A process for distributing video sequences according to a nominal flux format including a succession of images, where each image includes a succession of blocks, and in which at least one of blocks in one of the images is calculated by motion prediction relative to at least one reference image, where the motion prediction is encoded in the flux with at least one motion vector, the flux being processed, before transmission to client equipment, with an analysis for generating a first modified flux having the format of a nominal flux and having images modified by substitution of selected data with selected data of the same nature, but random, and a second flux of any format including the substituted data and digital information likely to allow reconstruction of the modified flux, then transmitting separately, in real or deferred time, the two fluxes generated from a server toward the client equipment, and for which is calculated on the client equipment a synthesis of a nominal format flux as a function of the primary flux and of the second flux distinguished by the fact that the modification includes modifying at least one of the motion vectors.

The general problem is to provide a device that is capable of transmitting, in a secure fashion, a set of high-quality visual films in an MPEG-2 type format directly to a viewing screen such as, for example, a television screen or to be recorded on the hard disk of a box that connects the teletransmission network to a monitor-type screen, television screen, video projector or cinema screen all while preserving audiovisual quality, but avoiding fraudulent utilization such as the possibility of making pirated copies of films or audiovisual programs recorded on the hard disk of the decoder box.
With presently available solutions, it is possible to transmit films and audiovisual programs in digital format through broadcast networks of the Hertzian, cable, satellite, etc. type, or through DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or BLR (local radio loop) telecommunications-type networks, through DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) networks, through RTC (Switched Telephone Network) networks or even through digital telecommunications networks (GSM, GPRS, UMTS, etc.). These works are often encrypted through various means well known in the art to avoid pirating of works broadcast in this way.
Nevertheless, the primary drawback for all currently available solutions (TiVo Inc., WO00165762) is that it is necessary to transmit not only the encrypted data, but also the decryption keys, towards the users. Transmission of decryption keys can take place before, at the same time or after the transmission of audiovisual programs. To increase security and therefore the protection of audiovisual works against ill-disposed use, decryption keys as well as audiovisual decoder decryption functions can comprise an improved means of security like continuous changes of encrypting keys all along the same audiovisual program, or chip cards or other physical keys which can, as an option, be updated remotely.
In this way, the solutions currently applied to a decoder box with the possibility of local recording of audiovisual programs in digital format on a support of the hard disk type or other type of memory, offers to the ill-disposed user the possibility of making unauthorized copies of programs recorded in this way, because at a given time, this user has, with a digital decoder box, whether or not it is associated with chip card systems, all the information, software programs and data to allow complete decryption of the audiovisual programs. In fact, because the availability of the data, the ill-disposed user will have the possibility of making illegal copies without anyone being aware of this fraudulent copying at the time it takes place.
One solution therefore consists of transmitting all or part of a digital audiovisual program solely upon request (on-request video services) through a broadband telecommunication network of the ADSL, cable or satellite type, without authorizing the local recording of audiovisual programs. WO 00/11871 (Open Entertainment) discloses a solution for distributing multimedia files upon request of the user. The drawback there is completely different and originates from the performances of these networks which do not allow guarantee of continuous flux of several megabits per second to each user, as required by the MPEG-2 flux which necessitates bandwidths of from several tens of kilobits to several megabits per second.
Another solution consists of separating the flux into two parts of which neither would be usable by itself. WO 99/08428 (Gilles Maton) discloses a multi-application treatment process of an active localizable terminal in which at least one connection is made with an identifiable program that is dedicated to the execution of an application, where the program dictates its conditions for making the functions available for use to the terminal. Through the use of a connection, the terminal punctually dialogs with the management center for the creation, if necessary, of input and output of capacities of this latter, where the management center may or may not become enslaved with the terminal at the level of the application with regard to the input program. That investigation likewise involves the identification process for the program and terminal being used. That process divides the flux into one part that is used to identify the user and one part that contains the program itself. In particular, the program is not usable, but is only interlocked by the first part.
U.S. 2002/0018565 discloses a method and system of controlling access to a normalized multimedia flux. That disclosure rests on the use of selective encrypting methods which keep the binary flux in compliance with its original standard. The authorized user must use a decryption key to have access to the video flux. Protection is carried out in three stages: extraction of encoded words, encryption of coded words and re-insertion of encrypted coded words into the binary flux. One example that is specific to the motion vectors is cited with the MPEG-4 type flux. Even so, the protection of flux motion vectors is supported by encryption methods that are well known. The initial contents of the flux are found entirely in the protected flux. Given that the solution from that disclosure preserves all the original data within the protected flux, it does not meet the high-security criteria.
On the other hand, EP 0778513 (Matsushita) describes a process that allows the illegal use of information to be prevented by adding monitoring information to verify the user's rights. The system allows the user to permanently know what part of the information is being used and by which user and from there to know if the user is in an illegal position or not. That process therefore secures the data by adding additional information to it that denatures the initial information.
WO 00/49483 (Netquartz) likewise discloses processes and systems to create a connection between the users and an editor of digitized entities. The process consists of at least one of the following stages: the stage for subdividing the digitized entity into two parts; the stage for memorizing one part in a memory zone of a server connected to a computer network; the stage where the other part is transmitted to at least one user who has computer equipment access; the connecting stage for the computer equipment to the computer network; the stage for establishing a functional connection between the first part and the second part. Those processes and systems do not specify whether the part recorded on the server can be stored by the user, which would allow this user to pirate the digitized entity.
WO 01/97520 "Video interface device, distribution system and transfer method for encoded programs and video sequences through the communication network" discloses a device for the secure broadcast of protected video fluxes. Protection of the video flux is carried out by replacing certain original imaged I by "false" images I or by permuting certain images I between them. The original images I extracted from the video flux are stored separately from the protected flux and are sent to the user when he wishes to view the video. In this way, replacing the original images I with "false" images I modifies the size of the protected flux relative to the original flux. Moreover, an ill-disposed user can easily detect a false I image of index n, because this image of index n is very different from the I image of index n−1 and from the I image of index n+1; then easily replace it with the I image of index n−1 or index n+1, or by an image calculated by interpolation between the images I of index n−1 and n+1, and thus recreate a flux very close to the original. Moreover, in an MPEG-2 flux, the images I represent only about one image out of 12 or 15, do not modify the remaining 11 P and B images, and do not sufficiently degrade the video, in particular because these P and B images also contain the intra macroblocks which "reconstruct" the image. Likewise, substituting the entire assembly with an I image is a rather extensive modification, one which is easily revealed by an automaton responsible for reconstructing the video. That solution does not therefore meet the high-security and strong visual degradation criteria for video fluxes.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,164 discloses a solution that consists of separating the flux into two parts of which the smaller part holds information necessary for utilization of the larger part. Nevertheless, that disclosure is not sufficient to address the identified problem. In effect, suppression of one part of the flux denatures the flux format, and is not therefore recognized as a standard flux, usable with general software applications. That process requires, at the same time, a specific server-side software, for separation of the two parts, and another specific software which ensures not only reconstruction of the flux, but also acquisition of the primary flux and its exploitation according to a format that is proprietary to the solution. That proprietary format is not the initial format of the flux before it was separation into two parts, in this known solution. In this way, an ill-disposed user will very easily detect the denatured data, specifically because of the non-compliance of the flux after separation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,825 revisits the preceding patent, but in a narrower scope because the fluxes are still encrypted in it. U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,329 relies on the same principal and concerns a process that allows reading of a disk of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM type, conditionally upon identification of rights by the insertion of a chip card on which information necessary for reading are stored. That process is not sufficient because it does not guarantee that the modified flux will be of the same format as the original flux. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,306 discloses a process of transmitting encrypted data from a Web site to a requesting computer. That process nevertheless allows the user to access at any given time the tools necessary for copying the data.

Device for the transformation of MPEG 2-type multimedia and audiovisual contents into secured contents of the same type


The various embodiments disclosed here relate to systems, methods, and devices for monitoring bladder health. Certain implementations are directed to patients who require daily catheterization. The various embodiments have at least one tube coupled to a catheter, a pressure sensor, a pump, and a processor. Certain embodiments include a digital device with a software application capable of displaying the monitored readings.

Approximately 1.2 million people in the United States and 14 million worldwide suffer from neurogenic bladder—a condition in which an individual lacks normal bladder functionality due to an underlying brain, spinal cord, or pelvic nerve condition. When the nerves that innervate the bladder and urinary sphincters are compromised, the bladder and urinary sphincter fail to function in a normal way. For example; atonic bladder, overactive bladder, detrusor sphincter dysynergia, poorly compliant bladder and the like. In such cases, patients can have difficulty expelling urine and thus are reliant on intermittent bladder catheterization—including clean catheterization up to 15 times a day as discussed above—to empty the bladder of urine and relieve the pressure within the bladder. The passage of such a catheter can both prevent the bladder from becoming chronically over distended with weakened muscle wall or contracted with a tense and thickened wall. By improving bladder drainage, the risk of bladder and kidney infections can be reduced and harm to the kidney from high pressures urinary storage in the bladder can be prevented.
In a normal bladder, the bladder wall will be compliant, meaning that it will relax or stretch with filling (or increasing volume), thereby keeping the bladder at a low pressure. Accordingly, as used herein, "compliance" relates to the change in volume divided by the change in pressure. With the ensuing increase in urinary volume constrained in the bladder, the pressure within the bladder rises. When the pressure reaches a critically elevated level, such as above 40 cm H2O, transmission of high pressures to the kidneys can occur, thereby potentially resulting in subsequent permanent kidney damage and/or failure that may require a kidney transplant or hemodialysis treatment for the remainder of their lives—a costly expense and grueling treatment that is necessary to control the condition of their failing/failed kidneys, including the electrolyte and fluid imbalances associated with kidney failure.
The current, known procedure utilized by clinicians to monitor the state of patients' bladders and the concomitant changes in bladder pressure with urinary volume readings is called Urodynamic Testing (UDS). This technique involves placing catheters in the bladder and/or rectum, and filling the bladder while measuring the compliance, pressure, and volume in the bladder. Drawbacks of UDS are that it requires an extensive amount of capital equipment, is not readily available in all clinics, is long in duration (a typical test requires 1-2 hours for completion), is expensive (around $4500 for testing and interpretation) and is contingent on factors related to the administration and interpretation of the test by the healthcare team. Another disadvantage is that the test is very invasive for patients, as patients have catheters placed in the bladder and rectum, the bladder is filled with fluid at a set rate while the pressure is continuously monitored, and the patients may be asked to urinate on command in front of the team administering the test. A further disadvantage is that it fails to provide a comprehensive summary of the bladder's condition—UDS only provides a snapshot of a single point in time (i.e. the time of test administration). Since UDS is normally done approximately once a year (though can be performed more or less frequently depending on the severity of the patient's disease), bladder pressure can increase between tests and thus bladder and/or kidney damage can go undetected by both physician and patient for prolonged periods of time. It is not uncommon for physicians to see patients with bladders and kidneys that have 'deteriorated' between their visits. This makes the initiation of any intervention for worsening bladder pressure (whether behavioral, medical, or surgery) a reactive intervention, rather than proactive.
There is a need in the art for improved systems, methods, and devices for monitoring bladder health of a patient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bladder health monitoring systems and related methods and devices


An automotive racing simulation apparatus has an electronic controller which controls a series of Christmas lights each of which is separately activatable. In addition, the electronic controller controls a sound generator, which can be modularly electrically connected to the electronic controller and is activated immediately prior to the activation of the Christmas lights to more realistically simulate automotive racing conditions.

In automotive racing, typically known as "drag racing" two cars line up side-by-side, on a starting line, with each car in a track lane. A series of starting lights are mounted on a "Christmas tree" which are illuminated sequentially and count down until a green light appears. The illumination of the green light signals the start of a race. The racers take off on the starting line and then race to the end of the track which consists of a straight two lane road, usually up to one-quarter mile in length. The object is to get the cars to accelerate as quickly as possible so as to be the first one to cross the finish line. The elements that comprise a winning race is the combination of the time it takes for a car to run the length of the race course plus the amount of time it takes for the driver to react to the starting lights.
The series of lights, called a "Christmas tree" is located in the center of the two lanes between the two race cars near the starting line. The "Christmas tree" contains a number of lights which typically consists of a pre-stage light, a stage light, a series of count down lights, which number from 1 to 5 amber lights, and then finally a green light. A red light is also provided for each lane and is illuminated when there is a foul. The pre-stage lights indicate to the driver that the driver is near the starting line and the stage lights tell the driver that the driver is actually on the starting line.
A building located near the starting line, called the timing tower, contains an electronic control box which times the race cars and also controls the Christmas tree. When the track official who is located at the starting line activates a switch that signals the electronic control box, the electronic control box starts a count down sequence on the Christmas tree of the count down lights, i.e. amber lights, in a precisely timed pattern eventually ending up with the green light at the end of sequence. The racers may drive away from the starting line any time after the racer's respective green light comes on. If the racer activates too soon, a foul start or a red light is indicated, meaning that the driver is disqualified from the race. To start the car moving, the driver either releases the brakes on the car or releases a switch that allows the car to take off from the starting line. Clearly, the optimal starting moment is to have the car leave the starting line at exactly the instant that the green light is activated.
Since starting time is so critical, electronic practice aids known as practice Christmas trees are known from the prior art. These practice Christmas trees are either full size Christmas trees or are miniature versions thereof which flash the count down lights. The user reacts to the green light by activating a switch, like the switch that starts a car. The device measures the response time, typically known as "reaction time" and then displays the time in some sort of digital readout. The closer to the race track conditions, the more realistic the training exercise would be. With better timing, better results would occur in terms of winning at the race track.
One shortcoming of the prior art practice Christmas tree is the absence of sound and/or noise simulating race track conditions. Race cars create loud and distinctive sounds compared to passenger cars and this can be distracting to many drivers. However, it is not desirable, for a driver to avoid the distraction of the engine noises by, for example, wearing ear plugs at the race track so that the race track conditions are closer to the practice conditions. This is not a viable solution for a number of reasons. The most important reason is that the exhaust sounds of an engine are so loud that the ear plugs muffle the noise but do not silence it. In addition, as part of a successful racing program, it is essential for the driver to provide feedback to the mechanics on the performance of the engine as detected by the noise. The driver does this by listening to the engine, drive train and the car itself as the run is made. This helps the driver and the mechanic diagnose performance related problems. Muffling the sound as the driver initiates racing conditions would be detrimental to the racing program.
In some forms of drag racing, the electronic control box, located in the timing tower, delays the start of the count down lights on one side of the Christmas tree, so that one of the drivers is given a "handicap". The handicap consists of a certain amount of time by which the slower car is permitted to leave the starting line. This control box is programmed with the respective elapsed time expected for each car which then determines the amount of handicap (the difference between the elapsed times) by which the slower car is allowed to leave before the faster car.
Because the reaction time of a driver to activate the switch that starts a vehicle, is so critical to the performance in starting a vehicle, in the prior art, delay boxes, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,219, are well known. A driver inputs an amount of reaction delay time into the delay box. The user would activate the switch on the delay box immediately upon perceiving the occurrence of the first of the plurality of count down lights indicating a count down to the green light. The delay box would count down based upon the amount of delay time inputted by the driver, and upon the end of the delay time period, the vehicle would be started. The amount of reaction delay time inputted by the driver into the delay box would equal the amount of time normally attendant to the count down of the lights, and the reaction of the driver in activating the switch on the delay box. Thus, a driver can program the delay box to start a vehicle more consistently.
Finally, in the prior art, it is known to provide a cross-over delay box. With a cross-over delay box, the driver of a faster vehicle ("faster driver") at a race track can program each car's expected elapsed time and also program the amount of reaction time delay of the faster driver. Thus, a faster driver would typically initiate the cross-over delay box as soon as the faster driver sees the slower driver's first amber light illuminated. The cross-over delay box would compute the amount of time that is attributable to the handicap and the reaction time delay of the faster driver activating the cross-over delay box thereby releasing the engine brakes hopefully at the same time as the green light of the faster driver is illuminated. Although cross-over delay boxes are know and have been used at races, they have not been incorporated or used in a practice Christmas tree device.

Modular automotive racing simulation apparatus


The present invention is designed to report transmit power information of each subframe adequately when a plurality of transmit power are set in a plurality of subframes constituting radio frames. A radio base station performs the steps of setting at least three or more kinds of varying transmit power in a plurality of subframes constituting a radio frame, and also determining a power ratio between a reference signal and a shared data channel signal in each subframe, generating bitmap information that represents a type pattern of transmit power set in the plurality of subframes, reporting the bitmap information and the power ratio to a user terminal and/or another radio base station, and generating the bitmap information with reference to a table in which the power ratio of each subframe and identifiers are associated with each other.

In a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, attempts are made to optimize features of the system, which are based on W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), by adopting HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access), for the purposes of improving spectral efficiency and improving the data rates. In relationship to this UMTS network, long-term evolution (LTE) has been agreed upon for the purposes of further increasing high-speed data rates, providing low delay and so on (non-patent literature 1). In LTE, as a multiplexing scheme, OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), which is different from W-CDMA, is applied to downlink channels (downlink).
In a third-generation system, it is possible to achieve a transmission rate of maximum approximately 2 Mbps on the downlink by using a fixed band of approximately 5 MHz. Meanwhile, in an LTE system, it is possible to achieve a transmission rate of about maximum 300 Mbps on the downlink and about 75 Mbps on the uplink by using a variable band which ranges from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz. Furthermore, in the UMTS network, successor systems of LTE are under study as well (for example, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)), for the purpose of achieving further broadbandization and higher speed.

Radio communication method, radio base station, user terminal and radio communication system


A scalable modular hip resurfacing arthroplasty system includes (1) an alignment guide for precise guide pin insertion, (2) a modular cannulated cylindrical reamer assembly for accurate femoral head cylindrical reaming and central bone channel drilling, (3) a saw guide for an accurate femoral head osteotomy, (4) a soft tissue protector with a stepped design to shield and retract tissues, (5) a hip retractor that seats onto a prepared femur, (6) an outer hole drill guide aiding drilling of peripheral holes, and (7) a femoral resurfacing implant with a cap portion and central stem adapted for multiple modular attachments including plates. A method for preparing the proximal femur for hip resurfacing with novel stepped cylindrical femoral head osteotomy and central bone channel drilling, leaving an intact collar of cortical bone above the femoral head articular rim.

Hip joint disease is a common problem affecting large populations with multiple etiologies including osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, post-traumatic arthritis and other hip joint pathologies. Over the course of the past century, many surgical techniques have been advocated in attempts to both provide pain relief and improve hip joint mechanics and patient function. Multiple techniques have been proposed and widely utilized over the years. Early techniques of joint replacement replaced the entire femoral head with a metallic implant, connected to a load-bearing femoral stem.
Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty is a generally more conservative surgical technique that preserves more bone, including the femoral neck, since the surface of the femoral head is replaced using a hip resurfacing implant. The acetabulum is also resurfaced with implantation of an acetabular cup component. A common hip resurfacing femoral implant is illustrated as prior art in FIG. 1B.
Early Hip Resurfacing Arthoplasty is widely considered to have its roots in the work of John Charnley during the 1960's. More recently, Harlan Amstutz made further developments to hip resurfacing as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,806, showing a non-stemmed femoral hip resurfacing implant, and then in U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,069, showing a stemmed femoral hip resurfacing implant. A similar hip resurfacing system was developed by Derrick McMinn, an orthopedic surgeon from the West Midlands, UK. This system is known as the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) system which uses a metal on metal design. Dr. McMinn subsequently developed the Birmingham Mid Head Resection (BMHR) implant, which is a modified version of the BHR system.
In all hip resurfacing systems, the femoral head needs to be prepared and shaped with a series of bone cuts. The Amstutz, BHR, and BMHR systems completely remove the dense, cortical bone of the femoral head leaving only the inner spongy, cancellous bone. In the Amstutz and BHR hip resurfacing implants, the upper, cap portion of the femoral implants seat onto the cancellous bone of the femoral head. The BMHR implant also does not utilize the femoral head cortex for implant support. This is a significant disadvantage of these implants as they do not gain additional peripheral stability from the strong and dense cortical bone of the femoral head. Bone preparation with the Amstutz, BHR, and BMHR systems include cylindrical reaming past the cartilage border, articular rim of the femoral head. This endangers the femoral neck as it may be notched during bone preparations from contact with the cylindrical reamer, which may then lead to the devastating complication of femoral neck fracture during subsequent load bearing.
Additionally, the Amstutz, BHR, and BMHR systems do not allow for additional threaded modular attachments for increasing fixation of the implant to the underlying bone. In the Amstutz, BHR, BMHR systems, bone cement is relied upon to secure the femoral implant to the underlying bone. While these implants are designed with porous surfaces allowing bony ingrowth, the implant is secured initially only with cement to the underlying bone. As the bony ingrowth takes time, bone cement is required for initial fixation of the device to the underlying bone of the femur. There are no additional fixation options for these implants in areas of poor bone quality. This is a another significant limitation as the strength of cancellous bone can be highly variable depending on local hip conditions including avascular necrosis, localized bone cysts and osteolysis. Soft cancellous bone can be encountered during surgery, but implant strength cannot be further increased with supplemental fixation. The BMHR system is designed to resect more of the cancellous bone of the femoral head, as compared to the BHR system, in order to attempt to address local bone deficiencies with use of an implant with a conical stem. However, this approach may remove healthy bone as a significant resection of femoral head bone is required during bone preparation for placement of the implant. The volume of bone resection required for the BMHR system is higher than that required for the BHR system. The Amstutz, BHR and BMHR designs also lack additional modular options for adding fixation. Thus, the Amstutz, BHR and BMHR hip resurfacing systems have limited flexibility to address bone deficiency.
Multiple surgical instruments are used to perform hip resurfacing arthroplasty. One such instrument is the alignment guide. A common example of an alignment guide used in hip resurfacing arthroplasty is the McMinn alignment guide from Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Limited. Another such instrument is the cylindrical reamer, which is used to cut the bone of the femoral head, forming a cylindrical shape. A commonly used cylindrical reamer design for hip resurfacing arthroplasty is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,069. Following the cylindrical reaming procedure, a saw guide or cutoff guide is used to remove an additional small medial aspect of the bone of the femoral head.


A two-piece hockey stick shaft and blade joint system employing wax to hold the elements together during play, which may also include provision of a "pre-load" force acting between a shaft socket and blade tennon to increase frictional resistance to separation of the blade and the shaft so as to require a sustained steady pull be applied to separate the elements, the wax being substantially solid at temperatures encountered during play and flowable at elevated temperatures, for example such as might be attained in the shaft to blade connection by application of warmth from the hands or application of water heated sufficiently.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a hockey stick for use in playing hockey, the stick being of the type having a shaft and a replaceable blade, which blade is firmly affixed to the shaft for play, and which blade is loosened to allow changing of the blade by application of heat to the hockey stick at the juncture of the replaceable blade and the shaft. The invention more specifically relates to an improved system for releasably joining the blade to the shaft in such sticks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hockey sticks for playing the game of hockey historically were made of wood and included a shaft and a blade. More recently, advances in the art have given rise to hockey sticks having components formed of other materials, such as aluminum and composite materials, for example fiber/resin composites incorporating epoxy and graphite. These newer materials are used because they give rise to advantages in weight and balance of the hockey stick and in its flexural properties. Replaceable blades are another more recent advance, and are generally formed of wood overlaid with a composite material such as fiberglass to strengthen the blade and provide increased durability. The blade is also often made of a polymer resin or a composite, which may also contain a fiber filler for example, to give increased strength and wear resistance. Such blades have a shank, or tennon, portion which is inserted into and interfits with a socket formed by an open end of the shaft of known hockey sticks. Such sockets are generally rectangular in shape, to match the shaft and to prevent twisting of the blade with respect to the shaft. The tennon must be securely held in the shaft, as "fly out" of a blade during play is highly undesirable.
Blades must be changed periodically due to wear or damage. In the most widely used configuration, the shank is held within the socket and is thus attached to the shaft by the use of a thermoplastic adhesive, commonly known as a "hot melt" glue. Conventionally, such a hot melt glue is liquefiable at temperatures well above that normally encountered in using a hockey stick and conventionally requires use of a high temperature heat source such as an electric heater recommended by the manufacturer, or by use of a torch which is often employed regardless of manufactures' recommendations and warnings to the contrary. When liquified by application of heat, such an adhesive allows removal or installation of a blade; and when allowed to cool, solidifies and adhesively bonds together the shaft and the shank of the blade.
Generally, manufacturers of hockey sticks recommend specific methodologies for heating the shaft of the hockey stick at the location of the hot melt glue-bonded connection at the end of the shaft. Such methodologies feature limiting the maximum temperature of the shaft to a material dependent value which allows liquefaction of the thermoplastic adhesive but is not injurious to the material from which the hockey stick shaft is made. Certain materials, specifically composite materials commonly used in forming the shaft, are susceptible to damage and weakening as a result of heating them to high temperatures, such as may be occasioned by using a torch or other open flame for example, to heat the shaft in carrying out a blade change, for example.
However, it is often desirable to change a blade quickly, and when using a hot melt glue connection recommended methods of heating the shaft to effect a blade change take a relatively long time. Consequently, faster ways of heating are commonly employed by hockey players to heat the end of the shaft regardless of manufactures' recommendations and warnings. Particularly, during a game, players in a hurry to change a damaged blade, for example, may use a high temperature heat source such as a propane torch or the like, providing a rapid transfer of heat energy to the shaft to facilitate a faster blade replacement. Use of a torch is universally recognized as hazardous, and accordingly neither method is without drawbacks. Common to both is the necessity to heat the shaft to a high temperature, which in-and-of-itself is not ideal.
When using a flame to heat a shaft-blade connection of a composite shaft hockey stick, degradation of the structural properties important to strength and flexibility of the shaft often results, and breaking of such hockey sticks along the shaft at such a damaged location has been observed. The dangers attendant a hockey stick breaking in this manner during play are well known. At the least, such a damaged hockey stick may be rendered unusable when it is recognized that the portion of the shaft which receives the blade shank has been damaged, and a tight and reliable union between the shaft and the blade cannot thereafter be accomplished. Shafts formed of metals can also be damaged by overheating, for example by cracks which may develop due to stress induced by heating and cooling to and from a relatively higher temperature and by differential heating, which cracks may later propagate.
Lastly, using a torch or electric heater to effect a blade change is inconvenient. Moreover, it may limit the places where a blade can be changed due to availability of an electric power source, or due to regulations regarding open flames in buildings or certain outdoor areas for example. Also, added equipment costs to the player or sponsor results from the requirement to purchase and use the additional equipment required to carry out one of these heating methods.
The above concerns being recognized, there is an opportunity to advance the art by providing a hockey stick of the type having a replaceable blade which provides the advantageous properties of newer metal and composite materials, yet which allows repeated blade changes without the need for application of heat at very high temperatures, such as from a torch for example, but instead at much lower temperatures. The present invention is directed to such an advance.


Novel ice-cream coating fats based on diglycerides comprise at least 30 wt. %, preferably 50-90 wt. %, of diglycerides, which diglycerides have an SU content of 10-25 wt. %, while the total fat composition has a SAFA content of 5-35 wt. % and an N line (unstab.) of N.sub.20 <35 and N.sub.25 <10.

Ice-cream coating fats known so far are mainly based on triglycerides, in particular triglycerides containing medium-chain fatty acid residues, such as lauric acid residues. Typical examples of such fats are disclosed in, e.g., EP 23,150, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,017,392, 4,560,563, 4,086,370 and 3,959,516. However, hydrogenated vegetable non-lauric fats and triglycerides high in polyunsaturated fatty acids are also known as ice-cream coating fats, e.g. from EP 502,697, EP 246,366, EP 23,151 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,968.
Hitherto, no composition has been disclosed that is based on diglycerides and is suitable as ice-cream coating fat.
According to EP 402,090 oil-in-water emulsions are known, in which the fat phase comprises 10-99 wt. % of a diglyceride mixture having an increasing melting point of at most 20.degree. C., which mixture can also contain some monoglycerides, the total glyceride blend having a melting point of 35.degree. C. or below. These emulsions are suitable as cream alternatives and for ice-cream application. For the latter application, however, the emulsion is used for the ice-cream mass and not for the coating of the ice cream.

Manson nee van der Struik; Helga Gerda A.


A mutant bacterial acetolactate synthase (AHAS I) which is resistant to feedback inhibition by L-valine is described. Also described is a method for producing branched-chain L-amino acids using a bacterium from the Enterobacteriaceae family wherein the L-amino acid productivity of said bacterium is enhanced by the use of the acetolactate synthase (AHAS I) which is resistant to feedback inhibition by L-valine. This acetolactate synthase contains a mutant small subunit encoded by the mutant ilvN gene.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to biotechnology, and specifically to a method for producing branched-chain L-amino acids. More specifically, the present invention discloses the use of a new L-valine-resistant enzyme which is involved in the biosynthesis of branched-chain L-amino acids. More specifically, the present invention concerns a L-valine-resistant mutant acetolactate synthase (AHAS I) purified from E. coli, a bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family which contains this synthase enzyme, and a method for producing branched-chain L-amino acids by fermentation using the strains of this bacteria.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, L-amino acids have been industrially produced by fermentation utilizing strains of microorganisms obtained from natural sources, or mutants thereof which have been specifically modified to enhance L-amino acid productivity.
Many techniques have been previously described to specifically enhance L-amino acid productivity, such as, for example, transformation of microorganisms with recombinant DNA (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,765). Such techniques are based on increasing the activities of the enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and/or desensitizing the target enzymes to feedback inhibition by the produced L-amino acid (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open application No. 56-18596 (1981), WO 95/16042 or U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,661,012 and 6,040,160).
The biosynthesis of isoleucine, leucine, and valine occurs through a branched pathway in which three steps are common to each end product. The AHAS reaction represents the first biosynthetic step common to the three products. The reaction is catalyzed by isoenzymes which are the target of end-product inhibition by valine. This regulation plays a major role in the physiological control of the pathway in bacteria. The reaction includes condensation of active acetaldehyde (derived from pyruvate) with either α-ketobutyrate or pyruvate to yield α-aceto-α-hydroxybutyrate (a precursor of isoleucine) or α-acetolactate (a precursor of leucine and valine), respectively.
It has been reported that valine and its keto-acid precursor α-ketoisovaleric acid inhibit the growth of E. coli K12, and that isoleucine counters this inhibition (Tatum, E. L., Fed. Proc. 8:511 (1946)). At present, it is commonly accepted that inhibition of valine primarily results from blocking α-aceto-α-hydroxybutyrate synthesis. An analysis of E. coli K12 has revealed that this strain contains the structural genes for the three AHAS activities, which are designated as isoenzymes AHAS I, AHAS II, and AHAS III. AHAS I and AHAS III are both inhibited by valine, whereas AHAS II is resistant to it; however, AHAS II is not normally expressed in E. coli K12 cells (Guardiola, J. et al, Mol. Gen. Genet. 156:17-25 (1977)). All AHAS isozymes from enterobacteria are composed of a large and a small subunit in an α2β2 structure, with the large subunits performing a catalytic function and the small subunits performing a regulatory function. The small subunits are absolutely required for sensitivity of the enzyme activity to the feedback inhibitor valine. A study of the individual properties of the AHAS I and AHAS III subunits (Weinstock O. et al, J. Bacteriol. 174:5560-5566 (1992)) showed that the small subunits specifically induced a catalytically competent conformation of the whole enzyme and stabilized the transition state.
On the basis of a model of the valine-binding region of the AHAS III regulatory small subunit from E. coli, truncations from the carboxyl end of the small subunit were made. These truncations induce a lack of valine sensitivity in the truncated AHAS III enzymes (Mendel S. et al, J Mol Biol. 10; 325(2):275-84 (2003)).
But at present there are no reports describing mutant bacterial acetolactate synthase (AHAS I) which is feedback resistant to valine and the use of such a mutant acetolactate synthase for improving branched-chain L-amino acid production in corresponding L-amino acid producing strains.

Mutant acetolactate synthase and a method for producing branched-chain L-amino acids


A superconducting article includes a biaxially-textured Ni substrate, and epitaxial buffer layers of Pd (optional), CeO.sub.2 and YSZ, and a top layer of in-plane aligned, c-axis oriented YBCO having a critical current density (J.sub.c) in the range of at least 100,000 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K.

The above identified U.S. patent application describes various methods of preparing biaxially textured structures which are useful for subsequent fabrication of high Tc superconductors. Said application gives no specific parameters for fabrication of superconductors having critical current densities (Jc) of at least 100,000 Amps/cm.sup.2 at a temperature of 77 K. For related information in addition to the references cited in the above identified U.S. patent application, please refer to the following publications:
1) S. N. Ermolov, V. A. Bliznyuk, V. M. Ecviev, A. Yu.Isanv and V. A. Lykhin, "YBCO Thin-Films Current-Carrying Elements on Metallic Substrates," IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Vol. 5, No. 2, June 1995, p. 1929.
2) Chunyan Tian, Yang Du, and Siu-Wai Chan, "Epitaxial Formation and Characterization of CeO.sub.2 Films," MRS Proceeding, Vol. 355 on Evolution of Thin Film and Surface Structure and Morphology, edited by B. G. Demczyk, E. D. Williams, E. Garfunkel, B. M. Clemens, J. J. Cuomo, 1995, ISDN: 1-55899-256-1.
3) X. D. Wu, S. R. Foltyn, P. Arendt, J. Townsend, C. Adams, I. H. Campbell, P. Tiwari, Y. Coulter, and D. E. Peterson, Appl. Phys. Lett., V. 65 (15), Oct. 10, 1994, p. 1961.
4) M. Yoshimoto et al, "Room Temperature Epitaxial Deposition of CeO.sub.2 Thin Films on Si(111) Substrates for Fabrication of Sharp Oxide/Silicon Interface," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 34, L688 (1995).
5) H. Makita et al, "Recrystallization of Cold-Rolled Pure Nickel," Acta Metall., Vol. 36, (1988),403.
6) A. Ginbach et al, "Deposition of C-Axis Oriented YBaCuO Films on Oxidized Textured Ni Sheets and on (100) and (110) Oriented NiO Single Crystals, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 27, (1991) 1410.

High Tc YBCO superconductor deposited on biaxially textured Ni substrate


A rotary type electric shaver with an outer cutter frame provided on a shaver main body. An outer cutter installed in this outer cutter frame and having its shaving surface on the upper surface of a ring-shaped thin layer portion. An inner cutter 16 having a cutter body that rotates and makes sliding contact from below with the lower surface of the outer cutter 14, wherein a thin layer portion 28 is formed in a substantially arc shape that is convex upward in a radial and vertical cross section that includes a center axis line which is the rotational center of the inner cutter. The thickness of the thin layer portion near the apex of the upward convex is smallest at the apex and gradually becomes thicker as distance increases away from the apex.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary type electric shaver in which an outer cutter has a shaving surface on the upper surface of a ring-shaped thin layer portion thereof, and an inner cutter rotates while making sliding contact from below with the lower surface of the thin layer portion, thus cutting, with the inner cutter, whiskers or hair that enter into a hair introduction hole formed in the thin layer portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a type of electric shaver as described above, when the hair introduction hole (hereinafter "slit") that is a slit or the like formed in the thin layer portion of the outer cutter is firmly pressed against the skin during shaving, the skin enters from the slit and is cut too deeply by the rotating inner cutter and causes a burning feeling in the skin after the shaving. In order to prevent this sort of problem from occurring, it is obvious that the slit width can be made narrow or the outer cutter can be made thick. Here, making the outer cutter thick means increase in dimensions in the thickness direction of the ribs are located on both sides of the slit (the dimension in the direction parallel to the center axis line).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H7-185148 teaches a solution to this problem, teaching that the upper surface (shaving surface) and lower surface of a ring-shaped thin layer portion formed in an outer cutter are shaped into convex upward in a vertical cross section that is a cross section in a radial plane that includes the center axis line, and the radial and vertical cross-sectional shape of the outer cutter is an arc shape that is substantially of constant thickness. This prior art improves the shaving feeling by appropriately setting the curvature of the thin layer portion of the outer cutter. More specifically, it sets the dimensions of a straight line connecting two points on the upper surface of the outer cutter corresponding to the inner and outer diameter of the inner cutter and the highest position on the upper surface of the outer cutter (apex) in a predetermined range.
When the thin layer portion of the outer cutter is curved convexly upward as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H7-185148, the rigidity of the outer cutter increases, and it is possible to increase the pressing force of the outer cutter against the skin. Furthermore, the region near the center (or apex area) of the thin layer portion upper surface of the outer cutter (more specifically, the shaving surface) projects upward; as a result, when the shaver touches and presses the skin, it touches there firmly, and the pressing force becomes weak at positions distant from the center. Therefore, the problem is that if the slit width in the outer cutter is made constant, the skin near the center of the shaving surface enters the slit deeply, causing too deep shaving, and a burning feeling in the skin after shaving.
In order to prevent this sort of problem, if the slit width is constant, then the thin layer portion of the outer cutter can be made sufficiently thick as described above. However, if the thin layer portion is thick, at portions where the pressing force of the outer cutter against the skin becomes weak (or at portions distant from the apex of the thin layer portion), and it is not possible to shave deeply enough; and another problem occurs that the shaving feeling is unpleasant.


The present application discloses a noise detecting method and apparatus, and an electronic device, the method includes: obtaining a noise of each sensing electrode of a plurality of sensing electrodes of a touch screen at a current operating frequency point during an operation of the touch screen; calculating a difference between the noise of the sensing electrode and a current noise reference of the sensing electrode to obtain a noise difference of the sensing electrode; performing differential processing on the noise differences of the sensing electrode and a noise difference of an adjacent sensing electrode of the sensing electrode, to obtain a first processing result comprising a plurality of values, and comparing a maximum value of the first processing result with a preset first threshold; if the maximum value is greater than the threshold, determining that there is noise interference at the current operating frequency point.

Touch screen, which is also known as "touch-control screen" or "touch-control panel", is a liquid crystal display apparatus that can receive input signals in a sensing way, it can be used to replace a mechanical button panel and create a vivid video and audio effect through a liquid crystal display. The touch screen realizes a simple, convenient and natural human-computer interaction mode, and electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, and personal computers are inseparable from touch input functions.
As a kind of touch screen, a capacitive touch screen works by a current sensing of a human body, and realizes a touch-control by identifying a change of a capacitance generated when a finger approaches the capacitive touch-control panel. At present, the capacitive touch screen has been widely used in today's society. However, in the field of touch-control, the touch screen may be interfered by many different noise sources during use, for example, an influence generated by a common mode noise interference is particularly significant, which may cause false clicks or elimination clicks, thereby seriously affecting a user experience. Therefore, how to effectively identify and reduce noise interference becomes a problem that needs to be solved currently.

Noise detecting method and apparatus, electronic device, and computer readable storage medium


A wavelength stabilization apparatus and method for a superfluorescent source comprising a SFS (superfluorescent source) comprising a fiber with a core doped with lazing material. The SFS source produces SFS light with an SFS wavelength when pumped with pump light from a pump light source having a pump light wavelength. An output controller responds to a sample of the SFS light and operates to maximize the power of the sample of SFS light by automatically adjusting the pump light wavelength. The output controller also has a pump power controller responsive to a sample of the pump light from the pump light source for stabilizing the output power of the sample of the pump light with respect to a predetermined reference output power level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of optics and more particularly to the field of light sources, also called amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) laser useful in applications such as interferometric sensors such as a fiber optic gyro.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,956 for a "Laser Diode Intensity And Wavelength Control" issued Dec. 20, 1988 to George W. Kamin, Albuquerque, N. Mex. and has a common assignee. This patent provides a topology for comparing the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode to a desired value for the purpose of generating error signals. A temperature control device is used to control the temperature of a laser diode. An SFS source is not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,025 for a "Super Radiant Light Source" issued Jan. 13, 1987 to E. Snitzer et al and described the use of a single mode optical fiber having a core doped with an active laser material such as neodymium. The fiber is pumped with pump light sufficient to produce amplification of spontaneous emissions. In one embodiment, a dichroic mirror is used to provide a double pass for light in the fiber core for extra gain. Snitzer does not show or suggest a control process for controlling the wavelength of the pump source light.

Stabilization apparatus and method for an SFS


The suction cup is placed in sealing contact on the anterior side of the torso. A partial vacuum can be applied to the body by the suction cup. The suction cup is composed at least in part of soft elastic materials. It is provided with inner flanks that flare toward the body when under atmospheric pressure. The suction cup bears with lateral body-fitting portions on each side of the sternum, with an upper body-fitting portion on the upper region of the sternum and with a lower body-fitting on the lower region or below the sternum. The deformability of the suction cup varies over its circumference. At least the upper, lower or one of the lateral body-fitting portions have different deformabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suction cup for nonsurgical correction of the form and/or functionality of the chest, which cup is placed in sealing contact on the anterior side of the torso and with which partial vacuum can be applied to the body.
Partial vacuum is to be understood as the value of a pressure difference relative to atmospheric pressure.
The purpose of the invention is to influence the anatomical configuration of the bones and cartilage of the chest, and especially to exert a bending moment on the bony and cartilaginous components of the ribs, sternum and costal arches, primarily for nonsurgical correction of funnel chest. The invention does not relate, or at best relates only secondarily, to cosmetic treatment of soft parts or reconstruction thereof.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Among those skilled in the medical arts, surgery is the means of choice for effective correction of funnel chest (see Morphological and Biochemical Investigations in Funnel and Pigeon Chest Deformations with Consideration of the Non-Collagenous Cartilage Components, Sonja Nitsche, Faculty of Medicine of the Westphalian Wilhelm University at Munster, Dissertation 2000, pages 19 to 25). In that document, conservative measures—physiotherapy and orthopedic techniques—are described as incapable of correcting the funnel.
According to that source, purely cosmetic operations are available, but they merely conceal the visual appearance of the funnel. This is achieved, for example, by interposing suitable material under the skin or by detaching ribs from the sternum forming the funnel base, pulling them over the sternum to the opposite side, and fixing them on the opposite side. However, the effects of the funnel on the internal organs are not eliminated thereby. In other operations, the connection between the mesosternum and the xiphoid process is severed and then the underlying diaphragm is cut loose from the sternum, so that further inwardly directed tensile forces can no longer act on the sternum during inhalation. Such operations are temporary solutions, with which radical operations can be postponed. Radical operations range from those in which the sternum is removed to the combination of mobilization of the sternum and fixation in overcorrected position. In one of the common radical operations it is necessary to make a skin incision from the jugular fossa to the navel, to separate the musculature located on the thorax, to sever the origins of the abdominal muscle at the level of the xiphoid process, to make incisions into the costal perichondrium, to push the perichondrium carefully aside, to sever the cartilage, to break through the sternum and to fix it by means of a metal strap, which if necessary is supplemented by two further straps, the strap ends being bent by pliers in such a way that they fit the thoracic aperture and do not push up the overlying tissue, to fix the straps, if necessary to chamfer protruding rib processes, to attach a Redon drainage, to close the wound, to hospitalize the patient for 10 to 14 days, to provide intensive support measures by respiratory therapy and to leave the metal straps implanted in place for twelve months.
Elsewhere (see The Funnel Chest. Stages and Shape Correction, Dr. Hans Peter Hummer, Zuckschwerdt Verlag, Munich, Bern, Vienna, 1985, pages 10, 11, 26, 31 and 32), correction of funnel chest is divided into three phases—mobilization, stabilization and soft-tissue reconstruction—and it is pointed out, from the historical perspective, that success in funnel-chest operations was hampered at first by lack of stabilization options. That source describes among other possibilities the use of wires, nails, clasps or steel straps as auxiliary means, which are left in the body or which protrude out of the body for months or years, in order to give the thorax the necessary stability after completion of funnel-chest surgery (mobilization of the sternum). The same source indeed mentions alternatives for nonsurgical correction of funnel chest, but it describes them as ineffective, especially a correction by means of suction cups based on the publication of Spitzy, to be discussed below.
In Spitzy (Textbook of Pediatrics, Volume 8, Pediatric Orthopedics, Prof. Dr. Hans Spitzy, F. C. W. Vogel Verlag, Leipzig, 3rd Edition, 1930, pages 196 and 197), it is described that, by using a glass bell over the depressed portion of a funnel chest and applying partial vacuum, an immediate alleviation of the funnel could be observed. However, the technique of the method was described as tricky, because it was difficult to fit the rigid wall of the suction cup used at that time to the uneven surfaces of the anterior thoracic wall.
From German Patent 19734571 A1 there is known, for treatment of funnel chest, a suction cup having a central, transparent plate and a rim that is matched or can be matched individually to the respective patient and that bears flexibly on his or her body. Reportedly, therapy units of 5 to 15 minutes can be administered one or two times per week with the suction cup.
Drawbacks of the prior art include the following: conservative methods are faced with a deep-rooted and widely held bias against options of this kind; cosmetic procedures achieve merely a purely cosmetic effect, which does not eliminate the effects of the funnel on the internal organs; separation of the diaphragm from the sternum represents a purely delaying tactic; radical operations impose a severe burden due to the operation and to the metal elements that remain implanted for months or years in order to fix the surgically treated funnel chest—quite aside from the patient's postoperative pain, which is sometimes considerable; for the suction cup according to Spitzy, no mention has been found of successful stabilization in the corrected condition; and the idea underlying German Patent 19734571 A1 has the disadvantage of short application units.
A cupping device having a suction cup is known from German Patent 4228406 C2.

Suction cup for non-surgical correction of the form and/or functionality of the chest


A display device includes a signal line formed on a substrate, a repair line formed on the substrate crossing and insulated from the signal line, and a first redundancy conductive pattern formed on a first region of the substrate where the signal line crosses the repair line, wherein the first redundancy conductive pattern is insulated from the signal line and the repair line.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method of manufacturing the display device.
2. Discussion of Related Art A liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus displays an image using the optical and electrical properties of liquid crystal material having dielectric anisotropy. An LCD apparatus includes liquid crystal material interposed between a color filter substrate and a thin film transistor ("TFT") array substrate. A common electrode is formed on the entire surface of the color filter substrate to provide common voltage. Pixel electrodes are formed on the TFT array substrate to receive data signals. A plurality of gate lines to control the TFTs and data lines to provide data signals to the TFTs are formed on the TFT array substrate.
The TFT array substrate may include repair lines to repair open-line defects. When a data line open-line defect is found in an inspection process, the open-line defect is repaired, for example, by laser welding, so that the data line and the repair line are electrically connected.
However, the repair success rate may vary depending on the metals used in the data line and the repair line. After the repair of the data line, current increase at the repaired portion of the data line causes progressing open-line defect over time.

Display device wherein a first redundancy conductive pattern is formed where the signal line crosses the repair line and manufacturing method thereof


A snow removing machine has a vehicle body having a body frame, a snow removing section mounted on a front portion of the body frame for removing snow, an operating handle mounted to a rear portion of the body frame and having a first handle portion and a second handle portion, and a pair of grip portions each mounted on a respective one of the first and second handle portions of the operating handle. A forward and aft drive changeover switch is directly mounted on the first handle portion of the operating handle for changing over a traveling direction of the vehicle body. A height control operation lever is directly mounted on the first handle portion of the operating handle for adjusting a height of the snow removing section. A speed control operation lever is directly mounted on the second handle portion of the operating handle for adjusting a traveling speed of the vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a snow removing machine comprising a body which includes a front portion with a snow removing section mounted thereto and a rear portion with an operating handle mounted thereto and having left and right grip portions to be gripped by an operator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, walking type snow removing machines having snow removing plates, which are propelled by means of crawler belts, have been widely used to reduce snow removing labor. One of such snow removing machines is arranged to enable snow removal work with the snow removing plate while adjusting the height of the snow removing plate by gripping grip portions of an operating handle with operator""s hands and by shifting the operating handle upward or downward.
FIG. 14 hereof shows such an operating handle of a prior art snow removing machine with a snow removing plate. The known snow removing machine 200 with the snow removing plate includes left and right operating handles 201, 201, which are spaced from one another. The left and right operating hands 201, 201 have respective left and right grip portions 202, 204. A clutch lever 203 is located in the vicinity of the left grip portion 202. An operation box 205 is mounted between the left and right handles 201, 201. The operation box 205 includes a shift lever 207 for changing over a forward and aft drive as well as a vehicle speed, and a governor control lever 208 located in the vicinity of the shift lever 207 for adjusting an engine speed.
During snow removing work using the snow removing machine having the snow removing plate, the engine is first operated and, then, the respective left and right grip portions 202, 204 are gripped with the operator""s left and right hands to thereby operate the snow removing plate via the operating handle 201.
During the snow removing work, the changeover between the forward and aft drive and the control of the vehicle speed are carried out by manipulating the clutch lever 203 with his left hand gripping the left grip portion 202 and, under such a condition, by manipulating the shift lever 207 with his right hand released from the right grip portion 204.
Further, upon adjustment of the engine speed, the governor control lever 208 is manipulated with the right hand released from the right grip portion 204.
When manipulating the clutch lever 207 and the governor control lever 208 with the right hand released from the right grip portion 204 during the snow removing work, it is required for the operator to manipulate the operating handle 201 by a single hand operation gripping only the left grip portion 202. This results in an increased load for the operator""s hands or arms.
When manipulating the operating hand 201 in the single hand operation, the operator encounters difficulty in determining the traveling direction of the snow removing machine 200. Especially in cases where there exists relatively large irregular road surfaces or in cases where snow contains a large amount of water, the snow removing plate is exerted with an increased load, thereby making the manipulation difficult to achieve with a single hand. Thus, the snow removing work should be inevitably interrupted once, thereby disturbing the improvement in the snow removing work efficiency.
A snow removing machine, which includes a rotary snow removing unit mounted to a front part of its body and crawls over snow through crawler belts to remove the snow, is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. SHO-61-23059. The snow removing machine includes a height adjustment mechanism having indispensable components such as a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod for adjusting the height of the rotary snow removing unit, and an operation lever located in the vicinity of the grip portion for manipulating the height adjustment mechanism. The snow removing machine is arranged so as to adjust the height of the rotary snow removing unit by maintaining the height adjustment mechanism in a free condition under a gripped state of the operation lever and by moving the grip portion upward or downward. In such a snow removing machine, adjusting the height of the rotary snow removing unit enables the rotary snow removing unit to perform the snow removing work in dependence on irregular profiles or undulations of the snow surface.
However, in order to adjust the height of the rotary snow removing unit so as to meet the irregular profiles or the undulations, which consecutively extend, of the snow surface, the operator needs to implement two different operations involving one step of gripping the operation lever and the other step of moving the grip portion upward or downward, with a relatively increased load to be exerted to the operator. In addition, the upward or downward movement of the grip portion while gripping the operation lever causes difficulty to the operator in concentrating the upward or downward movement of the grip portion, thereby disturbing the improvement in the snow removing work efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a snow removing machine which effectively reduces a load on an operator""s snow removing work to provide improved snow removing work efficiency.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow removing machine which comprises a vehicle body having a body frame, a snow removing section mounted to a front portion of the body frame for removing snow, an operating handle mounted to a rear portion of the body frame for performing operation, left and right grip portions mounted to the operating handle to be gripped by an operator, a forward and aft drive changeover switch mounted on one of the left and right grip portions for changing over a traveling direction of the vehicle body, a height control operation lever for adjusting a height of the snow removing section and a speed control operation lever mounted to the other one of the left and right grip portions for adjusting a traveling speed of the vehicle body.
In the thus-arranged snow removing machine, the forward and aft drive changeover switch and the height control operation lever, which adjusts the height of the snow removing section, are mounted on one of the grip portions, and the speed control operation lever is mounted on the other one of the grip portions. Under a circumstance wherein the respective grip portions are kept in a grip condition being gripped with operator""s both hands, as the operator uses his one hand to manipulate the forward and aft drive switch and the height control operation lever, it is possible for his other hand to manipulate the speed control operation lever. Consequently, the operator is enabled to use his both hands to operate the operating handle without carrying out a single hand operation.
Desirably, the snow removing machine further comprises a traveling frame for supporting drive wheels and idling wheels, between which crawler belts are stretched, by means of vehicular shafts, a height adjustment mechanism mounted between the traveling frame and the vehicle body to allow the height of the snow removing section to be adjusted when the height control operation lever is gripped to be brought into a free condition to enable tilting of the vehicle body and is subsequently released to be brought into a lock position, and a lever lock mechanism mounted to the operating handle having the one of the grip portion for allowing the height control operation lever to be locked for preventing the height control operation lever from returning from a position in a gripped state of the height control operation lever.
Thus, the presence of the lever lock mechanism mounted to the operating handle and enabled to allow the height control operation lever to be locked with the lever lock mechanism in a position gripped by the operator does not need to perform two different operations at the same time for raising or lowering the operating handle while manipulating the operation lever during adjustment of the snow removing section. As a consequence, it might be enough for the operator to merely operate the upward or downward operation of the operating handle.
In a preferred example arrangement, the lever lock mechanism comprises a lever segment mounted to the operating handle for swinging movement and having a lock recess, a spring member for retaining the lever segment in a lock position or a releasing position, and a lock pin located on the operation lever and capable of entering and engaging with the lock recess in a state wherein the lever segment is retained in the releasing position. With such a lever lock mechanism, the mere swinging movement of the lever segment of the lever lock mechanism allows the lock recess and the lock pin to engage with each other. Accordingly, the simple operation for the mere swinging movement of the lever segment renders the height control operation lever to be locked in a position gripped by the operator. The lever lock mechanism is constructed of three components of the lever segment, the spring member and the lock pin, with a resultant compact structure in the lever lock mechanism with a lowered cost.
In a second preferred example arrangement, the lever lock mechanism comprises a lever segment mounted to the operating handle for swinging movement, a spring member for retaining the lever segment in a releasing position, and a lock pin protruding from the lever segment and capable of engaging with the lock recess formed in the height control operation lever when the lever segment swings in a direction toward the lock position. With such a lever lock mechanism, the mere swinging movement of the lever segment of the lever lock mechanism allows the lock recess and the lock pin to engage with each other in the same manner as the first preferred example. Accordingly, the simple operation for the mere swinging movement of the lever segment renders the height control operation lever to be locked in a position gripped by the operator. The lever lock mechanism is constructed of three components of the lever segment, the spring member and the lock pin, with a resultant compact structure in the lever lock mechanism with a lowered cost.
In a preferred form, the height adjustment mechanism comprises a cylinder connected to one of the vehicle body and the traveling frame, a piston rod connected to the other one of the vehicle body and the traveling frame, a piston interconnected to the piston rod and received in the cylinder, a control valve located in the piston, and a force transmission member for transmitting a force, which opens the control valve, to the control valve in response to gripping motion of the operation lever, wherein high pressure gas is filled in the cylinder at both sides thereof. With such a height adjustment mechanism, the presence of the high pressure gas filled in the cylinder allows the control valve, when it is opened, to smoothly pass the high pressure gas. Comparing a case wherein oil is filled in the cylinder, the piston is enabled to move in a more smooth manner. This allows the operating handle to move upward or downward in a simpler manner, with a resultant further decrease in a load for the operator. Further, the presence of the high pressure gas filled in the cylinder allows impacts or vibrations, caused by the road surfaces or the snow surfaces, to be effectively absorbed with a compressive action of the high pressure gas when the control valve is closed.


Deselect times can be specified for transactions that are to utilize a communication bus shared by multiple devices. A host can communicate with a multiplexer to select a channel for communication on that bus. If this host communicates with the multiplexer over the bus as well, the host can be prevented from instructing the multiplexer to deselect a channel if the bus is hung. To provide for recovery in such situations, one or more deselect times can be specified for one or more channels of a bus. If a transaction for a device on one of these channels is ongoing when the deselect time is reached, the multiplexer can automatically deselect that channel in order to enable other devices to communicate over other channels on that bus. In some embodiments, a riskiness of a transaction or device can be determined for purposes of applying or determining a relevant deselect time.

Various computing devices utilize communication buses to transfer data between components. There may be multiple devices that can communicate over such a bus, but these devices may only be able to communicate over that bus one at a time. In the event that one of these devices gets hung or is otherwise continually communicating over this bus, the other devices may be unable to communicate. For implementations where all communications to a multiplexer or other channel selection device also occur over this bus, there may be no way to recover without manual intervention that may result in undesirable downtime for all those devices.

Communication bus recovery based on maximum allowable transaction duration


A client system, such as a computer or a smartphone, securely exchanges sensitive information with a remote service provider computer system such as a bank or an online retailer. The client system executes a commercially available operating system in an untrusted virtual machine (VM), which may be affected by malware. A hypervisor is configured to launch a trusted, malware-free VM from an authenticated image stored on computer-readable media used by the untrusted VM. The trusted VM executes a thin operating system with minimal functionality, to manage a secure communication channel with the remote server system, wherein sensitive communication is encrypted. Data from the trusted VM is forwarded via the hypervisor to a network interface driver of the untrusted VM for transmission to the remote service provider. The service provider may perform a remote attestation of the client system to determine whether it operates a trusted VM.

The invention relates to systems and methods for securing electronic communication between a client and a remote service provider, and in particular systems and methods using hardware virtualization technology.
An increasing number of goods and services are currently provided online, through electronic communication networks such as the Internet. In some such applications, users may remotely access a protected resource such as a bank account through an e-banking platform hosted on a server computer system. To access the protected resource, users are typically required to provide some credentials, such as a password and/or an access code. In e-commerce applications, users may transmit sensitive information such as credit card details and/or other personal information to a remote computer system. Such sensitive data is typically input by the user into an electronic device such as a computer, mobile phone, etc. Subsequently, the sensitive information circulates over a communication network between the user's electronic device and the remote computer system.
Malicious software, also known as malware, affects a great number of computer systems worldwide. In its many forms such as computer viruses, worms, and rootkits, malware presents a serious risk to millions of computer users, making them vulnerable to loss of data and sensitive information, identity theft, and loss of productivity, among others. Malware may attempt to steal private or sensitive information, e.g., by intercepting keyboard inputs corresponding to a user's password or credit card number, or by intercepting communication between the malware-infected computer system and a remote computer system.
Hardware virtualization technology allows the creation of simulated computer environments commonly known as virtual machines (VM), which behave in many ways as physical computer systems. Several virtual machines may run simultaneously on the same hardware platform (physical machine), sharing the hardware resources among them, thus allowing potentially a great number of users to share a computer system. A virtual machine may run its own operating system and/or software applications separately from other virtual machines, thus increasing data security and privacy.
There is considerable interest in developing electronic communication devices allowing users to securely exchange data with remote computer systems, especially when said devices operate on hardware virtualization platforms.

Secure communication using a trusted virtual machine


A bed including a support frame, a foundation configured to support the support frame, means for displacing the support frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the foundation, and means for displacing the support frame in a transverse direction with respect to the foundation. In addition, a method for inducing sleep by providing the proper stimulation to the vestibular organs is also provided. The method includes providing a support member configured to support an individual, controlling the displacement of the support member in a longitudinal direction of the support member, and controlling the displacement of the support member in a transverse direction of the support member. The combined motion of the support member in both the longitudinal direction and the transverse is configured to induce sleep.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to beds and more specifically, to a bed configured to oscillate in both a longitudinal and transverse direction.
2. Description of Related Art
A large portion of people complain that they have to lie down on a bed for a long time before they fall asleep; that they can not fall asleep again after they wake up during the night; or that they wake up early and can not fall asleep again in the early morning. According to statistics, one-fourth of the population suffers from insomnia; in adults over 76 year old, 29% of men and 37% of women have sleep problem. In addition, many people suffer from simple insomnia or other sleep problems caused by physical or mental diseases. Drugs used for insomnia have a certain limitation because of their side effects, which inhibit the action of the central nervous system for a certain period of time and can therefore affect a person's quality of life. They may also cause drug-dependence.
No one doubts that sleep is vitally important for human physical and mental health and therefore the sleep mechanism is an issue that is worth exploring and continues to be explored. Experiments involving lack of sleep suggest that sleep allows the body to rest and repair itself. Therefore, the invention of a new and effective hypnotherapy technology would be highly desirable.
The effect of some of the so-called hypnotherapies is questionable. One example is music hypnotherapy that relies on an aural stimulus, which only acts on the cochlear nerves and locally stimulates the cerebral cortex of the brain. Some special beds have been used in hospitals that have a special mattress and bed skeleton. However, the function of the bed is not for the treatment of insomnia but mainly for the prevention of bedsores and pneumonia in patients who are unconscious or who have difficulty changing their posture.
Traditional understanding of sleep in humans assumes that the quietness of the environment is an important factor. In conjunction with this assumption, is the belief that a generally steady sleep surface is also beneficial. However, this is an issue that merits further consideration, in fact it can be shown that a proper form and quantity of movement is an effective stimulation for promoting sleep. One example, which I call the cradle effect, is a child being rocked in a cradle or rocked by a parent in the parent's arms. Another example, which I call the trip effect, is when people fall asleep while traveling by carriage, car, ship or train. The third example is that sleepiness, likely to be caused by the motion of the car, is a major cause of serious accidents proved by traffic accident surveys (Department of Human Science, Loughborough University Tel: +44-1509-223091). In addition, people change position a few times before they lie down and try to sleep.
Vestibular organs including the utricle, the saccule and the semicircular canals are traditionally understood as balance sense organs that assist humans and animals in evaluating the position of the head relative to gravity and maintaining balance while carrying out normal activities. However, the vestibular organs are also sleep organs.
Based on study of sleep history, exquisite observation of human' life and continuously exploration of sleep mechanism, applicant thinks that sleep mechanism consists of two sub-mechanisms: the sleep initiation mechanism and the sleep maintenance mechanism. Sleep occurrence is a process of a consciousness state entering a sleep (we call none or very low level consciousness) state and is triggered by the sleep initiation mechanism. Sleep occurrence depends on conditions both from outside and inside of the body. That is, both the environment and some organs of the body control sleep initiation. As such, sleep occurrence is a conditioned reflex. Generally, the sleep maintenance mechanism is the natural, cerebral function program which is procedurally controlled by the brain although it is affected by conditions from inside and outside the body.
One aspect affecting sleep initiation is motion sensed by the body. The proper motion is a motion which simultaneously satisfies two conditions: (1) quality: causes continuous stimulation of vestibular organs, of which there are two forms: rhythmic motion and rhythm-less motion; (2) quantity: proper motion intensity which will not cause muscles, especially extremity muscles, to contract in an attempt to maintain body balance and excessive reaction of parasympathetic excitation. The proper motion gives appropriate stimulation to vestibular organs thereby promoting the occurrence of sleep.
Based the foregoing information, I have established a theory that the mechanism of sleep occurrence is a conditioned reflex controlled via the vestibular organs, which include the utricle, the saccule, and the semicircular canals, which are therefore sleep sense organs; and that the brainstem and basal forebrain form the sleep center. Proper motion causes the vestibular organs to send a sleep signal to the sleep center in the brainstem and the basal forebrain via the vestibular nerve; the neurons of the sleep center are activated and sleep onset is triggered.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new bed that moves in such a manner to promote the sleep initiation mechanism and the sleep maintenance mechanism by proper stimulation of the vestibular organs.


A dual-connection option allows preservation of network connectivity to a device or path by providing a second, redundant connection which takes over if a first connection fails. One goal is to provide communication with all critical devices at all times. If the ability to communicate with a device is lost because part of the connection to the device or the device itself has been destroyed, recovery from such loss is provided. The invention is preferably embodied in a particular implementation of the proposed Redundant Links standard, and satisfies the requirements of the proposed IEEE 802.12 standard, while adding specific enhancements to the proposed standard, such as storing and/or reporting conditions that lead up to a failure; accommodating minor, temporary disruptions; allowing status inquiries with regard to a redundant link while maintaining a primary connection; and continuing testing the redundant link after an initial verification.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to the exchange of information over an electronic network. More particularly, the invention relates to providing a redundant connection for devices and/or paths within an electronic network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is desirable to preserve network connectivity to a device or path in an electronic network. To this end, it is often preferred to provide a dual connection to network devices and/or paths where a second, redundant connection takes over if a primary connection fails. Such arrangement provides for greater network reliability.
Two broad approaches to providing such redundancy are presently known in the prior art:
One type of redundant connection concerns an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer-1 (physical layer) implementation. This implementation is based on hardware signals which indicate whether or not the connection itself, and possibly a device at the other end, is functioning properly. If these signals cease, it is assumed that either the device or the cable link to the device have gone down, and that the redundant connection should be activated. An example of this solution involves using 10Base-T linkbeat (also known as linkpulse) to detect a working connection to a device which is powered-up.
While this type of solution can be implemented purely in hardware, and is thus inexpensive, it does not account for the possibility that network management may have been configured so that network communications cannot occur across the link, even when hardware signals are possible. For instance, if the device at the other end of the connection is configured for security and the device instigating the redundant connection does not match the permitted configuration on one or both of its connections, these offending links are essentially unusable. Moreover, the network administrator cannot be informed of this. In the case of such a non-permitted configuration, a redundant dual-connection does not really exist because one or both links cannot establish a connection.
The second type of redundant connection concerns the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer-2 (MAC layer) implementation. This implementation is based on the exchange of network packets with a specific device, and requires both devices to have a network protocol stack. If the target device fails to respond to the packets, that device or its connecting cables are presumed to be inactive. Switching over to the redundant connection opens an alternate path to that target device. An example of this solution is the Backup Links feature provided on Hewlett-Packard Company's (Palo Alto, Calif.) 10Base-T hubs or, to a certain extent, the IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol implemented in most standard network bridges.
This second solution can indicate whether the instigating device's immediate neighbor approves of its configuration but, to prevent network loops, the redundant connection cannot be tested without disrupting the main connection. The ability to respond to a trouble condition is also slower with this method than with the first method due to round-trip packet propagation time and the possibility of the target device being temporarily busy, which must be accounted for before a failure can be determined.
The IEEE 802.12 committee is currently in the balloting process for a Redundant Links feature definition to be included in the 802.12 standard for 100VG-AnyLAN networks. See Draft Standard, Information Technology, Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Part 12: Demand-Priority Access Method, Physical Layer and Repeater Specifications for 100 Mb/s Operation - Redundant Links, Draft 3.0, LAN MAN Standards Committee, IEEE Computer Society, March 1996.
The redundancy feature, as described in the implementation proposed for the standard, is closer to the first type of Redundant Links solution (described above) than to the second. The proposed standard describes a general sequence of hardware meta-states through which a main and redundant uplink connection pass. There is freedom for individual implementers to decide the exact impetus for a transition from one meta-state to the next, and the severity of the conditions which cause such a transition.
In the proposed standard, redundant links are provided such that "both end nodes and repeater cascade ports may optionally be equipped with a second (redundant) link to maintain connectivity in case of individual link or repeater failure in the network connection path." (ibid. ) To better understand the environment in which the subject invention operates, as well as the limitations imposed by the prior art, a brief discussion of a typical network and device/path redundancy is now provided.
For an 802.12 repeater with redundant links, the purpose of such redundancy is to maintain network connectivity for all of a repeater's lower entities in the event of a failure in either of the repeater's uplinks or a connected higher-level repeater. FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a topology that maintains network connectivity for any repeater experiencing a single uplink failure or failure to one connected higher-level repeater. The proposed standard provides that all redundant links shall be connected within the same arbitration domain and shall be connected in a manner that maintains a star topology, but does not result in a network loop for any combination of active links. One level-2 repeater is preferably designated as the alternate-root repeater. The alternate-root repeater preferably has both uplinks connected to local ports on the root repeater. All non-alternate-root, level-2 repeaters preferably have one uplink, designated as the primary uplink, connected to a local port on the root repeater, and the other uplink, designated as the secondary uplink, connected to a local port on the alternate-root repeater. All level-3 and lower repeaters preferably have their two uplinks connected to local ports on different repeaters at the next higher level.
As shown on FIG. 2, failure of the (primary) uplink between a level-2, non-alternate-root repeater and the root repeater can cause an extension of the root-repeater-to-lowest-end-node distance. It is therefore preferred that user implementation of this system ensures that the longest path distance between the root repeater and the lowest end node, including any added levels due to the level-2 standby link connection, does not exceed the maximum topology length defined in the standard. The primary uplink from a level-2, non-alternate repeater should be the active link whenever that link is operational.
When non-redundant-link repeaters are interconnected with redundant-link repeaters in the same fault-tolerant network, a repeater without redundant-uplink capability loses network connectivity if its uplink or the connected higher-level repeater fails. To minimize connectivity loss, non-redundant-link repeaters may be used as a root repeater, because root repeaters do not require a cascade port or any uplinks; or they may be connected at the lowest repeater level in a cascade. However, a non-redundant-link repeater is preferably not used as an intermediate repeater in a cascade. For example, with regard to FIG. 3, the failure of the root repeater or failure to the repeater 2a uplink results in loss of connectivity, not only for repeater 2a end nodes, but also for all lower repeaters and their end nodes in the cascade.
FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram showing connections in a network for redundant links from end nodes. End nodes that are equipped with multiple MAC adapters may be connected to repeaters at any level in the network. However, to ensure maximum recoverability of network connectivity from single link or single repeater failures, alternate links from the same end node should be connected, such that the alternate network paths do not contain any instance where both paths use the same link or the same repeater. It is preferred that redundant end node links be connected to local ports on redundant link repeaters.
The network shown in FIG. 4 provides examples of both properly and improperly connected redundant-link end nodes. The alternate connections of end nodes x, y, and z have no common redundant path elements and can recover network connectivity in case of a single link or single repeater failure anywhere in the network. The alternate connection for end nodes r, s, and t each have common path elements and may not recover connectivity in the case of repeater or link failure. Thus, end node r loses most of its network connectivity if repeater 2c fails; end node s loses most of its network connectivity if repeater 3a's uplink fails, and all of its connectivity if repeater 3a, itself, fails; and end node t loses most of its network connectivity if repeater 2b fails.
While the proposed IEEE standard for 802.12 offers such redundancy, the proposed standard does not address such issues as storing and/or reporting conditions that lead up to a failure; accommodating minor, temporary disruptions; allowing status inquiries with regard to a redundant link while maintaining a primary connection; and continuing testing the redundant link after an initial verification. It would be advantageous to provide such enhancements to a network redundancy scheme, such as that set forth in the proposed standard.

Computer network with devices/paths having redundant links