilling this silicon chloride, then breaking it down by heat. This requires an extremely complicated production process and extremely strict process control and inevitably increases the production cost. For this reason, silicon for semiconductor applications is excessive in quality, too high in production cost, and therefore not suited for solar battery applications where lower cost is being sought along with the growth in demand.
Therefore, in the past as well, attempts have been made to use inexpensive metallurgical grade metal silicon as the material, refine this by a metallurgical method, in particular, the slag refining method of bringing molten silicon into contact with lower density molten slag to make the impurities in the molten silicon move to the molten slag, and thereby inexpensively produce silicon with a purity of 6N or more suitable for solar battery applications.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 56-32319 describes the method of combining a chemical refining stage and vacuum evaporation under predetermined conditions to refine a metallurgical quality silicon material. In particular, Example 3 describes using an induction heating graphite crucible to indirectly heat and melt a silicon material containing 30 mass ppm of boron together with an industrial purity extraction use melt (CaF2+CaO+SiO2) through the graphite crucible, holding this at 1450 to 1500° C. for 30 minutes, extracting the melt, then using an induction heating vacuum melting apparatus to vacuum evaporate this under predetermined conditions to produce silicon with a boron content of 8 mass ppm for solar battery applications.
Further, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 58-130114 discloses a method of using an ordinary melt furnace such as an electrical resistance furnace or induction furnace, mixing pulverized state crude silicon before melting with slag comprised of alkali earth metal oxides and/or alkali metal oxides or slag ingredients, then melting them and bringing the molten silicon and molten slag into contact to refine the silicon.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-12317 proposes a method for refining silicon provided with a flux addition step of using an alumina crucible and adding to silicon with a boron concentration of 100 mass ppm or less a flux containing CaO, CaCO3, Na2O, or other basic ingredients and melting the same, a reaction step of blowing oxygen, steam, air, carbon dioxide, or another oxidizing gas into the silicon after the end of the flux addition step, and a flux removal step of removing the flux from the silicon after the end of the reaction step.
Further, "Resources and Materials", Vol. 118, p. 497 to 505 (2002) reports an experiment using an electrical resistance furnace provided with a quartz crucible and using an SiO2-saturated NaO0.5—CaO—SiO2 type flux containing NaO0.5— which is more strongly basic than alkali earth metal oxides—for separation from molten silicon and thermodynamically considers the distribution behavior of boron.
Further, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-213345 describes a method of refining metal using an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus which heats a graphite crucible so as to indirectly heat and melt the material silicon and slag material in this crucible, holding the silicon containing boron or carbon or other impurity elements in a molten state, adding an impurity element absorbing medium comprised mainly of CaO to this molten silicon, using a rotary drive mechanism to mechanically agitate the mixture, further introducing a treatment gas containing steam or other oxidizing ingredients reacting with the impurity elements to form a gaseous compound, and expelling the treatment gas through the impurity element absorbing medium to the outside of the molten silicon.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2005-247623 describes the method of using a very simple atmospheric melting furnace to heat metal silicon containing impurity boron to its melting point to 2200° C. to melt it, adding to this molten silicon a solid mainly comprised of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and a solid mainly comprised of one or both of a carbonate or carbonate hydrate of an alkali metal to form a molten slag, and bringing these molten silicon and molten slag into contact and, further, jointly using the one-directional solidification method or vacuum melting method as needed, so as to reduce the boron in the silicon down to 0.3 mass ppm or less and furthermore down to 0.1 mass ppm or less.
However, to use inexpensive metallurgical grade metal silicon (below, referred to as "the material silicon") as a material to produce high purity silicon suitable for solar battery applications by the slag refining method, in particular high purity silicon with a boron content of at least not more than 0.3 mass ppm, inexpensively on an industrial scale, first, the boron in the molten silicon has to be oxidized or else movement to the molten slag cannot be promoted, so use of a strong boron oxidizing slag material is necessary; second, if considering the distribution ratio expressed by the ratio (B/A) of the mass % concentration A of boron in the molten silicon (% A) and mass % concentration B of boron in the molten slag (% B), the slag material has to be used in a relatively high ratio with respect to the material silicon; and, furthermore, third, a large volume of molten silicon and molten slag, in particular molten silicon, commensurate with the industrial scale has to be uniformly and efficiently heated.
Accordingly, in the methods and systems proposed up to now, for example, even when using Na2O or another strongly boron oxidizing slag material for slag refining, to reduce the boron content to 0.3 mass ppm or less, it was necessary to use the slag material usually in a ratio of 1000 mass parts or more, preferably 10000 mass parts or more, with respect to 100 mass parts of the material silicon. Further, if melting the entire amount of the slag material in advance and then bringing it into contact with the molten silicon, there is the problem that the strong oxidizing power cannot be sufficiently utilized at the start of melting of the slag material. If trying to produce silicon in large quantities on an industrial scale, too large a size of a crucible has to be used. Further, uniformly and efficiently heating the molten silicon is also difficult. This is just not practical for working on an industrial scale.

High purity silicon production system and production method


The invention includes systems and methods for facilitating risk assessment for point of sale transactions utilizing at least one risk triggering value (RTV) stored within a distributed (e.g., local and/or regional) processing site. An RTV is a condensed version of a set of complex risk data and strategies usually found in central processing sites. The distributed site, after receiving a request for payment authorization, a risk value is calculated for the request. The distributed processing site compares the risk value to the RTV to determine whether to authorize payment. If the risk value is less than or equal to the RTV, the payment is authorized while a risk value greater than the RTV will not be authorized. After one or more authorizations, the distributed processing site forwards the information from the transaction(s) to the central site, wherein the central site calculates a new RTV for the account and distributes the new RTV to the distributed processing site.

A merchant often receives a payment instrument (e.g., credit card, pre-paid card, charge card, debit card, smart card, stored-value card, etc.) to facilitate payment for items (e.g., goods, services, information, etc) a consumer wishes to purchase. The merchant may use a point of sale (POS) device to request authorization for the purchase by swiping the payment instrument through the POS device. The POS device then usually communicates to a distributed processing site—which may be local and/or regional—acting as a concentrator and providing value add services. Normally, the authorization request is forwarded from the distributed processing site to a central processing site for authorization processing. The central processing site acts as a "large footprint" because of it physical size, amount of processing power and large storage capability, and may also include complex risk data and strategies, which are not found within distributed processing sites. After a risk assessment for the transaction is processed, the central processing site transmits, via the distributed processing site or directly, the results of the payment authorization to the POS device based upon the perceived risk.
There are occasions, however, where a distributed processing site, and not a central processing site, may authorize payment. Currently, the authorization at distributed processing sites is based upon factors, such as, for example, floor limits, negative and positive file lists, and possibly some accumulation of recent transaction instrument usage. These relatively simple factors are adequate for some situations (e.g., payment requests for small amounts, payment requests from merchants within the same zip code as the user's billing address, and the like), but many situations require distributed processing sites to forward the authorization request to a central processing site because of the central processing site's greater ability to assess risk by utilizing more complex factors. Because a central processing site may be connected to multiple distributed processing sites, the central processing site may become too busy and not operate efficiently (i.e., not transmitting an authorization or decline within a relatively short period of time), or may become so busy that it may not completely fail to transmit an indication of authorization or decline. Furthermore, a central processing site may also transmit inaccurate authorizations or declines if it becomes too busy. Thus, systems and methods are needed that allow distributed processing sites to process and transmit payment authorization and declines for transactions requiring more complex risk assessment.

Systems and method for risk triggering values

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.


A computer system for determining whether or not a tool for deploying a software patch should be invoked is provided. The system may include a receiver that receives information regarding patch deployment over a first pre-determined amount of time. The system may include a processor configured to determine, based on the historical information, a patch deployment index. The patch deployment index may characterize patch deployment as a number of patches deployed per unit time. The receiver may receive historical information regarding patch deployment over a second amount of time. The processor may use the historical information regarding patch deployment of the second pre-determined amount of time to determine a second patch deployment index. The processor may compare the first deployment to the second patch deployment index. When the difference between the second index and the first index is greater than a pre-determined threshold, the processor may invoke the tool.

Large entities typically own and operate large numbers of computing devices. Such computing devices may include laptop computers, desktop computers and servers. These computing devices require software products to operate.
Software products often require "patches"—which may include downloadable software—to fix errors that exist in the software products. A patch is commonly understood to refer to a piece of software designed to fix problems with, or update, a computer program or its supporting data. This may include fixing security vulnerabilities, and other "bugs" and/or improving the usability and performance of a software product.
Patches for software products are typically distributed to purchasers of a software product as executable files instead of as source code. This type of patch may modify a binary file associated with an executable program resident at a user device, and/or completely replace it.
Patches can also be distributed in the form of source code modifications.
Typically, patches refer to limited software fixes. Large fixes may include different nomenclature such as "service packs" and/or "software updates." For the purposes of this application, the term patch may be understood to collectively refer to all limited software fixes, service packs and/or software updates.
Large entities may be purchasers of the software products. Large entities may be tasked with installing the patches and deploying the patches on large numbers of laptop computers, desktop computers and/or servers and/or other computing devices such as, for example, handheld devices.
It is important for administrators of such large entities to maintain control over installation and deployment of patches in order to avoid resource consumption issues and/or or other relevant issues associated with large scale patch installation and deployment. Specifically, administrators may apply patches preferably only after they have verified the stability of such patches.
It would be desirable to support large scale installation and deployment of such patches through detailed reporting of such installation and deployment [across multiple computing devices].
It would be desirable to support installation and deployment of such patches

Infrastructure software patch reporting and analytics


A resource access control mechanism for a multi-threaded computing environment associates a sequence of one or more mutexes with a resource. When a requesting thread attempts to access the resource, a mutex is locked and allocated to the requesting thread, and if a previous mutex in the sequence is present, an attempt to lock the previous mutex is made. If the previous mutex is already locked, the requesting thread is suspended until the previous mutex is unlocked.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to resource access synchronization in computer systems.
2. Description of Related Art
In a multi-threaded programming environment, there is often a need to serialize the access to a shared resource. Sometimes it is also necessary that the individual threads access the resource in the order in which they have requested access.
One method of achieving serialization is through the use of a mutex lock. A mutex is a class of object in a computing environment that enables mutual exclusion support. It is used to ensure serialization of access to a resource by acquiring and releasing a lock on that resource. At any one time only one method or function can "lock" the resource. A mutex has two pieces of state, a lock bit and a queue of function/argument pairs defining methods or functions waiting to acquire the lock. Thus, a mutex enables the resource to be allocated to a single requesting thread at a time. However, the manner in which mutexes are implemented does not guarantee that a lock will be acquired by a thread in the order in which the threads have requested access to it.
An example of a situation where it is necessary to serialize access to a shared resource in such a manner that access to the resource by individual threads is permitted in the order in which the access has been requested, is in the context of a server that handles requests with multiple threads. Requests usually involve access to server resources. If several requests concerning the same resource arrive in a specific order, then the correct behavior is to access the resource sequentially (thread serialization) and in the same order (order preservation).
Consider an example of a print server that receives the following requests:    1. Create a job on a printer;    2. Add document 1 to the job;    3. Add document 2 to the job;    4. Print the job.
The threads that handle those requests must clearly have access to the printer resource in the required order in order that the job is handled in the correct manner. If a mutex is provided to protect the printer resource, this will be set by the thread that currently has control of the printer resource. As the "create a job" thread is the first to make a request for the printer resource, the "create a job" thread will initially lock the mutex and gain control of that resource. While the "create a job" thread is active, any subsequent thread that request the resource will be blocked on that mutex. When the first request (i.e. the "create a job" thread) has completed its action, the next thread that acquires the lock on the mutex will not necessarily be the "add document 1" thread. This is because conventional mutex control does not provide any access ordering. Accordingly, if the "print job" thread were the next thread to lock the mutex, a job would be printed before any documents have been added to the job.
In order to address this, the classical solution to controlling the order of access to the resource is to introduce a task object. Individual tasks can then be put in a queue, and can be activated by a task manager in the correct order. In such an example, each time a resource requests an access to a resource, a separate task object is created, and the task object is put in a queue in the order in which the requests are received. A separate thread will act as a process to control the order in which the individual task objects are activated to carry out the tasks concerned.
However, such a solution requires a significant overhead in the amount of programming code necessary for implementation.
Also, it is to be noted that servers are often implemented using a framework that operates across platforms, gives no control on the way that the threads handle requests and provides a unified interface for various platform specific mutex implementations.
Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient solution to the provision of serializing thread access to resources, with access order preservation.

Method and apparatus for resource access synchronization


A shuttle switch assembly for performing both functions of shuttle and mode is disclosed. The assembly comprises a circuit board. A main base is formed on the circuit board. The main base has a stator protrusively formed at the inner center of the main base and a shuttle axis rotatably formed around the stator. A holder is inserted in the shuttle axis and the holder is provided with a guiding hole having a predetermined length at a side of a periphery of the holder. A dome plate includes a plurality of dome switches on an upper side of the dome plate and the dome plate is installed on the holder; a guiding bracket positioned on an upper portion of the dome plate. The guiding bracket is combined with the holder and is provided with holes which correspond to the dome switches on the dome plate. A shuttle knob is combined with the guiding bracket and is provided with contacting apparatus on a bottom of the shuttle knob. The contacting apparatus is formed correspondingly to the dome switches to press the dome switches on the dome plate after passing the holes of the guiding bracket. Various function modes can be installed and productivity is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shuttle switch assembly, and more particularly to a shuttle switch assembly which can perform both of the functions of a shuttle and function knobs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a shuttle switch apparatus is applied in a tape recorder, a television or various remote-controlled devices and recently has been widely used because the operation of knob functions thereof is advantageous when compared with the method requiring complicated handling of various knobs.
The shuttle switch apparatus of the tape recorder performs the function of image reproduction in forward or reverse directions at normal, slow or high-speed.
Recently, in addition to the above-mentioned function of the shuttle switch apparatus, function modes such as play, stop and fast forward mode are supplemented to accomplish both of the functions of a shuttle and knob.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a shuttle switch assembly supplemented with function knobs as described above.
On a circuit board 110, a main base 120 is fixedly provided and a shuttle axis 130 which is rotatable at a predetermined angle is inserted while applying pressure on a rotatable axis (not shown) on main base 120. At the inner center of shuttle axis 130, two tack switches 140 are protrusively formed on the circuit board 110 to perform the mode function.
At shuttle axis 130, a shuttle ring 150 is inserted while applying pressure in order that a user can hold the shuttle ring to rotate. Function knobs 160 are installed on shuttle ring 150 to perform predetermined mode functions through selectively contacting with tack switches 140 when the user presses the knobs.
Using this shuttle switch assembly, the shuttle function can be accomplished by rotating shuttle ring 150 at a desired direction to a predetermined degree and the desired mode function can be accomplished by pressing function knobs 160 formed in shuttle ring 150.
However, in the above-mentioned shuttle switch assembly, tack switch 140 is expensive and fabrication thereof in shuttle axis 130 is difficult. Moreover, the number of tack switches should be increased to the number of kinds of the desired functions to achieve various functions of more than two. This means that more tack switches should be formed in the narrow space within shuttle axis 130 and the formation thereof is not an easy task. Accordingly, manufacturing shuttle switch assemblies having more various mode functions is difficult.


Methods, systems and computer program products for heuristically invalidating non-useful entries in an array are provided. Aspects include receiving an instruction that is associated with an operand store compare (OSC) prediction for at least one of a store function and a load function. The OSC prediction is stored in an entry of an OSC history table (OHT). Aspects also include executing the instruction. Responsive to determining, based on the execution of the instruction, that data forwarding did not occur, aspects include incrementing a useless OSC prediction counter. Responsive to determining that the useless OSC prediction counter is equal to a predetermined value, aspects also include invalidating the entry of the OHT associated with the instruction.

The present invention generally relates to microprocessors, and more specifically, to heuristically invalidating non-useful entries in an array.
A microprocessor that is capable of issuing and executing machine instructions out of order will in sometimes permit loads to be executed ahead of stores if there is not an obvious dependency between the two instructions. This feature permits a large performance advantage provided that the load address and the store address do not both have the same physical address. In typical programs, the frequency that a load proceeds ahead of the store and that their physical address matches is low. However, since the discovery of this store violation condition is typically late in the instruction execution pipeline, the recovery penalty can be quite severe. For example, the recovery process typically involves invalidating the load instruction that caused the violation and all newer instructions in program order beyond the load instruction, and second reissuing the load instruction. Conventional mechanisms for managing store-compare hazards can include the use of an operand-store-compare (OSC) history table (OHT) that remembers previously unknown dependencies between store and load instructions. However, changing conditions may render OSC predictions stored by an OHT useless, which may cause unnecessary load store dependencies to be maintained where they no longer exist, leading to performance degradation.

Heuristic invalidation of non-useful entries in an array

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A lateral exercise apparatus for use in performing side-to-side skating movements having a surface layer for performing the skating movements on each side thereof. Each side of the surface layer has a very low coefficient of friction. A plurality of adjustable clamps are utilized to adjust the length of the surface layer with each adjustable clamp including at least one pair of releasable clamping surfaces for gripping the surface layer. Each of a plurality of resilient bumpers are removably interlocked to one of the releasable clamping surfaces of each of the adjustable clamps for terminating the side-to-side skating movements. The resilient bumpers are wedge-shaped and have a low impact surface angle .THETA. of less than or equal to 20.degree.. Finally, a high friction layer is provided for underlying and securing the surface layer to a floor surface. In a preferred embodiment, the surface layer is comprised of high density polyethylene while the high friction layer is a combination of nylon and polyvinylchloride. The high friction layer is placed between the surface layer and the floor surface to eliminate movement of the surface layer. The length of the surface layer is hand adjusted by the clamps. The bumpers are removably interlocked to and adjusted with the clamps and are utilized to initiate and terminate the skating motion. The low impact surface angle .THETA. of the bumpers is orthopedically correct and minimizes potential for injury.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a lateral exercise apparatus used for rehabilitation and fitness aerobic training.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lateral exercise or training apparatus is a device that enables an athlete to simulate a side-to-side skating motion while remaining virtually in one location. Speed skaters utilize the stationary exercise apparatus as a training aid to improve physical conditioning and technical form. Every lateral exercise apparatus includes a low frictional surface of sufficient length to allow comfortable side-to-side motion and a stopping mechanism affixed to each end of the surface to terminate the side-to-side motion. Skaters normally practice the side-to-side motion on the low frictional surface in stocking feet. In the alternative, nylon booties can be placed over athletic shoes for use on the low frictional surface.
An example of a rudimentary lateral exercise apparatus typically includes a piece of rigid formica board approximately eight feet long and three feet wide. The surface of the formica board is periodically waxed to provide a low coefficient of friction. Two sections or blocks of wood, referred to as bumpers, are nailed to the top surface at each end of the formica board. The two sections of wood are positioned parallel to one another and orthogonal to the direction of foot movement on each end of the formica board. Each bumper serves to stop the side-to-side skating motion on the surface of the formica board.
During use, the skater positions one foot against the first bumper to exert a force that propels him to the opposite end of the formica board. The exerted force causes the skater to slide to the second bumper located at the opposite end of the board. The other foot intersects the second bumper which serves to terminate the skater's slide. The process is then reversed by positioning the appropriate foot against the second bumper to exert a force that propels the skater back to the first end of the formica board. Continuous repetition of the exercise simulates skating and serves as an inexpensive substitute to hone ones skills.
The simulated skating or sliding motion described above has been shown to be beneficial in both fitness and rehabilitation programs. In particular, this motion has been shown to be excellent for knee joint rehabilitation. Moreover, this motion provides general benefits for all athletes since it improves balance. Further, the skating motion assists in strengthening portions of the human body that are difficult to exercise by more traditional methods such as rowing and cycling. The skating or sliding motion also teaches proper weight shift during lateral movement. This feature not only enhances performance, it also assists in preventing injury. Finally, the skating or sliding motion provides a rigorous aerobic workout which improves conditioning.
The construction of the lateral exercise apparatus employing the rigid formica board has several disadvantages. It is expensive to build and is non-portable which limits the functionality. Further, the construction is not orthopedically correct which can lead to injury to the knee and ankle joints of a user. Also, the rigid formica board requires periodic waxing maintenance to ensure a minimum level of sliding performance and the length of the sliding surface is not adjustable.
It was recognized that a more convenient and functional lateral exercise apparatus was necessary. A solution to some of these problems appeared with the development of several simulated skating exercise devices. Various types of simulated skating exercise devices which are intended to be utilized in athletic training environments have been known in the prior art. By way of example, several forms of such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,779,862, 4,940,227 and 5,076,571.
The simulated skating exercise devices disclosed by the above-recited U.S. Patents and other devices known in the art teach (a) a low friction, flexible, plastic gliding surface for sliding thereacross, (b) a clamping assembly comprising wooden or metal components attached to the gliding surface with nuts and bolts or screws, and (c) a pair of bumpers comprised of wood, metal or hard plastic having a foot impact angle with the horizontal within the range of 15.degree. to 90.degree..
Several problems exist with the prior art simulated skating exercise devices mentioned above. The low friction, flexible, plastic gliding surface does not remain stationary on the floor surface when the skater applies a force to one of the bumpers. Consequently, the entire lateral exercise device will move across the floor. In models in which the bumpers are held in place by a pressure friction grip, the bumpers also tend to slide across the low friction gliding surface when force is applied to one of the bumpers. In other models, the low friction gliding surface is not easily adjusted or cannot be rolled and thus is not portable.
In the simulated skating exercise devices of the prior art, the bumpers are fashioned from a hard material which, after extended use, can result in bruised or injured feet. In the case of wooden bumpers, the sharp surfaces of the bumpers are hazardous to the feet and the bumper surfaces tend to crack and fail along the grain of the wood. Further, the range of foot impact angles (e.g., angle with the horizontal floor surface) designed in the bumpers can result in foot damage over time. The greater the acute angle, the higher the probability of injury to the foot.
Other problems include non-adjustable bumpers and clamping assemblies which prohibit changing the length of the low friction gliding surface, clamping surfaces that employ screws which penetrate and thus subject the gliding surface to damage, and gliding surfaces having a non-skid material adhered to the bottom side thereof. By adhering a non-skid material to the bottom side, use of the bottom side is eliminated and the longevity of the low friction gliding surface is limited to the life of the top side. Finally, the gliding surface of some prior art simulated skating exercise devices must be treated periodically with a silicon solution to maintain the low friction feature.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improvement in lateral exercising devices which utilizes rigid but resilient bumpers having a very low profile angle with the horizontal to eliminate potential damage to the foot, employs an adjustable bumper and clamping assembly and a double-sided low friction gliding surface, and incorporates a high friction sub-base surface to ensure stationary operation.


The pivotable footwear including a front portion, a heel portion, a flexible sole defining a channel extending across the flexible sole, a shoe upper attached to the flexible sole, and a lockable hinge mechanism disposed within the channel. The lockable hinge has an unlocked position wherein the heel portion of said footwear is free to pivot about the channel relative to the front portion of the footwear, and a locked position wherein the heel portion of the footwear is locked into position relative to the front portion of said footwear. The lockable hinge mechanism is electronically actuated and battery operated and controlled to move between the locked position and the unlocked position by actuation of an electronic remote control. That is, actuation of the electronic remote control causes the hinge to move the footwear to an open, foot insertion position and a wearable locked position.

There are numerous circumstances whereby a person is unable to bend down to put on a pair of shoes. Injury, disease, arthritis, obesity and surgery are a few of the reasons why it is desirable to provide a simple and easy way to put on an article of footwear without the use of one's hands or the necessity of bending down. Additionally, some users attempt to push their foot into tight footwear opening, which overtime wears down the heel and ankle part of the footwear, reducing the support provided by the footwear and eventually destroying the footwear over time. This problem is not new and numerous appliances have been devised to overcome it.
For example, elongated shoe horns are often used to attempt to hold the opening of a shoe open and provide a smooth path for inserting one's foot into the shoe. Unfortunately, most footwear openings are too small and require hand manipulation and strength to push one's foot into position within the footwear, even with the use of a shoe horn. Additionally, shoe horns require a degree of strength, coordination, and often bending over to successfully insert one's foot into a shoe properly. As such, the elongated shoe horn is not helpful to many people who cannot reach down or those suffering from a condition that limits their strength and coordination.
A number of articles of footwear have been developed to enable a user to enlarge the opening of the footwear for easier foot insertion, for example by providing a shoe that separates and pivots at a hinged heel and is biased by springs to return to a wearable position once on a user's foot or that is held together in a wearable position by hook and loop fasteners, buckles, or other locking mechanisms. However, such designs still require considerable strength to overcome the spring bias to open the shoe and hold it open whilst inserting one's foot, coordination to manipulate any securing hook and loop fasteners, buckles, or locking mechanisms, or the ability to bend down to position the open shoe relative to one's foot. Additionally, such designs are often awkward to walk in given that forces on the footwear from the movement of the foot during walking can affect the biased springs, resulting in a tightening and loosening of the footwear, which can be uncomfortable and even dangerous to the user.
Thus, there exists a need for a shoe that easily moves between an open, foot insertion position and a closed, wearable position without requiring a user to open, hold open, or close the footwear by hand and that remains securely in the closed, wearable position during walking use.


A lens structure system with a lens structure and a multi-segmented transducer coupled to the lens structure. Each segment in the plurality of segments has a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically coupled to the segment. The system also has circuitry for applying a voltage to selected segments in the plurality of segments with standing wave signals and traveling wave signals.

The preferred embodiments relate to various systems where debris or contaminants are to be removed from lens-related apparatus in the system, and more particularly to an ultrasound architecture and method in such a system.
A lens structure as used in this document is intended to include a lens, lens cover, or other surface through which a signal (e.g., light) may pass, and where the apparatus is exposed to potential contaminants that may reduce the likelihood of successful signal passage through the apparatus. As one prominent example, in the automotive industry, cameras are assuming an important role in both Driver-Assisted Systems (DAS) and automatic safety systems. This technology commonly first appeared in relatively expensive vehicles and has migrated to less expensive ones. Indeed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has mandated that all new cars must be outfitted with rear view cameras by 2018. Cameras are also now being incorporated into side view mirrors to assist drivers with lane changes and currently under consideration by at least one automobile manufacturer is the possible replacement of vehicle side view mirrors with side view cameras. Besides alleviating blind spots for the driver, front cameras integrated into the windshield provide Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Following Distance Indication (FDI), and Lane Departure Warnings (LDW). Of course, lens structures also may be used in other implementations, including, for example, outdoor surveillance cameras and lighting systems.
In the above context and others, and as the trend toward additional lens structures increase or become more ubiquitous, keeping the lens structure (e.g., lenses and lens covers) free of contaminants becomes a more prevalent need and is particularly important in safety-related applications. Further, the location, accessibility, or the user interest may prove inconvenient for manual cleaning of the lens, so that automated approaches may be desirable. As one prior art approach to this issue, several manufacturers have considered a miniature spray and wiper system. This design, however, requires (1) a small pump and nozzle; (2) a motorized wiper assembly; and (3) a running a hose from a fluid tank to the location of the nozzle, which may necessitate a run from the vehicle front where a fluid tank is typically located, to the vehicle back, at least for the rear view camera, which is typically located at the rear of the vehicle. As a result, this design is mechanically complex and potentially expensive.
Given the preceding, the present inventors seek to improve upon the prior art, as further detailed below.

Ultrasound lens structure cleaner architecture and method using standing and traveling waves


Adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat comprising a first layer of flexible material and a hook and loop fastening system. The hook portion of the fastening system connected to one face and the loop portion of the fastening system on the other face, the fastening system being adjustable to adjust the area encircled by the belt. A second layer of flexible material connected to the first layer forming a plurality of pockets between the a face of the first layer and a face of the second layer. A face of the second layer has a high coefficient of friction to resist movement of the belt when placed about the barrel of a baseball bat. A plurality of malleable weights engaged in the pockets, the weights formed to the curved surface of the barrel creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement.

1. Field of the Invention
The claimed invention relates to devices used to enhance the performance of a baseball player's batting swing, and more specifically to adjustable weighted attachments for baseball bats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Athletes train to become better players in their sport, spending hours in practicing different aspects of the sport. As an example, baseball players continually practice hitting, fielding, and base running to become a better baseball player. In the past, different types of training devices have been used that were intended to enhance the performance of an athlete, particularly in sports requiring hand held equipment such as baseball, tennis, and hockey. These devices were often developed and used based on impressions that the devices would enhance an athlete's performance without actually studying the effect that a particular device might have upon a player's performance.
One of the more popular types of training methods has been attaching weights to an athlete's hand held playing equipment such as baseball bats, tennis racquets, hockey sticks, or golf clubs. The attaching of extra weight to these types of equipment is thought to strengthen the athlete's muscles through practice while using such weighted equipment. However, placement of such weight upon the equipment has seldom been studied. In some applications, placement of extra weight upon playing equipment such as a baseball bat can actually be counter productive to the performance of the athlete due to the improper placement of the weight. If the weighted device is not secured about a baseball bat in the proper location, the extra weight can interrupt the baseball player's proper swinging form, possibly resulting in poor hitting performance. Several of the prior art weighted training devices and their disadvantages are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,156, issued to Giguere discloses a Golf Club Practice Swing Weight that comprises a flexible web arranged to have secured thereto a plurality of flexible pouches. The strap member can have a hook and loop fastener surface using a ring member. The device can be mounted about a shaft, such as a golf shaft whereupon it can be secured about itself. This training device provides only a pair of weights that conforms to the curvature of the golf club shaft, but does not provide an expedient way to add or remove a discrete amount of weight having a solid, reshapeable curved surface for engagement with a rounded surface such as a handle of a baseball bat. This makes it difficult for the user or athletic trainer to accurately monitor the amount of weight being used in the training device. Further, this training device does not have a memory characteristic allowing users to reattach the training device to the golf club in the same location as previously positioned if removed. Further, this prior art does not teach the concept of employing a tacky rubber-like or rubber surface on an inner surface of a baseball bat weight training belt to resist slippage when engaged to a round baseball bat handle according to features of my invention.
Athletes often use the training device during practice sessions and then remove the training device during actual play. In prior art training devices of this type, it would be difficult if not impossible to place the training device on the golf shaft at the same location as previously placed due to the lack of formability memory training devices of this type have. This point is important in that an athlete can use and remove the training device from the golf club while being able to consistently place the training device on the club in the same location thereby providing a uniform training experience.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,812, issued to Mugford et al. discloses a Weight Device for Athletic Racket having two sheets separated by an elastic member. Each sheet contains a plurality of egg-shaped weights (in section) that are housed in chambers that are formed by the joining of two layers of flexible material at spaced locations. Attachment can be made using VELCRO type surfaces. This training device presents many of the same problems as previously discussed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the training device may perhaps repeatedly be placed upon the racquet, but only due to the configuration of the racquet. This device would not be capable of being repeatedly placed upon a hand held athletic tool as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore there is a need for a weighted training device that provides for quick and easy repeatable placement of the training device upon a hand held athletic tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,560, issued to Gemmel includes a practice weight for a flat sided hockey stick that is a U-shaped weight that can be clamped onto a shaft or handle and is then clamped by clamp screws and then secured by a flexible cover that is wrapped around the shaft and itself. The clamp feature of this training device provides a device that can be removably coupled to a hockey stick while providing means for preventing the training device from shifting during use. However, this training device does not allow for easy repeatable placement of the training device upon the hockey stick. Therefore, there is a need for a training device that provides a quick and easy way to reattach a weighted training device to a hand held athletic tool in the same location as previously placed. This type of a picture weight device has not been constructed for use with a round tapered handle of a baseball bat which required different physical characteristics.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,893, issued to Evans teaches a weight holder and method of use that can removably add weight at selected positions on a flat sided racket and possibly a bat. The device is made of flexible material that wraps around a shaft or handle and overlaps at the ends for removable, adjustable securement and positioning. The holder comprises two, spaced pockets with a weight in each pocket and these weights can be removed to change weight size and weight. The weights disclosed in this training device are cylindrical and non-formable. Weights of this type tend to shift during use of the tennis racquet do the surface profile of the weight not being similar to the surface profile of the racquet. Therefore, there is a need for a weighted training device that provides a weight that conforms to the curvature of a hand held athletic tool that prevents the weights from shifting during use of the training device.
As athletic training methods have advanced, athletic trainers have studied the effects of different types of training devices upon the performance of an athlete. Improved technology such as slow motion imaging has helped athletes and athletic trainers to study the behavior of athletes as they perform different tasks within a sport. These advances have made athletes and athletic trainers aware that some of the training methods previously used actually hinder an athlete's performance instead of improving performance. As an example, some baseball trainers who study hitting discourage the use of the doughnut type weight that has been in use for many years due to the negative effects weighting of this kind is thought to have on a hitter's form. Therefore there is a long felt need for a weighted training device that can provide a solution to the problems previously explained in the prior art.

Adjustable weight training belt for a baseball bat


The metastatic potential of tumors can be evaluated by the quantitative detection of urokinase and DNA. The cell sample selected for examination is analyzed for the presence of high levels of urokinase and abnormal DNA using analytical flow cytometry and digital image analysis. Other factors such as membrane associated urokinase, increased DNA synthesis rates and certain receptors can be used in the method for detection of potentially invasive tumors.

Tumor cells of some cancers secrete enzymes that break down the intracellular matrix and invade adjacent tissues. The production of serine protease enzymes such as plasminogen activator enzymes have been observed in connection with the metastasis of tumor cells into healthy tissues. Plasminogen activator, enzymes have been linked to cancer detection, using assays of enzymes extracted from the tumor cells (Camiolo, S. M., Markus, G. and Piver, M. S. "Plasminogen activator content of gynecological tumors and their metastases." Gynecolocical Oncology 26: 364-373, 1987) or assays of supernatants from tissue culture of the tumor cells. (Hasui, Y. et al., "Comparative study of plasminogen activators in cancers and normal mucosa of human urinary bladder." Cancer Research 49: 1067-1070, 1989. Harvey, S. R., et al., "Secretion of plasminogen activators by human colorectal and gastric tumor explants." Clin. Expl. Metastasis 6: 431-450, 1988.)
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (urokinase or uPA), a serine protease, is not produced in most normal cells, except at low levels in certain types of normal kidney cells, colon and gastric mucosa, and endothelial cells lining small arteries. Urokinase (uPA) can be present in the tissues in several molecular forms,. The inactive proenzyme (scuPA) is composed of 411 amino acids. ScuPa is converted to the active enzyme by cleavage at Lys.158-Ile.159, loss of the Lys.158 and formation of the double chain, high molecular weight form (HMW-uPA) that is 54 kDaltons. A low molecular weight form (LMW-uPA) can also be formed by cleavage of the HMW-uPA at Lys.135-Lys.136 giving a 33 KDa active enzyme.
The active urokinase enzymes convert plasminogen into plasmin, which in turn, dissolves intravascular fibrin blood clots and intracellular fibrin matrix components as well as activating collagenases, laminases, and other related enzymes which are important to the anchorage and growth regulation of cells. Urokinase is produced in a number of tumors such as lung, colon, gastric, uterine, breast, brain cancer and malignant melanoma. High levels of urokinase (>3.5 ug/mg of total protein) extracted from breast tumor tissues is an indicator for high risk of recurrence and shorter patient survival times. Janicke, et al. Fibrinolysis 4:69-78, 1990. Data from these clinical studies showing that a) measurements of uPA in plasma are of no value and that b) measurements of uPA in cytosol fractions give some prognostic value (0.12 benign vs. 1.65 ng/ml in metastatic breast cancer) and c) measurements of the uPA extracted from all of the tumor cells by Triton-X 100 treatment have even more significance (0.23 vs. 3.21.+-.2.40 ng/mg of metastatic breast cancer). However, the standard deviation (S.D.) of these measurements represents .+-.65% for benign breast cancer and .+-.75% for metastatic tissues. Clearly, cell extractions cannot make the precise distinctions that are necessary as to the presence or absence of uPA, since the extractions are from tissues containing some normal cells, some cancer cells that may have no (or very little) uPA and those that may have significant amounts of uPA. (Schmidt, M. et al, "Tumour-associated fibrinolysis: the prognostic relevance of plasminogen activators uPA and tPA in human breast cancer." Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis 1: 695-072, 1990). Also cells from primary lung and colon tumor produce more uPA than cells from metastatic tumors, but different methods of extraction and assays give widely variable results (Markus, G. et al., "Plasminogen activator secretion of human tumors in short-term organ culture, including a comparison of primary and metastatic colon tumors." Cancer Research 43: 55-7-5525, 1983.).
It recently has been shown in cancer cells that the HMW active form of urokinase, bound to the tumor cell membrane, is responsible for the local lysis of the extracellular matrix, hence the tissue invasion mechanism for metastasis. (Hollas, W., Blasi, F., and Boyd, D. "Role of urokinase receptor in facilitating extracellular matrix invasion by cultured colon cancer." Cancer Research 51: 3690-3695, 1991.). The unbound uPA and the LMW form is not responsible for local dissolution of extracellular matrix in the immediate vicinity of the metastatic tumor cell. (Cubellis, M. V., Wun, T. and Blasi, F. "Receptor-mediated internalization and degradation of urokinase is caused by its specific inhibitor PAI-1." EMBO Journal 9: 1079-1085, 1990.). Thus the direct measurement of membrane-bound urokinase is more important to the prognostic accuracy than is measurement of all urokinase (membrane-bound and free uPA) present in cells or in the tissue specimen.
Total urokinase has been measured from tumor tissue and secretion by cultured explants. These are difficult to quantitate from biopsy to biopsy, especially if the measurements are made on a large group of cells. The data obtained is an average value of all normal and cancer cells, rather than a measurement of each individual cell. However, direct measurements of intracellular and extracellular urokinase have not been made previously.
A DNA content histogram of normal cells shows a single diploid peak (at G.sub.1 phase) and a tetraploid peak (at G2+M phase). In most tumors, abnormal DNA content of tumor cells is detected as a second G.sub.1 peak or multiple peaks. Abnormal DNA (DNA aneuploidy) is considered as an independent indicator of tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis that is used to supplement cytopathology grading. Flow cytometry can be used to measure total DNA content as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,406, Dolbeare et al. entitled Flow Cytometric Measurement of Total DNA and Incorporated Halodeoxyuridine issued Oct. 25, 1988, which is incorporated herein by reference. Cells disassociated and prepared for flow cytometry can be analyzed for cell cycle stage as well as DNA content simultaneously. Flow cytometer measurement of the percentage of proliferating tumor synthesizing DNA (S-phase cells) is. an independent indicator of malignancy. High percentages (15-20%) of S-phase tumor cells usually indicates an aggressive malignancy and usually correlates well with abnormally high DNA content. The labeling index (LI) obtained by pulse-labeling cells with DNA precursors represents the rate that DNA is being synthesized in tumor cells. Usually, a LI>4% is associated with a higher probability of recurrent malignancy. (Merkel, D. E. Dressler, L. G. and McGuire, W. L., "Flow cytometry, cellular DNA content and prognosis in human malignancy." J. Clin. Oncology 5: 1690-1703, 1987.)

Quantitative method of measuring metastatic activity

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A system and process for network-based, interactive, multi-media learning is presented. The learning system and process employs high quality, low latency audio/video links over a multicast network (such as Internet2), as well as an interactive slideshow that allows annotations to be added by both the presenter and lecture participants, a question management feature that allows participants to submit questions and receive answers during the lecture or afterwards, and a complete archiving of the data streams and metadata associated with the foregoing features.

1. Technical Field
The invention is related to on-line, network-based learning systems, and more particularly to a system and process for providing a distributed, interactive, multimedia lecture that employs high quality, low latency audio/video links over a multicast network (such as Internet2), an interactive slideshow that allows annotations to be added by both the presenter and lecture participants, a question management feature that allows participants to submit questions and receive answers during the lecture or afterwards, and a complete archiving of the data streams and metadata associated with the foregoing features.
2. Background
The integration of wireless, distributed technology into the classroom has only just begun. To date this effort has primarily focused this technology at imitating the traditional classroom lecture environment. Only now are new models for advancing education based on a new generation of interactive technologies beginning to be explored. New methods for immersive hands-on learning, learning by doing, and interactive collaboration portend an evolution in classroom instruction. Technology today is opening new horizons for expanding the learning process. With recent advances in conferencing, network technologies, computer hardware and visualization technologies, a new frontier for advancing the human learning process is opening up. The quest should include researching and prototyping pedagogically sound technologies that offer educators an advantage in using the exponential raw power of emerging hardware and software. The key is to integrate modern learning methods (especially active based learning methods) into scalable software designs and build reliable software that uses emerging communication, collaboration, and integrative programming solutions.
Further, learner centric technologies must be created which shift away from solely lecture-based environments with pen and paper assessment. This shift to a learning-centric perspective will require instructors and their institutions not only to share traditional content resources in online formats, but to support enriched collaborative learning environments that can transform today's online page turning courses into opportunities to increase the learning outcomes of instruction.
The underbelly of integrating information and communication technology into the classroom is the ability to capture the learner's experience and provide adequate feedback and response. This vision requires the development of technologies that encourage immersion and exponentially engage the user in multiple activities, capturing both implicit and explicit knowledge interactions. It is the preamble of learning by doing and capturing the learning experience for personalizing education that may dominate the best designs.
There will also be a need to integrate technology into the collective learning experience, spanning beyond the initial experience in grades K-12, through university education through industrial education and into lifelong learning. Learning environments must reach beyond the school walls and directly into the home and workplace. Continuous learning for working adults requires technologies that support alternative delivery of educational programs.
Given the rapid advances in hardware and software development, the world's universities are currently developing compelling new learning environments for education. CPU power advances have already provided unprecedented computational power for problem formulation and solution presentation. Graphics power has enriched the experience and aided in visualizing concepts. Storage and networking have enabled digital libraries, instant communication, and wireless classrooms. Having come this far with current technological capability, imagine what this kind of power will enable for 21st century scholarship and academics. It will connect people together in unique ways, help manage complex problem based learning environments; bring federated resources together for analysis, synthesis and interaction. It will facilitate the creation of connected learning communities.
But the desired rich collaborative experiences, pedagogically sound technology integration, embedded assessment, shared internet based laboratories, rich video conferencing technology, immersive constructive environments, and even a methodology for integrating technology into the classroom that is not disruptive, nor socially handicapped, has yet to be achieved.
While 97 percent of teachers have access to some computer technology today, only 32 percent are integrating computers in classroom learning. Introducing technology into the classroom is one thing, introducing it effectively is another. Too much effort has been concentrated on recreating the classroom, rather than using wireless distributed technology to extend the classroom, making instruction more flexible for the learner, the mentor and the instructor, while focusing on the experience of learning.
Traditional classrooms today fall short of providing sound education because they lack the flexibility to create a scaleable environment in which the students continually practice their art. In fact, most instruction today, reiterates teacher centric presentation models, videotaping the instructor with either Mylar or a slide presentation as a presentation mechanism, while students take notes on paper or computers. In addition, the interaction models are slow-paced and repetitive, hardly challenging to the "twitch speed generation" who are used to navigating both visual and textual data as rapidly as star fighters. Usually, in most learning environments, the teacher lectures, the student interrupts occasionally to ask a few questions, and dialogue is usually minimal, unless class size is restricted. Students read textbooks and work on textually based problems. Teacher office hours are the only way to talk to the faculty member or teaching assistant. Assessment is comprised of tests with long feedback loops or long lines waiting to get into laboratories.
Industry hasn't really achieved great gains in e-technologies for learning either. They have designed similar teacher centric electronic, distance learning environments, using lecture based technologies as the design model. E-learning applications in industry still focus primarily on the instructor as the active participant, and the learner as the passive participant. They have encouraged presence awareness but only simulate learner passivity. Tools for interacting with the instructor or each other are extremely limited. They are not designing e-learning systems to meet the skills required for problem solving in work environments.
Thus, neither university, nor industry has utilized the technology yet to enable the workforce to enhance their skills for employability.
To correct the shortcomings of existing technology-based learning systems, a set of core technologies is needed for building high bandwidth and optimal bandwidth learning services. The core technologies must include video conferencing capabilities that represent a vast improvement over existing systems. Low latency video grid conferencing is needed to allow for enriched immersion in a lecture based environments across multiple venues. Imagine being able to see live lectures and live learner and instructor interactions in those lectures across multiple learning environments. This visually immersive conferencing technology should be designed for ease of use, with rich educational experience, and scalability. It should also accommodate the use of new portable computing devices such as wireless PocketPCs and TabletPCs. In addition, it should include a simple, configurable archival system enabling individual participants to record and playback conferences and student and teacher interactions.
This technology should be designed and architected to be very scalable; from a single-machine deployment for small conferences and personal nodes, up to large, group-to-group-to-group conference scenarios, relying on simple software installation and hardware configuration.
The aim is to point the technology at collaborative working groups over real-time protocols meeting in classrooms, conferences, workspaces, in the field, etc. and couple it with wireless technologies for accessing federated scholarly data anywhere, anytime. A set of learning services could be built that address the pedagogical needs of the various users in the learning experience around conferencing technology, including the student, instructor, teaching assistant/mentor. The use of portable wireless computing devices such as the TabletPC will facilitate the creation of a more project based environment that allows students to move around, receive instruction, aggregate project work, integrate with others and take notes in their normal handwriting.
Thus, video conferencing technologies do not have to simply imitate the lecturer standing in front of the class. Instead, they can be used as a way of participating in a classroom, or in a conference room, the field, or a laboratory, virtually anywhere learning happens. When used effectively, the use of collaborative technology suggests that significant gains in student achievement will be achieved. For example, it has been found that students who viewed videotaped university-level lectures in an active discussion group performed half a grade-level better than those who attended the lectures in person.
The student experience must enhance the student's ability to communicate and collaborate. In lectures, students need to be able to interact with the content either during presentation or during reflection and review.
The instructor experience must focus on several requirements: active presentations, individual assignments, assessment, and group formation. Active presentation learning services provide delivery and feedback between faculty presentation and student response. For example, students should be able to write directly on presentations slide applications during student/teacher interactions, or during review of materials. Teachers should be able to receive this feedback either real time or post lecture and make adjustments to their instruction, to their materials or to their student's learning behavior.
The technology-based learning system should also accommodate for the classroom, for the conference room, for the single PC, laptop, PocketPC, TabletPC or any emerging device. In order for education to persist through lifelong learning, the Internet becomes the central repository of content, the warehouse of interactions with the content, the communication medium for interacting together, and the virtual learning environment—a kind of new school room.
A computer network-based, interactive, multimedia learning system and process in accordance with the present invention is a key step in the ultimate achievement of the foregoing vision.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer network-based, interactive, multimedia learning system and process