A method for manufacturing spherical ceramic powder is provided. The method includes essentially a spray drying step and a sintering step. In the spray drying step, a spray nozzle is used to spray slurry containing powdered raw material consisting essentially of ceramic ingredients to form liquid droplets, and liquid contents in the liquid droplets are heated and removed to obtain ceramic granular powder. In the sintering step, the ceramic granular powder is sintered to form spherical ceramic powder. The method provides ceramic powder having a mean particle size of about 1-50 μm and a sphericity of about 0.8 or higher, which is suited for mixing with resin material to form a compound. The ceramic powder has high dispersant and filling properties against the resin material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing ceramic powder, and ceramic powder and composite material.
2. Description of Related Art
Fine ceramic powder can be obtained by mixing raw materials, calcinating the mixed raw materials after drying, and crushing them with a crusher like a ball mill or the like. Then, after drying the resultant substance with a spray drier, the substance is processed through a crusher such as a pneumatic crusher to obtain ceramic fine powder.
While these ceramic powders can be used on its own, they are also used as composite material dispersed within resin materials. The requirements for ceramic powders to be used as composite materials are that the powders must have dispersant and filler properties against resin materials. The particle size of particles composed of the powder is one of the factors for securing dispersant and filler properties against resin materials. For example, in addition to the method explained above, ceramic powder can be manufactured from liquid phase state like the co-precipitation method. However, the particle sizes of these powders are so small that it is impossible to secure the dispersing and filler properties against resin materials. Also, the particles in ceramic powder obtained under the method described above come in irregular shape because they are obtained through pulverizing. Thus, the dispersant and filler properties required for resin materials cannot be secured under this method.
Several techniques for manufacturing spherical shaped ceramic powder have been proposed in the past. In one of the conventional techniques, inorganic powder suspended in a flammable gas is sprayed into burning flames to heat and form the inorganic powder into spherical particles. In this method, the inorganic powder is sprayed at a spray speed of 70 to 1,200 m/sec from the tip of the burner nozzle. In one practical example using this technique, silica (SiO2) powder having a mean particle size of 0.5-30 μm can be obtained.
By another technique, a proper binder is kneaded with ceramics having biological absorbability to prepare a slurry and this slurry is dripped on a high temperature heating body. The slurry is dried on the high temperature heating body while being formed into a spherical shape and subsequently sintered at high temperature to obtain spherical ceramics.
In another technique, ceramic fine formed spherical particles are produced through forming ceramic powder obtained by a stirring granulation method. When such particles are produced, granules of ceramic powder obtained by a spray drying method are used as nuclei.
The techniques explained above entail some difficulties. For example, in the first technique that uses flammable gas, it is difficult to control the environment and temperature because flammable gas is directly sprayed (on the material). Because of this, it would be difficult to obtain ceramic powder with multiple ingredients like composite oxides.
In the second technique in which slurry is dripped on a high temperature heating body, although obtained powder particles are generally spherical, they are large in diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 mm (300 to 1,200 μm), which are unsuitable for being used as composite material with resin.
The third technique is aimed at providing particles with particle sizes ranging from 0.02 to 0.4 mm (20 to 400 μm), which are also unsuitable to be used as composite material with resin material.
One prior art describes an injection mold material containing binder resin and spherical ceramic powder with a mean particle size of less than 7 μm, without teaching any specific methods for obtaining such spherical ceramic powder.
As noted above, it was difficult by the conventional methods to obtain powder with spherical particles having appropriate particle sizes for creating composite materials with resin.
Notably, no method has yet been devised to obtain multi-ingredient ceramics of the composite oxide type.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for manufacturing spherical ceramic powder


The present invention is directed to methods of measuring the degree of cure or solidification of a composition. Desirably, such methods are quantitative and ascertain the degree of cure or solidification in a non-destructive manner such that they are adaptable for on-line, real-time monitoring.

Several methods have been used for determining the relative degree of polymerization of photocure materials. Although these methods yield quantitative results, they do not provide any direct insight to the ultimate degree of conversion obtained. Furthermore, most of these methods employ destructive testing of bonded assemblies. With the increase of technological and customer demands, there is a need to measure adhesive cure during the production process to assure that the quality of the bond fits within the performance specifications of a given device. Although analytical methods are available for determining the conversion of photocurable systems, most of these analytical methods are difficult if not impossible to adapt for on-line, real-time monitoring. Thus, there is a need for quantitative methods for determining the degree of polymerization (cure) or solidification of a composition that is non-destructive, efficient and adaptable for on-line, real-time monitoring.

Methods for measuring degree of cure or solidification of a composition


A method and system for storing complex graph data. The graph data is represented by triples, quadruples, quintuples, etc. In order to speed up storage and retrieval of graph data, the data is stored in a form of triples, quadruples, quintuples, etc. in a B-tree. The B-trees are data structures that allow operations on dynamic data sets. The operations can be search, search for minimum and maximum values, insert, delete, reference to parent or child directory. The tree can be used as a dictionary or as a prioritized chain. The speed of tree operations is proportional to the height. The data is read as blocks from the same location. If a tree node is moved to an operational memory, an allocated memory block is moved and the operation executes very fast.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to methods for data storage, and more particularly, to storing graph data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data is typically stored in databases. The most common databases are relational databases. A relational database is a set of tables consisting of columns and rows. All tables are connected (i.e., related) to each other via a primary key. The data is retrieved from the database by, for example, SQL queries that return data from one or several tables.
One SQL query can retrieve data from several tables by using JOIN SQL operator that connects table using the primary key. A relational database system is very complex. For example, a simple SELECT statement for selecting the data can be executed in a variety of ways. The relational database engine finds an optimal way of selecting and retrieving data. The database engine applies optimization algorithms in order to return data in a fastest way possible.
However, in cases of hundreds of thousands or even millions of records, data retrieval can be quite slow. The data can be stored and retrieved faster, if the data is stored in a form of triples, quadruples or combinations of an arbitrary number of elements. Conventional relational databases also can operate with triples or quadruples-type data, however, there are a number of disadvantages of this approach, such as data redundancy, which in turn leads to anomalies and data inconsistencies. Processing and searching through triplets in conventional databases is also a computationally intensive process, which leads to slowdowns when working with relational databases.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system and method for efficient storage and retrieval of complex graph data formed into triples, quadruples, quintuples, etc.

Storing graph data representing workflow management


A beverage brewing method for producing a brewed beverage having a serving temperature within a predetermined serving temperature range. A beverage brewing appliance includes a brewing apparatus for infusing a beverage brewing substance retained therein to extract a brewed beverage therefrom. The appliance also includes a first water source having a water heater coupled thereto for providing and delivering brewing water to the brewing apparatus within a predetermined range of brewing temperatures to produce a desired brewed beverage. The brewing appliance also includes a second water source for providing and delivering temperature reduction water to the brewed beverage within a temperature range which, when mixed with the brewed beverage results in a final beverage dispensed from the brewing apparatus within a predetermined serving temperature ranges. The second water source is coupled with a temperature manipulating structure to deliver a desired quantity of temperature reduction water which will result in the beverage being dispensed within the predetermined range of serving temperature.

The present invention relates to a method of brewing a beverage which produces a brewed beverage within a desired beverage serving temperature range.
Recently, it has been discovered to be desirable to serve brewed beverages at a temperature which is within a serving temperature range which is lower than the temperature at which the beverage is brewed. The serving temperature is an elevated temperature satisfying a number of requirements for brewed beverages but which is lower than a temperature at which a beverage is brewed. Often, it is desirable to brew a beverage using water having a temperature near or below boiling, i.e. 200.degree. F.+5/-10. Through substantial effort, the brewing temperature has been arrived at so that the proper flavor of the brewed beverage is achieved by extraction of certain oils, solids and other characteristics from a beverage brewing substance. When a brewing temperature substantially under 200.degree. F. is used, the same characteristics are not extracted from the beverage brewing substance.
It is important to the food service industry that the characteristics and quality of the brewed beverages which they serve to their patrons are maintained at a high quality and consistency. While it is advantageous to serve the brewed beverages at lower temperatures, such lower temperatures would jeopardize the quality, flavor, aroma and other characteristics of the brewed beverage. As such, there is a need to provide a beverage brewing appliance which brews a beverage using brewing water at a brewing temperature and dispenses the beverage into a receptacle at a serving temperature which is lower than the brewing temperature. It should be noted, that while some heat is lost during the brewing process, the heat loss generally is only a few degrees and is not sufficient to lower the temperature to a preferred serving temperature.
A variety of devices have been produced for use in brewing tea. These devices are mentioned herein as background since they employ a brewing appliance which brews a tea concentrate and then dilutes the concentrate. These devices have been designed specifically for use in brewing tea or for brewing coffee or tea using the same device upon making modifications thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,871 to Anson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,714 to Brewer, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,752 to Brewer (all assigned to the Assignee of the present invention upon the filing of the present application) shows some form of tea brewing device as mentioned hereinabove. These devices produce a tea concentrate and then introduce water to dilute the tea concentrate. Advantageously, each of the devices employs a double wall brewing funnel. Such a brewing funnel provides an interior chamber for retaining a brewing substance and a passage between the interior chamber and the outer funnel wall for passage of water therethrough. The double walled funnel provides the advantage of dispensing the dilution water used to dilute the tea concentrate and the point at which the tea concentrate is dispensed into a receptacle.
None of the above-referenced devices attempt to produce a brewed beverage having a serving temperature within a predetermined serving temperature range. In each of these devices, the goal is to provide iced tea having a desired dilution without any discussion of moderating the serving temperature.
As such, heretofore, Applicant does not know of any brewing appliances which brew a beverage at a desired brewing temperature and dispense the brewed beverage at a desired serving temperature.

Methods of brewing reduced temperature coffee


The present invention relates to a peptide comprising the sequence R1-X1-X2-X3-X4-R2, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S; X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L; X3 is selected from the group consisting of R and K; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F; R1 is a hydrogen or a peptide of 1 to 6 amino acids, and acyl or an aryl group; and R2 is a peptide of 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide. The invention also relates to partial or full retro-inverso peptides comprising the above sequences. The invention also relates to peptide-substrate combination comprising a substrate suitable for cell growth and the peptide of the invention, and to a vascular graft and an artificial blood vessel comprising the peptide-substrate combination. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a peptide conjugate comprising the peptide of the invention. The invention also relates to a method of inhibiting adhesion of a cell expressing α3β1 integrin to an cellular matrix, inhibiting α3β1-integrin-mediated cell motility, inhibiting α3β1-integrin mediated cell proliferation, promoting α3β1-integrin mediated cell proliferation and inhibiting angiogenesis utilizing the peptides of the invention.

Integrins are transmembrane α, β-heterodimer receptors expressed on a wide variety of cells which are involved in extracellular matrix interactions. There are eight known β (beta) subunits and 14 known α (alpha) subunits that associate with each other to give at least twenty receptors with different ligand specificities. The ligands for several of the integrins are adhesive extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin, vitronectin, collagens and laminin.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the ECM influences gene expression, and changes in expression of genes encoding matrix proteins alter the composition of the ECM. Thus information flows in both directions between cells and their surrounding matrix. Integrins appear to transmit messages from the exterior to the interior of the cell, inducing various kinds of changes in gene expression. In this capacity, the integrins control cell growth, motility, differentiation, and survival. Defects in the regulation of these processes result in many medically important diseases, such as inheritable developmental disorders, defective wound repair, hematological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, immunological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis.
α3β1 integrins have been reported to recognize several extracellular matrix ligands, including some laminins, type IV collagen, fibronectin, and thrombospondin-1. A need exists for methods that affect the interaction of α3β1 integrin-expressing cells with their environment. The present invention fulfills this and other needs.

Peptides and their utility in modulation of behavior of cells expressing α3β1 integrins

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


Intake air heating and exhaust cooling is provided by a double wall exhaust system serving as an exhaust-to-air heat exchanger, sourcing hot air to the intake manifold for intake stroke pumping benefit and cooling the exhaust system during high load operation by routing excess boost air through an interstitial space of the double wall.

Heated intake air has been shown to provide a fuel economy benefit (e.g., 1.6%) from reduced pumping losses, and may also provide faster engine warm-up. In one approach, this may be accomplished via coolant heating of engine intake air. In such a case, intake air may be warmed via an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler.
The inventors of the present application have recognized a problem in such previous solutions. First, the maximum coolant temperature (e.g., 230° F.) may limit the amount of heat that can be provided to the engine inlet air. Second, the relatively slow warm-up of the coolant may limit the portion of the trip time that may be utilized to heat intake air.
Accordingly, in one example, some of the above issues may be addressed by intake air heating and exhaust cooling, wherein a double wall exhaust manifold may be configured as an exhaust-to-air heat exchanger. When the intake manifold pressure is less than ambient pressure, the engine can benefit from heated intake air. In such a case, fresh air may be drawn through an interstitial space of a double wall exhaust manifold to heat the air, and then the heated air may be directed to an intake manifold. As such, heated air is sourced to the intake manifold for intake stroke pumping benefit. In this way, by increasing the air heating with the hotter-than-coolant exhaust surfaces, the fuel economy benefit can be further enhanced. Moreover, ample exhaust heat is typically available in less than one minute after start, compared to three minutes or more for coolant heat.
Further, the inventors of the present application have recognized that the double wall exhaust manifold may additionally serve as an exhaust manifold cooler, by routing excess boost air through the interstitial air space, to cool the exhaust manifold during high load operation. As such, liquid cooling via an integrated exhaust manifold may be eliminated. Such cooling may be beneficial when the intake manifold pressure is greater than ambient pressure and the exhaust temperature is nearing a threshold associated with component durability. In this way, by cooling the exhaust manifold with air derived from excess boost, the fuel economy and emissions penalty of cooling via fuel enrichment can be reduced.
In this way, the double wall exhaust manifold as described herein establishes a synergy in functionality, in that intake air can be drawn in precisely when intake heating is desired, and the excess boost can push air precisely when exhaust cooling is desired.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


The invention relates to a complex section (1) consisting of a metal section (2) covered with a metal foil (3). It is characterized in that the foil (3) has a higher surface hardness than the section (2) and in that the foil (3) adheres to the section (2) at all points on one of its faces. It also relates to a method of coating sections (2), which consists in conveying them, one after another, in successively applying to them, after shaping, a continuous strip (5) of a material (3) for bonding it to each section, in order to cover it, characterized in that these sections (2) are conveyed with a gap between them, in that, after adhesion, the respective downstream (6 A) and upstream (7B) ends of two successive sections (2A, 2B) are identified and in that two separate cutting operations, according to their spacing, are carried out thereon.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a complex profile bar consisting of a metal profile bar coated with a metal foil.
The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a complex profile bar.
The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method.
The present invention falls within the field of the building ironmongery.
The invention relates in particular to the profile bars used as accessories in the finishing of the building.
These profile bars are in general intended to be used as accessories for the installation of floating parquet, or as junction elements between floor and/or wall elements, such threshold bars, nosings, plinths or the like.
Other applications relate to closing parts of the building: doors, windows, blinds, verandas, fences or the like, as well as all the fields in which profile bars are of an interest as safety or junction parts: electric ducts, tiling ends, or also as decoration elements.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is known to use profile bars made of aluminium alloy, or of plastic, even of wood, coated with paper or plastic films, on coating lines. These coatings allow a wide choice of decorations.
However, these profile bars, which are designed for domestic use, are poorly suited for intensive professional use.
The manufacture of metal profile bars, made of metals or of aluminium alloys, brass or the like, provides a first solution for this problem of strength. Nevertheless, such profile bars made of material with low surface hardness are sensitive to scratching, and their surface is quickly degraded, when they are subjected to intense traffic.
There is a strong market demand for stainless-steel profile bars, which would have, in addition to a perfect appearance, a good resistance both to corrosion, scratching and to impacts, and would meet the sanitary constraints specific to the hospital environments or also to the food-processing industry.
The manufacture of mass metal profile bars tried to meet this need. These profile bars are expensive because of the costs of material and the extrusion tools. In addition, the particular shapes of such profile bars include significant differences in cross-section as well as very small radii of curvature, even profile bars with sharp edges, which makes their manufacture by drawing very problematic. The too disparate internal tensions result into cracks or other defects, which make the profile bar unsuitable for its use. Finally, the manufacturing time for the tools does not allow reacting to a need of the market.
It has also be devised to apply a metal profile bar of a suitable strength against a structure such as another profile bar, in particular a metal profile bar, by screwing, welding, riveting or another mechanical fastening means of a high cost.
It should also be noted that the coating of a profile bar with a film on a coating line is a difficult operation, because of the multiplicity of technical problems: preparation of the surfaces, tension of the film, temperature, hygrometry, control of the quantity of adhesive and the shaping and application means, among others, and which are to be solved simultaneously, in order to avoid adherence or appearance defects, such as air bubbles, creasing, tear or the like, which make the product unsuitable for any use.
The specialist in the art, who has been faced for some twenty years with the market's need for profile bars with a hard metal surface, and because of the existing problems for coating with so-called easy-to-process films, has been dissuaded from any trying to continuously coat profile bars with a metal foil made of hard material having a sufficient thickness to meet the service-load stresses.
From BE 699 571 is known a complex metal-on-metal profile bar achieved by close adjustment. This does not guarantee a perfect adherence at all points. In addition, the method this document describes is applicable only to some very particular profiles of profile bars made of aluminium and including side openings, i.e. grooves in which a foil can be crimped, which considerably limits the field of application.
Another document, GB 2 037 626 A, contemplates to insert an adhesive, or a double-face adhesive tape between the profile bar and the foil. Here too, no guarantee of adherence is to be expected.
In short, the prior art only provides solutions in which the adherence of the foil to the profile bar is not, or badly, guaranteed, which is incompatible with applications in the field of building joinery, where the profile bars are subjected to high service-load stresses. It should be noted that due to lack of guarantee of adherence, no metal profile bar coated with a metal foil is offered on the market.

Complex section consisting of a metal section covered with a metal foil

Profiline, Societe a Responsabilite Limitee


A cell output contention control apparatus for a traffic shaper includes an arrival order ring buffer, a transmission order ring buffer, time slots, and determining units. The arrival order ring buffer includes non-storage cell slots in which cells or addresses thereof are stored in the order in which the cells arrive, and ideal transmission time slots correlated with the first slots and used to store the ideal transmission times of the cells. The transmission order ring buffer includes transmission cell slots in which cells to be transmitted at the respective actual transmission times sequentially assigned to the slots in advance or addresses of the cells are stored. Each time slot consists of a set of non-storage cell and ideal transmission time slots of the arrival order ring buffer and one of the transmission cell slots of the transmission order ring buffer such that a combination of the first and second slots is changed at least once within a 1-cell time. The determining units are arranged for the respective time slots to determine whether predetermined storage conditions including an ideal transmission time of a cell are satisfied, and transfer the cell stored in the non-storage cell slot to the transmission cell slot to store the cell therein when the storage conditions are satisfied.

The present invention relates to a cell output contention control apparatus for a traffic shaper and, more particularly, to a traffic shaper cell output contention control apparatus used to output cells onto virtual paths or channels set on an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) transmission line by a traffic shaper while averaging transmission intervals.
In an ATM network, when cells are to be output to a plurality of virtual paths or channels multiplexed on a transmission line, a traffic with high burstiness is generally input. Even in this case, a traffic shaper is used to average cell transmission intervals with respect to one virtual path or channel so as to prevent the number of cells to be transmitted from exceeding the transmission capacity of each virtual path or channel.
This traffic shaper determines the ideal transmission time of each arrival cell on the basis of a predetermined algorithm such that the cell transmission intervals become equal intervals. Cells are temporarily stored in a delaying cell memory (buffer), and the respective cells are sequentially transmitted at the corresponding transmission times. As a method of managing the transmission order of cells, a method of assigning actual transmission times to the respective time slots of the memory is available.
In this method, cells or their addresses of the cell memory are stored in the time slots of the memory which have the same transmission times as the ideal transmission times of the respective cells, the cell or its storage address stored in the time slot corresponding to the current time is sequentially read out, and the cell or the cell stored at the cell storage address is transmitted, thereby managing the cell transmission order.
According to this method, if the same ideal transmission times are calculated with respect to a plurality of cells which have arrived at different times, the ideal transmission time of a cell which has arrived at a given time may contend against that of a cell which had already arrived (in the past). In addition, if the actual transmission time of a given cell is changed to a time different from the ideal transmission time by cell transmission contention control, the ideal transmission time of a cell which has arrived at the given time may contend against the actual transmission time of the cell which had already arrived (in the past).
If such contention occurs, cell output contention control needs to be performed. For example, the actual transmission time of a cell which has arrived later is delayed (in the future) with respect to the ideal transmission time of the cell.
As such a control method, a conventional cell output contention control method has been proposed (for example, "Spacing Cells Protects and Enhances Utilization of ATM Network Links", IEEE Network, pp. 38-49, September, 1992), in which when output contention occurs with respect to a time slot corresponding to the ideal transmission time of an arrival cell, an available time slot which is later than the time slot indicated by the ideal transmission time and is not used is searched out, and the arrival cell or its address is stored in the found available time slot.
This output contention control method uses an available time slot search method in which a time slot corresponding to the ideal transmission time of an arrival cell is set as a search start slot, and the use states of the respective time slots are sequentially checked in the direction of the future, starting from the search start slot, until an available time slot is searched out because of the necessity to hold the cell transmission order on a single virtual path or channel.
In the output contention control apparatus for such a conventional traffic shaper, however, since time slots are sequentially searched from a search start slot in the direction of the future to search out an available time slot in which an arrival cell is to be stored, the use states of all the time slots to be searched cannot be checked within a 1-cell time until the next cell arrives, provided that a cell transmission rate is high or a transmission order management memory has a large capacity.
If the available time slot search range is limited in accordance with the transmission rate of cells, the capacity of the transmission order management memory is limited. As a result, no available time slot may be found, and a cell loss may occur.

Cell output contention control apparatus for traffic shaper


The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating vascularization and angiogenesis, including selective modulation of stages of multi-step vascularization and angiogenesis.

Stanniocalcin 1 (STC-1) is a secreted glycoprotein originally described as a hormone involved in the calcium and phosphate homeostasis in bony fishes. The mammalian homolog of this molecule has been identified as being highly upregulated in an in vitro model of angiogenesis as well as highly expressed at sites of pathological angiogenesis (e.g. tumor vasculature). See, for e.g., Kahn et al., Am. J. Pathol. (2000), 156(6):1887-1900. Its potential role in pathological conditions such as cancer has also been suggested. See, for e.g., Fujiwara et al., Int. J. Oncol. (2000), 16:799-804. Preparation of an antibody for a human STC-1 peptide is reported in Koide et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull. (1998), 21(12):1352-1355. However, the precise role of STC-1 in the angiogenesis process is unclear.
Numerous factors that promote or inhibit angiogenesis have been identified, reflecting the importance of the role of angiogenesis in homeostasis and pathological conditions. See, for e.g., Folkman, Seminars in Oncol. (2002), 29(6) (Suppl. 16):15-18; Ferrara, Seminars in Oncol. (2002), 29(6) (Suppl. 16):10-14. Well-known angiogenic promoters include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).
HGF is a mesenchyme-derived pleiotrophic factor with mitogenic, motogenic and morphogenic activities on a number of different cell types. HGF effects are mediated through a specific tyrosine kinase, c-met, and aberrant HGF and c-met expression are frequently observed in a variety of tumors. See, for e.g., Maulik et al., Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews (2002), 13:41-59. Recent studies have shown HGF to be a potent growth factor implicated in wound healing, tissue regeneration and angiogenesis.
It was also recently reported that HGF, and more potently, HGF in combination with VEGF, synergistically induced vascular morphogenesis in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo (1). The gene expression profile of endothelial cells undergoing HGF and VEGF stimulated morphogenesis using AffinetriX™ oligonucleotide arrays was also analyzed. The homodimeric secreted glycoprotein, Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), was shown as one of the most highly upregulated genes in this in vitro model (2). Intense expression of STC-1 was observed in the vasculature of colon carcinomas (2). However, the precise nature of the role(s) of STC-1 in vascularization generally, and angiogenesis specifically, remains heretofore unclear.
All references cited herein, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Methods and compositions for selective modulation of vascularization


Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a solution for generating a text from the structured data. In this solution, the structured data is converted into its representation, where the structured data comprises a plurality of cells, and the representation of the structured data comprises plurality of representations of the plurality of cells. A natural language sentence associated with the structured data may be determined based on the representation of the structured data, thereby implementing the function of converting the structured data into a text.

Structured data such as a table is a widely-used type of data source on the network, which has a formal structure and contains valuable information. Understanding the meaning of structured data such as a table and correctly describing its content is an important problem in the field of artificial intelligence. Some potential applications include question answering systems, building conversational agents, and supporting search engines.
At present, a template-based method may be used to transform a table into a text. However, this method largely depends on manpower and requires a higher cost. High manpower cost makes it impossible to handle various problems. A natural language processing model based a neural network is extensively applied to such a field as machine translation. However, machine translation is to transform or convert a natural language into another natural language. Hence, currently it is desirable to provide an effective solution for conversion or transformation of structured data such as tables into a natural language.


A process for producing a cross-linked crystallized protein complex, which comprises: a first step of concentrating a crude protein derived from an animal or plant; a second step of encapsulating the protein in a gel, to thereby allow the protein to undergo air oxidation, and then extracting a protein complex from the gel; a third step of allowing the extracted protein complex to undergo crystallization and precipitation; and a fourth step of cross-linking the precipitated protein complex. Alternatively, by use of a fifth step of drying (FD) the obtained crosslinked crystallized protein complex, to thereby form a powder. As a result, there is provided an enzyme which is stable at room temperature storage, and has an activity in catalyzing an asymmetric oxidation reaction. That is, there is provided a useful material which enables an efficient enzyme-mimetic reaction under a mild condition.

In various fields including the fields of pharmaceuticals and foods, there has been increasing necessity of a technique of separating an optical isomer to thereby collect the one useful optical isomer. For example, there has been studied a method wherein drugs and perfumes are produced by using an immobilized enzyme having a function of selectively oxidizing/reducing or deracemizing one of optical isomers.
A chemical change in vivo is usually catalyzed by an enzyme. A bioreactor is exemplified as one of the systems of utilizing such an action or mechanism of these enzymes in the production or synthesis of useful substances.
An immobilized enzyme, which has been bonded to an insoluble carrier, takes a leading part of the bioreactor. By use of the immobilized enzyme, a product can easily be separated from the enzyme serving as a catalyst. The immobilized enzyme has widely been used in the fields of research, medical care, analysis and industry. The central part of the bioreactor causing a chemical reaction is a reaction element (or a reaction device), and a purified enzyme, organelle or cell per se is used for the purpose of converting a raw material into a product, or of analyzing by utilizing a chemical change. Since the reaction element must remain in a rector and can be repeatedly used, the reaction element is immobilized by various methods (with respect to details of utilization of these enzymes, for example, it is possible to refer to "Kagaku Zokan (i.e., Chemistry, Special Issue) No. 119, Production of Useful Substances by Hybrid Process", Kagaku Dojin; "Bioreactor" edited by Saburo Fukui, Biotechnology Series, Kodansha Ltd., "Immobilized Enzyme", edited by Ichiro Chibata, Kodansha Scientific Ltd.).
However, since the enzyme requires much cost for purification and the purified enzyme is often unstable, it leaves room for improving the cost burden for stabilization thereof. For this reason, there is an example wherein microorganism containing the objective enzyme was immobilized as it is, in place of the purified enzyme. Examples thereof may include an example wherein microorganisms including aspartase are immobilized, to thereby produce L-aspartic acid, and an example wherein L-alanine is continuously produced by using aspartic acid to be produced in this plant as a raw material (see "Kagaku Zokan No. 119, Production of Useful Substances by Hybrid Process", Kagaku Dojin; "Bioreactor" edited by Saburo Fukui, Biotechnologies Series, Kodansha, Ltd.; "Immobilized Enzyme", edited by Ichirou Chibata, Kodansha Scientific Ltd. and the like).
With respect to a redox catalyst seen from an industrial point of view, e.g., in "Chemical and Industry (i.e. Kagaku To Kogyo)", Vol. 62-1, January 2009, pp. 44-45 (through the development of a biocatalyst), it is considered that a method of utilizing functions of dehydrogenase and coenzyme, which are present in cells, such as microorganisms, yeasts and cultured plant cells, as they are, is dominant in view of cost, and that extra cost burden required to isolate and purify oxidoreductase and coenzyme from biont is not worth the costs of an operation of stabilizing an enzyme, and conjugating a reaction (ketone→alcohol) with a reaction (coenzyme NADH→NAD+) or a reverse reaction thereof.
In recent study of catalyst design to be replaced by the enzyme, there is proposed an example wherein an enzyme-like active domain was produced by introducing a metal complex into a "crude protein".
For example, as known in "Protein, Nucleic Acid, Enzyme", 2004, November, Vol. 49, No. 14—Molecular Design of Metalloenzyme, Mainly Heme Enzyme—(Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University; Yoshihito Watanabe), it is disclosed that oxidation activity occurs even if hem (iron) in an active domain of chloroperoxidase (CPO) is replaced by another metal complex, and it is disclosed that design of appropriate arrangement of a functional amino acid residue in the vicinity of the metal to be arranged is important for the construction of an active domain.
According to the document "Tetrahedron Letters" No. 44, pp. 4281-4284 (1978) (Asymmetric Reduction of aryl trifluoromethyl ketones with an model compound in a chiral hydrophobic binding site of sodium cholate micelle, β-cyclodextrin and bovine serum albumin) "Naomichi Baba et al.; Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University", asymmetric reduction is carried out by reacting substrate trifluoromethyl-acetophenone in the presence of 1-propyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (NAH) or sodium borohydride (NaBH4) using, as the catalyst, components other than enzyme: surfactant-like bile acid (NAC), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The above results reveal that an active domain (steric configuration R, optical purity of 46.6% ee) is also present in bovine serum albumin (BSA).
Japanese Patent No. 3,294,860 (a process for producing an optically active alcohol) discloses an example wherein an optically active alcohol was resolved with an optical purity of about 100% ee from a crude protein derived from animals and plants, and an optically active alcohol (100% ee, yield of 50%) is synthesized by using the first step of extracting a water-soluble protein from grains or beans; second step of encapsulating the protein in a calcium alginate gel; and third step of carrying out an asymmetric oxidation conversion reaction of substrate using the encapsulated protein as a catalyst in combination. In Japanese Patent No. 3,683,129 (a process for producing an optically active alcohol), an optically active alcohol (100% ee) is synthesized by using the first step of extracting a water-soluble protein selected from egg white and ovalbumin separated from egg white; the second step of encapsulating the protein in calcium alginate; and the third step of carrying out an asymmetric oxidation conversion reaction of the substrate using the encapsulated protein as a catalyst in combination.
In general, the method of producing an immobilized enzyme is typically the follow methods:
(1) a carrier binding method wherein the extracted and purified enzyme is bound to a water-insoluble carrier, for example, derivatives of polysaccharides, such as cellulose, dextran and agarose; a polyacrylamide gel and the like;
(2) a cross-linking method wherein the extracted and purified enzyme is immobilized by forming a cross-link between the extracted and purified enzymes using a reagent having two or more functional groups; and
(3) a (micropcasule type) encapsulating method wherein the extracted and purified enzyme is incorporated in a fine matrix of a gel, for example, a gel such as alginate, starch, konjak (devil's tongue jelly), polyacrylamide gel or polyvinyl alcohol (matrix type) or coated with a semitransparent membrane.
A cross-linked enzyme crystal (CLEC) method which appeared in the 1990s is a method wherein the extracted and purified enzyme is crystallized using ammonium sulfate, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the like and then cross-linked using a polyhydric modification reagent such as glutaraldehyde (GA), and is used most practically as an industrial immobilized enzyme technique. With respect to the CLEC method, for example, ChiroCLEC (enzyme for the synthesis of chiral compounds) is made into a product as an enzyme for organic synthesis by Altus Co. With respect to ChiroCLEC-BL, subtilisin derived from Bacillus licheniformis is immobilized and then cross-linked and solid-phased. With respect to ChiroCLEC-CR, lipase derived from Candida rugosa is immobilized and then cross-linked and formed into a solid-phase.
These products exhibit stably activity even in an organic solvent and are also excellent in thermostability. They have a feature that hydrolysis or acylation of carboxylic acid, alcohol, amino acid, ester and the like can be carried out while maintaining optical activity. The cross-linked enzyme crystal (CLEC) (1) can optimize a function of an enzyme under operation conditions that the enzyme is cross-linked and immobilized, (2) can be developed in various commercially available enzymes such as hydrolase, oxidoreductase and lyase, and (3) can be developed by an enzyme capable of producing transgenic microorganism modified so as to meet specific needs.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication (JP-B; KOKOKU) No. 68914 (a process for immobilizing an enzyme) discloses an example wherein an enzyme is adsorbed to an aminated silica gel of a porous water-insoluble carrier, and then the enzyme is immobilized by a covalent binding reaction using a polyfunctional cross-linking agent (glutaraldehyde). In this case, drawbacks of the enzyme, which is likely to leave from a carrier because of a weak binding force between a carrier and an enzyme, is solved by cross-linking the enzyme to a polyfunctional cross-linking agent. A remarkable improvement in half life of activity of an immobilization carrier has been realized by using, in addition to enzyme absorptivity of porous carriers such as a porous aminated silica gel and a porous aminated zeolite, a polyfunctional cross-linking agent (glutaraldehyde).
Known advantages of the cross-linked enzyme crystal (CLEC) are summarized as follows. Crystallization of the enzyme means that water molecules coated around enzyme molecules are removed by the addition of ammonium sulfate and polyethylene glycol and thus enzyme molecules begin to be polymerized with each other, and means that molecules finally becomes large, resulting in the precipitation thereof. The meaning of the crystallization is different from that in the case of an organic compound wherein a solution of the organic compound is cooled, to thereby solidify the compound.
(Advantages of Cross-Linked Enzyme Crystal)                High-purity enzyme is not required (applicable to a partially purified prepared product)        Simple operation and wide application        Stable at room temperature for a long period (one or more years)        Substantially 100% active protein (high-volume measurement (volumetric) and catalyst productivity)        Easy recovery and recycling        High-temperature stability and resistance to organic solvent as compared with enzyme alone        High activity and selectivity (may be sometimes higher than those of enzyme alone)        There's no need to filtrate an enzyme in an aqueous medium        Quick optimization (using HTE) shortens a development time        Combi CLEA containing one or more enzymes for catalytic cascade process
Examples of market and possibility of application of the cross-linked enzyme crystal (CLEC) include CLEC synthesis (drugs, perfumes and taste substances, pesticides, functional foods, fine chemicals, bulky monomers), foods and beverages, pulps and papers, cosmetics, oils and lipids, woven fabrics, waste treatment, surfactants, biosensors, diagnostic drugs, protein transport and the like.
With respect to dehydrogenases, microorganisms-derived alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from Rhodococcus erythropolis, and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from Candida boidinii are known as enzymes for preparation of CLEA, at present.

Protein complex having activity catalyzing asymmetric oxidation reaction and process for producing the same


Methods of depositing thin seed layers that improve continuity of the seed layer as well as adhesion to the barrier layer are provided. According to various embodiments, the methods involve performing an etchback operation in the seed deposition chamber prior to depositing the seed layer. The etch step removes barrier layer overhang and/or oxide that has formed on the barrier layer. It some embodiments, a small deposition flux of seed atoms accompanies the sputter etch flux of argon ions, embedding metal atoms into the barrier layer. The embedded metal atoms create nucleation sites for subsequent seed layer deposition, thereby promoting continuous seed layer film growth, film stability and improved seed layer-barrier layer adhesion.

Damascene processing is a method for forming interconnections on integrated circuits that involves formation of inlaid metal lines in trenches and vias formed in a dielectric layer (inter-metal dielectric). The metal conductive lines are formed by an electroplating process. Because copper or other mobile conductive material provides the conductive paths of the integrated circuit, the underlying silicon devices must be protected from metal ions (e.g., Cu2+) that might otherwise diffuse or drift into the silicon. Suitable materials for diffusion barrier include tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, titanium tungsten, titanium nitride, tungsten nitride, and the like.
After diffusion barrier is deposited and prior to electroplating, a seed layer of copper or other metal is typically applied by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process to enable subsequent electrofilling of the features with copper inlay. In order to serve as a seed for electroplating, the seed layer should be continuous, stable and have good adhesion to the barrier layer.
One difficulty with depositing seed layers is that the copper (or other metal) may agglomerate on the barrier layer surface. This phenomenon occurs because of the weak chemical bond between seed and the barrier as a result of the absence of an intermetallic reaction between the two. High oxidation ability of the barrier aggravates this phenomenon. Because of this agglomeration, the copper may not cover the surface in a conformal manner. The thickness of the seed layer coverage is thus uneven, thicker in some places than others, and the layer may include gaps. Such seed layers do not provide a uniform layer for electroplating, which leads to voiding defects in the electroplated copper. Another difficulty is the formation of "overhang" material on the edges of the features. Diffusion barrier overhang, for example, can prevent seed metal deposition flux from reaching the top sidewalls of the features. This phenomenon also leads to seed layers having poor continuity. Defects, poor continuity and poor adhesion of the seed layer all may adversely affect performance of the fabricated device. For example, defects in the seed layer may result in electromigration and stress migration at the seed-barrier interface. Void formation in the electrofilled copper features and subsequent post CMP defects are other consequences of poor seed layer formation that may also lead to device failure.
What are therefore needed are methods of depositing metal seed layers on diffusion barriers that provide seed layers having improved continuity and adhesion to the underlying diffusion barrier.

Deposition of thin continuous PVD seed layers having improved adhesion to the barrier layer


Retention mechanisms for bicycle drive trains are disclosed. In some embodiments, a retention mechanism may include a backplate having at least one spur, at least one chain ring coupled to the backplate, and a slider coupled to the spur. The slider may be positioned between the at least one chain ring and a bicycle chain, and may include at least one track and at least one chain guide (e.g., an O-ring or ring component) seated in the track. The at least one chain guide may be configured to rotate about the track while applying tension to the bicycle chain so as to reduce friction and/or dampen noise.

Typical bicycle drive trains include a crank arm assembly affixed to one or more front chain rings. A chain engages a front chain ring for transferring power to a rear cassette of one or more rear chain rings affixed to the rear wheel axle. Chains in these typical systems are retained by providing tension between the front and rear chain rings. With extended and/or rough usage, however, chains can become loose and lose tension, increasing the risk that the chain will disengage from one or more of the chain rings.


A method for reducing BIOS resume time from a computer system sleeping state, and corresponding components and system for implementing the method. The method first identifies an operating system (OS) type running on a computer system. Based on the operating system type that is identified, a set of BIOS resume tasks specific to that operating system type are dispatched for execution in response to a sleep mode wake event. Generally, the OS-type specific BIOS resume tasks may be stored on various storage means, such as BIOS devices, operating system files, or as a carrier wave. In one embodiment, various generic BIOS resume tasks and corresponding dispatch flag data are stored in one or more tables. In another embodiment, various sets of BIOS resume tasks are stored in separate tables or lists, wherein the sets of BIOS resume tasks may be operating system type and/or computer platform type specific.

Today's mobile and desktop systems implement sleeping states as defined by ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), whereby the platform and operating system are placed in a sleeping state when there is currently no work to be done. Entry into these low power states is determined through operating system (OS) specific actions and may include (but not be limited to) end user interaction (e.g., lid closure, power button press, etc.) or system inactivity for some period of time. The original concept of Intel's Instantly Available PC or Microsoft's OnNow initiative is that the PC would rapidly wake from the sleeping state and be useable in very short timeframe, much like what occurs with appliances such as VCRs and microwave ovens. In practice however, this has not been the case with PCs, which have historically taken 6–10 seconds to resume normal operation from a sleeping state.
Most PCs implement one or more sleeping states, known as Sx states. S1 places the system in a low power state, but does not typically power off any devices. Namely, the processor is still powered, as are most devices. Historically, this type of sleeping state is less desirable from a power point of view, but has been able to achieve faster wake times. States lower in power than S1, namely S2 and S3, power off a large portion of the system, including the processor. For these states, it is necessary for the system BIOS to initialize the processor and memory as well as some number of system level devices, prior to handing control back to the operating system. This BIOS initialization time after an S2 or S3, is known as the BIOS resume time, and it is a critical component in achieving shorter resume times for the PC.
There are two parts of the problem for achieving faster wake times. The system BIOS wake time occurs first, after the end user has requested that the machine wake from the sleeping state until the time at which the BIOS passes control back to the operating system. The second part of the problem is the OS resume time. This is defined as the time it takes for the OS to reinitialize device drivers and bring the machine back to a useable state, where the end user can begin interacting with the machine. Originally, the OS wake time was very long for initial ACPI implementations, on the order of 4–6 seconds. This has been dramatically reduced on current operating systems, and some systems have achieved <1 s OS wake time. As a result, the BIOS resume time comprises the bulk of the time lapse between activation of a wakening event and the PC becoming available for use.

Method for reducing BIOS resume time from a sleeping state


An aqueous formulation for topical application to the skin comprising water, a water-miscible organic solvent, and benzoyl peroxide, wherein the concentration of the organic solvent is sufficient to provide a stable suspension of benzoyl peroxide in the aqueous formulation without the inclusion of a surfactant in the formulation, wherein the ratio of concentrations of water and organic solvent in the formulation is sufficient to maintain the benzoyl peroxide in saturated solubility in the formulation following application to the skin, and wherein the concentration of benzoyl peroxide in the formulation is less than 5.0% and at least 1.0% w/w. The formulation may further contain a chemical compound in addition to benzoyl peroxide that is effective in the treatment of acne. The aqueous formulations of the invention are useful in the treatment of acne and acne rosacea.

Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used in topical pharmaceutical formulations to treat dermatologic conditions such as acne vulgaris, commonly referred to as acne. Topically applied antibiotics have also been used in topical formulations to treat dermatologic conditions such as acne. Examples of antibiotics that have been used topically to treat acne include macrolide antibiotic such as erythromycin and lincomycin-type antibiotics such as clindamycin and lincomycin.
Combination products containing benzoyl peroxide and an antibiotic have been utilized and provide increased anti-acne efficacy compared to formulations containing either benzoyl peroxide or an antibiotic alone. Klein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,794, discloses a combination formulation containing benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin for the treatment of acne. Compositions prepared generally as described in Klein '794 are marketed under the tradename Benzamycin® (Dermik Laboratories, Berwyn, Pa.). Combinations of benzoyl peroxide and lincomycin family antibiotics such as clindamycin are disclosed in Klein, U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,098, Baroody, U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,886, and Stiefel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,446. Compositions prepared generally as described in Klein '098 are marketed under the tradename Benzaclin® (Dermik Laboratories) and as described in Stiefel are marketed under the tradename Duac® (Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla.).
One of the problems associated with topical therapy with compositions containing benzoyl peroxide, either alone or in combination with an antibiotic, is the localized irritation at the site of application. Benzoyl peroxide has been shown to have a concentration dependent irritation potential. See Mills et al, International Journal of Dermatology, 25(10):664-667 (1986) and Lassus, Current Medical Research and Opinion, 7(6):370-373 (1981). Each of the above products contains benzoyl peroxide at a concentration of 5% w/w, a concentration that is associated with irritation.
Benzoyl peroxide is practically insoluble in water. The irritation due to application of compositions containing benzoyl peroxide has been determined to be caused by the portion of the benzoyl peroxide that is in suspension, whereas dissolved benzoyl peroxide causes little or no skin irritation. See, Schwarz, U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,888; and De Villez, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,900. Schwarz discloses a composition containing benzoyl peroxide wherein all of the benzoyl peroxide of the composition is in solution in an organic solvent. Because dissolution of benzoyl peroxide accelerates the degradation of benzoyl peroxide, Schwarz discloses that an antioxidant is included in the composition to improve the stability of the solution.
One disadvantage of Schwarz is that a high concentration of organic solvent is required in order to dissolve the benzoyl peroxide. High concentrations of organic solvents have a tendency to be irritating to skin, primarily due to the drying effect due to solubilization of skin lipids. In Tables 1 to 3, Schwarz discloses multiple examples of compositions containing various organic solvents and benzoyl peroxide. In each of the examples, the concentration of organic solvent is more than 10 times, and generally more than 15 times that of the benzoyl peroxide in the composition.
De Villez discloses a composition containing benzoyl peroxide, water, and a water-miscible organic solvent that is less volatile than water and in which the benzoyl peroxide is soluble. Prior to application on the skin, the benzoyl peroxide is in suspension in the composition. However, when applied to the skin, the water from the composition evaporates relatively rapidly compared to the organic solvent. The benzoyl peroxide of the composition is then dissolved in situ in the organic solvent, resulting in a solution of benzoyl peroxide after all of the water has evaporated.
In order for the De Villez composition to be transformed from a suspension to a solution, the composition must remain in residence on the skin surface for a sufficient time for the water in the composition to evaporate. During this time, the benzoyl peroxide is in suspension in the composition and the suspended particles are able to interact with the skin to cause irritation. Moreover, De Villez, like Schwarz, requires a relatively high concentration of an organic solvent, which may contribute to the irritation potential of such compositions.

Topical pharmaceutical formulations containing a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide in suspension in water and a water-miscible organic solvent


An access point that implements operating modes in which beacons may be selectively disabled. Beacons may be disabled when no device is actively associated through the access point. Beacons may be enabled in response to one or more triggers, which may include events such as a client forming an association through the access point following a probe request message identifying the access point. In addition, active beaconing may be triggered by user input or may occur during periodic brief intervals that allow client devices to discover the network identifier for the access point. Selective control of beaconing may lead to more effective wireless communication, particularly in areas where users congregate with computers implementing soft APs for personal networks.

Wireless communication provides significant flexibility to computer users. By communicating wirelessly, computer users may simply create a network or may have network connectivity as they move their computers from place to place. In a typical wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless client connects to an access point (AP), and communication is enabled between the client and a network.
An AP is a piece of equipment that allows devices to connect to a network. Access points, for example, are used to allow wireless clients to connect to a wired network, enabling the wireless clients to use devices connected to the wired network. APs may be self-contained hardware devices. Alternatively, computing devices (e.g., laptops) can be adapted to act as APs through the use of software. Such software-based access points or "soft APs" may allow a wireless client to access services not only on a network to which the computing device is connected but also on the computing device itself.
Access points operate according to protocols that enable client devices to form network connections. Wireless access points frequently advertise their presence by broadcasting beacons at regular intervals. Each beacon frame may carry such information as the beacon interval, timestamp, service set identifier (SSID), supported data rates, and other pertinent data regarding the access point. The SSID identifies a specific network for which access is provided by the access point. Though, not all of this information may be broadcast in every scenario. For example, some access points may opt to disable the SSID from being broadcast in beacon frames to reduce security issues.
In addition to enabling a client device to find an access point, the periodic beacons can synchronize operation of client devices once they are associated with the network. For example, a beacon signal may indicate whether there are messages waiting for the client at the AP. Such a protocol allows more efficient operation of a client because it only needs to monitor for incoming messages at periodic beacon intervals and following receipt of beacons that indicate the access point has buffered messages for the client.


A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a ring land formed with a piston-ring groove, and a skirt connected to the ring land so that the piston-ring groove is adjacent thereto, the skirt being formed with a piston-pin hole with an axis, and having a plane including the axis of the piston-pin hole. A taper is formed on the skirt in a first portion thereof nearer to the ring land than the plane to converge on the ring land.

The present invention relates to a piston for internal combustion engines.
A conventional piston for internal combustion engines is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 55-9871. This piston comprises a ring land and a skirt connected thereto. The ring land is formed with ring grooves. The skirt is formed with a piston-pin hole with a center line which is offset to the counterthrust side of the piston with respect to a center line thereof. Struts having different weights are cast in the skirt in the inner wall on the thrust and counterthrust sides of the piston. The struts serve to restrain thermal expansion of an upper end portion of the skirt during engine operation, and to position a center of gravity of the piston nearly just above the center of the piston-pin hole.
The piston is arranged in a cylinder. A connecting rod is connected to the piston by a piston pin arranged through the piston-pin hole. During engine operation, the piston undergoes, before the top dead center of a compression stroke, a force in the counterthrust direction due to a pressing force out of the connecting rod inclined and a pressure of compressed gas, sliding on a counterthrust-side inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. When approaching the top dead center, the piston undergoes not only reduced force in the counterthrust direction since the inclination of the connection rod is decreased, but a counterclockwise moment since the piston-pin hole is offset to the counterthrust side of the piston.
As a result, the piston has a thrust-side upper end contacting a thrust-side inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and a counterthrust-side lower end contacting the counterthrust-side inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. After this, the piston proceeds to an expansion stroke to undergo a force in the thrust direction due to a pressure of combustion gas and a reaction force out of the connecting rod. With increasing force in the thrust direction, the piston is moved downward with a portion between the thrust-side upper end and a lower end being widely in slide contact with the thrust-side inner peripheral surface of the cylinder.
In such a way, due to the piston-pin hole offset to the counterthrust side of the piston, the piston undergoes the counterclockwise moment in the expansion stroke. This moment operates to enlarge a clearance between an end of the skirt in the slide direction and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, enabling supply of lubricating oil to all thrust-side side surface of the piston.
However, the effect of restraining thermal expansion of the upper end portion of the skirt by the struts has a limit, and existence of the struts prevents the upper end portion of the skirt from being deformed, so that the skirt has in the vertical direction a great variation in the deformability which originates substantially from the vicinity of the oil ring groove. As a result, in order to prevent seizure, a thrust-side upper end of the skirt which contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder in the expansion stroke needs to provide a taper with greater inclination in an upper portion of the piston.
This taper causes greater oscillating motion of the piston in the low-speed expansion stroke when the thrust-side upper end of the skirt contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. That is, the piston has kinetic energy increased when coming in slide contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, vibrating the cylinder to produce great hammering. Moreover, enlargement of the clearance between the upper end of the skirt and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder results in small pressure acting area of the skirt. This increases a surface pressure on a thrust-side portion of the skirt, producing difficult formation of an oil film on a thrust-side peripheral surface of the skirt, resulting in possible increase in the friction thereat.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a piston for internal combustion engines which has less hammering of the piston, and reduced friction between the piston and the cylinder in the expansion stroke.


An ultrasonic welding jig includes: an anvil that supports a plate-like electric cable connection portion of a terminal; and a welding horn that is disposed so as to oppose the anvil, and in which a fitting groove is formed in an opposing surface, the fitting groove being a groove in which a portion of a core wire of an electric cable is fitted. In a state in which the core wire and the electric cable connection portion are clamped between the welding horn and the anvil, ultrasonic welding is performed by ultrasonically vibrating the welding horn in an axial direction of the core wire. In a bottom surface of the fitting groove of the welding horn, a plurality of slippage prevention grooves that are obliquely oriented and intersect an axis of the fitting groove are formed spaced apart in a direction of the axis of the fitting groove.

Ultrasonic welding is known as a method for connecting an end of a core wire, which is composed of a stranded wire, of an electric cable to a bus bar. To be specific, ultrasonic welding is performed, using an ultrasonic welding jig that includes an anvil and a welding horn, such that the core wire of an electric cable is placed on a bus bar supported on the anvil, and ultrasonic vibrations in the axial direction are applied, with the core wire being pressed by the welding horn, and thus the core wire is ultrasonically welded to the bus bar (see Patent Document 1 listed below).
Here, in order to effectively cause ultrasonic vibrations to act on the core wire, it is important to prevent slippage between the welding horn and the core wire. For this reason, a slippage prevention means is conventionally used. The slippage prevention means has a structure in which an arc-shaped fitting groove for positioning the core wire and into which the core wire is fitted is formed in the core wire pressing surface of the welding horn, and a plurality of slippage prevention grooves extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the fitting groove are formed in the bottom surface of the fitting groove spaced apart in the axial direction of the fitting groove, so as to prevent slippage by using a so-called edge effect in which the groove edges of the slippage prevention grooves bite into the outer circumference of the strands that constitute the core wire.

Ultrasonic welding jig, terminal-equipped electric cable manufacturing method, and terminal-equipped electric cable


The present invention provides a radiotherapy system that can monitor a target location in real time. The radiotherapy system includes a remote control system operable to actuate a real-time image capturing device to acquire images in real time for monitoring the target location. The system also includes an image registration system that can register the acquired image with an image previously captured for the treatment plan, whereby it can be determined whether the patient's tumor is in the beam's eye view of the treatment plan. By confirming that the tumor is in the range of the beam's eye view, the accuracy of the treatment can be improved, and the irradiated area can be reduced, which makes the radiation treatment safer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radiotherapy systems, and more particularly to a radiotherapy system that can monitor a target location in real time.
2. The Prior Arts
In medical science, cancer is also called malignant neoplasm, which is a disorder in the mechanism that controls the growth of cells. Cancer has become a major cause of death in developed countries. In Taiwan, the statistics show that cancer has been the first cause of mortality for 29 years. There are multiple types of cancers, and the seriousness of the cancers depends on several factors including the location of the cancer cells, the degree of malignant growth, and the occurrence of distant metastasis. Many cancers can be treated and even cured, depending on its type, location and development stage. With respect to patients who are in locally-advanced cancers which cannot be removed by surgery ablation or who want to preserve the affected organ, radiotherapy may be an effective treatment.
Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill the cancer cells or reduce the size of the tumor cells. Radiotherapy includes external beam radiotherapy (or teletherapy) and brachytherapy. Because the cancer cells grow faster than normal cells, the application of radiation can destroy the genetic material of the cells, which can stop the growth or replication of the cells. The growth of the cancer cells thus can be restrained. However, the effect of radiotherapy is only limited to the region that receives the radiation. The goal of radiotherapy is to kill a maximum amount of cancer cells without affecting the healthy tissue. Radiotherapy may be adapted for treating solid tumor at diverse locations, such as brain, breast, uterine cervix, throat, lung, kidney, prostate, skin, stomach, uterus, or soft tissue. In certain situations, radiotherapy may also be used to treat leukemia and lymphoma. Whether the tumor and side effects are effectively controlled is based on the proper radiation dose that is applied to kill the tumor cells without significantly damaging the surrounding healthy cells.
As technology advances, the development of new imaging equipment and radiotherapy apparatuses makes possible conformal radiotherapy. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy uses high-energy X rays that are emitted in different fields and under different angles, so that the dose can be accumulated in space. The region of high dosage can be thereby distributed conformal to the shape of the tumor, and a mask can protect the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. With this treatment method, the tumor receives a concentrated dosage, whereas the dosage received by the healthy tissue and important organs can be reduced. As a result, the local control rate is increased, and the occurrence of complications is reduced.
The radiation sources most frequently implemented in radiotherapy are linear accelerators that can generate curative high-energy electron or X rays that can be adjustable. A multi-leaf collimator may also be used to control the direction and shape of the radiation beam to conform with the shape of the tumor to treat. Alternatively, the radiotherapy can also use a cyclotron to generate high-energy protons for treating the tumor. Recently, several conformal radiotherapy approaches have been developed, for example intensity modulated radiotherapy and tomotherapy, which have been clinically tested as applicable methods.
Usually, there may be several weeks between the time when computed tomography images are taken from the patient for evaluating the treatment plan, and the time when radiation treatment is actually applied. Whether the shape of the tumor has changed in this time interval may be verified by test slices shot under different angles before the treatment, whereby the exactitude of the angle and field of the treatment can be confirmed. However, inadvertent displacements of the target region may happen during the treatment. These displacements may be caused by, for example, breathing movements or movements of the patient owing to discomfort or prolonged holding of a same position. If it is small, the displacement may be unperceived by the operator. As a result, the region where radiation is actually applied may be offset from the initial target, so that the tumor does not receive the prescribed radiation dose, whereas the surrounding healthy tissue may be damaged by an exposure to excessive radiation. While conformal radiotherapy has been widely accepted for treating cancer tumors, the accuracy of this method mainly relies on the computed tomography images that are usually generated in the beam's eye view. The pretreatment verification mentioned previously is also based on the same computed tomography images that are not shot in real time. Given these limitations, current radiotherapy techniques cannot ensure that the treated target is continuously in the range of the radiation beam.

Radiotherapy system adapted to monitor a target location in real time

National Taipei University of Technology


Methods and systems that leverage the advantages of Huffman coding to increase processing efficiency of a data-stream while simultaneously minimizing storage requirements are provided. Decoding efficiency and table storage requirements can be balanced to produce systems that can be adapted for use in high-end network infrastructure applications and for low-resourced portable consumer devices. The systems and methods are operative in decoding data streams using multi-symbol codes and sign information, including AAC and MP3 data streams. A hierarchical structure of tables is described as having primary tables, secondary tables, tertiary tables and so on. Optimization balances processing requirements, table storage requirements and the described systems and methods may be implemented on a variety of processing platforms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present Application relates to data encoding systems and methods. More particularly, the present Application relates to variable length encoding systems.
2. Description of Related Art
The well-known Advanced Audio Coding ("AAC") method is used in various applications implementing audio codecs, including wireless, CATV, digital broadcast and Internet arenas. AAC generally provides high efficiency audio encoding. AAC decoder technology relies on Huffman decoding of variable length symbols. AAC schemes often use 11 Huffman tables as specified by the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 audio standards. As commonly implemented, Huffman decoding resolves two bits at a time and, as a result, suffers from high computational complexity. Resolving more than 2 bits at a time is not contemplated because of the associated exponential increase in Huffman tables and consequent increased memory requirements.
Processing efficiency in systems implementing Huffman coding is generally achieved by increasing Huffman table sizes. Efficiency increases because increased table sizes permits a larger number of bits to be decoded for each lookup. Therefore, the index to a Huffman table should have a bit field of length equal to the maximum size of a field to be decoded. Thus, for example, a field of maximum length equal to 5 bits would be most efficiently decoded using a Huffman table having a size of Stable=25=32 elements. In another example, a field size of 16 bits requires a Huffman table size, Stable=216=65,536. It can be appreciated, however, that efficiency is limited by the amount of storage available to maintain large Huffman tables. In many systems, tradeoff between efficiency and table size is manifested as a compromise between performance and cost of storage.
Large Huffman tables are often desirable in schemes that encode multiple symbols per codeword. In MP3 and AAC Audio coding specification, each variable length bit field can represent values for 1, 2 or 4 consecutive samples. For convenience, such groups of symbols will be referred to as 2-tuple, 4-tuple and n-tuple, where "n" signifies the number of symbols encoded. A MP3 or AAC audio encoder may choose to adaptively use a Huffman Table that is appropriate for 2-tuple or 4-tuple fields. The choice of which table is chosen is sent as a side information that is embedded in the MP3/AAC bit-stream.
Finally, the individual sample values in a 2-tuple or a 4-tuple may be signed values. When signed values are to be encoded, the magnitude of these 2-tuple/4-tuple fields are first encoded using the appropriate Huffman Tables followed by their sign-bits.

Efficient decoding of n-tuple variable bit length symbols


A method of determining the acceptability of a press contact of a wire between press contact blades of a terminal. The method includes the steps of storing a reference data of a relationship between displacements of the press contact blades when the wire is brought into press contact with a normal press contact terminal and contact loads between the press contact blades and the core wire; inserting the wire between the press contact blades of the press contact terminal as an object to be inspected; measuring the displacement of the press contact blades caused by the insertion of the wire; and determining the acceptability of the press contact terminal as the object to be inspected by predicting the contact loads between the press contact blades of the press contact terminal as the object to be inspected based on the measured displacements and the reference data.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining acceptability of a press contact terminal by predicting contact loads between press contact blades and a core wire when an electric wire is inserted between the press contact blades or the like.
Various electronic apparatus are mounted on an automobile as a vehicle. The automobile is wired with a wire harness for transmitting a predetermined power and signal to the electronic apparatus. The wire harness is provided with a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to end portions of the electric wires.
The electric wire includes a conductive core wire and an insulating sheath portion for covering the core wire. The connector is provided with a terminal metal piece attached to the electric wire and a connector housing containing the terminal metal piece. The terminal metal piece is made of a conductive drawn sheet or the like. The terminal metal piece is electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is made of an insulating synthetic resin and formed in a box-like shape.
The wire harness having the above-described constitution transmits a predetermined power and signal to respective electronic apparatus by coupling to wire the connector with a connector provided at the above-described electronic apparatus.
There is a case of using a press contact terminal as a terminal metal piece of the wire harness. The press contact terminal is provided with a bottom wall for positioning the core wire of the electric wire on a surface thereof, a pair of side walls erected from opposite edges of the bottom wall and press contact blades extended from respectives of the pair of side walls in directions of approaching each other. The press contact terminal is inserted with the electric wire between the press contact blades. Then, the press contact blades are brought into contact with the core wire by cutting the sheath portion. In this way, the press contact terminals are electrically connected to the electric wire, that is, brought into press contact with the electric wire. The press contact terminals are attached to the connector housing.
At this occasion, there is a case in which when the electric wire is inserted between the press contact blades, an interval between the pair of side walls of the press contact terminals is expanded after having been brought into press contact therewith. Therefore, when the electric wire is inserted between the press contact blades, the press contact blades are brought into contact with the core wire by cutting the sheath portion and therefore, in inserting the electric wire between the press contact blades, a load in a direction of hampering the insertion is generated. Therefore, in a press contact apparatus or the like for inserting the electric wire between the press contact blades, the electric wire is inserted between the press contact blades by a force exceeding the load.
When the load is excessively increased, it is conceivable that the press contact terminal is abnormally deformed or chipped off. In a state of attaching the press contact terminal to the connector housing, it is conceivable that the connector housing is destructed.
Therefore, in developing the press contact terminal, a designed press contact terminal is trially produced, the electric wire is actually inserted between the press contact blades and the load and the expansion of the interval between the side walls are measured. A relationship between the load and the expansion of the interval between the side walls is calculated and acceptability of design of the press contact terminal is determined based on the relationship.
A the time of a mass production after completing the design, the press contact terminal is brought into press contact with the electric wire and contained in the connector housing to constitute the wire harness. In order to maintain/improve quality of the wire harness, even in the case of the press contact terminal in mass production, it is desired to calculate the relationship between the expansion of the interval between the side walls and the load in bringing the electric wire into press contact therewith. It is desired to determine acceptability of the press contact terminal based on the relationship.
The loads are based on contact loads between the core wire and the press contact blades. Various measuring apparatus (refer to, for example, Patent Reference 1) have been proposed to measure the loads, that is, the contact loads.
The measuring apparatus is provided with strain gage type load cells (hereinafter, referred to as load cells) on outer sides of respectives of the pair of side walls of the trially produced press contact terminal. Front ends of the load cells are brought into contact with outer faces of the side walls of the press contact terminal before press contact. The measuring apparatus measures the contact loads by inserting the electric wire between the press contact blades and measuring loads applied on the load cells.
Patent Reference 1
JP-A-2001-183251
In an actual press contact terminal, when an electric wire is inserted between press contact blades, a pair of side walls are separated from each other. However, in the measuring apparatus, the front ends of the load cells are brought into contact with the outer faces of the side walls and therefore, even when the electric wire is inserted between the press contact blades, the pair of side walls are made to be difficult to separate from each other. Therefore, the loads applied on the load cells tend to be larger than the contact loads between the press contact blades and the core wire of the actual press contact terminal.
Therefore, when the measuring apparatus of the related art is used, the contact loads between the press contact blades and the core wire cannot accurately be measured. When the measuring apparatus of the related art is used, the side walls are made to be difficult to separate from each other and therefore, it is naturally difficult to accurately measure the expansion of the interval between the side walls. Therefore, when the measuring apparatus having the load cells is used, not only the contact loads between the press contact blades and the core wire cannot accurately be measure but also the expansion of the pair of side walls, that is, the expansion of the press contact blades cannot accurately be measured. Therefore, when the measuring apparatus provided with the load cells is used, it is difficult to accurately determine acceptability of the press contact terminal.
On the other hand, when the press contact terminals are brought into press contact with the electric wire, since the electric wire is press fit between the press contact blades, an interval between the pair of side walls of the press contact terminal may be widened.
It is conceivable that when the interval between the pair of side walls is excessively expanded, the press contact terminal is abnormally deformed or chipped off. It is conceivable that in a state in which the press contact terminal is attached to the connector housing, the connector housing is destructed.
Therefore, in developing the press contact terminal, a designed press contact terminal is trially produced, the electric wire is actually press fit between the press contact blades and expansion of the interval between the pair of side walls is measured. In order to measure expansion of the interval between the pair of side walls of the press contact terminal, there is proposed a measuring method for measuring expansion of the interval between the pair of side walls by measuring respective displacements of the pair of side walls by using, for example a laser displacement meter (refer to, for example, Patent Reference 2).
According to the measuring method, a pair of the laser displacement meters are provided. A displacement of one of the side walls is measured by irradiating laser to one of the side walls by one of the laser displacement meters. A displacement of other of the side walls is measured by irradiating laser to other of the side walls by other of the laser displacement meters. In this way, according to the measuring method, expansion of the interval between the pair of side walls is measured.
Patent Reference 2
JP-A-2001-159514
An angle made by a surface of the bottom wall and a surface of the side wall is changed before press contact and after press contact, that is, the side walls are inclined by bringing the electric wire into press contact therewith. Therefore, according to the measuring method described in the publication, a portion of the side wall on which laser impinges is shifted before press contact and after press contact. Therefore, it is conceivable that the laser displacement meter cannot accurately measure the displacement of the side wall. An incident angle and an emitting angle of laser relative to the side wall is changed before contact and after contact and therefore, it is conceivable that the laser displacement meter cannot measure the displacement of the side wall further accurately.

Method of determining the acceptability of the press contacting of a terminal using reference data


Antiviral agents containing sea lettuce or an organic solvent extraction fraction thereof as an active component, and feeds containing the antiviral agents are disclosed. In addition, a process for preparing the antiviral agents is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to use of sea lettuce, a kind of seaweed, and its extract as feed and medicines. In particular, the invention relates to use of the antiviral component contained in the sea lettuce.
2. Description of the Related Art
In fish-farming, there has often seen the overcrowded cultivation that attached great importance to productive efficiency, and because of such the cultivation, various fish diseases to induce death of the cultivated fish have been reported. Among such fish diseases, various medicines such as antibiotics can control fish diseases in the event of onset caused by bacteria and so on, and the control of fish diseases by use of antibiotics has already matured into a particular industrial field in cultivation business.
On viral diseases, damages from various kinds of viral fish diseases has begun to be reported since 1980's. For example, flounder rhabdovirus (HRV: 200 nm overall length, bullet form with an envelope) spread over flounder farms in Hokkaido in the first half of 1980's, and it is reported that 80% of flounder fry died then. In addition, it is said that the amount of damage of salmon family fish by infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV: 200 nm overall length, bullet form with an envelope) is estimated to be 2 to 3 billion yen/year, and several 10s billion yen/year in the world. So, many people who involve fish-farming are cautious universally thereon.
However, concerning viral disease countermeasure for the cultivation fish, diagnostic agents and prevention vaccine are being investigated, but the development has not yet advanced so much. For example, vaccine for the iridovirus which was very often reported in cultivating red sea bream and so on was developed in 1999. However, since the vaccine must be injected into each fish, it is not widely used in farms.
On the other hand, sea lettuce is a kind of green alga growing in seawater, and it occurs in mass by the eutrophication which contains much nitrogen and phosphorus in beach and a seawater lake. Therefore, the existence of sea lettuce has been regarded as one of indications to show the eutrophication state of a sea area conventionally. It is assumed that self-purification action by sea lettuce is very important since sea lettuce takes in nitrogen and phosphorus for proliferation. On the other hand, the present ituation is that people rack their brains about disposal of sea lettuce, and its effective utilization is desired. From this point of view, sea lettuce is a practically safe food source which is partly utilized as food, and the basic study aiming at application to feed additives for domestic animal is started, paying attention on nutrition components such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and so on. However, decisive effective utilization of sea lettuce has not been found yet, and development of the effective usage that is aiming at mass consumption is expected.
The present inventors have investigated in the past for making good use of sea lettuce. As a result, the present inventors have found that D-cysteinolic acid, which is a sulfur-containing amino acid in sea lettuce, reduces internal neutral fat and inhibits the Fentton reaction which generates harmful radicals, and filed already patent applications based on the observations. (Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication Nos. 2000-202404 and 2000-103724).
However, in terms of effective utilization of sea lettuce, more sufficient analysis and assessment are expected at various points of view about components of sea lettuce.
In view of the circumstances mentioned above, the present invention has been achieved as part of a study to search bioactive components of sea lettuce and to promote effective use thereof.

Anti-viral agents prepared from sea lettuce as raw material


A scanner is disclosed having spring pressers pressed over the axles of a document guide roller assembly of a transmission mechanism thereof at two opposite ends in holding down the document guide roller assembly for delivering the document inserted therein for smooth scanning and preventing the document from being biased.

The present invention relates to a scanners and relates more particularly to a document scanner for use in reading business cards and the like.
People in offices may expend a lot of time in finding the data (name, address, telephone number, etc.) from a set of business cards. By means of the application of the scanning technology, this problem can be solved.

Document guide roller assembly in a scanner