What is described is a method for preparing a liposome that efficiently encapsulates a negatively charged therapeutic polymer, e.g., siRNA. The process involves preparing a lipid mixture comprising a cationic lipid in a water miscible organic solvent, such as ethanol, at a concentration of 2.3 mg/ml, and adding this solution to the polymer dissolved in water to a final concentration of 35% ethanol in water. The final charge ratio of drug:lipid is 1:2.5. The resulting nanoparticles have a mean size of 50 to 150 nm.

Lipids are potentially useful as carriers for delivery of therapeutic molecules, particularly for delivery of nucleic acids. Lipids form liposomes, which can encapsulate, complex, or entrap nucleic acid molecules and thereby enhance delivery of this class of therapeutic molecules to target cells upon administration, e.g., intravenously to the circulation. Their usefulness in pharmaceutical compositions is limited by available methods to produce lipid-nucleic acid nanoparticles reproducibly. Various methods have been devised to produce such nanoparticles.
Batzri et al., 1973, Biophys Biochem Acta 298:1015-19, and Kremer et al., 1977, Biochemistry 16:3932-35, describe producing lipid vesicles by dissolving lipids in ethanol and injecting the ethanol solution into an aqueous solution in which the lipids spontaneously form liposomes. Hirota et al., 1999, BioTechniques 27:286-89, describe producing lipid vesicles coated with nucleic acid molecules by dissolving cationic lipids in ethanol and injecting the ethanol solution into an aqueous solution containing the nucleic acid molecules. This method fails to produce liposomes that encapsulate nucleic acid.
Maurer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,423 describe producing liposomes that encapsulate nucleic acids by first preparing preformed single-walled lipid vesicles in an aqueous solution. The preformed lipid vesicles are prepared by dissolving lipids in ethanol, and injecting the lipid mixture into an aqueous buffer. The process of preparing empty preformed vesicles includes sizing by extrusion. Ethanol is added to the empty preformed vesicles after sizing to destabilize them, and nucleic acids in 40% ethanol is added to the destabilized lipid vesicles. After incubation, the mixture is diafiltered to remove ethanol. Variations in the percentage ethanol, temperature, incubation time, lipid composition, drug/lipid ratio, and initial nucleic acid concentration all influence the encapsulation efficiency and yield of this method. For example, Maurer et al. discloses that entrapment increases with increasing oligonucleotide:lipid ratio, reaching a maximum at more than 0.16 mg antisense oligonucleotide per mg lipid, while producing an increase in the number of larger liposomes and in their polydispersity.
Semple et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,225 produce liposomes encapsulating RNA using an ionizable cationic lipid. The lipid is dissolve in ethanol and is combined with nucleic acids in an aqueous buffer at low pH. The ethanol is removed and the pH is brought to neutral pH to form the liposomes. The resulting liposomes are heterogeneous and require homogenization or extrusion to obtain monodisperse lipid vesicles. Consistent with Maurer et al., Semple et al. disclose that entrapment increases with increasing oligonucleotide:lipid ratio, reaching a maximum at more than 0.16 mg antisense oligonucleotide per mg lipid, while producing an increase in the number of larger liposomes and in their polydispersity.
MacLachlan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,901,708 describe producing lipid vesicles encapsulating RNA by mixing lipids dissolved in ethanol with RNA in an aqueous solution in a mixing chamber (T-tube) in which the lipids and RNA are diluted stepwise, thereby substantially instantaneously forming vesicles.
Wheeler et al. US 20100041152 describe producing liposomes encapsulating RNA by dissolving cationic lipids in ethanol and mixing with RNA in 65-85% ethanol to produce a soluble, charge-neutralized complex, adding non-cationic lipids to this complex to form a lipid-nucleic acid mixture, and removing ethanol. The liposomes require homogenization or extrusion to obtain monodisperse lipid vesicles.
There remains an unmet need for a manufacturing method to encapsulate nucleic acids without the need for extensive mechanical processing steps to prepare preformed liposomes and without the need for processing step to reduce lipid-nucleic acid particles to a monodisperse population.

Method of producing lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery


A sprinkler configured to shoot a liquid, such as water or a mixture of water and a gel, may include a chasse, which may be an elongate and substantially hollow center beam with a first closed end and a second open end; a plurality of adjustable legs extending from each of the first closed end and the second end; a top post extending upward from a central portion of the chasse; a sprinkler head operatively attached to the top post; and an end post extending from the second open end, wherein the end post is configured to operatively attach to a liquid source. The angle at which each leg extends from the chasse may be independently adjustable to accommodate various terrains and sloped surfaces without impeding functionality of the sprinkler.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to fire property protection and, more particularly, to a large sprinkler that shoots water and gel to protect property during, for example, a wildfire.
When it comes to protecting property, and particularly personal property, from a wildfire, there are no sufficient systems. Conventional sprinklers use a large volume of water, require a high-pressure pump, and cannot be set up on uneven terrain or rooftops. There are no high-powered portable sprinkler bases that can be pre-staged to be used at the last minute to save water waste or that can be set up in minutes.
Therefore, what is needed is a high-powered sprinkler that is portable, easy to set up, and does not require a high-pressure pump, while simultaneously being able to be used on uneven terrain.


A clamp-hubcap assembly is provided. The assembly may include a clamp, a hubcap, and a retaining device. The retaining device may be any suitable structure capable of coupling the clamp and the hubcap together.

Aircraft wheels may include a hubcap that is retained on the wheel with a retaining device such as a clamp. During maintenance operations the hubcap and retaining device may be removed to service and/or to remove the wheel. When removed, the hubcap and retaining device may be separate pieces that may be misplaced, increasing the risk of foreign object damage ("FOD") and/or requiring replacement after loss.

Integral clamp hubcap for wheel system and apparatus


A portable workdeck assembly is described as including a specially configured planar work surface on whose upper surface may be mounted a number of distinct bench mounted tools and related accessories, and whose lower surface carries user adjustable means enabling the deck assembly to be interfitted onto a plurality of variously sized and shaped supporting base members. The workdeck assembly therefore readily facilitates the portability of a set of familiar bench mounted tools and accessories to various sites. In a preferred baseline embodiment, one or more rigidifying channels longitudinally disposed on the work surface bottom carry a number of two-axis adjustable feet which enable the workdeck assembly to interfit snugly with variously sized rolling tool cabinets. In an alternate embodiment, a number of cross members with resilient feet are mounted on the work surface bottom enabling the workdeck to be non-slidingly positioned atop any suitably strong horizontally disposed base member.

Carpenters, auto mechanics, handymen, home hobbyists and other craftsmen greatly prefer to use familiar work stations that provide quick access to their favorite bench mounted tools to carry out their tasks. Not infrequently, however, it is necessary that they must do their work in different locations, which requires transporting a variety of power tools to various work sites. To overcome the formidable logistics of transporting bench mounted tools and their related accessories to different job sites, many craftsmen instead try to make do with only smaller portable tools. This approach often causes their work to proceed slowly and with less favorable end results. A number of attempts have been made to compensate for the problems associated with transporting bench mounted tools from place to place, but an ideal solution has yet to be found in prior art methods and apparatus.
Descriptions of typical prior art approaches to transporting bench mounted power tools may be found in a number of U.S. patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,206 to McAllister is illustrative of a large body of prior art showing portable work benches capable of having a plurality of different power tools affixed to its top working surface. However, this patent is directed to portability of the entire multi-tool workstation including a large and cumbersome base support structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,350 to Heinlen et al. provides a clear showing of the broad idea of having a number of replaceable work tool bench tops that carry various premounted power tools. However, each different top is mounted on the same supporting cabinet as best seen in its FIG. 5 This patent is illustrative of many other U.S. patents that show "single base/many different top" arrangements, which teach directly away from the "single is top/many different base" arrangements of the present invention.
PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP93/00089 to Ebert provides a clear teaching of the broad concept of designing a flat surfaced table top having anchoring structures called longitudinal ribs formed into its lower surface to mate with different base members. See FIG. 1 wherein the single table top may be mounted on one of three distinct base member arrangements.
Additional teachings of various types of prior art work benches having tools mounted thereon and directed to some form of portability are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,473 to Tucker and in the early (1914) U.S. Pat. No. 1,104,103 to Carpenter, Jr.
While each of these prior art teachings show approaches that function more or less well for its intended purposes, they have not to date provided a portable workdeck suitable for carrying a number of bench mounted tools using a minimal and cost effective amount of needed structures and operational manipulations. It is exactly these needs that the present invention admirably meets.


Methods and systems are provided for an evaporative emission control system. In one example, a method may include halting a dispensing of fuel to a fuel tank during a refueling event by increasing a backpressure in the fuel tank. The halt to fuel dispensing may be executed based on one or more of an upcoming fuel vapor canister purge event and an estimated fuel vapor canister loading capacity to determine a predicted canister breakthrough. The predicted canister breakthrough may be compared to a threshold to regulate a refueling volume.

Vehicle fuel systems may include evaporative emission control (EVAP) systems designed to reduce the release of fuel vapors to the atmosphere. For example, vaporized hydrocarbons (HCs) from a fuel tank may be stored in a fuel vapor canister packed with an adsorbent which adsorbs and stores the vapors. In particular, the fuel vapor canister may adsorb HCs from the fuel tank during refueling events where a partial pressure of fuel vapors may increase as a head volume in the fuel tank decreases. At a later time, when the vehicle engine is in operation, the EVAP system allows the vapors to be purged into the engine intake manifold for use as fuel.
A capacity of the fuel vapor canister to store HCs may be affected by variations in ambient conditions. For example, the fuel vapor canister capacity may decrease under hot ambient temperatures and increase under cold ambient temperatures, leading to diurnal and climate-induced variations in HC loading. In particular, in hot climates and after a vehicle drive cycle, the fuel vapor canister may be subjected to high temperatures due to heat rejection from exhaust gases, thermal radiation from road surfaces, etc., which may reduce the adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor canister by up to 67%. If parked in a hot environment after vehicle-off, breakthrough emissions may escape from the EVAP system of the vehicle.
Attempts to address breakthrough emissions from a fuel vapor canister includes operating the EVAP system based on predictive route data. One example approach is shown by Blumenstock et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 9,371,793. Therein, data obtained from, for example, a vehicle navigation unit and data reflecting a driving style of a driver (e.g., based on accelerator dynamics) may be used to determine when the fuel vapor canister is to be purged. Predictive route data provided by the navigation unit allows a controller to recognize when the vehicle is approaching an end of a drive cycle, during which regeneration of the fuel vapor canister is executed. A timing of the regeneration corresponds to a value estimated based on a loading factor of the fuel vapor canister. As a result, when the vehicle is keyed off, the fuel vapor canister is at a maximum loading capacity, enabling adsorption of fuel vapors from a fuel tank while the vehicle is parked.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such a system. As one example, regeneration of the fuel vapor canister requires engine operation for a minimum duration of time immediately after the vehicle is refueled. The minimum duration of time, such as 20 minutes, allows complete purging of HCs (e.g., at least 90% removal) from the fuel vapor canister to the engine intake where the HCs are re-combusted. In a vehicle with an alternate engine technology, however, such as start/stop, a mild hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV), a variable displacement engine (VDE), etc., the engine may be operated for less than the minimum duration of time. As such, parking the vehicle in hot conditions with a fully refueled tank after brief engine operation may lead to breakthrough emissions due to a combination of reduced adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor canister and high fuel tank vapor pressure (e.g., diurnal vapors).
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method for halting a dispensing of fuel to a fuel tank during a refueling event by increasing a backpressure in the fuel tank, the halting of the dispensing of fuel based on one or more of an upcoming fuel vapor canister purge event and an estimated fuel vapor canister loading capacity. In this way, a likelihood of breakthrough emissions during vehicle-off period subsequent to the refueling event may be reduced.
As one example, the method may include an adaptive refueling adjustment where the upcoming fuel vapor canister purge and the estimated fuel vapor canister loading capacity may be used to determine a predicted canister breakthrough value. The value may be compared to a threshold value and, if confirmed to be above the threshold value, may cause the amount of fuel dispensed to the fuel tank to be reduced. By reducing the amount of dispensed fuel, loading at the fuel vapor canister is decreased during the refueling event. Breakthrough emissions during the vehicle vehicle-off period is thereby circumvented.
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.

Adaptive refueling for evaporative emission control


A portable voltage and current (VI) probe including voltage and current probes, a clamshell assembly, and insulation sections for attachment to at least one transmission line. A stripper tool removes sections of a cover and a shield from the transmission line. Probes are then installed onto the transmission line. A clamshell assembly is placed onto the exposed transmission line surrounding the probes. The probes are insulated and connected to at least one detecting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Portable Voltage and Current (VI) Probe for attachment to at least one transmission line.
2. Discussion of the Background
In the fabrication and processing of semi-conductor wafers, such as silicon wafers, a variety of different semiconductor equipment and processes can be utilized. For example, wafer processing techniques are known in the art and may include, for example, photolithography, ion beam deposition, vapor deposition, etching, as well as a variety of other processes.
In one method of wafer processing, plasma generators are used to process a wafer, for example by etching a layer formed on the surface of the wafer. In employing this technique, electrical power is coupled to the plasma generator from an electrical source. Typically, the electrical energy has a frequency in the radio frequency (RF) range. Control of the process is performed in part by measuring and monitoring the RF voltage and the RF current components of the RF power source coupled to the plasma generator. It is generally desirable to obtain the voltage and current measurements as close to the plasma generator as possible in order to obtain a true representation of the actual RF voltage and current entering the plasma generator with minimal effects on the transmission line. Therefore, a common practice for measuring RF power is to install a sensor for monitoring current and voltage in series with the transmission medium coupling the RF power to the plasma generator.
However, RF monitors can disrupt the plasma process or may fail to obtain accurate indications of the ongoing plasma process. Furthermore, the monitor itself may affect the RF signal due to reflections, for example. Due to different system configurations, it is desirable to be able to measure the RF power at various locations along the transmission line using a portable probe as opposed to using a probe which is integrated into the transmission line.
Consequently, there exists a need for a portable VI probe for monitoring a source of RF electrical power, which minimally intrudes in the RF transmission line in which the probe is placed.


The invention concerns a test apparatus for the testing of a test sample on or in a material, such as body fluids or food, particularly adapted to a bioluminescent test, such as for the detection of ATP or phosphatase or other materials. The test apparatus includes a transparent tube having at one end a sample unit and at the other end a detachable or nondetachable test unit which are connected, and which includes a cover with a probe containing a swab at one end. The test apparatus includes probe positioning marks on the exterior of the sample unit, so that the probe may be moved between selected test positions, and as it moves from a non-use to a use position, various test reagents which are sealed within the test unit are punctured by the probe, and the test sample and the test reagents are reacted together in the test unit.

It is desired to provide for a rapid and efficient test for the detection of various test samples from materials or surfaces. Various test apparatuses and test methods have been developed for that purpose. For example, it is widely desirable to determine or to test through quantitative and qualitative tests body fluids, such as blood, and urine, and milk and the like, as well as food, such as meat products, fruit, vegetables, and to detect for alkaline phosphatase, salmonella, drugs, and antibiotics, such as; for example, sulfa drugs, beta-lactam drugs, organophosphates, carbamates and active metabolites, various bacteria and pathogenic combinations, either in materials or on the surface of materials, or both.
For illustration only, the detection and characterization, qualitatively and qualitatively, through the employment of a color change or a bioluminescence test, for the detection of the alkaline phosphatase, such as for example, the detection of ATP on or in materials, is most desirable for providing a measure of immunoeffectiveness, so that a rapid determination can be made of whether a processing or surface area is adequately hygienically clean and free of, for example, alkaline phosphatase, so that corrective or disinfectant action can be instituted.
Typically, the detection of ATP is by bioluminescence assay, which is a standard test which will detect food residue, bacteria, yeast, mold, by measuring the ATP on a surface. The method comprises obtaining a test sample, for example, on the surface of the material, such as by non-laboratory or out-of-laboratory or at field locations, the activating of the test sample in the presence of test reagents, and then later employing a luminometer to determine test results, which can be compared with a controlled sample or controlled environment.
The detection of a phosphatase, like ATP, may be made in a dimensional color test and method. However, such a test is time consuming and requires laboratory trained personnel. The present commercial tests are generally directed to a bioluminescence test, which ordinarily takes less than five minutes and employs premeasured and prepackaged separate test reagents and employs a luminometer to detect test results. Generally, a portable luminometer, as used in the field, with the use of test containers, such as various test tubes or plates. The concentration of the phosphatase has been determined by measuring or counting of the bioluminescence, determined by the reagents mixing with the test sample, and comparing the count against certain accepted control standards, or a threshold of a control standard.
There are various ATP tests available in the field, and one bioluminescent ATP monitoring test in present use is described in "The Handbook of ATP-Hygiene Monitoring" by Bio-Orbit Oy of Turku, Finland, while another luminescent ATP hygiene monitoring test in use is called the Charm ABC Swab Test.TM., sold by Charm Sciences, Inc., of Malden, Mass., both of which tests and literature are hereby incorporated by reference.
Another portable swab-type device for use in an ATP bioluminescent test for measuring cleaning effectiveness is distributed under the mark Lightning.TM. swab device by Idexx Laboratories, Inc., of Westbrook, Me. (Lightning.TM. is a trademark of Idexx). The Lightning.TM. device consists of an integral swab design, which contains a unit dose of reagents in use with a portable luminometer. The device employs an elongated tube with a cover on it at one end and an elongated, extended premoistened wetting agent on a premoistened swab, and with such end containing a buffer in a bulb, while the opposite read chamber end, where the test results are read, comprises a glass ampoule. The ampoule contains a luciferin and luciferase reagent material, with a glass ampoule separating the read chamber from the buffer end. The swab is removed from the tube and is used to obtain a test sample from a surface to be tested for ATP, and then the swab is reinserted within the tube.
The cover end of the device is then bent and squeezed to force out the buffer solution, while the opposite end containing the glass ampoule with the reagents, is crushed by the user, so that the buffer solution and the released luciferin-luciferase test reagents are then admixed within the tube with the test sample to form the reaction mixture, which would provide for the appropriate bioluminescence. The read chamber at one end is inserted into and read by the portable luminometer. Thus, the Lightning.TM. device provides a swab-type test probe requiring the bending and squeezing of one end and the crushing of a glass ampoule at another end of the device, then the admix of the materials prior to inserting the read chamber into a lumingmeter and then reading the test results. The Lightning.TM. swab device, together with its test methods, literature and equipment, is hereby incorporated by reference.
It is desirable to provide for a new and improved test apparatus, system and method adapted for use with a wide variety of known and unknown test methods for the detection of test materials on a material or on a surface. The improved test apparatus is greatly simplified in structure and is effective in use, eliminates possible operational mistakes by personnel in the field, does not require separate pipettes and test tubes, does not provide for the crushing of glass ampoules with its inherent danger, and provides excellent separate stability of test reagents which may be employed with the test results by specifically prepackaging the reagents, so that the test apparatus may be stored for long periods of time prior to use.
The device is particularly adapted for in-field or out of the laboratory testing by unsophisticated personnel, as well as the use by laboratory personnel, and further and importantly may have the test results determined by using the entire test results in one end thereof, or removing one end of the test unit for testing in a test instrument, which may be, for example, a visual change of cplor, or other property, in some tests, a use of a portable luminimeter, or the use of other types of test instruments including radioactive detection devices, either alone or in any combination. The improved test device is particularly adaptable as a disposable, inexpensive, transparent, plastic pocket test apparatus.

Test apparatus, system and method for the detection of test samples


An electrically heatable transparency has at least one substrate, a first bus bar spaced from a second bus bar, and a conductive coating formed over at least a portion of the substrate. The first and second bus bars are in electrical contact with the coating. At least one of the bus bars has an end region in electrical contact with the coating. The end region is tapered such that the coating is of substantially uniform thickness on the end region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a heatable transparency, such as a laminated vehicle windshield and, more particularly, to a heatable transparency having improved bus bar and safety features.
2. Technical Considerations
It has been known to pass electric current through a transparent, electrically conductive coating on a laminated vehicle windshield in order to raise the temperature of the windshield. Typically, a source of electrical potential is connected to the conductive coating through a pair of spaced bus bars positioned along opposite sides of the conductive coating. The bus bars are in electrical contact with the conductive coating in order to provide current flow through the coating between the bus bars. The bus bars have relatively lower resistivity compared to the conductive coating and distribute the current over the coating area to be heated. Conventional bus bars are typically formed by metallic foil strips or strips of metallic-ceramic frit material fused onto a surface of one of the sheets of the laminate. A conventional arrangement includes bus bars configured as substantially parallel strips on opposites sides of the conductive coating, with electrical leads attached to each bus bar.
Heatable windshields can also include a "cut-out" area along an edge of the windshield that is free of the conductive coating. This coating-free area permits the passage of electromagnetic energy, such as radio waves, through the windshield for uses such as an electronic toll collection (ETC) system. Conventional bus bar designs require the bus bar to bend around this coating free area to maintain contact with the conductive coating.
A crack in a heatable windshield or the conductive coating can alter the electric heating circuit in ways that can damage the transparency or the conductive coating or have other undesirable effects. A break in the conductive coating can increase the resistance in the coated areas, with the result that the power output increases in the affected area. The increased power can raise temperatures to such an extent that the transparency can be thermally damaged. Excessive temperatures can extend propagation of a crack in the glass or can melt the plastic interlayer of the windshield.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a transparency, such as a laminated automotive transparency, having an improved bus bar design that allows for easier and less costly manufacture as well as improving the electrical connection between the bus bars and conductive coating. It would also be advantageous to provide a laminated transparency that provides an arrangement for detecting a crack in the transparency and/or the conductive coating.


A sampling frequency converting device. A memory unit stores an input signal D.sub.si having an input sampling frequency Fsi. An interpolation unit interpolates the readout signal from the storage unit. A sampling frequency ratio detection unit detects the current sampling frequency ratio R.sub.n between the input sampling frequency Fsi and the output sampling frequency F.sub.so and detects a new sampling frequency ratio R.sub.n NEW. based on the current sampling frequency ratio R.sub.n and a past detected value R.sub.n-1 preceding the current detected value by one detection period. A control unit having the sampling frequency detection unit controls the storage unit and the interpolating unit from the new sampling frequency ratio R.sub.n NEW. Since the present sampling frequency converting device is not susceptible to accumulation of re-sampling time address errors even if the sampling frequency ratio continues to be changed for a pre-set time duration, the capacity of the storage unit is not increased, while there is no necessity of restricting the speed or amount of change in the sampling frequency ratio.

This invention relates to a sampling frequency converting device for converting the sampling frequency of input signals into an arbitrary sampling frequency by re-sampling, and a memory address control device for controlling the address used when reading out data from a memory unit.
Recently, digital audio signal reproducing devices for transmitting audio signals over an optical cable or a coaxial cable as digital signals and reproducing the digital audio signals via a digital audio interface have become popular. With such digital audio signal reproducing devices, a phase locked loop (PLL) made up of a phase comparator and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is employed for generating clocks from received digital audio signals. However, with such digital audio signal reproducing device, digital/ analog (D/A) conversion characteristics tend to be lowered due to jitter introduced by the VCO in the PLL. Consequently, with a device for reproducing a digital audio signal recording medium, such as a compact disc (CD) player or a digital audio tape (DAT) player, there are occasions wherein satisfactory distortion-free audio signals may be produced by converting the digital audio signals into analog audio signals by D/A conversion using quartz clocks and the resulting analog audio signals are subsequently transmitted.
On the other hand, with a recording medium acting as a source for digital audio signals, such as CD, an optical disc smaller in size than CD, DAT or a digital audio tape smaller in size than DAT, the sampling frequency during recording of digital audio signals is not unified and may be any one of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz or 32 kHz. With satellite broadcast (BS) which is not a recording medium but acts as a source for digital audio signals, the sampling frequency may be any one of the above-given sampling frequencies. Consequently, for recording the digital audio signals from DAT or BS with the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz on a small-sized optical disc with the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz, the digital audio signals from DAT or BS with the sampling frequency of 48 kHz need to be converted into analog signals by D/A conversion and subsequently re-converted into digital audio signals with the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz by analog/digital (A/D) conversion, thus inevitably producing deterioration in characteristics due to distortion.
On the other hand, in mixing-recording digital audio signals using a DAT, respective digital audio signals to be mixed need to be converted into analog signals before proceeding to mixing if the different digital audio signals differ in the sampling frequency or in synchronization methods.
For preventing deterioration in playback digital audio signals due to-deterioration in performance due to clock jitter or difference in sampling frequencies for realizing free sampling frequency conversion, it has been desired to develop a non-synchronization type sampling frequency conversion device.
In general, such sampling frequency converting device exploits re-sampling time addresses for specifying re-sampling points for re-sampling a signal entered at a sampling frequency F.sub.si with a sampling frequency of F.sub.so. These re-sampling time addresses are generated in dependence upon the ratio of the sampling frequency of input signals (input sampling frequency) F.sub.si to the sampling frequency of re-sampled signals (output sampling frequency) F.sub.so.
In general, the present sampling frequency converting device employs the re-sampling time addresses for specifying the re-sampling points for re-sampling the input signal having the sampling frequency F.sub.si. The re-sampling time addresses are generated depending on the ratio of the sampling frequency of the input signal (input sampling frequency) F.sub.si and the sampling frequency of re-sampled signals (output sampling frequency) F.sub.so.
Specifically, the period t (=N.multidot.T.sub.so) equal to N times the period of the output sampling frequency F.sub.so (output sampling frequency) is counted with input reference clocks equal to M times the input sampling frequency F.sub.si (input master clocks) or MCK.sub.i (=M.multidot.F.sub.si) to find the sampling frequency ratio R between the input sampling frequency F.sub.si and the output sampling frequency F.sub.so, at the same time as jitter components such as F.sub.si, MCK.sub.i or F.sub.so are removed on averaging. The sampling frequency ratio R and the re-sampling time are cumulatively added together to generate the re-sampling time address. The re-sampling points stored in the re-sampling buffer memory are read out in accordance with the re-sampling time addresses for converting the sampling frequency.
Meanwhile, for such applications in which the input sampling frequency F.sub.si or the output sampling frequency F.sub.so are changed, there arises the inconvenience that an error tends to be transiently produced between the value of the sampling frequency ratio R and the actual ratio of F.sub.si /F.sub.so.
Consequently, high-precision conversion is realized under a condition of the constant input sampling frequency F.sub.si or the constant output sampling frequency F.sub.so.
In addition, if the sampling frequency ratio continues to be changed for a predetermined time, the re-sampling time address errors tend to accumulate under the effect of the temporal difference .DELTA.R of the sampling frequency ratio shown in FIG. 1, such that the buffer memory capacity is exceeded, thus leading to limitations imposed on the speed and amount of change of the sampling frequency ratio or to increased buffer memory capacity.
Alternatively, it may be felt that the re-sampling time address resolution may be improved by increasing the frequency of the input master clocks MCK.sub.i without the necessity of increasing the detection period t. However, in such case, the problem of limitations imposed on the operating speed of the circuit counters absorption and removal of input clock jitter. Thus it has not been possible to prevent errors from accumulating by simply increasing the frequency of the input master clocks MCK.sub.i for improving the re-sampling time address resolution, although the errors may thereby be reduced.
In addition, if, for performing frequency conversion with the above-described sampling frequency converting device, the power source is turned on, signal input/output is changed over, the noise is mixed or the input/output sampling frequency is rendered variable, the data write address for writing data in the re-sampling buffer memory or the data readout address for reading out data from the buffer memory approach or cross over each other, thus producing a non-continuous noise from the sampling frequency converting device.
For stabilizing the sampling frequency converting operation, it is necessary to initialize the memory readout addresses so that the absolute value of the difference between the write address and the readout address of the re-sampling buffer memory reaches its maximum value after stabilization of the operation of sampling frequency ratio detection for detecting the sampling frequency ratio. However, the initialization of the memory readout addresses is an operation difficult to achieve and signal interruption or noise tend to occur during the converting operation.

Sampling frequency converting device and memory address control device


In an image forming apparatus, deterioration of images is suppressed when distortions of scanning lines of a plurality of light sources are corrected. Image data is corrected each in a sub-scanning direction corresponding to the plurality of light sources, in accordance with distortion characteristics of the scanning lines of the plurality of light sources, for each of divided regions, common to a plurality of light sources, divided in a main-scanning direction, and the plurality of light sources are driven based on the image data each corrected corresponding to the plurality of light sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that, according to image data, scans a photosensitive member with a light beam to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, develops the latent image on the photosensitive member, and transfers the developed image onto an image bearing member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent electrophotographic image forming apparatuses each form a latent image on a photosensitive member with a laser beam emitted according to image data, develop the latent image on the photosensitive member with toner, and then transfer the toner image on the photosensitive member to a recording sheet. Various factors such as an assembly error of an optical system that is provided on an optical path of the laser beam, cause a scanning line of the laser beam irradiated on the photosensitive member to be distorted, for example, to be curved or tilted.
For correcting distortion of a scanning line, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-304011 discusses a method for correcting image data based on distortion characteristic of the scanning line of the laser beam, and emitting the laser beam according to the image data after correction. In this distortion correction, the main-scanning line is divided into a plurality of regions. Then, the image data in respective regions is shifted in a sub-scanning direction line by line, so that the scanning line of the laser beam corresponding to the image data after correction coincides with the reference line.
Further, in recent years, image forming apparatuses each provided with a plurality of laser light sources have been discussed. In the image forming apparatuses, the plurality of laser light sources can simultaneously form a plurality of scanning lines on the photosensitive member, and to shorten time taken until an image formation is completed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-312041).
If the distortion correction of the scanning line of the laser beam is applied to the image forming apparatus provided with the plurality of laser light sources, the following problems arise. Generally, since positions at which the laser beams from the plurality of laser light sources pass through an optical member are different from one another, distortion characteristics of the scanning lines of the plurality of laser light sources are not the same to one another.
Supposing that divided regions may be individually defined for respective scanning lines, in accordance with the distortion characteristic of each of the scanning lines of the plurality of laser light sources, and image data of the respective divided regions may be shifted line by line in the sub-scanning direction. In such a case, a region where an image is partially missing (between a(1) and b(1) in FIG. 8B) or a region where an image becomes partially thick (between a(2) and b(2) in FIG. 8B) is generated, and image quality is deteriorated.


Disclosed is a facsimile device and a maintenance and control method thereof, which enable a reduction in time load and economic load of users and that of a maintenance and control station with respect to maintenance and control of the facsimile device. The facsimile device includes a trouble type determining circuit for determining, when a trouble occurs, whether or not the type of the trouble has contents that can be handled by the users. It further includes a control circuit 7 for controlling a sending/receiving circuit 7, when trouble type determining circuit 5 determines that the trouble contents cannot be handled by the users, so as to send the trouble contents to a facsimile unit of the maintenance and control station. Therefore, even when such a trouble occurs that cannot be handled by the user, a fast dealing with the trouble can be easily made, resulting in a reduction in time load and economic load of the user and of the maintenance and control station with respect to the maintenance and control of the facsimile device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to facsimile devices and maintenance and control methods thereof. More particularly, it relates to a facsimile device and a maintenance and control method thereof, in which time loss and work loss occurring in a communication with respect to maintenance and control between users of the facsimile device and a maintenance service station entrusted with the maintenance and control of the facsimile device can be reduced.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, facsimile devices which enable an image formation on plain paper by employing a copying process have become popular. A conventional facsimile device often causes trouble due to its mechanism employing such a copying process. Moreover, a sufficient service system of maintenance and control is desired due to necessities of regular overhaul for performance retention. Especially, a rapid and accurate dealing is strongly desired in order to achieve an earlier recovery of the device from the trouble.
The conventional facsimile device per se, in general, detects the condition of itself and causes a display portion of a display or the like to display trouble contents and the expected due data for exchanging specific parts or make a nearly empty display of consumables, thereby to inform users of these requirements. Then, when the users recognize the requirements and determine that it is necessary to call a service man, they communicate with a maintenance service station entrusted with the maintenance and control of the facsimile device by means of telephone or the like. This is a common procedure for users of the conventional facsimile devices.
The means of telephone communication or the like as described above, however, entails the following problems.
That is, the users are forced to spend their working time explaining the trouble contents to the maintenance service station and thus suffer a time loss.
Further, it is possible that the users may incorrectly recognize the display of the trouble contents and inform the maintenance service station of contents different from the actual trouble contents.
In addition, such a case may occur that the users do not notice the trouble contents on a display and thus leave it as it is. In this case, small trouble becomes large trouble.
Moreover, since a service man in the maintenance service station prepares required parts after informed of the trouble contents and then visits the users, a rapid dealing with the trouble cannot be made.
When the trouble contents are not fully understood by the maintenance service station, the service man first visit the users to check the trouble contents and then visits them again with a preparation of necessary parts and the like. In this case, a recovery of the device from the trouble is delayed.
There are other disadvantages than those occurring in the telephone communication in the occurrence of the trouble as described above.
That is, the facsimile device employing the copying process includes, like a normal copier, a photoreceptor for forming an electrostatic latent image of image information, a toner for making the electrostatic latent image visible, a developing agent such as carriers for charging the toner, a transfer paper made of plain paper having a toner image, formed of the toner and the electrostatic latent image, fixed thereon, etc. Accordingly, in this facsimile device, after the surface of the charged photoreceptor is exposed and the electrostatic latent image is formed, a toner image is formed by development employing the toner. This toner image is then transferred onto the transfer paper, so as to obtain image information.
In this manner, communication information can be obtained as image information in the facsimile device. When the device is in repetitive use, the above-described photoreceptor, toner and the like deteriorate and run out. Thus, in the conventional facsimile device, the photoreceptor, toner and the like are determined as consumables. Renewal of these consumables enables a continuous and smooth use of the device.
In the foregoing conventional facsimile device, however, users have to pay attention to the time to exchange the consumables. Further, the users are required to keep the consumables in stock in advance or to communicate with the maintenance service station handling the consumables and to prepare them at the time of exchange.
The consumables are, however, liable to change in quality by an influence of temperature and humidity. Thus, when the users stock the consumables, it is necessary to retain good preservation environments unaffected by temperature and humidity for the consumables.
Further, when the users communicate with the maintenance service station to prepare the consumables, there is a possibility that the facsimile device cannot be used while the consumables are transported from the maintenance service station. In this case, the maintenance service station is also required to control the exchange time of the consumables all the time.
As mentioned above, the conventional facsimile device requires the users to pay attention to the exchange time, the stock and the preparation of the consumables by communication with the maintenance service station. There is a disadvantage that the control of the consumables casts an extra burden in cost and time on the users and the maintenance service station.
A maintenance service contract of a facsimile device includes a spot contract, in which the maintenance service station provides users with service when trouble occurs in the facsimile device and calculates charges for each time of service, and a maintenance contract, in which a unit charge for one printed sheet is accumulated on the number of printed sheets for a control cost. The maintenance contract is often employed due to its excellent maintainability. The maintenance contract has, however, a disadvantage in that a service man has to visit users every month to check the number of printed sheets from a counter of the facsimile device, resulting in an increased labor cost and an increased maintenance and control cost.

Facsimile device having self-diagnostic function and maintenance and control method thereof


Methods, devices, and computer-readable media for generating color-neutral representations of driving objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising capturing an image, the image including an object of interest; identifying the object of interest in the image based on identifying one or more colors in the image; associating the object of interest with a known traffic object; identifying a color-neutral representation of the known traffic object; and displaying the color-neutral representation to a user.

Without the aid of technology, drivers with various vision deficiencies (e.g., colorblindness) can experience difficulties in distinguishing between roadway objects (e.g., signs, signals, etc.) that rely primarily on color for differentiation. Currently, however, many vehicles are equipped with cameras for performing other functions executed by vehicles (e.g., parking assistance etc.). Additionally, many vehicles incorporate a variety of displays such as heads-up displays and, more recently, augmented reality displays. However, no such system exists that generates color-neutral representations of roadway objects detected in cameras installed in vehicles. The disclosed embodiments solve these and other problems.

Intelligent correction of vision deficiency


The hairpiece base invention relates to hairpieces and in particular to a improved base which renders the hair piece virtually undetectable to sight and to touch. The invention comprises a mesh and a mesh binder. The mesh affords structural strength in the lateral plane, and it serves as an anchor for artificial hairs. The mesh binder fills the region between the mesh strands, and its thickness is approximately equal to the diameter of the mesh strands. At the perimeter of the base, the mesh binder edge may be tapered in thickness.

This invention relates to hairpieces and in particular to an base which renders the hairpiece virtually undetectable to sight and to touch. The prior art bases consist typically of a coarse mesh, in the approximate shape of a cap, to which artificial hairs are tied. Since mesh strands do not adhere well to the scalp, a base liner is sewn over a portion of the base for the purpose of adhering the base to the scalp. This base liner is typically made of a thin, hard synthetic material. It may cover the entire base, or it may cover only a strip along the base perimeter. Some bases of the prior art utilize a very fine strand mesh.
The disadvantages of these prior bases are the following. The coarse mesh is hard, and it scratches the scalp. The base liner is hard, and its edges scratch the scalp. The base liner is impermeable to moisture and air. The edge of these bases require a thick thicket of hair to hide the base edge. This thicket gives an unnatural look, and it does not cover the base edge adequately. The mesh cannot be adhered directly to the scalp. The mesh and base liner are not skin-colored. The mesh edge, at the perimeter of the base, has sharp, hard strand ends which irritate the scalp and which are very detectable to touch and sight.
Usually, the solution for a natural front hairline has been the lace front hairpiece as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,301. This solution has the disadvantage that it is difficult to adhere the lace base to the scalp. A liquid adhesive must be used, which requires a inconveniently long drying time and an irritating solvent. Also, the lace base extends out in front of the hairline and must be covered with make-up. Finally, the lace base is fragile.
There are two notable attempts in the recent prior art to achieve a natural hairline. The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,539 of Alfieri utilizes a mesh strengthened by ultrasonic welding. This mesh is purported to conform to the contour of the scalp, thereby eliminating the need for liquid adhesive. It is doubtful that this hairpiece would be undetectable under close visual inspection because its mesh extends slightly out in front of the hairline. Even if that were not the case, the density of hairs at the very front edge of the hairpiece would have to be high, and this would create the impression of a hard or severe front hairline. Also, it is likely that a mesh that is sufficiently stiff to press against the scalp would cause irritation to that same scalp. A final difficulty is that this front edge would be tactually noticeable; in addition, a strong wind, a hand, a strong water current, or some other object brushing against it would peel it back.
The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,502 of Kobayashi overcomes some of these difficulties. It features a zigzag shape for a mesh-formed front hairline, an idea that has been used by numerous wig makers over the years and that is not original to his patent. This mesh must also ultrasonically welded for added strength and stiffness. What may be original is a zigzag stitching just inside the front border of the mesh, of a nylon filament which is half as fine as that forming the mesh. This filament is purported to add strength to the front portion and to prevent it from loosening. This is misleading in that the only portion of the mesh strengthened by this stitching is that portion which is actually stitched. The very front portion, of a width range between 3 and 15 mm, is not strengthened by this stitching. Also, this stitching is a source of discomfort. Accordingly, invention of Kobayashi does not solve the aforementioned problems of the front edge peeling up or of tactile detectability.
Next, consider whether his invention gives a completely natural hairline appearance. It purports to overcome the hard front problem associated with a linear and close alignment of artificial hairs, by planting the hairs at appropriate intervals along the zigzag boundary. It would seem that this design would be an improvement over its prior art in this regard, but it would also seem that difficulties remain. There is nothing to prevent hairs tied at the front vertex from migrating rearward and sideward, thereby leaving exposed the very front portion near the vertex. Also, the sharp triangular geometry of the vertex makes it impossible to place a plurality of hairs where they are most needed to cover the mesh. All of the just-discussed disadvantages of both his invention and the remaining prior art will be addressed by the present invention.


This invention refers to a magazine for firearms, including a chamber (11) with two lips (14) that are elasticized by at least one slit (15) in each side wall of the chamber to enable the insertion of each round of ammunition through a temporary divarication of the lips, obtained by resting the ammunition on them and exercising a pressure in the same direction to counteract the thrust of the spring on the elevating mechanism.

Magazines for portable firearms are generally made up of an ammunition chamber, an elevating mechanism which supports the ammunition in the chamber, and a spring that generally pushes upwards the elevating mechanism and the ammunition for chambering when the firearm is operated.
The top part of the chamber usually has two rigid facing lips that are slightly bent inwards to intercept and hold the ammunition in the chamber at one end and in opposition to the thrust of the spring on the elevating mechanism, while allowing it to be sent to the cartridge chamber of the gun.
In conventional magazines it is quite difficult to load ammunition into the chamber if done by hand, as generally occurs, or without the aid of specially designed devices. Loading takes place in two stages and with combined movements.
First it is necessary to position the ammunition and exercise with it a pressure on the front part not engaged by the chamber lips, at the top of the column of cartridges already loaded, so as to find enough space to house the new ammunition below the lips. PA1 Then, while maintaining sufficient pressure to counteract the thrust of the spring on the elevating mechanism, the ammunition must be pushed in lengthwise on top of the one below until it comes up against the back wall of the chamber and positioned underneath the lips.


A DNA molecule isolated from Streptomyces fradiae encodes the multi-functional proteins which direct the synthesis of the polyketide tylactone.

The present invention relates to DNA molecules responsible for encoding the multi-functional proteins that direct the biosynthesis of polyketide compounds, the products encoded by said DNA molecules, recombinant DNA expression vectors, and transformed microbial host cells.
Polyketides are a family of compounds that include a large number of structurally and functionally diverse natural products. For example, the polyketides provide the structural backbone for compounds that exhibit a variety of biological activities, such as, antibiotic, antitumor, and immunosuppressive agents.
Although the polyketides are quite diverse as indicated, they share a common mechanistic scheme of biosynthesis. The polyketides are synthesized by the successive condensation of small carboxylic acid residues followed by variable reduction steps at the resulting .beta.-keto carbon (i.e., .beta.-carbonyl) moiety in a process that is similar to the synthesis of fatty acids. The iterative synthetic process for many of these polyketides is controlled by a complex of large, multi-functional polypeptides that have distinct sites for the variety of activities that are required.
The general scheme for polyketide biosynthesis has been reviewed, for example, in Hopwood and Sherman, Annu. Rev. Genet., 1990, 24:37 and Katz and Donadio, Annu. Rev. Microbial., 1993, 47:875.
Naturally-occurring DNA sequences that encode the polyketide synthase enzymes have generally been found to be organized into repeated subunits, or modules, each of which encodes all the activities required in a single round of synthesis, which includes the condensation step itself and the post-condensation processing steps. Each activity is associated with a distinct site, which contributes to the specificity for the particular carboxylic acid building block that is incorporated at each condensation step, or which dictates the particular post-condensation processing functions that will be executed.
For example, PCT publication WO 93/13663 describes the organization of the gene encoding the polyketide synthase of Saccharopolyspora erythraea. The gene is organized in modules, with each module effecting one condensation step. The precise sequence of chain growth and the processing of the growing chain is determined by the genetic information in each module. This PCT application describes an approach for synthesizing novel polyketide structures by manipulating in several ways the DNA governing the biosynthesis of the cyclic lactone framework. In order to adapt this methodology to other polyketides, however, the DNA molecules directing the biosynthetic processing must first be isolated.
The present invention is directed to the DNA sequence for the gene cluster responsible for encoding tylactone synthase, the building machinery of tylactone, which is the basic building block of tylosin. As a result, the present invention enables modification of the DNA sequence so as to alter the type of carboxylic acids incorporated, the number of carboxylic acids incorporated, the post-condensation reactions performed, or any combination thereof, thereby resulting in novel tylosin-related polyketides.


The present invention provides a polymerizable organosilicon nanocapsule, which includes:                a nanoscale core A, which includes:                    at least one particle comprising at least one oxide or mixed oxide, KA-O, of at least one metal or semimetal selected from the group including main groups 2 to 6 of the Periodic Table, transition groups 1 to 8 of the Periodic Table, lanthanides, and mixtures thereof;                        and        an organosilicon shell B, which includes:                    at least one organosilicon compound having the formula (Ia):(Si′O—)xSi—R  (Ia)                        wherein R is a vinyl or allyl group;        wherein x is a number from 0 to 20;        wherein remaining free valences of Si are each independently (KA-O)—, SiO— or —Z;        wherein remaining free valences of Si′ are each independently (KA-O)—, SiO—, —R, or —Z;        wherein the Z's are each independently hydroxyl or alkoxy radicals; and        wherein each Si and Si′ in the shell B have not more than one R group attached thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymerizable organosilicon nanocapsules having a core and an organosilicon shell, processes for preparing, and uses of same. Such compounds are particularly suited for use in scratch-resistant coatings.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known that the surface properties of sol or gel particles or of metal or semimetal oxides can be modified by treatment with a hydrolyzable organosilane or organosiloxane, which generally involves the attachment of just a single-ply silane layer to the oxide or sol gel particle. Oxides or sol or gel particles treated in this way, examples being inorganic pigments or fillers, may be incorporated into a polymer matrix, films, coating compositions and coatings producible therewith. In general, however, the scratch resistance of such polymer systems is low.
DE 198 46 660 discloses nanoscale, surface-modified oxide or mixed-oxide particles enveloped by organosilicon groups bonded covalently to the oxide particle, the organofunctional groups being described as reactive groups and normally being oriented outward, so that by means of polymerization they are bound into the polymer matrix with the polymer material when the prepolymer is cured. The process of preparing such coating compositions is complicated, since the organosilane and the oxide component are incorporated separately into the prepolymer.
DE 198 46 659 possesses the same priority as DE 198 46 660 and relates to a laminate provided with a scratch-resistant synthetic-resin layer which likewise contains nanoscale, surface-modified oxide particles. DE 198 46 659 teaches specifically the use of acryloyloxyalkylsilanes to produce a shell around nanoscale oxide particles that possess reactive, radiation-crosslinkable groups. The preparation of the coating composition in this case is likewise via a time-consuming reaction of a nanoscale silica with 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (DYNASYLAN® MEMO) in an acrylate formulation in the presence of water, an acid, and a wetting agent. Again, the components must be brought together separately and in a specific sequence.
Hydrolyzable silane components having ethylenically unsaturated organic groups are usually high-priced starting materials, however. In addition, DYNASYLAN® MEMO tends to react in the presence of even slight traces of a polymerization initiator or radiation with the undesirable result that the viscosity of a corresponding formulation may rise drastically. To avoid the unwanted polymerization, stabilizers must be added. It is therefore often difficult to master the handling of the starting materials and the preparation of such coating systems.
The coating compositions described above are frequently of high viscosity, and usually contain only a small fraction of oxide particles, which impacts the scratch resistance of the subsequent coating. It is difficult to apply such highly viscous coating compositions to a substrate, especially when the substrate in question is thin and can be destroyed by tearing. The scratch resistance of coatings obtainable in this way is in need of improvement, and with such highly viscous systems, a specific, complex application apparatus is required. In many cases, solvents are added to coating compositions of such high viscosity, but this undesirably leads to an increase in the organic emissions (VOC problem; VOC=volatile organic compounds).


This tool makes it possible to more conveniently handle the “selector” element on a conventional M16/M4 family weapon when the selector must be removed or reinserted. As will be appreciated by those in the gun repair trade, in the disassembly or reassembly of such weapons the handling of the selector element is a tricky and painstaking activity. This disclosed tool handily is an assist in such activities. The tool is inserted in the opening in the receiver of the selector element and rotated. An offset circular cam means on the tool when rotated will handily depress the detent element (which necessarily must be done and it also has a spring beneath it). A bumper end cap at the distal end of the tool will carefully engage the selector element to gently push on it if needed (or in the reverse operation for the tool to be gently backed away there from as the selector is repositioned into the weapon). A longitudinal groove on the cam means will signal to the user when the proper rotation has been achieved to adequately depress said detent element.

This tool makes it possible to more conveniently handle the "selector" and other allied elements on a conventional M16/M4 family weapon when the selector and/or other elements need to be removed or reinserted. As will be appreciated by those in the gun repair trade, in the disassembly or reassembly of such weapons the handling of the selector and allied elements is a tricky and painstaking activity, greatly needing improved assist. This disclosed tool handily is a great addition and assist in such activities.
The description as follows includes directional designations such as up, down, left, right, lateral, transverse, longitudinal, top, bottom, vertical, and the like, that are taken from the perspective of a firearm (e.g., a conventional AR-10/AR-15/M16 family, style, platform, or pattern rifle and M4 pattern carbine, and variants thereof) as typically held and operated by a user. The description assumes the level of knowledge held by an ordinary armorer, gunsmith, repair or assembly technician, maintenance personnel, and the like for a conventional AR-15/M16 pattern rifle and M4 pattern carbine, and variants thereof, and the respective components and operation thereof.
During assembly and repair operations of AR-15/M16 pattern (style or family) rifles and M4 pattern (style or family) carbines (i.e., weapons), and variants thereof (referred to as "guns", "weapons" or "firearms" hereafter), the fire control group (i.e., mechanism, assembly, etc.) of such weapons, e.g., hammer, trigger, disconnector (or intermediate sear), selector (i.e., safety selector, safety, or control member), auto sear for selective fire weapons, associated springs and pins, as is well known to those skilled in the art of the assembly, maintenance, and repair the weapons of the are often removed and installed (or reinstalled). U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,045,555 and 5,760,328 describe examples of the fire control components of the conventional M16 rifle.
Operations that require the removal and installation of the fire control group (FCG) components of the weapon, in particular the trigger, disconnector and disconnector spring subassembly (i.e., trigger subassembly), is problematic because the selector obstructs ready access to the trigger subassembly. Many repair and maintenance instructions recommend removal of the selector to provide the desired access to the trigger subassembly. However, the selector is retained via a selector detent and spring that are in the firearm lower receiver and which are retained by the firearm hand grip which is, in turn, retained by a screw inside the grip. The grip retention screw fastens into the lower receiver.
Unfortunately, the removal of the grip screw and grip, and selector detent and selector detent spring has a number of deficiencies. Such deficiencies include (i) the process is time consuming; (ii) there is risk of loss of components, especially loss of the relatively small selector, detent and selector detent spring; (iii) usually requires repositioning the lower receiver; (iv) risks stripping the grip screw threads in the lower receiver which generally ruins or requires expensive repair to the lower receiver; and (vi) when a Allen head grip screw is used to retain the grip as is common in some commercial weapons, requires a special, long reach Allen wrench which is often an additional expense.
Because of such deficiencies, a number of alternative conventional approaches have been implemented to remove and reinstall the selector without removing the grip (and the selector detent and selector detent spring). Selector removal can be performed by cocking the hammer or otherwise depressing the rear of the trigger and rotating the selector to a position intermediate to the 'safe' and 'fire' (or 'semi') detent hole locations, and then pressing the selector out (that is, to the left). The step of pressing the selector out is generally aided by the use of a non-scratching, cylindrically shaped tool having a diameter less than the diameter of the selector such as a wooden or plastic dowel, a push tool (for example, a pin push tool as shown in FIG. 1), or the like. Re-installation of the selector with the detent still in place is; however, typically more problematic. Conventional alternatives to reinstall the selector, with the respective deficiencies, have been used with limited success.
One conventional approach to reinstall the selector is to depress the detent with an appropriately sized flat blade screwdriver (or a round punch) with one hand, and with the other hand, the selector is held rotated intermediate to the 'safe' and 'fire' detent hole locations and slid to the right and back into place. Such a procedure has the deficiencies of (i) the detent is typically pointed and thus difficult to properly depress with the screwdriver blade or punch end which slips off the detent point; (ii) the detent spring is strong and so the detent is difficult to hold down; (iii) there is risk of scratching the selector or the lower receiver finish with the screwdriver blade or punch end; (iv) the lower receiver obstructs the view of the detent; and (v) the technique requires some degree of coordination, dexterity, skill and practice as there is difficulty maneuvering the screwdriver or punch and manipulating the selector in different directions and with different movements simultaneously.
Another conventional approach is to depress the detent with an appropriately sized slanted end tool similar to a tool that is sometimes used to install the firearm pivot pin detent; rotating the tool; and sliding the selector back in place. However, such a tool has does not have lateral support as does a front pivot pin detent tool, and hence, has similar deficiencies to the procedure of using a screwdriver or punch noted above.
Yet another conventional approach is to rotate the selector intermediate to the 'safe' and 'fire' (or 'semi') detent hole locations, and attempt to rapidly slide and wiggle the selector to the right and back into place. Such attempts generally only result in damage to the selector and/or the detent, and failure to reinstall the selector as selectors typically do not have a sufficiently and appropriately beveled edge to adequately depress the detent to provide for reinstallation.

Firearm selector removal and installation tool

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Deriving a skin profile from an image is disclosed, including: accessing an input image of a user; deriving a first sub-component based at least in part on the input image of the user; deriving a second sub-component based at least in part on the input image of the user; using a first machine learning model and the first sub-component to determine a predicted base skin color associated with the user; selecting a second machine learning model based at least in part on the predicted base skin color associated with the user; using the second machine learning model and the second sub-component to determine a predicted undertone color associated with the user; determining product recommendations based at least in part on the predicted base skin color associated with the user and the predicted undertone color associated with the user; and presenting the one or more product recommendations at a user interface.

When individuals wish to receive products that match the coloring of their skin, they typically must go into a physical (e.g., cosmetic) retail store and ask a sales associate to manually evaluate their skin. However, manually determining a person's skin profile may be inconsistent and even inaccurate. Furthermore, going to physical retail stores to receive evaluations of skin coloring is inconvenient and inefficient.


A printed circuit board unit is configured so that, when a charged electrical circuit unit is electrically connected to the printed circuit board unit, first, the ground potential of the electrical circuit unit is dropped to the frame ground potential, and next, the ground potential of the electrical circuit unit is dropped to the ground potential of an electrical circuit on the printed circuit board unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical circuit unit mounting mechanism on a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
The electrical circuit unit with an electrical circuit is mounted on the printed circuit board unit with an electrical circuit to attach the electrical circuit unit. The electrical circuit has static electricity. Therefore when the electrical circuit unit mounts on the printed circuit board, the circuit must remove static electricity.
Hitherto, when an electrical circuit unit with an electrical circuit has been mounted on a printed circuit board unit, the electrical circuit unit has been grounded with respect to the ground of the printed circuit board unit. Known grounding arts are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model No. 63-182065 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 09-051185.
Currently, there is a system that the electrical circuit unit with static electricity is mounted to the printed circuit board of an in-service. These prior art are not enough grounding for such system.


A protective cover for a vehicle front end is formed of a stretch-recovery fabric of mesh construction with mesh openings across the entire or substantially the entire fabric. The mesh openings are large enough such that vehicle front end components covered by the protective cover remain visible to view through the protective cover. For example, the mesh openings may have opening width or diameter of about 0.25 to about 1 mm when the protective cover is in an unstretched condition. The protective cover includes one or more fasteners to engage mating fastener stud(s) on the vehicle. A stretch-recovery reinforcing material is joined to at least portion of the outer periphery of the protective cover.

Performance automobiles are a sizeable investment. Appearance, protection and care of this investment are key concerns for owners. The exterior paint of these cars is subject to wear and damage even under normal operating conditions.
Current protective cover solutions are constructed from vinyl, leather or an applied protective film. Consumers and industry also refer to this type of product as a "car bra" or "bra". These solutions can be unattractive, expensive, bulky, difficult to install, hard to remove, poor fitting, allow moisture build-up, and can require permanent alteration to the vehicle from drilling or cutting. If not properly installed and maintained, many of the shortcomings of the current solutions can actually damage rather than protect the finish on the automobile.
Improvements to car bras and vehicle covers continue to be sought.


A liquid crystal display includes a lower substrate and an upper substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer provided between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on the lower substrate, extended in a substantially horizontal direction, and including a thin film transistor forming region and a display area, a reference voltage line extended in a substantially vertical direction along a center of the display area, a gate line provided on the lower substrate and extended in the substantially horizontal direction between neighboring pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes, a data line provided on the lower substrate and crossing the gate line, and a shield electrode overlapping the gate line and including a curved portion which is disposed on an edge portion of the pixel electrode and overlaps the data line.

(a) Field
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD"), which is one of the most common types of flat panel displays currently in use, includes two sheets of display panels with field generating electrodes such as a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and the like, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The LCD generates an electric field in the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the field generating electrodes to determine alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer through the generated electric field and control polarization of incident light, thereby displaying images.
The LCD includes a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, a plurality of signal lines such as a gate line and a data line for controlling the switching element and applying a voltage to the pixel electrode, and a driver for applying a driving signal to the signal line and driving a display panel.
The driver includes a gate driver for supplying a gate signal including a gate-on voltage or a gate-off voltage to the gate line of the display panel, a data driver for supplying a data signal to the data line of the display panel, and a signal controller for controlling the data driver and the gate driver.
Among the LCDs, a vertical alignment ("VA") mode LCD, which aligns LC molecules such that their long axes are perpendicular to the display panels in the absence of an electric field, is spotlighted because of its high contrast ratio and wide reference viewing angle.
In the VA mode LCD, a wide viewing angle that is an important characteristic may be realized by forming cutouts such as minute slits, or protrusions, in the field-generating electrodes. Since the cutouts and protrusions may determine the tilt directions of the LC molecules, the tilt directions may be distributed in various directions by using the cutouts and protrusions such that the reference viewing angle is widened.

Liquid crystal display including curved shield electrode


A wiping element of axis X includes an internal wiping skirt extended in its lower part by a wiping lip defining a wiping orifice, the internal wiping skirt being extended in its upper part by a shoulder connected to an external catching skirt by a holding portion, at least one preferably annular first groove, open towards the wiping lip, being defined between the internal wiping skirt and the external catching skirt.

Various wiping elements have been proposed in publications FR 2 855 380, FR 2 865 911, FR 2 792 618, EP 1 275 322 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,015, with particular shapes given to the wiping lip so as to wipe the applicator member as thoroughly as possible.
One important aspect of cosmetic devices with a wiping element that contain volatile products, such as mascaras, concerns their sealing.
More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 Nov. 2009 on cosmetic products.
It has already been proposed to improve the sealing of such devices. For example, patent EP 0761123 describes a device including a reservoir provided with a wiping element and an applicator provided with a flat handle. The handle may include a sealing system such as a gasket or, alternatively, a washer that bears on a collar to reduce the passage of volatile products between the reservoir and the applicator.
Another drawback encountered when using devices that include a wiping element is that the applicator behaves like a piston when it moves into the reservoir, thereby making it difficult for the user to remove it.
WO 1997007705 has already proposed a wiping element that is adapted to the form of the applicator bristles so as to scrape the bristles in parallel to their longitudinal axis upon removal, thereby improving removal of the applicator.
There is a need to further improve wiping elements in order, notably:                to thoroughly wipe off the stem whilst enabling the application member to be loaded with the required quantity of product,        to provide the device with better sealing,        to facilitate removal of the applicator.


A bisphosphite represented by the general formula (I):

A method for producing an aldehyde by reacting an olefinic compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a group 8 to 10 metal compound or a group 8 to 10 metal compound and a phosphorus compound is called "hydroformylation reaction" or "oxo reaction", and it is well-known that this method is industrially extremely valuable as a method for producing an aldehyde.
In general, in such a hydroformylation reaction, a rhodium compound or a combination of a rhodium compound and a phosphorus compound is industrially used as a catalyst. As such a phosphorus compound, for example, phosphines such as tributylphosphine, trioctylphosphine, tricyclohexylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, tri(p-tolyl)phosphine, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 1); monophosphites such as triphenylphosphite, tri-n-butylphosphite, tris(2-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl)phosphite, etc. (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2); bisphosphites such as bis[3,3′,5,5′-tetra-t-butyl(1,1′-biphenyl)-2,2′-diyl]-1,2-ethyldiphosphite, bis[3,3′,5,5′-tetra-t-butyl(1,1′-biphenyl)-2,2′-diyl]-2,7,9,9-tetramethyl-9H-xanthin-4,5-diyldiphosphite, bis[3,3′-di-t-butyl-5,5′-dimethoxy(1,1′-biphenyl)-2,2′-diyl]-2,7,9,9-tetramethyl-9H-xanthin-4,5-diyldiphosphite, compounds represented by the formulae:
etc. (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4 and Patent Documents 2 and 3); and the like have hitherto been known, and hydroformylation reactions using such a compound have been developed.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-8-10624
Patent Document 2: JP-A-4-290551
Patent Document 3: JP-A-62-116535
Non-Patent Document 1: The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1969, Vol. 34, No. 2, pages 327 to 330
Non-Patent Document 2: Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, 1991, pages 1096 to 1097
Non-Patent Document 3: Organometallics, 1996, Vol. 15, pages 835 to 847
Non-Patent Document 4: Helvetica Chimica Acta, 2001, Vol. 84, pages 3269 to 3280

Method for producing aldehyde using bisphosphite and group 8-10 metal compound, and such bisphosphite

Abstract: General Formula (I)

Abstract: (in the formula, A represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cycloalkylene group which may have a substituent, a phenylene group which may have a substituent, or a naphthylene group which may have a substituent; and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group) and a method for producing an aldehyde including reacting a non-conjugated diene having a carbon-carbon double bond in a molecular end and having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms with a carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of such a bisphosphite and a group 8 to 10 metal compound, are provided.


Methods for creating and using a relational description of a formatted transaction while maintaining data element context are provided. The formatted transaction can be in electronic data interchange (EDI) format or another structured transaction format. A computer receiving the formatted transaction generates or is provided with a set of assignments of unique persistent tags to all possible data element contexts that are of interest. As the transaction is being parsed, each of its data elements is tagged with the appropriate unique persistent tag that identifies its context. Each data element is then written to a field in a relation in which the column name of the field matches the unique persistent tag. Data elements that can occur only once in a transaction are written to a root relation, while data elements that can occur multiple times are written to a subrelation. Data elements that can occur multiple times within a group of data elements that itself can iterate as a group are written to a nested subrelation, up to any depth of nesting allowed by the transaction format definition. The invention also provides a method for constructing a transaction from a relational description.

With the ever-increasing advancements in the field of computer technology, more and more businesses are becoming paperless. Inventories and financial records are kept on computers instead of being tediously documented on ledgers or other paper products. Inter- and intra- office communication is also becoming paperless, including for example the transfer of business cards and calendaring information. This is possible through the use of formatted transactions, the structure of which are agreed upon in advance by each party involved in the transactions. For example, if a buyer and a seller have agreed upon the structure of a particular transaction, the buyer can communicate the transaction data electronically to the seller, and the seller's computer, knowing beforehand the structure of the formatted transaction, will be able to understand and assimilate the received data.
One such method of exchanging data in the form of a formatted transaction is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). EDI transactions can occur directly between two business parties over a communications line. EDI transactions involve three essential elements: (1) an agreed upon set of standards; (2) a means of communicating data based upon those standards; and (3) a way of incorporating or transforming the data into the system of the receiver.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the national coordinator for standards in the United States. ANSI approves standards developed primarily by trade, technical, professional, consumer, and labor organizations when evidence is presented that those affected by the standard have substantially reached a consensus regarding its provisions. In 1979, ANSI chartered a committee known as the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12, to develop uniform standards for electronic interchange of business transactions (EDI transactions). The goal of ASC X12 was to structure standards so that computer programs can translate data to or from an EDI transaction without extensive reprogramming.
ASC X12 came up with the X12 Standards for Electronic Data Interchange published in December of 1990 as Draft Version 3, Release 1, (Document Number ASC X12S/90-850). It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that there are other types of formatted transactions in addition to X12 transactions. These include but are not limited to EDIFACT, ODETTE, and SGML transactions. A particular kind of SGML transaction utilizes the hypertext markup language (HTML) that is used extensively on the Internet.
In theory, EDI transactions offer advantages such as speed and accuracy. One potential advantage is in the area of data integration. EDI transaction data could be received and integrated with the existing business information and data processing systems of the receiving party. Thus, it would be useful to introduce the data into a format where the data can be searched and accessed at a later time, such as by integrating EDI transaction data into a database. However, conventional approaches to integrating EDI transaction data into a database are very limited.
Generally speaking, there are three basic types of databases: hierarchical, network, and relational. In relational databases, different files exist as separate relations, and therefore, there is no structure such as the owner-member structure of the hierarchical database. The relational database structure is not predetermined and relations can be added or deleted from the database schema without affecting the other relations. An additional feature of relational databases is that while hierarchical and network databases are organized to make it efficient to deal with one record at one time and to obtain a single related record at a time, relational databases are organized to efficiently deal with sets of records and to obtain a set of related records at a time.
Existing systems for integrating data into the business information or data processing system of the receiving party are often referred to as "translation systems". Some translation systems deal with EDI data but fail to integrate, store, create or describe the EDI data relationally. Other conventional approaches manipulate data retrieved from database systems but cannot generate an EDI document from such data.
Some translation methods create links between data elements in an EDI document and fields in an application database, but the field mapping or linking is constant in any given application. For example, for a particular EDI transaction, the fields of the data base are predefined or predetermined. Such methods are unable to represent optional or conditional data elements. Further, these methods do not translate the data into relational form such that data can be manipulated as structured, relational data.
Some translation methods conform input data into the output data structure in an electronic information processing system where the input and output data structures are specified in advance. For example under one method EDI formatted data is transformed into a flat file or table. However, this method suffers the disadvantage that the output data structures must be specified before the EDI transaction is processed. Thus, if the EDI transaction format changes, the engine performing the translation must be re-implemented. Further, the method does not provide a way for EDI formatted data to be transformed into a relational database and thus, the advantages of relational databases are not utilized.
Another known method includes receiving data in a first format from a source, executing a script written in a proprietary programming language to translate the data into a second format, and transmitting the data in the second format to a destination. The source and destination may be application programs and various standards of EDI transactions. This method maps data elements to a tree structure based in part on a definition assigned to that element. The method fails to map the EDI data to relations for relational database applications.
Thus, it will be appreciated that it would be an advancement in the art to provide a method for translating EDI data into relations for use in relational database applications. It would be a further advancement to provide a method of translating EDI data into a database format which preserves the context of each data element so that the EDI formatted transaction could be recreated to its original form. Such a method is disclosed and claimed herein.

Method for creating a relational description of a formatted transaction


A method of providing a service to a user equipment (UE) via a packet data network gateway (PDN GW), wherein the UE is served by a visited public land mobile network (V-PLMN) and wherein the UE has a subscription with a home public land mobile network (H-PLMN) comprising the steps of: providing, by a register in the H-PLMN, a H-PLMN-allowed indication, indicating whether a PDN GW in the H-PLMN is authorized to be selected for the UE for execution of the service, and providing, based on the H-PLMN-allowed indication, an indication to the UE, whether the UE can expect successful execution of the service.

In a typical cellular system, also referred to as a wireless communications network, communication network, Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) or network, wireless terminals, also known as mobile stations and/or User Equipment units (UEs) communicate with a radio network node in a Radio Access Networks (RAN). The UE may be a mobile terminal by which a subscriber may access services offered by an operator's Core Network (CN) and services outside operator's network to which the operator's RAN and CN provide access. The radio access network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), which in some radio access networks is also called an evolved NodeB (eNB), eNode-B, B node or base station. The base station communicates over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipment(s) within range of the base station. The RAN may implement different Radio Access Technologies (RAT), such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) etc.
In a roaming situation a UE which has a subscription to an operator of a home public land mobile network (H-PLMN) is served by a visited public land mobile network (V-PLMN). If the UE would like to use a service, like a Voice over IMS service, in the V-PLMN, it may send a request to a control node in the V-PLMN. The control node has to forward this request to a packet data network (PDN) gateway which connects the public land mobile network to a service providing network, which may be an operator Internet Protocol (IP) service network such as IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The control node may select a PDN gateway (PDN GW) based on a roaming agreement between the operator of the V-PLMN and the operator of the H-PLMN for this specific UE. Further the control node may have some further indications to select the PDN GW.
3GPP Standard TS 23.401 V13.1.0 refers in chapter 188.8.131.52 to the PDN GW selection function. According to this standard the PDN GW selection function allocates a PDN GW that shall provide the PDN connectivity for the 3GPP access. The function uses subscriber information provided by the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in the H-PLMN. The PDN subscription contexts provided by the HSS contain at least the identity of a PDN GW and an Access Point Name (APN) or an APN and an indication for this APN whether the allocation of a PDN GW from this V-PLMN is allowed. If the HSS provides the PDN subscription context that allows for allocation of a PDN GW from the V-PLMN and, optionally, the control node in the V-PLMN is configured to know that the V-PLMN has a suitable roaming agreement with the H-PLMN of the UE, the PDN GW selection function derives a PDN GW identity from the V-PLMN. If a PDN GW identity cannot be derived or if the subscription does not allow for allocation of a PDN GW from the V-PLMN then the APN is used to derive a PDN GW identity from the H-PLMN.
Standard GSMA PRD IR.92 V 8.0 has specified that for a roaming UE which is served by a V-PLMN and has a subscription to an H-PLMN, only a roaming model with a PDN GW in the V-PLMN applies. This roaming model is described in GSMA PRD IR.65 V 8.0 and GSMA PRD IR.88 V 9.0. Hence the control node of the V-PLMN needs to know that local breakout is allowed for a roaming UE in order to be able to set the IMS voice over PS Session Support Indication. The GSMA PRD IR.92 standard has specified that the HSS in the H-PLMN sets a "V-PLMN Address Allowed" (VPAA) parameter when enabling IMS roaming with the V-PLMN wherein the particular subscriber is an IMS subscriber that requires a PDN GW in the V-PLMN as described in GSMA PRD IR.88.
Hence home operator can use the VPAA to indicate that the subscriber is an IMS subscriber authorized for VoLTE roaming by allowing the V-PLMN to select a PDN GW in the V-PLMN and thereby allowing the V-PLMN to send the IMS voice over PS Session Support Indication for indicating that the UE can expect successful execution of the VoLTE service. It is also possible that the home operator can use the VPAA to indicate that the IMS subscriber is not authorized for VoLTE roaming by denying the V-PLMN to select a PDN GW in the V-PLMN and thereby prevent the V-PLMN from sending the IMS voice of PS Session Support Indication. The VPAA is the only indication that H-PLMN can use to steer the behavior of the V-PLMN, while still allowing the UE to connect to the IMS APN. If the VPAA which is received by the control node of the V-PLMN from the HSS in the H-PLMN is set to "allowed" then the control node does not know if a PDN GW 105 in the V-PLMN should be selected even if the roaming model uses a PDN GW in the H-PLMN. This concept has been named as S8HR (S8 Home routed). If the VPAA is set to "not allowed" the control node must select a PDN GW in the H-PLMN. In this case there is no indication from the H-PLMN if the UE has subscribed to an IMS roaming service and can expect a successful IMS Voice over PS session. I.e. there is no indication from the H-PLMN if the control node in the V-PLMN shall set the Voice over PS Session Support Indication to the UE. This may result in that the control node indicates Voice over PS Session Support to the UE even if the subscriber is not an IMS subscriber for voice and the UE would establish unnecessarily a PDN connection and try to register in the IMS. It may also be possible that this may result in that a roaming UE has a roaming subscription and may not receive the Voice over PS Session Support Indication and will hence not use VoLTE when roaming.

Method and apparatus for providing a service to a roaming UE via a packet data network gateway