An example embodiment includes a thermal management system for an active cable connector. The system includes a shell and a back plate. The shell defines a cavity and includes multiple heat-transfer areas on an internal shell surface. A first heat-transfer area is positioned with respect to a first heat-generating component to absorb a first portion of thermal energy generated by the first heat-generating component. The back plate is positioned with respect to the first heat-generating component to absorb a second portion of the thermal energy generated by the first heat-generating component. The back plate is further positioned proximate to a second heat-transfer area to transfer the second portion of the thermal energy to the shell.

1. Field
Some embodiments discussed herein are related to components used in communication networks. In particular, some example embodiments relate to thermal management in active cable connectors.
2. Related Technology
Some data transmission in communication networks involves the conversion of optical signals to electrical signals and/or electrical signals to optical signals. In some applications, the conversion occurs at active cable connectors. For example, the active cable connectors may include one or more opto-electronic components that perform conversions between the optical and electrical domains. Additionally, in the active cable connectors, data signals, electrical or optical, may be processed or otherwise modified.
The conversion between optical and electrical domains and/or the processing of the data signals may generate heat. In some circumstances, the heat generated may cause problems with proper function of the components involved in conversion or the data signal processing. Additionally, excess heat may shorten the life or cause failure of components involved in the conversion or the data signal processing. Moreover, the heat may leak to surrounding components and cause similar problems.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Thermal management structures for optoelectronic systems


A ground supported power boiler is described combining a refractory lined and insulated conical floor; an insulated cylindrical combustion chamber; a cylindrical furnace with water tube wall; a rectangular convective section; a single vertical steam drum; tangential injection of the fuel and combustion air; means for fluidizing the fuel bed; means for selectively stripping particulates from the flue gases; multi-stage particulate stripping and filtering from flue gases, means for using the walls of steam drum as steam/water droplet separator, means for recirculating and capturing heat from the flue gases; means for pressurizing the interior of the boiler above atmospheric pressure; means for heating and drying fuel prior to feeding the fuel to the boiler; means for creating hydrogen shift reaction; means for eliminating any need for sootblowing; and designed to not require the use of an induced draft fan.

Power boilers have long been used by industries and utilities to produce steam for power production and for process requirements. These boilers come in many types and sizes ranging from 15 tons per hour steam production to 800 tons per hour or more. These boilers burn a variety of fuels including: Bark, sawdust, wood chips, and wood trimmings; wood or other biomass pellets; urban waste, refuse, and tire derived fuel (TDF); crushed coal, pet coke, fuel oils, and natural gas; sludge and fiber line rejects; sugar cane bagasse, pith, leaves, tops and other agriculture straw-based fuels; or other liquid, solid, or gaseous fuel, or a combination of fuels, and the solid fuels may have moisture content as high as 65%.
These boilers are typically constructed of heavy wall steel tubes welded side by side into straight wall panels that form the front, rear and side walls of the boiler. The lower portion of this box forms the combustion chamber of the boiler and is sometimes called the furnace. The tubes are typically 2″ to 3″ in diameter and spaced apart 2″ to 4″ center to center. If there are gaps between the tubes they are typically filled with steel strips about ¼″ thick by the width of the gap.
The entire panel is seal welded air tight. The lower ends of the wall tubes are welded into larger diameter horizontal header pipes that feed water to the walls. The tops of the wall tubes are also connected to larger diameter horizontal collector pipes that carry the water away from the walls to a steam drum, located at the top of the boiler. The front wall tubes are typically bent over to form the roof of the boiler and those tubes can terminate in a collector pipe or directly to the steam drum. Similarly the rear wall tubes are typically bent to create a "bullnose" or "nose arch" to direct combustion gasses across the convective section of the boiler and then terminate in a water drum, steam drum, or collector pipe at the top of the boiler. The top of the bullnose is usually at the elevation of the water drum. Downcomer pipes connect the steam drum or water drum at the top of the boiler to the header pipes at the bottom of the tube walls and feed water from the drum to the walls. The bottom of the boiler can be a travelling or vibrating grate, tilting grate, sloping grate, step grate, fluidized bed, or a Stepped Floor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,876. Fuel enters the boiler through a chute or chutes penetrating one or more walls of the boiler and may be broadcast into the boiler by a fuel distributor, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,528. The fuel falls to the floor or grate where it is mixed with air and burns. The heat released by the burning fuel is absorbed by the wall tubes and heats the water in the walls, where the water expands thermally and starts to boil. The heated and boiling water is less dense than the water in the downcomer pipes therefore a natural circulation is created with hotter water rising in the tube walls and cooler water descending in the downcomer pipes. The natural circulation is an inherent safety feature of these boilers as the circulation rate increases as more fuel is burned and more heat released in the combustion chamber.
As the water circulates from the steam drum, down through the downcomers, up through the walls, and back to the steam drum, some or all of the steam is produced in the walls. Some of the steam may also be produced in the generating bank, sometimes called the boiler bank. In older two drum boilers, the generating bank is a set of tubes connecting the bottom of the steam drum to the top of a water drum, sometimes called a mud drum, located up to thirty feet or so directly below the steam drum. The steam and mud drums are typically cylindrical pressure vessels with their axes oriented horizontally and parallel to each other and to the front wall of the boiler. In a two drum boiler the steam drum is generally located directly above the water drum and there are hundreds of tubes connecting the two drums. The generating bank is arranged so that hot gasses from the furnace flow across the tubes and heat the water circulating inside. About half of the tubes in the generating bank of a two drum boiler are up flow tubes and the remainders are down flow tubes. The gas cools as it passes through the generating bank, therefore the first tubes the gas contacts (the front tubes as the gas flow through a boiler is generally front to back) are hotter and more boiling occurs in those tubes. The boiling water is less dense so the water circulates from the steam drum down through the rear tubes to the water drum and then up through the front tubes back to the steam drum. The steam drum is generally about half full of water with saturated steam being released at the surface. The steam goes through a set of moisture separators and then to the superheaters. In newer single drum boilers there is no water drum, instead, the generating bank is fed by external (non-heated) downcomers from the steam drum, and the water circulates down the downcomers and back up through all of the generating bank tubes to the steam drum. Single drum boilers are less expensive to build because the drums, especially with hundreds of tube penetrations, are the most expensive components. Steam and water drums are also expensive to build due to their large diameter, typically up to five feet or more, requiring commensurately thicker walls to withstand the internal pressure. Single drum boilers also have other advantages including more flexible arrangements for locating the steam drum and generating bank.
Some boilers also have sets of tubes located just at the furnace exit and arranged to cross the boiler at the top of the combustion chamber. These are called screen tubes or screens, and are often arrayed as platens in which several tubes are in close parallel arrangement, one on top of another, extending from the front or rear wall of the boiler through the opposite wall. These platens are generally separated 12″-15″ apart side to side and slope upward slightly to the other side of the boiler, or they may bend part way across the boiler and rise up vertically through the roof. The screen tubes are fed by external (non-heated) downcomers from the steam drum or water drum at their lower end and relieved back to the steam drum at their upper end. Water circulates from the steam drum or water drum through the screens and back up to the steam drum. The screens are located where the gasses are very hot and absorb heat by radiation and convection.
After the steam leaves the steam drum it goes to the superheaters. These are sets of tubes typically located at the top of the boiler, above the screen tubes and in front of the generating bank. The superheaters increase the temperature of the steam from the saturation temperature in the steam drum to the final temperature required by the process or the power plant.
The superheater tubes are typically arranged as vertical platens with up to a dozen tubes or more in close parallel arrangement front to back in each platen. There are many platens located across the width of the boiler with a spacing of 6″-15″ between platens.
There are frequently two or more superheater sections with connecting pipes and/or desuperheaters between the sections. Desuperheaters or attemporators control the final steam temperature by spraying water into the steam, or other means.
In top supported boilers the superheater tubes start at the top of the boiler and drop vertically to just above the bullnose then run up and down a number of times before exiting back through the roof. The steam passes through the superheaters just once therefore the superheaters are not part of the boiler circulation circuits.
After the boiler flue gasses exit the generating bank, they typically flow through an economizer or an air heater. Economizers are tube bundles either, in cross flow or parallel flow to the gas stream, through which the feedwater passes once and is heated and then goes to the steam drum. The feedwater flow is controlled to maintain the water level in the steam drum. Feedwater makes up for the steam that is produced and exits the boiler.
Upon entry into the drum, feedwater is baffled and mixes with some of the water already within the steam drum to flow to the downcomer pipes or downcomer tubes. This feedwater mixed zone has higher density, which provides the driving head for the natural circulation in the boiler. The economizer may be located immediately after the generating bank integral with the boiler, or it may be located downstream from a tubular air heater or a dust collector.
Some of these boilers are supported from underneath (ground supported) but most, especially larger boilers, are hung from the top and expand downward as they heat up. A top supported boiler requires a very strong and expensive external structure to support the boiler.
Boilers as described above have been in use for many years and the technology is very mature, but they are very expensive and have significant operational limitations. Mechanical grates suffer from poor reliability and grate fired boilers and fluidized bed boilers are limited in the temperatures they can tolerate in the lower furnace otherwise they will over heat the grate or sand bed. Mechanical grates also do a poor job of mixing the combustion air and fuel because of the high airflow dictated by the requirements to cool the grate or fluidize the sand bend. This leaves little setup flexibility to improve combustion mixing throughout the greater furnace volume above the lower furnace. Bubbling fluidized bed boilers and especially circulating fluidized bed boilers suffer from extensive erosion due to the sand particles flowing with the flue gases and can have problems with sand agglomeration, sintering, and glassification. These deficiencies are addressed with the introduction of stepped floor and fuel drying chute technologies as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,707,876 and 8,590,463 respectively, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/851,883 for a V-cell boiler.
A problem with existing boilers is that very light fuels, such as sugar cane pith and bagasse, are especially difficult to burn efficiently because of their light weight and high moisture content. Woody, straw and other solid fuels at some point reach a small size where they (cinders) become entrained in the combustion gas flow and fly out of the furnace before they completely burn. The unburned fuel and sand carryover can agglomerate and plug the convective sections (superheater, generating bank, and economizer), abrade the boiler tubes, increase particulate emissions, and reduce the thermal efficiency of the boiler.
Good control over carbon monoxide in biomass boilers is a major and historical problem because airborne cinders have insufficient residence time, and poor air/fuel volumetric mixing energies. Airborne fuel particles are still shielded fuel, where the outer skin surface must be first burned before the next layer of fuel becomes available.
Many boilers in the sugar cane and other agriculture crop processing industries suffer from low reliability, high maintenance costs, high particulate emissions, and poor thermal performance for these reasons. Sugar cane is the largest crop grown in the world. Historically the sugar cane waste (leaves and tops) has been burnt in the field, but new regulations are preventing that for environmental reasons.
While the prevention of in-field burning increases the availability of biomass for power production, as described previously, sugar cane biomass is also difficult to burn because it is light, very wet, and has high sand contamination. Sugar cane companies are realizing the profit potential to cogenerate electricity with their process demands, but available, affordable boilers use outdated designs that cannot keep up with modern market demands. Other agricultural crop processing industries such as rice, wheat straw, palm oil, etc., also face similar problems with their boilers. Furthermore, skilled labor costs are also rising around the world, and it is becoming more expensive to construct and erect conventional boilers.
Therefore a new boiler design is needed that will improve the combustion of sugar cane based fuels and other fuels, keep the acquisition and erection costs to a minimum, maximize boiler availability with low maintenance, reduce particulate emissions by first complete burning and second by multi-stage stripping/filtering, and provide the owners with a more profitable alternative over the life of the investment.

Power boiler having vertically mounted cylindrical combustion chamber


We describe a processing apparatus and associated method for enhancing image color that includes a color space regional parameter storage module to store parameters of a color space region. A plurality of color space regional decision and enhancement attenuation calculation modules each calculate a color enhancement amplitude of a pixel responsive to the parameters. And a color space component enhancement module calculates a component of the color enhancement amplitude of the pixel in its color space. The processing apparatus and associated method achieve improved color enhancement in a specific region of the color space.

People's requirements realism and purity are more and higher in the case of collecting, displaying and printing of the image/video. Meantime, capturing during the process of display, non-matching and non-linearity characters between sensitization elements of a capturing apparatus for capturing an image of display and luminescence/color elements of a display/print apparatus cause that these capturing data must be reprocessed to recover nature color and avoid the color component not suitable for human eyes as possible under the existing parts of a physical apparatus. Since requirements for interested color of human eyes under different environments demand that factual collecting and capturing apparatus of image/video have functions of enhancing, modifying and adjusting. For example, there's image saturation, color adjustment and specific color enhancing and modifying function in a TV and video camera.
The existing display apparatus has the function of whole modification of color and hue for image/video, especially to saturation, color/hue and so on. One of the simplest and most universal apparatus and method is as follows. First, color space conversion module converts image/video from RGB or CMYK etc. color space to YUV or YCbCr etc. color space. Second, coordinates conversion module separates a color component into dependent component such as saturation, color/hue. Then in the case of modifying the saturation component, saturation modification module modifies a saturation component to multiply by a component α, when α>1, the whole image/video saturation is enhanced; For modifying image/video color saturation, hue modification module modifies the phase of a UV plane by adding a chroma component θ to change the hue of the whole image/video.
However, all these adjusting functions can not be used in a specific region of the color space but in the whole color space. Therefore, in such above-presented method, there are a lot of defects as following: 1. Overly adjusting the saturation of the image/video possibly so as to color the gray scale strip and achromatous object, even color some objects out of bound to be another unacceptable color for human eyes, for example, human face is changed in red. 2. Simply adjusting the saturation of color may cause some data extending out of the largest range to shrink the factual color space, therefore, lowering the image/video quality to some extent. 3. In the case where the hue of some colors is to be modified, the hue of other colors is wrongly changed at the same time possibly. Such a case needs us to avoiding.

Processing apparatus and method for enhancing image color


A unitary test tube holder insert adapted for receiving test tubes. The insert has a first ring to be secured in a hole of a test tube rack. A plurality of spring members extend at one end from the first ring towards a center axis of the ring to resiliently engage the outside of a test tube inserted into the insert. The spring members are connected at their other end to a second ring which is arranged coaxially with the first ring along the center access, and each spring member is curved towards the center axis to exhibit a straight section which extends parallel to the center axis and which resiliently engages the outside of a test tube inserted into the insert.

Such test tube holder inserts are known. A cross-sectional view of such a known test tube holder insert is shown in FIG. 1 on the appended drawing. The insert shown comprises a ring 1 which in a manner not shown in any greater detail, is designed to be snapped in place in any of the holes in a tray provided with holes for receiving test tubes and belonging to a not shown test tube rack. In the embodiment shown, the ring 1 is provided with spring members in the form of resilient tongues 2, which extend obliquely towards the centre axis of the ring 1.
It has, however, been found that an insert designed in this manner, does not ensure that the test tubes in fact stand vertically in the test tube rack. This is particularly important in order to avoid spillage in connection with e.g. automatic pipetting of radioactive or other toxic liquids in certain applications.
Test tube racks having two trays provided with holes and arranged above each other with the holes aligned for receiving test tubes, are also known. In such test tube racks, inserts of the kind shown in FIG. 1, are secured in the holes in both trays. Hereby, a more stable but not completely reliable fixation is obtained of the lower portion of the test tubes since, after all, the test tubes can end askew.


Provided here are methods and systems to enhance the production of ethylene and MTBE from propylene using integrated metathesis and cracking processes. Also disclosed is a method for producing ethylene by at least partially metathesizing propylene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst in a reactor to produce ethylene and butenes, and at least partially cracking the butenes to further produce ethylene using a cracking catalyst positioned downstream of the metathesis catalyst in the same reactor, and further producing MTBE.

Ethylene is the one of the most important organic chemicals, by tonnage, that is manufactured in the world. It is usually produced in steam-cracking units from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks, and is used in the manufacture of several major derivatives, such as polyethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene dichloride, polystyrene, and alpha-olefins. In certain regions of the world, such as the United States of America, Canada, and the Middle East, ethane and propane are subject to cracking to produce ethylene and propylene. Purposefully increasing the production of ethylene from propylene streams has been challenging.

Integrated process for production of ethylene from propylene


A light-field camera system such as a tiled camera array may be used to capture a light-field of an environment. The tiled camera array may be a tiered camera array with a first plurality of cameras and a second plurality of cameras that are arranged more densely, but have lower resolution, than those of the first plurality of cameras. The first plurality of cameras may be interspersed among the second plurality of cameras. The first and second pluralities may cooperate to capture the light-field. According to one method, a subview may be captured by each camera of the first and second pluralities. Estimated world properties of the environment may be computed for each subview. A confidence map may be generated to indicate a level of confidence in the estimated world properties for each subview. The confidence maps and subviews may be used to generate a virtual view of the environment.

Some current volumetric capture systems (or virtual reality (VR) capture systems), such as Lytro Immerge, sparsely sample a light-field volume using a relatively large number of cameras. The cameras can be arranged, for example, over a lattice that covers a flat surface, or a 3D surface such as a sphere. The cameras may thus define a "tiled camera array." The cameras may be traditional 2D cameras, array cameras, or plenoptic light-field cameras, as described in above-referenced U.S. Provisional Application 62/148,460. Whichever system is used, it is often difficult to avoid some sparseness of the samples, leaving gaps in the coverage. Thus, in order to provide virtual reality functionality, the rendering system may advantageously interpolate between camera views.
When a viewer is watching and interacting with the captured virtual reality environment (or "volume"), it is beneficial for the playback system to allow the viewer to have as many degrees of freedom as feasible to explore the captured volume. For, example, six degrees of freedom may be provided, so as to allow the user full angular viewing freedom (yaw, pitch, roll) as well as spatial viewing freedom (translation side-to-side, up and down, and forward and backward). In general, it is desirable to provide for movement along the degrees of freedom seamlessly and smoothly.
In general, the ability of a VR capture system to deliver high quality playback at interpolated viewpoints is limited by the density of the capture viewpoints and the ability of the system to interpolate between capture viewpoints, which may in turn depend on the quality of the system's estimation of various properties of objects in the world. In order to provide accurate interpolations, it is useful to have information about properties of surfaces and objects. Estimated world properties may include, for example and without limitation, 3D geometry, reflectance, specularity of materials, transparency/translucency of objects, and/or the like. In many situations, however, it may be difficult or impossible to estimate these world properties with a sufficient degree of accuracy or precision to provide the desired results. Fine objects like hair may also be problematic.
Various techniques can be used to improve the quality of the systems with respect to artifacts caused by errors in such estimated properties. One option may be to increase the density of cameras in the capture system, and thus reduce the amount of interpolation that is required. However, increasing density can increase system requirements, costs, storage, processing, heat management, and/or the like. Furthermore, there is a physical limit to how closely cameras may be spaced in the tiled camera array.
Other techniques for improving quality include improving the accuracy of the world estimation process. While such an approach may be appealing, it can be difficult or impossible within the constraints of the system. Another option may be to include additional types of sensors designed for specific purposes. Examples include LiDAR sensors, Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors, and structured light. Specialized sensors may help improve the accuracy of certain aspects of the world estimation process, but may still not improve the level of accuracy to the desired level.

Image capture for virtual reality displays


In order to fully automate the inflation timing and deflation timing of an intra-aortic balloon pump, certain delays intrinsic in the system must be taken into account. A process for calculating these delays includes determining a nominal inflate command time, adding a dither time interval to the nominal inflate command time to obtain an actual inflate time, and determining a deflate command time. An inflation/deflation cycle is then processed in which the intra-aortic balloon pump is inflated at the actual inflate command time and deflated at the deflate command time. Blood pressure data is acquired from the patient during the inflation/deflation cycle, and is then analyzed to determine a realization time at which the effects of inflating the intra-aortic balloon are realized on the blood pressure waveform. From this the total delay time between the actual inflate command time and the realization time can be determined.

The present invention relates generally to intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, and more particularly, to systems for inflating and deflating intra-aortic balloons. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to methods for use in setting the timing of the balloon inflation and deflation cycles in intra-aortic balloon-pump therapy.
Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy is a form of temporary cardiac assist which is frequently prescribed for patients who have suffered a heart attack or some other form of heart failure. In such therapy, a thin balloon is inserted, typically through the femoral artery, into the patient's descending aorta. The balloon is connected through a series of thin tubes to a control apparatus which causes the balloon to inflate and deflate in time with the patient's heartbeat. The balloon therapy supports the left ventricle of the heart by increasing perfusion of the coronary arteries and by reducing left ventricular work. Coronary artery perfusion is increased by augmenting aortic pressure during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Left ventricular work is reduced by reducing aortic pressure at the end of diastole, i.e., at the onset of ventricular ejection.
The inflation/deflation apparatus supplies positive pressure for expanding the balloon during an inflation cycle and negative pressure for contracting the balloon during a deflation cycle. In a conventional apparatus, such as that shown schematically in FIG. 1, an intra-aortic balloon 10 is surgically inserted into a patient's descending aorta and is connected through a thin catheter 12 and a large diameter extender 14 to an isolator 18 divided by a pliant membrane 20 into a primary side 22 and a secondary side 24. The entire volume between membrane 20 and balloon 10 is filled with a shuttle gas, such as helium, supplied by a gas source 26. A positive pressure source 28 is connected through a solenoid valve 30 to the input or primary side 22 of isolator 18. Similarly, a negative pressure source 32 is connected through a solenoid valve 34 to the input or primary side 22 of isolator 18. The primary side 22 of isolator 18 is also connected through a solenoid valve 36 to a vent or exhaust port 38.
A central lumen 40 extends from an open end 42 protruding from the tip of balloon 10, through the balloon, catheter 12 and a Y junction 44, to a pressure transducer 46. A fluid, such as saline, fills lumen 40 so as to establish a continuous fluid column therein. As a result, the blood pressure in the descending aorta is transmitted by hydraulic coupling through the fluid column to pressure transducer 46 where it can be measured.
During an inflation cycle, solenoid valve 30 is opened to permit positive pressure from positive pressure source 28 to enter the primary side 22 of isolator 18. This positive pressure causes membrane 20 to move toward secondary side 24, thereby forcing the helium in the secondary side to travel toward and inflate balloon 10. For deflation, solenoid valve 30 is closed and solenoid valve 36 is opened briefly to vent the gas from primary side 22, after which valve 36 is closed. Solenoid valve 34 is then opened, whereupon negative pressure source 32 creates a negative pressure on the primary side 22 of isolator 18. This negative pressure pulls membrane 20 toward primary side 22, whereby the helium is drawn out from the balloon.
In order to achieve optimal therapeutic benefits from the use of an IABP system, the inflation and deflation cycles must be properly synchronized to the cardiac cycle. In particular, the balloon 10 must be inflated and deflated within the diastolic interval, when the left ventricle of the heart is inactive. The diastolic interval is determined based on the pressure waveform in the descending aorta, as transmitted from the tip of the balloon through lumen 40 to pressure transducer 46. The dicrotic notch on the waveform indicates the start of the diastolic interval (i.e., when the aortic valve has closed and left ventricular flow has ended), and the onset of systole defines the end of the diastolic interval (i.e., the beginning of left ventricular flow).
The effect of the IABP on aortic pressure is illustrated in the series of graphs shown in FIG. 2. For purposes of illustration, the figure shows time-aligned "assisted" and "unassisted" aortic pressure waveforms. The assisted waveform shows correct timing of balloon inflation and deflation with respect to the cardiac cycle (as represented by the electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform). Also shown in appropriate time alignment is the balloon volume reflecting the deflated and inflated conditions. Examples of early, late and correct timing for both inflation cycles and deflation cycles are shown in the graphs of FIG. 3.
To maintain correct timing on a continuous basis, the timing of the inflation and deflation cycles must be adjusted to accommodate changes in the patient's heart rate, rhythm and left ventricular contractility. In early IABP systems, this was accomplished manually through continuous operator monitoring of the IABP's aortic pressure waveform and adjustment of separate inflation and deflation timing controls based on certain cardiac events or landmarks. In current IABP systems, the maintenance of proper timing has been made semi-automatic. Inflate timing is initially set automatically based on the Q-S2 interval determined from the previous R-R interval, and is adjusted manually by the operator based on the position of the augmentation curve relative to the dicrotic notch on the aortic pressure waveform. Thereafter, the proper inflate timing is estimated through the use of predefined regression algorithms. These algorithms adjust timing continuously, on a beat-to-beat basis, based on the R-R interval of the prior beat. Because changes in the patient's clinical status or medications can affect the contractility of the left ventricle, coronary artery blood flow, end diastolic volume and pressure, and heart rate, occasional operator intervention is needed to adapt the timing to these clinical changes or to audit and correct the estimation process. To provide a visual reference while setting timing, operators often set the IABP to assist (i.e., to inflate) every other heartbeat, rather than every heartbeat. By assisting every other heartbeat, operators are more easily able to visually detect timing errors by comparing assisted and unassisted pressure waveforms. Furthermore, the aortic pressure waveform during unassisted beats is free of artifacts that can be induced by balloon inflation, catheter movement, etc., thereby making the landmarks for proper inflation and deflation timing clearly visible.
Despite the improvements in operation achieved through partial automation of the inflation and deflation timing, IABP therapy still requires frequent adjustment and monitoring by an operator, and is subject to operator error both at startup and during periodic adjustment. It therefore would be desirable to fully automate IABP timing so as to eliminate the need for constant monitoring by an operator and avoid the potential for such operator errors.
Any attempt to fully automate IABP timing must take into consideration the requirement that IABP therapy be performed during the diastolic interval. More particularly, the balloon inflation cycle is preferably initiated so that augmentation of the aortic pressure begins at the start of the diastolic interval, i.e., at the dicrotic notch. Similarly, the balloon deflation cycle is preferably initiated so that full deflation is reached at the end of the diastolic interval, i.e., at the beginning of systole. If the commands to inflate or deflate the balloon are issued at the time these cardiac events are detected, the resultant timing would be persistently late. This is a consequence of the delays that are inherent in IABP systems. For example, if the balloon inflation cycle is initiated at the time the dicrotic notch is detected, the intrinsic time delays in the IABP system would result in a late augmentation of the aortic blood pressure. Similarly, if the balloon deflation cycle is initiated at the time the end of the diastolic interval is detected, the intrinsic time delays would cause complete deflation of the balloon to occur too late. Although the use of earlier surrogates to predict the occurrence of these cardiac events has been considered, such surrogates have generally proven to be unreliable.
The time delays intrinsic to IABP systems consist of several components. One source of delay is the electro-pneumatic delay associated with the activation of valves, the pressurization of pneumatic volumes and the movement of the shuttle gas to begin inflation or deflation of the balloon, all of which follow a balloon inflation or deflation command. Another source of delay is the time for the shuttle gas to move substantially into (i.e., inflate) or out from (i.e., deflate) the balloon. Yet a further delay is the time from the closing of the aortic valve until the aortic pressure change resulting from that event (i.e., the dicrotic notch) is propagated to the blood pressure monitoring site. For central lumen monitoring, such as depicted in FIG. 1, the monitoring site is the tip of the balloon 10. Still another source of delay is the time it takes the pressure signal to propagate from the monitoring site until its conversion into an electrical signal. For central lumen monitoring, this is the time for the pressure signal to propagate from the tip of balloon 10 to pressure transducer 46.
These pressure delays can best be understood by reference to FIG. 4. This figure shows an ECG waveform followed by a waveform indicating the blood pressure as it exists in the descending aorta. Because of the delays caused by the propagation of blood pressure changes from the aortic valve to the pressure monitoring site and from the monitoring site until its conversion into an electrical signal, the blood pressure waveform as displayed on the console of an IABP system will lag in time from the blood pressure in the descending aorta. This lag in time can be seen in the perceived time shift in the third waveform shown in FIG. 4 which is the blood pressure as measured by transducer 46.
The electro-pneumatic delay is dominated by the contribution of the solenoid activated pneumatic valve which opens a pathway between the balloon and a pressure source during inflation, and between the balloon and a vacuum source during deflation. The excursion of this valve is highly repeatable, such that the delay associated with the valve movement is repeatable from patient to patient and cycle to cycle of the IABP. The time to transfer the shuttle gas into and out from the balloon also varies little from cycle to cycle. Accordingly, these two delay criteria may be considered constants.
The delays associated with propagating changes in aortic pressure from the aortic valve to the blood pressure monitoring site and with propagating pressure signals from the monitoring site until they are converted into electrical signals, however, are highly variable. Factors which impact these pressure delays include the location of the balloon, the location of the blood pressure monitoring site, the quality of the hydraulic coupling, and electronic monitoring considerations. There also may be other variable or constant intrinsic delays in an IABP system. For example, while the electro-pneumatic delay and the shuttle gas transfer time may be considered constants, their values are only estimates based on collected data. Errors in these estimates may result in actual delays that are greater than or less than the estimated values. The total amount of intrinsic delay in an IABP system regardless of its source, less any estimated constants ascribed to specified events, such as the electro-pneumatic delay and shuttle gas transfer time, are referred to collectively herein as the arterial pressure delay (APD).
When an operator adjusts IABP inflation and/or deflation timing based on differences between the appearance of the augmentation curve on the pressure waveform and the appearance of the dicrotic notch, what he is implicitly doing is adjusting the timing to account for the APD. That is, the operator is making the timing sooner or later to account for intrinsic delays in the IABP system so that the inflation and deflation commands will be issued at the appropriate times to enable the effects of inflation and deflation to be realized at the proper time relative to cardiac events.
As the optimal timing of IABP therapy requires a knowledge of the cumulative intrinsic delays, and as the highly repeatable delays are known, there exists a need for a method for automatically determining the APD for each patient. Preferably, such method will enable the APD to be determined accurately and quickly so that the IABP timing can be optimally set not only on a patient by patient basis at the initiation of therapy, but also at periodic intervals during therapy to assure that the timing remains optimal despite changes in the patient's cardiac performance.

Timing of intra-aortic balloon pump therapy


A lubrication system for supplying lubricants between two environments is provided. The first environment is disposed within a first housing and the second environment is disposed within a second housing having a supply opening and an exhaust opening. The system includes a lubricant supply tube disposed within the supply opening and configured to supply lubricant from the first environment to the second environment. The system also includes a receptacle disposed within the second housing and configured to receive lubricant supplied from the supply tube and to hold a predetermined volume of the lubricant. A check valve is disposed within the second housing and is in fluid communication with the exhaust opening. The check valve is configured to receive overflow lubricant from the receptacle, if the lubricant exceeds the predetermined volume and to provide a seal between the first and second environments in response to a pressure differential therebetween.

Turbine plant accessories, such as air turbine starters (ATS) may be mounted to a jet engine through a gearbox or other transmission assembly. These accessories typically require lubrication to operate properly. In the case of an ATS, an assisted wet cavity (AWC) design has been employed in the past to assist in supplying lubrication to the ATS. These designs include an ATS housing having a mounting face or mounting flange that is sealingly engaged with, and coupled to, the gearbox to define a porting system. The porting system allows transfer of lubricating oil between the gearbox and the starter via a "make up system", i.e., during normal operation, lubricating oil first is provided to the gearbox and may be transferred to the starter if the starter lubricant quantity is below a specific level. The lubricating oil may enter a port in the porting system that is typically in fluid communication with passages within the starter housing and may or may not be distributed to the starter.
Although AWC designs are generally effective, they have certain drawbacks. Additionally, typically the gearbox and accessory are at a pressure above ambient pressure. In the highly unlikely event of a starter housing breach and a change in pressure, the starter pressure may drop to equalize with ambient pressure, which may result in a relatively small pressure difference between the starter housing and gearbox of about 0.1-0.3 psi.
Though this pressure differential may be relatively small, excessive lubricating oil, which is fed from the gearbox to the accessory in an AWC design, may leak from the gearbox to the starter and, consequently, out through the breach. Although generally a check or reed valve has been used to counteract the potential oil loss, it has been found that because the pressure differential between the starter and gearbox can be small, these check valves may not work consistently.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lubrication system capable of providing a metered fluid flow between a turbine plant accessory and a gearbox assembly. There is also a need for a system having improved fluid flow control in the unlikely event of an accessory housing breach. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Accessory lubrication system for a turbine plant


Described is a system and method for employing user created database-structured queries and data extraction engines to crawl through Websites extracting and organizing data from selected sources on a network, such as the Internet. The structure of a query processed by a Data Extraction engine enables a user to treat the network as a searchable database. The database-structured queries provide a user with tools to match patterns on selected sites on the network. A user may automate database-structured queries to be executed on a regular frequency. Output of the database-structured queries may be placed into a data log, displayed on a user display screen, or optionally reshaped for use by a plurality of data analysis tools. Additionally, an optional graphical user interface is provided.

The World Wide Web has been recognized as a vast reservoir of information. There are literally terabytes of highly valuable documents and other files on the Internet and other networks.
Such a vast resource provides businesses, researchers, and consumers with information never available to them in the past. However, while a vast quantity of information is available on the Internet, finding information with sufficient precision to address specific questions has remained difficult and expensive.
Attempts have been made to provide tools that will assist users in locating information on the Internet. The more common tools include search engines that crawl network sites. These software programs are often programmed to follow universal resource locator (URL) links collecting information from Websites they visit.
While these search tools provide a much-needed service to the Internet user, they remain limited in their usefulness. For example, today's businesses seek more than simply a location for general information. Businesses desire the ability to use the network to answer dynamic strategic marketing questions, monitor competitors, identify new opportunities, and analyze trends. Unfortunately, while the current search tools provide listings or pointers to locations on the Internet that may have helpful information, the information is often not at a level of precision necessary to answer today's complex business questions.
In the past, due to the complexity of the business questions being asked, businesses have had to pay large numbers of employees to manually execute multiple search engines, manually aggregate the results, and then manually extract the relevant data from those results. Finally, employees would have to format the extracted data so that it could be used by the business. While this may provide businesses with more precise results, it remained an overwhelming, expensive, and slow approach to finding answers to complex business questions.
Alternatively, businesses have expended massive amounts of time and labor in developing custom single query software programs in an attempt to take advantage of the information available on the Internet, and improve the precision of the searches. The development of these custom single queries is often long, tedious, and requires continual labor to monitor the results. Because these software programs are often written to address a particular business question, businesses must continually invest large quantities of money for each novel question raised. The result is that businesses must invest heavily in maintaining skilled programmers, computing resources.
Finally, businesses that have invested heavily in commercially available analysis software programs seek to take advantage of those programs to analyze the results from Internet queries. However, the information from the queries is typically not in a format that the analysis programs can readily use.

Method and system for extraction and organizing selected data from sources on a network


An inspection apparatus includes an inspection body that has a non-conductive substrate, a droplet receiving portion for receiving a droplet that is provided on the substrate, and a plurality of electrodes that are exposed on an inner surface portion of the droplet receiving portion. The droplet receiving portion has a size that corresponds to a droplet size in a state when a discharged droplet impacts normally. The inspection apparatus also includes a detector that is connected to the electrodes of the inspection body and detects a conductivity in the droplet receiving portion. The inspection apparatus makes it possible to inspect easily and in a short time period the discharge performance of a droplet discharge head of a droplet discharge apparatus. A droplet discharge inspection method is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for inspecting the discharge performance of a droplet discharge head that discharges droplets of liquid, and to a droplet discharge inspection method that inspects the discharge performance of a droplet discharge head using this apparatus.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-195621, filed Jul. 1, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, apparatuses that employ inkjet technology exist as droplet discharge apparatuses that perform thin film formation and patterning and the like by discharging droplets of a liquid such as ink. These apparatuses are provided with a droplet discharge head that is supplied with a liquid material (i.e., a liquid) from a liquid material supply portion, and a stage that causes a substrate or the like to move relatively to the droplet discharge head. The apparatuses perform the thin film formation or patterning by discharging droplets onto the substrate while moving the droplet discharge head based on discharge data.
In these apparatuses, usually, an inspection is made prior to a normal droplet discharge using such an apparatus as to whether all of the nozzles in the droplet discharge head are in a proper condition, namely, whether there are any abnormalities such as blockages or adhesion of contaminants and the like.
In this inspection method, normally, a nozzle check pattern is drawn on paper on which a liquid material (i.e., ink) can be easily seen, namely, on paper that provides good visibility, such as white paper, and an inspection is made as to whether or not droplets are being discharged normally from the nozzles by viewing the condition of the obtained drawing using the naked eye or a microscope.
Among inkjet recording apparatuses that record by discharging ink onto recording paper, in particular, an apparatus is known that determines the condition of the ink discharge by reading the image recorded on the recording paper using a reading device formed by a line sensor (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 6-143548).
However, in droplet discharge apparatuses that are used industrially, there is a trend towards increasing the number of nozzles in the droplet discharge head in order to raise productivity. Currently, droplet discharge apparatuses are used in which, for example, in a single droplet discharge head, nozzles are arranged in 2 rows vertically by 180 rows horizontally to provide a total of 360 nozzles. Moreover, several, for example, 12 of these droplet discharge heads are provided in a droplet discharge apparatus.
Accordingly, in this type of droplet discharge apparatus the total number of nozzles is extremely large, and when a visual inspection is made using the naked eye or a microscope, as is described above, the time needed for this inspection becomes lengthy and is the cause of a major drop in productivity.
Moreover, in inkjet recording apparatuses that discharge ink onto recording paper, as is described above, technology is known that determines the condition of the discharge using reading devices formed by line sensors. However, currently, no technology has been provided for performing checks in a short period of time for droplet discharge heads that are used industrially and, accordingly, have a large number of nozzles, as is described above.
The present invention was conceived in view of the above described circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide, particularly in a droplet discharge apparatus that is used industrially, an inspection apparatus that makes it possible to inspect easily and in a short period of time the discharge performance of a droplet discharge head of the droplet discharge apparatus, and a droplet discharge inspection method that inspects the discharge performance of the droplet discharge head using this inspection apparatus.

Droplet discharge inspection apparatus and method


Disclosed is a search system using a plurality of search references, and a search method thereof. When a search word is provided by a user terminal through a network, search targets to be searched are established based on the search word. The search process is performed by applying different search references to the respective search targets, and search results are provided to the search targets. According to the present invention, more reliable information is provided.

As the Internet has been widely used, Internet-based electronic commerce for people all over the world has been performed, communication between users has also been developed, and various types of communications have been provided on the Internet.
Internet telephones that will substitute for cable telephones have been used in addition to electronic mail and file transmission that are the most basic Internet communication tools, and it is also possible to transmit short messages to a mobile phone on the Internet. Further, a chat system which is an Internet-based multi-user communication system has been provided, and voice chat systems and video chat systems have been developed on the Internet in addition to text chat systems. Communities in which a plurality of users gathers together and communicate documents or opinions for the same topic have been activated.
The community has various items such as cafés, blogs, homepages, clubs, and mini-homepages, and the community shows various contents. In general, respective users who are registered as members of the cafés or clubs post contents or data on a predetermined topic on the notice boards, and users who have opened blogs or mini-homepages post their opinions or data on the bulletin boards.
It is conventionally needed to directly access a community and find contents when the user desires to see or receive the contents posted in the community, and as search techniques have been developed recently, the contents search process based on a search word is performed for respective categories such as web documents, news, images, and dictionaries when the user only inputs the search word corresponding to the desired contents on the web browser, and the search process for the community that has information corresponding to the above-noted search word in the communities such as cafés or blogs is to search the contents that correspond to the search word from among the contents (or data) posted in the communities. Therefore, the user can search for predetermined contents posted in the community without individual access to the community, and know the community that has information related to the search word.
However, many of the contents provided as a result of searching communities have no contents worth referring to since the search process is conventionally performed according to the inclusion status of the search word. That is, in the prior art, when the communities are searched, communities having the input search word are searched, articles including the search word are searched from among the articles of the communities, and sorting menus including the search word are searched from among a plurality of contents sorting menus (e.g., bulletin boards) provided by the communities, and thereby the search process is performed according to the inclusion status of search words.
Accordingly, it is difficult in the prior art to find contents with reliable information for each search process since the search process is performed according to the same condition even though search conditions with different references are required depending on the features of things to be searched, such as a community search, an article search, and a sorting menu search.
[Technical Problem]
It is an advantage of the present invention to search targets with difference references and provide reliable search results for the respective targets.
It is an advantage of the present invention to control the order of arranging the searched targets to be changeable and thereby easily checking reliable information for the search word input by the user.
[Technical Solution]
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for searching information on a search word provided by a user terminal in a system connected to a plurality of user terminals through a network comprises: a) establishing search targets to be searched based on a search word when the search word is provided by a user terminal through the network; b) performing a search process by applying different search references, e.g., criteria, to the respective search targets; and c) providing search results for the respective search targets.
In another aspect of the present invention, in a method for searching information on a search word provided by a user terminal in a system connected to a plurality of user terminals through a network, a method for providing search results comprises: a) searching respective search targets based on a search word when the search word is provided by a user terminal through the network; b) providing a search result to each search target; c) checking the search target selected by the user after provision of search results; d) recording search log 15 information for indicating the search target selected by the user in correspondence to the search word; and e) analyzing the search log information and determining the sorting order of the search targets according to the order of search targets initially selected by the users for the respective search words when the search results are provided, and b) comprises: when the search results are provided, sorting the search targets according to the sorting order following an analysis of search log information of the search word, and providing search results for the respective search targets.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a system being connected to a plurality of users through a network and searching information on a search word provided by the user terminal comprises: a searcher for searching information having a search word when the search word is provided by a user terminal through the network; a reliability estimator for estimating reliability for indicating how reliable information the searched information provides is by applying different search references to information searched for the respective search targets; and a search result provider for providing searched information to the user according to the reliabilities estimated for the respective search targets.
In still yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for searching information on a search word provided by a user terminal in a system connected to a plurality of user terminals through a network comprises: a) establishing search targets to be searched based on a search word when the search word is provided by a user terminal through the network; b) searching information having the search word for each search target; c) generating reliabilities of information searched for the respective search targets by applying different search references; d) determining the order of sorting the search targets according to the search word; and e) sorting the search targets according to the sorting order, sorting information searched for each search target according to the estimated reliabilities, and providing the information to the user.

Search system and method using a plurality of searching criteria


Novel methods and systems for producing a substantially pure d-threo stereoisomer of methylphenidate or a salt thereof are provided. In particular, methods and systems for producing d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride in pure stereoisomeric form from d-threo-ritalinic acid hydrochloride using diazomethane are described. The described methods can be performed on a large scale, and thus provide d-threo methylphenidate or a salt thereof, and particularly the hydrochloride salt of d-threo-methylphenidate, in stereoisomerically pure form and in large quantities from a single batch reaction. Also described are novel compositions of d-threo methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Substituted piperidine compounds have been used in the treatment of many nervous system disorders. One particular substituted piperidine compound proven useful in treating central nervous system disorders is dexmethylphenidate, which is often prescribed to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Dexmethylphenidate, also referred to as d-threo-methylphenidate and (2R,2′R)-(+)-threo-methylphenidate, is the d-threo stereoisomer of methylphenidate. Methylphenidate exists in four stereoisomeric forms: d-threo, l-threo, d-erythro and l-erythro. d-threo-methylphenidate and l-threo-methylphenidate are enantiomers, and l-erythro-methylphenidate and d-erythro-methylphenidate are enantiomers. However, preparing and isolating dexmethylphenidate in its pure stereoisomeric form, i.e., the d-threo stereoisomer, has proven to be difficult.
The preparations of enantiomerically pure dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride were reported by R. Rometsch in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,838,519 and 2,957,880. According to the methods described by Rometsch, enantiomerically pure l-erytho-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide was first obtained by resolution of a racemic mixture of erythro-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide with d-(±)-tartaric acid in 96% ethanol. The enantiomerically pure l-erythro-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide was epimerized in aqueous potassium hydroxide to the d-threo-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide stereoisomer. d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride was then obtained upon hydrolysis and esterification of d-threo-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide.
The initial approach described by Rometsch was further optimized by Khetani et al. in PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 98/52921 and Ramaswamy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,734. Resolution of a racemic mixture of erythro-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide with d-(±)-tartaric acid in methanol afforded a 40% yield of 1-erythro-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide. Epimerization of l-erythro-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide with potassium tert-butoxide in toluene at 70° C. furnished d-threo-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide in 85% yield. d-threo-2-phenyl-2-(2-piperidyl)acetamide was converted to d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride upon treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid in refluxing methanol and hydrochloride salt in 80% yield.
Further, several methods have been reported for enriching the enantiomeric purity of dexmethylphenidate, with the first method being reported in 1987 by Patrick et al. J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. (1987) 241, 152-158, by crystallization of dexmethylphenidate from a mixture of methanol and ether. Novartis also reportedly increased the enantiomeric purity of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride from 80% enantiomeric excess (e.e.) to greater than 98% e.e. by recrystallization from a 1:1.7 (v/v) mixture of methanol and t-butyl methyl ether (M. Prashad et al., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry (1998) 9, 2133-2136). PCT Patent Application Publication WO 98/25902 also reports an enrichment of the enantiomeric purity of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride from this same solvent mixture. Although such attempts to enrich the enantiomeric purity of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride by recrystallization do provide enantiomerically pure compound, recrystallization results in loss of yield and is not desirable for use with reactions that are performed on a large scale to obtain large quantities of the desired product.
An alternative approach to synthesizing enantiomerically pure d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride using an enantiomerically pure starting material, d-pipecolic acid, was reported by Thai et al. in J. Med. Chem. (1998) 41, 591-601. Enantiomerically pure d-pipecolic acid was obtained in 37% yield by recrystallization of the diastereomeric tartrate salt, followed by the separation of the desired amino acid from tartaric acid by ion-exchange chromatography. d-pipecolic acid was protected with a BOC group to afford N-BOC-d-pipecolic acid in 97% yield. The key amino ketone was prepared from N-BOC-d-pipecolic acid in two steps involving its conversion to the N-methoxy-N-methyl amide, followed by a reaction with the amide with phenyllithium. The amino ketone underwent a Wittig olefination with methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to give the alkene in high yield. The transformation of the obtained alkene to the desired alcohol as a racemic mixture of threo-stereoisomers via a hydroboration/oxidation reaction was critical to introducing the second stereogenic center. Hydroboration with BH3-THF gave a 72:28 mixture of threo and erythro isomers, respectively, from which the threo alcohol was isolated in 64% yield after chromatography. Oxidation of the threo alcohol with pyridinium dichromate (PDC) in dimethylformamide (DMF) followed by esterification of the resulting acid with diazomethane, and N-BOC group deprotection with 3 N methanolic hydrochloric acid furnished d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride in 67% yield after recrystallization from a mixture of ethanol and ether.
However, all of the aforementioned methods for obtaining dexmethylphenidate in its pure enantiomeric form require either recrystallization from a mixture of stereoisomers, or a large number of synthetic steps, both of which result in reduced yields. Thus, there is a need for improved methods of preparing dexmethylphenidate in its pure enantiomeric form and in high yield. Preferably, such methods are also adaptable to production on a large scale, which would have the advantage of providing a method for obtaining dexmethylphenidate in its pure enantiomeric form and in large quantities from a single reaction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for preparing d-threo-methylphenidate using diazomethane, and compositions thereof


A superhydrophobic surface is formed by growing a plurality of etchable, sacrificial structures, and depositing a discontinuous hydrophobic material onto the sacrificial structures. The discontinuity facilitates etching of the sacrificial structures to remove the grown structures while leaving the deposited material intact to result in surface features for achieving superior hydrophobic properties.

Hydrophobic surfaces tend to repel water, in contrast to hydrophilic surfaces that tend to attract water and achieve a "wet" appearance. When a drop of water is placed on a surface, and the drop makes a contact angle of less than 90° with the surface, the surface is termed "hydrophilic". If the water contact angle is greater than 90°, the surface is termed "hydrophobic", and if the water contact angle exceeds 150°, the surface is termed "superhydrophobic" or "ultrahydrophobic." The water contact angle for the most hydrophobic materials in the form of a planar film (for instance polytetrafluoroethylene, i.e. PTFE, Teflon or paraffin wax) is about generally accepted as being around 110°, while that of CF3 terminated surfaces is as high as 120°.


The disclosure provides compositions, methods, and devices for use in delivering Mitomycin-C(MMC), an antineoplastic chemotherapy drug often used for bladder instillations to treat bladder cancer, which degrades in both acidic and alkaline environments. The disclosure provides a solution of buffered MMC (or a different drug) in 50% propylene glycol that maintains a pH from 7.0 to 8.0 when introduced into acidic solutions (pH of 5.0) and is stable when stored at 2-8° C. for greater than 134 days. This formulation can be produced in an FDA registered 503B Outsourcing facility in a pre-filled, ready-to-administer syringe kit with pre-attached closed system transfer device and accessories required for bladder instillation.

The compounding and administration of hazardous pharmaceuticals, in particular chemotherapy drugs, poses significant exposure risks to health care providers. Although some organizations have appropriate USP<800> level preparations and handling facilities, equipment, and training, the vast majority of hospitals, surgery centers, and clinics will find it extremely difficult to compound chemotherapy in compliance with regulations. FDA approved drugs and devices exist that facilitate compounding and administration of hazardous drugs; however, once outsourcing is necessary, drug stability and proper packaging do not exist for Mitomycin-C. There is an ongoing and unmet need for prefilled syringe kits that contain Mitomycin-C or Gemcitabine. This need extends to a lack of available closed system transfer devices suitable for production in a 503B Outsourcing facility. There is also a need for a stable Mitomycin-C formulation appropriate for intravesical bladder instillation. The present disclosure is pertinent to these and related needs.

Mitomycin-C bladder instillation syringe kit


A machining state display apparatus includes an achievement degree data storage (9) storing machining condition data relating to each of sets of machining conditions and achievement degree data relating to degrees of achievement of evaluation items to be obtained in machining under each of the sets of machining conditions, with the machining condition data and the achievement degree data being associated with each other, a display part (2) displaying a set of machining conditions and degrees of achievement of the evaluation items corresponding thereto on a display (5), and an input part (6) inputting a signal for selecting one from the evaluation items and a required degree of achievement for the selected evaluation item. The display part (2) recognizes, based on the selected evaluation item and the required degree of achievement, a set of machining conditions corresponding to the required degree of achievement for the selected evaluation item as well as the degrees of achievement of other evaluation items to be obtained under the set of machining conditions by referring to the achievement degree data storage (9), and displays the recognized degrees of achievement on evaluation-item basis and displays the recognized set of machining conditions.

In the field of machining using a machine tool, machining an object to be machined (workpiece) efficiently and reducing machining costs have been pursued, which are permanent issues. At the same time, machining accuracy required in machining becomes higher day by day as technology is advanced. Therefore, in machining a workpiece by using a machine tool, it is necessary to comprehensively consider machining efficiency, machining costs, and machining accuracy to set machining conditions which provide preferable machining efficiency, machining costs, and machining accuracy.
Under such background, attention has been focused on regenerative chatter that is one of elements influencing machining accuracy; there has been known a display apparatus which is configured to display, on a screen, a stability lobe representing a correlation between spindle rotation speed for rotating a tool or a workpiece and limit depth of cut of the tool above which regenerative chatter occurs (see Patent Literature 1 listed below).
With this display apparatus, because the stability lobe representing the correlation between the spindle rotation speed and the limit depth of cut of the tool above which regenerative chatter occurs is displayed on a screen, the operator can instantaneously, visually recognize a relationship between the spindle rotation speed and depth of cut of the tool which produces no regenerative chatter; therefore, the operator can appropriately set machining conditions which produce no regenerative chatter and provide a high machining efficiency.
For example, the operator can set the highest spindle rotation speed and largest depth of cut available for cutting within an area where no regenerative chatter occurs, taking into account cutting resistance and the like based on his experiential knowledge.
Thus, according to this conventional display apparatus, the operator can set highly efficient machining conditions within a range where no regenerative chatter occurs, based on the stability lobe displayed on the display apparatus.


Method and apparatus are described for providing analog capability with boundary-scanning for an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a boundary-scan controller (1517) coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (200). An analog channel is selected for input to the analog-to-digital converter (200). Analog information is converted to digital information by the analog-to-digital converter (200), and then such digital information may be stored in data registers (209) for reading out via the boundary-scan controller (1517).

IEEE Standard 1149.1 (commonly known as "JTAG") describes a protocol and architecture for conducting a boundary-scan or otherwise digitally testing an integrated circuit. However, with the advent of complex mixed signal applications, namely, printed circuit boards and integrated circuits using both analog and digital signaling, there is a need for a test interface for testing analog signals.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ("IEEE") has advocated a standard for analog boundary-scanning, namely, IEEE 1149.4. This newly proposed standard builds on the hardware and software covered by the digital boundary-scanning standard, namely, IEEE 1149.1, adding devices to incorporate both analog and digital boundary-scanning. However, limitations associated with this proposed analog boundary-scan standard have kept it from wide market place acceptance. For example, there is an additional cost to add an analog test bus both on an integrated circuit and on a circuit board. Also, testing as proposed may be limited to lower frequencies, and thus not accommodate higher frequency analog signals. Additionally, an analog test bus may be susceptible to digital noise, whether originating from an integrated circuit or a circuit board.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and useful to provide analog boundary-scanning that overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned limitations.

Boundary-scan circuit used for analog and digital testing of an integrated circuit


A vehicle safety system implements a method for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal collision. The method includes determining a passive safety crash mode classification in response to crash signals received in response to the occurrence of a crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety crash mode classification in response to active safety signals received prior to the occurrence of the crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety confidence factor for the active safety crash mode classification. The method also includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the active crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor exceeding a predetermined confidence value. The method further includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the passive crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor not exceeding the predetermined confidence value.

Modern vehicles include various systems for helping to provide occupant safety. These vehicle safety systems can include passive safety systems and/or active safety systems. Generally speaking, passive safety systems are reactive systems that provide occupant protection in response to detecting the occurrence of an event for which occupant protection is desired, such as a vehicle crash. Active safety systems, on the other hand, strive to anticipate the occurrence of events for which occupant protection is desired and take active avoidance measures.
Passive safety systems include one or more passive restraints, such as airbags and seatbelt retractors, that are actuatable to help protect an occupant of a vehicle. These vehicle safety systems utilize an airbag control unit that is operatively connected to the airbags and to a variety of crash sensors, such as accelerometers and pressure sensors. In response to determining a crash scenario based on information provided by the crash sensors, the airbag control unit is operative to deploy the airbags by activating an inflator that directs inflation fluid into the airbags. When inflated, the driver and passenger airbags help protect the occupant from impacts with parts of the vehicle such as the instrument panel and/or a steering wheel of the vehicle.
Active safety systems utilize sensing devices, such as cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic transducers to determine the conditions around the vehicle. In response to the sensed conditions, vehicle warning systems can provide visual, audible, tactile warnings to the driver. This can be the case, for example, with blind-spot detection, lane departure, front/rear object detection, cross traffic detection, pedestrian detection. Active safety systems can also use the sensed conditions to actively actuate vehicle controls, such as active cruise control, active braking, active steering in response to lane departure detection, etc. The sensing devices utilized in active safety systems each have certain advantages.
Cameras are very effective at object detection. When arranged to view from several angles, cameras supply the vehicle with information that can be used by artificial intelligence algorithms of vehicle safety systems to detect external objects, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects, such as trees or garbage cans, along the side of the road. Cameras can measure angles precisely, which allows the vehicle safety system to recognize early on whether an approaching object will come into the vehicle's path. Utilizing both long and short range zoom in combination with varying degrees of wide and narrow fields of vision, cameras become important tools for safety features such as collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, automated braking systems, and the lane keeping assist functions.
Radar sensors use an echo system to detect objects, which is beneficial in case of poor visibility, which can detract from the camera's effectiveness. Radar sensors emit electromagnetic waves and receive the "echo" that is reflected back from the surrounding objects. Radar sensors are especially effective in determining the distance and the speed of objects, such as vehicles and pedestrians, relative to the vehicle. Functioning regardless of weather, light or visibility conditions, radar sensors are ideal for maintaining distances, issuing collision warnings, blind-spot detection, emergency braking, etc.
Lidar sensors also apply the echo principle, using laser pulses instead of radio waves. Lidar sensors record distances and relative speeds with an accuracy on par with radar. Additionally, lidar sensors can also recognize object types and angles between objects with a much higher level of accuracy. Lidar sensors can therefore be utilized to recognize more complex traffic situations very well, even in the dark. Unlike cameras and radar sensors, the angle of view is not critical because lidar sensors can record the 360-degree environment of the vehicle. The high-resolution 3D solid state lidar sensors can even render pedestrians and smaller objects three dimensionally.

Vehicle safety system and method implementing weighted active-passive crash mode classification


A method for coexisting standard connection and proprietary connection use is disclosed. The method may include connecting a peripheral device to a host computing device, wherein the peripheral device is connected via one of a standard connection type and a proprietary connection type. The method may include detecting the connection type. The method may include determining if the connection type is supported by the host computing device. The method may also include rendering a message indicating the connection type is not supported by the host system if the connection type is not supported.

Today's computers support a wide variety of interface technologies for communicating with peripheral devices. Different interface technologies provide different advantages depending on the type of peripheral device being connected. Some interface technologies may be a standard connection type associated with standard specification interface protocols. For example, a universal serial bus (USB) connection type is associated with a USB standard specification interface protocol. Other interface technologies may be a proprietary connection type that while using a standard connection type attempts to interface with the host computer via a proprietary interface protocol.
The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and the figures to reference like components and features. Numbers in the 100 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 1; numbers in the 104 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 2; and so on.

Coexisting standard and proprietary connection usage


A silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diode comprises a layer of N-type SiC and a layer of P-type SiC in contact with the layer of N-type SiC creating a P-N junction. An anode is in contact with both the layer of N-type SiC and the layer of P-type SiC creating Schottky contacts between the anode and both the layer of N-type SiC and the layer of P-type SiC. An edge of the layer of P-type SiC is electrically active and comprises a tapered negative charge density at the P-N junction, which can be achieved by a tapered or sloping edge the layer of P-type SiC.

Schottky diodes utilize the conduction of electrons as the single type of current carriers to provide much faster switching in power-conversion circuits in comparison to bipolar P-N junction diodes, i.e. diode with two types of current carriers—electrons and holes. Silicon (Si)-based Schottky diodes are well established, but one of their characteristics that is undesirable in many applications is that they have a relatively low blocking voltage in reverse-bias mode. Silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diodes provide much higher blocking voltages that are desirable in many applications. Analogously to the Si-based Schottky diodes, SiC Schottky diodes utilize the familiar rectifying properties of a metal-SiC contact.
The principle elements of a SiC Schottky diode 100, as they would be presented in an elementary textbook, are shown in FIG. 1. The Schottky diode 100 comprises a layer of N-type SiC 102 on an N+ type SiC substrate 104. An anode 106, typically formed of aluminium (Al) and a Schottky-contact metal 112, is formed on the layer of N-type SiC 102 and an Ohmic contact 108 is provided between the N+ type SiC substrate 104 and a circuit (not shown). The Schottky contact 110 is created between the metal layer 112 of the anode 106 and the layer of N-type SiC 102. The metal layer 112 is usually titanium (Ti), although many other metals are also successfully used. Practically, this diode structure is not useful because the negative charge, which accumulates at the edge 114 of the Schottky contact 110 when the diode is reverse biased increases the electric field in the SiC along the anode edge 114, causing high perimeter leakage. This can happen at very low reverse-bias voltages. A Schottky diode that is dominated by perimeter leakage cannot achieve the high blocking voltages that are determined by the reverse-bias current through the main area of the metal-SiC contact.
FIG. 2 shows a structure of another conventional SiC Schottky diode 200, which utilizes a P-type ring 202 in an edge-termination structure. Such edge termination structures are known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,368,165 assigned to Siliconix Technology C.V. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,973,318 assigned to Rohm Co. Ltd. The P-type ring 202 is embedded inside the layer of N-type SiC 102, which is the SiC region creating the Schottky contact 110 with the metal layer 112. The P-type ring 202 is in Ohmic contact with the metal layer 112 forming the Schottky contact with the layer of N-type SiC 102. This way, the anode edge 114, where the negative charge accumulates at reverse bias, is isolated from the layer of N-type SiC 102 by an insulator 204, or dielectric, and by a reverse biased P-N junction 206 created between the P-type ring 202 and the layer of N-type SiC 102. In this structure, the accumulation of negative charge occurs at the edge 208 of the P-type ring 202 and the layer of N-type SiC 102. The difference from the charge of electrons at the anode edge 114 is that the charge at the edge 208 of the P-type ring 202 is due to the acceptor atoms in the reverse-biased P-N junction 206, which are not mobile and cannot tunnel into the layer of N-type SiC 102 to cause perimeter leakage.
However, the accumulation of negative acceptor charge still increases the electric field at the edge 208 of the P-type ring 202, which can reach the levels at which leakage can occur due to band-to-band tunnelling of electrons at the P-N junction 206.
Various techniques have been developed to reduce the electric field at the edge 208 of the P-N junction. Some of these techniques involve a decreasing acceptor density in the P-type ring(s) 202 in the directions away from the metal-semiconductor contact, that is, toward the edge of the diode chip. European patent no. EP 0965146 assigned to Cree, Inc. discloses such techniques. When a diode with this kind of termination structure is reverse biased, the negative acceptor charge in the depletion layer is tapered, which reduces the peak of the electric field at the edge.
The embedding of the P-type rings 202 into the layer of N-type SiC 102 is achieved by embedding a higher concentration of acceptor atoms, usually aluminium (Al). The acceptor atoms convert the N-type doping inside the P-type ring 202 into effective P-type doping. In the case of SiC, ion implantation is the only effective method of converting N-type SiC into P-type SiC to create the embedded P-type ring 202. Ion implantation is a very effective and well-established method in Si technology, where both the displaced Si atoms and the implanted atoms diffuse when the Si is heated to around 1,000° C., which removes the ion-implantation damage and activates the implanted atoms as they diffuse into crystal-lattice positions. Diffusion of atoms in the much denser SiC requires much higher temperatures, ideally well above 2,000° C. These temperatures are not practical, but heating at around 1,600° C. can still activate some of the implanted acceptor atoms, which enabled commercialization of SiC Schottky diodes with the edge-termination structure shown in FIG. 2. Nonetheless, this process is expensive and some damage in the crystal remains. As a consequence, it is very difficult to implement this edge-termination structure in a way that maximizes the yield and the reliability of the fabricated Schottky diodes. Furthermore, multiple implantation steps with the associated photolithography are necessary to create an edge-termination structure with reducing charge density toward the edge of the diode chip. This approach results in significantly increased fabrication cost.
Hence, significant cost and reliability benefits can be achieved by manufacturing a SiC Schottky diode that does not require the use of ion implantation to produce the embedded P-type ring. Such an edge-termination structure is possible if a P-type epitaxial layer, grown on top of the N-type SiC layer, is utilized. In this case, the P-type epitaxial layer has to be removed from the main area of the diode to enable the Schottky contact between the metal anode and the underlying N-type SiC to be created.
A paper by Ueno et al., Proceedings of 1995 International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices & ICs, pages 107-111, Yokohama, Japan, May 1995, discloses a similar structure in which the P-type ring is achieved by local oxidation and subsequent removal of the grown oxide by etching to remove a portion of the P-type epitaxial layer to expose the N-type SiC layer. The Schottky contact with the exposed portion of the N-type SiC layer is created by depositing aluminium and titanium alternately by sputtering at room temperature on the N-type SiC layer followed by annealing at temperatures between 900° C. and 1,050° C. for 10 minutes. An Ohmic contact is created between the Al/Ti and the P-type ring, as shown in FIG. 2.
One problem with the structures and processes disclosed in Ueno et al. is that the high-temperature annealing can compromise the Schottky contact between the metal and the N-type SiC layer, which is in the main area of the Schottky diode.
Another problem with the structures and processes disclosed in Ueno et al. is that during forward bias, the P-type ring injects minority carriers (holes) into the N-type SiC layer which adversely impacts the switching performance of the diode. As stated above, the key reason to use Schottky diodes rather than P-N junction diodes is to avoid the switching-speed issues associated with holes as the second type of current carrier.
Ueno et al. states that the problem of the injection of minority carriers from the P-type ring into the N-type SiC layer can be minimized by reducing the width of the P-type ring. However, reducing the width of the P-type ring requires the use of expensive micrometre and sub-micrometre photolithography.
To date, the structures disclosed in Ueno et al. have not been used in commercial devices, possibly because of difficulties associated with the need to create an Ohmic contact on the P-type epitaxial layer with the same metal and process that creates the critical Schottky contact on the N-type SiC.

Silicon carbide schottky diodes with tapered negative charge density


Disclosed are mixed alkyl cyanoacrylate compositions which are specifically formulated for topical application onto intact or broken human skin, preferably without the addition of a plasticizing agent to the composition.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to mixed alkyl cyanoacrylate compositions which are specifically formulated for topical application onto intact or broken human skin, preferably without the addition of a plasticizing agent to the composition.
2. References
The following publications, patent applications and patents are cited in this application as superscript numbers:
.sup.1 Rabinowitz, et al., Method of Surgically Bonding Tissue Together, U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,224, issued Sep. 8, 1970 PA0 .sup.2 Hawkins, et al., Surgical Adhesive Compositions, U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,676, issued Jul. 6, 1971 PA0 .sup.3 Halpern, et al., Adhesive for Living Tissue, U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,472, issued Jun. 6, 1972 PA0 .sup.4 Kronenthal, et al., Surgical Adhesives, U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,641, issued Dec. 7, 1976 PA0 .sup.5 Davydov, et al., Medical Adhesive, U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,334, issued Jul. 12, 1977 PA0 .sup.6 Waniczek, et al., Stabilized Cyanoacrylate Adhesives Containing Bis-Trialkylsilyl Esters of Sulfuric Acid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,826, issued Mar. 17, 1987 PA0 .sup.7 Barley, Methods of Retarding Blister Formation by Use of Cyanoacrylate Adhesives, U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,490 issued Apr. 26, 1994 PA0 .sup.8 Barley, et al., Methods to Prevent Irritation Arising from Casts and Prosthesis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,769 issued Aug. 5, 1997 PA0 .sup.9 Tighe, et al., Use of Cyanoacrylate Adhesives for Providing a Protective Barrier Film for the Skin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,565 issued Dec. 3, 1996 PA0 .sup.10 Askill, et al., Methods for Draping Surgical Incision Sites, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,994 issued Mar. 24, 1998 PA0 .sup.11 Greff, et al., Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Compositions, U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,935 issued Jan. 2, 1996
All of the above publications, patent applications and patents are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.
3. State of the Art
Cyanoacrylate esters are well known in the art and can be represented by formula I: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group or other suitable substituent forming the ester component of the molecule. Such cyanoacrylates are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,527,224, 3,591,676; 3,667,472; 3,995,641; 4,035,334; and 4,650,826..sup.1-6 Typically, when applied onto living tissue, the R substituent is most often lower alkyl (e.g., C.sub.1 to C.sub.8) and the corresponding alkyl cyanoacrylate esters are liquids at room temperature.
Heretofore disclosed uses for topical application of polymerizable cyanoacrylate compositions comprising lower alkyl cyanoacrylate esters to mammalian skin include application onto intact skin in order to form a polymer layer which inhibits blister formation;.sup.7 which inhibits irritation arising from prosthetic devices;.sup.8 which inhibits skin irritation and infection due to incontinence;.sup.9 which can be used as a surgical drape;.sup.10 and the like. The liquid character of these compositions assist in application onto the skin and in the formation of a thin unbroken polymer film on the skin.
It is well known, however, that lower alkyl cyanoacrylate esters do not form a flexible polymer film on mammalian skin but, rather, a brittle polymer film is formed which lacks long term integrity due to cracking, etc. Accordingly, compositions comprising lower alkyl cyanoacrylate esters are typically formulated to comprise a compatible plasticizer which imparts flexibility to the polymer film such that the integrity of the polymer coating is not compromised..sup.11 Suitable plasticizers heretofore disclosed in the art for use in such cyanoacrylate compositions include dioctyl phthlate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate, and the like..sup.11
The use of plasticizers in such compositions poses problems such as compatibility of the plasticizer with the composition and compatibility of the plasticizer with mammalian skin..sup.11 In fact, incomplete compatibility of the plasticizer with mammalian skin as measured by skin irritation is often balanced by the need to impart flexibility to the polymer film and plasticizers are often selected based on there ability to impart only minimal skin irritation.
Notwithstanding issues arising from the compatibility of the plasticizer in a cyanoacrylate composition, any plasticizer used in such cyanoacrylate compositions acts as a diluent which results in weakening of the adhesion of the resulting polymer film to the skin. Moreover, the plasticizer is not incorporated into the polymer backbone but, rather, is integrated into the polymer film and there is a maximum amount of plasticizer which can be added to the cyanoacrylate composition while still allowing the composition to form such a polymer film on the skin. In this regard, small molecule plasticizers can be leached out of the polymeric film.
As is apparent, the incorporation of a plasticizer into the cyanoacrylate composition often comprises balancing the benefits versus the detriments arising from the use of the plasticizer. Contrarily, cyanoacrylate compositions which result in the formation of a flexible cyanoacrylate polymer film on mammalian skin without the use of a conventional plasticizer would be particularly desireable since the detrimental aspects arising from incorporation of the plasticizer would be obviated. Preferably, for ease of delivery, the composition comprising the C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl cyanoacrylate ester should be a liquid.